Welcome to Ikaria, the island "where people forget to die.
Join our journey into one of the world’s rare hubs of longevity and a designated Blue Zone. Ikaria is more than just a destination; it is a place of wild beauty and human vitality, offering a glimpse into a way of life that has all but vanished from much of the modern world.
Ikaria is designated as one of five global Blue Zones, where people are 10 times more likely to reach age 100 than in the US or Europe. During our retreat, we will explore the various habits and cultural norms that contribute to this. More broadly, we will explore the concept of longevity as a life's pillar of how we build and sustain a life lived with purpose and connection. Our exploration will focus on the key questions that will allow participants to create plans that define and nourish their own sense of connectedness, with themselves and others.
We will have amazing guests, visiting homes and seeing first hand how the choices we make expand the choices we have. Click the video link:
Travel Within Retreats are designed to help travelers learn about the culture of a place and the wisdom of those who live there. We seek to bring back new tools, learnings and lessons to lead a better and happier life.
Jaye Smith and Marina Stenos have curated a diverse experience following the pillars of longevity and Blue Zone living. Marina was born on the island but grew up in the US. She visits Ikaria often and has a family compound there. Her work has been around designing and promoting marketing campaigns for educational institutions and non-profits helping them to sustain and grow. Marina has unique access to amazing resources to guide us through a deep and amazing experience.
Jaye’s career as a facilitator, coach and experience curator. She guides individuals and small groups of people through an exploration of self and the external world of possibilities. Her goal is always to leave a lasting impact, utilizing a wide range of experiences, exercises and approaches to educate and support personal growth, and mind, body, spirit wellness.
For 15 years, Jaye led cultural trips to Cuba, sharing her love and passion for the country and people. Last year Jaye led a fantastic retreat to Sicily with 14 wonderful and curious travelers.
She is looking forward to sharing Ikaria with you, with the help of her dear friend and colleague Marina Stenos. Their goals are to provide you with a rich, nurturing and fun adventure. You will have the opportunity to gain personal insights in the context of the beauty of Ikaria and the experiences we have curated.
Jaye holds an M.A. in Counseling Psychology from New York University and a B.A. in Psychology from City College of the City University of New York.
Our journey will be into one of the world’s rare hubs of longevity and a designated Blue Zone. Ikaria is more than just a destination; it is a place of wild beauty and human vitality, offering a glimpse into a way of life that has all but vanished from much of the modern world.
LONGEVITY
Ikaria is designated as one of five global Blue Zones, where people are 10 times more likely to reach age 100 than in the US or Europe. During our retreat, we will explore the various habits and cultural norms that contribute to this. More broadly, we will explore the concept of longevity and its foundational pillars of how we build and sustain a life lived with purpose and connection. Our exploration will focus on the key questions that will allow participants to create personal plans that define and nourish their own sense of connectedness, with themselves and others.
We will have amazing guests, visiting homes and seeing first hand how the choices we make expand the choices we have.
Welcome to Greece. We begin by gathering in Athens to set the stage for the following week. We will all stay at the Coco Mat Hotel, Check Trip Tasks for details. We will have our first dinner together overlooking the Acropolis. We will use the time to get to know each other and prepare for the week ahead. Final details of the day will be provided but the day will include visiting museums, and some key historical sites. An overview of the trip itinerary, a delicious dinner will be provided while we learn about our intentions and plans for an amazing and diverse experience.
We will leave the hotel early on the following day to head to the airport for our 45 minute flight to Ikaria.
Ikaria, Greece 
We will travel to our hotel, where we will settle in and become familiar with our seaside property and gardens.
