Portugal · Adventure + Culinary

Algarve Retreat in Olhão: Taste, Explore & Slow Down on the Coast

Fresh Portuguese seafood, boat days along the Algarve coast, olive groves, markets, and slow mornings with optional rooftop movement, all from a historic home in the fishing town of Olhão.

Book Your Spot Talk to Our Team
Dates

Oct 13-19, 2027

Length

6 Nights

Group Size

18-20

From

$3,900/pp

Activity Level

All Levels

Let’s Adventure Together

Inside the Algarve Retreat

Lindeza. In Portuguese, it means beauty or loveliness, and it sets the tone for this Algarve retreat in Olhão, a picturesque fishing town on Portugal’s southern coast where life moves at a slower pace.
Our home for the week is a historic house with a rooftop pool and an en-suite bathroom in every room. Mornings start with movement on the rooftop to the sound of church bells, and some evenings wind down with yin yoga to live piano or a sound bath.
In between, we’ll taste olive oil at a traditional olive grove, browse the Saturday market, glide into sea caves along the Algarve coast, and take the ferry out to the golden sands of Ilha Deserta.

Retreat at a Glance

Is this retreat right for you?

How active, how pampered, and how social this trip feels, so you can pick the one that fits.

Activity

Easy

GentleChallenging

Comfort

Elevated

RusticLuxe

Your Time

Balanced

Mostly togetherLots of time alone

Food

Chef preparedPortuguese seafoodFamily style
  • Sandy beach tucked below golden cliffs and green scrub, with calm blue water stretching to the horizon on the Algarve coast
  • Private rooftop terrace with a slatted white pergola, flowing curtains, cushioned benches, and loungers over the town
  • Red brick market halls with green domed towers and café tables with white umbrellas along the waterfront in Olhão
  • Boats cruising past sea stacks in turquoise water below tall golden cliffs on the Algarve coast
  • Wooden boardwalk crossing sandy dunes toward a lagoon and a lone umbrella pine under a clear sky
  • Sunny bedroom with two twin beds, wood floors, a crystal chandelier, and a blue chaise lounge by the window
  • Wide golden beach with a wooden dune fence and waves rolling in under a blue sky
  • Guests sharing dinner at a long table in a white courtyard with bougainvillea, as an orange sunset lights the rooftops
  • Long wooden table in a brick courtyard set with fruit bowls, bread, jugs, and coffee cups for breakfast
Meet Your Hosts

Meet the hosts of your week.

Your week is led by Tiffany and Whitney. Tiffany has hosted this retreat in Olhão before and keeps the days easy to settle into, whether it’s your first retreat or your fifth.

Tiffany Ingersoll smiling in a gray tank top against a light wall

Tiffany Ingersoll

Pilates & Yoga Instructor

Tiffany has been teaching movement since 2008. She’s a certified Pilates and yoga instructor, a Pre/Postnatal Corrective Exercise Specialist, and an educator in breath and fascial release techniques. Her classes meet you where you are, whether it’s your first class or your five hundredth.

Read Tiffany’s Story

Welcome to Away Retreats

Let us handle it all.

“My retreat in Portugal with Away Retreats was restorative and rejuvenating. The experience was beautifully curated with the perfect balance of movement, connection, adventure and rest. Lindsay is an experienced retreat planner, I loved the connections I made with our group, and Casa Fuzetta is a truly magical setting. Highly recommend!”
– Michelle P., Portugal 2026

Itinerary

The Day-to-Day in Olhão

Everything is optional on all of our experiences. This is your retreat. You choose what you’d like to do each day.

  • Mornings: journaling or meditation, a movement class blending Pilates and yoga, and breakfast at the house.
  • Afternoons: lunch at 12:30, then free time to wander town, relax by the rooftop pool, or read. A catered snack comes out at 4:00, and we’re happy to book you a massage.
  • Evenings: an early movement class at 5:30 on some days, group dinner at 7:00, and some nights yin yoga with live piano or a sound bath at 8:30.

We go with the flow and enjoy the slower pace of southern Portugal, so activities may move between morning and afternoon depending on the weather.

Fly into Faro Airport (FAO), where private transportation to the retreat house is included. Settle into your room, get to know the house, and meet the group.

Visit a traditional olive grove, see how extra virgin olive oil is made, and taste oils straight from the grove. Then it’s lunch at a nearby farmhouse.

A day trip to the rock cliffs, with a one-hour boat tour along the coast and into sea-carved grottos, then lunch and time at the beach.

Olhão’s farmers market, right along the promenade, with booths inside and out.

The day is yours, with an optional mosaic tile workshop. Swim in the rooftop pool, read, wander town, or unplug as much or as little as feels right.

