# Abstracted Flavour - Painting Inspired by the Senses Retreat with Artist Nicola Bennett in Greece

Embark on an immersive journey with artist Nicola Bennett set on the sun-drenched island of Zakynthos, where sparkling Mediterranean waters, rugged cliffs, and vibrant coastal landscapes inspire creativity at every turn. Step into a world where food becomes the muse and color becomes flavor. Reconnect with your senses, unlock expressive freedom, and deepen your artistic voice. Through a series of guided tastings, intuitive color studies, and hands-on painting sessions, Nicola will teach you how to translate flavors, textures, and memories into rich and layered abstract paintings.

Whether you’re a seasoned artist or a curious beginner, this retreat welcomes all levels of experience, offering a nourishing blend of play, exploration, and artistic growth.

Complement your creative sessions with art trips to some of Zakynthos’ most iconic locations. Take note of sights, sounds, smells, and feelings as you explore together with Nicola and your fellow artists, later integrating these aspects into your abstract compositions. Glide across crystalline waters on a scenic boat ride to Navagio Beach (also known as Shipwreck Beach), explore the lively streets of Zante Town, the island’s capital, and visit an award-winning olive oil farm established in 1890 where you will also enjoy a delightful olive oil tasting.

Stay at a charming Greek villa, soak in the sun at the nearby beach, enjoy authentic Greek cuisine bursting with flavor, and make unforgettable memories with a like-minded group of artists.

## Details

- **Dates:** June 3 - 10, 2027
- **Location:** Planos, Zakynthos, Greece
- **Starting Price:** $4,800
- **Currency:** USD
- **Status:** open
- **Group Size:** Max. 16 students
- **Category:** [Painting](https://uptrek.com/ai/content/retreats/painting) · [Browse on uptrek.com](https://uptrek.com/retreats/painting)

## Overview

**What's included**

1. Art classes, individual tuition, and demonstrations with artist Nicola Bennett
2. Shala art studio equipped with: tables, chairs, glass jars, paper towels, easels, artist stools, professional studio lights, and fixatives
3. 7 nights of accommodation at an elegant seaside villa
4. Exclusive use of the venue's living quarters and common areas, the Shala art studio, pool, jacuzzi, wooden gazebo, SPA area, and beautiful terraces
5. All meals: 7 breakfasts, 6 lunches, and 7 dinners carefully prepared by a private chef
6. All diets catered for, including vegetarian, vegan, diabetic, gluten-free and lactose-free
7. Water, coffee, tea, juices, and snacks available throughout the day
8. Special welcome and farewell dinner
9. Delicious local wine during dinner service every day
10. Spacious sea-facing Shala art studio
11. Half-day art trip to Zante Town, with opportunities for sketching and painting on location
12. Half-day boat trip to the Shipwreck Beach (Navagio Beach), with a boat ride included
13. Half-day art trip to an award-winning olive oil farm (est.1890), home to olive trees over 1500 years old, with an olive oil tasting experience and opportunities for painting and sketching on location
14. Greek dance show and band for the farewell dinner
15. Private transportation and guide or chaperone for all planned trips and activities
16. Round-trip transfers from/to Zakynthos Airport (ZTH) at prearranged times
17. All local tourist taxes and fees
18. A dedicated UpTrek retreat coordinator available throughout the whole retreat
19. Fully staffed venue with drivers, cleaning and maintenance staff, and chef and kitchen staff
20. Access to a private Facebook group with Nicola Bennett and the other retreat participants four months before the retreat

**Not included**

- Airfare
- Travel insurance
- Art materials — a list of art materials recommended by artist Nicola Bennett will be provided five months before the retreat takes place
- Tips for staff — tipping is customary in Greece
- Other expenses guests might incur on their own

## Program

### Abstracted Flavor - Painting Inspired by the Senses
Join artist Nicola Bennett for an immersive mixed media retreat set on the sun-drenched island of Zakynthos. Across eight inspiring days, reconnect with your senses, develop foundational abstract painting skills, and deepen your artistic voice. Surrounded by the immersive flavors of Greece, explore abstract painting techniques with Nicola’s supportive guidance.

