IKARIA 2025 Wellness Retreat: Blue Zone Health and Longevity Course
Magical Island of Ikaria
Join us on the magical Greek island of Ikaria, often called "the island where people forget to die," but more importantly, where they remember how to live! From Sunday, June 8th, to Saturday, June 14th, 2025, immerse yourself in the serene beauty of this northern Aegean gem, where you’ll experience the secrets of Blue Zone wisdom firsthand.
The retreat begins with your arrival in Ikaria, a short 35-minute flight from Athens. Settle into the Karras Star Hotel, relax by the pool, and savor the local cuisine. Over the next six days, engage in daily meditation, yoga, and acupuncture sessions designed to rejuvenate your body and mind. Explore the island’s rich culture through various activities, including a sweet herb walk and honey tasting, an Ikarian cooking class, and a restorative road trip to ancient thermal baths.
Our schedule balances structured wellness sessions with plenty of free time for relaxation or exploration. You can participate in unique experiences like ceramics and painting classes or unwind on one of the island's stunning beaches. The retreat concludes with a memorable farewell dinner at a local vineyard, celebrating new friendships and the timeless lessons learned.
Your stay includes six nights at the hotel, daily breakfasts, meditation and yoga sessions, and acupuncture treatments. Optional activities, such as the herb walk, cooking class, and winery visit, are available at an additional cost. Lunches, dinners, massages, and transportation are not included.
This retreat is perfect for solo travelers, couples, or friends seeking to deepen their connection to themselves and others. Prepare for a week of wellness, relaxation, and discovering what it truly means to live well.
Sample Itinerary
Sunday, June 8th. To June 14th. (6 nights)
This is a fantastic opportunity to explore the island’s stunning natural beauty and learn about the Blue Zone's secrets of longevity, joy, and peacefulness. While increasing your own.
Fly into Athens, then fly to Ikaria (55 minutes), a Greek Island in the northern Aegean Sea
Sunday, June 8th: Arrive Ikaria early afternoon. Settle into hotel, hang out by the pool.
Meet and greet drinks, then a delicious meal.
Welcome dinner at Karras Star Hotel. Blue Zone presentation (Geoff & Po)
Monday June 9th
Morning Sessions: will include meditation, gentle yoga, stretching, waking up the body, and greeting the sun, followed by acupuncture. You can also relax in the pool; it is all optional. More vigorous workout sessions are also available.
7:30-9:00 am. Yoga with Po
9:30-11:00 am. Breakfast Buffet
11:30. Acupuncture Clinic (Geoff & Alyssa)
1:30 pm. Panagirias Festival and lunch. We are lucky enough to be in Ikaria for one of the famous village “Panagiria” festivals, a traditional feast day that celebrates the Saints’ name days or other religious holidays. The Panagiria typically starts in the early afternoon or in the evening and goes on until the next morning! We will go mid-day to eat, dance, and meet the locals, just like Zorba, the famous Greek Yogi. Some say this is the most authentic Greek experience a foreigner could have! https://youtu.be/eLi1iUHQOSw?si=QUVCGT4TJ62xgjni
6-7 pm. Restorative Gentle Yoga (with acupuncture) (Po & Geoff)
Dinner: In your free time, savor another delightful local Ikarian restaurant.
Tuesday June 10th
7:30-9:00 am. Yoga with Po
9:30-11:00 am. Breakfast Buffet
Ikarian Cooking Class and Lunch, (11:30- 3:00 pm) George & Eleni Karimalis Ikarian nutrition cooking experts at their authentic farmhouse vineyard. George will give a talk about nutrition, the traditional Ikarian diet and longevity, then put your apron on and Eleni will teach us how to cook tasty dishes. Finish on a sunny vineyard terrace overlooking the blue Aegean and eat your delicious food, washed down with an organic wine from their vineyard below.
Afternoon options: Beach, pool time, siesta, walk around local village,
Dinner, savor another delightful local Ikarian restaurant.
Wednesday, June 11th
7:30-9:00 am. Yoga with Po
9:30-11:00 am. Breakfast Buffet
Road Trip & Ancient Thermal Baths (11:30 -4 pm). Explore the North Island, stopping for coffee in a charming mountain village, arrive at the ancient Thermal baths of Therma. Once the private spa of Greco-Roman royalty was built between the time of Alexander the Great and Cleopatra and ruined by an earthquake in 210 BC. The baths were famous throughout Greece and were not open to the public until the 20th century. Ikaria was always a place of incredible healing, going back thousands of years. The baths are a place of healing where Sulphur and other mineral elements naturally bubble up from the earth’s core. Enjoy a soak and swim, leaving you with a sense of relaxation and rejuvenation. Afterwards, enjoy a relaxing lunch by the beach.
6-7 pm. Restorative Gentle Yoga (with acupuncture) (Po & Geoff)
Dinner, savor another delightful local Ikarian restaurant.
