6-Day Wellness & Yoga Escape on Portugal's Sintra Coastline

The retreat takes place in a family-run guesthouse called Shamballah, located on the coast within Sintra-Cascais Natural Park. The area is known for its dramatic cliffs, quiet beaches, and forested hills, and the house sits close to Praia da Aguda, a wild beach reached by a steep set of stairs. The setting is quiet and removed from the main tourist areas of Sintra town.

The daily program combines Hatha and Vinyasa Flow yoga with guided meditations. Patricia leads the yoga, and she has over 20 years of experience teaching bodywork, fitness, and Pilates. She adapts each class to the people in the room, so beginners and more experienced practitioners are both catered for. Zarqa's meditation sessions are informed by his long study of shamanic traditions and his years living in a meditation school. He also offers Ayurvedic massage.

Meals are a central part of the week. Breakfast and dinner are served buffet-style in the house, and a packed lunch is provided each day so it's easy to be out exploring during the afternoon. The food is vegetarian, mostly organic, and sourced locally where possible, with many ingredients coming from the hosts' nearby farm. Dietary requirements like vegan or gluten-free are accommodated with advance notice.

The house itself is a large private home set in a garden. It has four bedrooms, a living room with a pool table, and a terrace. There's a small gym and a jacuzzi in one of the bathrooms. It's a comfortable, lived-in space rather than a luxury hotel, and the atmosphere is relaxed and informal.

What's included

- 5 nights accommodation - 5 delicious and healthy buffet breakfasts - 5 delightful buffet-style dinners - 4 healthy and delicious lunch packages to take away - Spring water, teas and sugar free snacks - 10 yoga classes - 8 guided meditations - 1 active meditation - Sound journey or meditative concert - Life coaching consultation - Parking - Wifi connection

What's not included

- Airport transfers - Flights cost - Travel insurance - Visa fee - Additional activities not included in the itinerary