Leonidio Climbing Week
A few hours from Athens there's a little village called Leonidio. It's hard not to fall in love with this charming and idyllic town on the Aegean Sea, surrounded by the most beautiful limestone crags.
The retreat
What can you expect? Imagine sunrise swims in the Mediterranean, some of Europe's best rock climbing, meeting the warm and generous locals, savoury spinach pies, fresh oranges from the trees, sharing delicious Greek meals, and making new friends along the way. We are eager to show you our favourite places around Leonidio! In our view one of the best climbing destinations, with a huge variety of routes and excellent conditions in autumn and winter.
Coaching
Our coaching sessions are highly personal, with only 3 to 6 people per guide. This allows our coaches to give each participant plenty of individual attention and tailor the experience to the needs of the group. We will focus on:
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Building a solid foundation in outdoor climbing and belaying
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Gaining confidence with lead climbing
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Learning to manage the fear of falling
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Improving your climbing technique
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Breaking through your plateau
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Mental aspects of confident climbing
The group & climbing level
We’ll keep the group small and intimate, with a maximum of 9 participants. This rock climbing retreat is suitable for both beginners and more experienced climbers. We recommend a minimum climbing level of 5c to get the most out of the week. Our coach climbs 8b and coaches climbers up to 7th grade (French scale).
INCLUDED
- 7 nights stay in our seaside villa
- 2 dinners: welcome and closing dinner
- 5 coaching days with a professional and certified guide. Groups will be 3 to 6 persons per guide.
- Daily healthy breakfast
- 1 yoga session
- All group climbing gear on guided climbing days: rope, quickdraws, helmet. We strongrly recommend to bring your own climbing shoes and harness.
- Transport to and from the climbing areas
- Other activities and excursions
- A warm welcome to our climbing community
NOT INCLUDED
- International flights to Athens
- Airport transfers from Athens International. Busses are available; rental cars are rather affordable and practical.
- 4 dinners that we go into town to dine out
- Personal expenses
- Travel insurance
- Climbing gear on optional independent climbing day
The Villa
Together we'll stay at the beautiful seaside villa close to the Crags and a 15 minute drive from Leonidio.
You can start the morning or end the day with a swim in the Aegean Sea at our private beach.
The villa accommodates 10 guests and has 5 rooms (equipped with 2 single beds) and 4 bathrooms. There is a kitchen space, swimming pool (not heated) and wi-fi. The perfect home base to meet fellow climbers and making new friends. Note that the rooms will be shared.
Itinerary
Our days start with breakfast together before heading out to climb in the most beautiful areas the regions has to offer. Evenings are for good food, whether out in town or together at the villa. Plans stay flexible
DAY 01
Arrival Day: Welcome to Leonidio
Take a bus or rental car to Leonidio, check into our seaside villa, meet the group, take some time to unpack, unwind and acclimatise to the surroundings. You're free to have dinner at the villa or in town. Late check-in is also possible..
DAY 02
First Climbing Day
Over a generous breakfast we'll have some time to get to know each other and meet our guide(s), before heading out for our first day of climbing on Leonidio's stunning red limestone. In the evening, we'll toast to the start of the week with our welcome dinner at the villa.
DAY 03
Second Climbing Day
After a stop at our favourite cafe, we'll get ready for another full day of coaching at one of the area's classic sectors. After climbing, we'll head back to freshen up. Evenings are free but we invite you to join dinner at our favourite restaurant in Leonidio.
DAY 04
Rest Day: Explore & Recover
This is a great day to enjoy a slow pace and regain some strength. Spend the day at the beach, go for a hike in nature or visit a monastery. Climbing is optional, but we recommend taking one rest day during this week to prevent injuries and explore the beautiful region.
The evening is yours to enjoy as you please. Go out for dinner, meet other climbers at the bar or relax at the villa and get a good night’s rest.
DAY 05
Third Climbing Day
Batteries recharged, let's get back to it again. We'll pick the best sector depending on the conditions and objectives of the day. In the evening, feel free to join us to Poulithra, a nearby coastal village, for dinner at one of our favourite taverna's.
DAY 06
Fourth Climbing Day
On our fourth climbing day, we might set off on a little adventure to a hidden crag further south in the Peloponnese: a dream location right on the coast, where the rock meets the sea. In the evening, we make our way back to Leonidio, ready for a good dinner and well-earned rest.
DAY 07
Final Climbing Day
Breakfast, then our final day with the guide out on the rock. Time to make it count and maybe push that next grade. As this is our last evening together as a full group, we'll make it a special one with a dinner to celebrate the week.
DAY 08
Departure Day
Everything comes to an end. Enjoy one last sunrise over the Aegean and a leisurely Mediterranean breakfast before you head back to Athens.
Meet Eliza
Eliza Sprecher is a professional climber and lovely human being whose passion for the sport is contagious. We're thrilled to have her join us for the week! She not only climbs hard (8b), she also has an incredible knack for helping others climb harder, move better, and build confidence on the rock.
After growing up on the East Coast of the US, Eliza discovered climbing during a year studying in Ireland. It didn't take long before she was completely hooked. Only a few years later, she was sending her first 8a and 8b. Her love for rock climbing took her to France, where she became a certified rock guide in 2010. Since then, she's been guiding, coaching, and teaching climbers all over.
Eliza fell in love with Leonidio from the first time she climbed there. For years, Leonidio has been her winter home away from home. She loves introducing climbers to the incredible crags and watching their faces light up when they discover the area for the first time.
Some aspects that we'll focus on are:
-
Building a solid foundation in outdoor climbing
-
Gaining confidence with lead climbing
-
Learning to manage the fear of falling
-
Improving your climbing technique
-
Training to reach your next grade
-
Mental aspects of climbing