Join our beautiful retreat in Portugal
We’ll be based at a serene yoga retreat tucked away in the countryside near Santa Luzia, a short distance from Tavira in the Algarve. Surrounded by peaceful natural beauty, you can choose between thoughtfully designed private or shared rooms, take dips in wild swimming pools, and enjoy vibrant, vegan or vegetarian meals each day.
Your days will be gently guided with yoga, sound healing, and intuitive movement, alongside plenty of time to rest, reflect, and simply be.
If life has been feeling busy, draining, or a little out of balance, this is your invitation to pause — to reconnect with your body, your breath, and a deeper sense of calm and clarity.
Every element has been carefully curated to help you fully switch off and recharge — including nourishing food, daily practices, aesthetically pleasing accommodation, and time held in nature. Here’s what’s included in your retreat:
Stay in a beautiful solo ensuite or shared room. Modern, comfortable accommodation with all you need. Fully equipped kitchen and living spaces, bathroom with showers and either air-con or fans for warm nights.
Start each day with uplifting Vinyasa yoga and wind down each evening with restorative yoga and meditation, all guided by Saira and suitable for all abilities.
Expect a blend of yoga, breathwork, and vagus nerve reset practices, all designed to help you slow down, reconnect, and bring your nervous system back into balance.
Take part in daily guided practices including meditation, chanting, cacao ceremonies, creative art workshops with Amanda and immersive sound healing sessions
Swim in either of two chemical, chlorine free natural swimming pools, surrounded by lush gardens and loungers. Unwind in the communal spaces, abundant terraces and lovely roof terrace.
Reignite your spark with conscious dance nights, sunset sound healing and evenings under the stars.
My retreats are intentionally curated and deeply personal, giving you space to connect, rest and feel held by a like-minded group. Expect laughter, deep soul work and abundant consciousness.
1:1 holistic treatments and massages with experienced therapists. Floatation salt tank experience Day out to the beach, bike hire, ferry costs and taxis to visit beyond the retreat area.
"I’m just back from Saira’s wonderful retreat in the Algarve which has totally rekindled my love of yoga. I’ve been on several yoga retreats in the past and this one surpassed them all. I found Saira’s retreat having been to several of her amazing sound baths. From the chat with Saira before booking to the resources provided after we got home, every detail was thought through and planned to give us the best possible experience, with a few surprises too! I hadn’t practiced yoga for a number of years and worried it would be too strong for me, however Saira gives options throughout so you can go at your own pace. The food was exceptional, again all dietary options catered for, with the gluten free/vegan/etc options looking and tasting as good as everything else. I highly recommend this and other retreats Saira offers if you want to feel supported and cared for in a peaceful, inclusive environment. Many thanks to Saira and her lovely team". Dawn Cremin, June 2026
Algarve Yoga Retreat Room Options
The retreat is quite simply beautiful, quiet, rural surrounded by an organic small holding, close to the village but far enough out to feel you are tucked away from it all. Accommodation is of a high standard and you will feel as though you have stepped into a world of peace and tranquility.
The rooms are spread over three houses:
Two houses have separate apartments of 2-3 bedrooms in the hub of the retreat with the yoga studio and restaurant close by, surrounded by lush gardens and a wild, natural, swimming lake, chemical and chlorine free, all with air conditioning.
The other house has separate apartments with 2-3 bedrooms, has its own wild, natural, chemical free swimming lake for you to enjoy. This house is a four minute gentle stroll along a quiet path, 250 yards from the main area of the retreat, perfect if you like to step away. This house has mature shady gardens and large trees to keep rooms cool, all rooms have fans for warmer nights.
Air-Conditioned Rooms
Solo Occupancy
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Luxury Solo Double Ensuite – £1599Private room with your own ensuite bathroom or private bathroom, patio doors to garden terrace or with sea glimpses. Solo Double Ensuite – £1499Private room with your own ensuite bathroom, patio doors to garden terraceSolo Double Ensuite – £1350Private room with your own ensuite bathroom, upstairs with a skylight window-
Solo Double with Shared Bathroom – £1250Private room with a shared bathroom, patio doors to garden terrace.
Shared Occupancy (Double or Twin)
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Luxury shared Double/Twin Ensuite – £1399pp
Shared room (double or 2 single beds) with ensuite bathroom or private bathroom. -
Shared Double/Twin with Shared Bathroom – £1099pp
Shared room (double or 2 single beds) with shared bathroom facilities, ground floor.
Non Air Conditioned Rooms (these rooms are a four minute walk along a path to the main yoga space)
Naturally ventilated rooms with fan cooling.
