Yoga and Wellness Escape for Solo Travelers in Sintra, Portugal

The retreat unfolds at Shamballah, a family-run house in the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park, just a twelve-minute drive from Sintra's train station. The property is surrounded by gardens and forest, with easy access to cliff-top villages and the Atlantic Ocean. Mornings begin with a vinyasa yoga class in a converted barn, followed by a meditation session with Zarqa, who draws on four years of monastic training. After a loud, social breakfast of fresh sourdough, garden fruit, and Portuguese cheese, the day opens up into unstructured time—guests can join a coastal walk to Azenhas do Mar, visit Sintra's palaces, browse local markets, or simply stay put and do nothing at all. Lunch is a buffet of mostly organic, plant-based dishes made from produce grown in the garden. Afternoons stretch out lazily, with optional cooking classes, beach trips, or hammock time. The evenings wind down with a communal dinner around the long table, sharing stories and wine-free conversation. One afternoon, there's a walk to the village alone—a fifteen-minute stroll that feels surprisingly significant when you're navigating Portugal on your own. Later in the week, the group drives to Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point of continental Europe, where the Atlantic crashes against the cliffs, and the scale of things puts your own worries into perspective. The instructors, Patricia and Zarqa, are the heart of the experience. Patricia has over twenty years of teaching experience and a background in physical education, while Zarqa brings a deep meditative practice honed over years of intensive study. Together, they create a space that's both grounded and transformative, balancing effort with surrender, movement with stillness. The food is simple, healthy, and mostly from the garden, served with warmth and care. By the end of the six days, guest reviews consistently mention feeling reset, relaxed, and more connected to themselves, often describing the experience as 'a complete reset' in beautiful surroundings.

What's included

- 5 nights accommodation - 5 healthy breakfasts - 5 morning yoga classes - 5 evening yoga classes - 4 surf classes (all equipment and insurance included) - 4 lunch buffets or take-away packages - 5 dinner buffets - 10 guided meditations - Airport pickup from Sintra station - Coastal walks and excursion to Cabo da Roca - Free cancellation up to 30 days before arrival

What's not included

- Flights - Airport transfers (available at €50 per vehicle one-way) - Additional treatments (e.g., massage, shiatsu) - Additional activities not mentioned in the itinerary - Travel insurance - Personal expenses