AcA - a 12 Step Retreat

5-11 May, 2026

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A Gentle Guided Journey Back to Yourself

This retreat is a space for women who attend Adult Children of Alcoholics Meetings and are actively involved in the 12-Steps either in ACA or another fellowship. It offers a supportive and nurturing environment to explore your inner world, reconnect with yourself, and begin to heal from within

Together, we’ll gently explore the different parts of ourselves — including the inner child, inner teenager, and inner critic — with compassion, curiosity, and care.

What to Expect

Reconnect with the inner child and unmet emotional needs
Understand and soften the voice of the inner critic
Explore patterns shaped by early experiences
Build a more loving and supportive relationship with ourselves
Learn how to become a steady, compassionate presence in our own lives

This is not about ‘fixing’ yourself, but about remembering who you are beneath old patterns – and learning to meet yourself with kindness rather than judgement.

Who Is this Retreat For

This retreat is a space for women who identify as adult children of alcoholics and have therefore experienced challenging emotionally complex childhoods. It offers a supportive and nurturing environment to explore your inner world, reconnect with yourself, and begin to heal from within.

Together, we’ll gently explore the different parts of ourselves — including the inner child, inner teenager, and inner critic — with compassion, curiosity, and care.

“Addiction is a family disease, one person may use, but the whole family suffers.”

Structure of the Day

Each day follows a steady rhythm

9am – 10.45am > Gentle yoga
11am – 12pm > Brunch
12.15pm – 1.45pm > AcA workshop
2pm-5pm > Chill time – pool, hammock, walk in nature, rest
5.15pm – 6.45pm > AcA workshop
7pm – 8pm > Vegetarian dinner
8 – 9pm > Check-in – AcA meeting

“There’s a balance here – structure to support the work, and space to simply be.”

Accommodation & Food

Our accommodation is simple, comfortable, and immersed in nature.

Our accommodation is simple, comfortable, and immersed in nature — designed to help you slow down, rest, and feel at home.

Guests stay in a mix of thoughtfully prepared spaces, including bell tents with low slatted beds and mattresses, two cabins (Om Shanti – a studio, and Sunrise Lodge with two rooms and a kitchen), and The Shepherd’s Hut. The cabins and Shepherd’s Hut each have their own showers, while the bell tents share two outdoor showers. Across the land, we use eco-friendly compost toilets.

Accommodation is available on a shared or single basis, and spaces are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Please let us know your preference when booking, and we’ll do our best to accommodate you.

There is also a natural swimming pool, offering a refreshing place to cool off, relax, and enjoy the surroundings.

Food

Meals are vegetarian, nourishing, and prepared with care, using ingredients sourced mainly from local farmers’ markets, along with seasonal produce from our own garden wherever possible. We aim to use organic ingredients, and always offer vegan and gluten-free options.

We understand that everyone’s needs are different, and we’ll always do our best to be as flexible and accommodating as possible. If you are following a specific food program or your diet includes meat, you’re welcome to bring or purchase your own — we can stop in Monchique on arrival if needed, and we’ll provide fridge space so you can store and combine it with the meals we prepare.

Living Off-Grid

At Rural Escapes Portugal, we live in harmony with nature — and that’s part of the magic. Our centre is completely off-grid, using the sun for power and sustainable systems for water and waste.

You’ll find compost toilets and outdoor private showers, all clean, thoughtfully designed, and easy to use. Many guests arrive a little unsure — and leave saying it’s one of their favourite parts of the experience.

There’s something incredibly grounding and joyful about showering in a private shower with a view of the mountains and knowing your stay treads lightly on the earth.

This simple, natural way of living helps set the tone for the retreat: slower, more mindful, and gently connected to what really matters.

About the Facilitators

This retreat is the second of it’s kind here at Rural Escapes Portugal. It is facilitated by Alex Raeburn and Camilla Bergman, both of whom have been in long-term recovery. They bring lived experience, understanding and a grounded, compassionate approach to this work.

Your Investment

Investment:

Shared accommodation: €520 per person

This retreat is offered with affordability in mind, while still honouring the value of the space, food, and shared experience. In keeping with the spirit of the fellowship, this retreat is offered at a lower rate than our usual retreats.

* Please note you will need to get travel insurance before your trip.

Contribution includes:

- - 5 nights accommodation
  - All vegetarian meals
  - Tea, coffee, snacks, filtered spring water
  - Accommodation (shared or single)
  - Daily gentle yoga with meditation practice
  - Trip out to the beach
  - Transfer from Faro Airport

Flight Transfer

The flight transfer from Faro Airport is included as part of your package.

5 May (arrival day) pick up at 17:00 from Faro Airport

11 May (departure day) drop off arriving at Faro Airport 12:00

Please consider the flight transfer times before booking your flight, and preferably contact us so we can confirm timings and make sure everything runs smoothly.

This is not about “fixing” yourself, but about remembering who you are beneath old patterns — and learning to meet yourself with kindness rather than judgment.