GOLDEN HOUR: CRETE
This is not a someday trip. This is September.
Six women. One private luxury villa on the Mediterranean. Eight days of the kind of rest, beauty, and aliveness you've been promising yourself for years.
The Life You Want Doesn't Build Itself.
You've been waiting for the right time.
Waiting until the kids are older, the business is more stable, the calendar clears, the guilt quiets down. Waiting for someone to tell you it's okay to go. Waiting to feel like you've earned it enough, like you've given enough, like you've checked enough boxes that finally — finally — it's your turn.
I need you to hear this clearly: that moment isn't coming on its own.
Nobody is going to walk into your kitchen and hand you a week in Crete. Nobody is going to look at your calendar and say, "you know what, you've done enough, go." The permission you're waiting for? You're the only one who can give it. And every year you don't, another September passes and you're still in the same kitchen, still managing everyone else's needs, still putting yourself at the bottom of the list you're exhausted from writing.
Golden Hour exists because joy doesn't just happen. We have to choose it. On purpose. Out loud. Without apology.
Six Women. One week. Crete.
This Is For You If...
You are deeply competent and completely over it. You show up for everyone — your kids, your partner, your clients, your colleagues — and somewhere in all of that showing up, you stopped showing up for yourself. Not because you don't want to. Because there's always something more urgent, someone who needs more, a reason to wait.
You have a life that looks good from the outside and feels thin from the inside. You're not depressed. You're not broken. You're just... running on fumes and pretending you're not, because what's the alternative.
You want to travel. You want to actually experience something beautiful instead of just photographing it for other people. You want to sit somewhere extraordinary and feel it — in your body, not just your feed.
You are done justifying your desires to people who benefit from your smallness.
You know, somewhere underneath all the practicality and responsibility and "I really shouldn't," that this is exactly the kind of thing you're supposed to do. Not someday. Now.
This Is Not For You If...
You need the group to centre around healing or processing. This week has depth in it — you'll feel things, you'll shift things, you'll come home different — but we are not gathering to excavate trauma. We're gathering to remember what it feels like to be alive and to actually enjoy that.
You're looking for a bargain. This is a luxury experience with a private chef, a private catamaran, expert guides, and six women who came ready to be fully present. It's priced accordingly.
You need someone else to decide it's okay before you can go. If you're waiting for your partner, your mother, your inner critic to give you the green light — Golden Hour isn't going to work for you. This particular week requires one decision that you make for yourself, by yourself, because you want it.
A little about who's taking you there.
Hi. Hello. Is This Thing On?
If you don't know me, I'm Erica. I live on a farm in rural Canada. I have five cats, two dogs, an eight-year-old, and a husband with opinions about the number of animals. My everyday life is quiet and rooted and genuinely good — and I also know, with complete certainty, that there is an entire world out there that I am meant to move through.
So I do. I plan the trips, I book the things, I research the restaurants and the guides and the transfers and the details that make the difference between a trip that's fine and a trip you're still talking about in ten years. I am currently traveling (literally right now in Europe) with my aunt and I have, without meaning to, become the one making sure everything actually happens. This is just how I'm built.
I am not a retreat leader who needs you to be transformed by Tuesday. I have zero expectations of who you'll be when you arrive or who you'll leave as. I'm not going to pull you into a circle and ask you to share unless you want to. I'm funny — or at least I think I am — a little introverted, occasionally sarcastic, and deeply committed to making sure every single person in that villa feels like they can exhale completely.
I have held space for women in some of their most vulnerable moments. I know how to be with people in the hard stuff without making it heavy. And I know how to order the good wine when we come back up for air.
Six Women. One villa. Eight days. I've thought of everything so you don't have to think about anything.
No Two Days Look The Same. That's The Point.
What follows is not an itinerary. It's a few glimpses of what a week looks like when the only thing on your agenda is you — when there's no schedule to manage, no one waiting on an answer, nothing to optimize. Just days that unfold exactly as they should, because that's what happens here.
Villa Days
Lazy. Unhurried
You wake up without an alarm. The room is quiet in a way your house never is, the light coming through the sliding doors warm and unhurried, a palm tree catching the breeze on the other side of the glass and beyond it, the sea.
