BackPortugal Health-Tech Adventure
For the third year, we took 45 VOYAGERS to Portugal's wine country on October 7 to 10 2023 for a three-day health-tech networking adventure. This adventure had feedback of 9.4 out of 10 in 2021. That's because we carefully curate the agenda to connect VOYAGERS at a deep level - through activities ranging from river trekking to participating in the grape harvest and health-tech workshops.
After epic 2019 and 2021 VOYAGERS weekends here, we returned for a carefully designed harvest-time adventure in the stunning wine country of northern Portugal’s Douro valley. From Saturday to Tuesday (four days and three nights), 50 VOYAGERS working in health-tech shared a memorable bonding weekend by the Douro river. We spent days river-trekking, sailing and water-skiing, and visiting vineyards to enjoy the finest wines of the region. The mission is to use these shared experiences to enable meaningful friendships — connecting health-tech VOYAGERS across geographies to be there for each other and solve some of the group’s challenges. Because magic can happen when stories are shared and trust is built.
Feedback from 2021 adventure
Photo gallery from 2021 adventure
From Charlotta, a past participant: “Joining this is something I would highly encourage if you have the opportunity! I’ve participated twice and both experiences were phenomenal. It’s an excellent way to escape from the daily grind while still remaining immersed in the health-tech field. Every time I returned, I felt rejuvenated and inspired with fresh ideas.”
WHAT DID THE PROGRAMME LOOK LIKE?
Our home for the long weekend was the Douro Palace hotel and spa, at a beautiful location on the banks of the Douro river. The modern hotel has an outdoor swimming pool, with panoramic views of the terraces of the Douro, and a spa with heated indoor pool with a waterfall, sauna, hammam and treatment rooms.
The adventure began on the Saturday afternoon, when we gathered by the pool for welcome cocktails as we started to get to know each other. We learned some of each others’ stories and then settled into the formal opening dinner at the hotel. Every VOYAGERS adventure is packed with opportunities to make new friends through curated activities, and we sampled local ports and wines together under expert guidance, followed by late-evening group games such as Werewolf, a VOYAGERS tradition .
Sunday was a day for outdoor activities on the Douro River, which originates in Spain and flows across northern Portugal towards Porto, the country’s second-largest city. Activity choices included river trekking, canoeing, water-skiing and stand-up paddling.
Monday was wine-harvest day. We were hosted by one of the region’s most charismatic vineyards, where we enjoyed the best of regional food and drink over a group lunch, and explored some local village highlights together.
We enjoyed a stunning bike ride and river activities before a farewell lunch on Tuesday in a historic restaurant in central Porto, after which some chose to extend their trip and others began their journey home.
It was an incredible experience! Many events I’ve been to say there will be a diverse range of participants; this was the first to fully deliver on that. The activities were great fun; the venue was stunning; the people were exceptional.
WHAT’S INCLUDED
We took care of participants from the moment they arrived in our hotel in the Douro valley, around 1h 15m drive from Porto airport or central Porto, until the moment we closed our farewell Tuesday lunch. We recommended the 1h 20m scenic train journey from Porto’s Campanha station to Aregos station, and we provided the ticket.
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Three nights’ accommodation in the comfortable Douro Palace spa hotel
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All meals: breakfasts, lunches and dinners from Saturday afternoon until Tuesday afternoon
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All drinks, alcoholic and non-alcoholic, served with the group
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All scheduled activities, including arranged outdoor activities, the wine-harvest visits, river activities, health-tech workshops etc
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All transport for the duration of the scheduled adventure (you will need to arrange your own travel to/from Portugal and airport transfers to the hotel and from our farewell lunch in central Porto)
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Your brochure with participant biographies
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Professional photography during the trip
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The VOYAGERS gift pack (save some luggage space to take it home)
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The services of the VOYAGERS production team
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Advance curation by the VOYAGERS team, including extended site visits
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A few extra surprises we will announce nearer the event.
We asked 2021’s participants: “Overall, how would you rate the adventure on a scale from 0 [worst] to 10 [best]?” Their average score was 9.4 out of 10.
CANCELLATION POLICY
We will collect a €300 deposit to hold your place. You can cancel your place, for any reason with no questions asked, for a full refund until August 28 2023. Our refund policy is as follows:
UNTIL AUGUST 28, 2023 (Midnight GMT): All fees paid are refundable in full, NO questions asked.
UNTIL SEPTEMBER 15, 2023 (Midnight GMT): You will receive a refund of all fees paid, excluding your booking deposit, minus a 50% cancellation fee.
AFTER SEPTEMBER 15, 2023 (Midnight GMT): No refund will be payable to you; but before September 30 2023 you may connect us with someone you have found to take your place, subject to the VOYAGERS organisers’ approval.
Please note: Participants must be working in health-tech (although your plus-one doesn’t need to be in health-tech). We welcome partners who engage with the group as active participants. We are limited to 50 places, and are likely to be oversubscribed. We will curate the group to ensure a diverse mix of lovely people.
[Photography and drone video footage by Chris Hahn.]
