22-26 April 2027
Step away from the everyday and immerse yourself in five extraordinary days devoted to a curated Bird & Nature Experience. This exclusive and bespoke getaway offers a rare opportunity to spend time with renowned wildlife artist and scientific illustrator Joris De Raedt, exploring the art of seeing and drawing birds directly from nature.
Guided by Joris, you will learn to look beyond the surface: to notice posture, movement, character, behaviour, light and the subtle details that bring a bird to life on paper. A dedicated local nature and bird guide will accompany us into the landscape, sharing their intimate knowledge of the area and taking you to some of the most remarkable places to discover bird nests and nesting habitats. These excursions offer a unique glimpse into the hidden world of birds, allowing you to observe their environments, behaviours and intricate relationships with the landscape. Through a combination of intimate field sessions, guided nature walks, outdoor sketching, watercolour studies and relaxed studio time, Joris will share the methods and insights developed throughout his career as a wildlife artist.
The retreat is intentionally limited and bespoke and because this is a boutique creative discovery, rather than simply a workshop, everything is taken care of for you. From carefully chosen locations and expert-guided excursions to beautiful accommodation, thoughtfully prepared meals and the details in between, every element is curated to allow you to fully immerse yourself in these five days journey into the beautiful birds’ s life.
Joris De Raedt is a scientific illustrator and wildlife artist whose work brings together the precision of science and the poetry of direct observation into his paintings and sketches. Educated at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp, Joris has devoted his practice to exploring the natural world through drawing and watercolour. His work often begins outdoors, where he spends long, quiet hours observing birds in their natural habitats (from the Arctic tundra and the cliffs of Iceland to the rainforests of Australia and his own Belgian garden).
For Joris, drawing is a way of looking closely. Rather than simply recording what he sees, he seeks to capture the posture, character and behaviour of each bird, allowing observation, curiosity and spontaneity to guide the work. His approach is deeply rooted in the tradition of 19th-century natural history illustration, while remaining fresh, immediate and personal.
His illustrations have appeared on postage stamps, in international magazines and in publications for conservation organisations including WWF. He has exhibited internationally, including in Birds in Art in the United States, and is a member of the Society of Wildlife Artists in the United Kingdom. His work is held in private and public collections around the world. Together with his father, biologist Walter De Raedt, Joris co-authored Roof-vogels. Their latest book, Bird, Nest & Egg, is being released in English in spring 2026, with French, Spanish, German and Chinese editions to follow. At the heart of Joris’s work is a profound respect for wildlife and the fragile habitats it inhabits. Whether sketching a bird in a remote landscape or observing an owl in his garden, he invites us to slow down, look carefully and rediscover the wonder of the living world.
To know more about Joris’s work visit his website.
22-26 April 2027
(5 days and 4 nights)
Single Room:
€2277 €(+vat 23%) = total 2800€
Shared Room (with another participant):
€1952 €(+vat 23%) = total 2400€
You can reserve your spot today, and we’ll only charge you once the retreat is guaranteed.
Our rooms can be prepared for one person or for a couple. If you would like two separate beds and you are joining with another participant, please let us know. Check hotel details bellow.
Booking Process:
Payment:
You can reserve your spot today, and we’ll only charge you once the retreat is guaranteed.
This retreat is guaranteed once the minimum group size has been reached and the retreat can be operated safely in accordance with applicable local, national, and other regulations.
In the unlikely event that a guaranteed retreat is canceled due to circumstances beyond our control, we’ll let you know as soon as possible, refund all payments you’ve made in full.access.
Get in touch for exclusive access:
5 days with Joris De Raedt
3 Dinners
3 Lunches
Wine Tasting event and Lunch at Esporão (One Star Michelin Restaurant)
A Personal local guide that will curate birdwatching nature experiences
4 Nights Accommodation (with breakfast included)
The first 7 guests to register will each receive a birdwatching scope and tripod as a special gift to take home
Private luxury coach transfer to the hotel in Monsaraz, approximately 2 hours from Lisbon Airport, with return transfer to Lisbon Airport included. All transfers for the activities are included.
Thursday, 22 April 2027
Participants will be picked up at Lisbon Airport Arrivals at 3:00 pm, followed by a bus transfer to Monsaraz. Guests travelling independently are welcome to arrive at the hotel from around 5:00 pm. A private and exclusive welcome dinner will be served at the hotel upon arrival, at 7:30 pm.
Friday, 23 April 202
Our first day begins early, with the promise of an unforgettable morning in the field. After breakfast at the hotel, we depart at 7:00 am by private bus, accompanied by our local birding guide, and head into the landscape to explore some of the region’s prime birdwatching locations. With an expert eye and intimate knowledge of the area, our guide will lead us to places where we can observe birds in their natural habitats and discover the rich wildlife of the region. Around 12:30 pm, we return to SIM for a relaxed outdoor lunch prepared with fresh, locally sourced produce, a chance to pause, savour the flavours of the region and share the morning’s discoveries.
In the afternoon, we return to the studio to begin translating our morning observations onto paper. Guided by Joris, we will revisit our sketches and studies, developing them into watercolours and capturing the birds, details and moments we experienced in the field. We then return to the hotel at around 5:30 pm, with time to rest and unwind. As evening falls, we gather for dinner at a charming restaurant within the ancient walls of Monsaraz Castle. Surrounded by centuries of history and breathtaking views across the Alentejo landscape, it is the perfect setting to relax, enjoy a memorable meal and share stories from our first day.
