19 reviews
Jun 6 - 12, 2024
Group size: 1 - 65
Reading Retreat with Mark Edwards and others!
Amorgos, Greece
19 reviews
Jun 6 - 12, 2024
Group size: 1 - 65
About this trip
What’s included
- Transport to/from hotelBuses will be waiting to transport you to and from the hotel upon arrival and departure.
- AccommodationsAll six nights at Lakki Village Hotel are covered in the Reading Retreat fee.
- Access to all SessionsThe retreat fee offers you unfettered access to all the sessions with Mark Edwards and guest authors, as well as the book signing event, plus more!
- Greek buffet breakfastBuffet breakfast is served every day from 8:00 - 10:30 with a wide variety of dishes and beverages: Coffee, tea, juices, jam, cheeses, olives, eggs, warm dishes, seasonal fruits, and more ...
- Lunch buffetBuffet Style Lunch.
- Dinner buffetBuffet style dinner - Greek and American dishes.
- Blackwood MansionMurder Mystery Event
- Visit the Monastery11th-century monastery Hozoviotissa is a wonder that must be seen.
- Village Tour: ChoraThe ancient village of Chora is a magnificent sight to see, with its historic windmills still adorning the hillside.
- Greek NightGreek music, Greek food, and a wonderful Greek good time takes place on Greek Night.
- Attendance at Q&AAll retreat attendees are welcome to come chat with the guest authors. Have your questions ready!
- Retreat materialsAttendees will be given a gift bag of fun and exciting things related to the retreat.
- Village hikeWe take you from the village of Tholaria across a mountain path to the neighboring village called Lagada for a picturesque walk.
- Free use of yoga ShalasThere are several yoga shalas on site for any of the attendees to use.
What’s not included
- Flights to/from GreeceAttendees must find their own way to and from Greece.
- Ferry ticketsBlue Star Ferries offers tickets online. Please plan ahead and get your tickets to Amorgos before the retreat begins on June 6th, 2024, and for when the retreat is over.
- Refreshments, BeveragesThe one thing your fee does not cover are beverages - except those offered during the buffets. Outside of the buffets, all beverages can be charged to your room and settled up upon check-out.
- AlcoholAs noted above, all alcohol (even during buffets) can be charged to your room and settled up later.
- Travel InsurancePlease investigate what travel insurance works best for you, if needed.
- Hotel Tax FeeThere may be a small fee of a few euros when checking out to cover the hotel tax fee the Greek government imposes upon hotels.
Itinerary
Day 1
Arrival Day: relax and settle in and get ready for an amazing week!
Your Organizer
Imagine Greece Retreats
19 reviews
🌟 Unforgettable Memories Await with Our Canadian-Greek Team!
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Reviews
NZ
The retreat was a joy from start to finish. Booking was effortless, and communication with the organizers was smooth and responsive. We stayed in cozy accommodations, enjoyed delicious meals, and had a blast sightseeing. Best of all, I got to meet amazing new people and explore an unfamiliar place—all while indulging in my favorite pastime: reading. Thank you for making this a memorable trip.
By Namita Z for Reading Retreat with J.D. Barker, Clare Mackintosh, and others! on Aug 06, 2025
Overall, I had a blast and I'd do it again in a heartbeat! I loved the sense of community and camaraderie. I think Tanya did a wonderful job leading us and her workshop on deep work was well-planned and executed. The sheet was especially useful. I also enjoyed the location country. I would prefer to go outside of Europe, but of all the European countries, I would say Greece is a top choice for me. There's a little bit of everything for everyone, and it's just such a beautiful country.
Moving forward, I think an underlying theme that could be better smoothed out is consistent messaging. For example, I understood that food would be buffet style for all meals, but that wasn't the case for lunch. I wasn't as big of a fan of the limited options for lunch, including the hotel closing off the caffeine options. I would also say that I noticed some concerning patterns in communication when it came to Jonas. One on one, I had nothing but positive experiences with him. He was quick and responsive with me. However, the room snafu with 2 of the participants left me feeling concerned about how else he could drop the ball. Another instance that gave me pause was his underselling the difficulty of the hike. I did not attend, and honestly, I was so thankful I didn't because several of the participants did not seem amused since it sounded like the hike was much more difficult than how it was originally explained.
