Yoga and Sea Days in Epidavros, Greece

Amy McDonald first came to Epidavros over a decade ago and taught her first yoga retreat here in 2017. She has returned again and again, and now leads this week in one of her favourite places to practise and teach. The yoga is the spine of the trip, but the schedule leaves real room for the sea, the village and the archaeology.

A typical morning begins with a walk up the hill to a small chapel overlooking the Sunken City beach and the water beyond. The body wakes up, the breath deepens, and the wide view does the rest. Yoga sessions run through the week, with time by the sea in between. The beach itself is calm and uncrowded, good for swimming, snorkelling or doing nothing at all.

Meals are shared at Hotel Mike, where the food is fresh, seasonal and simple, eaten slowly and treated as part of the retreat rather than a break from it. The village has a gentle buzz — locals gathering for coffee, boats coming and going — so you are never sealed off from ordinary Greek life.

What separates this week from a generic Greek island yoga holiday is the place. The Asklepion, one of the most important healing centres of the ancient world, is here. The ancient theatre is here, and in summer the Epidaurus Festival fills it with opera, music and classical drama from June through August. The Sunken City beach, where you can wade into shallow water and see the outlines of ancient walls and pathways beneath your feet, is a short walk away.

Excursions stay small and unhurried. A boat trip where dolphins and turtles are sometimes spotted. A day on Spetses, which is largely car-free and suits wandering, swimming and long lunches by the harbour. A visit to Athinas for a tasting of local olive oil and produce. None of it is rushed, and none of it is compulsory.

Amy has been teaching retreats here for years and knows the village, the restaurant tables and the quiet corners. The week is pitched at people who want depth without heaviness — you can explore, swim, eat well, walk and rest without over-planning any of it.

What's included

- Yoga sessions through the week with Amy McDonald - Accommodation at Hotel Mike in Epidavros - Shared meals at Hotel Mike - Morning walks to the chapel above the Sunken City beach - Boat trip (dolphins and turtles sometimes spotted) - Day trip to the island of Spetses - Tasting of local olive oil and produce at Athinas - Visit to the ancient theatre of Epidavros

What's not included

- Travel to and from Epidavros - Travel insurance - Personal expenses - Any meals or drinks taken outside the shared meals at Hotel Mike - Optional extras not listed as part of the week