Greece is considered the cradle of Western civilization. It’s a mesmerising nation of ancient historical sights and gorgeous islands and the stunning yoga retreats in Greece are some of the best in Europe.
Greece is one of my all time favourite destinations. If your dream yoga holiday includes practicing yoga outdoors at sunset on a stunning, sun soaked island, relaxing on gorgeous beaches and exploring ancient ruins then a Greece yoga retreat is perfect!
Not only is Greece one of the most beautiful places to visit in the world, its also a fantastic place to enjoy a relaxed lifestyle and healthy Mediterranean food. There’s plenty of amazing places to find peace and spirituality in this endlessly fascinating ancient land and with thousands of islands you can easily escape the crowds.
My Guide to Yoga Holidays in Greece
In this post I’ll guide you through the best yoga destinations, how to choose the ideal retreat and give you my recommendations for the best yoga retreats in Greece to help you find your perfect yoga holiday.
If you’re in a hurry, skip to my favourite retreats here
The Best Yoga Destinations in Greece
There is a wide range of excellent retreat centres all over Greece, they all offer experienced yoga teachers and beautiful locations with plenty to explore and enjoy after your yoga classes. Whichever destination you choose for your yoga holidays, you can’t really go wrong, it just depends on what you’re looking for.
Most of the best Greek retreats are situated on the stunning, sun soaked Greek islands. Santorini, Corfu, Crete, Kos and Paros are some of the most popular options with a wide range of retreats to choose from.
Or if you want to get away from it all there are hundreds of smaller Greek islands to discover including Skiathos and Skolepos where the Mamma Mia movie was filmed.
You can find retreats in almost every corner of the country, even near the capital, Athens. You can even practice yoga on a yacht while island hopping for a really unique experience!
My Pick of the 5 Best Yoga Retreats in Greece
Hopefully you now know a bit more about what your ideal yoga retreat looks like, but with so much choice it can still be hard to choose.
To help you narrow it down here’s my top 5 picks for the very best ones, based on personal experience, recommendations from friends and reviews from previous guests.
- Best Private Personalised Retreat –Anandamaya Retreat, Evia
- Best Yoga and Hiking Holiday – Yoga on Kos, Kos
- Best Yoga and Sailing Holiday – Alt Travel Yoga Cruise
- Best Santorini Yoga Retreat – Sky Yoga and Pilates, Santorini
- Most Affordable Yoga Retreat – Just Relax Yoga Holidays, Corfu
Anandamaya Retreat, Evia
If you’re looking to slow down and relax with a private yoga retreat consider Anandamaya. Here you’ll experience the best of Greek hospitality, healthy living and take a break from the world at this relaxing retreat.
You’ll receive expert daily Hatha yoga tuition from Pinelopi, a yoga teacher and physiotherapist, that is personalised to your specific needs. Holistic health guidance and one therapeutic massage is also included in the price.
Reconnect with yourself and nature with the guided meditation sessions in nature and relax on the nearby beach. The guided beach and mountain hikes will take you to waterfalls and the chance to dip in natural thermal springs.
This retreat is located in a luxurious and intimate villa on a hilltop in a tiny village near the shore of Evia island. It’s accessible by public transport from Athens but still a world away from the busy city. As well as the chance to embrace slow living, another highlight of this retreat is the organic, home cooked, local food and how the hosts make you feel like part of the family.
Whether you choose the 4 day or 5 day retreat, you’ll probably wish you could stay longer.
Yoga on Kos, Kos
Kos is famous for its abundance of sandy beaches and is a magical place to practice yoga and meditation. Spend eight days with the people from Yoga on Kos practicing yoga, eating healthy food and enjoying the spectacular views and Greek island life.
You will start each day with a refreshing fresh juice and a morning Hatha or Vinyasa yoga session, followed by a healthy breakfast. The rest of the day you are free to do what you would like; meaning you can visit some beaches, explore the island or get a massage.
