About Gilly Gwilliams

More Than a Retreat — A Space to Move, Breathe, and Belong

Retreats in Greece was born from the deep-seated passion and vision of its founder, Gilly Gwilliams. Her love for Greece was kindled during her childhood vacations, where the country’s allure captivated her heart.

More Than a Retreat — A Space to Move, Breathe, and Belong
Our History

Dive Into Our History of Peace

We don’t offer one-size-fits-all. We match you with the perfect
retreat based on your unique needs and preferences.

Childhood Memory & The Beginning

Retreats in Greece was born from the deep-seated passion and vision of its founder, Gilly Gwilliams. Her love for Greece was kindled during her childhood vacations, where the country’s allure captivated her heart. After leaving a high-pressure career in the army, Gilly yearned for a more tranquil and fulfilling lifestyle. She pursued her passion for wellness and became a fitness and Pilates instructor on the idyllic island of Kos.

Childhood Memory & The Beginning

Expanding Our Reach

Gilly had long nurtured a dream of creating her own wellness retreat, and shortly after arriving on Kos, an opportunity arose. She embraced it with enthusiasm, turning her vision into reality and establishing a retreat that initially focused on fitness but soon evolved to include a range of activities like hiking, yoga, and cycling, offering a distinctive alternative to conventional vacations.

Expanding Our Reach

Adapting & Evolving

Her commitment to showcasing Greece’s potential for transformative retreats led her to create a Facebook group, Retreats in Greece. The group’s swift success highlighted the country’s broader appeal beyond Kos, sparking an idea for a dedicated travel agency.

Adapting & Evolving

A New Chapter

This new venture would specialize in helping people find retreats throughout Greece and support Greek hosts in their endeavors. Every step Gilly has taken is fueled by her enduring passion for Greece and her dedication to helping others lead healthier, more fulfilling lives. Her journey reflects a profound commitment to combining personal dreams with a broader vision of wellness and community.

A New Chapter
Guided by Purpose

Living with intention. Leading with heart.

Every journey we take is inspired by a deep commitment to healing, connection, and conscious living.

Vision

Vision

To connect souls with Greece's most transformative wellness experiences, blending ancient wisdom with modern healing.

Mission

Mission

To guide travelers to life-changing wellness experiences in Greece through personalized retreat matching and expert local knowledge.

Values

Values

We value mindfulness, community, healing, authenticity, and global kindness as the foundation for creating meaningful, transformative experiences.

Why Gilly is Best?
Why Gilly is Best?

Elevate Your Spirit, Refine Your Practice

Gilly Gwilliams is the founder of Retreats in Greece, a wellness retreat hub inspired by her deep love for the country.

A former army professional, she transitioned into a peaceful life on the island of Kos as a fitness and Pilates instructor. Her passion for holistic well-being led her to establish her own retreat, blending fitness, yoga, hiking, and more. Seeing the demand for diverse wellness offerings, she expanded into planning retreats for other hosts across Greece.

Gilly also founded the popular Facebook group “Retreats in Greece,” sparking the idea for a dedicated travel service. Her journey is rooted in a mission to help others connect with themselves and the healing spirit of Greece.

Our Services

Elevate Your Mind, Body, and Soul

We offer a holistic approach to wellness, blending traditional wisdom with modern techniques.

FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Got questions? We’ve got answers. Whether you're new to yoga, curious about our memberships, or wondering what to bring to your first class.

Not at all! We offer a selection of Retreats and each retreat is different. Using our service, we will match you to the perfect retreat for your experience level.

We're a specialist travel agency based in Kos, Greece, dedicated to matching you with the perfect wellness retreat. We personally know the retreat hosts, have visited the venues, and spend time understanding your needs before recommending options. We handle the booking process, liaise with hosts on your behalf, and support you from enquiry through to your return home.

We have relationships with approximately 20 retreat hosts across Greece and growing. Rather than spending hours researching individual retreats, you tell us your dates, budget, preferences, and any special requirements—we do the matching work for you. We also have access to retreats that aren't widely advertised and can arrange bespoke experiences that hosts don't offer publicly.

We're genuinely based here—our headquarters is in Tigaki, Kos. Our founder Gilly lives in Kos full-time and has deep connections throughout the Greek wellness community. We're fully licensed and insured in Greece (ΑΦΜ: 172883411).

Many of our retreats specifically welcome solo travellers and create a supportive community atmosphere. When you enquire, tell us you're solo and we'll recommend retreats where other solo guests typically attend and where the group dynamic is welcoming. We'll also let you know about shared accommodation options if you'd like to reduce costs.