Lastly, this is small but I would've really appreciated more snacking options from the beginning. I love cake, but my goodness, by day 3 I was caked out. Thankfully, after a request from a participant, they changed the offerings (for the better in my opinion).
By Emilce S for Creative Connections: Writing and Meditation Retreat on Jul 09, 2025
Imagine Greece Retreats has the unique ability to take a group of people with a common interest, place them in a picturesque location, and have them leave a week later feeling like an extended family. Add their warm, welcoming nature and delicious food and it’s a trip that you’ll be thinking about long after you return home. Greece has a way of making its way into your heart so that you can’t wait to start planning your return!
By Liane C for Reading Retreat with J.D. Barker, Clare Mackintosh, and others! on Jul 09, 2025
This was an amazing week on the beautiful island of Amorgos, full of Greek hospitality.
Very well organised with two days exploring Athens followed by a wonderful week at Lakki Village, beautiful accomodation, friendly staff and delicious food.
It was such an experience to meet these fun, talented authors and many other people from acros the world with a love of reading. New friendships were formed.
Brilliantly organised by Jonas Saul and Rania Stone.
Definitely a week to remember for ever!
By Sue M for Reading Retreat with J.D. Barker, Clare Mackintosh, and others! on Jul 09, 2025
I had an amazing experience! Accomodation, food, authors and attendees were awesome! The hosts were incredibly helpful and responsive.
By Laura M for Reading Retreat with J.D. Barker, Clare Mackintosh, and others! on Jul 08, 2025
References
I attended the Retreat, hosted by Jonas and Rania in October 2024 as part of my solo holiday and as a way to kickstart my aspirational writing career. After a lot of various last minute changes, not least the ferries going on strike, everything worked out for the better in the end. Overall it was a wonderful experience in the magical island of Amorgos. The scenery was spectacular, the Greek hospitality was exemplary and the food was delicious at Lakki Village. It was like being part of an extended Greek family (even the cats and dogs were welcoming). The course participants were also friendly and i made long lasting friendships there. Most importantly, I was inspired by the classes and wish I could have stayed longer in Amorgos (had to leave on the 26th itself). With encouragement from both, I came out equipped and confident to start writing more and losing the fear in the process. I am hoping to be able to attend more of these retreats next year in Greece :)
By MING G on 03 Nov, 2024
What an amazing trip to Amorgos, Greece for the Psychological Thriller Readers Retreat. Hosted by the legendary Authors Jonas Saula and Rania Stone, I was delighted by this little corner of paradise. The hotel resort was lovely in its complete and modern rooms, ground amenities, dining options, the pool area and bar. Lena the bartender was superb. Rania's family owns and runs the resort. So friendly and inviting this family was, I could not ask for more. The resort is located right on the beach. I started my mornings with tea and breakfast and a glorious beach view. It does not get better than that. The retreat schedule of events was just right. Something fascinating to experience each day with plenty of time to explore or chill as you like. Jonas is the perfect host with knowledge, humor, energy enough for everyone. The author guests were accessible and engaging, even those we met via Zoom. It was thrilling to learn about their beginnings, writing styles, publishing and all. AND, oh the giveaways! The retreat swag is top notch. I truly enjoyed this experience and am looking forward to a return trip. I highly recommend this retreat experience.
By TINA K on 29 Sep, 2024
We did the Reading Retreat in Amorgos June 2024, and it was fabulous!! The island, the venue, the food, the events—everything was perfect! It was so helpful to have Imagine Greece Retreats coordinate all arrangements, and they were readily available to answer questions. If you love reading and want to experience Greece, this is the way to do it!!
By Tracy Y on 25 Sep, 2024