The Magic of a Truly Heartfelt Encounter - Time in Nature | Madeira | Portugal | 10 Days

Wir werden in Zelten auf einem Privatgrundstück schlafen.

Meals are not included in the price. So make sure you take care of yourself and bring your own food for breakfast and lunch. And maybe bring something with you for the first day so you don’t run out. Especially around lunchtime, we’ll be out in nature, where it most likely won’t be possible to buy food. We’ll stop regularly at supermarkets to buy food, so we’re all in the same boat. For dinner, we usually go to a restaurant, though everyone can decide for themselves.

What could be more healing than a safe space of trust, connection, and belonging—a place where we can reveal our true selves and feel seen, heard, acknowledged, supported, and guided, without anyone trying to change us, so that everything can transform and the best within us can come to light?
Are you ready for an adventure from the limits of the mind to the wisdom of the heart, in beautiful natural settings filled with genuine, truthful, and authentic encounters?

What we’ll do and what will happen

What we all long for most is to feel connected within a space of belonging and trust. We create this space when we show ourselves honestly, openly, and vulnerably, turn our innermost selves outward, and meet one another on a heart-to-heart level, without anyone placing themselves above us.

This creates fertile ground for honesty, openness, and vulnerability, where we can reveal our true selves and thus drain the energy from the falsehood within us.

When we’re allowed to be who we are, treat one another with respect, and feel and convey to each other in every moment that there’s a good reason why we are the way we are—and explore this with curiosity and interest—a miracle happens.

What seemed rigid and unchangeable transforms as if by itself, since it is no longer fought against and is allowed to be.

A new door opens when everything within us is invited, welcomed, seen, heard, acknowledged, and supported by others, and when it hears the right words it has longed to hear for so long.

“Heart-Centered, Trauma-Sensitive Nature Time” is a space for transformation where we immerse ourselves in a world that many may not be familiar with. We’ll spend a lot of time walking in nature at some of the world’s most beautiful places. At the same time, the invitation is to show interest and curiosity in the inner struggles and challenges of the other participants, without trying to save, fix, or heal them. No smart-aleck comments, supposedly knowledgeable or wise remarks, advice, or solutions at the level of symptoms—the kind that put us in the spotlight to compensate for our feelings of inadequacy and shame, so we can feel important, valuable, and useful ;-). We can examine our own basic assumptions, the basic assumptions of others, and the basic assumptions of the whole world toward us. We can share a life theme and take personal responsibility for telling the story behind it—but with a focus on what we feel and have felt in connection with it. The group will approach the topic with curiosity and interest, exploring it to gain a complete picture and also to reveal what remains intact within us. And, as always, without trying to rescue, fix, or heal. No solutions, advice, or comments—unless the person in the spotlight explicitly requests them. A unique opportunity to reconnect with our own inner wisdom, because we are not led to believe that we cannot do this on our own or that there is something wrong with us.

What we take ourselves to be is a mental construct. An illusion. An identity based on thoughts. It hides behind beliefs, basic assumptions, suppressed emotions, projections, and compensation and survival strategies—because we’re not aware of it or because we keep it secret and hide it. That’s why we don’t have the chance to verify that most of it isn’t true. When we have the courage to share and reveal what we’ve been trying to hide our whole lives, a new door opens. Especially when it feels life-threatening and we feel as though we’re being destroyed in the process. Then the illusion loses its power over us.

The language of connection explores what is here and now and invites, welcomes, and acknowledges everything that is hidden and unconscious. It meets everything with curiosity, humility, and compassion.

Transformation happens when we share and reveal what we normally want to keep secret. When we feel seen, heard, and held, and our feelings and pain are acknowledged and validated, a shift occurs. And we may discover that most of our beliefs and projections are not true. This opens a new door.

Experience a unique and most likely life-changing opportunity to connect with your own inner wisdom and the wisdom, intelligence, and intuition of nature and the group.

Are you ready for the
adventure
and
to meet
yourself?

What you’ll take away from this event
● The experience of a space filled with connection and trust
● Greater clarity about who or what you truly are
● Greater clarity about your beliefs, coping mechanisms, and survival strategies—and why you are the way you are
● Greater compassion for your own challenging aspects, states, and emotions—and those of others
● A greater ability to hold space, provide emotional support to others, and meet them with humility, curiosity, and compassion
● Equal opportunities for more introverted participants to speak up, express themselves, and feel seen and heard without having to compete with more extroverted participants

Accommodations

We’ll be staying in tents on private property in a wonderful location surrounded by nature. Showers, restrooms, and an outdoor kitchen with hot water are available.

Meals

Meals are not included in the price. So make sure to take care of yourself and bring your own food for breakfast and lunch. You might also want to bring something for the first day so you don’t run out. Especially around lunchtime, we’ll be out in nature, where it most likely won’t be possible to buy food. We’ll stop regularly at supermarkets to buy food, so we’re all in this together. For dinner, we usually go to a restaurant, though everyone is free to decide for themselves.

Rental Cars or a Bus to Get Around the Island

We’ll find the most suitable and affordable way to get around the island. Either we’ll rent several cars and split up the participants if there are willing drivers, or we’ll rent one or more buses that can accommodate all participants. Rental cars are very affordable in Madeira. The total cost of gas and car rentals will be divided among the participants. For this reason, there is an advance payment/deposit of 250 euros; the difference will either be refunded or an additional amount will need to be paid.

