Mindful Adventure Retreats

Welcome to Vietnam. Your arrival transfer is included. Let the adventure begin.

Tonight is your opportunity to meet your National Geographic Expedition Leader and fellow travellers, and learn more about your tour. Opt to join the group for a local meal afterwards. Hit the hay and prepare for an early morning start. 

Spend the morning discovering the bustling Vietnamese capital and connecting to history on a guided tour. Visit the mausoleum of Ho Chi Minh, one of Vietnam’s most influential political leaders. Learn more about his life at the Presidential Palace, a French colonial-style building that was designed to be his official residence. Gain insights into the Vietnam War at the Hoa Lo Prison, known by American POWs as the Hanoi Hilton; then jump on a cyclo, a three-wheel bicycle taxi, for a fun-filled ride through Hanoi’s colourful Old Quarter. After, travel to the verdant Mai Chau Valley, a patchwork of rice paddies, emerald hills and charming traditional villages. 

Spend the evening free in Mai Châu.

Settle in for a two night stay in this lush, green paradise.

Spend the day exploring the picturesque valley. Set out on a walk through the peaceful countryside, learning about the local tribes and customs and visit a market for a fruit tasting. Choose to enjoy an authentic country lunch at a village home.

Enjoy an easy walk through rice paddies, terraces and scenic green hills. Visit Na Phon village and a local traditional stilt house, continuing to Lac Village (White Tai ethnic group) or Mai Chau market for some exotic fruit tasting. Enjoy stunning natural landscapes while learning about the local ethnic tribes of the Mai Chau valley.

On the way back to Hanoi, we will visit KymViet, a community organization supported by G Adventures and National Geographic. KymViet empowers people with disabilities by teaching stitching and sewing skills, helping them create sustainable, dignified livelihoods.

During our visit, we will meet the team, learn about their inspiring work and take part in a hands-on handicraft workshop, creating our own souvenir to bring home. We will also enjoy a local refreshment, learn a few words in sign language and share a delicious lunch together. Before leaving, there’s time to explore the workshop and browse handmade items in their café.

After returning to Hanoi, enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure.

Optional: Hanoi Foodie Culture Tour

Dive into Hanoi’s vibrant street food scene with a guided tour through the Old Quarter. Wander through bustling backstreets and markets while sampling local specialties along the way.

Relax on board our comfortable traditional wooden junk boat. Enjoy your time afloat eating fresh food, admiring the magnificent karst formations and exploring. Spend a peaceful night anchored in the bay under the stars. Settle into your cabin on a traditional-style wooden boat or junk, where we will spend the night and embark on a cruise of either Halong Bay or Bai Tu Long Bay (depending on boat availability). Continue to glide around the bay’s stunning karst formations, and explore with our local guide.

Enjoy an early lunch on board before returning to land and heading back to Hanoi to catch a short flight to Hue. A former imperial capital of Vietnam, this World Heritage-listed city boasts many architectural treasures; it was also the site of one of the Vietnam War’s most dramatic battles.

Today you will take a 1 hour included flight from Hanoi - Huế. 

Set out on a guided tour of Hue’s imposing walled citadel, discovering lavish palaces, gardens and courtyards. Visit the Forbidden Purple City, which served as the private quarters of the imperial family; then venture into the countryside to the magnificent tombs of Vietnam’s emperors, located along the banks of the Perfume River. Visit a Buddhist nunnery and enjoy a leisurely lunch following the traditions of vegetarian cuisine.

Tour this one-time capital city and UNESCO World Heritage site. See the walled fortress and former palace, which has many palaces, gateways, courtyards and gardens to explore. The Forbidden Purple City (modelled on China's Forbidden City) inside the citadel was once home to the imperial family and was significantly damaged during the Vietnam War. Tour the tombs of Vietnam’s great emperors. Just outside of Hue, along the Perfume River are several impressive tombs dating back to the 1800s. Ranging in size and states of ruin, the ornate architecture and history make the sites a great place to learn more about the history of Hue.

Drive to Hoi An this morning, a remarkably well-preserved river port and UNESCO World Heritage site. Stroll the narrow, winding streets of the atmospheric old town, lined with quaint merchants’ homes and decorated with colourful silk lanterns. Then try your hand at crafting a lantern of your own—a symbol of luck, wealth and happiness and leave with a beautiful souvenir.  In Hoi An, it's said that hanging a lantern in front of your home will bring luck, happiness and wealth to your family.

