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
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.
JOIN THE WAITLIST
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JOIN THE WAITLIST 🌀
GREEK CULINARY EXPERIENCE
This is a trip that lives at the table. We're hosted by Planeta — one of Sicily's oldest winemaking families — across five days in Menfi, on the island's western edge, where the vineyards run down toward the sea.
Meals are long and unhurried: a gourmet dinner by Chef Angelo Pumilia, a hands-on cooking class in the kitchen of Casa Planeta, a country dinner of small shared plates passed around the table. There's wine from the land around us, poured slowly, and a morning at the winery learning how it comes to be. Food here isn't a break between activities. It's the thread the whole trip is strung on.
CLAY EXPERIENCE
Clay is where Gigi Room begins, and it runs quietly through the week. In Burgio — a Sicilian town that has shaped terracotta for five hundred years — we spend a morning in the workshop, making with our hands in a place where the craft has never stopped.
Alongside it, Gizem holds space for clay through the trip: slow, tactile, no experience needed. This isn't about perfection. It's about the particular quiet of shaping something yourself, in a landscape that has been making beautiful things for centuries. Your pieces are fired in Sicilian clay and sent home to you.
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
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.
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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.
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Day 1 — Arrival
Arrival into Palermo and transfer to Menfi. Time to settle by the pool. Welcome aperitif at sunset, followed by dinner at the Country House.Day 2 — Winery & Gourmet Table
Morning at Planeta Ulmo winery: the story of the Chardonnay, tasting, and lunch among the vines. A free afternoon back at the house. In the evening, a special dinner by Chef Angelo Pumilia at La Foresteria.Day 3 — Hands in the Kitchen
A visit to a nearby farm for ricotta-making, then a hands-on cooking class in the kitchen of Casa Planeta and lunch with what we've made. Optional afternoon at the temples of Selinunte, or free time. A country dinner of shared Sicilian plates.Day 4 — Sea & Salt
West to the Stagnone lagoon near Marsala — windmills, salt flats, and a small boat to the island of Mothia. Lunch by the water, an afternoon at your own pace, and dinner out on the coast.Day 5 — Clay & Sciacca
A morning of clay in Burgio, the old ceramic town. Lunch and time in Sciacca. Back to the house for a farewell dinner together.Day 6 — Departure
A slow breakfast and goodbyes.This is a sample rhythm — some days hold options, and the final flow is shared in your Welcome Packet.
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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?
The retreat is held in Lake Constance, at the peaceful Haus Am See hotel. You can get there by:
Train: From munich, a direct train brings you to Lindau in about two hours, then it's one short regional hop (under 10 minutes, hourly) to Nonnenhorn. The station is a few minutes from the house
Car: On-site parking available
Plane: Nearby airports include Munich, Memmingen, Zurich with easy train links
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 €300 deposit is non-refundable unless you (or we) find a replacement participant.
The remaining hotel payment can be canceled free of charge up to 30 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.
JOIN THE WAITLIST
🌀
JOIN THE WAITLIST 🌀
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.