Hydra Island Rounding Retreat
22nd-26th October 2025
A Luxury Vedic Rounding Retreat on an idyllic Greek island.
Hydra is an extraordinary island in the Saronic Gulf, made timeless by it’s car-free status, rich literary history and charming amphitheatre-shaped port. It also happens to be Hayley’s favourite place on Earth, and she knows it like the back of her hand.
This October, Vedic Meditation teacher Hayley Shepherd invites you to join her on the magical Greek island she knows and loves for a four-night Luxury Rounding Retreat.
Following the success of July’s Deep Rest Retreat, she will once more be partnering with the incredible chef Liv George, Founder of Trough, whose ‘perfect’ food elevated the offering to a whole new level.
The programme will be designed to provide time for immersion in the beauty of the island and its legendary swim spots, paired with the quiet luxury of the retreat space, which will serve as our own private sanctuary. We’ll be staying in a one-of-a-kind Greek mansion from the 1700s with panoramic views and one of the best sunset vistas in the world (without exaggeration!). This is a special opportunity to experience Hydra in the company of other like-minded souls.
In the words of one of the participants who attended Hayley’s last retreat, ‘Hayley’s passion and devotion to Vedic practice and the knowledge shines through in everything she does, and I have walked away feeling not only more grounded and clear, but with more permission to live life beautifully.’ There is nowhere one lives more beautifully than on Hydra.
This will be 5 days of delicious nourishment, expansive experiences, great company and an upwelling of bliss in an unforgettable setting.
Expect…
Gourmet mouth-watering vegetarian feasts with a local flavour, provided by our exceptional partner, Trough.
Meditations and rounding on the many terraces with a panoramic view of the island and sunset.
Gentle walks along the cobbled (car-free!) walkways of Hydra and swims in the crystal water.
A truly luxurious mansion to relax in and enjoy, including our own swimming pool.
Evening knowledge sessions by candlelight and a mini individual consult, weaving wisdom into your rest.
An effortless programme designed to give you maximum rest and the deepest experience over a short period of time.
Praise for Hayley and Liv’s last retreat
‘I don’t think I’ve ever felt as great as I did after the retreat.’
‘An absolutely incredible one-of-kind retreat for experienced meditators. It's an intense and rich experience which Hayley hosts with utter charm, wisdom and care. We laughed, we meditated, we ate the most extraordinary food. The week after the retreat I felt buoyant, like I'd surpassed cloud 9 and was somehow living it up on cloud 10. An absolute must for any meditator looking to deepen their practice and give themselves the gift of expanding their life. 10/10.’
‘The Deep Rest Retreat was, without question, one of the most enriching experiences I’ve had since becoming a Vedic meditator. Those lucky enough to have been taught by Hayley will know the radiant vibrancy she brings to everything she touches, and this retreat was no exception. It was, in many ways, a reflection of her grace, intellect, and luminous presence. And while the days at the retreat were undeniably beautiful, it was the days that followed that truly surprised me. I was floating into a deeper sense of presence. I felt anchored, attuned, and tender to even the subtlest gestures of life around me.’
‘This was one of the best retreats I’ve attended. For me, it was perfect in every way - instruction, food, people, location. A special thank you to Hayley for adjusting my program to suit my needs and supporting me along the way before, during and after the retreat. When Hayley checks up on you, she comes across as a knowledgeable friend and supporter, which makes you want to open up and receive her knowledge. This is a very unique quality I have only seen in more senior initiators. Hayley should continue doing what she is doing because it works great.’
‘Liv's food is, in short, utterly delicious. It's hard to express how important the meals were to the overall beauty and sense of communion that I experienced at this retreat. Every meal was surprising, delightful, nourishing, colourful. All of us were ooh-ing and ahh-ing at each dish.’
‘Attending this retreat was not only beautiful at the time - nourishing, restful, joyful - but long-lasting: I have taken all of those feelings back with me into everyday life. Every detail of the retreat was lovingly cared for; from the stunning location, to the out-of-this-world food, to the way in which Hayley held us both collectively and individually.’
A sample of the programme:
Wednesday: Arrive on the island in the afternoon or early evening and settle in. Enjoy a group dinner in one of Hayley’s favourite restaurants.
Thursday: A group round in the morning. Spend the day with Hayley exploring her favourite spots on the island and return ready for a group round the evening before dinner.
Friday and Saturday: Deep rounding immersion with spaciousness for swimming, gentle walks, wisdom talks and plenty of rest.
Sunday: Rounding programme first thing and then return to Athens via boat.
If you’d like to stay on the island for a few more days and make a holiday of it, Hayley can support you in arranging this.
During the Retreat, we’ll practice an advanced meditation program known as 'Rounding' - a combination of some simple yoga positions, pranayama (a Vedic breathing technique) and deep meditation. Our programme is designed to launch us into the deepest, lushest and most restorative meditations we’ll ever experience. In this state, we’ll be able to perceive the beauty of the island in a heightened state. If you’re brand new to Rounding, you’ll learn everything you need to know on the retreat.
There will also be the opportunity to receive advanced techniques during the retreat.
We’ll meet on the island of Hydra. To arrive at the retreat, one must fly into Athens. The journey to Pireaus port is approx 50 minutes by car. The ferry from Piraeus to Hydra is just over 1 hour.
Hayley will provide clear guidance and assistance for your arrival and departure, but we will ensure scheduling works so you can land in Athens on Wednesday and fly out on Sunday (if coming from the UK). If you’d like to stay on Hydra for a few additional days, or in Athens, Hayley will be glad to support in arranging that for you.
Travel
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Luxury Tier Rooms
Featuring a Master Suite with private panoramic sea-view terrace + marble jacuzzi, and 2 extraordinary Suites with ensuites; the best rooms in one of the most beautiful houses on Hydra.
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Premium Tier Rooms
Beautiful suites with island views in the main house. One suite shares a bathroom with one other person.
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Shared Tier Rooms
A shared twin located in the main house.
The investment
The cost includes all meals, luxury accommodation, tailored deep-rest rounding programme, one private mini mentoring session with Hayley & daily wisdom sessions. It excludes travel to and from the retreat.
The double rooms are costed at sole occupancy. If you would like to share a double room, the cost will be provided upon request.
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You deserve the best.
This tier features:
A Master Suite with private sea-view terrace + marble jacuzzi, and 2 extraordinary Suites with ensuites; the best rooms in one of the most beautiful houses on Hydra.
These will be priced between £1800 -£2000.
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This tier features:
Beautiful suites with island views in the main house. One suite shares a bathroom with one other person.
These will be priced at £1750.
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This tier features:
Rooms with a view of Hydra town. Some of these rooms share a bathroom with one other person, and they are located in another house located just below the main house.
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This tier features:
A shared twin, which will be priced at approx £1200 per person. There is just one spot left for a woman, sharing with another female.
Register your interest.
If you’d like to join, the payment schedule will be as follows:
£350 deposit to secure your spot. Mid-payment by September 15th. Full and final payment by October 15th.
The retreat is open to all Vedic Meditators. We’ll host a small and intimate group for this long weekend of transformation, and so spaces on this retreat are very limited. It will be a pleasure to host you in my favourite place in the world.