The Wonder of Hydra: Embracing Awe in the Greek Islands
At a Glance
Trip Description
Let sea, light and land lift you
Come discover an island of healing, with cleansing waters, and ancient stone, emanating strength. Gaze at the clear night sky, constellations dancing through Greek myths. Dive into purifying waters, kaleidoscopes of light dazzling your eyes. And much, much more.
In partnership with the Nomadic School of Wonder, NextTribe invites you to a transformative week on one of the most soulful of the Greek Islands: Hydra. It’s a place of immense natural beauty, with a vibrant community of artists, great food, music, and, as always on NextTribe trips: dancing.
No cars are allowed here, and the hordes of tourists on Santorini and Mykonos feel a world away, even though they’re just across the Aegean Sea.
NOTE: NextTribe members receive a $100 discount on price.
Hydra was a favorite getaway of art lover and collector Jacqueline Onassis, who fell in love with this peaceful refuge. Plus, scores of creatives have found their inspiration here: from Leonard Cohen and Jeff Koonz to Sophia Loren, who called it “one of the most beautiful places in the world.” Plus many more creatives and artists who are not as well known, especially women! Through specially designed sessions from the minds behind the well-known and highly inventive Meow Wolf, we will tap into the natural forces that have fueled these artists and writers to discover and nourish our own creativity and sense of wonder.
5 Reasons We Love This Trip
- This is the first NextTribe trip in which the experience outshines the destination, yet the destination is pretty remarkable. Just wait til you see what we have planned to awaken your sense of wonder and awe.
- Our guide is an artist who spends half the year on the island, lives as a local, and has many local friends and connections she is eager to share with our travelers.
- The food. There’s a reason the Mediterranean diet is considered the healthiest in the world. It’s delicious, satisfying, and fresh.
- The natural beauty. Come on. You have never seen, touched, or swam in a blue sea like the one you’ll delight in from this gorgeous island.
- The people. Did you watch My Big Fat Greek Wedding? Greeks know how to celebrate life!
Meet Your Guide: Alexis Averbuck
This purity, this wild and naked perfection of Hydra ... Hydra is a rock which rises out of the sea like a huge loaf of petrified bread. It is the bread turned to stone which the artist receives as reward for his labour when he first catches sight of the promised land…at this point one might as well throw the compass away.
- Henry Miller
I live on a hill and life has been going on here exactly the same for hundreds of years. All through the day you hear the calls of the street vendors and they are really rather musical.
- Leonard Cohen
Photos
Map
Itinerary
SATURDAY, Oct. 4th
After traveling over shimmering waters to reach Hydra, we'll start your stay with a cocktail toast with views over the harbor at your welcome lunch.
Then your guide Alexis and a local Greek historian will take you on a walking tour of the town. After that you're free to explore on your own or take a siesta. Then meet for the kick off of our week of wonder.
Dinner will follow and, as per local customs, we will be on Greek time. Eating late, dancing late (if you choose) and sleeping late.
SUNDAY, Oct. 5th
After our breakfast, Alexis will begin an art "playshop." We don't call them workshops because "play" is fundamental to the creative process. Even if you've never picked up a paintbrush or used your hands to make things (yes you did, when you were a kid!,) this week you will have the freedom to discover the passion and creativity that lives in all of us, no matter what we do back home in our "real lives."
After lunch you will have time to build on what Alexis has inspired in you, by either continuing with an art project, taking a "wonder walk" or a siesta!
A group dinner will follow.
MONDAY, Oct. 6th
After breakfast, you'll have your choice of hiking to a beach with our Greek nature guide, Dimitris, or a boat ride to a beach with Alexis.
Then another healthy Greek lunch!
After lunch you are free to explore the island more, swim, take a nap, or continue to live as an artist, whether you are one in your "real life" or not!
We'll gather again for a group dinner that continues our journey getting to know each other, our hosts , and the magic of this island
TUESDAY, Oct. 7th
Your choice: Start your day (after breakfast) riding with a local horsewoman or join Alexis for another playshop in different private home. To keep the groups small, we invite you to ride first or do art first, then switch if you'd like to.
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 8th
After breakfast, our private, chartered boat will take us on a journey of wonder in, on and around the Aegean Sea.
Save room for another beautiful Greek dinner (and if you know Greek cuisine, a greek salad is just the beginning of their tradition of using the freshest, local ingredients). Hope you like seafood! If you don't there are plenty of other choices.
THURSDAY, Oct. 9th
Why come all this way to eat great food if you can't make it at home? This morning after breakfast, Greek women friends of Alexis's will show you their secrets of traditional Greek cooking and baking.
