Azores Hiking & Soul Experience

- Hiking back on your own track -

The right time is NOW! Do you feel trapped in everyday life? Are you constantly tired or do you believe, that you no longer have the strength to have a life-changing experience? Then it’s time to make a change!

The goal of this journey is to refresh your body, mind and spirit. The evergreen and peaceful Azores are the best place to take a résumé of your life. Let this amazing nature give you new energy to have the courage to create a more fulfilling and happier life.

Hike with like-minded people, and talk about topics that concern you and encourage yourself to experience your innermost desires. Always surrounded by the endless blue Atlantic Ocean.

What to expect:

  • Angélique is a trained psychotherapist and a bio-energy master (solving blockages with creativity). She has been working internationally for over 30 years as an actress and singer, voice coach and therapist.

    She lives on her adopted home Island, Faial. As a trained trail guide she knows the plenty of hidden trails and places.

    Angélique's talent is to make people's deepest longings visible with a sense of humor and lightness. She loves finding creative ways to make a desired change in life. A change that leads to more fulfillment, satisfaction and health.

  • For 5 days you will hike moderate trails for approx. 3h per day through the island’s nature. You will discover small lava caves and hike along mysterious jungle paths. Hike around the rim of the 400m deep crater „Caldeira“ of Faial Island. Discover the old water channels and tunnels in an enchanted forest. Discover the picturesque harbor town Horta or be impressed by the newly erupted Volcano of Capelinhos. Always with your Tour Guide, who will explain the culture, history and nature of your route. The participants need a small backpack to carry their picnic, water and personal items and of course good hiking shoes.

  • Meditation: We live in an increasingly complex and busy world, in a high-speed technology, We have a lot of desires ti satisfy and goals to achieve. Many things in life are beyond our control. Meditation is a powerful tool for creating emotional stability and deepening self-knowledge. Our meditation practices are techniques that promote concentration, clarity, emotional positivity and a calm view of the nature of things. After a short relaxation, you will immerse yourself in your own inner world. You will be gently guided with a guided meditation. Meditation takes place in our studio and also during our hikes.

    Gathering: In the evening we come together, sitting on sun warmed stone walls or by an open fire or simply sitting in the green gras and feeling the wind on our skin.We talk about our thoughts and impressions, listen to soft music and relax.

    Aqua - Gymnastic: Our Aqua - Gymnastic is an activity, performed in water, which contributes to mental and physical health and wellbeing. We are performing in our shallow and heated salt water pool various levels of intensity, based on the fitness and capabilities of each individual participant. Aqua fitness enhance fitness, improve strength and flexibility, reduce stress and help you sleep better – all great for overall health.

    Stretching: Stretching is a prefect preparation for our hikes. It keeps the muscles flexible, strong and healthy. During the morning stretching session, we stretch our muscles with exercises to keep them long, lean and flexible.

    Vision Board: Everyone has something unique that they would like to show or live. But what, if you really can't see it? If you don't have a vision and you find it hard to see what you want and where you want to go, it is difficult to get traction. Without a clear vision, it is hard to direct your efforts in a way that serves your goals. It's also difficult to attract the support and resources needed. This is where the vision board comes in. The vision boards are an amazing tool to help you create that focused vision and kickstart the actual manifestation process. WE create a board/poster out of craft items, magazine clippings, and other miscellaneous items. Sometimes, what comes out of the crafting is magical.

    Breath & Voice Coaching: When you have to speak in front of an audience, do you have stage fright? Would you like to learn how to express yourself better, or how to make a strong impression with your voice? Do you speak all day at work and your voice is tired afterwards? A good voice conveys confidence, is convincing and shows empathy.But other things also play a role in communication, such as posture, attention, breathing, thoughts, and feelings. Under the guidance of your coach, you will learn to communicate more decisively and expressively in a group in order to achieve your personal goals.

  • Our master chef will introduce you to the delicious Azores’ cuisine. Freshly caught Atlantic fish, beef from the island and organic vegetables. He can easily fulfill your dietary needs. Enjoy a wine tasting in a wonderful small wine tavern or relax with a famous Portuguese espresso or an great cocktail on the terrace of your apartment or by the pool.

