Description

2024 Dates

23rd – 26th May

A once in a lifetime and unique opportunity to stay and join a yoga retreat in a historical private cave. Aptly named because of the cave-like accommodations that used to be a winery back in the 1700s!

With a view to die for your yoga practice will never be the same again. Classes take place on a secluded and peaceful roof terrace overlooking the local village and the Aegean sea. Post practice, start the day with a delicious vegetarian breakfast, served in a delightful garden.

During the day you will get to experience the sites of Santorini and learn about the island’s history, taste local wines during a private guided tour, or just take time out and enjoy the beaches.

In the morning our practice is a flow based hatha class and in the evening a more gentle Yin and meditation practice. Finally your relaxation is completed by an hour-long massage of your choice.

The retreat offers the perfect combination of yoga, relaxation time, excursions and Santorini’s best food and wine tasting with a new group of friends.

Accommodation

Located in the small village of Karterados, a 20-minute walk from Fira town, Caveland has its beauty and history perfectly combined. All the pictures online don’t prepare you for the reality of Caveland.

Aptly named because of the cave-like accommodations that used to be a winery back in the 1700s, everything in it fits the light and airy atmosphere of Santorini, with its light-coloured walls and artistic bric-a-brac decorating the place.

Once people come here they extend their stay because they have never slept in such a beautiful unique designed hostel.

The small touches — from the wall mosaic made of discarded red tiles to the chandelier made of grape vines — give Caveland a unique and very personal touch.

Each decor has its own story to tell, and there is nobody more willing to share it than their creator, Cavelands co-owner Kostas Sakavaras. Kostas, is behind the main design ideas. He enjoys spending his time finding old, unwanted items before restoring them to fit the atmosphere and personality of the hostel. He and his wife Veronica are both also Yogis, so the zen and Yoga spirit unwinds the whole venue and stay.

This hostel is locally managed and the perfect space for a unique Yoga retreat with special unique people, like you.

Yoga

We practice hatha flow in the morning. Furthermore in the evenings we will do yin yoga, guided meditation, yoga nidra, pranayama and slow seated yoga sequences. This yoga retreat is suitable for eager yoga students of all levels.

Minimum number of participants is 3 people. Maximum number of participants is 8 people.

About the Teacher

I am Veronika and I have been living in Santorini for almost 10 years now. I am a yoga teacher and besides that I also manage beautiful Caveland where I help other teachers to hold their yoga retreats, too. So far I taught 15 retreats in Caveland. During my yoga classes we usually practice a slower paced hatha flow with accent to mindful alignment, breath and body awareness. Here is more information about my yoga journey:

I attended my first yoga class over 10 years ago during my vacation in Boracay Island in Philippines. I started my regular practice at Yoga 109 (studio of Lorraine Aronson) in Shanghai (China) where I lived.

Early in 2012, I attended a yoga teacher training at The Mindful Academy of Kathy Ward in Spain and became a certified yoga teacher (RYT 200) and therapeutic yoga teacher.

My kids who are now 4 and 6 inspired me to pursue a diploma in perinatal (pre and post natal yoga), baby yoga and toddler yoga with Birthright.

In 2016 I attended a yin yoga training with Josh Summers. My interests and additional courses I attended are: Iyengar inspired hatha teacher course with Oona Giesen in Paros (2015), specialised therapeutic course for scoliosis and SI joint disfunction online through Yogamaze.

Recently I have been interested in arm balances and inversions and I am following a fantastic online course with Jason Crandell.

Cuisine

During our yoga retreat in Santorini we serve a morning vegetarian brunch with a variety of fruit and home-made pastries. After the first evening class we will have a Greek sampling dinner at a local tavern. We will taste a variety of typical local dishes, certainly all vegan/vegetarian (depending on the group and their dietary requests).

During the private tour on your second day you will also participate at a private wine tasting when the wine is paired with local vegetarian snacks, dips and starters, all perfect as a light late lunch!

There is also a fully equipped kitchen with a stove and an oven in the communal kitchen in Caveland. Most of the private caves have also a kitchen corner.

There are local grocery stores within walking distance from Caveland and they offer a wide range of local seasonal fruits and vegetables, too.

