8 Day Creative Writing and Yoga Retreat in Hydra, Greece
Creative Writing Retreat in Greece
Begin your first novel on the Greek island of Hydra, which has inspired so many writers, musicians, and artists. Join novelist Kai Knight for this writing and yoga retreat. The co-author of the fantasy novel Blue Out, who has also published crime and spy novels.
Meet the instructors
Highlights
- Daily yoga practice
- Daily creative writing classes
- Visiting the port and the beaches
- Free time to explore the island and swim on the beaches
- Chance to absorb the sunny Mediterranean atmosphere
- 7 nights accommodation
- Breakfast and lunch with vegan and gluten-free options
- Optional murder mystery dinner on the second-to-last evening
Skill level
- Beginner
Yoga styles
7 days with instruction in English
Accommodation
Facilities
- Dining area
- Environmentally friendly
- Fireplace
- Garden
- Kitchen
- Lounge
- Multilingual staff
- Picnic area
- Smoke-free property
- Terrace
- Yoga deck
- Yoga studio
- Conference room
- Free Wi-Fi
- Internet access
- Library
- Meeting room
- Wireless internet
Welcome to Oikonomou House, a prestigious Greek captain's mansion. Magical and inviting, with its large ballrooms, libraries, terraces, and gardens, you can feel like you have stepped into a castle, almost like in C. S. Lewis’ “The Chronicles to Narnia.”
There, you can breathe, unwind, and relax whilst embarking upon a new, enlightening, and inspirational journey. It is a place where you can truly discover your inner self.
The mansion offers breathtaking panoramic views overlooking the Aegean ocean and the island of Hydra. You can rest on the terrace in the bright Mediterranean sunshine, or you can walk through and read in the midst of nature in the house gardens.
Oikonomou House is conveniently located only a few minutes walk away from the beautiful island beaches and the iconic amphitheater-shaped port of Hydra. There is much to explore on the island.
Artemis Retreats is located at Oikonomou House, a beautiful traditional Greek mansion set on a small hill overlooking the Mediterranean Ocean, with a beach just a 10-minute walk away.
The mansion has a ballroom and two terraces where the yoga classes are held. There are also a library and a large garden and terrace where the art classes are held.
This accommodation is exclusive to seven guests in separate, large rooms overlooking the gardens. Guests will have access to a fully equipped kitchen, living rooms, a yoga room, a library, terraces, and gardens.
Program
Each day will begin with one hour of yoga and meditation with Skyrah, followed by a delicious and healthy breakfast. In the morning, you can refresh and focus your mind with yoga and meditation classes. And in the afternoon, you can dive into the sea and swim in the Mediterranean Ocean or explore the beautiful landscapes that Hydra has to offer.
The grand finale is an optional murder mystery dinner on the second-to-last evening.
Writing to your heart's content, surrounded by like-minded people, is the motto of this retreat.
The retreat includes accommodation in an old Greek captain’s mansion at the top of the hill overlooking Hydra port. There will be a maximum of eight participants. Please note that participants should be physically fit for the walk to the house!
Writing
Each day’s writing workshop will include teaching from Kai, practical exercises, and then workshopping of your written exercises with other delegates on the retreat, which Kai will supervise.
Throughout seven teaching days, Kai will show you how to kick-start your fiction ideas and turn them into a manuscript to attract literary agents and publishers.
Topics covered will include subjects such as characterization, storytelling, setting, plotting, point of view, reading as a writer, writing a synopsis and chapter plan, and how to attract a literary agent.
At the end of the retreat, you will be armed with your own synopsis, a chapter plan giving you a road map to complete your novel, and an opening chapter of 1,500 - 2,500 words, which you will write in your free time during the retreat.
Should you wish, you will be able to get an optional report and feedback from Kai on that opening chapter and synopsis / chapter plan, which will be delivered in the weeks after the retreat (on payment of a small additional fee).
Delegates will need to be fluent in spoken and written English. Each delegate will also need to bring a laptop with Microsoft Word installed (or failing this, a tablet with either the Microsoft Word or Pages apps installed and capable of outputting Word documents and reading Microsoft Word track changes), as well as a pen and notebook for taking notes.
Yoga
The retreat yoga classes are a balanced mix of meditation and Hatha and Vinyasa yoga. You will begin with a centering meditation that leads into a gentle flow of yoga and ends with relaxation in shavasana, sending you into the day with a clear, open, and focused mind.
As the week continues and you discover more about yourself and your current journeys, the practice can start to reflect your needs and your personal levels.
Note
The first day of the course will be the arrival day with a meet and greet at 18:30 and a discussion about the course. Classes will start with yoga the following morning. The course will finish at 13:00 on the final day. Yoga, breakfast, and a final writing class and discussion are included on the last day.
Sample daily schedule
- 09:00 - Yoga class
- 10:00 - Breakfast
- 11:00 - Writing class
- 14:00 - Lunch
Included excursions
- Visiting the port and the beaches
- Optional hike to the Monastery Profitis Ilias on the mountain overlooking the island
Instructors
Skyrah Archer
Skyrah is a 200hr certified yoga teacher very experienced in teaching mixed level yoga classes with gentle flow. She has been practicing yoga since she was a young girl and on the retreat will take you through a journey of gentle self discovery and mindfulness. Her soothing voice is perfect for a relaxed and meditative class, after which your mind will be free and inspired for sketching and art.
