WELCOME TO
The EnChantment Retreat
· · 25-28 September 2025 · La Ciotat, France · ·
We invite you to a Weekend of Wonders & Wellness
What better way to greet the Autumn, and say goodbye to Summer, then by singing, dancing and creating sweet memories in the immortal beauty of the South of France?!
We are delighted to welcome you to our first ever gathering in the lands of Joie de Vivre; a place so serene, so stunningly beautiful, and so cozy that it already feels like home: La Ciotat.
Featuring international Chanting artists Kevin James Carroll & Susana Rodriguez, we have designed an adventurous journey of merry-making and well-being.
A gentle weekend filled with Music, Movement and Mindfulness, and overflowing with goodness.
3 Days of Enchantment & Nourishment
Along with Chanting Circles, Sound Journeys and Musical Workshops, this playful and fun journey also features Movement Workshops and Dance Classes, Guided Meditations, a Voice Activation, and joyous Evening Celebrations every night.
And because the area in and around La Ciotat is so incredible and can't be missed, we will also guide you on some exciting afternoon excursions to take in the natural beauty of the area. (See pictures below).
We are thrilled to host you on this weekend of joy, wonder and adventure!
Mantras & Live Music
Sound Healing
Movement & Dance
Yoga & Qi Qong
Delicious food
Peace and deep relaxation
Breathtaking natural beauty
Connection & Friends
The Schedule
Rich & Relaxing Days in Paradise
08:00 - 09:15
Yoga, Body Awakening,...
Gently activating the Energy, Stretching the Body
10:15 - 12:00
Morning Workshop
Interactive Workshops, Vocal Activation, Dance, Movemen...
13:30 - 14:30
Lunch
A healthy vegetarian buffet, enjoying an abundance of delicious delicacies together
19:00 - 20:00
Dinner
Provided at the venue on Thursday & Friday. Optional group dinner in town on Saturday.
09:15 - 10h15
Breakfast (Optional)
An Abundant, Healthy Breakfast to start the day
12:30 - 13:30
Midday Magic
Sound Healings, Active Meditations, Sharing Circles, etc.
14:30
Afternoon Break
Optional Excursions (Calanque Boat Trip, Coastal Bike Ride) Private Sessions, Siesta, Swim or Sunbathe on the Beach, etc...
20:00 - 22:00
Evening Celebration
Live Concert, Dance Party, Unforgettable Evenings together
Meet our "Enchanteurs"
Kevin and Susana will be leading the majority of activities, however, they will be joined by a trio of movement and meditation guides, including NEO founders Alexander & Delphine, as well as brilliant local Movement Facilitator Nadine Garnier.
Nadine facilitates NIA Dance classes, Surya Soul workshops and Qi Gong, and will offer all three at our retreat. With her local knowledge, she will also guide us on an afternoon excursion (optional) to a secret spot in nature where we will do a nature dance with headphones.
Alexander is a co-organizer and will focus on making sure everything is running smoothly. But he is also a movement facilitator and will lead 2 morning classes, one called "Dance of the Pearl", the other is a "Stop Dance Meditation",
Delphine is also co-organizing, will focus on caring for our guests and flow, but will lead us in a guided meditation one afternoon as well.
Together, the five of us will be your "Enchanteurs" for the weekend, guiding our group in a magical weekend of artistic exploration and holistic celebration.
OUR VENUE NEAR THE BEACH
Zero Gravity Retreat Center
Close to Nature & Town
A vibrant place between tall pine trees and the sea... to feel at home. In a quiet neighborhood on spacious land, Zero Gravity offers the perfect location for a weekend getaway of adventure and relaxation.
Just 30 minutes from Marseilles and less than 5 minutes by car from the La Ciotat train station, it's very easy to get to. Sitting on a hill with enticing views of the sea and only 800 meters from the nearest beaches and restaurants. It's the perfect place to play, and jump into local activities.
“Villa Solaré”, the “Zero Gravity Center” of La Ciotat, has a large meeting room, a large meditation room, kitchens, bathrooms, toilets, bedrooms and heated swimming pool. Year round, it hosts events that move in the direction of the lightness of being, of the Essential.
A PARADISE IN THE COTE D'AZUR
La Ciotat, Just 30min from Marseilles
The City of Light
What a gem this place is! Endless stretches of sandy beaches, a picturesque port filled with beautiful boats, an entire coast lined with restaurants and cafes, bike and walking paths, parks and markets, water and land sports, you name it, this town has it.
And if that wasn't enough, just up the coast are the famous Calanques, breathtaking fjords with turquoise waters and jagged white cliffs. Excellent for boat, kayak, or walking tours. And down the coast, you have the famous Cote d'Azur, one famous seaside village after another. And if you head inland, you have some jaw dropping mountain drives and beautiful nature to explore. So much beauty in and around La Ciotat that we highly recommend you stick around some extra days to explore, if you can. You won't regret it!
