Tainaron Blue Retreat

Mani Peninsula, Greece

THE PERSONALITIES

Slow travelers. Sea gazers. Poets of light. Lovers of myth and mountain. Those called by solitude and the wild Aegean wind.

MOMENTS

Mornings wrapped in stone and sea breeze. A plunge pool on the edge of the world. Honey dripping over figs in the courtyard. Evenings aglow with Mani sunsets and the echo of cicadas. The scent of thyme carried up from the hillside. Silence that feels ancient.

BEST VISITING MONTHS

April to October. Spring brings wildflowers and quiet trails; summer, golden heat and cerulean seas. In September and October, the light softens and the crowds retreat—ideal for walking the stone paths of Mani and swimming in still-warm waters.

COST

WHY STAY

Tainaron Blue is the kind of place that could only exist here, at the edge of the world, in a 19th-century stone tower carved into the slope of Mount Taygetos. Set at the southernmost point of mainland Europe, the hotel offers an experience that is both grounding and otherworldly. With only three rooms, each tucked within the original tower walls, you move through the space like time itself - up narrow staircases and wooden ladders that lead to panoramic views of the Aegean.

It’s history you can feel in your bones, softened by modern comfort: crisp linens, Olive Oil toiletries, and design that honors the past while calming the present. The architecture is unaltered and unapologetic, but what it offers is rare - privacy, perspective, and presence. It’s a vantage point from which everything - sea, self, story - feels newly understood. 

WHY WANDER

To wander in Mani is to step into legend. This is a land of stone towers, ancient temples, and villages that seem etched from the cliffs themselves. You can hike along coastal trails that spill into secret beaches, each more untouched than the last. Explore the haunting beauty of Vlychada Cave in Diros, where underground lakes reflect prehistoric formations, or visit the ancient Temple of Poseidon, where myth still lingers in the air. At Cape Tainaron, the very tip of the continent, you’ll stand at what was once believed to be the gate to the Underworld, a place where land gives way to the deep blue unknown. Everywhere, the towers of Mani rise like sentinels of time, and the architecture tells a story of resilience and beauty shaped by wind, salt, and centuries. Here, the act of wandering becomes a form of reverence - for the land, for history, and for the wild within.

INDULGE IN

Traditional smoked pork (siglino). Catch of the day. Local “chylopites” pasta with sun-dried tomatoes, olives and smoked cheese. Fresh octopus grilled by hand. Local mountain honey and Mani olive oil drizzled over everything. A glass of wine by the plunge pool, perched between sky and sea. Slow dinners under starlight.

GETTING THERE

The nearest airport is Kalamata International (approx. 2.5-hour drive), with Athens International about 4.5 hours away. The journey through the Peloponnese is a story in itself—winding roads, cliffside views, and the occasional herd of goats. Worth every turn.

WILD INITIATIVES

Tainaron Blue is a celebration of adaptive reuse—preserving Mani’s architectural heritage while treading gently on the land. Water is conserved through careful system design; ingredients are local, seasonal, and often gathered from the retreat’s garden. The limited number of rooms ensures minimal impact on the landscape, while their respect for history is woven into every stone. It’s a reminder that sustainability can be as much about memory as it is about material.

*Images property of Tainaron Blue Retreat, Marc Sagot

Euphoria Retreat

GREECE

PERSONALITIES

Wellness Aficionados. Travellers looking to detox and recharge. History lovers.

MOMENTS

A retreat designed with you in mind. Ancient magical landscape. Therapies based on Greek Philosophy. Reconnecting with your inner self. Healing and transformative energy all around.

BEST VISITING MONTHS

May to October.

COST

WHY STAY

Euphoria Retreat is a luxury wellness destination in Mystras, Greece. Residing at the foot of Mount Taygetus and surrounded by a dense forest, the detox and healing centre has been inspired by Byzantine architecture.

The 45 rooms have been designed with soft colours, onyx marble, and Zen minimalism, with private terraces facing the archaeological site of Mystras, the citrus valley and the forest. Olive oil has been added to the fabrics of the mattresses, helping produce soft skin and anti-aging effects even as you sleep. 

The 3,000 metre otherworldly spa includes a Byzantine Hammam, a Tepidarium, a Salt Room, a Sphere Hydrotherapy pool, a steam room, a Finish sauna, an outdoor hot tub; and is built over 4 levels, representing each step in your journey. 

Wander through pomegranate groves and olive trees. Breathe in the scents of mountain herbs. Take in the ancient energy of the region. Let nature become your healer.

WHY WANDER

You are here to relax, detox, heal, and grow. Take part in many unique therapies offered at Euphoria, focussed on ancient practices and fundamental elements of water, wood, fire, earth, metal. Feel the energy and mysticism of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Mystras. Go mountain biking or hiking along Mount Taygetus. Hike to Eurotas River. Wander through the private forest surrounding the property. Visit the charming coastal town of Gytheion and take Euphoria’s private 72ft yacht to the unspoiled island of Elafonissos. History lovers will love the historical landmarks of Ancient Messene, Arcadia, Olympia, Epidaurus, Mycenae and Monemvasia,.