Through guided tastings, intuitive color studies, and hands-on painting sessions, you’ll learn to translate flavors, textures, and memories into strong and rich personal artworks. Enjoy three unforgettable trips that will inspire your next abstract pieces, expressing the beauty and unique character of Zakynthos. Capture the island’s iconic Navagio Beach, with its dramatic cliffs and legendary shipwreck, reached by a scenic boat ride along crystalline waters. Explore the lively streets of Zante, the island’s capital, filled with sun-drenched Venetian balconies, colorful architecture, and traditional Greek cuisine that will inspire sketches and color studies. And lastly, visit an award-winning olive oil farm established in 1890, home to olive trees over 1500 years old, for an olive oil tasting experience that will offer new flavors and inspiration for your painting practice.

The retreat welcomes artists of all levels. Whether you're new to abstraction or you've been painting for years, the retreat is designed to meet you where you are. You'll be encouraged to explore, experiment, and develop your own visual language, with plenty of guidance along the way.

**The topics covered during your classes with Nicola include:**

- Using flavor and food as creative inspiration to generate color palettes and abstract compositions
- Letting go of perfectionism and building intuitive, process-led practice that surprises and delights you
- Developing experiential drawing and abstract painting skills
- Understanding how line, value, tone, movement, glazing, layering, and expressive mark-making contribute to strong and rich abstract paintings
- Learning how to work in acrylics
- Moving beyond fear and intimidation with abstraction into a place of play, exploration, and creative confidence
- Discovering how taste, aroma, memory, and color can fuel abstract expression
- Creating a cohesive series of artworks and learning how to resolve a painting to completion
- Connecting with a small group of like-minded creatives in an inspiring environment
- Enjoying guided flavor-to-color translation sessions
- Learning from Nicola and her vast painting experience, from various techniques to developing your own art practice
- Taking part in discussions about abstraction, color, flavor, and sensory inspiration
- Connecting with a supportive group of like-minded creatives through discussions, artist circles, and reflective walks
- Feeling curious and leaving with renewed confidence, clarity, and a visual language that feels like you
- Receiving close guidance from Nicola in an intimate setting, culminating in a group showcase and a celebration of each artist's creative achievements
- ...and much more!

Your home for the week is a stunning Greek villa perched on terraced grounds with sweeping views of the Ionian Sea. You’ll have exclusive access to a bright, sea-facing Shala art studio, welcoming common areas, and a refreshing infinity pool, providing plenty of space to create, relax, and connect with fellow artists. Outside of class, savor authentic Greek cuisine prepared by the venue’s private chef and enjoy leisurely strolls through the villa’s gardens and surrounding paths.

Please note: the retreat venue is located on terraced grounds, with access to the studio, common areas, and accommodations requiring the use of stairways. Getting to the nearby beach also requires descending a steep stairway of approximately 50 meters (164 feet), and there will be plenty of walking during the trips. Therefore, this retreat is not suitable for individuals with low or limited mobility

### Day 1: Arrival
Arrive at Zakynthos Airport for your 3:30 PM transfer to a breathtaking seafront venue overlooking the Mediterranean.

Settle into your elegant room and take a moment to unwind before joining a guided tour of the venue grounds. Discover the inviting pool, the shala art studio, and the inviting common areas. Meet your instructor for the week, Nicola Bennett, as well as your fellow artists.

As the evening winds down, savor a delightful three-course welcome dinner in a warm and lively atmosphere. Enjoy a glass of wine with Nicola and the group and make plans for the week ahead.

### Day 2: Art classes at the venue
Enjoy a wholesome breakfast and a cup of freshly brewed coffee, then join Nicola and the group for a quick morning check-in to settle into the rhythm of your first full day at the retreat.

The morning studio session will be dedicated to preparing the surfaces you will paint on for the week ahead, and there will be plenty of time for painterly fun before any real painting begins. Nicola will guide you through taping down your paper with delicate tape and priming it with gesso, then making bold, beautiful marks with black and white gesso. You will play with water and a range of tools to build texture into your surfaces, getting a feel for your materials and shaking off any pressure to produce something finished.

Pause midday for a relaxed lunch, then head back into the studio for another afternoon session. This workshop turns to mark-making in response to the sounds of cooking and to the power of language in painting. Nicola will introduce onomatopoeia and phonestheme, the way sounds within words evoke a specific meaning, and how those qualities can travel straight onto the page.

