Koufonisia has no airport, and that is a large part of why it stays quiet. Getting there from the United States takes a flight to Athens and then a boat, sometimes with a short island flight in between. None of it is hard once you see the pieces laid out.
This guide covers flights, ferries, timing, luggage, weather, money and entry rules, for anyone joining our May 29 to June 5, 2027 retreat or planning the trip on their own.
01 · The short answer
Koufonisia is in the Small Cyclades, east of Naxos. Every trip from the US comes down to three legs, and you choose how to make the middle one.
02 · Flights to Athens
Athens International Airport (ATH) is the gateway. In recent summer seasons, nonstop flights have typically run from these US cities, most of them overnight.
New York (JFK and Newark), Boston, Philadelphia, Washington Dulles, Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago O’Hare and Dallas Fort Worth, on airlines including Delta, United and American. Alaska Airlines plans a new seasonal Seattle to Athens route from May 12, 2027.
Several of these routes are seasonal and start in spring or early summer, and schedules for 2027 can change. Check current dates with the airline before you book. From elsewhere in the US, a single connection through one of these hubs or a European city is the usual way.
Most eastbound overnight flights land in Athens in the morning or around midday of the next day. That arrival time is the reason we suggest landing on May 28, not May 29.
If you plan to fly on to Naxos or Santorini, book that flight on the same ticket as your international flight when you can. On separate tickets, a late arrival is your problem rather than the airline’s, and you will collect and re-check your bags in Athens.
Our Meteora hiking and meditation retreat runs May 18 to 24, 2027, with the ground transfer back to Athens included. That leaves five days to explore before Koufonisia.
03 · Athens to Koufonisia
Times below are typical for the season. The exact sailings for May and June 2027 depend on the timetables the ferry companies publish, so treat these as a guide, not a schedule.
| How it works | Typical time | Worth knowing | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conventional ferry from Piraeus | Blue Star Ferries sails from Piraeus, calling at islands such as Paros, Naxos, Iraklia and Schinoussa on the way | About 7 to 9 hours | The least expensive way. A large ship, with room to walk around and sit outside. Long, but a day on deck is a fine start to a week of rest |
| High-speed ferry from Piraeus | SeaJets high-speed boats from Piraeus | About 4 to 5.5 hours | Faster and more expensive. Smaller, lighter boats can feel strong wind more |
| Fly to Naxos, then ferry | Athens to Naxos (JNX) on Olympic Air or Sky Express, then a boat from Naxos port | About 45 minutes in the air, then 35 to 60 minutes by high-speed ferry, or about 2.5 hours on the local Express Skopelitis | The shortest time on the water. Small planes often have tighter bag allowances, so check your fare |
| Fly to Santorini, then ferry | Fly to Santorini (JTR), then SeaJets to Koufonisia | About 2 hours on the ferry | Useful if you are already on Santorini or find a good fare there. This ferry runs roughly April to October |
Piraeus is Athens’ main port, on the far side of the city from the airport. The metro takes about an hour. The X96 express bus runs around the clock and takes about an hour and a half, depending on traffic. A taxi is quicker when the roads are clear.
For an early sailing, the simplest plan is a night in a hotel near the port or in central Athens.
You can book ferries directly with the operators or through booking sites, and most tickets are electronic now. Book once your flights are set and the 2027 timetables are out. Popular sailings can sell out, so we would not leave it to the last week.
Keep your booking confirmation handy, and get to the port early.
04 · Timing
Two sample plans for the retreat, working back from a morning ferry on May 29. Your own will depend on your flights and the 2027 timetables.
Going home. The retreat ends on June 5. Take a boat back toward Naxos or Piraeus that day and plan a night in Athens before your flight to the US, rather than a same-day connection. If the wind holds a sailing, you will not miss your flight.
05 · Luggage and weather
You will carry your own bag on and off a boat, and the island is small and rocky. One wheeled case or a soft bag you can lift is plenty.
Large bags usually go in a luggage area near the entrance as you board. Keep your passport, medication, chargers and anything valuable in a small bag with you.
Light clothes and one warm layer for breezy evenings, swimwear, a sun hat and sunscreen, sandals plus shoes for rocky paths, and a reusable water bottle. Greek sockets are type C and F at 230 volts, so pack a plug adapter. Most phone and laptop chargers handle the voltage.
Usually warm and sunny, with daytime highs typically in the 70s °F (low to mid 20s °C) and cooler evenings. The sea is still fresh, about 66 to 72°F (19 to 22°C). Rain is uncommon this time of year.
The northerly wind the Greeks call the meltemi can pick up in the Aegean. It is part of what keeps the islands comfortable, and it can also make a crossing choppy or delay a sailing. If you are prone to seasickness, a larger conventional ferry is steadier, and it helps to sit low and near the middle of the boat.
Greece uses the euro. Cards are widely accepted in Athens, but small islands run more on cash, so arrive with some euros for small purchases, taxis and gratuities. On the retreat, gratuities are in cash, so please bring euros for those.
We recommend buying travel insurance soon after you book, with trip cancellation and interruption cover as well as medical care abroad. Ferry and flight delays happen, and a good policy takes the worry out of them.
06 · Passports and entry
Greece is in the Schengen Area. Check the US State Department’s Greece page before you fly, because these rules do change.
07 · How we help
On the Koufonisia retreat, flights, the ferry and taxis are yours to book. You do not have to work it out alone.
Eric helps you create ease with your ferries, other transfers, and everything else you would otherwise be managing yourself. Send him your flight times and he can help you pick sailings that fit.
On May 29, our staff meets you at the dock on Koufonisia. From there your only task is to be there: seven nights at a private hillside estate, two practices a day with Rachel, and two family-style meals a day from our chef from Athens.
The retreat is from $2,799 per person in a shared room, with fifteen places. A $500 deposit holds your room and comes off your room price. It is not refundable, because your room comes off the list the moment you book. If we cancel the retreat, you get everything back. The balance is due 90 days before the retreat begins.
Before you book
If you like simplicity and a day on deck, the ferry from Piraeus means one ticket and no second flight. If you would rather spend less time on the water, fly to Naxos and take the short boat from there. Both work well for a morning arrival on May 29 if you land in Greece on May 28.
On some days the connections line up, but we do not recommend it. Overnight flights land tired and sometimes late, and ferries do not wait. Arrive in Greece the day before and plan a morning ferry on May 29.
It happens now and then in the Aegean. Let Eric know as soon as you hear, and he will help you with the next option. This is why we suggest a spare day on the way in and out, and travel insurance with trip interruption cover.
Not as of September 2026. ETIAS has not started, and the EU says it will announce a start date several months in advance. Check its status again before you fly, and use only the official EU site.
No. Airfare, taxis and the ferry to Koufonisia are not included, and neither are nights before May 29 or after June 5. Lodging, two meals a day, morning coffee and light food, every session with Rachel, and sales and hotel tax are.
Yes. Meteora ends May 24 with a transfer back to Athens, and Koufonisia begins May 29, so there are five days in between to explore or rest. Write to us and we will help you plan it.
Reconnect & Renew in Koufonisia, May 29 to June 5, 2027. Fifteen places, from $2,799. Hold your room with $500, and send Eric your flights when you have them. If you would rather ask something first, write to us.