INDULGE IN

Personalized and naturally healthy Mediterranean cuisine to boost metabolism and energy. Ancient recipes and flavours of Peloponnese countryside. Antioxidant-packed spices. The best extra-virgin olive oil you will ever try. 

GETTING THERE

Athens Airport is 2.5hrs away and Kalamata airport is an hour away. Rent a car or arrange a transfer with the hotel.

*Images property of Euphoria Retreat

Dexamenes Seaside Hotel

GREECE

PERSONALITIES

Lovers of the sea, design, history, and wine.

MOMENTS

Minimalistic historic architecture. Endless sandy beach. Open horizon. Unparalleled sunsets. Falling asleep to the sound of the waves.

BEST VISITING MONTHS

May - September

COST

WHY STAY

Dexamenes Seaside Hotel is a unique design retreat on Greece’s western Peloponnese coast. The hotel has been created from an abandoned wine factory from the 1920s, where guests get a chance to sleep inside old wine tanks.

Located on Kourouta beach steps away from the water, near the town of Amaliada, the postwar winery is an architectural gem, as well as a piece of Greek history.

The rooms have been transformed with steel, engineered glass, and timber, keeping the minimalist industrial design, beautifully juxtaposed to the vast empty coast and the flowing sea right outside of your door.

WHY WANDER

Tour the Peloponnese archaeological sites, wineries, and historical cities. Swim in Voidokilia, a perfect semi-circle of blue water, or in the green lakes of Polylimnio. Take a day trip to the miniature island of Elafonisis. Discover the unique rock formations of Diros. Take a hike through Lousios Gorge and wander through the sanctuaries of Elona and Sintzas. See the Unesco-listed sites of Epidaurus and Bronze Age Mycenae, or the ancient castles in Methoni and Nafplio.

INDULGE IN

Modern Mediterranean cuisine. Wine.

GETTING THERE

Fly into Athens International Airport and rent a car for a scenic 3 hour drive to the hotel.

*Images property of Dexamenes

WILD INITIATIVES

Sustainability was one of the major aspirations of the design process during the conversion of a post war winery into a resort.

Most materials were reused and upcycled. The blocks of concrete that were removed to create the openings of the doors of the suites were preserved and reused as the stepping stones in our lake or as coffee tables and chairs. The reclaimed bricks taken from the winery’s warehouse were used to create the floor of the restaurant and of the courtyard area. The old pipelines for the water supply of the winery are now the handrails of the esplanade.

Most of the materials used for the conversion were locally sourced. Almost all contractors were local and they applied as many traditional techniques as possible (such as making terrazzo surfaces etc.) Even the ceramic tiles of the new roof of the restaurant and of the multi use space, were made in an artisanship (less than 20km away from the hotel) that took samples of the original tiles and made contemporary replicas using the same clay as the original.

During the design process, the hotel applied bioclimatic principles, by creating a lake in the courtyard that cools the whole zone. In addition, local grape and currant varieties are becoming well established along the edges of the garden and will gradually make their contribution to the microclimate and productivity of the hotel.

The hotel invested in mechanical equipment (including heat pumps and solar collectors) that uses minimum electricity to heat or cool the rooms. In addition, the energy consumed for the air conditioning is at the same time used to heat the water used by the guests.

The staff takes over an active role in the implementation of of our policies. normally organises at least 1-3 annual meetings. The information includes issues of environmental management (water, energy, waste, cleaning, food and beverage, etc.), and other sustainability issues, but also issues of awareness raising of guests, staff, suppliers and the surrounding community.

Products are, whenever possible, produced locally in order to lower the environmental footprint from reduced transportation and to stimulate the local economy.

BOOKING INFO

The Kinsterna Hotel

GREECE

PERSONALITIES

Honeymooners. Winos. People looking for a luxurious and authentic Greek experience. 

MOMENTS

Contemporary tradition. Scent of citrus in the air. Relaxing in the flower gardens. Olive groves and deep blue Aegean Sea in the distance.

BEST VISITING MONTHS

May to October.

COST

WHY STAY

The Kinsterna Hotel is a Southern Greece hidden gem, surrounded  by olive groves, citrus trees, and vineyards with dreamy views of the Mediterranean and the castle rock of Monemvasia. The building dates back to the Byzantine times, and breathes history, luxury and magic. All rooms and suites are beautifully restored, combining old-world charm and contemporary comfort. Choose the Kinserna Suite for the ultimate luxury.

Enjoy the premises to fullest - whether it's relaxing under a lemon tree or cooling down in the river-like swimming pool. Receive a bottle of wine and olive oil on departure as your memory of this boutique historic retreat. 

WHY WANDER

Lakonia is known as a rich and fertile region, famous for its olive oil, orange groves and vineyards. Take a tour of the mansion and its surrounding area. Hike through Kinsterna's vineyards and the ruins of a fort dating back to 250 BC. Enjoy the hotel's fee bike use and cycle through the green hills to the castle town of Monemvasia. Take part in the grape harvest, if you are visiting in September. If you choose to come in October, you can help produce tsipouro, a Greek spirit or the region's olive oil. 