This afternoon, opt to visit a local tailor and be fitted for a custom-made shirt. HOI AN OLD TOWN WALKING TOUR

Stroll through the narrow winding streets of Hoi An’s old town to see Chinese assembly halls, ancestral homes, The Japanese Covered Bridge and well-preserved pagodas on this self-guided tour. Opt to try local delicacies and fusion food at one of the restaurants for which Hoi An is becoming famous.

Delve into a local market this morning with guides from Oodles of Noodles, a G Adventures/Nat Geo supported program that trains local youth in the culinary arts. Taste dozens of varieties of noodles and pick out fresh ingredients at the market; then take your groceries to the Oodles of Noodles training kitchen, where you will learn to prepare mouthwatering noodle dishes and enjoy your creations for lunch.

OODLES OF NOODLES LOCAL MARKET EXCURSION

Take a walking tour of a Hoi A local market led by youths who have come to Oodles of Noodles, to be trained in the culinary arts. This excursion will empower the kitchen youth to lead insider noodle tours in Hoi An. There are currently over 26 types of noodles in this city alone and we will go to the market with two students and their trainer, learn about the ingredients at the market and do a tasting of the different noodles while supporting local small women enterprises. We then pick the ingredients and return with our youth guides to the training kitchen where you will learn to cook and prepare noodles. After we enjoy our noodles for lunch, watch a video to learn more about the organization.

FREE TIME

Spend free time this afternoon wandering through the temples and tombs at a UNESCO World Heritage site, or take a bike ride to a nearby beach. 

The day is yours to explore enchanting Hoi An and its environs. Choose to take a day trip to World Heritage-listed My Son, a cluster of moss-covered Hindu temples dating between the 4th and 13th centuries. Alternatively, head to the nearby Cua Dai beach, or relax at your hotel by the pool. - FREE DAY - 

Take a 45 minute flight to Ho Chi Minh City, formerly known as Saigon. Immerse yourself in this vibrant metropolis—Vietnam’s economic hub—on a variety of optional activities. Discover the city on a cyclo tour, taking in iconic sites like the Notre Dame Cathedral and the ornate Central Post Office and City Hall. Visit the War Remnants Museum, a powerful reminder of the atrocities committed during the Vietnam War; or take a tour of the Reunification Palace, the site which marked the end of the war.

Venture to the legendary Cu Chi tunnels, a network of underground passageways that provided a base for Viet Cong soldiers during the Vietnam War. Visit subterranean hospitals and ammunition stores and learn about the vital role that the tunnels played in 

the eventual victory of the North.

DAY 13. MARCH 26th, 2026 - DEPART ANYTIME FOR THE LONG JOURNEY HOME OR TALK TO THE MARTINS ABOUT EXTENDING YOUR STAY!

After settling into your hotel, together we will meet our Private Tour Guide for an evening welcome meeting. This is our opportunity to get to know the people you will be sharing this incredible journey with, learn more about what lies ahead and ask any questions before we set off to explore the Greek Islands.

Afterwards, opt to join the group for a local dinner and enjoy your first taste of Greece together. 

Today we leave the city behind and the island hopping officially begins! 

Board the ferry in Athens for the approximately 3-hour and 45-minute journey to the beautiful island of Tinos. Sit back, take in the views and enjoy your first taste of travelling across the Aegean Sea as we make our way to our first Greek island.

Once we arrive, the day is FREE and yours to explore Tinos as you please. Known for its incredible food, wild natural beauty, pristine beaches, hiking and even surfing, there are plenty of ways to experience the island.

Climb into the hillsides for magnificent views over the deep blue waters, wander and explore, cool off with a swim, find a beautiful meditation spot by the sea or indulge in some delicious Greek dishes. 

This is what our Mindful Adventure Retreats are all about — adventure with room to breathe. Explore as much or as little as your heart desires, soak up your surroundings and begin settling into the beautiful rhythm of Greek island life. 

Today we island hop over to gorgeous Mykonos! 

After a quick 30-minute ferry ride from Tinos, arrive on Greece’s most famous cosmopolitan island and spend the day soaking up everything that makes Mykonos so iconic.

Named for the grandson of the Greek God Apollo, Mykonos has a vibe that is somehow glamorous yet beautifully simple. Wander through its picture-perfect whitewashed streets, visit the famous windmills, discover historical sites, spend some time along its beautiful beaches or simply find a spot to sit back and take it all in.

Make your way to Little Venice, perhaps treating yourself to a cocktail on a veranda overlooking the Aegean Sea, explore the shops and cafés, or dive into the lively energy this island is so well known for. 

