Walking Holiday Week, T'ai Chi, Art Workshops, Bikini Ready weeks and more...

May 8th - Walking Holiday Week

May 15th - T'ai Chi and Art Week

May 22nd, 29th & June 5th - Bikini-Ready Fun Weeks

June 19th - Midsummer Solstice Special

While our usual weekly programme is going on as normal we invite you to join in some of the extra activities we have arranged during these Special Weeks. You are welcome to join in the entire programme (there may be some additional cost - see below) or dip in and out as you please.

May 8th: Walking Week with Linda This is the perfect time of the year to explore the beautiful island of Lefkas on foot, the island is awash with flowers, fauna and fireflies, and the weather also lends itself well to walking. Linda’s walks are always one of the highlights of the week with our guests and this year due to popular demand she will be offering a full week of walking with us.

Linda first came to Lefkas over 20 years ago as a tour guide and has turned her passion into something she loves to share with others. She has a wealth of knowledge of the surrounding areas, and beyond, and is a great source of knowledge on Greek culture, mythology and gossip! Linda has put together a fantastic week of walking to suit most levels of fitness. 

The whole walking week is charged at no extra cost and includes all transport costs. However, if you'd prefer to dip in and out of the walking week then choose which walks you would like to go on and you'll be charged locally. At the bottom of this page you'll see a sample schedule of the walking weeks. Click here for details.

Alternatively you can join in the walking week alone, without our classes and other activities at a discounted price from our normal programme prices - ask the UK office for details.

May 15th: T'ai Chi and Reiki with Emily This week we have Emily Bennett back with us by popular demand. Emily is a Reiki master and T'ai Chi teacher and will be available for treatments or training in Reiki throughout the week (extra charge) as well as offering T'ai Chi classes in the mornings and evenings, (no charge). The benefits of T'ai Chi are endless including improved flexibility and muscular function as well as an enhanced sense of well-being and relaxation.

 

May 15th: Art Classes with Guilia and Pierre So, if you have ever wanted to follow up on your artistic leanings or further your practice then do please join us. There is no extra charge, however you do need to bring your own materials - a suggested list is available from our office on request. At this time of year Vassiliki is still a sleepy fishing village, and it's harbourside together with the beautiful orange and olive groves still bursting with spring flowers offer inspirational scenes to sktech and paint. Guilia will be teaching sketching and watercolour, whilst Pierre will be teaching sketching and acrylic painting; they will be offering classes every morning ensuring the best of the light and their instruction will be fun and enjoyable for all levels. So, if you have ever wanted to follow up on your artistic leanings or further your practice then do please join us. There is no extra charge, however you do need to bring your own materials - a suggested list is available from our office on request.

 

May 22nd, May 29th and June 5th. Fun Bikini Ready Weeks with Carly

Carly will be joining us from 22nd May for 3 weeks offering you the chance to get in shape for the bikini season with some fun but challenging fitness classes. These include circuit training, fitness walks and runs and pilates; all will be tailored to suit your individual level of fitness but will be sure to challenge you to just enough to make sure you get the most from your week with us and return home toned, tanned and alive. Carly is a Sports Rehabilitation Specialist with over 5 years’ experience in offering private injury consultations and treatments. Over the last two years, she has added Pilates training to her skill set. She trained with Stott Pilates, a company whose founder was a personal pupil of Joseph Pilates himself, to an intermediate level in both mat and reformer work. She has a specific interest in tensional release and facilitating optimal alignment and function and is eager to help people realise the full potential of their own bodies.

Through regular practice, Pilates will help you restore more efficient and natural movement and can have profound results in relieving muscular tension, correcting altered alignment, breaking bad movement habits and improving posture. Pilates converts the way you look and feel about your body by eliciting core postural muscles to create a centre of strength, to stabilise and support the body from within. It is intelligent exercise with profound results. These sessions are great for those with movement difficulties but will be equally challenging to well-trained athletes and are endorsed by many health professionals including GP’s, Physiotherapists and Osteopaths.