Working with charcoal and Indian ink, you will take part in collaborative drawing exercises, learning to find and develop compositions with particular attention to value and composition. Alongside these foundational skills, Nicola will introduce the elements of design, from line and form to shape and the relationships between them. As you work intuitively and move from quick black-and-white studies towards more resolved ones, you will experiment with a wide range of tools and begin to develop the visual language that will carry you through the rest of the week.

As the class comes to an end, take some time to rest and unwind before dinner. Gather with Nicola and your fellow artists for a hearty three-course dinner prepared by the private chef and accompanied by a glass of fragrant local wine.

### Day 3: Art trip to an olive oil farm with olive oil tasting
Kick off the day with a warm breakfast and a fresh cup of coffee, then gather your sketchbook, your camera, and your painting supplies for the first trip of the retreat. This morning you will head out to an award-winning olive oil farm, established in 1890 and home to olive trees more than 1,500 years old. The drive carries you away from the coast and into the working countryside of Zakynthos, where the land settles into a slower, older rhythm.

Once you arrive, you will have time to wander among the ancient groves with your sketchbook in hand. These are not ordinary trees. Their trunks twist and split, gnarled by centuries of sun and wind into sculptural, almost figurative forms. You will slow down and really notice. Through experimental drawing techniques such as blind contour drawing, you'll explore the ancient trunks, botanical shapes, and dappled light of the olive grove, collecting marks, ideas, and photographs that will feed into your paintings back in the studio.

During your visit at the farm, take part in a delightful olive oil tasting, sampling the farm's own oils and connecting to this corner of the island through its flavors. Pay attention to what you taste, because those impressions, from grassy and peppery to soft and buttery, will feed directly into your painting later in the day.

Return to the venue for a leisurely lunch, then move into the afternoon session, which begins by responding to everything you saw and tasted on the morning's trip. You will work on experimental drawings of the olives and the trees and introduce the color palettes drawn from the olive oil tasting, turning flavor into pigment. Building on the skills you have learned so far and working with value, composition, line, shape, and form, you will begin painting onto the surfaces you prepared the previous day, bringing the morning's impressions onto the page.

As the class winds down, take some time to recharge in the late afternoon. Gather with Nicola and the group for a satisfying three-course dinner prepared by the private chef and paired with a glass of aromatic local wine.

### Day 4: Boat trip to Navagio Beach
Start your day with a nourishing breakfast and a warm cup of coffee, then gather your sketchbook and camera and head out toward the sea.

This morning's trip is a boat ride along the Zakynthian coast, which begins at the small port of Porto Vromi, where you will board a boat taxi and set off across the water. As you sail, your guide will carry you past some of the coastline's most striking sights, from imposing rock formations to secret caves carved into the cliffs. The boat's rhythm, the salty air, and the shifting blues of the sea will awaken your creative eye long before you arrive at your destination, Shipwreck Beach. If the weather is favorable, there may even be a chance to swim in the clear water along the way.

You will soon arrive at Navagio Beach, also known as Shipwreck Beach, an enclosed cove ringed by sheer white limestone cliffs and reachable only by sea. Resting in the sand is the rusting hull of the MV Panagiotis, a cargo ship that ran aground decades ago under circumstances that were never fully explained. The most persistent story is that it was smuggling contraband and fled a Greek Navy pursuit straight into a storm. Sketch if you feel inspired or take reference photos, absorbing the texture of the rusted metal against the pale cliffs and the strange, storied atmosphere of the place.

After returning by boat to Porto Vromi, head back to the venue for a nourishing lunch, then move into the afternoon with another art class. This session opens with warm-up exercises in charcoal, a reminder of the value and composition skills you have been building, before moving into color and flavor studies. Nicola will walk you through color theory, the relationships between colors, color mixing, and the ways color and flavor cross over one another. You will paint some of the drawings you made on the previous days and work through questions of composition, value, saturation, and hue. You will also learn the practical aspects of painting, including reading a paint tube, using various brushes, and exploring unconventional tools.

Take some time to unwind in the late afternoon. Join Nicola and your fellow artists for a delicious three-course dinner prepared by the in-house chef and paired with a glass of local wine.

### Day 5: Art classes at the venue
Wake up your senses with a filling breakfast and a cup of freshly brewed coffee, then join Nicola and your fellow artists in the sea-facing Shala studio.