With its beautiful beaches, history, vibrant atmosphere and undeniable charm, Mykonos has a little something for everyone and today is yours to experience it your way.

In the evening, we will board the ferry and make our way back to Tinos, carrying a little Mykonos magic with us.

Another island explored. Another day of adventure, connection and experiencing Greece with an open heart. 

Today we slow things down a little and dive deeper into the heart of Tinos. 

Set out on a six-hour guided tour with a local guide, exploring some of the beautiful villages, landscapes, traditions and flavours that make this island so special.

Our first stop is Dio Choria, where we will have the opportunity to enjoy a coffee while taking in gorgeous views over the Aegean Sea. From there, we continue to the unique village of Volax, nestled in the heart of Tinos and known for its unusual rocky landscape and local basket-weaving tradition. Wander, explore and perhaps take home a locally woven piece as a keepsake from your time here.

Next, we make our way to the famous village of Pirgos, known as the birthplace of celebrated Greek artists, painters and sculptors. Take some time to explore its beautiful streets and experience another side of Tinos’ rich artistic heritage.

From there, we will travel onwards to Ktikados, where it’s time to gather around the table and enjoy some delicious Greek dishes at a local taverna. Lunch is included today, giving us another opportunity to experience Greece through its food, culture and community.

Our journey back to Tinos port takes us through the village of Tarampados, completing a beautiful day of exploring the island beyond its beaches.

The evening is yours to enjoy. Wander through Tinos, find somewhere for dinner, watch the light change over the Aegean, or simply slow down and take it all in.

Sometimes mindful travel is simply about being present enough to notice where you are. 

Today we say goodbye to Tinos and continue our island-hopping adventure with a 2-hour ferry ride to beautiful Naxos. 

Once we arrive, we will set out on a brief orientation walk with our Guied, getting our bearings before visiting one of the island’s most iconic landmarks: the Portara (Temple of Apollo).

Built around 530 BC, this massive marble doorway stands above the harbour as the unfinished entrance to the Temple of Apollo and offers incredible views across the Aegean Sea. It is also one of the most beautiful places on the island to catch the sunset. 

From here, enjoy some free time to experience Naxos your way. Explore, grab a meal at a local taverna, wander the island or simply find a beautiful spot to settle in and soak it all up.

Another ferry. Another island. Another opportunity to experience a little more of Greece.

We will begin our day with an early morning seaside meditation, welcoming the sunrise over the Aegean and taking a little time to breathe, connect and simply be. 

From there, the day is completely yours!

Spend your free day exploring Naxos however you choose. Wander through its quaint hillside villages, shop and café hop through town, sample local Greek dishes, visit the historic Venetian castle and archaeological museum, or simply claim a spot on the beach and let the Aegean do the rest. 

Feeling adventurous? Hike Mount Zas, the highest point in the Cyclades. The 7km round-trip hike climbs approximately 300m and rewards you with beautiful panoramic views — plus some pretty great bragging rights!

Adventure, explore, rest or do absolutely nothing at all. This is your day to experience Naxos in whatever way feels good to you. 

Today we board the ferry for our 3-hour journey to the iconic island of Santorini. 

Upon arrival, lace up your shoes because we are experiencing Santorini in one of the most incredible ways and that’s - on foot!

Led by our guide, we will set out on a Caldera Walking Excursion from Fira to Oia. This spectacular walk is just under 11km and takes approximately 3–4 hours, following the rim of the caldera through Firostefani and Imerovigli before reaching beautiful Oia.

Along the way, expect a mix of sidewalk, cobblestone and dirt paths and some of the best views Santorini has to offer. Whitewashed villages, dramatic cliffs and that endless Aegean blue… this is Greece! 

Afterwards, you will have the option to gather with the group for dinner and celebrate our final evening together in Santorini.

A pretty spectacular place to finish an unforgettable week of island hopping, adventure and connection.

Today, you will either say farewell to Greece and begin your journey home, or choose to stay a little longer and extend your Santorini adventure with the Martins! 

For those joining our optional extension, we will enjoy an additional night in Santorini and cap off this incredible journey with a Santorini Sunset Sailing Excursion. 

Because really… what better way to end our Greek adventure than sailing the Aegean together as the sun sets over Santorini?

Those joining the extension will depart the following day, September 11th, 2027.

Full details, pricing and everything included in the optional Santorini extension will be available in our complete retreat itinerary PDF.

Whether you leave us today or stay for one last Greek sunset, we hope you head home with a full heart, beautiful memories and perhaps a little piece of Greece that stays with you long after the journey ends.