OVERVIEW

LUXURY WELLNESS + CREATIVITY + FLORA

Join us for our newest addition to our retreat location as we partner with the Belmond Reid’s Palace hotel on the beautiful Portugese island of Madeira, the “island of Eternal Spring”.

HOTEL

This luxury retreat will be held at Madeira’s most exclusive hotel - the Belmond Reid’s Palace. AN ICONIC ESCAPE ON THE EDGE OF THE ATLANTIC. Set in lush subtropical gardens, this luxury five-star hotel overlooks and offers direct access to the beautiful deep blue sea of the Atlantic Ocean. Reid's Palace is the ultimate place to stretch out in the sun and relax. Over the years this luxury hideaway has honed the art of pampering, earning a reputation as the island’s most iconic hotel.

Timeless elegance on the island of eternal spring.

The hotel has a storied history that begins with one man: William Reid. This canny Scotsman left his family farm for our island’s warmer climes. Here, he set up a successful business in the Madeira wine trade. This was the era of the great ocean liners. Spotting an opportunity in hospitality, Reid bought a swathe of land on the rocky promontory where Reid’s Palace now stands.

Although William did not live to see his hotel completed, his sons welcomed their first guests in 1891. The Reid’s remained at the helm for many years before it passed on to the Blandy family of Madeira winemakers. In 1996, Belmond took the reins.

Over the years, many illustrious guests have passed through our doors. George Bernard Shaw learnt to tango here; Winston Churchill came to write his memoirs and to paint. The suite named in Churchill’s honour, with its magnificent garden views, continues to inspire and enchant today.

Nestled on a secluded promontory by the Atlantic Ocean with unparalleled views, the hotel features heated pools overlooking the sea, a seawater pool carved into the cliff, panoramic fitness centre and spa, tennis courts, and 3 restaurants including the Award-winning William Restaurant, one of the two Michelin-starred restaurants in Madeira with the only starred Madeiran-born Chef, Luís Pestana.

For over a century, Reid’s Palace has welcomed guests to its luxurious haven on the cliffs overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Traditional interiors celebrating the hotel’s British heritage look onto lush subtropical gardens of honeysuckle and jade vine, the swimming pools, and the sea beyond.

SURROUNDING AREA

Madeira is known as the “island of eternal spring”, or “the paradise garden of the Atlantic”, famous for its beautiful mountains, high cliffs, lava pools, magnificent dramatic landscape, greenery, exotic flowers, waterfalls and dark pebble beaches. It’s said to be like a floating botanical garden in the Atlantic, or Europe’s “Hawaii”.

Located off of the coast of Morocco, just north of Spain’s Canary Islands, Madeira is lush and offers steady and spring-like temperatures year round.

Our time there will allow us to experience the many unique landscapes and activities that this area has to offer, and our program will celebrate the flora of the island with a theme of “LIFE OF A FLOWER”. We will explore the elements of earth (planting), water (nourishing), sun (growing), and air (drying) in a creative way throughout our day trips and classes.

We will begin our week experiencing the main town of Funchal with a private chef guided tour to the famous markets to collect and learn about ingredients which will be a part of our “Flora Delights” Dinner Experience later in the day! Next, we’ll take a boat ride around the rocky cliffs to a property founded by a Jesuit priest which is now a winery! We’ll enjoy an exclusive guided tour of the organic farm, a luscious wine tasting in the cellar and lunch and return on one of Madeira’s famous cable cars. By mid-week, we’ll be ready to rise early for a ride to one of Madeira’s highest peaks to watch the sun rise above the clouds before a luxurious breakfast in the forest. We’ll enjoy a high tea at the hotel (which is one of the island’s most coveted table reservations.) Towards the end of our time, we’ll have a day learning about the gardens with a local botanist while we learn methods for preserving the flowers and create an art piece with our collections. Of course, our week isn’t complete without indulging in a spa day with luxurious treatment and a farewell dinner at a Michelin starred restaurant.

