This year’s Half-marathon will take place on Saturday, the 13th of September. Runners will start in Atsitsa Bay and, winding through the hills, surrounded by spectacular forests and sea views, will end up in Skyros village’s main square. There, after the medal ceremony, there will be a party.

A Skyros holiday engages the individual in courses, activities and events that open the heart, expand the mind, recharge the body and uplift the spirit.

The Skyros community – informal, friendly, relaxed, and yet very vibrant – brings people together in a way daily life rarely does. Its safe and congenial atmosphere makes it possible to feel immediately at home.
 
Responsible Travel Policy
 
Skyros provides holistic holidays which emphasise being rather than having, doing rather than consuming and cooperating rather than competing. All staff and course participants are made fully aware of our ethos and principles.

Social responsibility

Skyros’ objective is integration and involvement with the islands and their people through ongoing development projects. To this effect:

* It is working with the local authority to bring recycling to Skyros island – glass, plastic and aluminium cans. Its policy is to reduce waste in all areas.
* It avoids motorised water sports and will plant trees in the springtime with the help of volunteers alongside the main road connecting Linaria, the harbour, to Skyros village.
* Atsitsa is continuing to improve its own solar electricity and heating systems and ways to re-use waste water.
* Both Atsitsa and the Village Centre will continue to use local produce, manufacturers and services as much as possible.
* In addition to their usual courses both the Life Coaching Centre and the Writers’ Lab will run a great variety of events to give both visitors a taste of Greece and the locals access to broader influences.
* Skyros will also re-introduce the half- Marathon it initiated ten years ago. It will be held on 13 September. It is further bringing British footballer Mark Lawrenson to the island to help local children develop their footballing skills.
* Other projects in the past included the refurbishment of the local school’s theatre and the partial re-equipment of the local hospital.
* Committed to an eco-friendly future, Skyros welcomes creative ideas submitted by both its staff and course participants.

Economic Responsibility   

At our own sites we employ local nationals whenever practical and on Salsa dancing trips to Cuba, each participant is matched to an individual local dance partner employed specifically for that purpose. At resort trips (Thailand/Cambodia) participants are encouraged to give local nationals English lessons as an alternative to the work contribution expected at our own sites, as a way of contributing to the host community by improving employment prospects.

Both of our sites on Skyros Island use locally owned and maintained accommodation with policies in place to use local produce, manufacturers and services whenever possible.