- Clear sustainable travel policy
- Social / Environmental Impact
- Tourism Dispersal
- Behavioral Awareness Education
- Small Group Travel
- Listen to Community Feedback
Hone your camera skills on this photography retreat by practicing in natural settings under the guidance of a pro! When not behind your camera, stimulate your mind and body through daily yoga sessions. To sustain your creative energy, delight in leisurely meals made of fresh, seasonal ingredients, and end each day sipping a locally-produced wine. Come and enjoy the good vibes!
Unleash your creativity as you learn expert tips from a pro to take your photos to the next level. Feel rejuvenated with daily yoga classes, amazing home-cooked meals, and regional wines. Relax and disconnect from your busy day-to-day life as you soak in the beautiful Alentejo landscape surrounding this eco-retreat. When not practicing with your camera in different settings under professional guidance, you can read by the pool, or take part in optional activities such as horseback riding, cycling, surf lessons, or even getting a massage. The beauty and tranquility of rural Portugal will surely nourish your mind, body, and soul.
What’s included:
- 6 nights stay at an eco-friendly retreat center with full access to the gardens, hiking trails, gym, and pool
- 3 healthy delicious home-cooked meals a day with local and organic products
- Wine tasting throughout the week, featuring different local, natural wines with every dinner
- Morning energizing yoga sessions in an open-air environment surrounded by nature
- 1-2 hours per day of a photography workshop with Cam
Food and wine play an important role in this unique photography and yoga retreat! Every day we will start with a 75-minute yoga class on our beautiful yoga platform (“the Ground”) followed by a delicious and healthy breakfast. You will enjoy three daily meals always prepared with local, fresh, and seasonal ingredients. At every dinner, we will present a different natural wine sourced by small local producers.
The rest of the time, you will be free to explore on your own, rest in a hammock, or lounge in the sun. If you want to practice photography in other scenarios, Cam will join you on some of your excursions to give you direct feedback and orientation.
What will the photography program be like?
The photography workshop will be very practical and hands-on. Subjects will include landscapes, animals, and people. You must bring your own camera (a real one, not your phone).
Topics we will cover:
- Understanding your camera and shooting modes
- Metering modes and balanced exposure
- Composition and storytelling
- Aperture, ISO, and shutter speed
- Lens and focal length
- Portrait vs landscape
- Outdoor natural light
The photography retreat will be adapted to the skills and flow of the group with both group and individual sessions. You will be given plenty of time to explore your creativity on your own. Previous experience in photography is not necessary and the workshop is accessible to all levels.
Meet the Photographer:
Cam was born and raised in LA but lived most of his life in NYC, where he worked 20 years as a professional photographer and collaborated with some of the biggest names in the photography world. He worked for many international magazines, and worldwide advertising campaigns but his passion is portraits. Indeed he photographed many worldwide celebrities. His shoots are always fun and full of good vibes!
This photography and yoga retreat has multiple set dates:
- April 30-May 6
- November 5-11
- December 2-8
Group Privatization:
If you want to bring your own group, we recommend avoiding the crowded high season and coming in spring (April to June) or fall (September to November). The beaches are deserted, and the days are mostly sunny and warm (you’ll need a cardigan for the evenings though).
Related Trips:
- [7 Days] Sustainable Yoga & Wine Retreat
- [5 Days] Not So Serious Yoga & Wine Retreat
- [7 Days] Stone Sculpting & Yoga Retreat
What is it Really Like?
Check out our blog post on Sustainable Retreats in Portugal for an even deeper look into what to expect. Or, watch these three 20-second video clips to get a sense of a typical day at this beautiful eco-retreat center.
- Yoga, brunch, visiting a small coastal town
- Brunch, coastal hike, market visit, early evening yoga
- Free time, afternoon yoga, family-owned winery visit
Seasonal Notes:
Spring (March to May) is considered the best time to visit Portugal because of the mild weather and lower crowds. The temperatures allow travelers to explore the country comfortably and flowers are bloomed at this time of the year, which adds to the picturesque beauty of the country. Choosing off-season months also contributes to enhancing the local economy as it guarantees income to the community all year round. Alentejo’s rural location fosters tourism dispersal, therefore avoiding overcrowding.
📋 Itinerary
This itinerary is customizable. Contact Yugen Earthside for more information about extending the duration of the trip and adding additional optional activities.
Day 1: Arrive in Lisbon [Portugal], transfer to the retreat center, dinner
Day 2-6: Yoga, brunch, photography workshop, free time, dinner
Day 7: Yoga, brunch, check out
🌱 Sustainability
Our View on Sustainability
Sustainability is a way of life here. Our family has a deep respect and love for the region of Alentejo and we are passionately committed to protecting and preserving her to the best of our ability. Gratefully, we are able to plant our roots here and carry a strong sense of social responsibility to our community.
Our experiences are all based on the amazing nature of this place and our incredible community and we put a lot of effort to protect both. We love to share it with our guests and try to involve them as much as possible. This includes making them aware of our challenges and how can they further help. This is a truly authentic experience composed of small local and sustainable entrepreneurs only.