  • Throughout your stay on Faial Island, you will be staying in a beautiful 4-star-sustainable awarded Ecolodge. A large garden area, lounge and bar welcomes you. 30 minutes walk from the nearest Atlantic rock pool. The general accommodation is in apartments, Ecolodge Rooms or Tiny Houses. All rooms have a private bathroom, a mini-bar, fluffy and comfortable beds, free Wi-Fi and a great view of the Atlantic Ocean.

Azores Hiking & Soul Experience - Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival on Faial Island

PÁTIO Air-View

Your Tour Guide will be waiting for you at Faial Island Airport Horta (HOR). A short drive across the island takes you to the beautiful Ecolodge. Relax in the charming atmosphere of your accommodation. Enjoy a welcome drink while your guide gives you a preview of the week ahead. Depending on your arrival, you can expect a light lunch or an afternoon coffee and cake awaits you. We end the day with a drink at the bar and dinner at the Ecolodge Restaurant. A cozy bed awaits you after a long day.

Day 2: Morning stretching, meditation & hike in the mystery Jungle

Faja Bay

You meet the group at our studio before breakfast. Here, your Coach will start the day with a morning stretching followed by a short meditation. Now it is time to enjoy a wide selection at the breakfast buffet.

After breakfast, your tour Guide will inform you about today’s hike and will take you to the starting point. You will hike for about 3 hours near the rocky shore and walk through mysterious jungle trails. Discover a small lava cave in the middle of the wilderness. Leaving the jungle, we reach the Fajã Bay. An exotic place full of orchards and vineyards, surrounded by 300 m high cliffs. You will enjoy your backpack lunch on the beach. In the afternoon, we will take you back to the Ecolodge. 

Relax by the pool or in the garden until the chef calls you for dinner. After dinner, we sit around the campfire to talk about the day. Tonight you will sleep well.

Day 3:  Aqua Gym and hike around the Caldeira of Faial

Aqua Gym PATIO
Caldeira Faial

Another day in the middle of the Atlantic begins by an introduction to aqua aerobics in the heated saltwater pool. It feels so good to wake up and stretch your muscles during these exercises. After a delicious breakfast, you can relax in the garden or on your terrace. After lunch, the guide will inform you about the afternoon hike and drives you to the top of the island. At an altitude of 3,000 feet, we reach the edge of the volcano of Faial „Caldeira do Faial“. Together with your Nature Park Guide we hike 5 miles(8 km) around the Caldeira. Spectacular views into the 1,200 feet (400m) deep crater. There is a glittering lake at the bottom. You will learn about plants and hear stories about this dormant volcano. Enjoy a break for your backpack picnic with the most beautiful views of Faial, the Atlantic Ocean and its neighboring islands. The entire hike lasts around three hours. You will need hiking boots and a backpack to take enough water and your picnic. In the afternoon, the circular track takes you back to your starting point. A short drive takes you back to the Ecolodge. This evening, our chef and the barkeeper will spoil you to the best of their ability. A gathering and chatting about our experiences of the day will round off this day.

Day 4:  Breath & Voice Coaching  /  Vision Board session

Patio Vision Board

Today is a day of mental reflection. After breakfast, you will meet your coach in the studio. Together with the group this morning you will learn how to express yourself better or how to gain self-confidence with a powerful voice. Learn how your posture, attention, breathing, thoughts and emotions affect your voice and breathing. 

A light lunch will be served on the Ecolodge Terrace.

In the afternoon, you will awaken your creativity by designing a board with your life visions . You will gain clarity about what you really want to achieve in life and thus set the manifestation process in motion. Before the delicious dinner, we walk down to the cliff coast and watch the big waves of the Atlantic roll against the shore.

Day 5:  Morning stretching, meditation and hike through the enchanted forest

Levada Faial

meet your coach in the studio before breakfast. She will lead you in the morning stretching and invite you to a short meditation.

The breakfast buffet awaits you.

Later, the Guide will give you information about todays hiking trail and drive you a short distance to the starting point. More than 50 years ago, small water channels were built to supply the meadows, villages and a small power station. We hike for 3 h along these channels through an enchanted forest. Wild nature, dark forests, deep little gorges awaits you. The path leads to small tunnels and wooden bridges. A small vulcano emerges at the end of the path, where you can enter the crater through a tunnel. After this straightforward route, we will pick you up and take you to a beautiful forest park, where a served picnic awaits you. You arrive back home in the afternoon. Enough time before dinner to enjoy some time for yourself. Then we will get together and enjoy maybe a cocktail until the chef calls for dinner.

