Meet us on the sun-drenched coastline of southern Greece.
Journey with us as we explore the Mani Peninsula in the Peloponnese region of Greece. Forming the southernmost tip of continental Europe, Mani is a land of sunshine and myths, rich in history, rustic natural beauty, timeless stone villages and spectacular beaches with stunning turquoise waters.
During this five day retreat designed to inspire, nourish and refresh, we will explore the beauty and sample the bounty of this region’s riches, from olives and olive oil, to citrus and honey, wild herbs, fresh seafood, salty cheeses, and sun-ripened vegetables.
Days will be spent exploring charming seaside villages and visiting local producers. Come evening, we’ll gather in the outdoor kitchen of our stone villa to cook meals together, then sit down to share al fresco feasts paired with local wines.
This is a slow food and lifestyle retreat for cooks of all levels who love food, travel, community, nature, culture, and adventure. We’ll couple fun excursions and hands-on lessons with plenty of leisure time to rest, relax, or take a dip in the pool.
WHERE we’ll STAY
Our homebase in the seaside town of Rigklia will be a grouping of three charming stone villas surrounded by olive groves, embraced by mountains on one side and sparkling sea on the other.
The grounds include two swimming pools and lounge areas, including an outdoor kitchen and dining areas complete with wood-fired grill.
WHAT’s INCLUDED
The retreat price of $3350-$3900 includes the following:
Accommodations | A collection of three-story stone villas, each with a central kitchen and one bedroom on each floor. All rooms have ensuite bathrooms or a dedicated bathroom on the same floor. Common areas include two swimming pools and areas for cooking, lounging and meandering. See below for more details about accommodation options.
Meals + Refreshments | All snacks, meals and beverages will be provided. A light breakfast, tea and coffee will be provided in your villas. Each day will bring a new excursion or experience with lunch. Dinners will include snacks and a fire-cooked feast, paired with local wines and spirits.
Excursions | Curated day trips to historic villages, stunning beaches, local producers and restaurants.
Lessons + Dinners | Each day we will explore flavors and techniques, highlighting the bounty of the region and sharing our seasonal farm-to-fire approach to cooking. The lessons will include hands-on preparation of some favorite Greek classics, such as spanakopita and dolmades. You may relax or lend a hand as we prep and cook dinner each evening, then sit down to share the bountiful meal we’ve created.
Materials | All cooking materials will be provided. You are welcome to bring an apron and your own culinary knives if desired.
SCHEDULE + SAMPLE ITINERARY
Friday, October 10 | Guests arrive at the villas for check-in between 4-5:30pm. Settle in, then gather at 6pm for welcome drinks, introductions, dinner, wine and merriment, then a good night’s rest.
Saturday, October 11 | Excursions to a picturesque stone village for a market visit and lunch at a local taverna, then return to villa to prepare and enjoy dinner together.
Sunday, October 12 | Excursions to a local olive oil producer and a stunning seaside town for lunch and a swim in the aquamarine waters, then return to villa to prepare and enjoy dinner together.
Monday, October 13 | Local honey tasting, spanakopita making lesson and lunch at the villa, beach time (or take some free time to explore), then prepare and enjoy dinner together at the villa.
Tuesday, October 14 | Farewell open fire brunch and departure by 11am.
Note: Itinerary is subject to change based on weather, availability and group preferences.
TRAVEL
Guests are responsible for all travel to and from the retreat location, including airfare and ground transporation to the villa, located in the village of Rigklia on the Mani Peninsula.
The airports nearest to the villa are Kalamata and Athens. Approximate drive times are Kalamata: 1.25 hrs, Athens: 3.5 hrs.
We recommend flying into one of the nearby airports and either renting a car, scheduling an airport transfer, or arranging a car share with a fellow retreat attendee (we’ll connect guests prior to the trip).
We will have a passenger van to transport guests to all offsite excursions, if desired. Guests may also opt to drive their own vehicles to excursions.
POLICIES + SUGGESTIONS
Insurance | We highly recommend purchasing travel insurance to cover unforeseen circumstances such as illness/injury, natural disasters or flight cancellations. Cover the unexpected and protect your investment by exploring plans from Allianz, Insure My Trip or Travelex.
Cancellation | Due to the nature of this retreat, we must adhere to a firm no refunds policy. By registering for this retreat, you acknowledge and agree to this policy. Should you need to cancel and have chosen not to purchase travel insurance, it is your responsibility to sell or gift your spot(s) accordingly.
Payment | To reserve your spot, you may pay in full or spread over two installments - half now and the other half 60 days before the retreat, payable on or before August 1, 2025. To choose the 50% deposit option, please use the code TOURNANTDEPOSIT at check out. If you reserve after August 1, the full payment will be due upon checkout.
Fine Print | All guests must be 21 or over. Local mask, health and safety mandates will be observed. Pets are not permitted on this retreat. Due to the considerable cost and effort that goes into planning a retreat such as this, we will require a minimum guest count in order to proceed. If retreat is cancelled by organizers, a full refund will be issued to all attendees; in all other cases, tickets are nonrefundable. Menus for this retreat will be omnivorous, though we’ll do our best to accommodate food allergies. Photos and/or video from this event may be used by Tournant and its partners for marketing purposes.
Phone | WiFi is available at the villa but may not be reliable. We suggest contacting your service provider for options when traveling outside the country.
Acknowledgements | Registering for this workshop assumes acknowledgment of all the conditions contained within this retreat description.
Communications | Rest assured, we will be in regular contact with all retreat attendees over the coming months to answer questions and discuss everything from travel recommendations to packing suggestions to logistics. Feel free to contact us with any questions.
Photos by Lili Basic and Eva Kosmas Flores
INSPIRATION + TESTIMONIALS
Enjoy scenes above from previous retreats in the slideshow above and read recent testimonials below for some thoughts from our guests.
“I’m still talking about this trip as if it were just yesterday, the memories are that vivid. The ambiance and tenor of the trip were such that, even if the other participants weren’t as colorful and fun as they were (boy, howdy!), the dynamics of the Tournant staff, the setting, and the bounty of the area would still have coalesced into a magical event.”
“The meals, the location and the overall setting combined with fun mini day trips were spectacular.”
“Can’t give enough warm, appreciative kudos!! Spectacular trip.”
“A magical experience - the Tournant crew is amazing as was the food, wine and other attendees. Having the flexibility of participating in the activities or just hanging out at the villa was very much appreciated.”
“Beautiful location. Amazing food. Unforgettable people. Hvala!”
“Thanks for a wonderful vacation. The food education and hospitality was top notch. I had a blast spending time with everyone!”
PRICING + RESERVATIONS
Retreat prices are per person, based on double occupancy or single occupancy in a shared room. The reservation options are outlined below:
TOP FLOOR SUITES WITH QUEEN BED, ENSUITE BATHROOM & PRIVATE BALCONY | $3900/person, double occupancy | These ensuite rooms include a private balcony with lovely views of the grounds and surrounding areas. PERFECT FOR: Couples who want to share this memorable experience together.
SUITES WITH QUEEN BED, ENSUITE BATHROOM & BALCONY ACCESS | $3700/person, double occupancy | Suites on the main floor featuring ensuite bathroom and dedicated balcony area. PERFECT FOR: Couples who want to share this memorable experience together.
ROOMS WITH 2 SINGLE BEDS | $3350/person, shared room | Rooms include two single beds, a fold out couch, and private bathroom on the same floor. IDEALLY: Shared amongst friends or booked individually by those open to making new ones. Contact us if interested in booking one of these rooms individually (single supplement will apply).