You lie there for a moment. Actually lie there. Not planning anything, not running through anyone's schedule, not mentally composing the grocery list. Just you, crisp white sheets, and the kind of stillness that feels almost illegal after the life you've been living.
Eventually you get up. You don't have to make anything. Somewhere in the villa your private chef is already in the kitchen and coffee is already happening and breakfast is being laid out on the terrace under the wooden beams, the Mediterranean sitting on the horizon behind it like it was always meant to be the backdrop of your mornings.
You take your coffee to the pool. You lower yourself into a lounger and you look out at the water — the actual water, turquoise and endless and five minutes from where you're sitting — and you do absolutely nothing useful. Maybe later you walk down to the beach, sand between your toes, white umbrellas, that impossible blue. Maybe you don't. Maybe you stay exactly here, feet in the jacuzzi tub, coffee going cold because you forgot about it, and that is perfectly fine because nobody is waiting on you, nobody needs a single thing, and the only question anyone is going to ask you today is whether you want more of the same.
You do. Obviously you do.
Boat Day
Wildly good. Sun-soaked.
Private catamaran. Professional crew. Six to seven hours on the Cretan coastline because that is simply what a Tuesday looks like this week.
You swim when you want to swim. You stretch out on the netting at the front of the boat with your wine because that's where you want to be. You SUP board or you don't, you snorkel or you don't, you lie on the deck with a book and let the sun do its thing because this day belongs entirely to you and you already know exactly what to do with that.
Lunch is freshly made and eaten on the water. Obviously. The wine is cold. The sea is right there. The conversation goes wherever it wants to go and nobody is watching the clock because there is no clock to watch.
The afternoon stretches. Another swim, another stop, more of the same generous nothing. You head back to the villa sun-kissed and loose, the kind of satisfied that sits deep in your bones.
A delicious meal. A private catamaran. A coastline that looks like it was painted. Just another day.
Ancient Crete Day
Curious. Grounded.
Your private guide knows these stories the way most people know their own family history — not as facts to recite but as a world to step inside. You move through ancient Cretan stone together, through a civilization that organized itself around the feminine not as a symbol, not as a metaphor, but as the actual axis everything else turned on.
Women were not revered here for what they gave. Not for how well they managed the household or raised the children or made themselves useful. They were revered simply because they existed. Because they were women. Because that alone was considered sacred.
You stand in that and something in your body goes quiet and then very, very loud.
Your guide tells you the stories and you listen and you think about all the years you spent making yourself smaller, more useful, more palatable, more manageable — and something about standing in this particular place, on this particular ground, makes that feel like the most unnecessary thing you ever did.
You come back to the villa different. Not dramatically. Just — settled. Like something that was slightly out of alignment clicked back into place without you having to force it.
THE VILLA
She's not a bonus. She's part of the week.
Gisele is the magic behind Cosmic Laundry, a self proclaimed Astrological Barbie and she is joining us in Crete as a formal part of what this week is.
She is one of those rare humans who holds up a mirror so clearly that you cannot look away from what she shows you — about how you actually work, about the things you have been quietly criticizing yourself for that were never actually true. She has done that for me personally in ways I am still feeling.
Having her in the room changes the room. Full stop.
The details of what she brings to the week are still taking shape, and honestly that feels right — some of the best things that happen in Crete will be unplanned. What I can tell you is that Gisele is completely, utterly herself, and she is going to see you. Really see you. And that alone is worth the flight.
Everything you need is already handled.
Seven nights at a private luxury villa. A private chef cooking breakfast and dinner most days of the week. Airport transfers in both directions. A private catamaran for a full day on the Cretan coastline. A private guided excursion through ancient Cretan history. An in-villa massage. A welcome experience. A special dinner in Rethymno. All gratuities, all included.
You show up. Everything else is already done.
