Out of the 50 countries I have been to, Greece is my absolute favorite.
Now, I invite you to join my next Group Trip to the Greek Islands.
Travel is one of the greatest things you can do to enrich your soul, and one of my grand passions in life. My goal is to inspire you to step outside of your comfort zone, and see the beauty that the world has to offer.
This time, we are headed from Athens to the Cycladic island of Ios, often known as the “wild child” of Greece. Ios embraces it’s duality unapologetically, as both a peaceful retreat with some of the finest beaches in Greece, and a world-class nightlife capital. A magnetic backdrop for losing and finding yourself all at once. The finale is in Santorini, the Jewel of the Aegean. It remains one of the most bucketlist-worthy places in the world to visit, for very good reasons.
Trip Details
Athens, Ios, Santorini
Dates: July 2-8, 2026
Accommodations: multi-apartment property or 4 star hotel in Athens + cliffside villa in Ios
The last trip to Crete in Summer 2025 was transformative and marked a fresh chapter for many of us (see the recap here).
Hear what past trip participants had to say:
“Best week ever, and I say that critically. I want to come on the next one. I’ve gone on other retreats before for yoga and other stuff. And this was by far the best. It was like we were living in a reality show. Every place we visited was magical and top notch.” (read more)
There were so many activities and points of reflection. All the little details are to my taste, and we really felt cared for. The villa was absolutely gorgeous.
I love that Mae is exactly how she presents. She’s really worked hard to give us the experiences that she delivers in her videos; which is that we can have our desires, and they are within reach. I am thrilled.
I would recommend this trip to anyone who is interested in living their best life, so to speak, and want to be in an environment that culminates all of the things you’ve been working on. You’re also with others from the community who are interested in that.
“I wasn’t ready for solo travel, but I really wanted to connect with others in a beautiful setting like Greece within a genuine community. Now I can go home and tell my friends and family I just had the best trip of a lifetime. I’m so grateful.”(read more)
Traveling internationally can be really daunting for me but this was literally the best trip I’ve ever been on in my entire life. The group dynamic was amazing and we got to explore so many incredible places that I’ll never forget. Mae really built the itinerary intentionally. Even the villa was so big and beautiful. One of the most important lessons I took was getting to explore my creative side. There was also some impromptu karaoke which was so fun.
I’ve been watching Mae’s videos for awhile and I thought it’d be a great opportunity to see what her thought process is like in person and how it plays out in day-to-day life. I’m leaving recharged, revitalized, and with lessons that will stick with me.
“Immediately when I saw this trip I knew I was going to make friends. I could tell how much thought and care Mae put into every detail. The planning was better than I could’ve done myself; I literally booked a flight and everything else was handled.”
(read more)
We had such an amazing group. The beaches, snorkeling, the freshwater experience, the food was all incredible, but it was really the people and the energy that made it special.
Staying at the villa felt like something out of a dream, it was definitely one of the better places I stayed in while traveling.
I love Mae, she’s such a sweetie. I’ll remember the conversations we had at the museum about beauty and perception, singing together, hearing everyone’s stories on the sailboat… these moments gave me so much perspective. I’m heading home refreshed, relaxed, and genuinely open-minded in a way I didn’t anticipate.
This time, our home base will be at an exceptional boutique villa-hotel on the island of Ios.
Surrounded by exotic landscaping and perched on a quiet hilltop overlooking the harbor and rolling hills of Chora village, this unique property with an infinity pool facing the ocean, offers what locals describe as the finest views on the island.
I was completely enamored by this property when I stayed here over the Summer! Only minutes away from three incredible beaches & restaurants. All rooms have ocean-facing balconies.
Tap to see more details.
- This small, family-run property blends the intimacy of a private villa with the comfort of boutique hotel service.
- Double shared occupancy (Twin or limited single rooms available
- Daily Housekeeping
- Bath towels and pool towels provided
- Bathroom shower amenities provided
- Air-conditioning in rooms
- Wi-Fi coverage throughout the villa
- Daily pool cleaning
- Towels and linen changes by request
Quick backstory on how I found this place: After our first group trip to Crete, Pete and I were planning to ferry hop around the Cyclades. Before leaving Crete, I manifested a cliffside villa for the next trip. We made our detour to Ios, not knowing what to expect. Ios ended up becoming my favorite Greek island. Most of all, I was completely enamored by the incredible views and exotic landscaping on this hillside property that reminded me of Le Jardin Exotique in Èze, France. None of these tropical plants were native to the Aegean’s hot and very dry climate, which makes this property extra special. The couple who runs this place do so with their hearts, and pretty much all of their guests are long-time repeat customers, returning every year. Even though they are constantly booked and busy, which allows them to be selective about clientele, I was determined to convince them to do a full buyout for our group trip… and succeeded!
Ios has something for everyone.
From glamorous open-air complexes on the cliffside and world-class clubs, to chilling poolside at cozy beachfront locales…
This island delivers nonstop fun-filled days that flow into unforgettable nights.
