6-Day Blue Zone Hiking & Yoga Retreat in the Mountains of Ikaria, Greece

The retreat is based in Christos Raches, a village in the centre of Ikaria at about 600 m altitude, surrounded by oak forest and terraced hillsides. You sleep at a family-run guesthouse with simple, clean rooms, most with balconies looking over the valley to the sea. The property has an outdoor pool, a garden with herbs and fruit trees, and a taverna where breakfast and dinner are served.

Walking is the backbone of the week. Routes follow the old kalderimi — stone-paved mule paths — that connected Ikaria's villages before roads. Expect to walk 8–14 km per day on terrain that includes rocky sections, loose stone, some steep climbs and descents, and stretches where the path is faint or overgrown. A guide from the village leads each walk and knows the local families, the springs, and the shortcuts. Highlights include the climb to a hilltop chapel above Christos Raches, the walk down to the village of Kastanies, and the descent to the coast at Nas with its rock pools and the ruins of a temple to Artemis.

Yoga runs most mornings before breakfast, usually 60–75 minutes of hatha and slow vinyasa, held on the terrace or in the garden depending on the weather. Mats and props are provided. Afternoon sessions are lighter — yin, stretching or guided relaxation — and there's generally one free afternoon midweek. The pace is deliberately unhurried: two long walks are followed by an easier day, and nothing starts before 07:30.

Food is a big part of why people come. Breakfast at the guesthouse is bread, local honey, yoghurt, fruit, eggs and Ikarian herb teas. Dinners are cooked by the family — goat stewed with lemon, wild greens, fava, tomato keftedes, potatoes roasted in olive oil, and the local sourdough. Two dinners are taken in village tavernas so you eat where the islanders eat. If you've seen the Ikaria episode of the Blue Zones documentaries, much of what's on the plate will be familiar. The retreat ends with a final morning walk to a viewpoint over the Aegean before the drive back to the airport.

What's included

- 6 nights accommodation at a family-run guesthouse in Christos Raches - Daily breakfast at the guesthouse - 5 dinners (guesthouse and village tavernas) - 3 picnic or taverna lunches on walking days - Daily morning yoga (60–75 minutes) - Afternoon yin, stretching and relaxation sessions - Guided walks on 4 days with a local guide (8–14 km per day) - One cooking demonstration with the guesthouse kitchen - Transfers from Ikaria airport or Evdilos/Agios Kirykos port on arrival and departure days - Minibus transfers to and from walk start points - Yoga mats, blocks and belts

What's not included

- Flights to and from Ikaria - Travel insurance - Ferry or domestic flight costs to reach Ikaria - Meals on the free day (lunch and any extras) - Drinks and alcohol beyond what is served with dinner - Personal expenses and souvenirs - Optional massage or spa treatments - Walking boots, poles and personal hiking gear - Tips for guides and guesthouse staff