SAMPLE PROGRAM · ALENTEJO
A milestone celebration in the Alentejo
How we designed two quiet, food-focused nights near Évora
for eight executives, straight after a big conference in Lisbon.
Built around food, wine and the water.
CLIENT
A healthcare technology and diagnostics company
GROUP SIZE
Eight senior leaders
LENGTH
Two nights, straight after the closing day. Works before too
SEASON
Spring and autumn
are best. The region works all year
GETTING THERE
About an hour and
a half by road from Lisbon
FORMAT
Sample program.
Every retreat is designed to your brief
WHY THIS WORKS
A reward, not another agenda.
After a long conference week, a leadership team earns something better than just a flight home the next morning. The Alentejo is an easy drive from Lisbon, but the pace changes completely: wide plains, cork oaks, whitewashed villages and some of the best food and wine in Portugal.
Évora sits at the centre. Its historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and in 2027 the city and the region are European Capital of Culture. The theme is "vagar", the Alentejo art of slowing down. That idea fits a milestone well.
Planned with you, not for you.
One discovery call before anything is booked. What
the milestone is, who is in
the room and what they love. The program is built from those answers.
Historic settings, chef-led tables.
Dinners in places with a
story, cooked by chefs who know the region's larder:
black pork, bread soups, sheep's cheese and
Alentejo reds.
The water, in the middle of the plains.
Lake Alqueva is the largest artificial lake in Western Europe. A private boat below the walled village of Monsaraz is the most unexpected moment of the trip.
DAY BY DAY
The program, day by day
DAY 1
Out to the plains
Private pickup at the conference venue or your Lisbon hotel after the closing sessions
About an hour and a half east to a country estate hotel near Évora, with space, privacy and walking paths
Time to rest, then a welcome dinner at the estate.
No agenda tonight
DAY 2
Évora and the chef’s table
Slow breakfast, then a private walk through Évora: the Roman temple, the cathedral roof and the market
Petiscos and local wine for lunch
Free afternoon at the estate: spa, pool or a walk
The milestone dinner: a private chef's table in a historic Évora setting, with the season's produce and wine from the region
DAY 3
Vineyard, lake and home
Leisurely breakfast and checkout
Private tasting at a wine estate near Reguengos de Monsaraz
Private boat on Lake Alqueva below Monsaraz, with lunch and regional wine on board
Private transfer to Lisbon airport, about 1 hour 45 minutes from Monsaraz
WHY THIS REGION
Why the Alentejo
A third of Portugal, an hour from Lisbon
The Alentejo is the big region south of Lisbon. The name means "beyond the Tagus", the river Lisbon sits on. It covers roughly a third of mainland Portugal but holds only a small share of its people. That's why it feels so open and unhurried.
It's more varied than most people expect:
Évora and the plains: a walled UNESCO city surrounded by vineyards, olive groves, cork oaks and country estates. About 90 minutes from Lisbon.
The coast: Comporta and Melides, with long, empty beaches backed by dunes, pine forest and rice fields. About an hour from Lisbon.
Lake Alqueva and Monsaraz: a huge inland lake below a hilltop village, and some of the darkest night skies in Europe.
Wine country: the Alentejo is Portugal's largest DOC wine region by volume, and many estates host private tastings and long lunches.
For a group, that means one region with very different settings: a historic city, the beach and the countryside, all within easy reach of Lisbon airport. This program stays inland around Évora and the lake. A coastal version can be based in Comporta instead.
“The chef's table experience in Évora was unforgettable.”
"What sets RuaMar apart is their incredible attention to detail. Our corporate group was treated to a journey that seamlessly blended business meetings with incredible culinary experiences."
— Michael T., Conference Organizer, pharmaceutical company
What we handle
Program design · Estate block · Chef's table and private dinners · Vineyard tastings and the private boat · Every transfer, from the conference door to the airport · A dedicated RuaMar host with the group throughout · Plan B for weather · One budget
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![A private boat on Lake Alqueva]()
A private boat on Lake Alqueva
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![A tranquil outdoor swimming pool surrounded by lush greenery, trees, and rocks, with a rocky hillside in the background as private, Portuguese accommodation.]()
Two nights at a country estate
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![Tailored experiences]()
Private winery visits
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![All meals, petiscos & wine tasting]()
Chef's table in Évora
PLANNING NOTES
Good to know
Easy to reach. Most trips start and end in Lisbon. Évora is about 90 minutes by road and Comporta about an hour, so there are no internal flights.
Inland or coast. Évora and the lake suit food, wine, culture and quiet. Comporta suits beach, light and a more relaxed style. Both can work in one trip by adding a night.
Book early for 2027. Évora is European Capital of Culture in 2027 and expects about twice its usual visitors (Euronews).
Plan around the heat. July and August are very hot inland. In summer, the boat, the long lunches and any activities move to the cooler parts of the day. The coast stays cooler.
One host throughout. A RuaMar host travels with the group from pickup to departure, so nobody has to manage a thing.
No affiliation. RuaMar is not affiliated with Web Summit, BIO-Europe Spring or any conference organizer. We design the days around your team's schedule.
FAQs
Questions teams ask
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It feels a world away but is an easy drive from Lisbon. The food and wine are some of the best in Portugal, the estates are small and private, and the whole region is built around slowing down. That makes it a natural place to mark a big moment.
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About an hour and a half by road to the estates around Évora. Monsaraz and the lake are about an hour and a quarter further east, and about 1 hour 45 minutes from Lisbon, which makes it an easy last stop before the airport.
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A private table where the chef cooks for your group and talks you through each dish, the season and the producers. Our guests have called the chef's table in Évora the moment they still talk about.
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No. This version is for eight people. For larger teams, we pair a city hotel in Évora with estate dinners and private experiences.
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Spring and autumn are ideal. The autumn harvest adds energy to the wine estates. Winter is mild and quiet, and July and August are very hot.
Mark the milestone at the Alentejo table.
Tell us about your group, your conference dates, budget and what you're celebrating. We'll come back with estates, a program aligned to your goals. Looking at another part of Portugal? See all seven regions on the map →.