La Ciotat ("The City" in the ancient Occitan language) is famous for two reasons: The birthplace of Petanque, the French national pastime, and also for being the birthplace of the first ever motion picture, filmed by the Lumiere ("Light") Brothers who invented the "Cinematique in 1895.
Simple Two Step Booking Process:
· STEP 1 ·
→ BOOK YOUR RESERVATION NOW ←
Pay €325 Deposit
3 Payment Options: Credit Card, Bank Transfers or PayPal.
Please Note: There is a €15 booking fee for credit card and PayPal payments.
*No booking fees for Bank transfers, email us for details: newearthodysseys@gmail.com
· STEP 2 ·
→ PAY The Rest Directly to Zero Gravity ←
(During Registration On 25 Sept, 2025)
€200
2 Payment Options: Cash or Credit Card.
For any question about this payment, please email the team at Zero Gravity: zerogravity.presence@gmail.com.
What is included in the price?
Access to all on site activities, classes, workshops, concerts, etc. Zero Gravity space fees and basic office assistance included.
Meals: Includes 2 Dinners (Thurs/Fri) and 3 Lunches (Fri/Sat/Sun).
What IS NOT included in the price above?
Flights, Accommodation, Airport Transfers or Local Transportation.
Breakfast is optional and costs €10 per day.
Group Dinner on Saturday Night is on the Town and Optional
Afternoon Excursions are also optional. Boat trip planned one day, Bike ride and nature dance on the other.
Accommodation note: Several rooms on site, but they will be taken fast, However, plenty of Airbnb's and other rentals nearby. Please email Zero Gravity for availability and assistance: zerogravity.presence@gmail.com
READY TO BOOK YOUR SPOT?
Or Pay by Credit Card:
*Please Note: The booking is non refundable. See cancellation policy below in FAQ section.
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Practical DetailsDates: 4 - 10 May 2025 Opening Ceremony: 19:00, 4 May, 2025 Location: The Corfu Buddha Hall in Arillas, Corfu, Greece: BH Website: https://www.corfubuddhahall.com/ Max Capacity: Event limited to 50 Participants.
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What is included in my booking?Your booking combines two main parts: 1) Your NEO Gathering Pass and 2) The Buddha Hall Retreat Package - NEO Gathering Pass - All activities including performances, classes, workshops, sound healings, etc. The access pass is between €80-€110 per day (depending on when you book) and that cost covers all of our expenses, including artist and teacher fees, staff wages, flights, accommodation, food, equipment rental, sound engineering, photo/video, decoration etc. - Buddha Hall Retreat Package - Meals twice daily from Mon-Fri (breakfast and lunch), and one breakfast on the last day (Saturday). Office Assistance from the Buddha Hall staff, providing information to assist you with questions about accommodation, airport transfers, car/scooter rental, and more. Full use of the Buddha Hall property including their indoor space with Aircon, outdoor concert space, their swimming pool, wifi, unlimited filtered water, coffee and teas etc. The Buddha Hall package is 62 euros per day. Half is for food, the other half is for energy use & maintenance, room rental, basic office support, etc. The daily cost breakdown: 10 euros for breakfast (abundant all you can eat - includes coffee, tea, milk, plant milk, orange juice etc) 20 euros for lunch (abundant all you can eat vegetarian - includes coffee, tea, milk, plant milk etc) 32 euros for the Buddha Hall Staff (office assistance, cleaning, care-taking, land management, supplies, wages etc.)
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What is NOT included in my booking?Flights & Airport Transfers Accommodation Local Transportation Dinners (except for the welcome dinner on the opening evening which is included.)
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AccommodationPlease Note: The Spring in Corfu is quiet, not too busy and with plenty of options. But still best to book and arrange accommodation as soon as possible. Simple rooms in Arillas average €35-€45 per night, but more luxurious options can be found for €100 and more. Generally, the majority of attendees prefer to stay in the village near the beach where there is an abundance of accommodation options. We highly recommend Green Corfu, a local tourist office that specializes in finding the best room for visitors to Arillas. They can also help you to book airport transfers and local transportation, and all of these services are provided for free. Check out their website for more details: www.greencorfu.com/ The Buddha Hall has a few simple rooms on the premises and they book fast as well. If you wish to stay at the Buddha Hall, please contact their office as soon as possible: office@corfubuddhahall.com Alternatively, you can search for yourself on https://arillas.com, which has almost every hotel and B&B in the village listed on their website.
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TransportationTwo parts - Airport Transportation and Local Transportation: Airport Transfers - Arillas is located about 1 hour drive from the airport, and an airport taxi is about €75 one way. It's a bit less if you pre-book an airport shuttle. It's considerably less if you share a taxi/shuttle with another participant. 3-4 weeks before the gathering starts, we always share shuttle contacts, and we also create a shared google spreadsheet to help you connect with other participants to share rides. Local Transportation - The Buddha Hall is sitting on the tallest peak in the area, about 2.5kms from Arillas Beach. A local shuttle service is available, and can be booked for an additional cost (about €10 per day). The shuttle only goes between the BH and Arillas Beach at fixed times, several times daily. For those who want more freedom and flexibility, we recommend people rent/share cars, scooters or electric bicycles. We provide recommendations for trusted transport contacts after you complete your booking.