Schedule

Thursday

6pm – 7.30pm evening yoga

8pm Greek sampling dinner at a local restaurant (suitable for vegans or vegetarians)

Friday

8.30 – 10am morning yoga followed by breakfast

11am – 3pm private tour to ancient Akrotiri, wine tasting at a local winery with stunning views and a visit to one of the picturesque local villages

6pm – 7.30pm evening yoga

Saturday

8.30 – 10am morning yoga followed by breakfast

Free day to relax by the pool or at one of the local beaches and have your massage

6pm – 7.30pm evening yoga

Sunday

8.30 – 10am morning yoga followed by breakfast

Location and how to get here

There are many cheap flights from around the world they take you either in one way or by a stopover to Santorini Airport.

If you want to spend Time before or after the Retreat in Athens or another Greek island you can also reach and leave Santorini Port by boat.

The Retreat Venue is located in Karterados, the first village you will pass when heading south from Fira town, the capital of the Santorini island. Karterados is about 5 minutes drive/25 min walk from Fira town. Coming from Fira town, port or an airport, please ask the bus or a taxi driver to stop you at the fork at the Multimedia market/ Zotos bakery. Leaving Fira town behind you, there is the downhill road on your left and continue all the way down for about 5-7 minutes.

You will pass a police station, a windmill, 2 mini markets. Still continue all the way downhill until you see 2 tennis courts, Caveland sign and vineyards. The Caveland sign is a small wooden sign that you will see on your left on your eye level.

If you prefer to avoid the walk during the heat of the day, please contact me for the option to organise you a paid transfer. Note, in the early season the transfers might not be available. Caveland is a large property nested in the middle of an old vineyard and therefore its location is tucked away from the busy crowds of tourists.

VIA BOAT
Santorini  (code JTR) can be reached via boat from many other Greek islands and Athens (code PIR). Tickets can be booked online at viva.gr.

BY BUS
To get to Karterados with a local bus is very easy, we are the second last stop before Fira town (island’s capital) of every bus coming from any location in the South of the island. If you take a local bus, you purchase your ticket inside the bus.  The fare is €2.20 from Athinios port and €1.60 from Thira airport.

These buses are scheduled in direct accordance with the ferry and plane schedules. They are operated by ‘KTEL’ and are typically a blue/green colour. In Karterados you get off at ZOTOS bakery and then you just follow the walking instructions. Ask the driver to stop at Zotos in Karterados.

TAXI
If you take a taxi, ask them to bring you to “tennis club”, which is the name CAVELAND used to have from the early ’80s and is well known to local taxi drivers. You should not pay more than €20 one way.

CAR
Renting a vehicle immediately upon arrival and drive yourself here is yet another option. Rental prices vary depending on vehicle model and rental agency, but you can expect a price between €20 and €40 per day.

Retreat Price

Prices are in Euros

– Private cave with a private bathroom: €750 single occupancy / €630 double occupancy per person

This cave has a double bed inside and therefore it is suitable for a single traveller or for a couple. It has its own private bathroom and also a small kitchen. We have three such caves, each of them with its own unique design.

– One bed in a private two bed twin cave with a private bathroom: €580 / 1 person.

This cave has 2 single beds inside and it is suitable for 2 friends. Alternatively, we can try to match you with another participant. It has its own private bathroom and also a small kitchen corner. The cave can be converted into a private cave for 1 person, too.

– A small single room with a shared bathroom: €570

Single room that is sharing a bathroom with a 4 -bed girls only dorm, suitable for a single traveller, females only.

– A medium sized single room with a shared bathroom: €630

Single room that is sharing a bathroom with a 6 – bed mixed dorm, suitable for a single traveller.

One person in a two bedroom apartment with a private bathroom : €690 (with minimum occupancy 2 people).

This apartment was originally used as a winery office. It includes 2 bedrooms (double /single and a twin room), bathroom and a kitchen. There is also a small outdoor terrace with a side sea view.

Includes

• three nights of accommodation
• six yoga classes
• three vegetarian breakfasts
• one massage
• participation at a private tour including wine tasting and light lunch
• a welcome dinner

Does not include

• Flights
• Day transfer from the airport of Santorini to Caveland and back, but can be arranged if you want to
• No alcoholic drinks, but if you want to give these days a juicy sense, feel free to taste one of Santorini’s best wines
• Travel insurance
• Price for other activities
• Lunch and dinner

Optional activities

Boat trip, kayaking, walking, cooking workshops

Booking

To book your place on this 3 night Yoga Retreat at Caveland, please fill in the form below. Get £25 off your first booking with Trips With A Soul.