Ikaria, Greece Qigong Retreat (SOLD OUT)

May 24–30, 2027

7 days of Qigong, meditation, sea air, nourishing food, and deep restoration on the Greek "Blue Zone" island of Ikaria.

Join Nick Loffree for a retreat on the Aegean "Blue Zone" island of Ikaria, Greece — one of the world’s most beloved places for slowing down, reconnecting with nature, and remembering a more human rhythm of life. Our home for the week is a peaceful island retreat center with sea views, comfortable rooms, a pool, nourishing meals, and a spacious open-air practice area overlooking the Aegean. Each day will include guided Qigong and meditation, time to rest, breakfast and dinner together, and spacious afternoons to explore beaches, villages, local food, hiking trails, or simply do nothing at all. This is not a retreat built around packing your schedule from morning to night. It is a retreat designed to help you practice deeply, breathe fully, rest honestly, and return home feeling more clear, grounded, and alive.

  • 7 days / 6 nights at a seaside retreat center in Ikaria, Greece

  • Daily Qigong and meditation sessions with Nick

  • Morning and afternoon practice sessions on full retreat days

  • Dedicated access to the center's open-air seaside practice space

  • Daily breakfast and dinner at the hotel

  • Comfortable accommodation options for singles, couples, and shared rooms

  • Spacious midday free time for beaches, villages, hikes, cafes, naps, journaling, or local exploration

  • Optional shorter evening sessions when the group wants them

  • Time to rest by the pool, breathe the sea air, and reconnect with your body

  • A supportive group environment for practice, reflection, and renewal

Stay by the Aegean Sea

For this retreat, we’ll be staying at a retreat center overlooking the sea, on the island of Ikaria.

The center sits in a peaceful setting with views of the Aegean, comfortable rooms, a pool, dining areas, spa amenities, and open spaces for rest and conversation between sessions. This will be our retreat home base for the week — a place to practice, eat, sleep, swim, rest, and return to after your midday adventures.

Practice Overlooking the Sea

One of the most special parts of this retreat is our dedicated practice space.

We’ll have access to a large open-air covered practice area overlooking the sea. It is protected from the sun and elements while still open to the ocean breeze, making it an ideal space for Qigong, meditation, breathwork, and gentle movement. Mats and basic practice equipment are available onsite, and the space will be reserved for our group during retreat sessions. This is where we’ll begin and end most days: moving slowly, breathing deeply, opening the body, calming the mind, and letting the island itself become part of the practice. (Featured Photo: A picture of a past Yoga retreat with a different teacher, held in the practice space at the retreat center)

Daily Qigong & Meditation

Each full retreat day will include guided Qigong and meditation sessions with Nick.

Most days will begin with breakfast followed by morning Qigong and meditation. The middle of the day will be open for rest, exploration, lunch, swimming, beach time, or your own island adventure. We’ll gather again in the late afternoon for Qigong and integration practice before dinner, with occasional shorter evening sessions offered when the group has energy and interest. The practice will be accessible, grounding, and restorative. You do not need to be advanced, flexible, or experienced to participate. The goal is not to perform perfect movements. The goal is to build a deeper relationship with your body, breath, energy, awareness, and capacity to relax. Over the course of the week, we’ll explore practices for grounding, opening the body, regulating the nervous system, building internal awareness, and reconnecting with the quiet intelligence of nature. (Featured Photo: A practice session from Nick's recent Qigong retreat in Umbria, Italy)

Why Ikaria?

Ikaria is one of the world's best known "Blue Zone" islands

Blue Zones are places associated with long, healthy lives and traditional ways of living that support vitality, community, movement, food, rest, and connection. But this retreat is not about chasing longevity hacks or trying to copy someone else’s lifestyle. It is about stepping into an environment that naturally supports many of the things Qigong has always pointed us toward: slower rhythms, daily movement, nourishing food, rest, community, breath, and connection with nature. During the retreat, you’ll have space to practice, swim, wander, eat well, explore the island, and remember what it feels like to live at a more human pace.

Rest Between Sessions

The schedule is intentionally spacious.

After morning practice and breakfast, the middle of the day is open for you to explore Ikaria, visit the beach, enjoy local tavernas, relax by the pool, use the retreat center's complimentary sauna or Jacuzzi, book an optional massage, nap, journal, or simply take in the sea air. Some retreats are designed to keep you busy. This one is designed to give you enough structure to go deep, and enough space to actually receive the benefits. We’ll gather again in the late afternoon for Qigong before dinner, with occasional optional evening sessions depending on the energy and interest of the group. Use of the sauna and Jacuzzi is included with your stay. Massage treatments are available through the hotel for an additional cost and are subject to availability.

Breakfast, Dinner & Freedom to Explore

Daily breakfast and dinner are included with the retreat.

