Wellness Escape: 8-Day Hiking & Yoga Retreat in Peneda-Gerês National Park, Portugal

Each day follows a gentle rhythm that lets the mountains set the pace. Mornings begin with coffee or tea at eight, followed by a 90-minute yoga session that combines Hatha alignment and Vinyasa flow. After a proper breakfast, the group sets out for the day's walk. Some days are half-day hikes to waterfalls and river beaches; others are full-day treks across high plateaus where herds of wild horses graze and the views stretch into Spain. The walking is the heart of the retreat — not athletic or competitive, but steady and absorbing, with plenty of stops to look, listen, and take in the scale of the landscape.

Afternoon yoga sessions shift to a slower, more restorative style, focusing on stretching, releasing tension in the hips and shoulders, and preparing the body for rest. It's a practical contrast to the morning's more dynamic practice. On some days the group visits the Castro Laboreiro castle, an ancient Roman bridge, or a local museum, weaving the region's history into the week. Evenings are simple: dinner together in the stone house, sometimes a cooking class, always early nights under very dark skies.

Your host is Anabela, a certified yoga teacher, hiking guide, and former journalist who has been running retreats here for two decades. She knows every trail in the park, where the otters play, and which cafés in the hill villages serve the best coffee. She's also a gifted cook, and much of the food you'll eat comes from her own vegetable garden. Her enthusiasm for the region is contagious, and she's as happy to talk botany as she is to recommend a good book from her library.

What's included

- 7 nights accommodation in a restored stone guest house - Airport pickup and drop-off (Porto) - Daily yoga classes (2 per day) - Daily meditation classes - Daily pranayama classes - Daily guided nature hikes - 3 daily vegetarian meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) - Cooking class (vegetarian) - Water, tea, and coffee throughout the day - Transportation during the retreat - Luggage storage - Free Wi-Fi - Free parking - Pre- and post-retreat support

What's not included

- Flights to Porto (OPO) - Travel insurance - Visa fees - Optional activities not in itinerary - Additional treatments or private classes (€40) - Personal expenses