A mid-morning ferry into Ria Formosa Natural Park and out to Ilha Deserta, with lunch with a view and time on the golden sands.

After breakfast, private transportation back to Faro Airport (FAO).

Like the sound of this week?

Take a look at the rooms and hold your spot with a deposit. Questions first? Our team is happy to talk it through.

See Rooms & Pricing Talk to Our Team
Four smiling women in red life jackets sitting together at the back of a boat on a sunny day
Four smiling women in red life jackets sitting together at the back of a boat on a sunny day
Portugal

Olhão

What’s Included

  • Pre-trip & logistics support
  • Private roundtrip transportation to and from Faro Airport (FAO)
  • 6 nights at a historic retreat house in Olhão
  • All breakfasts
  • All meals except 2 lunches and 2 dinners
  • Movement classes blending Pilates & yoga principles
  • Yin yoga with live piano
  • Sound bath
  • Meditation & journaling sessions
  • Olive grove tour + olive oil tasting
  • Boat cave tour along the Algarve coast
  • Saturday market + Ria Formosa Natural Park (Ilha Deserta)
  • Roundtrip airfare to Faro, Portugal (FAO)
  • Travel insurance (required, and we have recommendations for you to explore)
  • 2 lunches (exploring is part of the fun here, and we will help you)
  • 2 dinners (there are many incredible options to choose from, and we’ll help or join you)
  • Any meals during travel before or after you meet the group
  • Specialty drinks (smoothies or alcoholic beverages)
  • Additional activities or spa services
The Experience

What your days actually look like.

Here, days follow an easy rhythm: movement in the morning, adventures along the coast, long family-style meals, and plenty of time to wander, swim, or simply be.

The Place

Long wooden table in a brick courtyard set with fruit bowls, bread, jugs, and coffee cups for breakfast

A Historic Home

Our home for the week is a historic house that cares about sustainability, from solar power and organic bath products to cutting single-use plastics. Every bedroom has an en-suite bathroom with a walk-in shower and 100% cotton linen sheets.

Colorful fishing boats moored side by side in a calm harbor under a blue sky

Off the Beaten Path

Olhão is a picturesque fishing town in southern Portugal, away from the busy tourist areas. There are no big hotels or resorts here, just traditional Portuguese living and some of the freshest seafood in the country.

Pink two-story building with white-framed doors and iron balconies on a patterned cobblestone street

Cobblestone Streets

The streets of historic Olhão are beautiful cobblestone, lined with old architecture and meticulously tiled walls. There’s ample time to meander and explore.

The Movement

Algarve yoga retreat mats and bolsters set out on a sunny rooftop terrace beside a small white chapel in Olhão

Rooftop Movement

Practice up on the rooftop to the sound of church bells in the distance. Classes blend Pilates and yoga principles and work for first-timers and advanced students alike.

Yoga mats and bolsters in rows under vaulted stone arches and chandeliers, beside a lit wall of wine bottles

Yin Yoga with Live Piano

Yin yoga is a meditative style where you relax into one position with blocks and cushions for several minutes. We practice in the house’s large entryway, where the piano’s acoustics help you tune in to your thoughts and sensations.

Ornate metal lantern holding white candles among potted plants and yellow hibiscus flowers on a brick floor

Evening Unwind

Some evenings end with a sound bath (you lie back and relax while singing bowls and other instruments fill the room with sound), myofascial release with massage balls, or gentle blended movement. The stained-glass ceiling of the meditation room makes it a lovely place to be still.

The Flavors

Guests sharing dinner at a long table in a white courtyard with bougainvillea, as an orange sunset lights the rooftops

Chef-Prepared Family Meals

Fresh local produce and world-famous Portuguese seafood fill the table. Meals at the house are chef-prepared and served family style, with Portuguese, Italian, Indian, and Mediterranean dishes, and dietary needs can be accommodated.

Hand holding a cluster of green olives on a silvery olive branch in soft sunlight

Olive Grove & Oil Tasting

Wind down a long, tree-lined drive to a beautiful olive grove, see how extra virgin olive oil is made (including an olive press from Roman times), and taste oils straight from the grove. Then it’s lunch at a nearby farmhouse.

Red brick market halls with green domed towers and café tables with white umbrellas along the waterfront in Olhão

Saturday Market

Olhão’s authentic market sits right along the promenade, with booths inside and out. We made sure to be in town on a Saturday just for this.

The Coast & Free Time

Large golden limestone sea arch rising from green water, seen from a boat along the Algarve coast

Boat Cave Tour

See a different side of the Algarve on a one-hour boat tour, gliding along golden cliffs and into sea-carved grottos. The day continues with lunch and time at the beach.

