Rejuvenating Cultural Retreat in Greece

May 19 - 29, 2018  

Imagine yourself being on a gorgeous and tranquil island, giving your body and mind the gift of time and reconnecting with yourself through yoga and mindfulness activities.

Engage in an adventurous exploration that includes private tours exploring the traditional picturesque island of Skopelos. Experience the crystal clear Aegean sea on a full day sailing trip, walk through the heavily forested hills of pine trees, try your hand at printmaking at the local artist studio and hike to the local goat farm to sample savoury Greek cheeses.

Restore and revitalize  with morning yoga and self journaling to help you connect to yourself and decompress from your daily stresses.

Enjoy free time reading by the pool side, discovering the ancient cobblestone streets of Skopelos Town and simply experiencing the Greek way of living simply.

Highlights:

• Morning Hatha Yoga classes
• Self reflection with your complimentary journal
• Rest time at the pool
• Tennis
• Private island tour of Skopelos plus ( Mamma Mia movie tour)
• Swim, snorkel, and relax at secret beaches
• Full day sailing trip to Alonissos
• 2 traditional Greek dinners
• Greek dancing lesson
• Wine and cheese talk
• Daily breakfast and some lunches
• Pool side appetizers
• 10 nights accommodation at the beach front hotel Del Sol  
  • Options:
    • 2 days of 4 hour printmaking classes at a local art studio
    • Trek to quaint tranquil goat farm to experience and taste the creation of feta and mizithra cheese
    • Take an Archaeological historical tour to view the ancient tombs at Sendoukia
    • Boat cruise to the magical island of Skiathos      

Del Sol

Just 700 metres from Skopelos Town along a flat coastal road with views to the open sea and subsequent cooling breeze, this beachfront hotel set amidst a one and a half acre garden features a swimming pool and a tennis court in a tranquil olive grove. Units offer free Wi-Fi and balconies overlooking the Aegean Sea and Mt Palouki.


All air-conditioned units at Takis – Sophie, include a kitchenette with a fridge, cooking rings and electric kettle. Every studio or apartment has a dining area and the balconies are furnished with a table and chairs.


Around the pool there are plenty of sun-beds and an outdoor dining area with a traditionally built BBQ for those wishing to enjoy al fresco meals.


The lively town of Skopelos has jazz bars, fish taverns and souvenir shops. The famous Stafylos Beach is 4 km away.  

Skopelos:

Skopelos  is known for its lush greenery, exotic beaches and the picturesque villages. One of the most beautiful islands in Greece, Skopelos has its special architecture as shown in villages like Skopelos Town and Glossa. Discover the stunning beaches with crystal water along the coastline of the island, including Stafylos, Panormos, Elios and others. Skopelos became widely famous when scenes from the Hollywood movie Mamma Mia were shot there.  Many visitors venture to the church of Agios Ioannis Kastri, where the wedding scenes of this movie were shot. Skopelos  is an easy boat trip to discover the neighbouring islands of Skiathos and Alonissos.  

Source: www.greeka.com    

Your hosts:  

Sophie Duxbury
Sophie is an avid traveller with experience as a travel consultant, group travel guide, corporate travel agent and a travel work abroad program representative.  She studied business in the Hospitality Management Program at BCIT as well as Travel Counselling at the Canadian Travel School.  Together with her husband Chris, she owns Greco’s Specialty Food Market, Surrey’s original and most popular Mediterranean foodie destination. Sophie is familiar with the Greek Island of Skopelos, in the lovely Sporades. She looks forward to bringing together a group of like minded individuals to enjoy 10 days of rejuvenation by experiencing the Greek way of living simply.  

Jill Irvine
Jill is a practicing physical therapist with over 20 years of experience in sports and orthopaedics, as well as a yoga teacher and a medical yoga therapist.  She recently completed her medical yoga training at the Professional Yoga Therapy Institute in North Carolina. She has a passion for travelling and has travelled extensively throughout the world.  When she visited the Greek Islands she fell in love with them. She is excited to share her knowledge of well-being and yoga and help bring health and rejuvenation into the lives of others.  Her contagious energy will inspire you to find bliss in this beautiful Mediterranean experience.  

How to get there:

Travel to the retreat to be arranged on own.
Please contact Sophie at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for suggestions or recommendations.  

Arrival by airplane:

• Flight from Vancouver to Athens (arrival following day)
• Flight from Athens to Skiathos (30 minutes on Aegean or Olympic Airlines)
• Ferry from Skiathos to Skopelos (45 mins. to 1 1/2 hour sailing depending on ferry taking)
• Shuttle drive from port in Skopelos Town to Del Sol accommodation (less than 5 minutes)

Travellers may choose to overnight in Athens for a day or two prior to arriving in Skopelos.

Athens is the capital of Greece. It was also at the heart of Ancient Greece, a powerful civilization and empire. The city is still dominated by 5th-century BC landmarks, including the Acropolis, a hilltop citadel topped with ancient buildings like the colonnaded Parthenon temple. The Acropolis Museum, along with the National Archaeological Museum, preserves sculptures, vases, jewelry and more from Ancient Greece.    

Arrival by ferry / boat:
Ferry service from Skiathos to Skopelos:  

• Flying Dolphin 18 €
• Flying cat     14,50 €
• Ferry boat Ex. Skiathos 10,50 €

Please note: ferry schedules are usually available one month prior to sailing date.  

Costs:

• $2200.00 Canadian per person.
• Deposit of $500.00 Canadian is required to confirm your space.

Cancellation Policy

• The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
• The rest of the payment should be paid 60 days before arrival.