An Immersive Wellbeing Journey in Central Portugal

31 October – 4 November 2026

As autumn settles into the valley—mist threading through cork oaks, mushrooms emerging in quiet corners—we invite you into a different kind of retreat. One rooted not in doing, but in remembering.

This is a gathering for those who feel the pull of the wilder seasons: the ones who want to walk slowly through misty forests, learn the language of mushrooms, and return home with something deeper than a full camera roll.

Over five days, the forest becomes your guide. Mornings begin with gentle somatic movement and a touch of Kundalini yoga—enough to wake the body, not rush it. Days unfold outdoors: mindful walks led by Chanan, a Buddhist psychotherapist who weaves presence and awareness into every step. You’ll learn to recognize mushrooms where they grow, understand how to harvest and prepare them, and work with seasonal herbs in simple medicine-making sessions.

Evenings gather around fire—gong journeys with Yarre, cacao ceremonies, the quiet of dusk settling over the valley. Between it all, space to simply be.

What awaits you is not a packed itinerary. It is an unhurried homecoming to your own rhythms, guided by the land and two facilitators who have spent years learning to listen to it.

Your Journey

Find Your Way Back to Presence

Chanan’s background as a Buddhist psychotherapist infuses every walk and gathering with gentle mindfulness. You’ll be invited to slow your steps, notice what’s beneath your feet, and let the forest’s quiet work its way into your nervous system. These are not “hikes”—they are sensory resets.

Walk with Experienced Foragers

Both Chanan and Jarek are seasoned foragers who know these forests intimately. Together, you’ll learn to identify, ethically harvest, and celebrate wild fungi—porcini, chanterelles, hedgehog mushrooms, and whatever the season offers. You’ll also learn how to process and cook what you find, bringing the forest’s bounty to your table.

Make Medicine You’ll Take Home

Work with seasonal herbs—elder, rosehip, pine—to create your own tinctures and remedies. No prior experience needed, just curiosity and hands willing to learn.

Rest Deeply

Morning movement to awaken the body. Evenings by fire with gong and cacao. Forest bathing walks that ask nothing of you but your presence. Free afternoons to journal, wander, or simply lie in the hammock and listen to the river.

Your Sanctuary: Blue Morpho House

Nestled in the valleys of Central Portugal, Blue Morpho House is a restored stone quinta where the land itself becomes your companion. Cork oaks, olive groves, and forest surround you. The river runs nearby. In late autumn, the air carries the scent of damp earth and woodsmoke—a sensory invitation to drop in.

Group size is intimately limited to 12 participants. This is not a conference. It is a small circle of kindred souls.

Your Guides

Chanan is a Buddhist psychotherapist, a community herbalist, a yoga teacher and a master gong player. She brings together deep experience in mindfulness, nature resonance, and forest bathing—guiding participants into a gentle, receptive relationship with the land. Her approach weaves therapeutic presence with earth‑based wisdom, creating space for both learning and deep rest.

Jarek is an experienced forager, a master gong player, and a dedicated bodyworker and massage therapist. His intuitive touch and resonant sound work support deep release and integration. He offers gong journeys during our evening gatherings, inviting you into stillness around the fire, and private massage sessions are available for those seeking additional hands‑on support.

Together, Chanan and Jarek are seasoned foragers who know these forests intimately. They’ll walk beside you as you learn to identify, ethically harvest, and celebrate wild fungi and seasonal plants.

“Chanan and Jarek held such a gentle, grounded space. I came back feeling clearer and more myself than I have in years.”

— Past participant

Accommodation & Investment

Your stay includes 4 nights accommodation, all meals, all activities, group transfer from Coimbra, a take‑home herbal remedy, and a pre‑retreat 1:1 connection call with Chanan to settle in before you arrive.

Room Type Price per person

Rooted in Community (Dormitory) – ensuite with four single beds £670 (approx. 770€)

Shared Wild (Double Room) – two single beds, price per person £725 (approx. 830€)

Solo Sanctuary (Single Room) – private queen bed £820 (approx. 940€)

Early-Bird Offer – Book by 31 May 2026 and receive £150 off your total retreat price.

A non‑refundable deposit of £150 secures your place. Flexible payment plans are available.

Practical Details

· Dates: 30 October – 3 November 2026 (4 nights, 5 days)

· Location: Central Portugal – Coimbra district

· Group size: 12 participants maximum

· Included: Accommodation, all meals, all activities, group transfer from Coimbra, pre‑retreat 1:1 call, take‑home gift & herbal remedy

· Not included: Flights, travel to Coimbra, optional private massage sessions

Getting There: Fly into Lisbon (LIS) or Porto (OPO). Both airports have frequent trains to Coimbra, where a group transfer will meet you on 31 October.

Is This for You?

You are welcome here if you:

· Feel the pull toward the deeper, quieter side of nature

· Are curious about mushrooms and wild medicine but don’t know where to start

· Long to slow down before the busy winter season

· Want to learn practical skills in a supported, unhurried setting

· Are ready to return home with handmade remedies and a quieter heart

Secure Your Space

Spaces are limited to preserve intimacy. A £150 deposit holds your place.

📧 Email: info@bluemorphoedinburgh.com