Aerial view of long sandy barrier islands and turquoise lagoons along the Ria Formosa coast

Ilha Deserta

A mid-morning ferry takes us into Ria Formosa Natural Park and out to Ilha Deserta, a tranquil, untouched island. We’ll have lunch with a view, walk the golden sands, and simply be.

Old boats painted with tulips and colorful houses used as planters along a cobblestone shopping street

A Free Day

Sunday is yours, with an optional mosaic tile workshop. Swim in the rooftop pool, read, wander town, or unplug as much or as little as feels right.

Make It Yours

Aerial view of a yellow historic house with a rooftop terrace, sun loungers, a white chapel, and a long pool
Optional Add-On

Massage at the House

Treat yourself to a massage without ever leaving the retreat house. It’s a lovely way to spend a free afternoon between movement and the rooftop pool.

Let us know and we’ll book it for you.

Glass jars of spices with handwritten Portuguese labels stacked on an orange display in a shop

What to Do With Your Free Time

You’ll have plenty of open time on this retreat. Here are a few things we love nearby. None of it is required. Let us know what you’re interested in during your retreat, and we’ll help you plan it.

Spend a free afternoon tasting local wines at a nearby winery. We’re happy to help you arrange it.

Book a Reiki session to relax and recharge during your free time. Just ask and we’ll set it up.

Ready When You Are

Save your spot, or just say hello.

Pick your room and hold it with a deposit, or book a quick call first. We’re happy to talk through the details, the group, and whether this trip is the right fit.

Choose Your Room Talk to Our Team
Where You’ll Stay

Choose your room.

Every room in the house is different, and each one has its own private bathroom. All prices are per person for the full retreat, and a deposit holds your spot.

October 13-19, 2027 | 6 Nights

Classic & Premium Suites

Bright bedroom with two twin beds, a striped rug, a grandfather clock, and framed line drawings on the wall

GROUND FLOOR

Classic Suite: Twin Beds

  • Two Twin Beds
  • Private Bathroom
  • Shared with 1 Guest
  • Couple-Friendly Setup

One of two Classic Suites on the ground floor, and each one is a little different. The twin beds can be pushed together for a couple-friendly setup.

Per person

$3,900

Reserve with $975 Deposit
Twin beds with pink pillows under a vaulted brick ceiling and a white arch, with an en-suite bathroom beyond

PREMIUM SUITE

Premium Suite: Twin Beds

  • Two Twin Beds
  • Private Bathroom
  • Shared with 1 Guest
  • Couple-Friendly Setup

Every premium suite is different, so think of this as an example. Two twin beds can be arranged together for a couple-friendly setup.

Per person

$4,500

Reserve with $1,125 Deposit

Luxury Suites

Loft bedroom with a carved wooden double bed, a hanging rattan chair, a chandelier, and the top of a spiral staircase

LUXURY SUITE

Small Luxury Suite with Terrace: Double Bed

  • Double Bed
  • Private Bathroom
  • Just for You
  • Outdoor Terrace

The bathroom and changing area are on the first floor, with a spiral staircase up to the bedroom and an outdoor terrace. The terrace is semi-private to the pool area.

Per person

$5,000

Reserve with $1,250 Deposit
Sunny bedroom with two twin beds, wood floors, a crystal chandelier, and a blue chaise lounge by the window

LUXURY SUITE

Large Luxury Suite with 2 Balconies: Twin Beds

  • Two Twin Beds
  • Bathtub & Shower
  • Shared with 1 Guest
  • Two Balconies

The only room in the house with a bathtub as well as a shower. The European-style balconies have doors that open onto a small step-out area, without room for a chair. Beds can be arranged together.

Per person

$5,400

Reserve with $1,350 Deposit
Private rooftop terrace with a slatted white pergola, flowing curtains, cushioned benches, and loungers over the town

TOP FLOOR

Luxury Suite with 2 Terraces: Twin Beds

  • Two Twin Beds
  • Private Bathroom
  • Shared with 1 Guest
  • 2 Terraces + Balcony

On the top level of the house, with exceptional privacy and personal space, two private terraces, and a balcony. Beds can be arranged together for a couple-friendly setup.

Per person

$6,300

Reserve with $1,575 Deposit

King Suites for One

Spacious bedroom with a king bed, wood floors, a gray painted armoire, and an antique chest of drawers

PREMIUM SUITE

Large Premium Suite: King Bed

  • King Bed
  • Open Bathroom
  • Just for You
  • Spacious Suite

Spacious and lovely, with no door at the bathroom entrance, which makes it perfect for a solo traveler.

