Why a Mediterranean Retreat Is the Best Way to Travel Solo as a Woman
Written by Jacqui Toumbas, food and travel creator and founder of Savour the Slow, hosting women’s retreats in Italy and Greece.
There comes a point where you realise you don’t just want time away, you want a different way of travelling altogether. One that feels slower, more connected, and more human. If you’ve been craving a break that offers space, beauty, and real connection, a Mediterranean retreat for solo women might be exactly what you’re looking for.
Not a tour bus. Not a silent yoga retreat.
And not travelling completely alone either.
Something in between, grounded, intentional, and deeply rooted in place.
When Solo Travel Feels Both Exciting and Intimidating
Solo travel can feel empowering… and overwhelming at the same time. The freedom is appealing, but the logistics, safety considerations, and loneliness can quietly creep in, especially when travelling through Europe for the first time on your own.
Many women I speak to crave independence, but not isolation. They want to explore new places, but also want to feel held by a sense of structure and community. They don’t want to rush from city to city or feel like an outsider looking in.
They want to arrive somewhere and actually feel it.
Why This Kind of Travel Exists
Traditional travel often asks us to move fast, more cities, more sights, more ticking boxes. But there’s another way to experience places like Italy and Greece. A slower way that centres food, culture, and connection.
Mediterranean retreats exist because there are women who want:
One beautiful base, not a suitcase unpacked every night
Shared meals that turn into conversations
Time to wander, rest, and explore without urgency
It’s travel that values depth over volume.
What Makes a Mediterranean Retreat Different
The Mediterranean way of life is naturally slow. Days revolve around meals, conversation, walking, and being present. That’s what makes it such a powerful setting for a retreat, especially for women travelling solo.
Instead of skimming the surface, you’re invited into:
Local kitchens and family-run spaces
Markets, bakeries, and countryside walks
Conversations with people who live there
This isn’t about being shown the highlights. It’s about feeling connected to a place, even for a short time.
Connection Without the Awkwardness
One of the biggest hesitations around group travel is the fear that it will feel forced or uncomfortable. That you’ll be expected to overshare, perform, or “transform” in ways that don’t feel natural.
That’s not what this is.
Connection on a Mediterranean retreat happens quietly. Through cooking together. Through shared tables. Through walking side by side. It’s gentle, organic, and respectful of where you’re at.
You travel solo, but you’re never alone.
Italy and Greece Through a Slow Travel Lens
Italy and Greece are often experienced at speed, rushing through cities, lining up for landmarks, moving on before you’ve really settled in. Slow travel offers a different lens.
It allows you to:
Stay in one region and truly get to know it
Notice the rhythms of daily life
Feel welcomed rather than passing through
This is where the Mediterranean really reveals itself, not in the highlights, but in the in-between moments.
Why I Created These Retreats
This was the experience I was searching for myself.
I didn’t want a tour, and I didn’t want to be completely on my own. I wanted to connect with locals, to eat food that told a story, and to feel grounded in a place rather than rushing through it.
I wanted to be off the beaten track, but not disconnected.
Savour the Slow was created for women who feel the same pull. Women who value depth, who are curious about culture, and who want to travel in a way that feels intentional and nourishing.
Who This Is For (And Who It’s Not)
These retreats are for women who:
Are travelling solo, but crave connection
Want to explore Europe slowly and meaningfully
Value food, culture, and conversation
Are open, grounded, and curious
They’re not for fast-paced touring, party travel, or ticking boxes. And that’s intentional.
A Gentle Invitation
If you’ve been feeling called to travel differently, to experience Europe in a way that feels more connected and real, this might be your moment.
Savour the Slow offers Mediterranean retreats in Italy and Greece designed for solo women who want depth, not rush, and connection without pressure.
You’re invited to explore what’s coming next, slowly.
Explore upcoming Mediterranean retreats
Join the 2026 waitlist