In the evening, you will enjoy a relaxing Yin or Restorative yoga session before dinner. Also included are two group hikes, a visit to natural hot spring and sunset meditation at Hippocrates Altis, which is a sacred place of Hippocrates.
You will stay at the Zenzoí lifestyle hotel, just a 5-minute walk to the beautiful Aegean sea and 1.5 km from Kos town. Vegetarian and Vegan breakfast and dinners are included and for lunch you can enjoy exploring the local tavernas.
Read More: The best yoga teacher training courses in Greece
Alt Travel Yoga Cruise, Departs Athens
This is probably one of the most unique experiences, as it takes place on a yacht and you’ll get to explore many exciting locations in Greece!
The yacht leaves every Saturday from historic Athens’ Alimos Marina and sails to the beautiful Cycladic Islands. You will not only get to visit three or four Greek islands, but you will also be able to practice yoga on each of the islands that you visit. You also get free use of the yacht’s SUP board, sea scooter and kayak.
The yacht takes small groups of four to eight people along with the skipper and yoga teacher. You’ll be staying on the yacht in cabins and breakfast and lunch is included. For dinner, you will enjoy sampling the local tavernas at the port stops.
In total, you’ll spend six amazing days sailing around the Aegean Sea, swimming at unspoiled beaches, tasting traditional local cuisine and practicing Hatha yoga twice every day. For sun, sea and yoga lovers, this is the best yoga retreat in Greece!
Sky Pilates and Yoga, Santorini
Join Sky Retreats team of three highly experienced yoga instructors for an unforgettable wellness and yoga retreat in Greece.
This fabulous eight day yoga retreat takes place on the stunning island of Santorini, consistently rated as one of the most beautiful islands in the world, which is the perfect location for revitalizing and relaxing your body, mind and soul.
As well as soaking up the beauty of Santorini, you will enjoy two classes per day (yoga and/or pilates) and participate in meditation sessions, and all props are included, even a yoga mat!
You will be staying at the luxurious Pelagos Hotel and can choose to stay in a private bungalow or shared bungalow for two people, both of which come equipped with a kitchenette.
The boutique hotel also has a swimming pool with lounge chairs, a massage room and its very own organic vegetable garden. The yoga hall is also amazing, being a large tented space that allows the natural Santorini air to blow through.
This is an all inclusive, luxury yoga retreat that also includes a delicious daily brunch, 4-5 course vegetarian dinner, airport transfers, a hiking excursion to the village of Oia and other excursions to explore the island. Sky Retreat is more than a yoga retreat, it is an inspiring experience of wellness, culture and community.
Just Relax Yoga Holidays, Corfu
Running all year from Saturday to Sunday, this amazing multi style yoga retreat in Greece is located on the island of Corfu and takes place in a beautiful Corfiot villa just a stone’s throw away from quiet Almyros Beach.
You will be practicing yoga twice a day in the property’s outdoor shala while soaking up the sweeping views of the mountains. There’s a variety of yoga styles taught including restorative, yin, vinyasa, ashtanga and not forgetting the daily hatha yoga classes.
Another highlight is the evening yoga session on a peninsula, only accessible by boat, while watching the sunset over the sea. There’s also a 20 minute welcome massage included to help you relax into the retreat.
There are only five rooms at this intimate yoga retreat, each of which has a private balcony that offers panoramic mountain or sea views. You also get a hearty breakfast every morning after your first yoga session, and a healthy Greek buffet dinner five of the seven nights you will be at this retreat.
Wednesday is an off day, where you are free to do whatever you’d like, giving you the opportunity to explore this magnificent island and it’s historic Old City and sample the traditional, local cuisine.
My Favourite Yoga Retreat in Greece
As you can see there is no shortage of yoga and wellness retreats in Greece, which makes choosing the perfect one for you a bit overwhelming. If you’re like me and have difficulty picking just one here’s my top recommendation.