Thursday, June 12th
7:30-9:00 am. Yoga with Po
9:30-11 am. Breakfast Buffet
11:30-12:30 pm. Acupuncture Clinic (Geoff & Alyssa),
1:00 pm Lunch at Hotel
4:00pm to 7:00pm HIKE, Natural History & Ethnobotany of Ikaria:
This treat of a hiking trail, passes through a mature Mediterranean forest of pine, centenarian oaks, rare trees like redskin wild strawberry, we will hike past abundant Ikarian flora and medicinal plants, like a botanical garden. After we’ll visit a local herbal lab specializing in creating amazing natural medicines and cosmetics from many of the wild herbs we’ve walked past. This wonderful day will end with a delicious meal at a local restaurant.
Friday, June 13th
7:30-9:00 am. Yoga with Po
9:30-11 am. Delicious Breakfast Buffet
11:30-12:30 pm. Acupuncture Clinic (Geoff & Alyssa),
12:30 pm. “Poolates”: fun exercises in the pool (Po)
1:30 pm. Lunch and Presentation (Geoff & Po) of the week’s lessons learned
Visit Messakti Beach 1 mile away. It's one of the best beaches right next door.
Ikarian Winery and Tasting (4:30-6 pm) Enjoy visiting and tasting local wines on the Island of the mythical birthplace of the God of wine Dionysus. Take a tour of the estate starting from the "pithostasi", where the traditional clay jars for fermentation and aging of Afianes wines are buried in the earth and get to know the winemaking method of the ancient Ikarians. See up close the granite press where the grapes are pressed by foot and be guided to the stone pirate house of the winery where the oldest wines of the estate are kept.
Farewell dinner buffet, 7:30 pm
Saturday, June 14th.
Bon Voyage Breakfast Buffet (7-11 am)
Transfer to airport
Our schedule is fluid and subject to change, and our activities are subject to change, just like life.
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Cost for our Blue Zone Health and Longevity Retreat
Early Bird Pricing:
Double Room Shared (with ensuite bathroom) $2,699 per person
Single Room (with ensuite bathroom) $2,900 per person
* price increase $300 per person after December 1st
Accommodations include a double bed or two single beds with either a garden or sea view. If you're open to sharing a room with a fellow retreat participant, let us know—it's a great chance to make new connections!
Rooms are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. If no sharing preference is indicated, single occupancy may be assumed. Single rooms are limited.
Your deposit guarantees your reservation, with the remaining balance due closer to the retreat date.
Non-refundable deposit. Terms and conditions apply.
Included in the Price:
Six nights’ accommodation with breakfast at the hotel, welcome and farewell dinners. hiking restaurant dinner, five lunches, daily meditation, yoga, and acupuncture sessions (individual clinics and as part of “yin yoga”savasana), optional morning fitness classes, health presentations, all yoga mats and blocks provided in the yoga shalla. All scheduled activities (Panagirias Festival, Herb Walk, Cooking Class, Road Trip/Thermal Baths, Winery Tour and Tasting).
Plus, priceless extras like siestas, laughter, new friendships, deepening connections, camaraderie, and valuable take-home knowledge to enhance your longevity and health span
Not Included:
Beverages (alcoholic or soft drinks), massages, three free time dinners and one free time lunch at Therma restaurant, free time taxis transport and all flights.
FAQ
Our Hotel is situated on the gorgeous North shore of the Island in Avlaki village, just a mile or so from Evdilos the main port of north Ikaria. It is close to golden beaches and stunning villages. Newly renovated and elegant, the Hotel has firmly established itself as one of the best in Ikaria with great views being offered from our stunning pool
What is the easiest way to get to Ikaria? The fastest route is to fly into Athens and to catch a connecting flight to the island. There are direct flights from Boston.
How long is the Athens - Ikaria flight? 35 minutes.
Which airline flies to the island? Olympic/Aegean, Sky Express, and Astra Airlines all fly to Ikaria. Check the Ikarian flights first, then coordinate the International.
How do I get from the airport to the hotel? Transportation is included for specific flight times.
How long is the ride from the airport to the hotel? A spectacular 1 hour and 15 minutes.
What is the name of the hotel and where is it? Karras Star Hotel, North Coast.
Karras’ Star Hotel is situated in Avlaki village, just a mile or so from Evdilos (the main port of north Ikaria).
What is the dress code for the classes and excursions? Dress code is athletic, casual and comfortable. Bring layers, as the weather can get a little chilly at night. Make sure to have one pair of closed walking and/or hiking shoes, long socks, and one pair of long pants, preferably light colored. Average temperatures for June are 68-79 F.
What is the tipping policy? Most people tip the kitchen assistants and hotel personnel, i.e., cleaning person. Taxi drivers are not tipped. It is customary to leave a 10% – 15% tip in restaurants.
It is OK to travel solo?
Absolutely. Our group is very friendly, everyone feels at home and very comfortable.
Who can come?
All are welcome to join our retreat. Yoga classes will be all levels, and all outings and activities are optional.
Travel Insurance: Is highly recommend. If you are looking for a company we suggest World Nomad or Allianz.
Can we visit a Panagariya’s Village Festival?
Village festival dates for 2025 have yet to be announced. People come to Ikaria from far and wide to take part in these unforgettable celebrations. We will try to work one into the schedule if we can. It is a unique opportunity to revel with the Ikarians amidst village surroundings, traditional food, live music, non-stop dancing, and delicious Ikarian wine.
Do I need a visa?
U.S. citizens may enter Greece without a visa, for stays of up to 90 days.