9-Day Yoga & Nature Island Escape in Madeira, Portugal

Each day starts with a yoga session or workshop. The classes are built to work for mixed abilities, so beginners get the foundations and more experienced practitioners get options to go deeper. After class there's breakfast, then the day splits: some mornings head out on a group hike, and on others you have meditation, journaling or art supplies on hand if you want something quieter. Afternoons are deliberately open — pool, balcony, a walk into Funchal, or an extra nap.

The hiking is the part that surprises people. Madeira's levada trails follow old irrigation channels through laurel forest, and the routes to the volcanic peaks and coastal cliffs are the reason people call the island a hiking paradise. The group hikes are guided and each one gives a different view of the island — one day it's forest, another it's cliff edge and ocean.

This is not a bootcamp-style retreat. There's no set fitness requirement beyond being able to join a walk and get on a mat. The structure is loose enough that you can skip a session if you're tired and nobody will chase you. That said, if you want to move every day, there's enough on the schedule to do it.

The retreat is run by Of the Earth Yoga and Wellness, a US-based team that leads similar island yoga and hiking weeks in Hawaii, Greece, Spain and Colorado. The facilitator team for each departure is confirmed before the stay, so you'll know who's teaching before you travel. The group size is kept small enough for the teachers to give individual attention in class.

What's included

- 9 days at The Cliff Bay, a Porto Bay hotel in Funchal - Daily yoga sessions and workshops - Guided meditation sessions - Guided group hikes on Madeira's trails - Journaling and art supplies available - Meals tailored to the group, including dietary needs - Access to hotel pools, fitness centre and three restaurants - Sea-view rooms with private balconies and air conditioning

What's not included

- International flights to Madeira - Airport transfers (confirm with the leader) - Travel insurance - Personal expenses - Optional spa treatments and upgrades - Alcohol and drinks outside included meals