Per person

$5,800

Reserve with $1,450 Deposit
Bedroom with white linen curtains and tall doors open to a small balcony above the sunny courtyard

PREMIUM SUITE

Premium Suite with Balcony: King Bed

  • King Bed
  • Private Bathroom
  • Just for You
  • Courtyard Balcony

This is the exact room you’ll stay in, with the beds arranged as a king. The European-style balcony opens onto the house’s center courtyard, with room to step out but not for a chair.

Per person

$6,500

Reserve with $1,625 Deposit
Aerial view of the white rooftops of Olhão, the waterfront market halls, the marina, and the islands of the Ria Formosa
Aerial view of the white rooftops of Olhão, the waterfront market halls, the marina, and the islands of the Ria Formosa
Olhão

Somos Esperança

Give Back

Every trip gives back!

A percentage of profit from this retreat goes straight to Somos Esperança, Associação de Solidariedade, right here in Olhão. They provide meals, essentials, and support accessing healthcare and social services to people experiencing homelessness and others who are vulnerable.

A few common questions

We are here for Every Question

“I had a marvelous time with Away Retreats, in the Algarve region of Portugal! It was a lovely mix of self care, movement, community and travel experiences. The Algarve region is quite unique and I really enjoyed the times we were exposed to the local landscapes and experiences. The retreat staff was excellent!! Lindsay and Tiffany were wonderful at adapting our itinerary when necessary.”
– Roberta M., Portugal 2026

Deposits are refundable for 10 days.

More than 120 days before the retreat: 50% refund, less the deposit.
90 to 120 days before: 25% refund, less the deposit.
90 days or fewer: no refund, but we can apply your deposit to a future Away retreat.

Travel insurance is required and helps protect you if plans change.

A deposit reserves your spot (you’ll see the amount on each room card), and the remaining balance is due 120 days before the retreat starts. A payment plan is available on every retreat, as long as everything is paid in full by then.

Yes! It’s your retreat, and you get to choose. Every activity is on the menu, with no pressure to join any or all of them. No one will ask where you were at breakfast.

Yes! There are options for vegetarians, pescatarians, omnivores, and carnivores alike, and gluten-free diets can be accommodated too.

Check the current CDC recommendations for travel to Portugal before you go.

Yes. While it’s nice to unplug, many of us have lives at home that need some communication. There’s WiFi at the house.

If you’d like to book one of the many activities offered in town, we’re here to help. A few options:
Visit a winery
Massage or spa services
Reiki

As experienced travelers who’ve learned to expect the unexpected, we require travel insurance. It helps protect your investment and covers things like illness, injury, family emergencies, travel delays, lost luggage, or trip interruptions. Since retreat payments follow our cancellation policy, it’s best to buy a policy shortly after booking. We include a recommended provider in your confirmation email.

October in Olhão is one of the loveliest times to be here. The intense summer heat has softened, the crowds have thinned, and the days are still beautifully warm and sunny. Expect temperatures of about 60 to 77°F (16 to 25°C).

Mornings are comfortable for movement, afternoons are perfect for boat rides and wandering the old town, and evenings cool down just enough for a light sweater and long dinners outside.

You’ll receive a full packing list before you go. It includes things like thin cotton and lightweight wool shirts, a lightweight rain jacket, a sun hat, and hiking sandals or shoes, and not much else!

All classes are accessible to all levels, and everything is optional. Most days include a morning movement class, and some evenings add gentle sessions like yin yoga or myofascial release. You’ll also do some easy walking on Olhão’s cobblestone streets and at the beach, plus a boat tour and a short ferry ride, so comfortable shoes or hiking sandals are all you need.

Smiling man and woman in hiking clothes standing in a small cave entrance framed by wildflowers
Smiling man and woman in hiking clothes standing in a small cave entrance framed by wildflowers
Portugal

Olhão

Have a question before you book?

Let’s explore the world together

We love talking about travel. Send us a note, and someone from our team will be in touch, usually within a day.

Explore By Collection

Find your kind of retreat

Six ways to travel with us, all with small groups, a menu of choices, and every detail handled.

Adventure

Hiking, swimming, and real time outside in beautiful, wild places, with rest built into every itinerary.

See retreats

Reading

A shared book and bookshops worth browsing, plus walks, markets, and long dinners in between. Every kind of reader is welcome.

See retreats

Movement

Pilates and yoga for every level, no experience needed. It’s about feeling good in your body, not training for something.

See retreats

Culinary

Get to know a place through its food: markets, home kitchens, and long dinners with the people who cook them. Every dietary need is accommodated.

See retreats

Walking

Easy miles through storybook villages and open country, with your bag sent ahead and a good meal waiting at the end of the day.

See retreats

Continuing Ed

Real CE hours for veterinarians in the afternoons, with mornings free to explore. All the care of every other Away retreat.

See retreats