About The Retreat

Escape the usual New Year and take time out to spend a whole week in this tropical paradise on this active winter sun yoga holiday in Madeira.

Join us as a solo traveller or come along with a friend or partner. Included in the retreat are two daytime guided hikes with local guides, one in the Levadas and one along the dramatic coastline, and one sunrise hike above the clouds. And with yoga, twice a day, feel energised, refreshed, and ready for 2025. We recommend having a good fitness level to enjoy the hikes in Madeira.

We have a full itinerary for you so that you can join us as much or as little as you like and be as active or relaxed as you like. For those of you who love an active yoga holiday, this one is for you; with the two free time days, you can fill your schedule with more hiking (we can arrange with our local guide), or you can try a boat trip, wine tasting, a visit to the botanical gardens and a cart ride downhill. There is plenty to do in Madeira. If you want to relax, this is fine too; enjoy the venue’s beautiful grounds and read a book or wander into Funchal and try a Pasteis de nata in a cafe.

As with all our New Year retreats, we will be hosting a setting intentions workshop to help you get clear on your goals for 2025 and a New Year’s Eve feast and ceremony to bring in the New Year with positivity, peace, and community.

Madeira is situated not far off the coast of North Africa. It is an island full of raw, natural beauty and adventures. Madeira may be small, but it makes up for it by everything else being on a grand scale. To begin with, it boasts Europe’s highest sea cliffs and over 1300 hiking trails, and it even hosts the world’s largest fireworks display annually. This volcanic island is a sight to behold.

Pioneers of slow tourism, Madeira is an island that protects and conserves its natural assets with care both on land and at sea. Two-thirds of Madeira’s 741 km2 is classified as a nature reserve. Furthermore, the natural heritage of the Madeira archipelago makes it a prime ecological destination.

Venue

For our yoga holiday in Madeira, we will be staying in one of the oldest Quintas on the island. Perched high above the bay of Funchal with sweeping views across the city and out to sea it feels like home from the moment you arrive.

A vast estate, the property is a working farm with a vineyard and a long, fascinating history! The beautiful gardens offer the perfect sanctuary to escape too with a book as well as a large pool, tennis courts and ponds. This is not a remote location, we are only a 15-minute walk into the city even though feel fully secluded by the estate.

The vast property has all manor of rooms to relax and have fun in! Alongside sitting rooms, there is a library and terrace with stunning views across Funchal. Outside you can enjoy the large pool, pool room with billiards, table tennis and a piano to play on!

Madeira is famous for its flowers and the expansive gardens are a prime example. Filled with perfect spots to escape to with a book or, head to the pool to relax on a lounger.

Yoga

The yoga classes on our yoga holiday Madeira will be suitable for all levels and abilities. We love having to introduce total beginners to yoga!

We hope to make the most of the amazing climate and gardens of the Quinta and do as many classes as possible outside under the shade of the trees. There is also a beautiful indoor yoga space perfect for restorative and meditations sessions.

Our morning yoga classes will be a blend of grounding Hatha, strong flows and creative movements to energise you for the day ahead. Evening sessions will be a blissful end to the day with restorative, yin and meditation.

You will need to bring your own yoga equipment on this retreat. We recommend you bring a mat, block and a blanket.

Retreat schedule

The days of your New Year hiking yoga holiday in Madeira will be the perfect blend of adventure and relaxation.

Arrival is from 4pm. If you fly into Funchal earlier, there is a baggage drop in the city, where you can leave your bags to explore. Transfers are not included in this holiday as the venue is only 20 minutes from the airport, so you can arrive and depart on flights that work best for you. Departure is from 10.00am. The venue has strict check-in and check-out times, so we ask that these times be honoured.

7 am

Tea and pre-yoga snacks served in the terrace

7.30 am

Energising morning yoga

9 am

Delicious vegan/veggie brunch to fuel the days adventures

Day 1

28th December: Arrival day from 4pm: evening yoga, dinner

10 am – Day 2

29th December: Walk into Funchal to explore the local area

10 am – Day 3

30th December: Guided hike through the Levada trails – setting intentions workshop, new year!

