I recently had the absolute please of visiting Euphoria on a familiarization trip and was absolutely blown away!
First Impressions
I arrived into Athens Airport at the most unfashionable time of 6am, so I was very happy to be met by my Tesla-driving chauffeur with the news of two pillows waiting for me in the car! I can’t tell you much about the drive, as I slept the whole 2 hours and 45 minutes, waking up as we approached the Euphoria gates… What I can say is that it must have been a pretty smooth ride!
I was met be the ever-smiling Panagotis, guided up the stairs, through the most enormous glass rotating door and to the reception desk. They could tell I was very tired so went easy on the information for the time being, just handing me my tote bag, spa schedule and a complimentary water bottle. The views from Euphoria are pretty unique. You have a vast valley below, pine trees and mountains behind and a stunning view of the Unesco heritage Mystras castle perched on a mountain top. As I was led to my room, the earthy design of Euphoria immediately gave me a sense of calm and I knew this was going to be a special stay.
The Room
I was staying in an executive junior suite, situated in the old building that Euphoria has been built around. It is a very beautiful structure with old stone work and gorgeous views of the valley below. All the usual amenities were there, as well as a yoga mat, ironing board and plenty of toiletries, even a hot water bottle for the winter! There was a large selection of tea and coffee and healthy beverages in the mini bar. We have an exclusive free upgrade offer, due to our close relationship with Euphoria, so I would definitely recommend opting for the superior deluxe room to get the upgrade to executive deluxe.. All the rooms are well-designed and comfortable so you can’t really go wrong!
The Spa
I suppose I must begin with the Sphere Pool, it is amazing! You can grab some floats lie back and listen to whales and dolphins played through the underwater speakers, or sink 3.5m down to get a bit more volume. This was an incredible experience and I found myself drawn to it during every bit of free time I had! There is a swim through to an outdoor pool which is more suitable for laps and a variety of jets and jacuzzi beds to use. If you like a bit of thermal therapy, there is a beautiful round Finnish Sauna, Turkish Steam Room and Hammam, as well as a cold plunge pool. I often have a complaint that spas are a bit too timid with the temperature of the plunge pool, definitely not the case at Euphoria! If the plunge pool is still not cold enough, there is an ice fountain and to finish off, an experiential shower with essential oils. Euphoria also has a relaxation room with teas and infusions plus the option to order delicious smoothies. You can also book a private outdoor Californian hot tub overlooking the valley below.
Fitness
If you are more fitness inclined there is a stocked indoor gym with Technogym equipment, plenty of weights and a reformer pilates machine. There is an outdoor exercise area with TRX, as well as hiking trails in the woods at the back of the property. If you would prefer to do longer hikes there are plenty of hills/mountains to walk around in the local area and daily guided hikes in the morning. The scenery is absolutely stunning and a trip to the Unesco Heritage Mystras Castle is a must, should you find the time!
The Programme
The Euphoria Method is based on the balancing of the 5 Elements. Derived separately in Asia and Greece the your overall health is affected by how in balance these elements are. They have carefully woven the 5 elements throughout the spa and most treatments work around these principles. You will be given a questionnaire prior to treatments to assess how the therapist will approach your individualized treatment.
I was given some select treatments from the Emotional Harmony package and the 3GL Analysis. The analysis was very interesting indeed, a blood test was taken to assess my glucose and glutathione levels to make sure I was metabolizing sugars correctly and to test my system for antioxidant levels. The respiratory test shows how you metabolize fats, carbohydrates and protein and in what order/priority. From the result, the lovely nutritionists will devise a meal plan (if you are taking a full package). Here are some explantations of less familiar treatments -
Sanctuary for Busy Minds
This treatment was the most relaxing treatment of them all, it is very gentle. The therapist will, very gently, touch or tap pressure points on your feet and head while you consciously breath. The points she touches will depend on your questionnaire and brief discussion prior to the treatment. I can’t believe how empty my head felt after this session, I had an amazing clarity of thought and absolutely no worries in the world. This feeling was consistent with all the guests I discussed it with!
5 Elements Balancing
This was also a very gentle experience! It is a light oil massage designed to clear your meridian lines according to the principles of the 5 elements. Again, although it was very gentle it had a profound effect on my mental clarity and gave me a feeling of peace that I find hard to come by.
As well as these, I had a Shiatsu session and a Watsu experience (Shiatsu plus Water = Watsu!). These are my standards, as I have a great respect for Traditional Chinese Medicine and both were performed exceptionally, with care and attention. My favourite treatment though, was a simple 25 minute deep tissue massage with Tina. I wanted to specifically work on my shoulder and she pinpointed the problem and then worked exactly where was needed. Not going to lie, it was intense, but after the relaxing and gentle experiences of before, I felt I needed some deep muscular work and she nailed it.
Group Classes
An often-overlooked aspect of our properties is the free daily schedule, and Euphoria’s is one of the best! There are daily hikes in the morning, then, throughout the day, yoga, meditation, breathing exercises, sound healing, Tai Chi, Qi Ging even singing and drama therapy (extra cost) just to name a few. You can gain access to this schedule a week before your trip, so you can make sure that your programme doesn’t clash with anything you want to partake in. Otherwise, you will get a copy upon arrival and you can discuss your schedule with the spa team who will be happy to make adjustments where possible.
The Food
If you are on one of the comprehensive packages, your menu will be decided with respect to your nutritional consultation so you will not need to think too much about this. If you are on a lighter package on full board you have the choice of 3 dishes from the Starter, Healthy Options and Main Meals menu for lunch and dinner and a few choices from the extensive breakfast menu. Meals are all served to your table by the charming restaurant staff. There are a few larger tables that are designed for guests who are on the more sociable side, and individual tables for the clients who want more privacy. There is a large wine list but this is not readily handed out, only if requested.
The menus are quite varied with plenty of typical Peleponnese options as well as international cuisine. All the options I had were excellent and I have to admit I repeated the ficsh ceviche a couple eof times because it was soooo good. All the items are listed with their allergens and they cater for all dietary requirements. The locally grown and manufactured olive oil was a real highlight! If you are only there on a bed and breakfast option, items on the menu range from €11-€38. There are a few restaurants (some seasonal April – November) in the village of Mystras so there are other oprions if you wish to venture out!
The Surrounding Area
The village of Mystras is quite the tourist destination thanks to the UNESCO heritage castle and hiking trails in the mountains. I would most certainly recommend visiting the castle and the Cave Temple that is a very easy walk away. N.B. Do not follow google maps, unless you want to walk an extra 10km and end up perched on the edge of a cliff, on the wrong side of the valley…! Much better to follow the directions given to you by the helpful staff at Euphoria..! As well as these gems there are many hiking trails in the area so if you into exploring, as well as healing and spa treatments then Euphoria really does have it all.
In Summary
I was expecting a really special destination in Euphoria, but my expectations were pleasantly exceeded. The staff were all excellent and really try to make your stay feel special. The facilities are superb and the therapists all very well trained and dedicated to getting to the root of your problems, be them physical or mental. Even if Kalamata airport is closed for the season, the trip from Athens is definitely worth the time and money. I would go back in a heartbeat!
Why Wellbeing Escapes?
