Spring In Greece: A Mediterranean Diet & Lifestyle Immersion

A 7-Night Culinary & Cultural Immersion at the Seaside Odyssey Organic Farm

Step into spring on an organic seaside farm in the Peloponnese Region of Greece, surrounded by fig trees leafing out, pomegranate and olive trees blossoming, and spring fruits and vegetables ready to harvest. Most of us have cooked Mediterranean meals at home—followed the recipes, used the ingredients, tasted the flavors—but this retreat takes you deeper. You’ll explore the Mediterranean diet from its roots: the soil, the plants, the sea, and the traditions that give this lifestyle its power.

Join Chef Jeremy Rock Smith and local chef and cultural guide Katerina Askeliou for a transformative week of food, movement, learning, and connection.

🌿 What You’ll Experience

Foraging, Harvesting & Coastal Cooking
You'll forage and harvest what’s in season right now in the Greek spring—from the land to the sea, gathering wild greens, fresh herbs, spring fruits, nettle, chamomile, and edible flowers at their peak.
Then under the warm and joyful guidance of Chefs Jeremy and Katerina, you’ll transform these seasonal treasures into traditional Mediterranean dishes shaped by centuries of culinary wisdom.

Movement, Excursions & Cultural Immersion

Throughout the week, we’ll explore the land and coastline through gentle movement and guided hikes. You’ll venture into local villages, walk ancient footpaths, and enjoy historical and cultural tours that reveal how Greek daily life naturally supports wellbeing and longevity.

Living Close to the Earth

You’ll stay on the Seaside Odyssey Organic Farm—home to organic gardens, a peaceful coastline, and fertile spring landscapes. This environment invites you to slow down, breathe deeper, and reconnect with natural rhythms.

🌿 Why Join This Retreat?

This is where the Mediterranean diet and lifestyle truly come alive—slow, communal meals… humble but powerful ingredients… movement woven naturally into each day… and an authentic connection to the land.

Whether you're entering a season of change, easing into something new, or wanting to deepen your understanding of the Mediterranean diet, this week offers the space to reset while being held by the land itself.

Chef Jeremy Rock Smith- Chef, Author

Former Executive Chef of Kripalu Yoga Center, retreat leader, and whole-foods educator with over two decades of experience guiding people toward health through delicious, seasonal cuisine. Jeremy brings warmth, wisdom, and an infectious love for food and connection. Learn more about Jeremy

Katerina Sakelliou- Chef, Author, Wellness Educator

Katerina from Poros, Greece, grew up learning to cook in her family's restaurant, Spiros, following generations of culinary tradition. Since the mid-2000s, she has been teaching Greek cooking workshops at her bistro on Poros Island welcoming guests from around the world. Katerina's approach to cooking reflects her deep respect for family traditions, the environment, and the connection between food and culture. Her passion is rooted in a lifelong commitment to sharing the love of Greek cuisine.

How do I get to the farm?
Most guests fly into Athens International Airport (ATH). From there, it’s a smooth and scenic trip to the island of Poros—typically a combination of taxi or shuttle to the port, followed by a one-hour ferry ride. After registration, we’ll send step-by-step travel instructions, recommended airport transfer and port options, and tips for an easy arrival. We’ll guide you every step of the way.

Can dietary needs or allergies be accommodated?
Yes. The Mediterranean diet is naturally flexible and plant-forward, and we do our best to accommodate most dietary needs and allergies. We can easily accommodate gluten allergies, vegan, vegetarian, and other common dietary preferences. After registration, you’ll receive a form to share any restrictions or sensitivities so we can plan accordingly. If you have more complex needs, please reach out before booking—we’re happy to talk it through and make sure you feel supported and safe throughout the retreat.

Can I come alone?
Absolutely. Many participants travel solo, and the retreat community forms quickly. The experience is warm, welcoming, and deeply connective—you’ll feel at home right away.

Is there free time?
Yes. Each day includes space to rest, read, swim, journal, or simply enjoy the farm and coastline. You can be as active or as relaxed as you’d like—nothing is mandatory.

What if I have more questions?
Once you’re registered, you’ll receive detailed information covering everything you need—packing lists, how to prepare, recommended hotels in Athens if you’d like to arrive early, travel tips, and answers to common questions. And of course, if anything else comes up, you can reach out anytime. We’re here to help you every step of the way.

Cancellation by Participant:

• Full refund of deposit if requested in writing within 30 days of purchase.

• 119–90 days before start date: Deposit is non-refundable; 75% refund of all additional payments made.

• 89–60 days before start date: Deposit is non-refundable; 50% refund of all additional payments made.

• 59 days or less before start date: No refund.

Credit Card, Platform & Administrative Fees

All payments processed by credit card are subject to non-refundable third-party processing fees, platform fees, and a €50 administrative processing fee. In the event of any cancellation and refund, credit card processing fees, WeTravel platform fees, and the €50 administrative processing fee will be deducted from the refunded amount, regardless of the cancellation window. These fees are charged at the time of booking and cannot be recovered by the Organizer.

Missed Payments:

If any scheduled installment payment is missed, the Organizer reserves the right to cancel the booking. Any payments already made will be refunded according to the timeline above. Cancellation by Organizer If the Organizer cancels the retreat for reasons not related to force majeure, a full refund will be issued, including the deposit, within 30 days of notice.

Force Majeure:

The Organizer reserves the right to cancel, postpone, or modify the Retreat due to causes beyond their reasonable control, including but not limited to natural disasters, acts of God, government restrictions, strikes, pandemics, or other circumstances making the Retreat impractical or unsafe. In such cases, refunds will be handled in accordance with the cancellation policy above, and participants are strongly encouraged to carry travel insurance.

