Healthy Options Finland

Hey, can you please help Healthy Options out?

In 2019, 2021 and 2022 we were the proud winners of the British Travel Awards, coming in first in the category small activity holiday companies. This was such a fantastic recognition of the hard work of our dedicated staff!

Obviously, we would like to continue our winning streak - and we have indeed been nominated again! If you have a moment, we would surely appreciate your vote. It only takes a minute and it would really mean the world to us! If you believe Healthy Options offers a unique holiday that makes you return home all relaxed, recharged and rejuvenated, then please head over to greece.healthy-options.co.uk/vote - it only takes a minute.

Anyone can vote. If you’re not from the UK, simply uncheck the box that says “I have a UK postcode”. Σε ευχαριστώ πάρα πολύ!

Allow our fantastic Manager, Alex, to guide you through the exciting offerings at Healthy Options. Just as our team of skilled experts has always been a cornerstone of the Healthy Options journey, our diverse program is equally significant. The best part? Most of the classes and activities are included in your holiday package at no extra cost, setting us apart from other vacation destinations. Many delighted guests have left us with newfound knowledge to seamlessly integrate into their daily lives.

Preview our sample itinerary here (subject to slight variations each week): http://healthy-options.yoga/yoga%20holiday-sample-schedule-vassiliki

As Alex aptly puts it, the wealth of choices available does not in any way diminish your holiday experience. Our haven is far from a rigid boot camp – the level of your involvement is entirely at your discretion. Whether you prefer soaking up the sun followed by a leisurely poolside G&T, the choice is yours. After all, it's your holiday, and your preferences take center stage.

Healthy Options' 2023 mini-makeover Europe's best Yoga, Pilates and fitness holiday has had a mini-makeover this year! Programme manager Alex tells you what you can expect.

Porto Katsiki, a little slice of heaven on earth

Porto Katsiki is a renowned beach located on the Greek island of Lefkada, situated in the Ionian Sea. It is often regarded as one of the most stunning beaches in Greece and has garnered international acclaim for its exceptional beauty. The name "Porto Katsiki" translates to "Goat Port" in English, and it is believed that the name originates from the fact that the beach was once accessible only to goats.

What makes Porto Katsiki truly remarkable is its dramatic landscape. The beach is nestled at the base of towering limestone cliffs that stretch high above the azure waters below. The cliffs provide a breathtaking backdrop and create a sense of secluded serenity. The pristine white sand contrasts beautifully with the vibrant turquoise colour of the sea, creating a picturesque setting.

Accessing Porto Katsiki involves descending a series of steps carved into the cliffside, which adds to the sense of adventure and anticipation. Visitors are rewarded with an idyllic beach surrounded by natural beauty. The crystal-clear waters are perfect for swimming and snorkelling, allowing visitors to explore marine life and underwater wonders.

Porto Katsiki attracts both locals and tourists alike, drawing large numbers of visitors during the summer months. It has become an iconic destination for travellers seeking a quintessential Greek beach experience. While it can get crowded during peak season, the mesmerizing scenery and the overall allure of the beach make it a must-visit location for nature lovers and beach enthusiasts.

This exotic beach isn’t famous just in Greece, but all around the world, as it has been listed as one of the best beaches in Greece, the Mediterranean, Europe and the entire world on many occasions, and who could argue?

Porto Katsiki is located about 40 kilometres southwest of Lefkada Town, the island’s capital city. There are two ways to access the beach. You can take a boat from Nidri or Vassiliki to Porto Katsiki or catch a daily cruise and visit Ithaka Island, Skorpios Island, Kefalonia and Egremni Beach.

However, the boats are not allowed to come onto the beach and you’ll have to swim to the shore, otherwise, you'll need to stay on the boat and enjoy the stunning sights from there.

The other way to get to Porto Katsiki is by car, however, be ready for some zigzag roads! At the top, close to the steps, you’ll find a car park and some snack bars and a cafe, where you can buy some food, drinks and other refreshments.

Once you arrive, you will be blown away by the breathtaking landscape and crystal clear blue sea. Porto Katsiki is surrounded by incredible hills and a cliff, which offers you a natural shade spot for some suntanning too.

Sunbeds and umbrellas are also available for rent on the beach when you get there, so don't worry about having to carry an umbrella all the way down and back up those stairs!

We do advise you to get there early and if you have children, come well prepared but we guarantee you this is a beach you will definitely admire!

Spoilt for choice with new schedule

Key to Healthy Option’s reputation over the past 15 years has been the provision of an incredibly broad range of Yoga, Pilates, fitness and watersports activities for you to choose from. We are particularly delighted to share our new schedule for this year: with all the innovations following our mini-makeover that will be waiting for you in Vassiliki - along with the sun and Metaxa!

Just as high calibre, expert staff have always been an important part of the Healthy Options experience, so is the extensive programme - importantly, the bulk of which is provided at no additional cost to your holiday as most of the classes and activities are all provided for free - unlike at many other holiday centres. Many happy clients have returned home after a holiday with us, ready to introduce all they have learned into their daily practice.

Please see our new schedule here http://healthy-options.yoga/yoga%20holiday-sample-schedule-vassiliki

Tailor make your holiday
With so much to choose from you can select from all that is on offer to tailor make a bespoke holiday for you. It’s rare indeed for people to make all the same choices so you meet a range of people in the different sessions during the week.

Relaxed with no pressure
As highly experienced Healthy Options Manager Alex explains, this plethora of options available does not detract in any way from your holiday. This is no regimented camp - it’s totally up to you how much or how little you want to take part in. If sunbathing followed by a G&T by the pool are more your cup of tea, then so be it: it’s your holiday and totally your call.