The morning workshop carries on with color and shape relationships, giving you dedicated time to develop the paintings you have been building since the start of the week. You will bring mixed media into your work and return to experimental drawing, loosening up again and finding fresh ways to approach pieces that may have started to feel fixed. Nicola will move around the studio as you work, offering guidance whenever you need it.

After a relaxed lunch, the afternoon is dedicated to creating layered, rich paintings. You will move back and forth between loose, expressive mark-making and the more considered decision-making that comes from the elements of design, working with composition, value, line, shape, and form to push your paintings further. During the session, there will be plenty of room for conversation, with one-on-one feedback from Nicola, as well as wider group discussions and feedback exchange with your fellow artists.

Enjoy some spare time to relax in the late afternoon. Then, gather with Nicola and your fellow artists for a delightful chef-prepared dinner accompanied by a glass of fine local wine.

### Day 6: Art trip to Zante Town
Begin the day with a refreshing breakfast and a short morning check-in with Nicola and the group, then gather your sketchbook for a half-day trip to Zante Town, the island's capital.

Built along a natural harbor and once ruled by the Venetians, the town has long been a center of art and island life, and it is full of Mediterranean color and personality. As you arrive, you will step into a world of vibrant blooms and sunlit balconies, of Venetian arches and sparkling views out to sea.

Take your time wandering through the town, letting yourself slow down and really noticing what’s around you. This is a place full of sensory detail, from the colors of the buildings to the everyday rhythms of food to markets and life unfolding in the streets. You’ll focus on slowing our looking down through blind contour and expressive drawing, responding directly to what you see rather than trying to capture it accurately. It’s about noticing shapes, relationships, and movement and letting your hand follow your eye without judgment.

You might pause to observe bowls of fruit in a shop window, bunches of herbs, stacked vegetables at a market stall, or the simple repetition of everyday ingredients. These food-based details become a rich source of inspiration for color, texture, and composition. You’ll also draw inspiration from Greek cuisine itself, the simplicity of tomatoes, olives, lemons, bread, honey, and fresh herbs, thinking about how these ingredients translate visually through color, contrast, and surface.

Alongside your drawing, you’ll gather reference photos and visual notes, but the emphasis is always on direct observation in the moment. These drawings become the starting point for the work you’ll develop back in the studio. There is no shortage of material here, only the invitation to really see it.

Return to the venue for a filling lunch, then continue into the afternoon studio session. Here you will develop the skills you have built over the first few days and keep working into your paintings, returning to the visual language you began shaping at the start of the week. With edible nature and your own personal inspiration as your starting point, you will take your ideas further and bring more of yourself onto the surface, drawing on everything from the meals of the week to the colors and forms you gathered in Zante Town this morning.

As the class comes to an end, take some time to reset before dinner. Gather with Nicola and your fellow artists for a wholesome three-course dinner prepared by the private chef and paired with a glass of fragrant wine.

### Day 7: Art classes at the venue
Enjoy a filling breakfast, followed by a brief morning check-in with Nicola and the group, before stepping into your final full day of the retreat.

The morning workshop will be dedicated to bringing the work from throughout the week to completion. With Nicola working closely alongside you, you will pick up new techniques to make your own and learn how to problem-solve your own paintings, recognizing what a piece needs and making the decisions that carry it through to a finish. By the end of the morning, you will have a set of tools you can return to whenever you find yourself stuck with a painting back home, long after the retreat has ended.

After a relaxed lunch, enjoy an afternoon of painting followed by a mini-exhibition, a chance to step back and celebrate everything you created over the course of the week. You will keep painting where you want to, and you will also learn how to embrace the language of painting by reading what your own work needs and by talking thoughtfully about the work of your fellow artists. There will be space to share your own pieces and to reflect on how far your practice has moved since the first day of the retreat. It is a warm, generous way to close the working week, surrounded by the people who have made the journey with you.

As the day winds down, gather once more with Nicola and the group for a three-course farewell dinner prepared by the private chef. Raise a glass to the work you have made and the artistic journey you have shared together over this immersive week in Zakynthos.

### Day 8: Departure
Enjoy one last breakfast with Nicola and your art group, and exchange any last contact details before getting ready for your transfer to Zakynthos Airport (ZTH).

Check-out is at 10:00 AM, and you'll arrive at the airport at around 10:30 AM.

