Eat The Soup No Phones Retreat

Remember the feeling of being truly present? Of losing yourself on a dancefloor without a screen in sight? Of making a connection with a stranger without picking up your phone to exchange Instagram handles? We do. And we’re building a place to find it again. Eat The Soup presents The No Phones Retreat: a 5-day immersive experience in the heart of Mirandela, Portugal. This is not a festival. It’s a temporary society built on connection, creativity and the radical idea that the best moments are the ones we don’t record. HOW IT WORKS: Upon arrival, we’ll lock your smartphone in the Phone Jail. If you need to use your phone at any time you can use it there for a symbolic fee of 0,18€ per minute. When you leave the venue and return to your accommodation, you can pick it up again. In its place, we’ll give you a disposable film camera and a notebook. Your job is to be present. Our job is to give you something worth being present for. WHAT TO EXPECT: Music: Our lineup is a secret. It’s not about who you’ll see, but what you’ll feel. The artists will playing in unique, intimate settings. No main stages, just immersive soundscapes and spontaneous jam sessions. Art: Interactive installations, live painting and creative workshops designed to spark your inner artist. Nature: Explore the wild beauty of Mirandela. Kayaking, hiking and stargazing far from city lights. Connection: Communal meals, fireside talks and a community of 1,000 like-minded souls ready to disconnect from the digital and reconnect with the real. ACCOMMODATION: Camping and Caravan are included in the ticket but you can choose your level of comfort. We offer glamping tents under the stars and 4-star hotel rooms in the center of Mirandela, just 10 minutes away from the venue. All options are designed for rest and rejuvenation. THE SOUP NEIGHBOURHOODS: The Soup Neighbourhoods are small temporary villages within the retreat. Instead of one big campsite, the land is divided into intimate clusters where people stay together with their friends, crews or collectives. You can come alone and be welcomed. Or come as a group and build your own little home for a few days. Some neighbourhoods are made for glamping. Others for tents or caravans. THE WORKSHOPS MUSIC & SOUND DJ and Music Creation Sessions: Informal moments where artists share how they work. Track selection, storytelling, transitions, live performance approaches or simply playing music together. Sometimes it becomes a session, sometimes just listening. Live Experiments and Jams: Modular setups, instruments, voices or simple jams by the river or under the trees. No expectations, no audience separation. CREATIVE & ARTISTIC Film and Photography Sessions: Using analog and digital cameras to document life outside the stage. Focused on observation, not performance. Some sessions explore storytelling, framing and how to capture emotion without urgency. Documentary Writing Circle: An open space for those who want to help shape the retreat’s documentary. Conversations about narrative, memory and what deserves to be remembered. The story is written together, during the retreat. Woodwork and Build Workshops: Hands-on sessions where participants help build simple structures, benches, signs or art pieces for the retreat. Functional, imperfect but made together. BODY & WELLBEING Movement and Stretching: Gentle morning or sunset sessions to reconnect with the body after travel, touring or long periods of sitting. No levels, no pressure. Sound Healing and Listening Sessions: Moments of stillness using sound, vibration, and silence. Designed to calm the nervous system and invite rest. Runs, Walks and Nature Movement: Optional group runs, hikes or walks through the land, trails and along the river. No pace, no competition. NATURE & EXPERIENCE River Sessions: Swimming, floating or simply sitting by the water. A reminder that nature is not an activity, it is a presence. The Soup Triathlon (registration mandatory): A playful, non-competitive experience combining swimming in the river, trail running and biking through the hills. About movement and joy, not performance. FOOD & SHARED MOMENTS Culinary and Cooking Sessions: Artists and guests who enjoy cooking can host simple meals, soup moments, or shared preparation. Food as connection, not service. Shared Tables: Long meals where conversations happen naturally. Just people eating together. CONVERSATIONS Open Talks and Circles: Unscripted conversations about creativity, burnout, touring life, friendship and balance. Sometimes guided, sometimes spontaneous. Nothing is mandatory. Nothing runs on a strict schedule. THIS IS FOR YOU IF: • You’re tired of experiencing life through a 6-inch screen. • You believe the best memories are felt, not filmed. • You’re ready to meet your new best friends, not your next 1,000 followers. WHAT’S INCLUDED • Five days and four nights in Mirandela • Accommodation in camping or caravan (Glamping and Soup Neighbourhood not included) • 3 meals per day included, from breakfast to dinner • Aromatic water, non-alcoholic drinks, natural juices and açaí and curated beverage moments • Music experiences across different environments • Workshops, talks and creative sessions • Access to river swims, trails and nature activities • Shared spaces designed for rest, conversation and connection • On-site support and care throughout the retreat Once you arrive, everything is taken care of. The only thing you are asked to bring is presence. This is not another festival. Be part of a movement. Join us. Leave your phone behind. Find what you’ve been missing. And remember: Life is a soup...and we have a fork! 🥣 Mucho amor, Eat The Soup Collective 👁👌🏼 (if you want to volunteer, send us an email to eatthesoupbaby@gmail.com with the subject 'VOLUNTEER + YOUR NAME') (for brands or sponsorships, send us an email to eatthesoupbaby@gmail.com with the subject 'SPONSOR + BRAND NAME')