My favourite yoga retreat in Greece is Just Relax Yoga in Corfu because of the quality of the yoga classes, the amazing hosts and cosy intimate vibe at the sea facing villa. I loved practicing yoga in the gardens and on the beach, the tasty Greek food and exploring the island of Corfu. It’s also one of the best value for money retreats in Greece. Book your place here.
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How to Choose a Retreat
There are some really amazing Greece yoga retreats offering unique experiences to suit all levels of yogis where you can deepen your yoga practice in the sunshine while soaking up some of the most spectacular scenery and history in Europe.
Most retreats offer daily yoga sessions, meditation sessions and delicious, healthy food, but can vary a lot in terms of accommodation, facilities, other activities offered and price.
Here’s 10 things to consider when choosing a Greece yoga retreat:
Type of Retreat – There’s many different types of wellness retreats so consider your intention and find which one suits you best. From affordable, sociable and fun packed with activities, to luxury spa and meditation retreats – there’s so many options available nowadays that whatever you need you’re sure to find one that suits.
Yoga Styles – There are many different styles of yoga from dynamic Ashtanga and Vinyasa flow, traditional Hatha yoga, relaxing restorative and yin yoga and even acro and ariel yoga. Some yoga retreats focus on just one style while others offer multiple yoga styles. So you can pick the style you enjoy most or use the opportunity to try them all!
Experience Level – Wherever you are in your yoga practice, whether you’re a beginner or a more experienced yogi, look for retreats that are suitable for your experience level.
If you are an experienced yogi the yoga sessions at a beginners retreat might not be challenging enough for you, whereas if you’re a beginner you’ll probably feel overwhelmed if you end up on a yoga teacher training retreat.
Most yoga teachers can cater for beginners by offering modifications but it’s worth checking what level the retreat is aimed at to ensure you get the most out of the experience, especially if it’s your first yoga retreat.
Location – There’s a huge choice of different retreat locations in Greece, from beach yoga retreats on stunning islands, to off beat or off grid nature retreats in the countryside or mountains.
There’s even urban yoga retreats where you’ll get to experience all the history and culture of iconic cities after your yoga classes. Decide what your dream Greece yoga holiday looks like to help you narrow down your search.
Accommodation, Meals and Facilities – Retreat centres vary enormously in terms of accommodation, meals and facilities so make sure you find somewhere that you feel comfortable with.
Luxury yoga retreat centres usually offer accommodation in beautiful private rooms and facilities like swimming pools, spas, restaurants and yoga studios with stunning views.
On budget yoga retreats accommodation may be in shared rooms or dormitories, or even camping. Affordable retreats also often offer the use of a shared kitchen so you can cook your own meals which helps to keep costs low and creates a homely sociable atmosphere but might not be the luxurious pampering you were dreaming off.
Food is another important factor to consider, most wellness retreats will serve healthy, organic food, but some only offer vegetarian or vegan food and may not serve alcohol so check that the food meets your requirements.
Other Activities – In addition to daily yoga and meditation classes many retreat centres also offer the chance to try other exciting activities like hiking and nature walks, yoga nidra, cooking classes, spa treatments, horse riding, water sports, boat trips and local excursions for a complete holiday package.
Cost – Of course your budget is another important factor to consider. You can find some amazingly affordable retreats in Greece nowadays but always check what’s included. Some budget retreats may not include meals and require an extra payment for spa treatments, additional activities and airport transfers so you might find an all inclusive retreat is better value for money.
Reviews – While some retreats may look amazing it’s vital to check real reviews from previous guests so that you can get a better idea of what the retreat is really like. Reviews on a retreat’s website or social media pages might not tell the whole story so check reviews on an unbiased website like bookyogaretreats or bookretreats before you book.
Read this article for more tips on how to choose a yoga retreat.
I hope this post has helped you to find your ideal yoga retreat in Greece! If you’re looking for retreats in other destinations check out my other posts. Namaste 🙂
Read More Yoga Retreat Recommendations:
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Have you been on an amazing yoga retreat in Greece?
Share your experiences and tips and help other travellers and yogis 🙂