## Instructors

- [Nicola Bennett](https://uptrek.com/ai/content/instructors/nicola-bennett) — Abstract painter

## Accommodation

### Stunning Greek Estate
Your elegant venue for the art retreat with artist Nicola Bennett is a seaside estate overlooking the shores of Zakynthos and the vast Mediterranean Sea. Just a 10-minute walk away, the calm Bouka Beach beckons, accessible via a stairway that winds down the hillside.

This boutique venue offers a stately six-bedroom villa alongside a six-bedroom stone tower. All rooms feature ensuite bathrooms, shared or single, exclusively booked for you and your art group.

Every room is a cocoon of comfort, equipped with air conditioning, Wi-Fi, a TV, and a handy fridge, all complemented by chic boho décor. Large glass doors frame captivating views, whether of the venue terraces, the gleaming infinity pool, or the boundless sea. Please note that there are no window screens in the rooms.

During your leisure time, you can revel in the stunning infinity pool or unwind in the soothing embrace of a jacuzzi. Adding to the charm is a wooden gazebo, perfectly positioned for basking in the Grecian sun.

Your art classes will take place in the Shala art studio, dramatically poised with the sea as its backdrop. While it is walled on three sides, the studio's face opens generously to the sea, with chairs and tables available for you and your art group. Other workshop spaces include the spacious terraces right next to the infinity pool.

Please note that the venue is not suitable for participants with limited mobility as it is positioned over terraced grounds. To traverse its spaces, you would need to go across some small stairways, and all rooms are accessed via stairs. The steps to the beach are steep and descend about 50 m (164 feet); the beach is a 10-minute walk away from the venue.

### Shared standard ensuite room
One standard ensuite room is available for shared occupancy. You will share this room and its ensuite bathroom with one other same-gender participant. Tucked away in the stone towers, this twin ensuite room on the first floor marries traditional Zakynthian charm with boho flair. Spanning a spacious 25m², the room is accessible by descending a stairway from the main terrace. The room features two twin beds and a modern ensuite bathroom with a walk-in shower, shared between the two guests staying together in this room. The room also benefits from access to a shared patio in the towers, treating you to breathtaking Mediterranean sunrise views.

### Shared superior ensuite room
One superior ensuite room is available for shared occupancy. You will share this room and its ensuite bathroom with one other same-gender participant. The shared superior ensuite room is located in the main villa. Covering a generous 35m² on the first floor, it's known as the villa's quietest room, featuring two comfortable twin beds and an ensuite shower bathroom. Stepping out, a private patio presents serene vistas of the venue's terrace and garden.

### Shared penthouse
Two penthouses are available for shared occupancy. You will share one penthouse and its ensuite bathroom with another same-gender retreat participant. Perched atop the main villa on the second floor, the shared penthouses boast twin beds and an ensuite shower bathroom, ensuring comfort and privacy. Private balconies extend from each penthouse, offering panoramic vistas of the sea and terraces.

### Single standard ensuite room
Four standard ensuite rooms are available for single occupancy. The single ensuite rooms are located on the second and third floors of the towers and contain double beds. Sitting at a cozy 16m², the rooms are accessible via stairs. They feature private ensuite bathrooms within the room with a shower enclosure. Each room benefits from access to a small private terrace, treating you to breathtaking Mediterranean sunrise views.

### Single superior ensuite room
One superior ensuite room is available for single occupancy. This room located on the first floor, in the stone towers, marries traditional Zakynthian charm with boho flair. Spanning a spacious 25m², the room is accessible by descending a stairway from the main terrace. The room features a private ensuite bathroom with a walk-in shower.

The room also benefits from access to a shared patio in the towers, treating you to breathtaking Mediterranean sunrise views. The space exudes warmth and character, adorned with thoughtfully chosen wooden furniture and wicker decorations that perfectly complement its bohemian style.

### Single ensuite room - shared villa
Two ensuite rooms are available for single occupancy. These single ensuite rooms are located in a shared, separate villa with a private pool. Found outside of the main villa, they offer privacy and tranquility. The shared villa features two single bedrooms (located on the second floor of the villa, stairway access), occupied by one participant each. Both single rooms are equipped with a comfortable double bed and an ensuite bathroom, complete with a spacious walk-in shower. The shared living spaces on the first floor— a well-equipped kitchen and a cozy living room—offer areas to connect, converse, or simply unwind.