For a perfect beach day, visit Elafonissos - an island with some of the most beautiful beaches in the Mediterranean. Another option is Pori - a long stretch of beach with views of the Monemvasia castle.

INDULGE IN

Learn how to make a traditional stone oven bread. Olive oil and wine of the region. Greek coffee. The best feta you will ever taste. Water from Kinsterna's own springs. 

GETTING THERE

Fly into Athens, rent a car and take a scenic 4 hour drive south. 

WILD INITIATIVES

Kinsterna uses all local and many self-produced products.

*Images property of Kinsterna Hotel

Eumelia Organic Agrotourism Farm

Laconia, Peloponnese, GREECE

PERSONALITIES

Olive pressers. Families that forage. Friends who cook barefoot. Writers who write only after tending the garden. Lovers of ritual, rhythm, and real food.

MOMENTS

Waking to birdsong and the scent of wild thyme. Walking barefoot through olive groves at golden hour. Gathering eggs, baking bread, picking herbs. Making soap with your hands. Drinking natural wine beneath a sky thick with stars. Staying up late around the fire, the taste of woodsmoke still on your lips.

BEST VISITING MONTHS

Eumelia is shaped by season. Come when the soil is generous and the air smells like something new.

April–June: Wildflowers bloom across the Peloponnese. Long, slow mornings. Garden abundance.
July–August: Hot, ripe, and alive. Tomatoes burst on the vine. Days spent in dappled shade.
September–November: Olives are harvested. Grapes are pressed. Bread rises by fire. The farm hums with purpose.

COST

WHY STAY

Eumelia isn’t just a place to sleep—it’s a working biodynamic farm, where you’re invited into the heart of its rhythm. The five guesthouses—each named for a plant that grows just beyond your doorstep—are simple, soulful, and made with local materials: clay walls, stone bathrooms, private verandas shaded by vines. Here, you don’t observe nature, you participate in it.

You might spend your day learning to make olive oil, picking greens for lunch, or kneading sourdough for the communal oven. Meals are vegetarian, hyper-local, and served with the kind of care that turns eating into ceremony. There's no room service here—only shared tables, shared stories, and food that tastes like the land it came from.

This is a stay for those looking to root down, reconnect, and remember how to live seasonally.

WHY WANDER

The Peloponnese is ancient, agricultural, and endlessly giving. Drive to Monemvasia and walk the cobbled paths of a medieval cliffside town. Swim in turquoise coves and explore limestone caves. Hike among pine forests and citrus groves. Visit local cheesemakers and honey farmers. Or stay in the olive fields, learning the names of herbs from someone who still calls them medicine.

Evenings return you to the farm. A bowl of warm chickpeas, a glass of natural wine, the hum of cicadas. It’s enough.

INDULGE IN

Olive oil fresh from the press. Garden tomatoes with sea salt. Wood-fired bread you helped knead. Herbal teas from the earth. Farm wines. Simple, ancient meals made slowly, with soil still on your hands.

GETTING THERE

Fly into Athens, then drive four hours south through olive groves, small mountain villages, and quiet coastlines. Eumelia sits near the village of Gouves, just inland from the Aegean.

WILD INITIATIVES

This is a regenerative farm in every sense. Eumelia is built around biodynamic and permaculture principles: solar power, geothermal energy, rainwater harvesting, composting, and natural greywater systems. Food is grown on-site or sourced from neighbors. Guests are invited to join in—plant, harvest, cook, and learn. Here, sustainability isn’t a concept—it’s a daily way of life.

*Images property of Eumelia

Aristi Mountain Resort

GREECE

THE PERSONALITIES

Hikers. Photographers. Yogies.

MOMENTS

Fresh mountain air. Charming traditional villages. Scent of rosemary, mint, and lavender in the air. Nature at its best.

BEST VISITING MONTHS

Anytime, whether your preference is warm or cool climate. Discover how the colours of Aristi change with the season - green in the winter, pink and purple in the summer, and red and yellow in the fall. 

COST

WHY STAY

Aristi Mountain Resort is located in a traditional Greek village of Aristi, and surrounded by all the natural beauty Northern Greece has to offer: rivers, mountains, forests, alpine lakes and gorges.

The resort is composed of a series of separate buildings, containing rooms, suites and villas, with views of the surrounding villages and the “Towers of Astraka” cliffs and built with stone and wood.

Take advantage of the Spa with an indoor pool, a jacuzzi, sauna room, as well as a turkish steam bath - perfect to relax in after a day of hiking. 

WHY WANDER

Climb the Gamila Mountain peaks. Hike to the mythical Drakolimni Lake. Kayak through the Voidomatis river or try trout fishing. Aristi is a perfect starting point to hike the surrounding mountains or visit the picturesque Zagori villages with their old stone bridges, cobbled streets and breathtaking gorges.

INDULGE IN

Try the famous handmade Zagori pita. Wild boar of the mountains or the trout from the local river. Fruits and vegetables that are grown in Aristi's own garden. 

GETTING THERE

Fly into Athens and arrange a transport with the hotel. 

*Photos property of Aristi Mountain Resort and Villas