Yes, but availability depends on what our hosts have scheduled for those exact dates. Share your specific dates with us and we'll search our portfolio. If nothing matches perfectly, we may be able to arrange a bespoke private retreat for your dates, though this typically requires a minimum of 2 participants and comes at a higher price point.

Most Greek retreats run 5-8 days because transformation and relaxation take time. We do have some shorter options, particularly near Athens, but they're limited and often cost more per day due to the intensive nature. If you only have 2-4 days and a budget under €1,000, we may struggle to find a match.

Our retreats typically start around €800 for 5-7 days, which includes accommodation, all meals, and daily classes. Under €800 is challenging for multi-day retreats that meet our quality standards. If budget is your primary constraint, tell us your maximum and we'll be honest about what's possible.

July and August are peak season, so availability is more limited and prices are typically higher. We do have options, but you'll need to book early (3-6 months in advance ideally). Spring (April-May) and autumn (September-October) offer better availability, lower prices, and fewer crowds if you have flexibility.

You pay a 20% non-refundable deposit to secure your booking, with the remaining ammount due 90 days before your retreat starts. Payment is processed through our secure booking platform, WeTravel. If you're booking within 90 days of the retreat date, full payment is typically required upfront.

Cancellation charges depend on when you notify us in writing before your departure date: More than 90 days before departure: Loss of deposit only (50% of total cost) Between 60 and 90 days before departure: 25% of the total cost Between 30 and 60 days before departure: 50% of the total cost Less than 30 days before departure: 100% of the total cost (full amount) Important: Some specific retreats may have different cancellation terms, which we'll provide clearly at the time of booking. Those specific terms will override the general terms above. This is why we strongly recommend comprehensive travel insurance that covers cancellations.

Amendment requests are considered on a case-by-case basis, but they're not guaranteed. If we can accommodate a change, you'll likely pay an administration fee plus any additional costs imposed by the retreat host or suppliers. It's often easier and less costly to have travel insurance that covers changes than to amend bookings.

You really need it. As you can see from our cancellation terms, you could lose your entire payment if you cancel within 30 days. Travel insurance covering cancellations, medical emergencies, and travel disruptions protects your investment. We don't include insurance in our packages—it's your responsibility to arrange.

Most of our scheduled retreats welcome individual bookings—you'll join other guests at the retreat. For private bespoke retreats, we require a minimum of 2 participants. Some venues work better for intimate groups (6-8 people) while others can accommodate 12-14 guests.

Typically, all-inclusive means accommodation, three meals daily (breakfast, lunch, dinner), daily yoga or wellness classes, some scheduled excursions or activities, and airport transfers. However, it does NOT include flights, Greek tourist tax, travel insurance, alcoholic beverages, or personal expenses. We'll give you a detailed breakdown for each retreat.

No, flights are separate. However, we can arrange flight bookings for UK travellers through our UK travel partner. If you're travelling from elsewhere, you'll need to arrange your own flights and we'll provide arrival information and transfer details.

Most retreats provide yoga mats, blocks, straps, and any equipment needed for activities. We'll confirm exactly what's provided and what you should bring when we send your specific retreat details. For activities like hiking or water sports, we'll let you know what to pack.

Not always, especially in traditional or eco-friendly venues. Greece gets very hot in July-September, so if air conditioning is essential for you, mention this when you enquire. We'll ensure your accommodation includes it. Some venues use fans or natural cooling, which may not be sufficient for everyone.

Many of our retreat hosts specialise in plant-based cuisine and create full, satisfying vegan and vegetarian meals—not just adapted meat dishes. Greek cuisine naturally includes many plant-based options. Tell us your dietary preferences when you enquire and we'll match you with hosts who excel at this.

Not at all. Gluten-free and dairy-free requirements are common and most of our hosts accommodate them well. Greek cuisine has naturally gluten-free options like grilled fish, Greek salads, and vegetable dishes. We'll confirm with the host that they can cater properly before you book.

It depends on the specific retreat and venue. Some locations involve stairs, uneven terrain, or activities that require certain mobility levels. Be completely honest about your mobility needs when you enquire, and we'll work with hosts to find suitable options or discuss reasonable accommodations.

Absolutely. We design corporate retreats focused on specific outcomes—team cohesion, leadership development, stress management, or strategic planning. We include professional facilitation, diverse activities (yoga, hiking, workshops, excursions), and comprehensive support. We'll work with you to define objectives and measure success.

We're based in Greece and can liaise with local hosts and services to confirm thelangauages spoken. Most retreat hosts speak English, as the wellness community here is international.