Monthly from June to October 2024
Train and relax in Crete
Duration
7 nights
Location
Plaka, Crete
Group size
4 Villas, up to 4 people per house
Fly into
Heraklion Airport
Perfect for
Training / Exploring/ Working Remotely
From £1090 per person
What to expect
Every year we open our summerhouse to friends old and new for a chance to train, explore the island together and make new friends. Over the years our weeks in Crete have created friendships, memories and good habits for us to take into the winter season.
With plenty of activity, recovery and awesome people to share it, you’ll come away feeling refreshed, reconnected and full of life.
Our hosts are there to help you feel perfectly at home and soak in everything this beautiful corner of the world has to offer.
This summer we have a wider range of dates and opportunities for you to get involved. We can’t wait to see you.
Accommodation
Our summerhouse, also known as Fig Tree Villa, includes four houses laid out around a communal gym and courtyard.
Each house is laid out on two levels, with a twin/double bedroom, private bathroom and terrace on each level. A central lounge with an open plan kitchen is the hub of each house and here you can gather and relax with your housemates. Each house is laid out so you can take time to be alone or socialise with others as you please.
Three of the houses boast stunning sea views, while the fourth opens up to mountain and gym views.
The gym is right outside your front door and you can train there around-the-clock.
All houses have free and reliable wi-fi for those who need to stay on top of work while away.
Training
The gym is right outside your front door and you can train there around the clock. Here, you will find all you need to continue your training while away from home, including:
A 7.2m Eleiko rig with 13 pull-up spaces, 7 muscle-up spaces and 6 squat stations
Gymnastics rings
20kg and 15kg Eleiko Sport barbells, training barbells and bumper plates
Hex dumbbells, kettlebells, sandbags, medicine balls, jump ropes, bands, set of parallettes
4x C2 Model D rowers
Yoga mats, blocks and mobility tools
For running and swimming we recommend:
Running along one of the three trails near the house: We are at the foot of a hill and there is a 12K running route along the water for you to take on.
Swimming: the beach is across the street from the house and Spinalonga island is a 900m distance away.
Exploring & active recovery
There’s nothing quite as refreshing as spending time in nature and it also helps to balance out our gym training.
Swimming
We’re located across the road from the beach so you can dip in the water at any time, whether for training or recovery. Further along the village there are more spots where you can snorkel and explore .
Trails
Outside the villa there are two mountain trails to the north and a flat trail to the south, all of them with views towards the sea and great options for a walk or hike.
Morning Paddleboarding
Paddleboarding at sunrise is a great way to set yourself up for a great day. The nearby island of Spinalonga is a short 15-minute paddle away and the sunrise is the most beautiful time to do it.
Gorge Hike
This hike takes approximately four hours and we will walk, climb and treat ourselves to views of the Cretan landscape. To cool down we will dip in the waterfall on the way down, and also in the sea before climbing back up.
Private boat trip
Our 4-hour private boat trip gives us a chance to explore nearby beaches and coves and enjoy diving off the boat into blue waters. We typically set off late morning and return in the afternoon, having had lunch on the boat.
Meals
We love sharing food together around a table. We aim to find fresh, locally sourced delicious food and we choose restaurants that do this very well.
We have breakfast together everyday. You have a choice to make your own breakfast or order it from our favourite spot. We eat breakfast after morning training.
Lunch is more flexible and up to you to make your own or eat out. Each house has its own kitchen where simple meals are easy to prepare.
For dinner, we head to one of our favourite local spots, a different one every night. There is a wealth of cafes and restaurants serving fresh local food in and around Plaka. We love the local food and we’re excited for you to try it.
Portions in Crete are generous, so you are unlikely to be hungry between meals.
We have not included meals in the price. Generally you can expect to spend between 25-35€ per person for dinner.
YOUR HOSTS
-
STELLA KAMBA
Stella founded MLA after several years working as an architect and personal trainer. She converted the Crete summer house so that she could bring people together for training and quality time in nature.
Stella grew up in Greece and went to summer camp overseas every year, an experience she brought to the MLA itineraries. She is in her element hosting groups of mixed abilities and backgrounds and you can rely on her to teach you some Greek and keep you going during long hikes and swims!
-
LEILA FITT
Leila looks after all aspects of our event and retreat planning at MLA. She is half Iranian, half British - grew up in Cambridge and studied Journalism before going on to work on large international events. She trains in functional fitness, recently completed her first Hyrox race and is also a keen tennis player.
Leila has the most patient and easygoing manner and a gift for making people laugh. She recently hosted two epic weeks in Crete and Madeira and if you haven’t already, we can’t wait for you to meet her.
-
FLORENCE WONG
Flo looks after our brand partnerships at MLA. She is also a CrossFit coach and competes in both CrossFit and Weightlifting. She most recently competed twice at the CrossFit Asia Semifinals and will soon be at the British National Weightlifting Champs.
