Portugal:
A 9-Day Exhale of Salt, Soil & Soul
The Adult Summer Break You Forgot You Needed
August 14-22, 2026
Limited to 14 guests
With Sommelier DeAnna Ornelas of COsecha Wines
Do you remember the Augusts of your childhood?
The salt on your skin, the total lack of a to-do list, and the way a single week felt like a lifetime of discovery. Somewhere between career milestones and the relentless demands of adulthood, we lost that version of August.
This journey is the antidote. Join Lizzy Atwood Wills and sommelier DeAnna Ornelas of Cosecha Wine Bar for nine days in Portugal that are intentionally, unapologetically slow. This isn't a checklist tour — it's a 216-hour incubator for friendship, beauty, and a renewed sense of joy.
From a 50-acre re-forested ranch in the Alentejo to the salt-bright cliffs of the Algarve, every moment is designed for the person who needs a deep, collective exhale — and has finally decided she deserves one.
AUGUST 14-22, 2026
A slow-paced journey through land, sea & soul. This journey is designed for the curious traveler who wants to move with intention. We’ve traded the "checklist" for the "connection," focusing on the Alentejo and the rugged southern coast—regions where sustainable practices and ancient traditions still thrive.
"As someone who travels a lot, I didn't think that a group trip was for me. Traveling to Portugal with MBT was such a different experience — something I could have never experienced solo. I walked away with new friends and great memories without a lot of time spent planning."
— Megen, Portugal Traveler
"Millennial Luxury Group Travel: This trip is designed for travelers that want to stay in nice accommodations, eat local/farm to table food, support local economies all while staying active and maybe drinking a little local wine and port along on the way! It was great to just show up and have everything organized for us. Thank you for the great trip MBT.
— Alice, Portugal traveler
What 9 Days in Portugal Actually Feels Like.
Boutique lodging in Sintra, the Alentejo, and the Algarve — from a 50-acre re-forested ranch to a cliffside coastal retreat
Private catamaran through the Ria Formosa — swimming, dolphin watching, and oysters shucked straight from the farm
Cultural immersion featuring a fado evening, ceramics class, lunch with a multi-generational pig farming family
Curated meals featuring fresh-caught fish, local wine, and the seasonal table of Portugal’s bounty in the summertime
Expert hosting and all logistics handled — so you can simply be present
THE SPIRIT, THE ETHOS, THE INTENTION:
Meet the Makers: We prioritize family-run businesses—the pig farmers, the oyster growers, and the small-scale vintners who are true stewards of the land.
Active Stillness: We balance 4-8 mile hikes along the dramatic Rota Vicentina with spacious afternoons for personal exploration, swimming, and rest.
A Curated Palate: Led by DeAnna Ornelas (Cosecha Wine Bar) and Lizzy Atwood Wills, you’ll experience wine and seafood not just as "menu items," but as stories of the sea and soil.
They say it takes 200 hours to make a best friend.
WE SPEND 216 TOGETHER.
Research shows that 200 hours of shared time is the threshold for turning an acquaintance into a lifelong friend. This journey is 9 days — exactly 216 hours together. Between long lunches at the ranch, walks along the Rota Vicentina, and evenings that stretch beautifully into conversation and stargazing, the group shifts naturally from strangers to something much closer. Usually by Day 3.
Most of our guests arrive solo. Nearly all of them leave with people they genuinely miss.
Salt, Soil & Soul — In Detail.
Nine days designed for balance — invigorating hikes along the rugged Rota Vicentina met with spacious, restorative moments to sleep in, swim, or simply watch the light change over the Atlantic.
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Get settled in at our hotel just outside Lisbon, in Sintra — a fairytale town of lush forests, pastel palaces, and romantic estates — and join the group for a welcome dinner.
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Get a feel for how royalty lived as you stroll the historic streets of Sintra, taste the favorite flavors, and enjoy a meal with father and daughter of a family-owned pig farm, followed by an evening of fado music.
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Today we make our way South to the Alentejo region. Get acquainted with the countryside on a lunch and tasting stop at a sustainable vineyard, and then settle into our new hotel for the next 3 nights.
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Our first full-day hike along the Rota Vicentina trail with a picnic lunch, a visit to a local ceramics studio, and the magic of some hearty Portuguese comfort food for dinner.
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Enjoy a visit to the local fishermen’s town for some shopping and lunch. The afternoon is yours to explore, lay back on the beach, or enjoy the pool.
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Spend a final full day on the trail with the wild Algarve coast as your backdrop — dramatic cliff walks to the windswept promontory that Portuguese explorers once called the edge of the known world. We arrive into the Algarve by evening and settle in for our final three nights.
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Wake up in the sunny Algarve! The ever-famous Southern tip of Portugal, neighboring Spain and Morocco. Enjoy a day out on the water via private chartered boat to relax, swim and make a stop on the sandy beaches of a local oyster farm.
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Enjoy a final day in the Algarve with flexible plans, and a beautiful send-off dinner.
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Say your goodbyes to the group before we go our separate ways.
Your Guides to the Exhale
Founder, Meridian Boutique Travel
Lizzy Atwood Wills is the founder of Meridian Boutique Travel and a believer that travel should be a bridge, not an escape. She grew up watching her parents lead adventure treks through Japan, Nepal, India, and the Swiss Alps — and from them she inherited a simple conviction: that travel, done well, teaches you how to be a better neighbor, friend, and human being.
Lizzy specializes in place-based journeys that connect travelers to the soul of a destination through its people, its food, and its land. She handles every detail so that you never have to think about what’s next.
Level 3 Sommelier · Founder, Cosecha Wine & Mezcal
DeAnna Ornelas is a Level 3 Sommelier and the founder of Cosecha Wine & Mezcal. She discovered the community-building power of wine in 2014 and has spent the years since working across the Willamette Valley, the wine regions of Mexico, and the mezcal-producing states of Oaxaca and beyond.