Solo Occupancy
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Solo Ensuite – £1250
Private room with your own ensuite bathroom, first floor with patio doors to balcony with pool view. - Solo double with private bathroom
Private room on ground floor – £1250 - Solo double with shared bathroom
Private room on first floor with patio doors to balcony with pool view- £1099 -
Solo Room with Shared Bathroom – £1099
Private room with shared bathroom facilities.
Shared Occupancy (Double or Twin)
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Shared Room with Shared Bathroom – £950pp
Shared room (double or twin beds) with shared bathroom facilities.
Book with a £400 per person (£800 per couple) and balances will be due 2 months before the retreat start date.
Payment plans are also available please contact us and we’ll set this up for you.
Schedule
Arrive in Portugal and transfer to Santa Luzia retreat
4:00 pm Hellos! Enjoy tea
5:30 pm Opening yoga with Saira and circle in the air conditioned yoga shala
7:00 pm 2 course supper in the eating area freshly made by our private chefs, mother and daughter team, Elena and Aria (all diets catered for our retreat is entirely vegan or vegetarian to suit your needs)
8:00 am Breakfast smoothies
8:30 am Vinyasa Flow Yoga with Saira
10:30 am Brunch
11:30 am Indulge in a massage or take a swim in the wild natural chemical free swimming lake, unwind, relax and enjoy your time out.
1:00 pm Enjoy an afternoon activity together as a group, in the local area - walk to the village and catch the little ferry to the 'island' on the Ria da Formosa at Santa Luzia and enjoy sunbathing and swimming
4:30 pm Tea and snacks
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 bed
8:00 am Breakfast smoothies
8:30 am Vinyasa Flow Yoga with Saira
10:30 am Brunch
11:30 am Nature Art workshop with Amanda McGregor or enjoy an afternoon by the pool, take a walk to the village or we can hire bicycles and enjoy the easy cycle routes in the area. You might also like to book a massage with one of our amazing therapists.
4:00 pm Afternoon tea
5:30 pm Restorative yoga and meditation with Saira
7:00 pm Vegan/Vegetarian Supper
8:00 pm Sound healing bowls with Saira
8:00 am Breakfast smoothies
8:30 am Vinyasa Flow Yoga with Saira
10:30 am Brunch
12:00 pm Another opportunity to choose either a slow afternoon of relaxing at the retreat or a guided visit to the beach and coastline in the local area
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 Supper
8:00 pm Somatic movement with beautiful inspiring music, raw cacao and sunset watching together
10:00 pm Gentle strolls back to our beds for a night of beautiful dreams surrounded by the sounds of nature
8:00 am Breakfast smoothies
8:30 am Vinyasa Flow Yoga with Saira
10:30 am Brunch
11:30 am Relax time
2:00 pm Relax or take a bike ride into Tavira or to the beach just a few minutes away.
4:00 pm Enjoy tea on the roof terrace
5:30 pm Restorative yoga and meditation with Saira
7:00 pm Vegan/Vegetarian Supper
8:00 pm Closing ceremony with cacao, sound bath with bowls and gong.
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!!
Having already been a regular visitor to Saira’s Vinyasa Flow classes in Dorchester, I knew that a retreat with her would be a wonderful experience. But my goodness, it exceeded every expectation I had and so much more. The retreat theme, “Finding Your Inner Light,” was woven beautifully throughout the entire experience. Saira led every breathwork session, Vinyasa Flow practice, meditation, sound bath, and savasana with incredible expertise, authenticity, and love. Her ability to create such a safe, supportive, and nurturing environment is truly remarkable. If you are considering a retreat with Saira, don’t hesitate. It is a gift to yourself that you will treasure forever. Jen Freeman June 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Our retreat is held just outside a small fishing village called Santa Luzia, a few minutes from Tavira. Travel is simple to Faro airport and then a short 40 minute transfer to the venue. We arrange the transfer for you but its not included in the cost of the retreat.
Transfers from Faro are not included in the cost, we will arrange them for you and match you up with other guests where possible - taxi cost approx 45 euros each way, split between guest. Santa Luzia is only 40 mins from the airport.
While the retreat offers plenty of opportunities to unwind and reconnect, optional extras such as local activities, bike hire, holistic therapies, and treatments can be arranged during your stay at an additional cost.
Please note that alcohol is not included in the cost of your retreat
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.
We have amazing mother and daughter local team Elena and Aria 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 a digital detox while on a retreat with us, it's such an amazing and powerful way to shift into a deep healing space. On a retreat abroad, many of us will need to stay in touch with family, so we gently encourage as little tech time as possible, keeping communal and dining areas phone free other than for photos and using the phone quietly and away from other guests when calling home etc.
Talk to Saira about digitally detoxing and how to get the most from your much needed time away, whilst also keeping in touch with family where needed.
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.