Carly will also be available for private sessions, which are a brilliant way to maximise each and every workout by introducing the basic principles and giving you better knowledge of how your body moves. This individual assessment involves a full postural analysis, outlining areas of tension, weakness and muscle shortening, Carly can then give you exercise modifications to suit your posture type that you can use in every class as well as your work outs too.

There is no extra charge for these weeks, however any 1-1 sessions you may wish to have with Carly are an extra charge payable on site.

June 19 - Midsummer Soltice Special with Karen & Andreas If the weather is suitable Karen and Andrea will take a group, by cars or minibus, to the top of one of the surrounding mountains on the eve of summer solstice. On the way we will stop at a traditional Greek Taverna to take an enjoyable meal (with plenty of vegetarian choices for those that prefer this option) followed by the opportunity to camp under the stars on the top of our chosen mountain (basic camping gear will be provided). At sunrise Andreas and Karen will then lead the group in a simple meditation and yoga practice. We will then descend the mountain, either by foot, for those with a reasonable level of fitness, or by car/minibus for those wishing to take an easier option. The views on the descent are breath-taking and we will be sure to stop often to take in the stunning scenery and stop off at a local café for breakfast to boost our energy levels. If you are keen to join us on this adventure we advise bringing good walking footwear and something warm to sleep in. A small local charge will be payable for this week to cover the Solstice Excursion costs and there will be a minimum group size required as well as fair weather so we cannot guarantee it taking place in advance.

Walking Holiday Weeks with Linda...Itinerary for May 8th Week

Monday: Village to Village Trek (Agios Petros to Vassiliki) 15.00-19.30

Take a local bus to a mountain village & see a traditional way of life before strolling along picturesque farm tracks back down to the coast, where you have the option to stop in Ponti village for a Tai Chi class and at a beachside cafe for refreshments, en route.

Level 2: 8km/5miles of gentle & brisker walking; uneven ground & some not too steep up & down gradients

Tuesday: Vassiliki Valley Ramble (getting to know the area) 09.00 - 11.45

Explore Vassiliki’s vineyards & olive groves, as well as the village. Find out a little more about the area’s history & culture - maybe learn a few words of Greek along the way; take a break by the harbour & finish up with a swim!

Level 1/2: 7km/4miles of gentle walking; mostly even ground & on the flat

Wednesday: Village Ramble & Swim – Exantheia to Agios Nikitas - 5.30pm from Exantheia – arriving Agios Nikitas around 8pm

This is a linear walk from the large, but sparcely populated and very traditional mountain village of Exantheia to the bustling former fishing village of Agios Nikitas, now a holiday haven for the discerning (mainly Greek) tourist, and which is listed as a village of national heritage. On the way, we pass through Drimonas, with its charming stone houses nestling into the mountainside.

We start our walk by strolling to the top of the village and winding our way through the streets towards to an old priest’s path leading to a network of tracks below the village, and though the olive groves towards Drimonas. Here there is a taverna where we can stop for refreshments.

We continue to wind our way down through the countryside, passing shrines dedicated to Agios Michalis and Agios Dimitris shaded by a great oak, an old washing place and fabulous views over Agios Nikitas.

The scenery on this walk is absolutely stunning, as we look across a deep gorge towards the picturesque village of Kalamitsi and across turquoise seas. On especially clear days we can see Anti Paxos, Paxos and even Corfu, on the horizon.

We finish by wandering down Agios Nikitas’ paved streets towards its sheltered beach. And with plenty of restaurants to choose from, it’s a great place to eat out, too!

Level 2: Approximately 6 miles/11 kilometres of gentle & brisker walking; uneven ground & hill climbs possible… some recent regular exercise is recommended, especially if you do not walk these distances regularly.

Thursday: Village Trek – Platistoma to Kolivata 9.30am-4pm

This is a linear walk starting from the small repopulated mountain village of Platistoma, set high on a plateau between the town of Nidri and the resort of Nikiana, across farmland and olive groves, to the former deserted village of Kolivata. En route we pass by the tiny, crumbling village of Alexandros, with its official population of three, and on to the base of the Skaros mountain to the monastery of Agios Georgios, before reaching our destination.