10 – am Day 4

31st December: Guided hike along the coastal paths, taking in the incredible views

10 am – Day 5

1st January: Wake up a bit later, relaxed morning, enjoy Funchal

10 am Day 6

2nd Januar: Sunrise hike

10 am Day 7

3rd January: A day to yourself to do as you please

Day 8

Departure at 10.00am

4 pm

Back home to relax and unwind

Cuisine

The island is known for its wonderful fresh produce from nutrient-rich volcanic soils.

We will make the most of the subtropical climate and the abundant local produce to create our plant-based/vegetarian meals, which you can enjoy.

As you probably know, Madeira is also famed for two of life’s most beautiful gifts – wine and cake. Of course, it would be rude not to, especially as our Quinta is home to a vineyard, and you can experience everything from grape to glass in the garden!

Our post-yoga veggie brunch will fuel your days’ adventures, and evening meals will showcase the skills of our chefs and produce on the island.

As we will be out and about during the days, lunches will be from local cafes, markets and restaurants while we are out. We will provide you with a delicious packed lunch on hike days when this is impossible.

Your evening meal will have two plant-based courses, a main course and a dessert.

Please let us know about your dietary requirements, as we can usually cater for you.

For New Year, enjoy a four-course New Year celebratory veggie/plant-based feast and enjoy the fireworks displays from the balcony with views over the whole of Funchal.

Rooms & Prices

There are 9 unique bedrooms within the Quinta with plenty of space and character. With a traditional feel they are simple but exceptionally clean and comfortable each with views across the gardens or out to sea. Each room has a private bathroom with showers. There are a mix of private doubles and twin rooms available.

There are a variety of room options and prices for you – see below:

Spacious master suite single en-suite room with sea views: £1899

Single en-suite with terrace and sea views: £1899

Single en-suite with garden views: £1749

Single room with a double bed and a shared bathroom with 1 other person: £1699

Single room with a single bed and a shared bathroom with 1 other person: £1649

Twin room with en-suite and sea views: £1599pp

small twin en-suite: £1449pp

A twin room is two single beds for two people sharing

Includes

• Traditional Madeira Quinta with lots of outdoor space and room options
• Outdoor pool and dining area, games room and tennis court
• Exclusive access to the Quinta
• Energising morning yoga classes
• Restorative evening yoga classes
• Delicious plant based/veggie brunch after yoga with our AY chef
• Delicious plant based evening meal after yoga with our AY chef
• Plant-based lunch if staying at the Quinta
• 2 guided hikes with qualified guides and packed lunches
• Transport included for 2 hikes included in the price
• Transport to north of Island
• Setting intentions workshop
• New years even feast
• Yoga mats
• Amazing AY team to look after your every need

What past guests have said

“I arrived full of physical tension and I’m leaving radiating sunshine! Thank you for making this possible! I loved it ALL!”

“An amazing, relaxing and nourishing weekend, I met incredible teachers and people and go home inspired. Thank you.”

“Can’t wait to return. Please do another just the same next August. The perfect escape and I’m sad to leave but feel mended and with a happy heart.”

Location and how to get here

Madeira is easily accessible from a number of UK airports and various airlines. The flight time is roughly 4 hours.

Airport transfers are not included within your package with us so to allow for you to arrive as and when you choose. As with all of our retreats we will be able to link people arriving on the same flights to share taxis etc. The transfer from the airport to the property takes 20 minutes.

Access to the property on arrival day will be no earlier than 4pm and departure from the property will be no later than 10 am.

Below are the departure airports that offer direct flights to Madeira.

London Gatwick – flights with EasyJet
Heathrow – flights with British Airways
London Luton – flights with Whizz Air
Bristol – flights with EasyJet

Booking

To book on to this New Year Yoga Retreat in Madeira, fill in the form below. Get £20 off your first booking when you book through Soul Seed Travel.