Day 6:  Horta Town

Horta

After breakfast, your Guide will take you on a tour to the colorful town of Horta. This centuries-old harbor town has a lot of history and sights to offer. Your guide will show you the highlights such as the colorful marina, the old pirate forts, the old town and of course the famous sailors pub “Peter Café Sport”, where you will have lunch. After lunch we will go for a nice walk, from where you have a magnificent view of one of the most beautiful bays of the World - Horta.

Dinner will be served in a small wine tavern. The friendly host awaits you here for a dinner and a wine tasting of various Azorean Wines. In the evening and after a long day we will drive you back to the Ecolodge, where your cozy bed awaits you. 

Day 7:  Hiking to Volcano of Capelinhos & Visit of Handicraft School

Escola Artesanato

Enjoy another delicious breakfast. The 3-hours hike today takes us over two small volcanoes to the impressive Volcano of Capelinhos. Erupted from the bottom of the ocean in 1956/1957. Due to this natural disaster, more than 15,000 inhabitants of Faial emigrated to the United States and Canada. Today the visitor centre underneath tells the story of the eruption and explains why the Azores are a hotspot of volcanism - often even referred to as the Hawaii of Europe. After this impressive visit, you can climb the lighthouse and enjoy the panoramic view over the entire volcanic area. The whole scenery is perfect for sitting down for a moment and admiring the forces of Mother Nature in peace and quiet.

The next stop is at the craft School of Capelo. Here you can admire the work of local artists, who create wonderful works of art using local materials. Wooden products, paintings, objects made from felted Faial wool and many more. You might even find a few gifts for your loved ones at home.

Dinner is served at PÁTIO. Enjoy the delicious farewell dinner and look back on this wonderful week full of adventures.

Day 8:  Departure and farewell

Unfortunately the trip is coming to an end. After the breakfast you will check out and we will take you back to the airport for your flight home. 8 great days in the Azores come to an end.

Retreat dates & content.

Including:

  • 7x nights Ecolodge accommodation (apartment or room)

  • 7x local fresh breakfast

  • 6x 3-course dinner w/o beverages

  • 1x wine tasting dinner w/o additional beverages

  • 3x lunch at PÁTIO Ecolodge

  • 1x lunch in Horta Town

  • 2x Backpack picnics

  • 1 x served large picnic

  • 2x 1h Morning stretching incl. Meditation

  • 1x 1h Aqua Gym

  • 1x 2.5h Breath Coaching

  • 1x 2.5h Vision Board

  • 5x Gathering in the evening

  • 4x 3h Hiking Tour

  • 1x 2h Hiking Tour

  • 1x 2h Town Visit Horta

  • 1x Peter Café Sport Visit incl. Gin Tonic

  • all entrance tickets and transfers according to the program

  • english spoken tour guide and all hiking briefings

  • free WIFI in the Ecolodge

Non including:

  • extra Drinks and meals

  • Tips (recommendation / week: 50 € lodge team)

  • Other personal expenses

  • Travel insurance

Small group-size starting from 3-9 participants. The trip is suitable for accompanying non-program mates. In this case, we will charge the proportional accommodation and services used by the accompanying person.

Important note:
The itinerary is a guideline. We reserve the right to make occasional changes to ensure the flow of a high-quality retreat. Depending on the season, weather, national holidays, local activities and possibly simultaneous activities, there may be short-term deviations in the schedule. All changes are up to our discretion. If there are changes, we guarantee compliance with our high quality standards.

Dates & Price 2024/2025 Azores Hike and Soul Experience

1.12 - 8.12.2024 / 12.01 - 19.01.2025. /. 09.02 - 16.02. 2025 / 09.03 - 16.03.2025

  • Apartment double: 2349 €

    Apartment single: 2649 €

    40 sqm detached panorama apartments, sea and island views (double/twin beds, shower room, mini-bar, kitchenette, living room, private terrace, free wifi)Description text goes here

  • Room double: 2099 €

    Room Single: 2299€

    20 sqm room, sea and island view (double/twin, shower room, minibar, free wifi)

  • Tiny House double: 1999 €

    Tiny House Single: 2199 €

    18 sqm tiny house, sea view (1 double alcove bed, shower room, mini-bar, kitchenette, free wifi)

We do not offer ½ occupancy for single travellers looking for a roommate. For single travelers the Single Extra is charged. Tiny houses are only suitable for single or couples.