High functioning entrepreneurs, professionals, wellness enthusiasts, adventurers, foodies and lovers of life who want take their vitality and resiliency to the next level, while leading a lifestyle of enjoyment.

Although this retreat is designed with wellbeing in mind, this isn’t a retreat where you are cleansing, dieting, or restricting yourself from nourishing life pleasures. Rather, this retreat is designed for people who are looking for something other than a wellness or yoga retreat. Our schedule features daily opportunities to actively enjoy Tuscany’s natural, cultural, and culinary treasures. Our daily workshops are the tools which allow you integrate this relaxing, immersion experience.

Enjoy + connect + relax + be inspired!

 A typical day includes a combination of transformational workshops or expert chats, a mindful movement practice, and fun activities such as nature walks, a cooking class, wine and olive oil-making tour, etc.  

The Villa also has a beautiful swimming pool for total relaxation (depending on the time of year). See retreat briefing for a detailed schedule.

Ultimately, you will empower yourself to take an honest assessment of your well-being, and work towards building habits that fit your own lifestyle goals.

Spouses, family members and friends are welcome to join you in your stay. They are free to use the hours of the morning writing class for rest, relaxation, photography, painting, writing, swimming, nature walks, or whatever else they enjoy doing on their own. Please note that our villa is a secluded space. There will be no taxis or public transportation available once we arrive.

We work on delivering an Epic experience that is intimate, with enough time for quality interaction and support. We make only 20 spots available, with a minimum of 10.

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This trip is designed for anyone in reasonable physical health, capable of walking at a relaxed pace for two hours at a time, able to traverse uneven terrain without the kind of assistance we take for granted in the US, like hand railings or standard step heights.

To see Italy at ground-level requires walking, and we will walk on dirt roads or cobblestone at various times during the trip. Plan to wear sturdy and supportive footwear: tennis or walking shoes.

Just about everybody will feel sleepy during the day from the time change, which is why we include midday siestas in the schedule. We highly recommend arriving in Florence at least a few days before the retreat to help you acclimate to your new schedule.

NOTE:  If you’re pregnant, have a serious health condition, or need to stay close to a medical facility for any reason, please check with the Epic Team first to find out whether this trip is a good fit for you.

We’ve found that the sweet spot for the retreat is 5 nights. This allows participants to take 5 workdays off and two days for traveling on either side during weekends. For a total of 9 days minimum.

If you are new to this piece of paradise, you will want to explore Florence and all the charming hilltop towns nearby (before or after the retreat).

Pricing varies on your accommodation selection. Please see retreat webpage for full list of benefits and pricing. 

We reserve a group of charming apartments attached to the main Villa. Your lodging for the retreat is included as part of your registration fee — in addition to many other benefits and inclusions. Room accommodation is based on single or double occupancy. Please refer to the accommodation section for details.

Yes.  A non-refundable deposit is due with registration. The final balance will be due at a specified date noted on your registration.

You may do this by clicking on your accommodation preference and selecting the deposit option on the application form.  If you already know that you want and are able to join us, then this option is a no-brainer to secure early-bird pricing.  Deposit is transferable, though nonrefundable.

Yes. There will be one courtesy shuttle service available to and from the retreat. Pick-up time and location will be posted on your Retreat Briefing document (sent to you at registration).

​Please note that dairy, grains and grain products, such as bread and pasta, barley, spelt, oats, etc. are important and prevalent components of the Italian cuisine. Our team is able to make reasonable accommodations for gluten and dairy free options upon request. However, if you have a severe allergy to these foods or any kind of severe allergy, this experience may not be the right fit for you. Please be sure to discuss your needs with the Epic team before making your reservation.

Please note that Chef Luis takes great pride in using high-quality, fresh ingredients that are locally sourced. Deviating from the cultural practices of the region may not allow us to provide you with the most authentic culinary experience.

That’s always a safe bet. The courtesy shuttle to the Villa leaves on Sunday early afternoon. Date and time will be posted on your retreat Welcome Briefing that you will receive after registration. 

For those traveling a long ways, we encourage you to arrive in Florence several days earlier to help you adjust and get over the jet-lag, as well as give some time to warm up to new culture.

Yes. Travel insurance is required for this trip. It needs to cover any medical expenses that occur during your trip and should also cover trip cancellation, in case illness or injury prevents you from going on the trip.

Most companies require that you get the insurance soon after signing up. If you do not buy your insurance soon after you book the trip, pre-existing conditions may not be covered. Some travel insurance policies don’t cover cancellations due to pre-existing conditions at all, though their definition of “pre-existing” varies. We suggest that you carefully read through what is and isn’t covered before you buy.

In terms of trip cancellation, be sure to read the fine print, as these companies don’t cover every contingency. Most of the policies cover illness or accidents (with a doctor’s letter) and family emergencies, like when a family member dies or becomes ill (for instance, if you’re the caregiver of an elderly parent).

Participants have used World Nomads in the past. If you want to research other policies, are 70 or over, or need a policy for pre-existing conditions, we recommend using SquareMouth or InsureMyTrip to quickly research travel insurance quotes from multiple companies. They also provide reviews and comparisons of a variety of companies and policies.

If you don’t want to take the time to research your own insurance or if you can’t find suitable insurance through these channels, a travel agent can find you an individual travel policy (regardless of age or pre-existing conditions).

We like to work with Linda Schwedock from Pacific Harbor Travel and you can find her at:

831-427-5000 | linda@pacificharbortravel.com | CST 1014242-10

* Linda is on U.S. Pacific time and works 9:30am – 5:30pm, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday

No, most airlines will have you connect to a major European city like Frankfurt, London, Paris or Rome. Please refer to your Welcome Briefing for more tips when it’s time to plan your travel.

Yes. However, once at the retreat, you will not need a car. If you are staying in the city center of Florence before or after the retreat, a car isn’t necessary either. In fact, cars are more of headache given that most streets in Florence are for pedestrian use only.

Renting a car for personal use is entirely up to you depending on what you plan to do before or after the retreat. Please be sure to let us know if you are indeed driving yourself to the retreat. 

It is not possible to stay at the Villa beyond our retreat dates. 

TIP: most people decide to enjoy one last night in Florence after the retreat.

We’d love share our favorite places to visit, things to do, and places to eat while you’re in Italy. We’ll also be sending helpful pre-trip tips once you’ve registered in preparation for the retreat. 

For logistics like air travel and hotels, it’s best to work directly with a travel agents. Past participants have worked with Linda (info below) with great success and have left her great reviews:

Linda Schwedock, Pacific Harbor Travel

831-427-5000, linda@pacificharbortravel.com

CST 1014242-10

Absolutely! We love hearing from potential participants and answering any questions you may have to see whether or not our retreats are right for you. Feel free to contact us or schedule your discovery call.