To DeAnna, wine is a bridge — to the land, to the people who tended it, and to each other. She doesn't lead tastings. She opens conversations.
"I have one travel rule: always choose your next destination where food and wine are worth the airfare. Portugal simply understands that assignment. I have a feeling this trip won't be measured in days — but in courses, wines, beaches, laughter, and memories. And by that metric, we are in for a wildly successful experience."
This is
an investment
in you.
$5,600 is a meaningful investment. Here’s exactly what it buys — and why it's worth every dollar.
The Luxury of No Decisions
The greatest modern luxury isn't a five-star hotel — it's the total removal of the mental load. We've spent hundreds of hours vetting trails, lodging, guides, and wine experiences so you don't have to. From the moment you arrive, the only choice you need to make is red or white.
The Un-Googleable Access
Most travelers see the surface of Portugal. Because of the deep local relationships Lizzy and DeAnna have built over years of travel, we open doors that are closed to the public. You aren't visiting tourist spots — you're being welcomed into private re-forested ranches and family-run farms as a friend, not a customer.
Expert Curation of the Table
You're traveling with a boutique travel designer and a professional sommelier. DeAnna turns every glass into a story of place. Lizzy ensures every moment of the itinerary is soul-nourishing and logistically invisible. Together, they transform a vacation into something that stays with you.
A Science-Backed Community
Group travel can feel like a gamble — but we take the risk out of it. We hand-curate our groups, prioritizing people who value depth, curiosity, and genuine connection. 216 hours together is exactly the threshold research identifies for turning new acquaintances into lifelong friends.
Stewardship Over Extraction
A portion of your investment goes directly to the local stewards of Portugal — the families re-foresting the Alentejo, the oyster farmers protecting the lagoons, and the small-scale vintners. Your travel dollars participate in the preservation of the land and culture you're experiencing.
WHAT'S INCLUDED:
8 nights curated boutique lodging — from the re-forested ranch to the Algarve coast
In-country transportation to hosted destinations
Expert local guides and cultural facilitators
Guided coastal hikes and nature experiences along the Rota Vicentina
Full-day private catamaran excursion through the Ria Formosa
Oyster tasting at the farm right on the sandy shores of the Ria Formosa
Pottery workshop and yoga sessions
Most meals — including home-cooked and tide-to-table experiences
Wine-forward experiences hosted by DeAnna Ornelas
Flights to and from Portugal are not included. WE recommend flying in and out of Lisbon (LIS), and booking an additional one way flight from Faro, our final tour stop, back to lisbon.
What our Travelers are Saying
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What our Travelers are Saying *
Frequently Asked Questions
We know travel is all about trust, timing, and curiosity. We'd rather you ask your questions here than sit with them. If something isn't covered below, email Lizzy directly.
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Not at all — in fact, most guests arrive solo. This journey is intentionally designed as a friendship incubator. Research shows it takes around 200 hours to form a close bond, and we spend 216 hours together over nine days. Between shared meals at the ranch, long conversations on coastal walks, and unstructured evenings with good wine, the group naturally shifts from strangers to something closer to old friends — usually by Day 3.
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Thoughtful, curious, warm, and low-ego. This trip tends to attract people who value depth over status and shared experience over 'checking boxes.' We open enrollment through personal invitations first because group chemistry matters — we're curating a circle that feels easy, inclusive, and genuinely enjoyable to travel with.
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Absolutely. This journey is open to all genders, and couples are warmly welcome. The common thread among our travelers isn't gender or relationship status — it's curiosity, openness, and a desire to slow down and travel with intention.
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Moderately active, with a lot of flexibility. Our guided hikes along the Rota Vicentina are generally 4–8 miles at a conversational, unhurried pace — we stop often to take photos, notice wild herbs, or simply take in the views. If your body needs rest on a given day, there's always the option to enjoy a slower morning at the ranch or by the water. This trip is about listening to your body, not pushing through it.
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Yes. You don't need to be an athlete — just someone who enjoys moving through beautiful landscapes. If you can comfortably walk for a few hours with breaks and appropriate footwear, you'll be completely fine. Many guests are 'long walks and fresh air' people, not hardcore hikers.
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It's the heart of the trip. This is a private 50-acre estate that's been intentionally re-wilded over 30 years using native plants and regenerative practices. Think horses and sheep grazing in the distance, quiet nature trails, a warm farmhouse kitchen, and deep stillness at night. It feels more like being welcomed into a soulful countryside home than staying at a hotel.
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Accommodations are double occupancy by default, which helps keep the experience communal and accessible. A single supplement is available for those who prefer a private room — just let us know at booking and we'll confirm availability and pricing.
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Not at all. This trip is wine-forward, not wine-intimidating. DeAnna's approach is inclusive, story-driven, and grounded in place. You won't be quizzed on tasting notes — wine is experienced naturally through meals, conversations, and visits with producers. It's treated as a bridge to land, culture, and connection, not a performance.
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That's completely normal for a trip of this size. This isn't a 'click and disappear' booking. Email Lizzy directly — she's happy to talk it through and help you figure out if this journey is genuinely right for where you are right now.
Ready to Claim Your Summer?
August 14th- 22nd, 2026. Nine Days. Fourteen people. Salt air, good wine, and the rare feeling of arriving somewhere and finally getting to exhale.
Book Your Seat Now
AUGUST 14-22, 2026
A slow-paced journey through land, sea & soul. This journey is designed for the curious traveler who wants to move with intention. We’ve traded the "checklist" for the "connection," focusing on the Alentejo and the rugged southern coast—regions where sustainable practices and ancient traditions still thrive.