Be the first to try the new schedule
So, if the weather has been getting you down, some sun on your back appeals and you can’t wait until later in the year to get away to our beautiful Greek island fishing village, April 29th may be for you. This may also suit if you want to be the first to try out the new Yoga equipment, shiny new fleet of bikes, Snorkel Safari, SUP Social, Herbal Talk, early morning Power Walk Pilates along the beach, Joint Freeing Yoga Classes and Dancercise.

The only downside to having so many new activities available is that, as they haven’t started yet, we don't have any photos to tempt you with: so there’s a high chance you may feature on our website if you join us on this opening week.

Mini Makeover for 2023 at Healthy Options!

New options and improvements at Europe's best Yoga, Pilates & fitness holiday

The Healthy Options team has been in full planning mode for the 2023 season with manager Alex in fine form and enthusiastically waxing lyrical about innovations for the year as Healthy Options has a Mini Makeover!

New equipment, snorkel safari and SUP around the bay

There will be new equipment in the tent to make your classes ever more professional as well as a fleet of shiny new bikes for the Monday and Friday rides.

The weekly boat trip is evolving into a Snorkel Safari. Dive George will be sharing his expert knowledge of Vassiliki Bay to explore the best spots to discover the underwater wildlife.

For the Stand Up Paddle Boarding enthusiasts this year Mike will lead a SUP Social around the bay, helping you with your technique on the way before stopping off for a well earned early morning coffee and pastry before gliding back to the beach.

Unique dream seminars

New this year will be Dream Seminars led by Dream Keeper Aris, whose key question is: ‘when did you last have fun in your dreams?’

Using creative meditation and matching theory he will guide you in how to navigate your dreams and master your subconscious. The focus is having fun and overcoming fears. We anticipate these sessions will be very popular and so they will be scheduled to allow as many as possible to attend.

Improved sailing, herbal walks and meditation on the beach

Our Sailing Tasters will be back this year but, for those who would like to, with more of a focus on learning more about sailing and the opportunity to take the helm with Mike on hand as coach.

Local Herbalist, Aris, will now be leading Herbal Talks as part of our extended options on the timetable. He will highlight the local flora and fauna hidden in plain sight on our doorstep, demonstrate burning sage and also share his range of creams and tinctures to give the opportunity to take his magic home with you.

We are also looking into the possibility of having extra meditation classes on the beach early morning or in the evening.

New additional classes

There will also be some different style classes such as:
• early morning Power Walk
• Pilates along the beach
• Joint Freeing Yoga Classes
• Dancercise.

Whilst these are all new things to try there will of course be the same core programme. Our wonderful Stefanie, who joined the team last year, will be back with more of her hugely popular and informative yoga sessions. There will also be the popular workshops to give you fresh, up to date information to take home with you, so you can continue to develop your personal practice when your holiday is over.

Our social nights remain as eclectic as ever, with live music and boogying at the BBQ or perhaps you'll join us for cocktails on Thursdays?

Lefkada voted the best Greek Island by WHICH Magazine

Our island of Lefkada has been voted the best Greek island by WHICH consumer magazine. It topped the poll with an overall score of 86% and 5* ratings for having the best scenery and peace and quiet with low tourist numbers.

It beat the two most celebrated premier islands, Santorini and Mikonos, hands down with double the ratings for beaches and food and drink. This 'lesser known' island was described as ‘virtually unspoiled and still typically Greek’ and praised for its ‘stunning scenery’.

Toppling these giants for the top spot is no small feat as they both have outstanding international reputations. Santorini has long held the crown as one of the most beautiful islands in the world, let alone in Greece. It is the romantic honeymoon destination of choice thanks to its stunning scenery, spectacular vistas, panoramic sunsets and natural beauty. Which readers scored our beautiful island of Lefkada as having equally breathtaking 5* scenery.

Mikonos, meanwhile, has been an ‘A’ lister hot spot since the 1960s with Marlon Brando, Elizabeth Taylor and Sharon Stone gracing its shores but its reputation as the preferred haven for private jets and yachts has built over recent years for the likes of Leonardo DiCaprio, Alessandra Ambrosia and Mariah Carey.

Healthy Options clients have been keeping this jewel in the Ionian Sea a closely guarded secret for over 30 years and quietly cherishing its phenomenal beauty.

A very Merry Christmas from all of us at Healthy Options!

I’m writing this happily hugging a bottle of champagne: we’ve just jumped from the stage at the British Travel Awards wielding the Gold Award for the best sports/activity holiday company!

John, Ann and Debbie, the office team here with me, are ecstatic and promise to get even more ecstatic (tipsy) as the evening goes on...

We're absolutely thrilled to be top of the podium again. Pre pandemic in 2019 we won gold with our first nomination. This time, the award holds even more value as it covers two years: 2021 and 2022.

Our first thoughts are to thank everybody who voted for us and of course a massive shout out to all our staff at Wildwind and Healthy Options, who put their hearts and souls into providing a great holiday experience for all our lovely clients.

Once again thank you so much for all of your support! It seems I’m being dragged onto the dance floor....

Cheers, a big grinning Simon

Just one more day to put us over the top!

If you had been planning to vote for Healthy Options in the British Travel Awards, but haven’t had time to get around to it, voting closes TOMORROW and so, if you haven’t already voted and you think we deserve to win, please help us out by voting for us in by filling in the form in the following link:
https://healthy-options.co.uk/vote

Voting is easy and will only take a minute. You’re automatically enrolled in a raffle that allows you to win great travel prizes, the best one of which undoubtedly is a free Healthy Options holiday for two in any week of the 2023 season!

Winning these awards means a lot to all of our staff, who we think have put in the effort to make your holidays with us really special. Please help us become number one once again!

Thank you so, so much. We look forward to seeing you again soon - we’ll be opening again in Vassiliki in the first week of May 2023.