On-Site Environmental Initiatives
- Solar panels for hot water and electricity
- Responsible use of water and electricity
LED lamps - Ecological soaps and detergents
- Reduce (waste), Re-use, Recycle
- Composting
- Avoid single-use plastic
- Organic farming
- Vegetarian meals (and vegan on request)
- Regenerative forestry
- Minimize footprint
- Protect wildlife
We make a big effort to maintain and increase the amazing biodiversity among us through the diverse activities explained during the trip. We use local, organic soaps and ecological detersives. The whole trip happens in a short circuit of 20 km. we are lucky to have nature, beaches, and historic towns all nearby to reduce the footprint. We don't sell single-use plastic items. We work a lot to reduce waste, reuse as much as we can, and recycle the rest. You will see our animals wandering free and happy along our property and the surrounding area.
Accommodation
Being the trip organizers, and the host of the accommodations ourselves, sustainability is part of our lives and business. Guests are welcome to explore every corner of the property and question any concerns they may have. As a small family business, we work very hard to improve every day and create a more positive impact on our environment and in our community.
Sustainable Economic Initiatives
We are a small start-up that works very closely with the local community that depends mostly on tourism and agriculture. The timing of the program (out of high season) helps the community to guarantee their income all year round. By working directly with local farmers and small food/wine producers, we help them to maintain their projects of family-owned, completely organic productions.
Sustainable Social Initiatives
- Community farming
- Support local artisans
- Preference and prioritization of local, small, and sustainable suppliers
- Celebrate local cultural heritage
- Inclusion and nondiscrimination
- Volunteering program
- Donations to local organizations
Being part of the local community ourselves, it's in our own interest to protect it and ensure it develops in a sustainable way. One of the high points of the travel is the visit to the sustainable farm where the grapes are grown before the winery and wine tasting. The tour is guided by the owner himself, a true expert that carries the work of 5 generations. The whole experience is very much community-oriented and we are very much actively involved in projects that protect it.
Responsible Animal Welfare
- Pet friendly!
- Prefer cruelty-free products
- Meat and fish sourced locally from trusted suppliers
- Support local pro-animal projects
Tourism Dispersal
This trip is in rural Portugal, taking travelers off the beaten path and avoiding tourist "hot spots".
Behavioral Awareness Education
We specifically discuss with travelers how to act responsibly in this destination, and why that's important.
- Adhere to Strict Environmental Standards
- Use Environmentally Friendly Products
- No Animal-Harming Tourism
- Use Renewable Energy
- Focused on Minimizing Waste
- Responsible Waste Management
- Use 100% Renewable Energy
- Local/Organic Food Served
- Eco-Friendly Cleaning Products
- Recycle >80% Waste
- Energy-Saving Lights
- Solar Thermal Panels
- Provide Local Employment
- Fair Wages / Fair Trade
- Ensures Good Working Conditions
- Supports Local Businesses
- Tours Benefit Local Community
📌 Location
Use the Google map to orient yourself about where in the world this trip is. The location indicates the starting point for this trip.
🏷️ Pricing
Optional Add-ons:
Guests can decide on most activities once at the retreat center.
For Surf, SUP, and kayaking, they’re dependent on weather, tides, and currents.
For the massage, it is better to book in advance to ensure we get the best masseuses, so please notify us when your booking is confirmed if you would like to schedule a massage.
Payment for add-ons is made on-site.
- Extra wine and cocktails.
- Outdoor massage with our Goddess Masseuse, Jana (70 EUR).
- Surf lessons with the best badass team in the area (~40 EUR pp, excluding rental material & transportation)
- Stand Up Paddle (SUP) tours (~35 EUR pp, excluding rental material & transportation)
- Kayak tours along the Mira River or the Atlantic (~25 EUR for 1 person / ~35 EUR for 2 people)
- Horseback riding (~60 EUR for 1 person / ~100 EUR for 2 people; 1h30 guided ride)
ℹ️ Other Info
Book with confidence: To reserve your spot on a tour, a 50% deposit will be required.
- If reserved more than 120 days in advance, the deposit is fully refundable for 30 days.
- If reserved less than 120 days in advance, the deposit is not refundable.
The balance is due 75 days prior to the trip's start date and it's non-refundable.
With a capacity of 12 guests only, plus its remote location, this retreat is a safe way to enjoy Portugal. We follow special cleaning protocols adhering to European regulations.
Please be fully vaccinated and boosted before traveling.
Be sure you have traveler's insurance.
Q: What does the Physical Rating of "Average" mean?
Just come with an open mind and willing to challenge yourself. Our certified yoga instructors gladly accommodate all levels.
Q: What are the accommodations like?
The retreat center has guest houses, an open-air Shala in the woods, a pool, a garden, a gym, and nearby walking trails. The retreat center initiates myriad sustainable projects, from its solar panels, organic farming, local artisan support, support of local pro-animal projects, and more.
Q: Is this trip recommended for solo travelers, women, LGBTQ+, and POC travelers?
Yes. We do not tolerate any kind of discriminatory behavior and we ensure a safe, friendly environment for all travelers.
Q: Can the retreat be done on dates other than the listed?
Yes, it can be privatized for small groups on request.
Q: How much wine is included in the program?
One glass per dinner, and the full wine-tasting experience at the winery.
Q: What kind of yoga is practiced?
A mix of styles with a base of Hatha. There are always pranayamas and dynamic flows, and the teacher always tries to challenge the students with poses that demand a bit more physical work.
Q: What kind of food is served?
Homemade, healthy, and delicious, all with seasonal and local organic products. Mostly vegetarian and international. Check out this 20-second video for a sampling of what's served!