Can you really go on a wellness retreat with kids? Lisa Oxenham, sustainable beauty expert and busy single mum of two, proves you can juggle wellness with family, as she checks into Peligoni on the secluded north coast of Zakynthos, Greece.
It turns out that the most effective wellness retreat for a mother isn’t one without children; it’s one where the children are content enough for her to finally take a breath. At Peligoni in Zakynthos, this concept thrives. I travelled there with my nine-year-old daughter and my baby son, looking for something specific – not a hardcore retreat, not fasting, silence, or a demanding schedule that adds pressure. I needed the sea, movement, sleep, delicious food that I hadn’t cooked, and ample support around the children so I could pause for a few days and feel human again.
Here’s why – and how – Peligoni offers the perfect opportunity to go on a wellness retreat with kids.
The Club
Peligoni is not your conventional wellness retreat or traditional hotel, and that’s precisely why it works. On the rugged northern coast of Zakynthos, it operates as a members’ and beach club. Guests can stay in nearby villas and spend their days at The Club, swimming, sailing, dining, practising yoga, attending fitness classes, dropping children off at the kids’ club, and reuniting for dinner as the sun sets.
What family travel needs is a balance of freedom and structure. There should be enough to keep children happily engaged, while adults enjoy the ease of not being confined to a strict timetable. Peligoni offers an outdoorsy, sociable, sun-soaked environment that efficiently caters to families. This balance is essential for any wellness trip with kids – providing a space where children can roam, swim, eat, make friends and be safely entertained, allowing parents to relax.
Yoga and fitness
At home, I sacrifice exercise first. Deadlines, school runs, feeds, emails and bedtime push my own needs to the bottom of the list. At Peligoni, I committed to one rule – attend at least one yoga class daily and take a swim in the sea each day too.
Peligoni offers three yoga sessions a day, which means there is always a way to make it work around the children. Yoga became my trip’s anchor. I rediscovered the joy of stretching, breathing, and enjoying 45 minutes where nobody needed me. To inhabit my body not as a vehicle for carrying, feeding, lifting and working, but as something that actually belonged to me.
The outdoor studio also hosts gym sculpt sessions, which I appreciated knowing were available, but I didn’t feel compelled to do everything. I was already active all day: walking, swimming, carrying the baby and enjoying the outdoors. Exercise can get so loaded – the pressure to bounce back, to look a certain way, to reclaim some earlier version of yourself. But at Peligoni, one class or one swim can be enough.
Children’s clubs
The first rule of any wellness retreat with children is that they must genuinely want to be there: boredom, clinginess or under-stimulation disrupts the retreat experience. But here, the children’s world is a priority, featuring crèches, kids’ clubs, engaging activities, water sports, a pool and ample space for exploration. The magic of a holiday unfolds when children spend their days outdoors, connecting with others. During school holidays, Peligoni also collaborates with TARKA, a London-based children’s activity company, to deliver an extensive programme of movement and play.
For solo parents, this transforms a holiday into a proper reset. At home with a baby, personal time is scarce – days blend together with no clear boundaries, and you’re always on call. The opportunity to safely hand over your child, even for a brief period, feels rejuvenating.
Crèche spots fill up quickly, especially during school holidays; I’d recommend securing your bookings before you arrive. If you’re travelling as a solo parent, plan your sessions in advance to make sure your own rest and movement time is integrated into the trip from the outset.
Greece and the great outdoors
Greece powers Peligoni effortlessly. The sea is right there, the sunshine energises you, and the food – tomatoes, olive oil, grilled fish and fresh lemons – tastes like health without any effort.
You swim in the sea, walk more than you realise, and children become delightfully wild, spending all day outside in the water and fresh air, leading to better sleep for everyone.
Zakynthos is greener and quieter than the more famous islands, featuring olive groves, crystal-clear water and a slow pace that instantly relaxes you. The north coast, where Peligoni is located, feels wilder, more local and less crowded. There’s no tracking, counting, or striving for perfection. It’s about the essentials: water, warmth, movement, good food and early nights. Greece has always thrived this way, and Peligoni provides the perfect conditions to embrace it.
Practical tips when on a wellness retreat with kids
1. Hire a car
To get to Peligoni, you fly into Zakynthos International Airport – a flight from the UK takes around three hours – and the club is located in the mountainous northern part of the island, just 45 minutes from the airport. Since there are no taxis in the north, hiring a car can be really helpful, especially when travelling with kids. If you prefer not to drive, Peligoni arranges transfers and offers a complimentary evening shuttle between villas and the club.
2. Stay near the club
Accommodation is available for weekly rental as a private villa, cottage or suite, with club membership fees additional. Guests can choose from Peligoni’s curated collection of suites, cottages and villas in the hills. We stayed at Traverso, one of Peligoni’s seafront cottages near the club. It provided the ideal easy, barefoot setup for families: direct sea access, a shaded terrace, an equipped kitchen and enough independence to feel like you have your own base while enjoying the club’s amenities. Depending on the cottage booked, Traverso accommodates four to six guests, with sofa beds suitable for children aged 12 and under.
3. Pre-order your suppliesÂ
A grocery pre-order service stocks your fridge upon arrival – especially useful when travelling with a baby. Peligoni supplies cots, high chairs, baby baths and other essentials at the villa, too. This aspect of family wellness significantly enhances your experience, eliminating as many decisions as possible before you arrive. Pre-book the crèche, arrange the car, order the groceries and request the baby kit. The less you manage upon arrival, the quicker you begin your reset.
The final takeaway
By the end of the trip, I felt reconnected and grounded. I still had two children and work waiting, yet I embraced the idea that looking after myself is not another failure. Sometimes, it starts with one yoga class, one swim, or one meal outside, with salt in your hair. A child happily occupies themselves. A baby rests safely in someone else’s arms for an hour. In those moments, your shoulders drop, and you remember that you are still in there.
A wellness retreat with kids ultimately doesn’t escape motherhood; it provides the support needed to rediscover yourself. Peligoni excels at this.
We may earn a commission if you buy something from any affiliate links on our site.
Lead Image Credit: Peligoni/Nikolas Dost
Any Questions or Tips to add?