Flo was born in Paris and raised in Hong Kong and has a gift for hosting groups of international guests, having most recently hosted in Crete and Mallorca. She finds the fun in every situation and loves to get everyone out for an early morning paddle boarding session!
-
TYLA SULLIVAN
Tyla is our content creator at MLA, as well as a passionate photographer, chef and adventurer. She went to culinary school before coaching CrossFit and Weightlifting for several years and has competed in Weightlifting for South Africa. Her love for diving has led her to get various diving qualifications.
Tyla is a gifted host and you can count on her to take you out snorkelling, discovering new spots on the mountain, and eating the best meze in the area!
How to book
Book your place with a deposit and pay the balance in monthly instalments
You can book your space with a deposit of £200 and spread the balance across monthly instalments. The full balance is due one month prior to departure.
pricing
Double occupancy bedroom: £1,090 per person
Single occupancy double or twin bedroom: £1,340
All bedrooms have private bathrooms.
terms and conditions
Once your deposit is made, you’ll receive our Terms and Conditions to sign for your booking to be confirmed.
Please note, we need a minimum of 7 guests for the trip to go ahead. If the trip does not go ahead, all payments will be refunded in full or can be used on other More Life Adventures retreats.
dates and booking links
Dates are available every month from May to October. Please click on the link below to book.
If you would like to stay with us for longer than a week, please get in touch by email at hello@morelifeadventures.com.
Included in the price
Accommodation
Accommodation for 7 nights at the Fig Tree Villa.
MLA Host throughout your stay
24-hour open air gym
The gym is right outside your front door and you can train there around the clock.
Gorge Hike & Boat Trip
Paddle boarding
Airport transfers
On arrival and on departure day we have an airport transfer arranged for the group. The transfer is just over an hour by car to the house. The minibus will leave at 2pm from the airport on arrival day and at 11am from the house on departure day. Please note if you need to arrive or depart at different times there will be an additional charge.
All transfers to activities and dinners
Wi-fi
Photography To keep the memories alive!
Not included in the price
Your return flights to Heraklion airport
We will suggest the best flights to book but ask you to cover these at your end.e w
Meals
We will book breakfast and dinner at selected spots, but will ask you to cover those separately.
Extra activities
These include water sports, sports massage sessions, lunch at a local winery or the short boat trip to Spinalonga island. You can select these on booking.
Frequently Asked Questions
-
If you would love an active holiday in the sun, exploring new places with like-minded people, this is for you.
Guests on our trips range in age from early 20s to late 60s. They typically love to train, explore, and hang out in a light-hearted group environment.
If you’re in doubt, drop us a line at hello@morelifeadventures.com and let’s have a chat.
-
All levels of fitness are welcome.
Prior experience in functional fitness training or CrossFit is relevant but not at all required.
If you have taken some time out of training, you’ll have a chance to move outdoors and an opportunity to get back into gym training if you like.
If in doubt, drop us a line at hello@morelifeadventures.com and let’s have a chat.
-
Upon receiving your booking we will send you suggested flight times. You also have the option to book your airport transfers with us at an additional cost.
-
Everyone over the age of 21 is welcome on our trips and there is no upper age limit.
To date we have had guests in their 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s and 60s and everyone gels well.
-
Absolutely. We plan these trips specifically for our guests to gel easily. Get ready to make new friends!
-
Unless you specifically book to share a room with a friend or partner, we will not ask you to share a room with anyone.
If you are booking a room to yourself, please make sure you select the single occupancy option.
-
We will be training once or twice daily and would love you to join us. However if the timings don’t suit you, you can opt out and train ‘open gym’ style at a time that suits you better.
-
We cater for all allergies and dietary requirements. Just let us know on your booking form.
-
There is stable WiFi in the villas for most people to work and study remotely. If you have specific video streaming requirements please get in touch.
-
We have a drink at dinner and after that, additional drinks will be charged as extras. (To keep you from nursing a hangover the next day!)
Did we miss anything?
Words from our guests
★★★★★
“It was just an amazing week. Like I'm still living off the energy from it. It was without being corny, like it was everything I hoped for and more. It was a great combination of three activities a day, some downtime, trying some different food, socialising over dinner, going on a boat trip, paddle boarding. I quite enjoyed all the small things like after the beach we don't just run off like we're the guests here. We'll take the equipment back and you know, pump the paddleboards, I think it gave it a real family feel.”
Andy Tapping
★★★★★
“I went on the remote working retreat in Crete and it was incredible! A beautiful location, has everything you need around. The team was extremely accommodating and welcoming; the trip was a perfect balance of activities and relaxation time. Highly recommend :)”
Tali Vaisbart
★★★★★
“Crete was the perfect week of working out, beach time, working, and meeting some awesome people. The house and gym are amazing - everything is designed beautifully, the kitchen has everything you could need, and the sunrise view over the ocean out the bedroom window was breathtaking. The houses are literally across the street from the beach, and you can do a couple short walks/hikes from the house with gorgeous views of Plaka below.”
Lea Cohen
Keen to know more?
Get our itinerary for the trip in your inbox.
