Global Founder's Retreat
SEPTEMBER 22-28, 2024
Greece
Global Founder's Retreat
Explore Greece with Fellow Women Entrepreneurs
A curated woman-focused travel experience, business retreat, networking event,
and social impact opportunity all-in-one.
Join us for an invite-only 7-day, 6-night adventure as we explore ancient sites of feminine power, engage in women-led activities designed with a woman focus, support woman-owned businesses in Greece, and volunteer in-person with women-in-need from Yoga & Sport with Refugees Athens with 10% of retreat fees donated to support their efforts.
Your 7-day itinerary:
DAY 1 September 22 Arrival to Athens
- Check-In
- "Divine Feminine in Ancient Greece" Workshop
- Welcome Rooftop Dinner
DAY 2 September 23
- Founders Workshop
- "Ode to a Woman" Acropolis and Acropolis Museum Private Tour
- Dinner in a Greek taverna with woman Chef
DAY 3 September 24
- Volunteer Activity with Yoga & Sport with Refugees
- Dinner in luxury shopping district Kolonaki
DAY 4 September 25
- Hydra Island Walking Tour with Female Guide
- Women-Owned Bakery Visit
- Hydra Port Shopping
DAY 5 September 26
- Founders Workshop
- Embroidered Bread Workshop in Mesogaia (bread donated to women supported by a local NGO)
- Temple of Poseidon at sunset
DAY 6 September 27
- Optional add-on: Energy healing lounge session at Ethera Wellness
- Plaka and Anafiotika Walking Tour
- Greek Wine Tasting & Farewell Dinner
DAY 7 September 28
- Breakfast & Departures
What's Included
Accommodation
TRANSPORTATION
MEALS & BEVERAGES
Activities
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Day-by-Day Activities
Check-in to the Fresh Hotel Athens, a Marriott Bonvoy Design Hotel.
In the early evening, we’ll gather for a unique meditation and healing arts workshop that will explore the role and rituals of the divine feminine and the goddess in Ancient Greece.
After the workshop, a welcome dinner will follow with a rooftop view of the Acropolis.
After breakfast, we’ll come together for our first Founders Workshop.
In the late afternoon, we will meet our guide for a private "Ode to A Woman" tour of the Acropolis and Acropolis Museum that focuses on the women of Greek antiquity and their role in society. Dinner will follow in a Greek taverna, with the option for rooftop drinks afterwards.
After lunch, we’ll travel to Yoga & Sport with Refugees for our in-person volunteer activity.
We’ll have the option to have dinner in the luxury shopping neighborhood, Kolonaki, afterwards.
After breakfast, we will be picked up from the hotel and transferred to the Piraeus port to take the ferry for a day trip to Hydra Island - car-free, picturesque, and a favorite amongst Athenians. Upon our arrival, our guide will welcome us to the island with a walking tour, ending with a visit to a local pastry shop owned traditionally by women.
After our tour we will have free time on the island for lunch and exploring the shops along the port before heading back to Athens with dinner at the hotel.
Breakfast followed by our final Founders Workshop.
We will be picked up after lunch from the hotel to journey to the countryside, full of olive groves and grapes, and end up at the Embroidered Bread Workshop with a treat and a glass of wine. The artisan bread we create together will be donated to a local NGO supporting women-in-need. (Read more here)
After the workshop, we will visit the must-see Temple of Poseidon in Sounio overlooking the Aegean Sea at sunset.
A free morning to do as you wish, or take advantage of an optional add-on energy healing lounge session at Ethera Wellness.
In the afternoon we will be picked up from the hotel for a guided tour through the quaint Plaka and Anafiotika neighborhoods at the base of the Acropolis, ending with a Greek wine tasting. We will cap off our trip with a traditional Greek farewell dinner.
Our trip ends after our final morning together and guests may continue on to other destinations in Greece.
"I went on this trip thinking it was a business trip with the hope of maybe making at least one friend, but what actually ended up happening was I met 9 lifelong friends that I happened to discuss business with"
"I will be forever grateful to Erika as she curated a group that included such diverse women whom all I could relate to in one way or another and I look forward to watching them all grow and succeed not only in business but their personal life. Anyone would be crazy NOT to attend something Erika puts together."
Sheena Keo
What Makes the Global Founder’s Retreat Extra Special
This isn’t just any off-the-rack trip. You won’t find another business #travelwithimpact retreat for women founders quite like this.
