7 Day Yoga Retreat in Kissimos Crete (NOW BOOKING)
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- Book now
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Teacher
Simona Hernandez
- Date(s) 8th July - 15th July 2025
It was about 20 years ago that I taught a Yoga Holiday in Crete. Such a beautiful place. I am very excited to be offering a 7 day retreat there in July 2025. Here is some information for those of you who would like to join me:-
Kissamos, also known as Kastelli, is a small town which mostly sells tractors to the local farming community. There is however a network of cobbled streets where you can find shops and cafes leading to an area which overlooks the sea where there are traditional Cretan fish restaurants.
Our yoga venue is on the very outskirts of the small town. Here the sea is clean, warm and shallow making for easy swimming with a long quiet strand of golden sandy beach with occasional shingle. Our beach is called Mavros Molos and the yoga space is above the beach looking out to sea.
Kastelli is a seaside resort which attracts Greek tourists. Behind this coastal plain the backdrop is mountainous, the area being broken into gorges and craggy peaks. This provides for many easy grade walks, the chance to see birds of prey, vultures and wild flowers and old rural ways like treading grapes.
Apart from sunbathing, swimming, snorkelling and yoga you can visit ancient ruins, take a day cruise, explore the Venetian town of Chania, walk gorges or just be still and enjoy the ocean.
Our hosts Mike and Maria own the beachside taverna. They will be feeding us after the morning yoga class and on selected evening during the week - we are keeping some evenings spare so we can visit the fish restaurants mentioned above.
Maria is a fantastic cook and during the week there will be the option of attending a cookery class where you will be taught how to prepare traditional Greek vegetarian meals. - which we will then eat!
There will also be an optional excursion to the organic olive oil mill at Astrikas, this is world famous olive oil which you can purchase on site if you wish. It is fantastic and includes both organic lemon olive oil and organic orange olive oil. To find out more go to www.biolea.gr
Yoga will take place in the shaded rooftop yoga shala where we can practice with the Mediterranean Sea in our sights. The yoga shala is fully equipped where we have space and equipment for 25 students. No need to bring anything from home unless you wish to.
In the morning’s, there will be an alignment based flow class beginning at approximately 7.30 am and finishing at around 9.30/10am (to avoid the heat). This will be flexible each day though. We will then have a hearty breakfast/brunch buffet.
In the evenings we will practice at 6.00pm. Once again we will be flexible and the times may change a little. . These sessions will vary each day and will include all aspects of yoga such as a Restorative Yoga, Yin Yoga, Somatics, Myofascial release, Yoga Nidra/ Meditation and Pranayama.
Yoga mats, bolsters, blocks and belts are provided. I will bring along tennis balls for everyone for the myofascial release classes.
There will be no yoga on Thursday so that we can travel further afield if we wish to - there are fantastic walks and gorges to explore and we can either arrange official walks, or we can go off and explore on our own. There will also be an option of a boat trip.
Accommodation
We are on the edge of Kastelli by the Mavros Molos Beach.
Our rooms are simply furnished Cretan style, all have air conditioning and en-suite facilities.
They are in the area immediately behind the venue and whilst they do not have sea views it takes only a few steps to be actually on the beach.
All of the rooms at this venue (upstairs and downstairs) are along the side of the building, none face the sea.
There are three upstairs rooms which share a balcony and which carry a superior room supplement. Please note this is a taverna and not a hotel, rooms and furnishings are appropriate to that. All rooms have a fridge and a kettle.
Sun loungers and beach umbrellas are provided for a small fee (currently 10 euros per day per 2 beds and one umbrella) and there are comfortable chairs and a settee on the veranda above the beach for relaxing. You are also welcome to use the yoga space at any times that it is not being used for teaching.
There is a tiny super-market close by and a larger one close by that can usually supply anything you have forgotten. A short walk takes you to the small central village area with its cafes and shops - avoid the main road at the top of the village as this is the area where they sell tractors and industrial goods to the farmers!
Meals - each day, after your morning yoga class, you will be served a delicious breakfast with home produced milk, eggs and cheese from the owners small-holding.
Your vegetarian group dinners will be on-site, on other nights we will eat out at the wonderful restaurants on the seafront. On some nights a fish option is offered.
Five group evening meals are included in the cost of your holiday.
***** Special diets cannot be accommodated however soya milk is supplied******
Travel details and what is included.
Includes - Accommodation, yoga, large vegetarian breakfast and five group evening meals.
Not Included - Flight, transfers and insurance.
TRAVEL
Flights - fly to Chania, from here you will be met by taxi and transferred to Mavros Molos Beach at Kissamos.
Direct flights to Chania from the UK are from Gatwick, Stanstead, Manchester, Glasgow, Birmingham and Bristol airports.
Cheap flights can often be found on the internet, contact the Free Spirit office if you would like help searching the internet for flights
You can also fly to Heraklion airport which will add two hours to your transfer time.
Transfers - are not included in the cost, however we will be teaming people up to share taxis from Chania airport to the venue. The transfer from Chania airport takes approx. 35 minutes.
Please note: if you are arriving into Heraklion airport then you must arrive in the afternoon if you wish to take the bus to Chania. We can arrange a taxi to collect you from Chania bus station or you can take the bus to Kissamos.
Cost
Single - 7 nights - £710
Sharing - 7 nights - £610
These prices are cheaper than the Freespirit website prices and applies to any of my regular students so please mention that on booking.
If you have any questions please do contact you Bodhi on 01225-464848 or email us on info@yogabodhi.co.uk.
To reserve your place or for more information then contact the Free Spirit Travel office:- 01273-564230.
Email: info@freespirityoga.co.uk or click on the book now link.