You’ll arrive by water taxi to the Odyssey Organic Eco Farm and step off the boat into another pace of life—one filled with sunshine, sea air, and soulful nourishment. From the moment you land, you're welcomed with warm hospitality, a mezze spread of local flavors, and the grounding calm of nature. As the sun sets, we’ll share a nourishing welcome dinner and gather to set the course for the week.

• Water taxi arrival to Odyssey Eco Farm

• Welcome mezze and traditional dinner

Your first full day is about slowing down, arriving fully, and connecting with the land. After a restful night on the farm and your first taste of a traditional Greek breakfast, we begin weaving together threads of nature, nourishment, and presence that are the foundation of the Mediterranean lifestyle.

Morning

• Traditional Greek Breakfast overlooking the sea featuring local yogurt, fruit, bread, herbs, honey, olive oil, and seasonal offerings from the farm.

• Guided Farm Tour with Katerina & Jeremy
  Explore olives, herbs, wild spring greens, edible flowers, and medicinal plants. Learn how the soil, sun, and seasonal rhythms shape the Mediterranean way of eating—and how these ingredients guide the meals you'll cook throughout the week.

Afternoon

• Hands-On Cooking Class with Jeremy & Katerina
  Prepare your first Greek feast of the week using the day’s harvested ingredients. Learn time-honored techniques, the cultural stories behind each dish, and how these foods support longevity.

Today, after breakfast, we’ll be treated to a yogurt-making demonstration, learning the simple, traditional techniques that have anchored the Greek table for generations. After some free time and a light lunch, we’ll take a water taxi across the sea to Poros Town for a historical tour led by a local guide. We’ll explore its winding streets, vibrant architecture, and everyday rhythms.

From there, you’ll have free time to wander Poros at your own pace before heading over to the farm’s sister property, the Odyssey Hotel, where we’ll take part in our second Mediterranean cooking class and prepare a dinner for ourselves, cooking alongside Jeremy and Katerina’s daughter and chef, Dora.

Morning

• Traditional Greek breakfast

• Yogurt-making demonstration

• Free time

Midday & Afternoon

• Light lunch

• Water taxi to Poros Town

• Historical walking tour of Poros Town

• Free time to wander Poros

Evening

• Mediterranean cooking class and seasonal dinner at the Odyssey Hotel with Jeremy & Dora

Today we retreat even further from modern noise, visiting the car-free island of Hydra. This is a place where donkeys carry groceries, the sea sparkles in every direction, and time itself seems to stretch. Hydra has long been a haven for artists, writers, and musicians—including Leonard Cohen, whose home still stands quietly on one of the island’s winding lanes and can be visited as part of our guided tour.
You’ll enjoy art, history, slow wandering, and rest on your own terms. This spacious, open day is a gentle reminder of the power of doing less and receiving more.

Morning

• Traditional Greek breakfast

Midday & Afternoon

• Ferry to Hydra (a walking-only island)

• Guided tour of Hydra Town, including landmarks and Leonard Cohen’s home

• Exploration, shopping, art, coastal walks, and social time at your own pace

Evening

• Dinner at a favorite local taverna

Today, we connect to the sweetness of the land and the sea. We'll dive into the world of Greek olive oil with a tasting and an explanation of how this liquid gold shapes local agriculture and the Mediterranean diet. From there, we’ll be visited by a local beekeeper for a honey tasting and workshop, learning about Greek honeys and their seasonal varieties.

After a light lunch, you’ll have some free time to rest before gathering with Katerina, who will take us to the sea to share its importance within the Mediterranean diet and coastal living. There, you’ll forage for sea treasures—edible elements of the shoreline—to use in our third Mediterranean cooking class led by Jeremy, who will guide you in preparing fresh seafood and seasonal side dishes cooked over an open fire.

Morning

• Traditional Greek breakfast

• Olive oil tasting + discussion on Mediterranean agriculture

• Beekeeper visit with honey tasting & workshop

Midday & Afternoon

• Light lunch

• Free time to rest and explore

• Coastal foraging with Katerina + teachings on the role of the sea in Mediterranean living

Evening

• Third Mediterranean cooking class with Jeremy

• Traditional Greek barbecue featuring fresh seafood and seasonal sides cooked over an open fire

Today we head into one of the most striking regions of the Peloponnese, beginning with a visit to the area where the Stone of Prometheus rests—a landscape rich with myth, history, and dramatic natural beauty.

From there, we’ll enjoy lunch at a local taverna before making our way to Methana, where we’ll hike the Methana volcano, exploring its rugged terrain and unique geological formations. After the hike, we travel to the seaside hot springs of Methana, where you can soak in mineral-rich waters warmed by the earth, easing the body and letting the day settle in.

We’ll return to the farm for a relaxing evening meal together.

Morning

• Early breakfast

• Visit to the Stone of Prometheus

Midday

• Lunch at a local taverna

Afternoon

• Excursion to Methana

• Hike the Methana volcano

• Seaside visit + soak in the natural hot springs

Evening

• Return to the farm

• Evening meal together

Today is a free day—a day entirely for you. After breakfast, you may take the time for quiet reflection by the sea, a brisk walk, a visit to Poros, or prearranged activities such as paddle boarding, biking, kayaking, fishing.

Later, we gather once more to close out the week before sharing a final celebratory dinner together on the farm.

Morning

• Traditional Greek breakfast

Midday & Afternoon

• Rest, journaling, downtime on the farm, swimming, or a shopping trip to Poros

• Prearranged Activities and Excursions: paddleboarding, biking, kayaking, fishing

Evening

• Closing gathering

• Final celebration dinner on the farm

After a light breakfast and heartfelt farewells, we begin our journey home—carrying not just memories, but a renewed way of being rooted in simplicity, presence, and joy.

Morning

• Light breakfast

• Water taxi departure back to Poros and ferry to Athens