Conveniently, the single ensuite rooms in the villa are the nearest accommodations to the art workshop space. Outside, a private terrace presents spectacular views of the pool, the art studio, and the picturesque bay beyond. But the pièce de résistance is the exclusive private pool, inviting guests to take a refreshing dip under the Greek sunshine.

### Single deluxe suite
One deluxe suite is available for single occupancy. Located on the first floor of the main villa, this spacious suite stretches across a generous 40m², making it the venue's crown jewel. Its center point is the grand double bed, promising restful slumbers and comfort. The deluxe suite features an elegant ensuite bathroom, equipped with a modern shower. Yet, it's the breathtaking views that truly captivate; double glass doors beckon you outwards, revealing a mesmerizing tableau of the pristine pool, the inviting terrace, and the azure sea endlessly stretching beyond.

## Food

Experience the wealth of Ionian cuisine with tantalizing dishes prepared by a private chef. The venue earned its foodie destination moniker thanks to its family recipes passed down through generations and fresh ingredients sourced from local markets or grown on-site. Of course, your chef's passion for the traditions of Zakynthos is the driving force behind every feast.

Start your mornings with a nutritious breakfast spread consisting of freshly baked pastries and bread, yogurt, organic honey, jams, butter, cereal, and local fruit. Coffee, tea, milk, and fresh juices will be served with breakfast.

For lunch, refuel with a light salad, or opt for the traditional baked feta, various platters (with aubergine, tzatziki, and chickpea dips, saganaki, and grilled halloumi, all served with Pitta bread), pasta, and seafood courses.

Dinner is an elaborate three-course affair, starting with an appetizer such as Zante Bruschettas, followed by herbal oven lamb, rabbit stew with cheese, agalas stuffed chicken, moussaka with aubergines, stuffed tomatoes with herbs, ragout and pasta, grilled octopus, sea bream, or prawns. Top it off with a sweet treat and pair it with a crisp white. You'll enjoy plentiful, aromatic wine during dinner service.

Dinner on the last evening of the retreat will be an extraordinary event, as you'll complement your delicious meals with a traditional Greek dance and music show.

All meals are included. Between meals, you will have access to a snack bar with water, tea, juices, coffee, and homemade snacks. The exact menu will vary based on the availability of seasonal ingredients.

## Getting There

Located in the quiet beachside village of Planos, on the Greek island of Zakynthos, your retreat venue stands proud atop a rocky hill overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. The amazing views from this sunny haven provide a small taste of what Zakynthos has to offer: crystal-clear waters, lush vegetation, pristine beaches, and the tranquil Greek village below. The capital of the island (Zante) and Zakynthos International Airport are only 30 minutes away by car, and the mysterious Navagio Beach with its history of shipwrecks and smugglers is one hour away.

**Please arrive at** **Zakynthos International Airport (ZTH).**

We strongly recommend planning more time for long-distance international travel because of the current disruptions in flight schedules. It is best to arrive in Greece a day before the retreat starts to prevent any inconveniences caused by flight delays, rest after the long travel, and adjust to the new time zone.

**How to get from Zakynthos International Airport to the retreat venue:**

Private airport transfers at prearranged times to and from Zakynthos International Airport (ZTH) are included. If you cannot find good connecting flights from your departure airport to Zakynthos, we recommend you fly to Athens and fly domestically to Zakynthos (local round trips starting from US$150, subject to change, approximately 1h journey time). The transfer journey to the retreat venue takes approximately 30 minutes. Check-in at the retreat venue starts at 4:00 PM on June 3, 2027. Check-out is after breakfast on June 10, 2027, by 10:00 AM.

**Arrival Transfer:**

**June 3, 2027 - 3:30 PM** (leaving from Zakynthos International Airport, arriving at the retreat venue a little after 4:00 PM)

**Departure Transfer:**

**June 10, 2027 - 10:00 AM** (leaving from the retreat venue, arriving at Zakynthos International Airport around 10:30 AM)

**Please note that we cannot accommodate early check-ins and late check-out requests, so we kindly ask that you plan your arrival and departure accordingly.**

**If your travel arrangements don't work with our pre-set transfer times, please consider the following options:**

\- Spend extra days in Zakynthos before and/or after the retreat and catch the pre-arranged shuttles from/to Zakynthos International Airport.

