7-day retreat · river valley near Viseu, Portugal · max 15 guests

Come hometo yourself.

Seven days of ecstatic dance, breathwork and tantra-inspired workshops in a wild river valley. Your own bell tent, three Ayurvedic meals a day, and nothing ever pushed.

May & July 2027 · from €999 early bird, all-inclusive · we reply to every application personally

“Aya supported my whole being to surrender, trust and let go … to come home to myself again.”
Amy McGuire, guest · 4.94 / 5 from 17 reviews
  • 15 guests max a small circle, not a crowd
  • Consent first every practice is an invitation
  • All-inclusive tent, food, sessions, transfer from Viseu
  • A real person replies to every application
A woman playing a frame drum barefoot in the river

Welcome to Aya Retreat Valley

Aya is a raw place in nature, located in a quiet serene valley where the spirit can exhale. You are invited to slow down, feel your body and deeply connect with authenticity. Supported by a small team with big hearts.

This is for you if…

  • You crave nature, simplicity and a real reset
  • You want movement, embodiment and honest connection
  • You value consent, boundaries and emotional safety
  • You are open-minded and respectful of others
  • You're looking for a space to safely connect with sacred medicine
  • You are looking for a space that connects you to deeper layers within yourself

2027 weeks: 2–8 May · 16–22 May · 4–10 July · 18–24 July from €999 early bird, all-inclusive

See dates & prices →

What a week at Aya feels like

Every week is different: the program evolves with the needs of the group.

The open-air practice deck with mats and cushions

Dance & movement

Ecstatic dance and somatic practices to release tension and move freely.

The wooden practice deck with cushions and mats

Meditation & breath

Grounding meditation and breathwork to soften the mind and return to centre.

Floor cushions on a round stone terrace in the valley

Tantra-inspired workshops

Heart-led sessions on boundaries, communication and conscious connection.

Our everflowing river surrounded by lush nature

Nature, play & rest

Connect deeply to nature: river time, valley exploration or bathing under the waterfall.

A group of guests and team cheering with arms in the air on a stone terrace in the valley

Connecting with others

Sharing, laughter and honest moments in a small, warm group.

A woman sitting alone on a rock above a still river pool

Or spend time alone

Retreat into yourself whenever you need: quiet time is always welcome.

Trees reflected in dark, still water at night

Sacred medicine journey

A carefully held ceremony, always by choice and never pushed.

A guest resting wrapped in a blanket while a facilitator gently holds their hands

Experience being loved

Deeply seen, held and unconditionally loved.

An orange curry with rice, cashews and raisins on a table outside

Vibrant, fresh Ayurvedic nourishing food

Vegan or vegetarian, seasonal and local, with a sattvic, healing touch. Made with love.

Looking out from inside the crystal mine towards a rocky peak and blue sky

Hiking & a crystal mine

Beautiful trails around Aya, and a crystal mine nearby to optionally explore.

“Aya supported my whole being to surrender, trust and let go. … I am forever grateful for the safe holding, grace and space that Aya provided to come home to myself again.”

Amy McGuireGuest · May 2024
Read more reviews
One of our heart sharing circles

A safe space, held with care

What you can count on, every week.

Consent first

Every session is held in a consent-based way. You are never pushed.

Small groups

At most 15 guests per week, with a small team with a big heart.

We ask first

Before you come, we ask about allergies and medical or mental-health notes, for your safety.

Support before and after

Pre- and post-retreat support is included, so you feel supported beyond the week.

The team

Meet the people who hold the space and support your week at Aya.

Sanshine

Sanshine

Main facilitator

Sanshine facilitates the group sessions and lovingly guides every individual into more connection on every level.

More about Sanshine

With great passion and clarity, Sanshine knows how to create a perfect program for each group. She has many years of experience in holding spaces and hosting events and retreats.

Sanshine is a modern shaman and loves to work with Reiki, Tantra teachings, Sound healing, Kundalini energy, Ecstatic Dance, Family Constellations, Tarot, Plant Medicine, Trauma Healing and guided visualizations.

Alai

Alai

Host & coordinator

Alai brings a steady, grounded energy and helps create a safe container through a supportive presence.

More about Alai

Alai is dedicated to the yogic path, and passionate about Tantra and other teachings.

He’s also deeply passionate about food and designed Aya’s meal plan to be nourishing, energising, and supportive of your process throughout the week.

In the background he will be actively managing Aya’s practicalities and logistics, but he will also be around for support, offering an extra listening ear, and holding the space every now and then.

Kiera

Kiera

Chef & yoga teacher

Kiera prepares fresh, nourishing food with a sattvic touch, aware of the energy a cook brings into every meal.

More about Kiera

Kiera is passionate about food and has experience running the kitchen at retreats and in communities. As Aya’s main chef, she cooks every meal with a lot of love, often singing mantras as she goes.

