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Holiday Activities

skills, inspiration, passion

Writing Retreats

Writing courses are available at both holiday centres in Greece - Atsitsa Bay and The Skyros Centre, as well as writing course weekends in the UK.

Skyros writing retreats offer writers, thinkers and dabblers the opportunity to learn from distinguished writers, share the joys and struggles of the creative process, discover their strengths and polish their skills.

In an idyllic holiday environment, far away from the demands and routines dictated by a busy life, writing holiday course participants can navigate beyond old boundaries and emerge with pieces of writing of which to feel proud. 

Former Writers’ Lab participants such as Susan Elderkin, Crysse Morrison, Shani Solomons, Emma Darwin or Grace Wynne-Jones have gone on to publish books or to stage plays they started, developed or completed in Skyros. 

Writing courses are open to novices with a secret passion for writing as much as to writers who already have a book under their belt. The tutors enjoy helping people at any stage of development – so do come with work in progress or just an empty page. 

The Skyros Writers’ Lab has built up an excellent reputation over the years. Steven Berkoff, Rachel Billington, Margaret Drabble, Hanif Kureishi, D M Thomas, Sue Townsend, Marina Warner, Hugo Williams and many others, including Booker and Pulitzer Prize winners such as Hilary Mantel, James Kelman, Barry Unsworth, Bernice Rubens and Alison Lurie, have graced the centre with their presence over the years and given hundreds of people the benefit of their experience.

Intellectual rigour, spiritual encounters and good old-fashioned rioting in the evening’. The Times

Sun 9 Jun - Sun 16 Jun 2024 (7 nights)

At a glance

The Skyros Centre is the original home of Skyros holidays, the perfect creative, wellness adult-only retreat. Meet like-minded new friends and explore your potential with inspirational, skilled facilitators who will support you. Enjoy laid-back Greek island life. As with every Skyros holiday, do as much or as little as you choose. Lisa Harding is directing this week at the Skyros Centre.

Find out more about the choice of Masterclasses below in What's On.

About

Skyros attracts mostly solo travelling guests from all over the world. Although all ages are represented, approximately 70% are between 35 and 65. The Skyros Centre is set in the stunning hillside village, with panoramic views of the hills and the sea.

Accommodation

Stay in traditional Skyrian rooms or by the sea. Twin shared occupancy is including in the price or book single occupancy.

Inspiring Courses

Choose your Writers' Lab course in advance. Your course will run mid-morning for three hours per day, five days per week. Morning Yoga drop-in classes are open to all.

Food & Drink

Meals are half board - usually breakfast and lunch but sometimes dinner instead - and served as a buffet. All diets are catered for. Tell us your preference when you book. Tea and coffee are available throughout the day.

Guide Itinerary

07.15: Morning drop-in classes
08.30: Breakfast
09.00: Demos (news of the day)
10.15: Your Masterclass
13.30: Lunch
15.00: Siesta/beach time
18.00: Ad-hoc drop-in classes
20.00: Dinner & evening activities

Average Temperature

Temperatures in June range between 20 degrees and 28 degrees Celcius.

Location

Summary

Cost
£975.00
Location
The Skyros Centre, Greece

What's included?

  • 15 hours of your chosen Writers' Lab course per week 
  • Five mornings of drop-in Morning Yoga per week
  • Community structures unique to Skyros that bring people together in a fun and authentic way
  • Twin shared accommodation in the traditional Skyrian village or by the sea (upgrades available)
  • Breakfast and lunch, although sometimes dinner in place of lunch
  • Local walks and talks as well as organised excursions including a boat trip
  • Plenty of time out for relaxing on long, sandy beaches

What's On

Travel

OUTBOUND
Book your international flight to arrive into Athens on the day before the holiday begins, ie Saturday 8 June. Or arrive on Sunday 9 June if you will be in time for the domestic flight - see below. Spend Saturday night with us at our transfer hotel, The Dorian Inn, or alternatively book your own accommodation in Athens.

Our courtesy coach to the Dorian Inn Hotel (which depends on sufficient numbers arriving at a similar time) will leave Athens airport on Saturday promptly at [TBC]. Alternatively, take a taxi or the Metro if your flight is arriving much earlier or after this time. (Dorian Inn Hotel, Pireos 15-19, Athens 105 52, nearest metro = Omonia)

1) Internal flight from Athens to Skyros
Book the Aegean flight departing Athens (ATH) for Skyros island (SKU) at 14:35 on Sunday 9 June, arriving into Skyros island at 15:15. See aegeanair.com

2) Overland transfer by coach and ferry
If the internal flight becomes fully booked, our overland transfer will leave the Dorian Inn Hotel at [TBC] and arrive into Kymi at [TBC] to connect with the ferry to Skyros island. Timings dependent on ferry timings.

RETURN

1) Internal flight from Skyros to Athens
Book the Aegean flight departing Skyros island (SKU) for Athens (ATH) at 15:35 on Sunday 16 June, arriving into Athens at 16:20. See aegeanair.com. This means you can take any flight home after 18:20.

2) Overland transfer by coach and ferry
If the internal flight becomes fully booked, our overland transfer will leave at [TBC] for the transfer back to Athens airport. Book your international flight home for after [TBC] on Sunday 16 June. Timings dependent on ferry timings.

There are several ways to get in touch, and we'd love to hear from you…

Telephone: +44 (0)1983 865566

Email: holidays@skyros.com

Or Chat to us online using the link in the corner or your screen

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