Hear what past trip participants had to say:
“When you look at the itinerary, you think that it’s just a normal vacation, but really it’s so much more than that. This (trip) was legitimately extremely important for me and it was exactly what I needed.”
(read more)
I experienced a lot of personal growth from it, too. The villa is luxurious and amazing, and the food and epic sailing trip are the highlights. But what really stood out was meeting Mae and getting to know the person behind the camera.
If you’re thinking about going on this trip, do it. That’s really all I have to say. If you have the time and the money to do it, this is an amazing experience, a life-changing one, honestly. Everyone I traveled with were great, and I think Mae has really built an amazing community.
“Painting with Mae completely changed how I process creativity. I didn’t think of myself as an artist, but now I’m committed to continuing it.“
(read more)
We had so much fun on this trip! My favorite moments were at the beach and sailing. But what really made this special was experiencing a new country alongside people who are genuinely aligned and like-minded. The food was so amazing, the adventures were unforgettable,
Everything was thoughtfully organized, you guys did a great job putting everything together!
Trip Itinerary & Details
Arrival Day: Arrive at Athens Airport / Free Time to Settle In / Sightseeing in Plaka / Visit the Acropolis (Optional) / Welcome Dinner . Ferry & Villa Day: Morning High-Speed Ferry to Ios / Transfer to Villa / Lunch by the Sea / Art Therapy & Journaling Session / Dinner + Night Out . Beach Day: Daily Breakfast / Mylopotas Beach: swim, sun, water sports / Seaside Lunch / Free Time / Beach Club Hopping (Optional) / Dinner + Night Out. Rest & Sunset Night Out: Daily Breakfast / Free Villa Morning / Pool Time / Lunch by Gialos Beach / Art Therapy & Journaling Session / Sunset at Pathos + Night Out. Santorini Excursion Day: Daily Breakfast / Ferry to Santorini / Explore Fira & Oia Villages / Dinner Back in Ios. Excursion Day: Daily Breakfast / Sailboat Charter to Hidden Beaches (TBC) / Final Dinner in Chora / Departure Day: Final Breakfast / Check Out / Transfer to Seaport / Ferry Back to Athens.
* Itinerary and other details are subject to change. As the trip approaches, we provide the most up-to-date itinerary only to trip participants. We reserve the right to alter the itinerary and excursion (not trip) dates based on availability and operational logistics.
What’s Included:
6 Breakfasts, 1 Lunch, 2 Dinners / Snacks at the Villa / Excursions and Activities mentioned in Itinerary / Cover charge to Pathos / Private infinity pool access at Villa / Retreat materials & supplies / Retreat swag, gifts and goodies / Selected room with ocean facing balcony in Ios Villa / Hotel in Athens / Tour transportation on excursion days.
What’s not included:
Flights / Ferry Tickets to Ios and Santorini / Airport Transfer / Meals unless specified / Alcohol and Beverages / Visas and Travel Insurance / Transport for non-excursion activities / Optional activities / Gratuity for local operators.
We highly recommend budgeting extra cash for meals not included, incidentals, & shopping etc during the trip.
Hear what past trip participants had to say:
“It’s our last day and it’s a bittersweet feeling, but we’re ready to take what we’ve built here and do big things in our regular lives.”
(read more)
We had a lot of fun! We came to get away from the grind, to push outside our comfort zone, and to visit Europe for the first time alongside Mae and like-minded people. It delivered on all of that and more.
This retreat was exactly what we needed. We explored the island of Crete, met incredible people, ate amazing food, and made great connections we plan to keep. I’m hoping to stay in touch with everyone and we would definitely do it again.
“I’m leaving stuffed and happy, with tons of new friends, a suitcase full of gifts for my family. I’m definitely coming back.“
(read more)
There was so much thought put into every detail. Mae did an awesome job curating the activities and spacing them out so that we had the energy to do everything and eating at so many amazing restaurants that I never would have discovered on my own. The food was absolutely incredible, 10 out of 10 every single day. We experienced so many different sides of Greece, visiting multiple towns and seeing how locals actually live alongside the iconic tourist spots. We have to come back!
are you the ideal tripgoer?
Everyone is welcome, but here’s a rundown of who might be most ideal:
– You’ve dreamed of a vacation in Greece, but don’t want to go solo.
– You enjoy having a great time and making new friends, especially with Mae and her self-improvement community.
– This could be your graduation trip, a reason to celebrate, or simply an excuse to indulge in a bucketlist-worthy Euro Summer.
– You are a growth-oriented individual, and want to step out of your comfort zone to experience something new and exciting. Travel happens to be the best dopamine reset!
– You’re an adventurous person, couple, or even friend duo looking for an escape.
– You are respectful of the community guidelines and understand our terms & conditions.
– Based on surveys and past trips, the majority of participants are expected to be around 21-35.
Our inaugural group trip brought an amazing mix of people, from doctors and teachers, to grad students and young professionals. The beautiful part was how despite taking different life paths, we bonded over our shared passions for growth, connection, and living fully.
