Women's Yoga & Equine Healing Retreat in Portugal's Alentejo

The retreat takes place at Malama, an eco-community on a hillside in northern Alentejo. The property runs off-grid: there's a composting toilet, an outdoor sink, a starlight shower (plus indoor showers if you prefer), and solar power for basics like phone charging. You'll hear roosters, see the Milky Way, and smell the resin from the cork oaks. It's not a polished resort — it's a working farm with five horses, a kitchen garden, and space to be quiet.

The horse work here isn't about horsemanship skills. You won't be grooming, lunging, or learning to ride. Instead, you'll spend time observing the herd, noticing how they interact, and then having one-on-one encounters where you simply stand with a horse, walk alongside it, or sit nearby. Natalie, an animal communicator, guides these sessions and helps you read the subtle cues: where a horse positions itself, how it breathes, whether it moves toward you or away. The idea is that horses respond to what you're actually feeling, not what you're saying, which can be revealing.

Dr. Susanne's yoga classes are gentle and adaptive. She trained with Alexander Breunlich in 2011-2012 and has been teaching ever since, layering in sound healing techniques she learned from Dinah Arosa Marker. In practice, this means some classes include humming, toning, or simple vocal exercises alongside the postures. She emphasises working within your own body's limits rather than pushing for a textbook shape.

Meals are prepared by Nicolas Curtil, a former vegan and vegetarian fine-dining chef who now cooks what the retreat calls 'soul food' — partly grown on the farm, served as a brunch buffet and a plated dinner. Dietary needs are accommodated, and guests consistently single out the food as a highlight. You'll eat together outside, usually looking out over the forest.

What's included

- 4 nights accommodation in 5m bell tents or the Malama Lodge - Brunch and dinner daily, plus snacks - Water, tea, and coffee throughout the day - Daily yoga, movement, and meditation sessions - All workshops with horses and animal communication sessions - One-on-one horse encounters - Herd walks and observation sessions - Sound journeys and evening meditations - Use of pool, yoga shala, and property facilities - Free wifi and free parking - A follow-up call after the retreat

What's not included

- Airport transfers - Flights - Travel insurance - Visa fees - Additional activities not listed in the itinerary - Additional treatments or private sessions