VOLUNTEERING & SOCIAL IMPACT
10% of retreat fees are always donated. For this retreat, the 10% give back will go to support our nonprofit partner, Yoga & Sport with Refugees. We will also be volunteering in-person with women-in-need from various NGOs in Athens in an activity designed and led in collaboration with women refugees.
ONE-OF-A-KIND WOMAN-FOCUSED ITINERARY FOR WOMEN SUPPORTING WOMEN
Our itinerary has been designed by a local woman-owned agency with carefully curated activities focused on women with every opportunity to support local women and woman-owned businesses incorporated.
CURATED GROUP OF WOMEN FOUNDERS
Not just anyone can sign up. Each retreat is invite-only. You’ll be traveling with, dining with, exploring with, and supporting fellow women founders from around the world. The bonds made here are lifelong and continue beyond the trip.
FOUNDER WORKSHOPS
Our itinerary includes both big picture and operational tactical workshops for founder development, deep discussion, and learning. You’ll come away inspired with an action plan to implement for your business once you get back home to generate revenue and plant seeds for your legacy.
BUSINESS WRITE OFF
Being a business retreat for women founders, your retreat participation fee, airfare and travel costs could be claimed as a business expense. (Please check with your accountant or tax professional for your specific business benefit.)
PAYMENT PLANS
We offer Early Bird discounted spots and payment plans to help offset the costs of the trip if you book before May 8, 2024. Payment plans will be adjusted according to the number of days before the trip. Please read the Cancellation Policy here.
Tours & Activities Descriptions
"Divine Feminine in Ancient Greece" Workshop
Explore the philosophy of the divine feminine in Ancient Greece when priestesses gathered together in a sacred circle to share their knowledge and celebrate with rituals of the Great Mother represented by six goddesses: Hestia, Demeter, Hera, Aphrodite, Athena and Artemis. With a ritual healing arts expert, we will explore how to activate the complete feminine energy inside us through tools inspired by the ancient rituals of the goddesses’ priestesses. Awaken your collective memory as a woman and reconnect with your core power within through the main channels of Greek feminine wisdom.
"Ode to a Woman" Private Guided Tour of the Acropolis and Acropolis Museum
Explore the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Acropolis and the Acropolis Museum with focus given to the women of Greek antiquity and their role in society (and history books). What were the social, political, legal, and economic rights of women in Classical Greece? After the Acropolis tour, we'll head to the Acropolis Museum, where we will travel back in time and learn about the ancient Athenian family.
Hydra Island Guided Walking Tour
With its picture-postcard harbor, stone mansions, and hillside European aesthetic, this rocky gem of the Saronic has been a favorite of artists and celebrities for decades, and it continues to attract cosmopolitan travelers thanks to its highly regarded galleries and chic restaurants and bars. This air of bohemian cool is combined with a beguiling old-school charm, thanks to the complete lack of motorized vehicles on the island. We'll end the tour with a visit to a local pastry shop owned traditionally by women, followed by shopping along the port.
"Embroidered Bread of Mesogaia" Workshop
Featured on Conde Nast Traveler, this cultural exploration will connect you with the traditions and wonders of the Mesogaia region. Our first destination is a hidden gem amidst lush cultivations and picturesque chapels—a secret spot where nature's tranquility reigns supreme. As the journey unfolds, we'll learn about the meanings behind the intricate symbols and master the unique bread embroidery techniques, crafting our own edible masterpieces. At the end of the activity, we'll enjoy a glass of wine paired with a delightful treat. The bread we create together will be donated to a local NGO supporting women.
Visit to the Temple of Poseidon at Sunset
Enjoy a private excursion to Sounio, where the horizon meets the Aegean Sea. Following a drive along the coastline of Attica with its little coves and bays with crystal waters, we’ll make our way to this temple dedicated to Poseidon, God of the sea. Amidst panoramic views, we’ll learn how Poseidon was awarded this shrine as a consolation prize to losing the city of Athens to rival warrior-goddess Athena, and other enthralling mythological tales.
Plaka and Anafiotika Walking Tour with Greek Wine Tasting
Discover the hidden gems of Athens in the enchanting neighborhoods of Plaka and Anafiotika, where history weaves through the winding streets, echoing tales thousands of years old. Led by a local guide, embark on a captivating exploration that reveals little-known local stories, secrets, and surprises at every turn. Our journey will end with an exclusive wine tasting of four premium Greek wines, each perfectly paired with exquisite Greek cheeses.
