Yoga Holidays 2012

Our Holidays

We have been running yoga holidays at our beautiful venue right on the sea in Kissamos Bay for seven years and we welcome yoga students from all over the world. We get enormous pleasure from seeing what a huge difference a yoga holiday here makes to all our participants, whether complete beginners, those with an established practice or Iyengar teachers themselves. A high proportion of our students (some weeks as many as 50%) are returnees who value the beauty and tranquillity of the area and the opportunity to practise yoga in an ideal purpose built yoga space right next to the sea. Our hosts at Leonidas' are the epitome of Cretan hospitality, incredibly warm and welcoming and keen to make sure that everyone enjoys their time on the island.

Yoga and Schedule

Marios is a senior level Iyengar teacher and all classes follow the Iyengar method. We have a large yoga space designed specifically for our use with wall ropes, and all other equipment is provided. We have mats, foam blocks, bricks, belts and blankets - Iyengar yoga uses props to help students practise the poses safely when there is stiffness or injury. See our page about Iyengar Yoga for further information.

The weekly schedule is shown below, although exact times can vary with the season and temperature.

The morning yoga class is followed by a generous breakfast (which most people find keeps them going until the evening), and then your time is your own, to go off exploring - on foot, bike or car (hire can be arranged), to enjoy time on the beach swimming or sunbathing, or just to relax away from the usual hectic pace of life. The evening class includes more restorative postures and some pranayama and often finishes as the sun is setting; the relaxing sound of the Aegean Sea washing the beach is a constant background to the yoga.

We have found that having a longer break across the middle part of the weekend has proved very popular, giving you scope for trips further afield. The course is suitable for all levels from beginner upwards and indeed the combination of basic level and more advanced students and teachers benefits all levels alike. If you have no previous experience of Iyengar yoga, try if possible to attend some Iyengar classes before coming to Crete. Whatever your yoga background, Marios will expect you to work to the best of your ability!

Accommodation and Food

Leonidas' has ensuite rooms which are simple, clean and airy but not luxurious so please look elsewhere if you are used to five star luxury! All rooms are either twin or double and have an outside area (either terrace or balcony), fridge and television, and air-conditioning is available at a small extra charge. There are tea and coffee facilities and Greek biscuits provided in the small reception area, where there is also an informal library. There is wi-fi internet access in both Leonidas' taverna and in their new cafe area. Evening meals on the first and last nights are included in the price. On other evenings you are free to do as you like, although most people, having once experienced Niki's cooking, will look no further than Leonidas' taverna. They serve a large variety of dishes, using mainly their own produce. They keep their own goats and chickens, supplying all their milk, yogurt and eggs, as well as producing a lot of olive oil and growing almost all their own fruit and vegetables. The beautiful yogurt and the fresh orange juice from their own orchards are particular favourites. The combination of the high quality local ingredients with Niki's cooking produces superb food. Vegetarians are extremely well catered for, but there is also local fish and meat available.

Leonidas rooms

View from Leonidas' new cafe

The Area

Next door to Leonidas' there is a campsite which has a minimarket, bar and taverna and just a short walk away there's another campsite where you can use their exquisitely situated pool free of charge (see below).

The area around the hotel is quiet and rural, even though it's right on the coast. The village of Drapanias (with bakery, taverna and small shops) is a ten minute walk and from there you can catch buses to either Kastelli or Chania. Cars can be hired locally for as many days as you require and can be brought to the hotel for you, and bike hire is always popular.Taxis can be arranged by us for trips if you prefer not to hire a car.

This part of Crete is a wonderfully varied area, famous for its olive oil since antiquity, and there are many brilliant places to visit within easy reach. Walking east round Kissamos Bay past the second campsite will bring you to some rocky coves and secluded beaches which you may find you have all to yourself. Falassarna is a beautiful long sweep of yellow sand facing west which has the most stunning sunsets - it's only about 20 mins drive away. Boat trips are available to Balos Bay and the Gramvousa peninsula, which offer fabulous swimming, snorkelling and sunbathing. Elafonisi, famous for its white sand and turquoise lagoon, is about an hour away by car. Nearby Kastelli (also known as Kissamos) is a quiet untouristy sort of town, with plenty of shops, tavernas, banks and post office and internet cafe for all your practical needs. It also has a small but excellent archaeological museum.

Chania (photo below) is a wonderful place to spend a few hours exploring (or days, if you have any extra time in Crete). It was first settled by the Minoans and remains one of the longest continuously inhabited city sites anywhere in the world. The area around its Venetian harbour is full of interesting narrow streets with shops, cafes and restaurants, and the covered food market is worth visiting for its huge variety of local produce. It also has a richly stocked archaeological museum housed in a building that was once a Venetian church and then a Turkish mosque. A meal in a harbourside taverna is one possibility for the free evening.

Pool at Nopigia

Chania's Venetian harbour

Beach at Falassarna

Travel Information (flights and insurance are not included in the price)

The courses run from Tuesday to Tuesday to fit in with most charter flights to Chania from the UK. Direct flights to Chania are available from Gatwick and Manchester and Easyjet now offer budget flights to Chania from Gatwick. Aegean Airlines' daily service from London Heathrow to Chania via Athens is excellent and very good value if you book well in advance. Ryanair are starting a new service in 2012 from Leeds/Bradford to Chania. This will only run on Saturdays, but may be suitable for those who would like a few days in Crete either side of the yoga holiday. Chania is also served by daily ferry from Piraeus (Athens). Please visit our links page for some useful travel sites. Car hire is available locally or can be pre-booked with your flight from Chania or Heraklion airports.

For travel information from outside the UK please visit our page Booking from outside the UK.

Mithimna beach