CUISINE

Healthful, vegetarian food is part of the retreat experience, including breakfast and dinner daily, as well as selected lunches. We've carefully chosen delicious and fresh meals from renowned restaurants and chefs to give guests an expansive experience of the cuisine. Our dinners will include a few multi-course tasting menus as well as tastings of the regional specialties throughout the week. We'll experience tastings from where certain local delicacies are produced, like rocky vineyards and local markets. And while on-site, we'll dine in the hotel's various restaurants or outside sea-view terrace. Our week includes a winery visit with tour, tasting and lunch, as well as a cooking class and dinner, a Michelin-starred dining experience, and plenty of opportunities to learn about this area through our tastebuds.

*NOTE FOR NON-VEGETARIANS : A full breakfast menu is open to guests each morning with many meat and fish options. There are a couple of meals within the week that we will add a seafood option and also a couple of lunches were guests are on their own so it’s a time where you can order as you wish.

ART & WELLNESS

A daily meditation and yoga class will be offered at the start of the day in a way to relax, stimulate, and help guests grow in their own personal practice. Classes are open to all levels, beginner to practiced, and can range from gentle, restorative, and more vigorous vinyasa flow and ashtanga styles.* Style and class levels will be determined and moulded to fit participating students' needs, and with a small intimate retreat class size, students will be able to get personalized attention and comfortability to deeply explore their practice.

FORM + FOCUS [ART & CREATIVITY RETREAT]
This retreat will feature Julian Hyzler from EASEL&LENS to combine a look at creative focus with art projects in travel journal creation (mix of writing, drawing, painting, collaging, and photography prints from our smartphones) throughout the week. Yoga and meditation classes will be held daily to prepare our bodies and minds to find a creative way to focus on our excursions through Madeira. We will create travel journals and learn more about now to create visual lasting memories that we can take home. *NO PREVIOUS ART OR YOGA BACKGROUND REQUIRED. All levels are welcome, and participation is voluntary. Projects and classes will be offered as a completely exploratory, un-intimidating and personal experience.

* Participation in classes and activities is optional throughout the retreat. All levels welcome!

DETAILS / PRICING

• 6 days \ 5 nights (Feb 25 - Mar 1, 2024)

• Inclusive Retreat Price = $4,395 (shared room*), +$1250 (single room)

• Deposit to hold space = $1500

• Max # Guests = 14
  Many of our guests come alone and we match up based on guest profile
  ** Final balance due 60 days before retreat start date.
  Read full cancellation policy in our Terms & Conditions.

1. INCLUDED*:

• 5* luxury hotel accommodation (spacious bedrooms, each with private bathrooms, linens)

• Daily Breakfast and Dinner

• Selected Lunches

• Transportation to/from day trips

• Daily meditation / yoga class

• Daily creativity class

• Use of hotel amenities (pools, relax rooms, spa, private beaches, gardens, etc.)

• Welcome Cocktail Reception

• Tasting menu dinner + wine pairings

• Regional Tasting Wine Tour

• Chef market experience & “Flora Delights” Dinner

• Visit to Funchal town

• Cable car Ride

• Private Boat Ride along the coast

• Spa Day & Treatment

• Botanical Class & Flower Art Experience

• Private Tour to Mountain Peak for Sunrise and Forest Breakfast

• High Tea

• Farewell Michelin-Star Dinner

• Transfers to/from Airport

• Taxes

2. * airfare not included
   ** all meals are vegetarian. special dietary restrictions can be accommodated
   ***activities may change based on weather or unforeseen circumstances

   TRAVEL:

• Located in Funchal, the capital city of Portuguese archipelago and autonomous region of Madeira

• AIRPORTS: Funchal Cristiano Ronaldo International Airport (FNC)

• Direct flights from the US, Europe, and various international locations are available

• Airport transfers to/from hotel will be provided. Hotel is an easy 20min ride away.

3. SUGGESTED PACKING:

   Besides the basic packing and travel needs, here are a few things to think about bringing with you.

• * YOGA MATS & CREATIVITY CLASS SUPPLES ARE PROVIDED *

• Bathing suit (pools, spa, beaches)

• Yoga clothes

• Layered clothing for varying temperatures on mountains and beaches

• Plug adaptors / converters

• Comfortable walking shoes

• Hat, sunscreen