The Paros Experience

May 10 – 30, 2026

A Quiet Week by the Aegean

For the last eight years, I’ve been taking small groups to the island of Paros for a week of sea swimming, gentle walks, good food, and slow days. It’s friendly and straightforward. No rush. No pressure. Just daily swims in clear water, time in the sun, and the ease that comes from staying in one place long enough to settle in.

We stay at Margarita Studios, a family-run hotel in the village of Ambelas. The same family has run it since the eighties. The beach is a short walk down the road. Several stunningly beautiful coves are close by. You can swim before breakfast, swim again later in the day, and end most evenings with a good meal and a warm breeze.

Dates & Rates

The Experience

What the week is

  • Seven days in a small Greek village, built around swimming and relaxed exploring.

  • Two swims a day, most days are one short and one longer.

  • A cooking class with our host Stella.

  • A day trip to Antiparos.

  • A lighthouse walk and a section of the Byzantine trail.

  • Plenty of time to read, nap, sit by the pool, or wander into Naoussa.

Who this is for

  • Adults who enjoy water or want to feel more at home in it.

  • Beginner through solid intermediate swimmers.

  • Solo travelers fit in easily. Couples too.

  • NOTE: Non-swimmers are welcome if they’re happy to shorten swims or skip them.

"Nothing is rushed. Nothing is fancy. It’s a week to reset."

A Typical Day in Paros

  • We walk to the beach around eight for a short dip. Fifteen to thirty minutes. Enough to wake up and stretch out. Complimentary breakfast is at the hotel around nine.

  • After breakfast, we head out. A bakery stop for picnic food, a walk, then a longer swim at a new beach.

  • Afternoons are easy. Swim lessons if you want them. Quiet time if you don’t.

  • Dinner is early by Greek standards. Sometimes at the hotel, sometimes at a taverna by the water. If the night is warm and calm we may go for a moonlit swim.

The Swimming

Water in May is usually mid-60s to around 70°F.

  • Wetsuits are optional (bring your own).

  • Short training fins are fine; long diving fins are not.

  • Buoys are helpful but not required.

  • Snorkels are allowed close to shore.

Swim Philosophy: You swim to your own ability. Stronger swimmers can go farther; others stay closer. You’re never pushed.

Margarita Studios & Dining

  • Margarita Studios is simple, clean, and friendly.

  • There’s a pool, a restaurant, a bar, and shaded places to sit.

  • Breakfast is always included.

  • The first and last dinners are included.

  • One day we cook with Stella and eat what we make.

  • Other dinners are up to you, either at the hotel or the tavernas down the road.

2026 Dates & Rates

Week One
May 10 to 16

Week Two
May 17 to 23

Week Three
May 24 to 30

Double Occupancy: $2,050
Single Occupancy: $2,250

What’s Included:

  • Lodging & Breakfast

  • Two group dinners + Cooking class meal

  • Daily swims & Coaching

  • Island transport & Antiparos day

Not Included:

  • Flights to Greece

  • Ferry to Paros

  • Lunches & 3 dinners

  • Alcohol & Personal expenses

How to join
Click the Contact Me below or email me at suziedods@hotmail.com.

Tell me:
• Which week you prefer
• A line about your swimming
• Whether you’re coming solo or with someone

I’ll let you know if there’s space and send the next steps.

Contact Me

Getting to Paros

Most people fly into Athens. You can take a short flight to Paros or stay a night near the port in Piraeus and take the ferry the next morning. I can point you to simple hotels within walking distance of the ferry. Once you’re on Paros, I’ll help you coordinate the last few miles to the hotel.

If this is your first time in Greece, arriving a day early helps with the time change and makes the ferry easier.