Preparation

We will meet online via Zoom to clarify all details.

Changes to the Itinerary

Due to the weather forecast, destinations and plans may change at short notice, meaning they may no longer correspond to the itinerary listed below.

Hiking Trail Fees

Due to high demand, many hiking trails have required advance registration and time slots—and charge fees—since 2026. These fees are included in the price.

Tent Rental

Tents can be rented at various locations on Madeira if you don’t want to bring your own. Feel free to contact me if you need help.

Details
Duration: 10 days
Arrival: Friday, October 15, 2027, Funchal Airport
Departure: Sunday, October 24, 2027, Funchal Airport
Meeting Point: Funchal Airport
Target Group: Adults
Participants: Max. 16
Participation Fee: 719 euros + 250 euros deposit for a rental car or bus. Please contact me for a discount if you need to watch your budget
Accommodation: In tents on a beautiful private property
Tour Leader: Oliver
Places we’ll visit: Lots

Included

● Tour leadership and guided tours
● Accommodation in tents on a wonderful private property
● Trail fees
● Admission to the Cabo Girão viewpoint
● Admission to the Porto Moniz lava pools

Not included

● Meals
● Flight
● Rental car and gas

Itinerary

Friday, October 15, 2027

We’ll meet at the airport in Funchal and then drive together to the campground. If arrival times vary, we’ll find another solution. Once everyone has arrived, we’ll meet to go over the relevant information.

Saturday, October 16, 2027

Introduction to “The Language of Connection” – Activities to create a safe environment, trust, and connection within the group

1. 10:00 a.m. Gathering in a circle and start of activities
2. 2:00 p.m. Lunch
3. 3:30 p.m. Activities
4. Dinner
5. Additional activities, if necessary

Sunday, March 17, 2027

Levada do 25 Fontes, Levada do Alecrim, Risco Waterfall, Lagoa do Vento
1. Morning circle
2. Nature time (Levada do 25 Fontes ...)
3. Dinner
4. Evening circle

Difficulty Level

Distance: 11.4 km
Ascent: 480 m
Descent: 480 m
Minimum elevation: 1,000 m
Maximum elevation: 1,320 m

Monday, October 18, 2027

Sunrise at Pico do Arriero and hike to Pico Ruivo

1. Hike to Pico do Arriero for sunrise
2. Time in nature (Pico do Arriero to Pico Ruivo)
3. Dinner
4. Evening gathering

Difficulty Level

Distance: 11.2 km
Ascent: 1,020 m
Descent: 1,030 m
Minimum elevation: 1,540 m
Maximum elevation: 1,830 m

Tuesday, October 19, 2027

Visit many attractions such as the Fanal Laurel Forest, Porto Moniz, and much more....

1. Morning Circle
2. Fanal Laurel Forest
3. Porto Moniz (natural lava swimming pools)
4. Praia da Ribeira da Janela (Beach with rock formations)
5. Seixal Village (The best beach with rocks)
6. Véu da Noiva Viewpoint (Waterfall plunging into the water)
7. Miradouro Água d’Alto (Viewpoint)
8. São Vicente (A wonderful village with a church or chapel on the mountain)
9. Miradouro Lombo do Mouro (viewpoint)
10. Miradouro Bica da Cana (viewpoint)
11. Dinner
12. Evening circle

We won’t be walking as much to recover from the strenuous hike the day before

Wednesday, October 20, 2027

Levada do Caldeirão Verde

1. Morning circle
3. Nature time (Levada do Caldeirão Verde)
4. Dinner
5. Evening circle

Difficulty level:

Distance: 13.6 km
Ascent: 100 m
Descent: 100 m
Minimum elevation: 809 m
Maximum elevation: 930 m

Thursday, October 21, 2027

Pico Grande

1. Morning circle
3. Nature time (Pico Grande)
5. Dinner
6. Evening circle

Difficulty level:

Distance: 10 km
Ascent: 696 m
Descent: 707 m
Minimum elevation: 1230 m
Maximum elevation: 1656 m

Friday, October 22, 2027

Ponta do Sol – Funchal

1. Morning circle
2. Ponta do Sol (nomad village)
3. Anjos Waterfall
4. Cabo Girão Skywalk
5. Cristo Rei
6. Funchal
4. Dinner
5. Evening Circle

We’ll visit various sights and won’t walk as much so we can recover from the previous day.

Saturday, October 23, 2027

Ponta de São Lourenço

1. Morning circle
2. Ponta de São Lourenço
3. Nonnental / Eira do Serrado viewpoint
4. Dinner
5. Evening Circle

Difficulty:

Distance: 8 km
Ascent: 300 m
Descent: 300 m
Minimum elevation: 20 m
Maximum elevation: 90 m

Sunday, October 24, 2027

Back to the airport

The heart-centered, trauma-sensitive experience—Nature Time—is not a substitute for medical, psychological, or psychiatric diagnosis, counseling, or treatment!

The arrival airport is Funchal. We will find the most suitable and affordable way to get around the island. Either we will rent several cars and divide the participants among them, if there are willing drivers, or we will rent one or more buses that can accommodate all participants. Rental cars are very affordable in Madeira. The total cost of gas and the rental cars will be divided among the participants. For this reason, there is an advance payment/deposit of 250 euros; the difference will either be refunded or an additional amount will need to be paid.