Dance & movement
Ecstatic dance and somatic practices to release tension and move freely.
7-day retreat · river valley near Viseu, Portugal · max 15 guests
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.
“Aya supported my whole being to surrender, trust and let go … to come home to myself again.”
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.
2027 weeks: 2–8 May · 16–22 May · 4–10 July · 18–24 July from €999 early bird, all-inclusive
See dates & prices →Every week is different: the program evolves with the needs of the group.
Ecstatic dance and somatic practices to release tension and move freely.
Grounding meditation and breathwork to soften the mind and return to centre.
Heart-led sessions on boundaries, communication and conscious connection.
Connect deeply to nature: river time, valley exploration or bathing under the waterfall.
Sharing, laughter and honest moments in a small, warm group.
Retreat into yourself whenever you need: quiet time is always welcome.
A carefully held ceremony, always by choice and never pushed.
Deeply seen, held and unconditionally loved.
Vegan or vegetarian, seasonal and local, with a sattvic, healing touch. Made with love.
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.”
What you can count on, every week.
Every session is held in a consent-based way. You are never pushed.
At most 15 guests per week, with a small team with a big heart.
Before you come, we ask about allergies and medical or mental-health notes, for your safety.
Pre- and post-retreat support is included, so you feel supported beyond the week.
Meet the people who hold the space and support your week at Aya.
Main facilitator
Sanshine facilitates the group sessions and lovingly guides every individual into more connection on every level.
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.
Host & coordinator
Alai brings a steady, grounded energy and helps create a safe container through a supportive presence.
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.
Chef & yoga teacher
Kiera prepares fresh, nourishing food with a sattvic touch, aware of the energy a cook brings into every meal.
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.
In their own words.
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.
May 2027
2 – 8
15 places Apply for this weekMay 2027
16 – 22
15 places Apply for this weekJuly 2027
4 – 10
15 places Apply for this weekJuly 2027
18 – 24
15 places Apply for this weekPlan a free video call with us, with no obligation. Ask anything, get a feel for who we are, and decide in your own time.
Comparable retreat weeks in Europe cost €1,450–1,800. At Aya, everything below is included, from €999 for the whole week.
Early bird€999
Normal price€1,399
One person, one bell tent.
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.
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
We keep each group small and safe, so we read every application personally. We reply by email, WhatsApp or Telegram.
Good to know
Yes. “It was my first time going on a retreat … Greatly recommended, especially if you haven't tried retreats like this.” — Kostiantyn
Yes. You can come alone, with a friend or with your partner.
No. Everything is held in a consent-based way, and you are never pushed.
Tell us in the booking form, or message us first. We reply personally.
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.
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.
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.
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.
After booking, we let you know the pickup time.
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.
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.
Questions, doubts, or special needs? Reach out and we will reply personally.