Phil

Meet Phil – The Adventurer & Architect of Change

I’m Phil, and adventure has always been part of who I am. My path was never meant to be conventional; it was meant to be shaped by experience, courage, and discovery.

As a child, I was inspired by the bold stories of Biggles, Kipling’s The Man Who Would Be King, and the fearless lives of my grandfather, the “Anzac,” and my father, a Royal Marine. Those influences opened my eyes to a life beyond the ordinary.

I chose to live life on my own terms. Five years in France introduced me to the pleasures of food, wine, and joie de vivre, while an unexpected period living on a bus in the woods led me into an apprenticeship as a Fabricator Welder. That skill later brought me to the Royal Engineers, where I served in a high-intensity Bomb Disposal Regiment overseas and went on to lead humanitarian landmine clearance missions across Africa and the Middle East.

Yet my greatest test was not on the ground, but within myself. A difficult divorce, emotional upheaval, and a Type 2 diabetes diagnosis forced me to pause, reflect, and begin again. That became my turning point.

By embracing mindfulness, meditation, yoga, and the restorative force of nature, I discovered true wellness. There were no quick fixes or synthetic answers, only steady, intentional choices that transformed my body, mind, and spirit. Clean eating, movement, strength, and deep connection became the base of my life.

I have visited sacred places around the world, including Uluru, the Pyramids, the Ziggurat of Ur, Carnac, and ancient stone circles across the UK. But it was in Peru’s Sacred Valley, standing on a mountain, that I felt a clear and unmistakable calling: this is where the future begins.

Today, together with Lulu, we are creating more than a retreat. We are shaping a sanctuary for transformation, where adventure meets healing and people are supported to reclaim vitality, awaken purpose, and step into their fullest selves.