Where to go on a wellness holiday in Greece

Herbs are an integral part of Greek culture, whether as part of food or medicine, and using herbs for therapy is a great Greek tradition which stretches back to the times of the gods. Aromatherapy retreats run by hosts fluent in herbal lore tap into this ancient culture, and as well as learning more about herbal lore you can enjoy hands-on workshops to distil the essential oils from home-grown lavender, thyme, lemon verbena, bay and more before enjoying them as part of an aromatherapy massage.

Tamara Warner, from our wellness and aromatherapy specialists Tamsorellas, tells the story of Daphne and Apollo whenever she uses bay leaves in her guests’ treatments: “After being shot by Cupid’s arrow, Apollo falls in love with Daphne, who, wanting to remain unmarried and virginal rejects his advances. Mad with desire he chases after and almost catches her. Daphne’s father, Peneus, hears her pleas for help and comes to her aid. He turns her into a bay tree so she can be rid of Apollo for eternity. However, despite her terror and her desire to have nothing to do with him, Apollo vows to honour her forever, and uses his powers of eternal youth and immortality to render Daphne evergreen. For this reason, the leaves of the bay tree don’t decay.”

Alongside yoga classes and holistic treatments, you’ll find most retreats also give you plenty of time to simply connect with and enjoy your surroundings. Smell the wild thyme as you enjoy a coastal ramble to a local taverna, join your hosts for an herbal walk in their olive groves or challenge yourself on guided hikes through Crete’s dramatic gorges to ancient archaeological sites.

For Pippa Dale-Harris, from our Greece yoga and wellness specialists, Dolphin’s Leap, in the Pelion Peninsula, walking is an integral part of a wellness retreat: “Your carbon footprint here is very small – everyone just walks everywhere. In addition to our own village just a 10-minute walk away there are two lovely fishing villages within 45 minutes’ walk in either direction, with Greek tavernas that are open all day. So, if you want to walk to one to have a drink and enjoy traditional Greek hospitality you can. The walks are all coastal too, so you’re always hugging the sea and can stop for a swim on the way.”

Water plays a key role in wellness holidays in Greece; it’s what fuels the Peloponnese’s floral bounty, what grounds you in place as you listen to the waves lapping during a meditation session overlooking the ocean, and one of the main reasons for choosing Greece for your wellness break in the first place. So, you’ll likely be swimming – whether in the calm waters off the eastern Pelion Peninsula, in the magical Polylimnio waterfalls in the Peloponnese or off your yacht in an isolated cove tucked into a tiny Ionian Island.