Meals at the retreat center are served buffet-style, and there are options that can support a variety of dietary needs, such as vegetarian preferences. Lunch is intentionally left open. Many people enjoy exploring during the middle of the day, and Ikaria is the kind of place where you may want the freedom to discover local tavernas, cafes, beaches, villages, and island food on your own schedule. By not locking everyone into a required lunch at the center, you’ll have more freedom for adventure, rest, and spontaneous exploration. For guests who prefer to stay onsite during the afternoon, an optional lunch may be available at the center for an additional cost. Please reach out after booking so we can inform the retreat center of a guest count for lunch.

Explore Ikaria

Ikaria is a place to wander.

During your open time, you may choose to explore beaches, mountain villages, hiking trails, seaside tavernas, local food, wine, traditional island culture, or the slower pace of daily life that has made Ikaria so well known. You can make the week as adventurous or as restful as you want. Some guests may want to swim, hike, and explore every day. Others may want to practice, eat, nap, read, and barely leave the retreat center. Both are welcome. The retreat gives you a daily rhythm, a supportive group, and a beautiful home base — while leaving room for your own relationship with the island to unfold. For guests who wish to explore, the retreat center has shuttles available for additional costs to bring you to various activities. For the most flexibility, we recommend renting a vehicle.

Room Options

We offer a few different accommodation options depending on how you’d like to attend the retreat.

If you’re coming with a partner, spouse, or friend, you can book a couple's private room together. Depending on the room available, this may be a room with one larger bed or a room with two separate beds. If you’re coming on your own and want the most affordable option, you can book a shared room. In this case, we’ll pair you with another solo guest of the same sex. Shared rooms are a great option if you’re comfortable having a roommate and want to keep the retreat cost lower. If you prefer more privacy, a limited number of private single-occupancy rooms may be available at a higher price. Room availability is limited, and some room types may sell out before others. If you have a specific room preference or are attending with someone you’d like to share with, please let us know when you register.

Deposit Options

Grab your spot with a security deposit here, then don't pay the rest until January 21, 2027. Deposits are non-refundable. See FAQ section below for details.

Remainder Due January 21, 2027

Once you've payed your deposit, full payment is due January 21, 2027. All prices include meals, lodging, pool/sauna, and Qigong lessons.

  • Single Private Room - Remainder due January 21, 2027: $1,748 USD

  • Shared Room - Remainder due January 21, 2027: $1,304 USD

  • Couple's Private Room - Remainder due January 21, 2027: $2,300 USD

"Where the sea touches the sky, the heart softens."

Εκεί που η θάλασσα αγγίζει τον ουρανό, η καρδιά μαλακώνει.

FAQ

  • Can dietary needs be accommodated?

    The retreat center is able to support a variety of dietary needs, including vegetarian preferences. After booking, we’ll collect dietary information from each guest and coordinate with the center as much as possible.

  • Is this beginner-friendly?

    Yes. The retreat is open to beginners as well as experienced practitioners. The practices are gentle, accessible, and adaptable. You do not need to be flexible, athletic, or experienced with Qigong or meditation.

  • What is the refund policy?

    A non-refundable deposit is required to reserve your spot. Your deposit secures your place in the retreat and allows us to reserve rooms, plan group logistics, and make financial commitments to the venue. Because retreat spaces are limited and we may turn away other guests once your spot is held, deposits are not refundable for any reason, including illness, travel issues, schedule changes, or inability to complete the remaining payment. The remaining balance is due by the payment deadline listed on this page. If you are unable to attend after paying your remaining balance, we may be able to offer a credit toward a future retreat only if we are able to fill your spot with another guest.

  • How do I get there?

    Most international travelers will fly into Athens, Greece, then continue on to Ikaria by either domestic flight or ferry. Ikaria has a small airport with flights from Athens, and the retreat center is about one hour by car from the airport. You can also reach Ikaria by ferry, with Evdilos being the closest port to the retreat center at about 7 km away. Once you’re registered, we’ll send more detailed travel guidance to help you plan your arrival.

  • Are airport transfers included?

    Airport transfers are not currently included in the retreat price. Shuttle or transfer options may be available for an additional fee, and we’ll share the best arrival options with registered guests once details are confirmed.

  • Can I come alone?

    Yes. Many retreat guests come alone. Shared rooms may be available for solo travelers who want a more affordable option, and private rooms may be available in limited quantities. See room options above for more information.

Instructor

Nick will be your guide through this experience of a lifetime

Nick is a Qigong teacher and wellness educator whose journey began in the forests near Toronto, where a love for nature and movement sparked a lifelong pursuit of healing. After overcoming early struggles with mental health and chronic illness through meditation, yoga, nutrition, and traditional Chinese medicine, Nick trained extensively with master teachers such as Lee Holden, Robert Peng, David Verdesi, and Ken Cohen. He has since taught Qigong to thousands across the world — from tech retreats and mental health centers to global online audiences — offering practical tools for energy, resilience, and transformation. Now based in Okinawa, Japan with his wife and daughter, Nick continues to share the power of embodied practice through retreats, online courses, and his growing community of certified instructors.

Nick Loffree

Head Instructor