Last updated: 18 October 2026
Thank you for choosing a retreat with us. These terms explain how booking, paying and cancelling work. We have kept them short and in plain English. If anything is not clear, please email us before you book.
1. About us
Holistic Olive Branch is run by Clare, Rui and Simone in Bouro Santa Maria, near Gerês, Northern Portugal.
Clare Pinder, trading as Holistic Olive Branch (sole trader, Empresário em Nome Individual) · NIF 308880528 · RNAAT nº 1106/2026 (tourist animation agent, Turismo de Portugal) · Braga, Portugal
Email: info@holisticolivebranch.com
Our partner travel agency. Payments for our retreats are received by Glamoux Portugal Unipessoal Lda, a travel agency registered with Turismo de Portugal (RNAVT nº 9787, NIF 516500414, Avenida da Liberdade 706, 1º Esq., 4710-249 Braga). Holistic Olive Branch designs and hosts the retreat. As a registered travel agency, Glamoux Portugal is covered by the Portuguese Travel and Tourism Guarantee Fund (FGVT).
2. When these terms apply
These terms apply to every booking for a Holistic Olive Branch retreat. When you book and pay, you agree to these terms. If you book for another person, please make sure they have read them too.
Private group retreats have their own group agreement, which applies instead of these terms where they differ. See Group Retreats. Teacher Training (HOBYY Academy) has its own booking terms – see Teacher Training booking terms.
3. Prices and what is included
- All prices are in euros (€), per person.
- The price, what is included and what is not included are shown on each retreat page.
- Flights, travel insurance and drinks are not included, unless the retreat page says so.
- A private room and an airport transfer are optional extras, shown on the retreat page.
- All our retreats are held in English.
4. Paying (our payment and cancellation policy – the same for every retreat)
Your deposit is non-refundable.
- When you reserve, we confirm your place and let you know that the retreat goes ahead provided we reach the minimum number of guests.
- Booking 60 days or more before the retreat: pay a deposit of at least 30% of the price when you book. The balance is due 60 days before the retreat. You can pay more, or in full, at any time.
- Booking less than 60 days before the retreat: pay in full when you book.
- Last-minute bookings: we welcome guests who pay in full right up to the day before the retreat, whenever we have space.
- You pay by bank transfer. Once we confirm your place, we email you your final balance and the bank details of our partner travel agency, Glamoux Portugal (RNAVT nº 9787), which receives payments for our retreats.
- If the balance is not paid on time, we will send you a reminder. If it is still not paid 5 days later, we may release your place, and section 7 (if you need to cancel) will apply.
5. Offers and discount codes
- Any offers or discount codes work as shown on the retreat page, including the dates they end.
- Offers can be combined only where the retreat page says so.
- Offers cannot be exchanged for cash.
6. Minimum number of guests
- Each retreat needs a minimum number of guests to go ahead. For the November 2026 retreat, this is 10 guests.
- We will confirm by email whether the retreat goes ahead by the date shown on the retreat page (31 October 2026 for the November retreat).
- If the retreat cannot go ahead, we will refund everything you have paid us in full, or, if you prefer, move your booking to a future retreat.
- Please do not book flights until we confirm the retreat is going ahead.
7. If you need to cancel
Please tell us by email as soon as you can. The date we receive your email is the date of cancellation.
Your deposit is non-refundable.
- Within 72 hours of booking: we refund what you have paid, minus a €50 admin fee.
- 60 days or more before the retreat: we refund 50% of anything you have paid beyond your deposit.
- Less than 60 days before the retreat: we cannot give a refund.
- If you do not arrive, or you leave early, we cannot give a refund.
- November 2026 retreat: we are already within 60 days of the start, so bookings are paid in full and are non-refundable (there is no 72-hour refund for this retreat).
- Bookings made through BookRetreats also include BookRetreats’ own free 72-hour cancellation.
Refunds are paid back to the same account you paid from, within 14 days.
8. Giving your place to someone else, or moving your booking
- You can give your place to someone else. There is an admin fee of €50. Please tell us their name and contact details at least 14 days before the retreat, and make sure they read these terms.
- You can move your booking to a later retreat once, if there is space. There is an admin fee of €50.
9. If we need to cancel or change the retreat
- If we cancel the retreat for any reason, we will refund everything you have paid us, or move your booking to a future retreat. You choose.
- Sometimes we may need to make small changes to the programme, for example because of the weather. We will always try to offer something of the same value.
- We cannot pay for flights, travel insurance or other travel costs. This is why we ask you to wait for our go-ahead before booking travel, and to take out travel insurance.
10. Events outside our control
Sometimes things happen that nobody can control, for example severe weather, wildfire, flooding or government restrictions. If this means we cannot run the retreat, you can choose:
- a full refund of what you paid us, or
- a place on a future retreat of the same length, at no extra cost, even if the price has gone up. If you choose a longer or more expensive retreat, what you paid counts as credit and you only pay the difference.
We cannot pay for flights or other travel costs, so please take out travel insurance.
11. Travel insurance
We strongly recommend travel insurance that covers cancellation, travel delays and medical care.
12. Your health and wellbeing
- All activities are optional. Please take part at your own pace and within your own limits.
- Please tell us before the retreat about any health conditions, injuries, pregnancy, allergies or dietary needs, so we can look after you well. We keep this information private.
- If you are not sure whether a retreat is right for you, please speak to your doctor before you book.
- Yin Yoga, meditation and our other activities are not a replacement for medical care.
13. Looking after each other and the venue
- Please be kind and respectful to other guests, our family, the venue staff, the venue and the land around it.
- No smoking indoors. Please follow our fire safety rules outdoors (for example, candles and incense).
- If a guest’s behaviour is unsafe or abusive, we may ask them to leave. In this case we cannot give a refund.
- Please look after your own belongings during your stay.
14. Photos
We love sharing moments from our retreats, but we will only use photos where you can be recognised if you give us permission. You can say no, or change your mind at any time.
15. Your personal information
We use your details only to manage your booking and to send you messages you have agreed to. Please read our Privacy Policy.
16. Questions and complaints
If something is not right, please talk to us first. We will always try to put it right. You can email info@holisticolivebranch.com.
These terms are governed by the laws of Portugal.