\- Grab a taxi to the retreat venue (address: 63 Thesi Bouka, Gaidaros Tragaki, Tragaki 291 00, Greece, 40 euros - approximately US$45 per way. Please note that taxi fares may vary).

## Reviews

**Reviews from previous UpTrek retreats at this venue:**

- "Well it was lovely in all aspects! David’s gourmet food was a dining extravaganza! The quaint villa & the nearby town were enormously refreshing. The love & care put into the service was above reproach! I would highly suggest this venue to anyone interested in seeing Greece!"

- "The hosts really made my trip special by their loving and kind hearts! They made me feel like family as well as all their staff! The estate was breathtaking and I hope to visit again soon! It was magical and I truly appreciate everything done for us while there, their openness and especially the hugs! I miss them and the warm generosity and kindness. It's true that I felt more at ease, comfortable and hugged being a stranger welcomed there, than I actually do coming back home...!!! That is saying a lot about the character and hearts of Karen and David! It reflected in everything and everyone whom works there. That is why it works so well, as David says, that's Living, doing what you love! Thank you to all for the fond memories ;)"

- "The venue is beautiful. Waking up to see the sunrise was a perfect way to start the day. Food was authentic and delicious. We had some hot days in the studio, but apparently, this was a heat wave, but otherwise, it worked well. Staff was genuinely sweet and accommodating, and hard working. It was interesting to experience the Greek way of life. Our hosts cared about every detail. I enjoyed it so much that I will return next year and bring my daughter. Uptrek, thank you for finding this gem!"

- "Beautiful location! There was a lovely mix of art classes at the retreat, and excursions to paint or take reference photos! Our hosts were warm, kind, and very talented in cooking and treating guest! Thank you for an experience of a lifetime!"

## Frequently Asked Questions

**Is the retreat available to all levels?**

The retreat welcomes all levels of experience, though you’ll benefit most if you already have some familiarity with acrylics, as well as with Nicola Bennett's work and style of teaching.

**When is the retreat available?**

The retreat with artist Nicola Bennett in Planos, Zakynthos, Greece takes place between June 3 - 10, 2027.

**Are there any check-in and check-out hours?**

Please make your travel arrangements to arrive after 4:00 PM on June 3, 2027. Check-out is at 10:00 AM on the last day, June 10, 2027, after breakfast. **Please note that we cannot accommodate early check-ins and late check-out requests, so we kindly ask that you plan your arrival and departure accordingly.**

**Is Wi-Fi available?**

Yes.

**I am vegetarian/vegan. Can I book this retreat?**

Yes. However, please inform us of any dietary requirements at least one month in advance. We may not be able to accommodate severe, life-threatening allergies. Additionally, we cannot cater to dietary needs announced less than a month before the retreat, switch diets during the retreat, or accommodate last-minute requests made on the spot.

**How do I get to the retreat venue?**

Please arrive at Zakynthos International Airport (ZTH). We recommend allowing more time for international travel and arriving in Greece a day before the retreat starts so that you may adapt to the new time zone ahead of the retreat. Please hold off booking flights until the retreat becomes guaranteed. Private airport transfers at prearranged times to and from Zakynthos International Airport (ZTH) are included.

If you cannot find good connecting flights from your departure airport to Zakynthos, we recommend you fly to Athens and fly locally to Zakynthos (local round trips starting from US$150, subject to change, approximately 1h journey time). The transfer journey to the retreat venue takes approximately 30 minutes. For more details, please see the [Location tab](https://uptrek.com/retreat/abstracted-flavor-painting-inspired-by-the-senses-retreat-artist-nicola-bennett-greece#location).

**What should I pack?**

Please pack appropriate clothing, sunscreen, a swimsuit, insect repellent, a cardigan for chilly evenings, comfortable shoes, a sun hat and sunglasses, personal care items, and any personal medication you might need.

**Can I do laundry while on the retreat?**

Laundry facilities are available at the retreat venue and you are welcome to use them during your stay for an additional fee payable on-site.

**What supplies do I need for the workshops?**

A detailed list of art materials recommended by artist Nicola Bennett will be provided five months before the retreat takes place.