Saturday, 24 April 2027
After an early breakfast at the hotel, we depart at 7:00 am by bus and head to a second area of the Alentejo, possibly the beautiful surroundings of Esporão, where a new landscape and different bird habitats await us. The morning is dedicated to birdwatching and field observation with our local guide. We will take time to explore the landscape, observe birds in their natural habitats and create field sketches, capturing the details, movement and character that inspire our work with Joris.
To end the morning, we will gather for a wine tasting at Esporão, discovering some of the region’s exceptional wines before enjoying a memorable lunch at Esporão’s Michelin-starred restaurant. Surrounded by the beauty of the Alentejo, this is a moment to slow down, savour the flavours of the region and share the morning’s discoveries.
In the afternoon, we return to the hotel, where the morning’s observations become the inspiration for our artwork. Guided by Joris, we will work from our field sketches and memories, developing them into drawings and watercolours and exploring how to translate what we have seen into our own artistic language. Tonight dinner is independent. For those who would like to continue the experience after dark, an optional stargazing visit to the local observatory can be arranged. This evening experience is not included in the retreat programme, allowing each guest to choose whether they would like to join.
Sunday, 25 April 2027
Our third day invites us to slow down and look even more closely at the birds and landscapes that have inspired us throughout the retreat.After breakfast at the hotel, we set out at 7:00 am by private bus, accompanied by our local birding guide, to explore another carefully selected area of the Alentejo. Away from the familiar paths, we will discover new habitats and seek out different species, with plenty of time for quiet observation and field sketching.
Our guide will take us to some of the region’s most rewarding birdwatching spots, sharing their knowledge of the local wildlife and helping us discover the hidden details of the landscape. This is an opportunity to observe birds at a slower pace, study their behaviour and gather new inspiration for our work with Joris.
Around 1 pm, we pause for a relaxed lunch featuring fresh, locally sourced produce at SIM enjoying the flavours of the Alentejo. In the afternoon, we return to the studio to bring those observations to life. With Joris’s guidance, we will develop our field sketches into more considered drawings and watercolours, exploring colour, form, movement and the character of the birds we have encountered. We return to the hotel at around 6 pm, leaving time to rest before our last dinner. To close this transformative experience, we will share a special farewell dinner at a local restaurant, a celebratory evening filled with connection, conversation, and memories from our time in this very special corner of the world.
Monday, 26 April 2027
After breakfast, you will depart at 9:00 am for your return journey to Lisbon Airport, with an estimated arrival at 12:30 pm. On the way, we will make a 30 to 45-minute stop at a charming local pottery shop.
P.S. A heartfelt thank you to our past participants, whose beautiful photos help bring the spirit of Sofia In Monsaraz to life.
We ensure that everything is well organised with attention to detail, so that nothing will prevent you from enjoying all the peace and quiet of the Alentejo.
Each participant is given their own room with air conditioning, full and private bathroom, shared or private balcony and outdoor access.
This accommodation is an enjoyable 15-minute walk from the workshop venue (SIM) and passes by the Bulhoa menhir (National Monument) and the Alentejo plain.
Note: The Single rooms will be staying in the “Studio Suit” and “T1 Suite”.
Booking Process:
Get in touch for exclusive access:
Internacional roundtrip airfare, alcoholic drinks, activities not included in the itinerary, hotel incidentals including room service, expenses during free time, laundry service and hotel bar, food and beverages not included in the itinerary. Partners are welcome with an extra fee of 500€.
We require all participants to have a personal travel insurance that at minimum covers medical emergencies and cancellations. We do not provide travel insurance for the retreat and each participant is required to have their own individual travel insurance. The place, where the retreat happens, has an Insurance that covers accidents. We will not be responsible for refunding any lost trip funds if you have to miss your scheduled trip.
We accommodate vegetarian, vegan, gluten free or dairy/egg free, and some allergies. We are unable to accommodate participants with severe food allergies or severe food intolerances. Please contact us in advance of registering if you have any dietary questions.
It will start when arriving at the hotel, Thursday evening and finish when you leave the hotel, by Monday morning. We are not responsible for any non-retreat activity that a participant decides to purchase outside of the retreat and such activity will not form part of the participant’s contract with us. The bus transport is covered by insurance.
This retreat includes a walking tour where the ground may be uneven. You may be on your feet for several hours at a time and should be comfortable with walking.
The material list will be communicated a few months before the event, and each student will bring their own. The materials can be shipped to our place before you arrive.
Cancellation Policy
You can reserve your spot today, and we’ll only charge you once the retreat is guaranteed.
Your retreat is guaranteed once the minimum group size has been reached and the retreat can be operated safely in accordance with applicable local, national, and other regulations.
In the unlikely event that a guaranteed retreat is canceled due to circumstances beyond our control, we’ll let you know as soon as possible, refund all payments you’ve made in full.
If you need to cancel your participation in a guaranteed retreat, the following cancellation terms apply:
If you are unable to attend, please notify us as soon as possible so we can process your cancellation and discuss any available alternatives.
Payment can be made by Bank transfer or PayPal in euros. Additional costs may apply where special accommodations are made available to participants.
In this event we will accept up to 15 people. The event does not include spouses, partners or friends if they are not taking the workshop. Please contact us if you would like to bring a non-participant partner.
If we cannot gather the minimum participants of 8, the event can be canceled and the payments refunded to the participants, less 20€ for cancelation costs.
Other questions about this retreat please contact: info@sofiainmonsaraz.site
For more info or questions please consult here our Terms & Conditions.
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