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Welcome to Rural Escapes Portugal!

We host retreats and holidays in Portugal including yoga | 12-step | off-grid living | combined art retreats | volunteering opportunities |

Escape to a Hidden Sanctuary in the Southern Mountains of Portugal

Tucked away in a serene 6-hectare valley in the breathtaking Serra de Monchique, Algarve, our rural, off-grid retreat offers the perfect escape from the noise of modern life. Just 20 minutes from the healing spa town of Monchique and 35 minutes from the stunning surf beaches of Odeceixe and Aljezur, this is a place where time slows, nature sings, and you can truly unwind.

A Unique, Soul-Nourishing Experience

Step into a world untouched by the rush of daily life. Here, you can disconnect from distractions and reconnect with the rhythms of nature—whether it’s swaying gently in a hammock under ancient trees, exploring hidden trails, or gazing at a sky free from light pollution, where the stars shine like a jewelled tapestry.

Your Stay, Your Way

Whether you’re looking for a peaceful self-catering stay, an all-inclusive retreat, or an immersive experience in yoga, art, sound healing, and massage therapies, we offer something special for every traveler. We also provide a welcoming space for those in recovery from addictions, including members of 12-step programs.

Sustainable, Off-Grid Living

Our commitment to sustainability runs deep. Here’s how we live in harmony with the land:

Solar-Powered Simplicity: We rely on the sun for electricity and even generate some of our own gas through an innovative bio-gas system.
Pure Spring Water: Our drinking water comes from a natural spring, filtered through a charcoal system. We encourage guests to bring reusable bottles to reduce waste.
Wholesome, Plant-Based Cuisine: Most of our food is homegrown or sourced locally, with happy, free-ranging hens providing fresh eggs from our neighboring farms.
Eco-Conscious Practices: From compost toilets to natural building materials, we minimize our footprint and embrace a zero-waste lifestyle.

A Space to Inspire Change

With a maximum of 14 guests at a time, our retreats foster meaningful connections and a gentle impact on nature. Many who stay with us leave with a renewed perspective—choosing to eat more mindfully, reduce waste, and embrace a more sustainable way of life.

Host Your Own Retreat

We welcome teachers and facilitators from all disciplines to bring their retreats to this peaceful sanctuary. If you’re looking for a magical, off-grid venue to inspire and transform, click here to learn more.

Call us directly

accommodation

Set in 6 hectares of land with stunning views of valleys and mountains, Rural Escapes Portugal still has an intimate feel to it as we accommodate just 12 guests at any time, giving you an exclusive yet affordable experience. So if you are looking to get away from it all, then you really don’t need to look any further!

Our accommodation is simple and comprises of the following:

  • Four spacious bell tents, sleeping two guests comfortably on slatted beds with proper mattresses and warm bedding
  • A cabin that sleeps two and has its own seating area with a log burner, compost toilet and shower.
  • A shepherd’s hut with own shower, compost toilet and log burner  – perfect for vision quests
  • A camper van.

Facilities

All bell tents and rooms are fitted with comfortable beds and our facilities include the following:

  • Four compost toilets
  • Four solar heated showers
  • A shared outdoor kitchen and eating area
  • Clean bedding and towels
  • A washing machine – (€5 per load- free for volunteers)
  • A pool
  • Extra bed in your room for a child up to 10 years old if available (€5 per stay for cleaning costs)

Click here for accommodation prices

retreats & workshops

Looking for a relaxing retreat in the heart of the mountains? Our location is the perfect setting for you.

Nestled in a secluded valley in Serra de Monchique, surrounded by nature’s beauty, we offer stunning views of Mount Foia, the Algarve’s highest peak. Close to the south and west coasts of Portugal, we enjoy clean Atlantic air, exceptional air quality, and no light or sound pollution—perfect for immersing yourself in practice under the sun, moon, or stars.

“Allow the fresh mountain air to energise you from the outside in!”

We offer a range of retreats, with flexible options to suit your itinerary and budget. Choose from our listed retreats or enjoy a personalised 3-day yoga mini-break—ideal for a short, rejuvenating escape, just ask us for details.

Treatments
We collaborate with local holistic therapists to provide treatments such as Reiki, massage, sound healing, and even tattooing* (subject to availability).

Food
Our vegetarian meals are home-cooked and packed with goodness, using our own organic produce whenever possible. Other fruits and vegetables are sourced locally from nearby growers.

We’re happy to answer any questions and look forward to welcoming you to Rural Escapes Portugal!

Contact us

 

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about us

Bom dia!

We’re delighted that you have taken an interest in Rural Escapes Portugal. We are both professionals from the UK (London & Brighton). Ellis is an accomplished builder who can fix absolutely anything and everything and I am an experienced yoga teacher who has also worked in education for many years.

We have three grown-up daughters between us and good lives back in Brighton. However with the girls now grown up we felt we wanted to do something completely different together, experience self-sufficient living and build something that we could enjoy with others.

So how did we end up here?

We both became excited when we saw 6 hectares of land for sale in Portugal advertised on the internet and we decided take a look. That was back in 2015.

It hasn’t take us long to fall in love with this beautiful valley with it’s stunning views of Mount Foia. It is incredibly peaceful here with little disturbance as there are no roads running through it and no neighbours near by.

The land has many native trees including cork trees, Medronho (strawberry tree) and Eucalyptus, our aim is to eventually clear the land of Eucalyptus and introduce more native plants and trees including fruit and nut trees. There is no mains electricity here so we live completely off the grid.

Although neither of us came from a permaculture background we have found ourselves becoming drawn to this way of living, we fully appreciate the intelligence of mother nature and have found that as we move through the seasons we are continuously learning about the land, how to manage it and to live in harmony with it.

These are fresh and exciting times for us which we embrace fully. We hope you are able to join us here and become part of this adventure either as a guest, or perhaps on one of our retreats or even as a volunteer.

Namaste!

Camilla and Ellis Bergman

12-step yoga retreat | freedom through meditation | yoga courses off-grid living.

Get in touch!