It was my first time in Portugal this summer and I totally fell in love with two of the eco yoga retreats listed here that I visited. Vale de Moses in the Portuguese mountains near to Oleiros and Casa Vale de Lama, a beautiful project, permaculture farm, and true eco resort close to the Portugese coast of Lagos.
There’s always a story and a vision behind the creation of a retreat centre, most often combining a dream, the intervention of fate or an unexplainable force, a connection with a place and the environment and the desire to change people lives, heal themselves and others and be part of a community that their native country didn’t quite fulfill, going back to basics, being conscious of their environment, taking care of mother Earth, becoming sustainable and self-sufficient.
Here are 3 recommendations on retreats for the eco-conscious traveller in Portugal.
1. Eco, Yoga and Surf Retreat at Vale de Lama
I recently attended the last yoga and surf retreat here and can’t recommend it highly enough. Hosted by Shaini of Yogaion, a wonderful teacher with a beautiful heart who connects with each of her students on a deep level, these week long retreats are for those looking for a yoga, surfing or retreat where you can be kind to the environment, in beautiful surroundings and nature and eat delicious locally grown and healing nourishing food. This is peace and tranquility at its best on the beautiful coastal settings of Portugal.
This intensive yoga and surf holiday is aimed at people who want the best of both worlds. There are beautiful Iyengar yoga sessions, set with inspiring intentions in the morning, followed by loads of fun on the beach, playing with the waves and catching the surf. Connecting with the energy of nature, feeling a deep awareness and inspiration, your day ends with a lovely restorative yoga class, so that your mind, body and soul will be ready to embrace the next day!
Casa Vale da Lama eco resort is an oasis of sustainable living on a 43 hectare property with an outdoor salt water swimming pool, passive solar house. Most of the food served comes from their own land and I really wanted to take their amazing chef Anna with me who creates delicious vegetarian and vegan meals (and vegan desserts especially for me!).
Maria Costa who lives and works at Vale de Lama talks about the dream of the project and what´s happening on the Farm and the way she sees the world in this short video produced by Siebe and Jo-Ann – a couple of sailors from the Netherlands who are recording projects and people that inspire them in the places they visit.
Available dates
24th – 30th June 2018
Retreat Price in Euros
Shared €790
Double €895
Single €1165
All the yoga and surf retreats can also be booked as yoga only!
Your exclusive offer
Receive an exclusive 5% discount when you mention the promotional code Soul Seed Surf Yoga on enquiring. Find out more.
2. Vale De Moses Yoga Retreats in the mountains of Portugal
Vale de Moses was set up by a British couple Andrew and Vonetta Winter. It’s family run yoga retreat in the heart of the Portuguese mountains, immersed and surrounded by nature with a beautiful sun filled yoga shala with views of the forest. Each of the yoga retreats consist of twice daily yoga, a massage treatment included in your stay, walking in forests, swimming in natural river pools and eating delicious and locally sourced healthy and nutritious food.
They have really put their heart and soul into the creation of this project and you can really sense the hard work and determination it’s taken to create their dream. Vonetta’s inspiring yoga teaching and guidance allows you to go deep into your practice in a fun and explorative way! This is the perfect retreat to help you to slow down and connect with who you are, sit in and surrender into the warm hands of nature and let the healing commence!.
Available dates
Open April to October.
Retreat Price in Euros
€750 for the stone cottages.
€850 for a private room or private Soulpad.
Tipi 
€700 each if sharing with partner or friend.
Your exclusive offer
Receive an exclusive 10% discount when you mention the promotional code Soul Seed Yoga on enquiring. Find out more.
3. 5 Day Chakra Balancing Yoga and Dance Eco Retreat
A 5 day chakra balancing (yoga and chakra dancing) eco retreat that will take you on a beautiful, fun, healing journey through the chakras using yoga, movement, dance and meditation. Expect a relaxed, safe environment within nature, to allow space for you to embody this fluid, well rounded combination of classes that work dynamically together to aid balancing your chakras, increasing your confidence, awakening creativity and giving room for releasing and transformation as well as inner shifting of emotions and thought patterns. Leaving you feeling centred, empowered, radiant, uplifted and peaceful.
This is a truly sustainable and responsible holiday option with accommodation in comfortable peaceful yurts to sleep in, solar heated hot water and eco-composting toilets. Almost all of the furniture in the yurts, and the yurt structures have been hand made using wood from the land on retreat.
Available dates
5th – 11th July.
Retreat price in British pounds
£470
Your exclusive offer
A 1 hour complimentary full body holistic thai yoga massage when you mention the promotional code Soul Seed Massage on enquiring. Find out more.
I will be publishing an article on Eco-tourism in Portugal in the July edition of the conscious travel section of SAGE magazine. Read the last edition on Wellbeing and Eco-tourism in Spain.
Always happy to share my tips and recommendations with you, send me an email or connect with me on social media to say hello!
