About this retreat
Join Saira Francis and Amanda McGregor for a Blissful Algarve Retreat Set in a lush valley surrounded by woodland, Aterra invites you to immerse yourself in its tranquil setting. Stay in beautifully crafted tipis, yurts, cabins, or a charming Airstream trailer, all overlooking a peaceful wild swimming lake.
Inspired by Balinese design, Aterra is a sanctuary where comfort meets sustainability. The name itself, meaning “The Land” or “The Earth,” reflects the deep connection to nature and the ethos of mindful living.
Be part of this conscious project and learn to embrace a more sustainable and harmonious way of life. Last spaces now remaining.
What's included
Prepare for a truly transformative experience during your time at Algarve retreat. Begin and end each day with a balance of Vinyasa and Restorative yoga led by Saira, designed to uplift and restore both body and spirit. Throughout your stay, you’ll be nourished with delicious plant-based meals, refreshments, teas, and snacks, all lovingly prepared to support your journey.
Evenings will be spent enjoying company, joining Saira's love of Balearic Beats and 80's, 90's dance music with raw cacao and conscious, ecstatic dance. Art & nature workshops or mocktails by the lake before retiring to your luxury spaces for well earned rest.
Relax by the peaceful freshwater natural lake, complete with a private beach and an alcohol-free bar, or take time to explore the surrounding woodland and trails. Our retreat at Aterra offers a unique opportunity to reconnect with yourself through sound healing, meditation, chanting, and mantra practices, all woven into your daily retreat.
Enjoy eco-luxury accommodations that include solar-heated showers, dry compost toilets, and even roll-top baths in some spaces, blending sustainability with comfort. For those seeking adventure, optional excursions to nearby surf beaches and local activities can be arranged. Alternatively, embrace the quiet stillness of the retreat to create a deeply healing, tech-free escape from the world.
Holistic therapies are available with Aterra’s skilled therapists, offering the perfect way to enhance your retreat experience.
This is more than a retreat; it’s an invitation to step away from the chaos of daily life and embrace a slower, more mindful way of being. Whether you’re seeking adventure, healing, or simply space to breathe, our Algarve retreat at Aterra promises headspace, heart space, and the freedom to truly chill out.
This retreat could not have been more perfect, the weather, the location, the people and Saira, it was like all the stars aligned ⭐️ I will definitely attend a Mellulah retreat again, Saira is kindness personified and it is so much more than yoga I came home with my heart full of joy, my lungs full of air and my mind calm. Sophie, retreat guest
Algarve Retreat Accommodation
We have a yurt, tipis and bell tents still available for you
You can book a solo option or book a space in a triple to share with others, you can bring your own friends or we’ll match you up with lovely new ones! Or if you are coming with a friend or as a couple and wish to have the space to yourselves book the 2 friends/couples special option.
We won’t put men and women together in shared spaces, but men are so welcome and can book a shared bell tent space where we’ll match you with other guys. Men can book a solo space anywhere, but we’re keeping tipis and yurts to share for women only.
All spaces are gorgeous and luxurious, proper beds, soft bedding, mosquito nets, wooden floors, decking and set in woodland, nature and close to the wild swimming lakes.
Think luxury glamping. Set in an open field area of the landscape with the second wild swimming lake close by and shared toilets and showers nearby We have a men only bell tent if you wish to join us please do book in.
1 double and 2 single beds in this lovely large field/bell tent with outdoor area and shared bathrooms close by.
Shared triple bell tent £699pp Share with friends or we'll match you up with new ones
Couple/2 friends price £1600 Have the space to yourselves
Schedule
Arrive in Portugal and transfer to Aterra retreat (it is possible to arrive a day early and leave a day late, ask Saira for details if this would help your retreat planning)
4:00 pm Hellos! Enjoy tea in the balinese style eating area
5:30 pm Opening yoga with Saira and circle with Amanda in the outdoor covered yoga shala
7:00 pm 2 course supper in the eating area freshly made by Aterra private chefs (all diets catered for our retreat is entirely vegan or vegetarian to suit your needs)
8:30 am Vinyasa Flow Yoga with Saira
9:45 am Breakfast
10:30 am Indulge in a massage, a psychic reading with Sally or take a swim in the freshwater swimming lake, or just lie on the 'beach' by the lake, unwind, relax and enjoy your time out.