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Children InfoCan I bring my children with me? Of course! While The Movement Gathering is designed mainly for adults, children are always invited to join the fun! We welcome children of all ages to this retreat, and we even offer basic childcare so parents can fully enjoy the experience too. Please Note: Parents will need to sign a waiver form which relieves us of any legal liability, and makes you 100% responsible for your children during our time together. Regarding Child-care - we will have specific times, likely starting after breakfast and ends when lunch starts. Before breakfast and during the free afternoons your children will need to be in your care. Legally, we and the Buddha Hall need to tell you that children must be attended at all times, especially by the pool. - During our evening activities, we ask parents to keep their children close, and we will keep an eye on the kids collectively. Although we have some fun and celebratory evenings planned, we generally regard night time as being the time to slow down, tune inward and prepare for a good nights sleep. - Discounted Children’s Food package: Under 5 years: no charge, below 10: 75% discount, below 15: 50% discount. Final note: While we wish for the children to have fun and feel free, we also ask parents to help us maintain the meditative aspect of our gatherings, especially at night during concerts and those sensitive moments of beautiful silence between songs and sessions.
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Can I Volunteer?Yes! We typically have between 8-10 volunteers for each event and have a lot of fun holding space and co-creating behind the scenes. Please note: We offer a free pass (Value of €600) to our retreat in exchange for 4 daily hours of light work. However, volunteers still need to purchase their Buddha Hall retreat package which is €300 and includes most meals. More details will be provided after you apply. Please apply using our contact form and make sure to share your skills and areas of special interest.
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Can I apply to teach or offer my artistry?Yes, if you would like to apply to one of our events in 2025, please email us with your EPK and all of your links to: thegatheringcorfu@gmail.com Please note: due to high volume, we are not able to respond to all applicants.
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Can I offer/sell my products?Unfortunately no, at these smaller gatherings we will not provide a market/bazaar.
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Photography & VideographyThis event will be photographed and filmed. We see photography and videography as art forms that we cherish and utilize to capture all of our special moments together. As such, we have made it an essential and celebrated part of our process. So by booking your week with us, you are agreeing to be photographed and for your image to be used in our future marketing. You can request to not be in the foreground of pictures, and we will also honor any request to have a specific photo removed. However, the pictures are always tasteful and discreet, and no one in our 10 year history has ever requested to have their photo removed :)
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Directions to the venueYou will find a map with our location on the bottom of the home page. Most people will fly into Corfu's only airport CFU, and take a taxi, shuttle or rental car to Arillas. We recommend you contact the Buddha Hall office team for guidance in getting to Arillas. This service is a part of their Buddha Hall package: office@corfubuddhahall.com
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What are the house rules?No alcohol, drugs or sacred medicines of any kind allowed. We kindly ask that you join us in a clear and sober state of mind. There will be plenty of euphoria without the need of any substances.
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What should I bring?The Buddha Hall has a limited number of yoga mats, we recommend you bring your own. Please bring your own reusable water bottle (The BH provides fresh filtered water) Bathing suit, beach/shower towel, sun lotion, sun glasses, sun hat for the beach and BH Pool! Walking shoes - a beautiful island to explore! Mosquito/bug repellent Please Note: Several shops around Arillas sell just about everything you need.
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Banks and ATM'sThere is no bank in Arillas, but there are 3 ATM's. There are many banks in Corfu torn. Closest bank to Arillas is 8kms away in Sidari.
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Weather in CorfuAs you can imagine, Spring time weather in Corfu is unpredictable and even is possible though usually brief. In the Summer it can get quite hot, especially mid day. Fortunately for us, the Buddha Hall has AC and heat, so we are well protected in all weather conditions. We have both indoor and outdoor options, so rain or shine, hot or cold, we dance in comfort and style :) In the Spring we recommend bringing layers, the nights can get quite chilly. The Buddha Hall's pool is a perfect refresher on a hot day, so do bring your towel and a bathing suit.
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Cancellation PoliciesFor all NEO Gatherings: All sales are final. We offer a full refund if you cancel within 48hrs of booking. After those 48 hours, there is no refund of your booking. If you are unable to join us, you can choose to sell or transfer your ticket to someone else, or you can choose to move your booking to a future gathering. We will honor your booking for one calendar year. In case that we, the organizers, need to cancel the event, we will offer a choice of full refund or ticket transfer to the next event.
If you have any other questions, please visit our Frequently Asked Questions Page.
If you still have questions after, please email us through our Contact Form below.