Quinta Carvalhas

Despite having booked and paid 18 months in advance, Quinta Carvalhas double booked our retreat!

With barely 48 hours notice of this mess up we found ourselves being moved by them to another venue on our last night! The transfer of 21 people was totally shambolic as buses provided were 2.5 hours late, leaving us with no rooms and our afternoon plans ruined. Transport the next day didn't show up.

The retreat centre staff seemed totally unable to see how this could possibly be a problem for us - zero compassion. They seemed to think that moving us to another hotel was all they needed to do for us. After some arguing we managed to get one massage free for each guest and one transfer ... but we had to fight for it! No other compensation received!

We were badly, badly let down. The experience ruined the retreat for our students and was very stressful indeed for the teachers.

On return Quinta won't even have the decency to call us to talk about compensation - they frankly don't give a damn about their guests.

Definitely would not recommend.

I chose Quinta Carvalhas as a facilitator, and hosted a writing retreat this Spring for my clients. We brought 14 of our clients to the Quinta for a week, and it was perfect in every way. We could not have asked for a warmer welcome or a better retreat centre.

On arrival we were immediately greeted by our incredibly warm host, Gonçalo and the manager Daniela. Both made us feel so at home. All of our writers said that they could not imagine a better place to stay on a writing retreat. The food was superb - stunning three course vegetarian meals that one participants said were like Michelin star food. The atmosphere was superb – stunning countryside, the beautiful horses, lovely interiors and so many spaces to write. I enjoyed the equine therapy particularly, and our yoga teacher was excellent too. The Wisteria Lounge provided a perfect environment in which to teach writing.

I cannot recommend Quinta Carvalhas enough as a place to host a retreat or to attend one!

We came to Quinta de Carvalhas with the intention of hosting an immersive leadership experience for an international group of senior leaders, a week designed to step away from the day-to-day, create space for reflection, strengthen connections, and support meaningful personal and professional growth.

Our experience at Quinta Carvalhas was exceptional from beginning to end. The setting itself is absolutely breathtaking, surrounded by nature, it offers a deeply inspiring and immersive environment that allows you to fully disconnect from the outside world and reconnect with yourself.

A very special thank you to our wonderful hosts, Daniela and Gehrard, who were outstanding co-creating the experience with us and throughout the entire stay. Their care, flexibility, and constant support made everything feel effortless and incredibly well looked after. They went above and beyond to ensure every detail was perfect and we felt this partnership was one key success factor.

Tana and Martina’s horse session was one of the most impactful moments of the entire experience. The way they created a bridge between working with horses and leadership was incredibly powerful. It allowed each participant to gain deep, often unexpected insights about themselves, how they show up, how they lead, and how they connect with others. The experience was grounding and transformative.

We also had the privilege of starting our mornings with Rianna’s practices, which became a truly grounding ritual. Beginning each day with intention, breath, and presence made a meaningful difference in how we experienced the entire programme.

The culinary experience was another highlight of the week. Each meal prepared by the chef was not only delicious but also thoughtfully crafted, bringing both comfort and creativity to the table every single day.

Quinta Carvalhas is much more than a beautiful place. It is a space that invites transformation, connection, and inspiration. We leave feeling grateful, re-energised, and deeply enriched by this experience.

We couldn’t recommend it more highly.

Our retreat with Quinta Carvalhas was phenomenal. Everything from the stunning grounds, to delicious meals to the wonderful, kind-hearted staff. All of our retreat participants expressed feeling so taken care of. Our retreat topic was quite sensitive, but the staff did an amazing job of holding the space for us in a safe and supportive way. I would highly recommend Quinta Carvalhas, it truly is a special place!

The Quinta is beautiful, and the one-day horse experience is magical. All the staff is very kind and the food is delicious. Highly recommend. 10/10.