Kiera is also passionate about yoga and trained as a yoga teacher while travelling through India. She loves hosting some of the optional early morning yoga classes, and whenever she steps out of the kitchen, you’ll probably find her dancing.

What guests say

In their own words.

Choose your week

Four weeks in 2027, each from Sunday to Saturday. Only 15 places per week, with an early bird price for a limited number of spots.

Prefer to talk first?

Plan a free video call with us, with no obligation. Ask anything, get a feel for who we are, and decide in your own time.

The 7-Day Aya Reset: everything included

Comparable retreat weeks in Europe cost €1,450–1,800. At Aya, everything below is included, from €999 for the whole week.

What you get for one price

  • Seven days of guided sessions: ecstatic dance, somatic practice, breathwork, meditation, tantra-inspired workshops and morning yoga
  • A held sacred medicine ceremony, always by choice and never pushed
  • Your bell tent for six nights in a private river valley
  • All food: three fresh Ayurvedic meals a day and healthy snacks all day long
  • Support before and after the retreat, so you arrive prepared and are not alone afterwards
  • A small group of at most 15 guests, held by Sanshine and the team
  • Free group transfer from Viseu station and back

Single tent

Early bird€999

Normal price€1,399

One person, one bell tent.

Best value

Double tent: bring someone you love

Early bird€1,499

Normal price€1,999

Price for two people sharing one bell tent: under €750 each at early bird, about half price for the second place.

Early bird Available for a limited number of spots, until 2 months before the retreat starts.

Our first-day promise

Arrive on Sunday and join the whole first day. If by Monday evening you feel Aya is not right for you, tell us. We bring you back to Viseu and refund what you paid for the rest of the week. No hard feelings.

2027 season · 15 places per week

Apply for your place

We keep each group small and safe, so we read every application personally. We reply by email, WhatsApp or Telegram.

About you

Your week

Aya Retreat (Sunday to Saturday)

A little more

Or plan a call

After you apply, we reply personally with availability and the next steps.

What happens after you apply

  1. We read your application
  2. We check availability and reply personally
  3. You secure your place with a 30% deposit

Good to know

Frequently asked questions

Is Aya OK for a first retreat?

Yes. “It was my first time going on a retreat … Greatly recommended, especially if you haven't tried retreats like this.” — Kostiantyn

Can I come alone?

Yes. You can come alone, with a friend or with your partner.

Do I have to join everything?

No. Everything is held in a consent-based way, and you are never pushed.

I have a health question.

Tell us in the booking form, or message us first. We reply personally.

Where does the name Aya originate from?

Aya is a self-created name that simply resonated with the place on a felt sense level.

It has different meanings in different cultures. The meaning that resonates most with us is that of a strong feminine force.

What kind of food is served?

At Aya, food is part of the retreat. We serve meals that feel light, nourishing, and energizing, with one core intention: to support a conducive inner state, so you deepen your experience of your time at Aya.

Our meals are fresh, vegan or vegetarian, inspired by sattvic principles and guided by what supports digestion and balance: gut-friendly, seasonal, local where possible, and gently healing.

Everything is prepared with care, because we believe food carries the energy of the cook.

We serve three meals a day: breakfast, lunch and dinner. Healthy snacks are available all day long, like herbal teas, honey, kefir, fresh fruit and other simple nourishing snacks.

Is there Wi‑Fi?

We encourage guests to take space during the retreat and to disconnect from the outside world, so there is room to go inward.

For that reason, we advise guests not to spend too much time with technology.

At the same time, we understand there can be situations where internet is important. For those situations, there is a Wi‑Fi network available, but it is only online when needed.

Getting here: how do I get to Aya?

Aya is located in a very serene place in nature that is rather remote.

For this reason, there is a free group transfer at a fixed time from Viseu station to Aya on the first day, and back to Viseu station at the end of the week.

  1. Fly to Porto, the closest airport. Lisbon works as well.
  2. Take the bus to Viseu with FlixBus or Rede Expressos. From Porto airport it takes about 2 to 2½ hours, from Lisbon about 3½ to 4 hours.
  3. Join the free group transfer at Viseu station, which takes you to Aya.

After booking, we let you know the pickup time.

In what way is Tantra used within Aya?

When we refer to Tantra, we mean classical Tantra as a tool for self-development: returning to your real, natural being and experiencing life in a more optimal way.

In the Western world, Tantra has become strongly associated with sexuality. While sexuality can be a part of Tantra, it is a distorted picture to say Tantra is only about that.

Tantra is much more than that, and it is not the part of Tantra that is the focus during the retreat.

What plant medicines do you work with? Do you offer ayahuasca?

We have different tools in our toolbox, such as cacao, blue lotus, and herbal blends. Often, the most powerful tool we work with is psilocybin.

Even though the place is called Aya, for us this has nothing to do with ayahuasca, and it is not a medicine that we offer at Aya.