Our retreat location is a private homestead of villas tucked into a secluded valley on one of the quieter islands in the Cyclades. The property sits just a short stroll from a remarkably beautiful and very quiet beach, so it feels close to the sea while still being tucked away and sheltered by the surrounding hills. It has an immediate sense of ease, with lush gardens, generous outdoor space and a calmness that holds throughout the day.
The villas are built with local stone and natural materials and have spacious outdoor living areas set among gardens and trees that blend into the landscape, giving a strong sense of being connected with nature. The atmosphere is unhurried and quietly sociable, with plenty of space to find your own pace. It is an exceptional setting for a retreat: private, peaceful and naturally beautiful. Paths link the pool, the yoga dome and the beach, making it easy to move between the valley and the shoreline depending on the time of day and your mood.
Days follow a relaxed rhythm shaped by yoga, beach time and space to rest. Mornings begin in the open-sided yoga dome beneath the trees, where James leads a steady flowing vinyasa practice with options for all levels of experience. After class, breakfast is served outdoors before the rest of the morning opens up for swimming, reading, gentle walks or a massage.
Afternoons are deliberately unstructured, giving guests the chance to explore the valley, spend time at the pool or head down to the beach. On selected afternoons, James will offer optional workshops for those who would like to deepen their practice. These sessions are created based on what guests might request or be interested and curious about, so they are custom made. They’re designed to give curious practitioners more time to explore technique, alignment and personal enquiry in a supportive setting.
As the heat eases, we return to the dome for slower evening practices including yin, restorative and yoga nidra, offering a more reflective space before dinner. Meals are shared, colourful and generous. There is no rush, and dinners often unfold into relaxed conversations and long, warm evenings.
Outside of yoga and meals, guests are free to shape their days in whatever way feels good. Many settle into a simple pattern of sea swims, relaxed time on their deck and quiet reading by the pool. A short inland walk brings you to a small waterfall and natural dipping pool where it is easy to pause in the shade during the hottest part of the day.
Midway through the week, there is the option to explore by boat, visiting nearby coves and beaches that are only reachable from the water. One evening we travel to Chora for shopping and dinner in town, which gives a feel for the island’s local rhythm. On the final night, we gather by a fire on the beach to close the retreat and spend time under the stars as the week draws to a gentle end.