Afternoons on the island are typically gentle times to contemplate, to continue with wonder making through art, and rest, however you define it.
Tonight's community dinner will include special guests.
FRIDAY, Oct. 10th
After breakfast, we'll gather to share the results of our playfulness, how it feels being in the flow of life on Hydra. After that, we can set you up with a local realtor because we know you're going to want to be Alexis's neighbor! (Just kidding, but maybe not.) We've had other NextTribe travelers so transformed that they couldn't imagine not having a home in one of our destinations.
Lunch will be on your own that day. After lunch, you're free to get a massage or another healing treatment you've booked through us in advance. Explore the island some more, or relax on your last day in this magical setting.
Then we'll gather for our final cocktails, mocktails and dinner, followed by a celebration and...of course...dancing--with guided instruction by a Greek dance teacher!
SATURDAY, Oct. 11th
After breakfast, we'll gather on the dock for the ferry ride back to Athens, and onward to our homes or to more traveling!.
Logistics
Fly into and out of Athens. We will meet in a central point in Athens (to be determined at a later date) and we'll catch a private transfer to a ferry that will take us to the wonderful island of Hydra. (Transfer to the ferry and the ferry ride--both ways--are included.)
On the return, we will take you from the ferry to a central point in Athens, when you can decide to stay in town, get to the airport, or find your way to your next destination.
NEW REQUIREMENT: All travelers must show proof of travel health insurance, which will cover you if you become ill or injured on the trip.
Before the trip, we will gather for a Zoom meet and greet, and you will also get a schedule of everyone's flights. That way you can see if another traveler is on your flight so you can share a taxi with from the airport.
We ask everyone going on the trip to download WhatsApp (LINK: https://www.whatsapp.com/download/). We use it for communication before and during our trip so we can keep track of flight delays, meetup times, etc. We also ask that everyone have an international data roaming plan so that you can get messages and use GPS while out exploring.
We believe in being as eco-friendly as possible, so we don't hand out printed itineraries. We use this app to give you important updates during the trip, so it is essential. You can always delete it later if you want to.
If you'd like to extend your stay before or after, or if you have questions, please direct them to Marcy Mitchell, our travel manager, travel@NextTribe.com.
What's Included
- 7 nights accommodations
- All dinners, lunches and breakfasts, as noted in the itinerary.
- Transfer from central Athens to ferry and back at end of trip.
- Ferry to and from Hydra.
- Art, nature and discovery sessions conducted by Nomadic School of Wonder
- Community gathering for song and dance.
- Hydra locals who are dedicated to nuturing you through out the week.
What's Not Included
- Airfare
- Alcohol, unless mentioned in the itinerary.
- Transfer from Athens airport to central meeting point in the city.
- Gratuities
Tips to local guides, drivers, maids, and hotel staff, travel insurance, personal items such as phone calls, laundry, baggage fees, and any items not expressly listed above as included.
On any trip stuff can happen that may require us to modify our day-by-day itinerary. If we have to swap something out, it will be for another place or event of equal or greater value.
Additional Add-Ons
Hotels
Our travelers love us (yay!)
Colleen M., California
What I love about the NextTribe trips is that there is so much camaraderie of other women that are like you, and then the fabulous things that the organizers puts together to give you that viewpoint, it’s awesome.
”Courtney M., Texas
What I love about NextTribe trips is that you get the experience from an insider’s perspective—someone that has ties to the community and focused on building relationships from the start. I’ve been on a trip with another women’s travel group that dropped a guide in, not personally knowing anything about the locale, traditions, or culture. She was there to make sure you showed up on time, got on the bus, etc. With NextTribe, you feel like you’re having a personalized experience with your best girlfriends.
”Donna B., Washington
I didn't know anyone going on the trip but that didn't stop me from signing up. I have learned that some of my life's greatest adventures have come from taking a risk and jumping in feet first. So glad I did with NextTribe! I may not have known anybody at the start, but now I feel like I know everybody.
”Connie B., Pennsylvania
I love to meet and interact with strong, mature women from across the country as we learn together.
”Leslie M., Georgia
I always come by myself on NextTribe trips because I like to meet super fun and interesting women. We're always doing fun and interesting things in great cities that you couldn't do on your own because you wouldn't know the people or places or the insiders.
”Teresa S., Kentucky
NextTribe fills the need I have to travel with older interesting women who are curious about the world and want to share the journey.
”We write articles about all our trips. Read about these special experiences.
