The Return of Men is a 5-day men's retreat and rite of passage held 12-16 May 2027, Wednesday to Sunday, at BioVilla, a regenerative cooperative retreat centre in the Arrábida Natural Park, 30 minutes south of Lisbon. Release old burdens, find clear direction, and form bonds with men who understand and support you.
You've built businesses. Reached your goals. Held it all together. And still, at three in the morning, your mind cycles through problems that aren't on your to-do list. You sit across from your partner at dinner and feel nothing. Every win feels empty within a week.
Make at least one major life decision confidently and learn tools to maintain clarity.
Gain practical techniques to release lingering stress, anxiety, and self-doubt.
Join a circle of men who respect and support you, forging friendships far beyond these five days.
Come away feeling lighter, more resilient, and ready to embrace life with renewed purpose.
This retreat happens on land devoted to regeneration. BioVilla is a cooperative in the Arrábida Natural Park with one purpose: to show that we can meet our needs without taking more than we give back. Organic food grown on the land. Solar power. Their motto: we are nature regenerating itself.
If that speaks to something in you, it should. Most high-performing men have been run like depleted soil. Pushed for output. Stripped of what replenishes them.
Regeneration is not about going backwards. It is about restoring what was always there, so life can return. That is what we do with men. You'll be standing on the proof.
I'll be honest with you: five days will not transform your life on their own. Anyone who promises that is selling an illusion. What five days can do is open a door that talking, thinking, or doing things on your own rarely open. The preparation call before, and the three integration calls after, are not extras. They are where the insights become a new way of living. The retreat is the opening. The months that follow are the integration. We will be with you every step of the way.
“What I learned most is to trust my stomach, trust my heart, trust my body, not my head. My head is always telling me lots of noise, things that are totally imaginary. But when I come back to my body, to my heart, there’s a lot of truth there. A lot of grounding, a lot of love and support.”
“I came to the retreat seeking clarity, to break free of routines. I’d recommend this retreat to any man who feels there’s something not quite fulfilling him in everyday life. Who’s not quite living the fullest life possible.”
“I came to release pain and anger and frustration. What changed things were the personal, intimate, ugly, burning feelings that were laid down on the floor, and everybody was supported. This intensity of the men together is something I have never experienced before.”
“I came to release the protection I built as a kid. Three days to let go of my frustration, my anger, my sadness, and become the man I want to be. What I take from it is the energy, the confidence, the masculine energy I reconnected with, and the calm and serenity I’m living with now.”
“There’s a numbness that comes over time as you grow older. I came to find the excitement for life again. What I’m taking home is realising how lucky I am to be here. I can’t explain how grateful I feel, and that gratitude is going out into my son, my partner, and my family.”
“I felt lost, confused, and afraid. This retreat gave me all the answers I was searching for, in places I didn’t expect to find them. Now I have full clarity on exactly what I need to do going forward. In my body it’s a calmness, a sensation of having my feet on the ground and knowing what I stand for.”
“It was the best decision I have made in the past six months. The biggest insight was that if you want life to be there for you, you have to choose life. You cannot cherry pick. There will be ups and there will be downs, and the downs are there so you can appreciate the highs.”
“Honestly, it's difficult to express in words, but to me it was life changing. Something happened in the breathwork that made me realise: there is really something to all of this. I feel more capable to stop, listen to myself, and express in a way that was always uncomfortable for me. Hands down, the most impactful thing I have done in my adult life.”
“It went way above my expectations. My greatest fear met me in the temazcal, and I realised I can move through fear with love, and that my body is far stronger than my mind. I left with less anxiety, more trust in myself, and the revelation that when there is no judgment or ego, there is space for pure love.”
“I joined because of the work I’d done online with Arun and wanted to see what could happen in person. Despite life’s demands and feeling ‘all in’ at the last minute, I found a powerful connection with Arun, Martin, and every single man there. I’ve never cried so openly or felt such love in just a few days. The clarity, vision, and emotional release I experienced were beyond anything I imagined. I return to normal life now checking in with my feelings, facing challenges with more compassion and love. I’m equipped with tools for a new journey ahead. Thank you, Arun, Martin, and everyone involved—for helping me surrender and discover a deeper part of myself.”
“I felt a calling but wasn’t sure what to expect. I arrived ready to surrender, forgive, and trust my inner feeling. I learned so much about facing fear, sadness, anger, and joy. I gained tools to take on anything life throws at me. My heart is full of love for every man I met there. Keep showing up!”
“Before the retreat, I felt disconnected and doubted a short experience could really change me. But it was life-changing. I came home and finally opened up to my parents about my struggles. We went from no affection to daily hugs and meaningful meals. I shared my truth with my girlfriend, and it brought us closer than ever. This was the most profound investment I’ve ever made in myself. I left more authentic, open, and capable of forming deeper connections. I’m so grateful I took that leap.”
“It was a magical weekend. Coming home, I spoke openly with my partner, and we laughed, cried, and loved like never before. I feel so clear now—about my family, my projects, and my purpose in this world. Arun and Martin turned sand into gold, showing me the magic in all of us. Strangers became brothers beyond nationality, color, or status. Love truly is in everyone. I’m already planning trips with my family, feeling their eagerness too. I can’t wait to see how this unfolds and to share these stories again around a campfire. Speaking from the heart, with profound love.”
