CLAY, SEA & SOUL

SAMOS, GREECE

8-12 JULY 2027, SAMOS, GREECE

Five days on a Greek island to make with your hands, swim in the Aegean, eat slowly, and leave a little more connected to yourself.

OUR HOSTS: LOUTSA SAMOS

Outdoor dinner table with bottles, a bowl of food, a pitcher, a vase with flowers, and tents in the background during sunset.

A little piece of Samos between the mountains and the sea.

Loutsa is a small nature stay tucked into the landscape of Samos, within walking distance of the mountain village of Vourliotes.

There are olive trees, an old farmhouse being brought back to life, outdoor spaces, long tables and the kind of surroundings that make you want to leave your phone somewhere inside and stay outside a little longer.

It's a place to live a little slower for a few days.

Group of people having a dinner outdoors under trees, with some cats on the ground.

JOIN THE WAITLIST

🌀

JOIN THE WAITLIST 🌀

People enjoying outdoor dinner with various dishes including sausage, pie, bread, salads, and drinks on a sunny day.

GREEK CULINARY EXPERIENCE

Food is a big part of how we experience Samos. Throughout the retreat, we’ll eat slowly and locally - from long breakfasts at Loutsa to a picnic at the studio, lunch at a village taverna, fresh fish by the sea and dinners shared under the olive trees.

We’ll meet local producers, taste Samos through its culinary scene and wine, and spend an afternoon cooking together with Guus, using seasonal ingredients and simple Greek flavours.

We will gather around the table, learn from the people and place around us, and enjoy food the way it is meant to be enjoyed here: generously, slowly and together.

A group of young women gathered around a table outdoors, participating in a crafting or painting activity under a canopy of trees with sunlight filtering through.

CLAY EXPERIENCE

Clay is where Gigi Room begins, and on Samos it gets a whole day. After a slow breakfast at Loutsa, we head down to the studio to hand-build together, with a picnic lunch among the work and a swim in the Aegean on the way back.

Gizem guides you through it: slow, tactile, no experience needed. This isn’t about perfection. It’s about the particular quiet of shaping something yourself, on an island where the sea is never far away. Your pieces are fired after the retreat and shipped to you.

A cozy bedroom with a sloped ceiling, shadow of tree branches cast on the yellow fabric. There is a bed with a yellow quilt, a wooden nightstand with a vase of pink flowers, and a small basket. The room has warm lighting and a wooden floor.

STAY

We'll stay all four nights at Loutsa, surrounded by olive trees and the mountains of Samos.

The atmosphere is intimate, natural and intentionally simple — a place where the outdoors becomes part of everyday life.

Loutsa is within walking distance of Vourliotes, a mountain village where we begin our hike and where you can get a glimpse of a slower side of the island.

Back at the house, there is space to rest, read, sit outside, have a glass of wine or simply do nothing.

MEET THE HOST

Gizem Sirmali - Gigi Room Ceramics

A woman smiling, holding place cards at a table set for a dinner or event, with a shelf of wine bottles in the background.

Gizem is a ceramic artist, storyteller, and the creative behind Gigi Room Ceramics. She blends slow craft, soulful gatherings, and creative expression into experiences that nourish both hands and hearts. Between shaping clay and hosting her clay-and-everything pop-ups, the vision for this retreat was born. Her work is about more than ceramics, it’s about connection, gentle rituals, and spaces where people can come back to themselves.

Sunset view of rolling hills, trees, and mountains seen from a kitchen window or open space with a stovetop in the foreground.

    • 4 nights at Loutsa Samos, including breakfast each morning

    • 5 x Daily breakfast with local and seasonal ingredients

    • 4 x Daily lunch (picnic-style, in the olive grove or at local tavernas)

    • Daily dinner by Chef Guus

    • Welcome walk and olive grove tour

    • Welcome dinner under the olive trees at Loutsa

    • A day of guided clay session, including all materials

    • Your ceramic pieces fired after the retreat and shipped to you

    • Guided hike from Vourliotes to Manolates

    • Foraging experience & herbal tea along the way

    • Visit to a local beekeeper & honey tasting

    • Kostaki Winery tour & wine tasting

    • Beachside lunch at a local fish taverna

    • Swimming & beach experiences throughout the retreat

    • Hands-on cooking experience with chef Guus

    • Opening and closing circles

    • All guided experiences and hosting throughout the retreat

    Flights, transfers to and from Samos, personal expenses and anything not specifically mentioned above are not included.

  • Day 1 — Arrival & First Swim
    Arrival into Samos and transfer to Loutsa. Time to settle into the house and your room. In the afternoon, we’ll head down to the sea for our first swim in the Aegean. Welcome dinner under the olive trees, followed by an opening circle.

    Day 2 — Clay & Sea
    A slow breakfast at Loutsa before heading down to the studio. A full day of hand-building with clay, with a picnic lunch among the work. On the way back, we’ll stop at the beach for an afternoon swim. Back at Loutsa for a slow evening and dinner together.

    Day 3 — Mountains, Honey & Wine
    An early morning guided hike from Vourliotes to Manolates, walking through the Samos mountains with some foraging and herbal tea along the way. Lunch at a local taverna in the village, followed by time to rest or swim. In the afternoon, a visit to a local beekeeper and honey tasting, then on to Kostaki Winery for a tour and tasting. Dinner back at Loutsa.