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Frequently asked questions
What’s different about your trips?
We curate trips specifically for curious, engaged women over 45. You’re pretty well assured that your fellow travelers will be a lot like you–since you’ve all responded to the idea of “aging boldly.”. That means built-in compatibility in your small group, including the woman who is leading the adventure.. In addition to specializing in group travel for people who don’t normally like group travel, we also pride ourselves on creating experiences that allow you to interact with local women or get deeper into the culture than you would if you planned the trip yourself.
Where do you go?
We have a wide range of weekend jaunts here in the U.S. for those who want a quick getaway. We also love taking women to Mexico, where founder Jeannie Ralston used to live. We’re always talking about pushing boundaries, and we’re doing that in the geographic sense too. For those with more time, we offer trips all over Europe, to India, Vietnam, Peru (for a hike on the inca Trail to Machu Picchu). Soon, our travelers will be getting passport stamps in even more countries on six continents. Be saving those frequent flier miles!
What do you mean by transformational travel?
NextTribe is affiliated with the Transformational Travel Council, an international group of travel professionals dedicated to making the world a better place, one trip and one traveler at a time. We recognize that travelers, especially post-pandemic, are looking for more than just a date and a destination. They can shop for that anywhere online. Our community honors the intention behind a traveler’s investment in a trip. Our travelers want to have fun (we do too!) and to travel with a sense of purpose and belonging. That’s why we go to great lengths to provide ways for women to self-select by reading the articles in our magazine and the content of our website. If you like what you see, you’re likely to be a NextTribe traveler, and we look forward to seeing you on a trip soon!
What if I travel solo?
If you really prefer to book your travel yourself and go it alone, we applaud you. That’s brave and bold and we would never try to talk you out of it. But our trips are designed so that even a woman who’s used to traveling alone, or someone shy about meeting new people, will feel comfortable in our group. Our trip leaders are there to “read the room” and make sure everyone feels included and respected.
What if I don’t like group travel?
We don’t either! Not the way most groups do it. If you feel like doing what the group is doing, great! Join us for dinner or just some of the activities. All the benefits of solo travel and the comfort of being with a group. Our groups are small (normally around 12 to 14 women) and in most situations, you are free to opt out of an activity. We figure you’re grown-ass women who know what’s best for you.
What’s the price range of your trips?
We are committed to providing what we call “affordable-luxury” travel. Don’t expect
the Four Seasons, but who wants to stay in a gilded bubble anyhow? We always look for good value and offer wonderful hotels and memorable experiences that won’t break the bank and will get you closer to how locals live. Our prices depend on the length of the
trip and the destination. We offer domestic trips for under $2,000 for a shared room, which we encourage. If you don’t have a roommate we will match you with someone. Sometimes this has resulted in lasting friendships with new travel buddies., Some of
our longer trips–two weeks in India or Vietnam, for example–will cost between
$4,800 and $6,000.
What’s included in the price?
Our trips cover most everything you’ll need to dive into a destination. Hotels and most meals, plus special experiences such as hands-on classes and sessions with local artists, writers or entrepreneurs are almost always included, but each trip is different so please be sure to read The Experience and the itinerary. We occasionally have an add-on for an extra price, but those are clearly designated. What’s not covered as a rule are airfare, alcohol and tips.
Do you have payment plans?
We sure do. It’s easy to pay for our trips by setting up automatic credit card charges at regular intervals, interest free. Think of it as the layaway plan to feed your soul.
How do I get trip discounts?
Our NextTribe members get a discount on every trip. Plus, members are the first to hear about new trips and receive upgrades on rooms if they’re available. Check out our three different membership levels here.
What’s the average age of women on the trips?
We welcome all women over 45, but most of our travelers are in the 50 to 65 age range. More important than age is the spirit of the traveler–her curiosity about the world, and her eagerness to embrace new opportunities. We’ve found women of any age with those qualities fit in well with our groups.
What’s the activity level of the trips?
Most of our trips are geared for active travelers who like to walk–a rating of 3 on our 1-5 rating scale. Here are some examples of how we rate. A designation of 1 would be our beach trips, where it’s up to you if you’d like to stroll down the beach, or play in the waves or walk around the small town. Trips where we have dedicated transportation for much of the time (such as India) are a 2; Paris is a 3 because we believe the best way to appreciate a city is to view it on foot. San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, is a 4, because you’ll be walking up some hills (at 6,000 feet altitude) and occasionally on cobblestone sidewalks. Our Inca trail trip is a 5, as are our more adventurous outdoor trips.
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