“I arrived without expectations, just a desire to open my heart. I connected with my buried emotions and learned to speak my truth. Arun and Martin created a safe space that allowed me to trust, let go, and see my life through fresh eyes. I feel more honest with myself and more in touch with my emotions than ever before.”
“I attended another retreat before with Arun and it changed my life, so I came here wanting more access to my feelings and deeper connections. I worried it wouldn’t live up to my high expectations, but it truly expanded how I relate to others. I learned to express my feelings openly, realised how people appreciate me, and decided to focus on my inner world instead of constantly seeking external solutions. Now I’m more open, more relaxed, and more willing to reach out to others, even strangers. This retreat built on my previous growth and revealed how far I’ve come—and how much further I’m willing to go.”
“I’d never done a men’s retreat before and felt drawn to Martin’s energy, so I took the leap. What I found were deeply rooted emotions still living in my body, and old traumas I thought were healed. I gained powerful tools and made big decisions I’d been avoiding. Surrounded by men who allowed themselves to feel, I felt safe to do the same. This experience solidified my resolve to speak my truth, to help others find their courage to feel, and to let my anger rise with purpose.”
Meet the guides who will support you through this journey. With years of experience, compassionate insight, and proven techniques, they’re committed to helping you find authentic growth and lasting change.
In 2015, a concussion at the Kickboxing World Cup in Ireland forced me to stop. In the years after, my marriage ended, my drive collapsed, and the man who could push through anything couldn't get out of bed.
I had no map for what was happening to me, and no one to tell me it had a purpose. That is why I do this work.
I'm a former five-time national kickboxing champion turned therapist and guide. Over the past eight years I've supported more than 1,000 leaders, entrepreneurs, and high performers through transformation.
I'm not offering a way through that I read about. I'm offering the one I needed and didn't have.
Arun is a men's coach and therapist who has helped thousands of people find a greater sense of joy, authenticity, and connection to who they are, what they want for themselves, and what life is asking of them.
Over the past 7 years, Arun has crafted a simple yet powerful approach to living and relating that cultivates self-trust and clarity in oneself, depth and intimacy in relationships and clarity and excitement for life's calling.
Arun is passionate about men's health and wellbeing and offers 1:1 coaching, online and in-person men's communities and retreats worldwide.
Learn more about Arun here.
This retreat is for men who:
Applying is free and takes about ten minutes. Nothing is committed.
1 Preparation Group Coaching Call to ground your intention (Thursday 6 May, 19:00-21:00 UK time, on Zoom)
(Travel to and from the retreat not included. Payment plans available.)
A 5-day men's retreat and rite of passage, Wednesday to Sunday, held at BioVilla, a regenerative retreat centre in the Arrábida Natural Park, Portugal, for leaders, entrepreneurs, and high performers.
BioVilla, Palmela, in the Arrábida Natural Park, 30 minutes south of Lisbon. Fly into Lisbon, and arrival details come with your timetable.
Breathwork, ritual, fire circles, ice baths, temazcal sweat lodge, honest conversation, and time in nature. Structured emotional work in a safe, trauma-informed container. No performance, no fixing, no masks.
No. Many men arrive having never sat in a men's circle. We only need your willingness, not experience.
No. The retreat works with breathwork, ritual, ice baths, fire, and honest conversation. Having worked with psychedelic medicines since 2015, I can say this: I've seen more powerful transformations happen in these five days than in any of the plant medicine retreats I've facilitated. Nothing else is needed.
Shared rooms at BioVilla, three men per room. All meals are organic and fresh, prepared on site. Let us know your dietary needs when you apply.
€1,480 early bird for the first 10 men, or until 31 January 2027. Then €1,680. This includes the full 5-day immersion, accommodation at BioVilla, all meals, a preparation group coaching call, three follow-up integration calls, and access to the private online brotherhood. Travel not included. Payment plans available.
No. There is no programme to read, before or during the retreat. What you'll receive is a simple timetable: when we meet, where we meet, and what to bring. In every tradition that held rites of passage, parts of the initiation were kept from the initiate, because not knowing is part of the work. Everything is invitation, never force.
No. It's deep personal work in a trauma-informed setting, facilitated by experienced guides. It can complement therapy, but it doesn't replace it.
Parts of it, yes. A photographer and filmmaker will capture moments of the retreat, and here is how we protect you. When you sign up, you choose whether you're happy to appear in photos and video. If you'd rather not, that's completely fine, and we'll make sure you don't appear directly in any media. After the retreat, everyone gets to review the photos and footage. If there's anything you don't want used, we won't use it. And you can withdraw your consent at any time. What's shared in the circle stays in the circle. The camera follows the same agreement as everyone else in the container.
Life rarely serves up a perfect moment. If the ten-year question above landed in your body, you have your answer.
If you've tried and still feel stuck, an immersive, expertly guided environment helps you break through faster, skipping years of trial and error.
This retreat is application-only. Click “Apply Now” and take about ten minutes to answer five short questions. Martin reads every application himself, then reaches out personally to make sure it's the right fit. If it isn't, he'll tell you.
Applying is free and takes about ten minutes. Nothing is committed.
“I’d never done a men’s retreat before and felt drawn to Martin’s energy, so I took the leap. What I found were deeply rooted emotions still living in my body, and old traumas I thought were healed. I gained powerful tools and made big decisions I’d been avoiding. Surrounded by men who allowed themselves to feel, I felt safe to do the same. This experience solidified my resolve to speak my truth, to help others find their courage to feel, and to let my anger rise with purpose.”