Accommodations at Fresh Hotel Athens, a Marriott Bonvoy Design Hotel
Rooftop deck - outdoor pool - fitness center - Room service - wifi - non-smoking - air conditioning - superior double or single room
A 148-room Neoclassical mansion and modernist structure on one of the city’s most historic boulevards where contemporary design meets neo-folkloric exuberance. Designed by Paola Navone, the pattern-rich colorful interiors draw inspiration from the natural materials of Mediterranean colors, a respect for local traditions, and Athens’ modernist urban fabric. Furnishings include Gervasoni furniture, Rubelli fabrics and Buffet de Granny lights made from reused glassware. Fresh Hotel Athens
Volunteer Activity with Yoga & Sport with Refugees
We will be supporting and volunteering in-person with women from Yoga & Sport with Refugees and other NGOs in Athens for a two-part empowerment event that will first include a refugee-led body movement activity with Brianna Diaz of Bri Gainz. The second portion will be a business-focused activity and Q&A with the women founders we bring, facilitated by Élanoura founder Erika Brechtel.
Join us in empowering and inspiring these women (and ourselves)!
Please Read: Important Information for Your Trip
Invitations are sent via email to our Élanoura Collective members only. If you are already a member, please check your email (and spam) for a link to the sign up page. If you are not a member, you can join for free, here.
Yes. The Collective is free to join! This ensures a curated group is selected for every retreat. Once approved, you’ll receive an invitation to sign up for the retreat. Fill out our quick intake form here.
Women founders, owners, solopreneurs, side hustlers, and founders-to-be are all welcome to join.
Fly in and out of Athens International Airport (ATH)
We recommend arriving by 2pm to check-in to your room at the Fresh Hotel Athens before our first activity in the early evening. We will be picked up at the hotel and taken to the "Divine Feminine in Ancient Greece" workshop before our welcome dinner on a rooftop with a view of the Acropolis.
Feel free to leave any time you wish after breakfast. Check-out time is at 11am on September 28th. The airport is approximately 40 minutes away from the hotel. Many of our participants also travel on to other destinations.
- No airport transfers included for arrivals in Athens for the retreat starting on September 22nd or departure transfers on September 28th.
- Internal transfers for all activities and during the retreat itinerary are included.
- Participants have the option to arrange private pick-up shuttles for arrivals and departures in Athens, even if arriving or departing a few days before or after the retreat. Private transfers can be arranged by the retreat planner and travel advisor for an additional cost.
It’s rare, but please be aware that the itinerary and activities may change due to scheduling conflicts or circumstances beyond our control. We will notify you as soon as possible and be with you every step of the way to provide a smooth experience.
Anything not listed such as international airfare in/out of Athens, airport transfers to/from our hotel, mini bar selections, alcoholic beverages, your souvenir shopping, and any additional meals.
All of our Global Founder's Retreats are invite-only, and all guests are Élanoura Collective approved members.
- If you know a guest with whom you'd like to share your double occupancy room, please email elevate@elanoura.com with her name so we can pair you together.
- If you are traveling alone and do not have a guest to pair with or refer, not to worry: you will be thoughtfully paired with a fellow woman founder from the Élanoura Collective to enhance your experience. It's an opportunity to stretch out of your bubble, expand your network, and engage with a like-minded and like-hearted woman founder from around the world. (Suitemates from past retreats have become fast friends and collaborators, to this day!)
We understand that life happens. But we do have a Cancellation Policy in place to ensure that those off the waitlist are given ample time to book their arrangements, and in order to fulfill the commitments to vendors on your behalf. Please read the Cancellation Policy before booking.
Please email elevate@elanoura.com for additional questions.
"I enjoyed the whole trip! Every day had a lot to offer and was well balanced with workshops and activities. I loved not knowing all the details of the places we visited. To me it added more magic to the experience."
"Coming in not knowing any of the ladies made me a bit nervous at first. I believe Erika did an amazing job selecting the candidates. Everyone was amazing, kind, supportive and had a lot to offer in terms of business and personal experiences. The place we stayed at was perfect. It felt like home and the food was delicious. There was a great level of attention to detail that elevated the experience. I am so grateful to have been part of this and to all the amazing connections I made. I was looking forward to being part of the Project Soar volunteering opportunity and I think that was an important part of the retreat. Thank you!!"
Oula Siblini
About Élanoura
We are a curated global collective of women founders creating positive change through business.
We enlighten, engage, and empower women founders to think beyond their self-interest and infuse a higher purpose into what their companies produce. As a social enterprise, Élanoura donates 10% of fees received from our efforts to nonprofit partners, and creates impact opportunities for our members to give their time, knowledge, and support to women around the world.