About This Event
Why does great sex so often fade for couples who claim to love each other as much as ever?
Why does good intimacy not always guarantee good sex?
Can we want what we already have?
Why does the transition to parenthood so often spell erotic disaster?
Why is the forbidden so erotic?
And when you love, how does it feel, and when you desire, how is it different?
Join globally-celebrated relationship expert Esther Perel for a week-long intensive that will explore the answers to these questions and ignite playfulness and vitality in your relationships. We will combine discussion, interactive exercises, and physical practices, surrounded by the natural beauty of Greece. In an atmosphere free of judgment, we will present a nuanced, multicultural understanding of love, desire, and erotic intimacy.
You will learn to:
● Inhabit a new definition of eroticism that extends far beyond mere sexual performance to include aliveness, playfulness, and creativity.
● Elicit spontaneity and step out of your familiar routines that keep you feeling dissatisfied, uninspired, or fearful.
● Deeply understand your erotic self – your longings, inhibitions, and prohibitions, as well as your values and beliefs about intimacy and pleasure.
● Practice the art of deep listening and connection, and understand how to transcend challenges when personal histories or trauma make that more difficult.
● Have courageous conversations by taking emotional risks and opening up your communication channels. Develop the tools to make these conversations safe – even if they trigger you.
● Explore the need for security and closeness with the quest for separateness and passion, reconciling hyper-connection with solitude and using your imagination and inner resources to soothe yourself.
● Move beyond your comfort zone into an expansive and fully charged connection.
We welcome clinicians and lay participants as well as couples and individuals of all orientations.
Retreat Leader & Contributors
Psychotherapist and New York Times bestselling author Esther Perel is recognized as one of today’s most insightful and original voices on modern relationships. Fluent in nine languages, she helms a therapy practice in New York City and serves as an organizational consultant for Fortune 500 companies around the world. Her celebrated TED Talks have garnered more than 40 million views and her bestselling books, Mating in Captivity and The State of Affairs, are global phenomena translated into nearly 30 languages. Esther is also the host of the hit podcast Where Should We Begin? which is available on Apple Podcasts. Her latest project is Where Should We Begin – A Game of Stories with Esther Perel. Learn more at EstherPerel.com or by following @EstherPerelOfficial on Instagram.
Destination
Located in the heart of the Cyclades in the Aegean Sea, Paros is a charming Greek island celebrated for its Cycladic architecture, golden beaches with crystal-clear waters, and picturesque villages surrounded by shadowy valleys and ancient treasures. Condé Nast describes it as the loveliest of all the Cyclades.
From serene beaches to cultural treasures and vibrant villages, Paros combines natural beauty with timeless charm. Whitewashed Naoussa, with its tranquil harbor, stands out as one of the most picturesque and stylish former fishing villages in the Cyclades.
About the hotels
Orbis Sessions Venue
Orbis, nestled between the two hotels just 1-2 miles from each, offers a stunning setting with breathtaking sea views. Guests will enjoy seamless group transfers to and from both hotels for their daily sessions. The venue’s distinctive design boasts both elegant indoor spaces and serene outdoor areas, perfectly blending comfort and natural beauty.
Indicative Schedule
RETREAT PROGRAM TBA
Retreat Contributors
Paul Browde is a storyteller, couples’ therapist, wilderness guide, and a queer IFS-informed psychiatrist. He has been in practice for more than thirty years. As co-founder of Narativ Inc., a storytelling company and faculty in Columbia University’s Narrative Medicine program, he designed and led multiple year storytelling projects in the US, Europe, and Africa. Paul is co-author and performer of Two Men Talking, an internationally acclaimed storytelling performance, which played on stages around the world, including on the West End of London and Off Broadway in New York.
Benjamin Frye is the founder of Khiron Clinics, one of the world’s leading residential trauma treatment centres, and Televagal, an innovative mental health technology platform. An accredited psychotherapist, couples therapist, speaker, author, and entrepreneur, he has written four books, including The Invisible Lion: How to Tame your Nervous System and Heal your Trauma.
With a diverse career spanning psychology, media, and business, Benjamin read Physics and Philosophy at Oxford University and then did an MFA in Film Production at USC, directing a feature-length film distributed by HBO and Paramount. He later went on to set up various enterprises in the hospitality industry before completing an MA in Psychotherapy and Counselling at Regent’s College and an Executive MBA from Oxford University. His first book led to his role as the expert psychotherapist on the BBC series Spendaholics. Benjamin speaks at mental health conferences worldwide, raising awareness of the effectiveness of nervous system-based therapies for treating trauma. He also delivers workshops to help people optimize and heal their relationships through trauma informed practices and education.
Start your
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Event Highlights
KEY HIGHLIGHTS EXPERIENCES TBA
Prices
5200€/per person
in Double Occ. Suite
Prices
6200€/per person
in Single Occ. Suite
Flexible Payment Plan
available
what’s included
- All sessions with Esther Perel, Paul Browde, and Benjamin Frye
- All breakfast meals
- All dinner meals
- 5-night accommodation at Parīlio Hotel
- Transfers between Parīlio Hotel and the Orbis Session Venue
what’s not included
- Airfare or ship tickets to/from Paros, Greece
- Arrival and departure land transfers in Paros, Greece
- Lunch, soft drinks, beverages
- Accommodation Tax of 10EUR / room / night payable by the guests directly to the hotel
- Whatever is not mentioned clearly in the inclusions
more info
We strongly advise you to book flexible airfare tickets and flights with fewer carbon emissions to contribute to environmental protection, as it is our responsibility to safeguard our environment
Payment Plan: Available – contact us at info@travelgems.com for details.
Language: English
Room Upgrades: Available – please contact info@travelgems.com for options.
Transportation: For Esther Perel’s retreat in Paros, Greece, you can fly into Paros National Airport (PAS). From there, it’s approximately a 21-minute drive to Parīlio Hotel. We can assist with arranging a transfer—please reach out to info@travelgems.com for bookings or additional information.
Sessions Venue: All sessions with Esther Perel will take place at the Orbis Seaside Venue. Transportation between the hotel and the venue (round trip) is included.
Non-participants / Accompanying Guests: Specific rates are available—please contact us at info@travelgems.com for more information
Cancellation Policy: A 10% deposit secures your spot and is refundable within one week. An additional 20% payment is required within one month (non-refundable). The remaining 70% balance can be paid in flexible installments, with full payment due no later than 45 days before the retreat start date. Cancellations after this point will incur a 100% cancellation fee.
Important Info: In case there are Covid-19 restrictions or restrictions related to any other pandemic that prevent guests from traveling the total amount paid will be refunded.
Dietary Needs: Should you have any special dietary needs/allergies, kindly let us know in advance in order to be able to better accommodate you in the best possible way.
