Join Sheila Ewers with special guests Dennis and Kathy Lang for a journey to a land pulsing with ancient mystical appeal, the “moon hill” where Druids, Christians, Moors and nobles have been drawn for centuries.

Investigate new terrain in the outer landscape and the inner field of your own awareness as you practice daily yoga, hike ancient forests, tour mystical castles, dine on healthy local cuisine, lounge by the pool and commune with like- minded, soulful travelers

What’s Included:

• 7 nights accommodations at the boutique hotel, Casa Holstein Quinta São Sebastião
• Twice daily yoga, including live musical accompaniment by Dennis Lang in some classes
• Breakfast Daily
• Two Catered Dinners
• Transport to and from Humberto Delgado Airport in Lisbon
• Day trip to local beach with lunch
• Guided Hike to the Pena Palace
• Wine Tasting with food
• Taxes and Fees

What’s not included:

• Airfare
• Most lunches (This is to provide the maximum amount of flexibility as you will surely want to spend your free time wandering the beautiful city of Sintra and exploring the nearby castles.)
• Some Dinners – We will have two full catered dinners at the hotel, and one dinner as a group in town. Overall, the price of food and wine, even in fine restaurants in Sintra, is much less expensive than the U.S.
• Alcoholic Beverages (except for the wine tasting)
• Travel Insurance

Accommodations:

The Casa Holstein is a sanctuary in the heart of the historical village with gorgeous gardens, a spacious pool and an airy yoga pavilion. It has a long history of illustrious guests including dignitaries and royals. Watch a video here: https://youtu.be/-jayfyRzz7Q. The boutique hotel is located within an easy walk of all of the sights of Sintra. Enjoy a luxurious and exclusive retreat environment with a world of activity right at your doorstep.

Rooming Options and Pricing:

All rooms are elegant and individually furnished, with a modern twist and attention to detail.  Each has air-conditioning and heating, a minibar, free Wi-Fi access and smart phones, with free usage for guests during their entire stay. The beds are either King size or Queen size. Bath room amenities are provided by the exclusive brand Penhaligon´s.

• Standard Room (2 available): Double Occupancy $2650 per person / Single Occupancy $3500
• Superior Room: Double Occupancy $2950 per person / Single Occupancy $3850 (FULL - no longer available)
• Royal Suite: Double Occupancy $3350 per person/ Single Occupancy $4600 (FULL - no longer avaiable)
• Garden Villa (4 rooms- two bedrooms, two living rooms both with private baths) : If occupied by 4 people $2950 per person / If occupied by 2 people $4600 per person (FULL - no longer available)

 

Payment Terms:

$500, non-refundable deposit will save your spot

• 3 payments of balance due: December 1, March 1, June 1 (each payment is non-refundable)
• (balance can be paid in full at any time)

 

About Sintra

Sintra, the Moon Hill, is a place full of magic and mystery, where Nature and Man have combined in such a perfect symbiosis that UNESCO has granted it Word Heritage Site status.

What to See:

• Quinta da Regaleira

The bewildering and beguiling Quinta da Regaleira is adorned with small monuments and enchanting landscape reflecting the owner’s fascination with the Masons, Knights Templar and Divination. This romantic palace is dream-like and bursts with Manueline-style masonry, but it’s in the palace park that you will be wandering in a world of mystery. Underground there’s a system of tunnels and grottoes, all intended to confuse and delight. Above are ornate gazebos, benches with sculptures and two “initiation wells”, deep shafts lined with spiral stairways leading down to sanctums for mystical ceremonies.

• Pena Palace

Recently named one of Portugal’s “Seven Wonders”, Pena Palace was ordered by King Ferdinand II in 1838 on the lofty ruins of an old monastery. With its Disney-esque architecture and high setting the palace rolls together many historical styles, from Moorish to Renaissance. It was built as a summer residence and has spellbinding stuccowork and trompe l’oeil painting inside, with magnificent views of the surrounding landcape. The forests around the palace are equally awe-inspiring. Here Ferdinand II planted trees from around the world like sequoias, tree ferns, ginkgos and Lawson cypresses that rise to astonishing heights.

• Castle of the Moors

High atop one of Sintra’s northernmost peaks are the ruins of a castle built by the Moors and enlarged after the Reconquista. The walls have four square towers and snake with the contours of the mountain at the top of a sheer cliff, making it a landmark sight from below and an amazing vantage point from above. From its walls you can look over the peaks, bluffs and rocky spurs, out to the Atlantic and over Sintra.

• Palace of Sintra

This palace is easily recognizable by its pair of white conical towers above a mishmash of halls and annexes. The Palace of Sintra is the oldest palace in the town, and beautifully preserved. Royalty lived here on and off from the 1400s to the 1700s, and each successive occupant added a bit of their own personality, including ornate tiles in geometric patterns and magnificent coffered ceilings with the 72 coats of arms of the Portugese Royalty and Nobility.

What to do:

Sintra is ideally located for excursions and for relaxation

• Beaches - approximately 30 minutes by car
• Lisbon – approximately 40 minutes by train directly to the historic center. (The train station is an easy walk from our hotel)
• Hiking – Right at our doorstep you will find access to lush forests full of hiking trails
• Shopping - The meandering streets of Sintra are full of delightful boutiques and bustling cafes.
• Fátima – approximately 1.5 hours by car. Private rides can be arranged, or with enough interest, we can book a group transfer to this beautiful and soul-stirring pilgrimage site.
• Massages and body work can be arranged through the hotel.

Travel Details

US Citizens traveling to Portugal need a current passport. Check the expiration date to make sure that it does not expire within 6 months of your trip. Visas are not required.

Covid Requirements: For Current Covid protocols, please visit https://pt.usembassy.gov/covid-19-information/

Flying into Portugal

Direct flights are available from most U.S. cities to Lisbon (LIS). Part of your package includes transportation from LIS to our hotel, but you may wish to rent a car. Parking is free and available at our location, and travel time will be approximately 40 minutes. The roads are easy to navigate and clearly marked.

We understand that navigating the logistics of travel can be daunting! Don't let that stop you from fulfilling a travel dream! Sheila is more than happy to guide you through the travel booking process if you need help. Simply email sheila@seekyoga.com with any questions or concerns