1:00 pm Lunch
2:00 pm Deep Karmic Clearing & Healing Meditation with Saira
4:00 pm Enjoy tea together in the Balinese style eating area
5:30 pm Restorative yoga and meditation with Saira
7:00 pm Vegan/Vegetarian Supper
8:30 pm Soul Immersive sound and flow with Balearic Beats and raw cacao drinks to enliven and inspire you
10:00 pm Gentle strolls back to our yurts and cabins though the beautiful trees to bed
8:30 am Vinyasa Flow Yoga with Saira
9:45 am Breakfast
10:30 am Relax time
1:00 pm Lunch
2:00 pm Art workshop, 'create your own nature mandala' with Amanda. Gather natural pieces from the landscape around us to bring together and create our own beautiful mandalas in the Earth
4:00 pm Enjoy tea in the Balinese style eating area
5:30 pm Restorative yoga and meditation with Saira
7:00 pm Vegan/Vegetarian Supper
8:00 pm Sound healing bowls with Saira
8:30 am Vinyasa Flow Yoga with Saira
9:45 am Breakfast
12:00 pm Begin an afternoon of complete relaxation, or choose to take some time out in the local area or to one of the many beautiful beaches such as Praia do Carvalhal, at 15 minute drive from the retreat
1:00 pm Lunch
4:00 pm Herb teas for those who have stayed at the retreat for the afternoon
5:30 pm Restorative yoga and meditation with Saira
7:00 pm Pizza night!
8:00 pm Raw cacao ceremony and conscious dance sound and healing evening in the covered outdoor workshop space
10:00 pm Gentle strolls back to our beds for a night of beautiful dreams surrounded by the sounds of nature
8:30 am Vinyasa Flow Yoga with Saira
9:45 am Breakfast
10:30 am Relax time
1:00 pm Lunch
2:00 pm Cyanotype Art and meditation workshop with Amanda in the beautiful landscape of Aterra.
4:00 pm Enjoy tea in the Balinese style eating area
5:30 pm Restorative yoga and meditation with Saira
7:00 pm Vegan/Vegetarian Supper
8:00 pm Closing ceremony with sound vibrations and fire circle with Saira and Amanda
10:00 pm Last sunset and stroll back to our beds
8:30 am Vinyasa Flow Yoga with Saira
9:30 am Farewell breakfast
10:30 am Goodbyes!!
Frequently Asked Questions
The nearest airport is Faro 1.5 hours or Lisbon 2.5 hours drive. We will help you arrange your transfer, there will be some additional cost for this, hiring a car is fairly inexpensive, taxis are easy to book ahead, we will support you in journey planning and share the best flights from the UK .
See Skyscanner to compare the best flights from your area.
Currently best flights from Bournemouth are to fly Wednesday 4th June 17.30pm and back Wednesday 11th June 14.30pm
You can stay at Attera before and after the retreat do get in touch if you would like to know more. Arrive Wednesday 4th June and leave Wednesday 11th June for just 45 Euros per night with breakfast included, lunch and supper 35 Euros per day for these extra nights if you wish to.
Best flights from Bristol are 06.25am on Thursday 5th June and back 16.05pm on Tuesday 10th June
Best flights from Gatwick are 08.00am Thursday 5th June and back 19.20pm Tuesday 10th June with Wizz
Prices will change as we draw closer to the retreat.
Transfers from Faro or Lisbon airport are not included, but we’ll help you coordinate travel with other guests via a pre-retreat WhatsApp group for ease and convenience.
While the retreat offers plenty of opportunities to unwind and reconnect, optional extras such as local activities, holistic therapies, and treatments can be arranged during your stay at an additional cost.
Please note that alcohol is not included, as we encourage a conscious, mindful environment to fully support your healing journey.
Absolutely yes, all our retreats are perfect for travelling solo. We usually have a mixture of solo guests and those coming together as friends or family. We will make sure that you are comfortable, have everything you need and you will soon make friends and feel a part of the retreat tribe.
You can book a solo or a shared room and we'll match you up with new friends, always same gender.
The retreat venue have their own amazing local chef to cook you beautiful vegan or vegetarian meals depending on your needs, throughout your stay.
We always like to bring you the healthiest meals while on retreat with us. A retreat is an opportunity to reset and cleanse in all areas of body, mind and spirt, you won't find any alcohol or processed foods. Menus are careful curated for you to enjoy and be inspired by.
You will leave feeling rejuvenated and energised by the delicious and healthy, nutritious meals served.
Do let us know if you have any dietary requirements we need to be aware of.
We always recommend not using your phone while on retreat with us. You will want to take photos and check in with family at home, so try to limit phone use and keep it in your room or switched off as much as you can. Respect other guests by not using your phone in the rooms or retreat spaces, its best to go outside to make calls etc.
You will feel you have gained so much more from your retreat if you delete social media apps and also getting a new SIM and only giving it to your loved ones who may need you, is a great way to get a proper break.
Talk to Saira about digitally detoxing and how to get the most from your much needed time away.
Meet your host
Saira Francis has been a healer for over two decades, offering authentic support, compassion, and guidance to those in her community. Based in West Dorset, Saira is an experienced yoga teacher, holistic therapist, and energy and sound healer. Drawing from her own experience treading along the healing path, Saira can offer heartfelt support for those just embarking on or continuing their journey. Her dedication to helping others has guests returning to Mellulah Yoga Retreats over and again for her energetic guidance and practise.