OVERVIEW

LUXURY WELLNESS + CREATIVITY + FLORA

Join us for our return to this amazing retreat location as we partner once again with the Belmond Reid’s Palace hotel on the beautiful Portugese island of Madeira, the “island of Eternal Spring”. Last year we led 3 sold-out retreats here and after such a sought-after location, we’ve launched this once again : back by popular demand!

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.

ACTIVITIES

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 which will give guests an expansive experience of the cuisine. Our dinners will include a few multi-course tasting menus at the hotel’s restaurant, emphasizing honest, healthy, and delicious Italian food, as well as various meals out in town and on our day trips. We’ll experience a visit to a winery for a tasting, a farm tour with samples of the local specialties, and learn about the nourishment that is foraged from the forests. We’ll end the week with a farewell dinner at the hotel’s Michelin-starred restaurant with a tasting menu and wine pairing.

*In the yogic tradition, meals on our retreats are vegetarian. When the company was founded, we wanted to create consistency and integrity within our yogic lineage as well as finding the most consistent way in each location to leave a light footprint. We know not all our guests are vegetarian, but we ask that they be open and understanding of the principles that guide this choice for just the few days that we are together. That said, breakfast is an open menu with all diets being represented, so there are usually options of meat / fish. Plus, a couple of the provided meals at sea-based locations will have an option for seafood, and of course guests can choose whatever they prefer from menus when we are on our own for a few meals during the week. Special allergies can be addressed and noted.

WELLNESS

Daily practices will be offered in a way to relax, stimulate, and help guests grow in the mindfulness nature of the trip. Classes are open to all levels, beginner to practiced, and can range from gentle, restorative, and vinyasa flow. Plus meditations such as yoga nidra, guided meditation and/or walking meditation will be offered. 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.

Connection - the true meaning of yoga - is our intention for each retreat. Connection with a new culture, other people, and yourself. The movement we do on our mat is just one small part of the full practice of yoga; and we see the entire experience as a practice - being mindful of our senses, using travel as a tool to be in the present moment, even the creativity journaling we do on this specific retreat is just used as a mindfulness tool. We ask that guests come ready with an open mind and sense of adventure.

FORM + FOCUS [ART & CREATIVITY RETREAT]
This retreat will combine a look at creative focus with art projects in travel journal creation (mix of writing, drawing, painting, collaging) 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.

MINDY JOHNSTONE

This retreat will be led by EPM collaborator, MINDY JOHNSTONE. Living in the awe inspiring Canadian Rockies, Mindy has a love of the outdoors, all things artistic and wellness related. Her hometown in Banff is her foundation for teaching art and yoga for the past 20 years. No travel experience is complete without a journal to record the finer details of her surroundings through sketches combined with watercolours, acrylic pens and ink. On retreat, prepare to be inspired and nurtured as her strength lies in the ability to cater to groups and individuals needs. Mindy loves to inspire guests to see the delight in their surroundings through art and how we can feel at ‘OM in the world.’
* Participation in classes and activities is optional throughout the retreat. All levels welcome!

DETAILS / PRICING

• 6 days / 5 nights (Feb 22-27, 2026)

• Inclusive Retreat Price = $4995 (shared room*), +various single supplements available during registration

• Deposit to hold space = $1500

• Max # Guests = 14
  Many of our guests come alone and we match up based on guest profile
  ** 50% of final balance due 120 days before retreat start date, and remaining 50% due 60 days before retreat start date.
  Read full cancellation policy in our Terms & Conditions.

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

* airfare not included
**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.

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