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Feel at Home in Nature
Woodland Wilderness School is the first bushcraft and wilderness survival school in Southern Portugal and is located in one of Europe’s most remote areas, the Baixo Alentejo.
We have been teaching Bushcraft, Survival and primitive skills since 2016, inspired by Native American traditions. Over the years we were able to condense the curriculum into a highly effective selection of content covering all the different aspects of survival and wilderness living.
Our Vision is to provide people with a more refined understanding of their natural surroundings, and enable them not only to be able to survive in the short term, but to step further and further out into the wild.
Background
Perhaps the most important characteristic of Woodland Wilderness School is that we do not teach wilderness survival as a struggle against nature – man against the elements – but as learning to become part of our natural environment again. This is achieved through a deep understanding of nature based on observation, tracking and awareness.
Group sizes are kept small and personalised, to a maximum of ten people per course. This way we can make sure that everybody gets the most out of the experience.
All training is generally held in English, however individual or small group courses can also be taught in Portuguese or German.
Prices, Schedule, Bookings
Apart from the scheduled dates it is always possible to book an extra course for a group or personal training.
Upcoming Courses
| Dates | Course |
| July 4th – July 5th, 2026 | Survival Weekend |
| July 17th – July 19th, 2026 | Lakeside Wilderness Survival |
| September 26th – 27th, 2026 | Nature Connection |
| October 24th – 25th, 2026 | Survival Weekend |
| November 21st – 22nd, 2026 | Earth Steward |
| December 5th – 8th, 2026 | Essential Wilderness Survival |
What you’ll learn
- wilderness survival
- practical outdoor skills
- tuning into your natural instinct
- off-grid living
- primitive camping skills
- hands-on bushcraft skills
- wilderness awareness
- deep nature connection
- ancestral traditions
Who Our Courses Are For
Our training is suitable for:
- People seeking a digital detox
- Those looking to re/connect with nature
- Bushcraft enthusiasts
- Families
No previous experience is required. Whether you are new to the outdoors or an experienced adventurer, our training will show you how to move through natural environments with confidence, awareness and respect.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this military survival training?
No. Nature is not an enemy to be conquered. It is a living system that communicates constantly through tracks, signs, weather patterns, animal behaviour, and landscape features.
Our approach is rooted in traditional wilderness knowledge and practical outdoor skills, rather than military survival techniques.
Do I need to be fit?
Our courses are suitable for people with average fitness levels, from 12+ years old.
Is wilderness survival dangerous?
All outdoor activities involve some level of risk. Our courses are designed to help participants understand and manage those risks safely and responsibly.
Will I learn bushcraft skills in each course?
Yes. All courses involve an element of primitive / practical bushcraft making skills. Many courses include shelter building, firecraft, tool use and campcraft, alongside broader survival principles.
What if I am nervous about wildlife?
Some people arrive with concerns about snakes, insects, predators, or other natural hazards.
Part of our training focuses on understanding wildlife behaviour and reducing unnecessary fear, through knowledge and experience.
What should I bring?
Each course includes a detailed equipment list after booking. Most courses require only basic outdoor clothing and personal gear. Tents, sleeping mats and knives can be rented separately, if you are unable to bring your own.
Are your courses suitable for beginners?
Absolutely. Many participants have little or no previous outdoor survival experience. Our courses attract people from a wide variety of backgrounds, of all ages and walks of life. Courses are structured to help everyone build skills and confidence progressively.
Please contact us for any further questions or special requirements.
I took a private 1-on-1 lesson with Tom where we covered all of the basic course and a bit of the advanced course. Wow, what an experience.
The course was stacked with everything you’d want from a wilderness survival course. You learn all the survival skills you’d want to know (like building a fire with nothing but a knife and a string). But further – you learn to appreciate nature and to become one with it. That’s a special element of the course that I did not expect to receive – a philosophy with which to think about our place amongst and a part of nature. We had many deep conversations on topics like this.
Tom was fantastic. He clearly loves the forest/wilderness and is such a fantastic guide to learn from. He made me feel as if I was camping with a friend, but learning from an expert.
I couldn’t recommend Tom and his course/school more. I’m happy I went with my gut and travelled to Portugal for Tom, rather than did some larger more commercialized course. What a life changing experience.
Nikita
