Hiking and Yoga Retreats in the Greek Mountains and Islands with Nefeli Nine

These are hiking and yoga weeks rather than training camps. A typical day starts with breakfast and a drive or walk to the trailhead, then three to five hours on foot through mountains, gorges, olive groves or coastal paths depending on which retreat you pick. You come back for a late lunch, then have a couple of hours free before a yoga class in the late afternoon or early evening. Dinner is served at the villa or guesthouse, usually with wine, and most people are in bed well before eleven.

The retreats differ more than a single listing usually suggests. The Dikastika Signature Retreat is coastal and close to Athens, with sea views and easier access for a short flight. The Pelion week is based in a villa on the Pelion peninsula with panoramic views over the mountainside and the sea. The Zagorochoria Trekking Adventure is run together with Nomads Path and crosses the stone bridges and ravines of Epirus, staying in traditional guesthouses in the villages. The Agrafa week is at Montanema Handmade Village, a cluster of handmade houses in a fir forest above Lake Plastira. The Crete retreat combines daily yoga with exploration of the island.

Nefeli Nine states plainly that the programme is based on studies of the Blue Zones, the regions where people have been shown to live longer and with lower rates of disease, including Ikaria in Greece. In practice that means daily walking, daily yoga, stress-management sessions such as massage and reflexology, and a whole-food, predominantly plant-based diet that is naturally low in fat and sugar. It also means eating with the group rather than alone, which is why a lot of guests come back having made friends.

The hikes are graded for all ages and abilities and are led by experienced guides who know the local paths. Yoga classes are suitable for beginners as well as people who practise regularly, and mats are provided. Group sizes stay small enough that the guide can adapt the route on the day, for example skipping a steep section or shortening the walk if it is unusually hot.

What sets these weeks apart from a generic Greek walking holiday is the combination of the food, the guides and the range of locations. The team has been running trips in these areas for years, and several of the itineraries use family-run guesthouses and village kitchens rather than hotels. If none of the scheduled dates work, Nefeli Nine also organises bespoke retreats for private groups.

What's included

- Six or seven nights' accommodation in a villa or traditional guesthouse - Daily breakfast, lunch and dinner - Daily guided hikes with experienced local guides - Daily yoga classes with mats provided - Plant-based, locally sourced meals - Welcome drinks and introductory session - Farewell dinner - Guided excursions where listed in the itinerary

What's not included

- Flights to and from Greece - Airport or port transfers unless arranged in advance - Travel insurance - Massage and reflexology treatments - Drinks outside of meals - Personal expenses and souvenirs - Optional excursions not listed in the itinerary