8-Day Tantra & Yoga Spiritual Retreat on Lesvos Island, Greece

The core of the programme is the Savitur Gayatri Mantra and the Tantra approach to working with it. Master Shajesh, teaching from the Aananda Nath lineage, takes the group through Gayatri meditation, mudra practice, healing techniques and pranayama, with sessions on both the philosophy behind the mantra and how to actually use it in practice. This is Tantra in its traditional, meditative sense — mantra, breath and energy work — rather than anything about relationships or intimacy.

A typical day starts early. Hatha yoga, breathing practice and a seated meditation run before breakfast, so the first couple of hours are done on an empty stomach. The main teaching block with Shajesh follows later in the morning. Lunch marks the end of the structured day: from then on the schedule opens up completely, which is unusual for a retreat and leaves real time for swimming, reading, sleeping or getting out onto the island.

What makes this different from a standard yoga week is the mantra focus and the two-teacher setup. Alongside Shajesh, the retreat is co-led by Massimo Cantara, a yoga teacher and shiatsu therapist who founded a holistic centre in Tuscany. The week also includes a kirtan (call-and-response chanting) and a dedicated sound healing session, so there's a strong sound and vibration thread running through it, not just asana.

The location does a lot of the work here. Skala Vasilka sits right by the Gulf of Kalloni, and because Lesvos is quiet compared with the more famous Greek islands, the setting is genuinely calm. Lesvos is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the free afternoons are built so you can see it — the painted houses of Molivos, the long clear-water beach at Vathera, the thermal springs, and the Fossil Forest, where trees turned to stone millions of years ago.

All levels are welcome. The Hatha yoga is approachable, the meditation and mantra work doesn't assume prior experience, and the pace — half-day structure, one full free day — makes it workable even if you've never done a residential retreat before.

What's included

- 7 nights accommodation at the Mediterranean Retreats Center - Daily Hatha yoga, pranayama and meditation - Teaching sessions on the Savitur Gayatri Mantra with Master Shajesh - Mudra practice, healing techniques and Tantra philosophy - Kirtan and a sound healing session - Sunset meditation and mantra recitation practices - Guided excursions (Petra and Molivos, Vathera beach, thermal springs, Fossil Forest) - Meals (tailored to the group and dietary needs)

What's not included

- Flights to and from Lesvos - Travel insurance - Airport transfers (confirm with the retreat leader) - Personal expenses - Optional upgrades and extras