Three days of wellness: Costa Navarino

Wellness

By MO Magazine

September 19, 2023

A stay in this peaceful corner of Greece is balm for the body and soul, with expert spa treatments, outdoor adventures and endless sea-meets-sky views.

Set between the Ionian Sea and the Peloponnese mountains, Mandarin Oriental, Costa Navarino is just the place for a wellbeing-focused break. Follow our full itinerary or choose what appeals to you, from pine-scented hikes and days spent on the water to restorative sessions in the spa.

Colleagues preparing the chic terrace of Oliviera restaurant for service at Mandarin Oriental, Costa Navarino

Day 1

Kick-start your day

It’s time to adapt to a new, more contemplative pace, so turn off your phone and retreat to the Spa, which has a show-stopping pool overlooking the curve of the bay, as well as a sauna, mineral steam room and experience showers. Shed any lingering jet lag and fatigue with the ultimate Relax and Sleep massage as a prequel to a night of perfect slumber. Carefully applied pressures relieve key areas of tension, while award-winning essential oil blend sedates, calms and grounds you to induce a serious state of relaxation. The Spa opens fully at the end of September, but treatments and fitness classes can already be enjoyed.

Do something different

The Messenian countryside is dotted with waterfalls hidden amid sun-dappled glades – including Polylimnio, with its cascades and turquoise pools. Closer to the hotel, Kalamaris is equally lovely and less precarious to reach. Follow the road signs to its small car park, north of Gialova village, then take the trail through the woods to the fairy-tale waterfall and pool. (If you’d prefer a guided hike, our Guest Experience team will be happy to help.)

Settle into stillness

Back at the resort, head for dinner at Oliviera, whose curving, olive-tree-edged terrace has panoramic views over the sea. Its menu is built around local produce, from wild artichokes and sheep’s milk cheese to locally caught Kilada prawns. Feast on precision-grilled octopus, or try the mint-spiked Almyra salad: sea greens with bottarga, courgette and salty, crumbled sfela cheese.

Guests practising yoga on the Yoga Pavilion at sunset at Mandarin Oriental, Costa Navarino

Day 2

Kick-start your day

Set your intentions for the day by practising some yoga. One-on-one sessions can be arranged on request, while complimentary, small-group classes take place in the airy outdoor studio. Build flexibility and strength with a hatha morning balance class, or sign up for a dynamic vinyasa session, whose flow of poses are synchronised with the breath.

Do something different

Days here are backdropped by the Ionian Sea, and some of the best days are spent in or on the water. There are all kinds of water sports on offer, from scuba diving and snorkelling to wing foiling – an exhilarating cross between wind- and kitesurfing. To see the castle-dotted coastline from above try para-triking, taking to the skies in a sleek, engine-powered set-up, as birds wheel by and the clouds cast shadows on the sea.

Settle into stillness

Back at the Spa, lose track of time with a signature Botanical Rescue experience. This starts with an orange flower and lemon foot ritual, which spans three unhurried hours, taking in a Cretan olive-stone scrub to remove dehydrated skin. Then follows a full body massage using infused olive oil and locally sourced herbal poultices to release muscular pain and regenerate body and mind. Finally, luxuriate in a vitamin C-infused facial – after which you’re free to return to the real world, floating on your own private cloud.

Day 3

Kick-start your day

Before the heat of the day, head to the ruins of Old Navarino Castle (hiking boots and water required). From Chrysi Akti beach, a path climbs to the 13th-century fortress, whose crumbling arches and battlements frame the sea and sky. A steep descent takes you past Nestor’s Cave (where Hermes slyly stowed Apollo’s cattle) to the sand dunes above Voidokilia beach. After a swim, follow the trail from its southern end, past the bird-filled Gialova Lagoon and back to Chrysi Akti.

Do something different

The aromatic, grassy-hued local olive oil is some of the best in the world. Tour the olive groves or ask the Guest Experience team to arrange an expert tasting. From October to November, don’t miss the chance to experience the harvest, complete with a sommelier-led tasting and dinner amid the olive trees.

Settle into stillness

Sunset over Navarino Bay is not to be missed, streaking the sea and sky with orange, lilac and pink. For front-row vistas, head out on the hotel’s boat, or plan a perfectly timed paddleboarding session on the bay’s tranquil waters. There are tandem paddleboards to rent, with space for two or more. Once you’ve found your rhythm, it’s a serenely meditative experience.

All offers and experiences available at time of publication. Please contact the hotel team for more information.

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