Tables, chairs, glass jars, paper towels, easels, artist stools, professional studio lights, and fixatives are included and will be available at the venue. **Students will bring their own art supplies based on the instructor’s list of recommended materials.**

**What’s the weather like in Zakynthos in early June?**

The weather in early June in Zakynthos is usually sunny and pleasant. You can expect average highs of 27°C / 81°F during the day that drop to around 16°C / 61°F at night. In recent years, however, temperatures have varied unpredictably. It is a good idea to check the weather yourself before your departure to the retreat and to pack accordingly.

**How many people are to be expected at the retreat?**

Maximum 16 participants.

**Do I need a visa?**

Guests traveling from the US, Canada, EU, UK, and/or Schengen member states may enter Greece for tourist purposes without a visa. Please contact us for further guidance.

**Are there any age restrictions?**

The retreat is open to anyone aged over 18.

**What language is used during the retreat and other activities?**

The retreat is available in English.

**Can a non-participating guest join me?**

We do not accommodate non-participants at our retreats. This policy is in place to ensure the creative and immersive nature of our retreats remains intact for all participants.

**Is the retreat available to guests with limited mobility?**

Unfortunately, the retreat venue is not well suited to host people with limited mobility. Accommodation spaces and most of the main facilities are only accessible via stairs. Furthermore, there will be plenty of walking during the trips.

**What happens if I need to cancel?**

Once the retreat is guaranteed, all payments are final and nonrefundable. Bookings are nonrefundable under any circumstances. Participants are required to purchase travel, medical, and cancellation insurance for protection against any circumstances that might require cancellation or change of travel arrangements. After your payment is processed, you may purchase insurance through the following link: [Purchase insurance](https://uptrek.com/protect-your-trip). Please review our [cancellation policy.](https://uptrek.com/cancellation-policy)

**Do I need travel insurance?**

Yes. Since all bookings are nonrefundable, travel insurance is mandatory for all UpTrek travelers. Participants are required to purchase travel, medical, and cancellation insurance for protection against any circumstances that might require cancellation or change of travel arrangements. We strongly advise that your chosen policy provides cover against lost or delayed baggage, loss of personal belongings, trip cancellation, trip interruption, accidents, illness, injury, medical expenses, death, and emergency repatriation.

For your convenience, UpTrek is affiliated with Allianz Travel and is a Registered Travel Retailer under AGA license. [Click here to purchase your insurance plan.](https://uptrek.com/protect-your-trip)

Please note that UpTrek is not qualified or authorized to answer questions about coverage, benefits, exclusions, or conditions of any Allianz Travel Insurance plan. If you have questions about your plan, please contact Allianz Global Assistance directly at [CustomerService@AllianzAssistance.com](mailto:CustomerService@AllianzAssistance.com) or by phone at 1-800-284-8300. Be sure to provide the **reference code F215276** so Allianz knows you are purchasing protection for an UpTrek trip.

We strongly recommend reviewing the terms and conditions of any insurance policy you purchase to fully understand the coverage, benefits, and claims process. We will gladly provide the essential documentation to support refund claims with the insurance provider.

**Do I have to pay a deposit?**

No. Once the number of guest reservations reaches the minimum number required for the retreat to become guaranteed, UpTrek charges the guests the cost of the retreat. Guests who reserved will be notified 48 hours in advance that their payment method on file is about to be charged.

**Will I receive a full refund if the retreat is not guaranteed?**

UpTrek does not charge the payment method we collect until the retreat becomes guaranteed. Once the retreat is guaranteed, there will be no reimbursement. Participants are required to purchase travel, medical, and cancellation insurance for protection against any circumstances that might require cancellation or change of travel arrangements.

**Will I receive a full refund if the guaranteed retreat is canceled by the instructor or by UpTrek?**

If the retreat is canceled due to force majeure events or circumstances out of UpTrek's and/or the instructor's control, UpTrek will let you know as soon as possible, refund the total cost of the retreat, and help you find another option for your vacation.

## Book This Retreat

👉 **[Reserve your spot on uptrek.com](https://uptrek.com/retreat/abstracted-flavor-painting-inspired-by-the-senses-retreat-artist-nicola-bennett-greece#book)** — no deposit required.

See [cancellation policy](https://uptrek.com/ai/content/cancellation-policy) and [travel insurance requirements](https://uptrek.com/ai/content/insurance).

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**Canonical URL:** https://uptrek.com/retreat/abstracted-flavor-painting-inspired-by-the-senses-retreat-artist-nicola-bennett-greece
**Last updated:** 2026-07-20