Kai Knight
Kai Knight started writing in 2010 after graduating from Durham University with a degree in English Literature. Since then, Kai has completed her first novel Blue Out, a collaboration, published under the nom de plume Miranda Storm. The novel, a dystopian young adult fantasy adventure rom-com, tells the story of 16-year-old Naya DeLora who is chosen to become a swim champion in a world where global flooding has submerged most of the world’s former landmass in water. Kai has completed two other novels, a middle grade crime story and a quirky modern fairy tale about a wizard, which will be publi
Retreat location
Hydra is the perfect Greek island getaway. It is a small, idyllic, and totally car-free island just a hop and a skip away from Athens. It has beautiful beaches, fabulous sunsets, and fascinating history. This special island is visited by many artists every year!
Unique features
General
- Dining area
- Environmentally friendly
- Fireplace
- Garden
- Kitchen
- Lounge
- Multilingual staff
- Picnic area
- Smoke-free property
- Terrace
- Yoga deck
- Yoga studio
Services
- Conference room
- Free Wi-Fi
- Internet access
- Library
- Meeting room
- Wireless internet
This Yoga Retreat is vegetarian-friendly
Click to see more vegetarian-friendly Yoga Retreats
Food
All of Hydra Holiday Retreats' foods are fresh, healthy, and homemade, based on a vegetarian and Mediterranean diet, and served in a buffet style. On request, gluten-free, vegan, and dairy-free options are all available.
The breakfast often includes fresh fruits from the island, Greek yogurt or coconut yoghurt with honey and walnuts, cereals, smoothies, eggs, and fresh fruits from Hydra Holiday Retreats' own gardens.
Lunches include fresh salad, oven-baked vegetables, beans, rice,and quinoa-based dishes, and curries. Restorative Greek mountain tea is available at any time.
If you have special requests, don't hesitate to let them know, and they will do their best to cater to your needs.
The following meals are included:
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Drinks
The following drinks are included:
- Water
- Coffee
- Tea
The following dietary requirement(s) are served and/or catered for:
- Vegetarian
- Vegan
- Gluten Free
- Lactose Free
- Whole food
Things to do (optional)
What to do in Hydra
Hiking
The routes down to the town or even across the house line above Hydra and Kamini heading west to Vlychos is very easy, interesting, and wonderfully picturesque. There are also organized walking tours to longer hikes to the monasteries of the island, located on the hills.
Swimming
There are many beaches for swimming all along the coast of Hydra. Close ones are just a few minutes from the house. Some of the more secluded ones can only be reached by boat.
Horse riding tours
Harriets Horses or Argiris horses provide tours around the island.
Scuba diving excursion
The PADI school at the port of Hydra offers fun dive excursions around the island waters.
Standup paddleboard (SUP) yoga
With a large enough group, it’ll also be possible to organize a boat trip and a SUP yoga half-day excursion.
Eat and drink
There are many great tavernas to choose from to enjoy traditional Greek food, as well as Italian and mixed European restaurants. And at the port, there are a number of bars for evening cocktails and drinks.
Spa treatments
Massage is available at an additional cost.
What's included
- Daily yoga and meditation classes
- Daily writing classes
- Free time to explore the island, swim on the beaches, and absorb the healing Mediterranean atmosphere
- Yoga mats and blocks
- Access to the sunset terrace, gardens, balcony, library, yoga room, and Wi-Fi connection
- 5 nights accommodation
- Daily breakfast and dinner
- Water, tea, and coffee available throughout the day
What's not included
- Airfare
- Any transfer to and from the venue
- Boat ride to the island
- Alcoholic drinks
- All dinners
- Personal expenses
How to get there
Recommended Airports
Transfer not provided
Athens International Airport (Eleftherios Venizelos Airport)
78 km away from your destination
Arrival by boat
From the Athens International Airport (Eleftherios Venizelos Airport) (ATH), you will need to head to Piraeus Port. There are three options to get there:
- Metro: The blue metro line runs directly from the airport to Piraeus port.
- Bus: The X96 stops at 'Karaiskaki Square' in Piraeus.
- Taxi: There is a set fee of 54 EUR for a taxi transfer from the airport to Piraeus. If you would like to pre-order a taxi, Hydra Holiday Retreats can arrange this for you. You can pre-book via them or via Uber, or take a taxi from the line on arrival.
At Piraeus Port, you will take a ferry boat to Hydra. You can pre-book a ticket online.
The boat ride lasts between one hour and 20 minutes and two hours, depending on the boat you choose. Some ferries stop at the island of Poros before arriving in Hydra.
Upon arrival in Hydra, there will be someone at the port to take you to the residence.
Cancellation Policy
- A reservation requires a deposit of 21% of the total price.
- The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
- The rest of the payment should be paid 7 days before arrival.
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