    Day 4 — Sea, Fish & Fire
    A slow morning before heading down to one of Samos’ harbour villages. Lunch at a local fish taverna by the sea, followed by an afternoon swim and time to wander at your own pace. In the evening, we’ll cook together with Guus before gathering around the table for our final dinner and a closing table ritual.

    Day 5 — Slow Morning & Departure
    A slow breakfast at Loutsa, one last moment to enjoy the mountains and the house, followed by our closing circle and goodbyes.

    This is a sample rhythm — some details may shift with weather, local conditions and the flow of the group.

  • Choose a Retreat
    Browse our upcoming events to find the one that feels right for you. We host events year-round in all different locations and climates.

    Book Your Spot
    Sign up and pay all required fees to reserve your spot.

    Review the Welcome Packet
    After booking, we'll send you a Welcome Packet with everything you need to know: detailed schedules, packing list recommendations, add-ons to consider, and more.

    Book Your Travel
    We'd recommend booking your transportation to and from the event as soon as possible, to ensure you can arrive without any complications or delays.

    Get Packed & Join Us
    Now all that's left to do is pack your bags and get excited for your new adventure.

  • Do I need experience in ceramics or cooking?

    Not at all! The retreat is open to all levels. Whether you're new to clay or cooking, or returning with experience, you'll be gently guided through each session in a relaxed, supportive atmosphere.

    Will I take my ceramic pieces home?

    Yes! Your pieces will be bisque fired after the retreat and shipped to you. This process takes time, so please allow 4–6 weeks for delivery. Shipping is included.

    What language is the retreat in?

    The retreat is hosted in English, with German support available if needed.

    How do I get to the venue?

    You can reach Samos either by flight or ferry.

    The easiest option is to fly into Samos Airport (SMI). You can also travel by ferry from Türkiye, with regular connections from the Turkish coast to Samos during the summer season.

    Once you arrive on the island, we’ll arrange your transfer to Loutsa, so you won’t have to figure out the journey to the house on your own.

    Before the retreat, you’ll receive a detailed Welcome Packet with recommended travel routes, ferry information, arrival times and everything you need to know about getting to Loutsa.

    Need help planning your journey? Just ask.

    Is this retreat only for women?

    Nope! Everyone is welcome and encouraged to join!

    This retreat is open to all genders. If you feel drawn to creativity, movement, nature, and slow, meaningful connection: you belong here.

    What’s the cancellation policy?

    If you are unable to attend the retreat, please inform us as early as possible. The €500 deposit is non-refundable unless you (or we) find a replacement participant.
    The remaining hotel payment can be canceled free of charge up to 60 days before the start of the retreat. If cancellation occurs within four weeks of arrival, we will try to rebook the room. If this is not possible, 80% of the room price will be charged.

    Please make sure you have travel insurance in case any unforeseen circumstances occur that might affect your travel plans.

Hands arranging grape leaves on a striped tablecloth outdoors.
Person holding a gray and white kitten in their arms, with a beige shirt and a sunflower pin on the collar.
Jars of elderberry orange jelly and fig jam on a table with sliced watermelon, cherries, and melons. A bowl of whipped cream with yellow flowers and two people in the background at an outdoor gathering.
A group of hikers standing on a rocky cliff overlooking the ocean with mountains in the background under a clear blue sky.
View of a large blue body of water, possibly the ocean, seen from a hillside with green trees and shrubs, partially framed by a wooden structure.

JOIN THE WAITLIST

🌀

JOIN THE WAITLIST 🌀

Grilled octopus tentacles with lemon on a white plate, olive oil, herbs, on a table with Greek map paper.
Scenic view of the ocean with land formations in the distance, framed by colorful flowers and green shrubbery in the foreground, under a bright blue sky with some clouds.
A scenic view of the sea with green trees and pink flowers in the foreground, a blue sky with some clouds above.

This retreat is about stepping away from your usual rhythm for a few days.

About waking up among olive trees. Getting your hands dirty with clay. Swimming in the Aegean. Walking through the mountains. Tasting honey from a local beekeeper. Drinking wine as the sun goes down. Eating around a table with people who were strangers a few days ago. And having enough space between all of it to simply be.

Just five days in Samos - making, moving, tasting, swimming, talking, resting.

COME MEET US BY THE SEA.

This is a week of curated, hands-on experiences, the kind you can't book alone, the kind that only open up when someone opens their door for you. Every day holds something to make, something to taste, something to feel: a cooking class, a wine tasting, a morning of clay, a farm, a long lunch that turns into an afternoon.

GET TO KNOW LOUTSA SAMOS
A backyard scene with a large leafy tree and a small wooden house or shed with a sliding glass door. There are chairs and a small table with a bowl and a bottle underneath the tree. The yard has dry grass and a natural landscape.

Tiny House

Cozy bedroom with yellow lighting cast by a tent ceiling, a bed with a yellow cover, a nightstand with a vase of red flowers, and a drawer.

Bell Tent

Have a question before booking? Book a call with me
A frying pan with sautéed greens topped with lemon slices on a stovetop, with a person standing in the background.
Glass jars filled with small, round, colorful fruit or berries on a wire shelf, with a blurred background and a warm, dim light.