With views into the centre of the island, up into Vafkeri and over to Karia, and sadly, more recently to the devastation of fire damage in August 2010, which has scarred the mountains in this region, all in all this is a very interesting route!

Kolivata is home to Maria, who has turned her home into a restaurant and grows much of the produce herself. Her food is fresh, colourful and you take it as it comes – much like her! Well worth booking to round off the walk!

Level 2: Approximately 6 miles/11 kilometres of gentle & brisker walking; uneven ground & hill climbs possible… some recent regular exercise is recommended, especially if you do not walk these distances regularly

Friday: – Village to Village Trek – Komilio to Athani - 4.30pm from Komilio – arriving at Athani around 7.30pm

We take a bus or taxi up to our starting point, the sparsely-populated village of Komilio, situated at the junction of the main body of Lefkas island and the south-western peninsular, and which is, technically, a lakeside village, although, during the summer months, the lake becomes glorious pasture!

Taking a small footpath, we traverse the village, making our way up, around and, eventually, across the ‘lake’, which during the summer is dotted with dozens of colourful beehives, as is the whole of this part of the island. Our route will take in the highs and lows of the area, for much of the time, following a ridge high above the coastline of the west coast, from which we can look down onto turquoise seas and long sandy beaches, quite different to anything on other parts of the island – simply stunning!

Time allowing, we’ll visit the mountain village of Panohori, with its single inhabitant and two churches, before stopping at the kafeneon in Dragano for refreshments! And using a blend of lanes, pathways and farm tracks you will be guided towards the charming village of Athani – the last populated area before reaching Lefkas’s southern-most attractions of Porto Katsiki, the light-house and Sapho’s Leap. Athani is well-known for its local honey, and has a selection of places to eat and drink – and in the evening, sunsets to die for! A combination of public bus and/or taxi will need to collect us from here.

Level 2-3: Approximately 4-7 miles/7-13 kilometres of gentle & brisker, though reasonably leisurely walking; uneven ground, rough terrain & hill climbs possible… recent regular exercise is desirable to ensure everyone in the group is experienced in covering the distances. The route for this walk can be tailored to the abilities of the group.

Saturday: Village Ramble & Swim - Vassiliki to Agiofili

7.30am from Wildwind – arriving Vassiliki around 11.30am (Option to be picked up by Aqua Safari from the beach at 10.45am to join the trip)

Meeting on the Vassilki/Ponti border (and with a short stop at the bakery!), we begin our journey via lanes and tracks, as we pass through vineyards and olive groves. Leaving Vassiliki behind us, we wind our way upwards to the neighbouring village of Kontarena, taking a short detour to explore the old part of the village before stopping at the local kafeneon for some refreshment and a taste of local life!

Next, we skirt the village and, quite soon, are climbing gently, and following a track set into a ridge, we traverse the mountain where we are treated to the most wonderful birds-eye views of Ponti and Vassiliki, as well as across to the south of the island, the lighthouse and Sapho’s Leap. On a clear morning, Ithaka and Kefalonia appear to rise out of the haze to meet us.

Our ramble leads us gently down through shaded woodland before winding inland along well-worn tracks towards Agiofili beach - or one of the hidden bays on our way back to Vassiliki - where we are able to take advantage of the cool, clear blue waters and idyllic setting. From here, you may return to Vassiliki in your own time – by shuttle ferry or on foot or stop for refreshments around Vassiliki’s harbour.

Level 2: Approximately 5-7 miles/9-13 kilometres of gentle & brisker, though reasonably leisurely walking; uneven ground, rough terrain & hill climbs possible

… recent regular exercise is desirable to ensure everyone in the group is experienced in covering the distances. The route for this walk can be tailored to the abilities of the group.

For more information about our healthy yoga holidays, download our brochure or call us now on +44 (0)844 4992909.