What's Included:
- 7 nights villa accommodation
- Private chef — breakfast and dinner most days
- Stocked Villa (for when we get snacky)
- All group excursions including meals (catamaran, mythology excursion, Rethymno evening)
- Airport transfers both ways
- In-villa massages
- Welcome experience
- All gratuities
What's not included:
- Flights to and from Crete
- Travel insurance (required — non-negotiable, please don't skip this)
- Personal shopping and souvenirs
- Any meals or drinks outside of group events
- Optional extras you decide to add on your own
Private King Ensuite
Your own room, your own king bed, private ensuite bathroom
2 spots available
Early Bird: CAD $7,800 (pay in full)
Payment plan: CAD $500 deposit + 11 monthly payments of CAD $688
Regular price: CAD $8,900
from $ 7800
Shared Twin Ensuite
Two beds, private ensuite bathroom, shared between two guests
4 spots available
Early Bird: CAD $5,500 (pay in full)
Payment plan: CAD $500 deposit + 11 monthly payments of CAD $475
Regular price: CAD $6,200
From $ 5500
A few things worth knowing:
- Your CAD $500 deposit is non-refundable and secures your spot immediately
- Travel insurance is required. Non-negotiable. This is exactly what it's for.
- Early bird pricing closes September 23rd and will not be extended.
You don't need a reason beyond wanting it.
You don't need to have earned it, justified it, or waited long enough. You don't need the timing to be perfect or the guilt to have cleared or everyone around you to understand. You just need to want it. And you do. You've wanted it the whole time you've been reading this.
September 14th, Crete. Six women. One week that belongs entirely to you.
Ancient Ones: Athens
Optional Add-On
Athens has been sacred to women for longer than most of history has existed.
You are going to feel that in your body before you even understand why.
Hot stone underfoot. Jasmine cutting through diesel and sea salt in a way that shouldn't work and absolutely does. The particular quality of Greek light, like the sun decided to perform here and simply never stopped. You will be sitting at a café table on a September morning, coffee in hand, watching the world move past you, and you will feel something settle in your chest that you have not felt in longer than you want to admit.
There will be evenings on rooftop terraces with the Acropolis lit gold in the distance and something cold in your hand and the low sound of a city that has been doing exactly this for three thousand years. There will be wine. There will be gorgeous men we are absolutely allowed to appreciate because we are alive and awake and that is the whole point. There will be meals that become two hours without anyone noticing, conversations that go somewhere you did not plan, laughter that is too loud and completely unapologetic.
And underneath all of it, ancient and electric and entirely serious, there will be the sacred.
We will stand on the Acropolis with a private archaeologist guide and actually understand what we are standing on. We will find the Caryatids — six women carved in stone, holding up a temple for two and a half thousand years, shoulders bare, expressions knowing. We will go to Eleusis, where Demeter searched and where the Eleusinian Mysteries were held every autumn for over a thousand years, honouring the descent and the return. The Plutonion is there. A cave sacred to Hades. The place where Persephone was believed to have crossed over. We are going in September, the same month those ceremonies were held for a millennium, and I do not think that is a coincidence.
Some places ask something of you just by letting you in. Athens is one of them.
Three nights. The most goddess-soaked city on earth. Five women who said yes to the whole thing.
What's included:
- Three nights accommodation
- Private archaeologist guide — Acropolis, Erechtheion, Acropolis Museum
- All entry tickets
- Private driver and guide for Eleusis
- All transport between sites
What's Not included:
- Flights
- Meals (during the Athens portion only)
- Personal spending
- Travel insurance (mandatory for all attendees)
The details
September 11–14, 2027
Five spots. That is it.
Investment — $1,800 CAD
FAQ
What's the payment plan and when are payments due?
Both room styles have a payment plan option. Your CAD $500 deposit secures your spot immediately, and your remaining balance is split across 11 monthly payments due on the 15th of each month, with your final payment due August 15th, 2027. Full pricing and payment plan totals are listed in the investment section above.
Do I need travel insurance and where do I get it?
Yes, travel insurance is required — no exceptions. You can arrange this through your own insurance provider or through a travel agent. If you're unsure where to start, a travel agent is your easiest path.
What airport do I fly into?
You'll fly into Heraklion Airport in Crete. I'll be sending out detailed flight information and recommendations at the beginning of 2027, so you'll have everything you need well in advance.
What if my flight is delayed?
Don't stress. If your flight is delayed, I'll make sure someone is still there to pick you up when you land and get you to the villa. You will not be navigating Crete alone.
What's the cancellation policy?
There's a full cancellation policy document available for you to read before you book — and I'd encourage you to actually read it. The short version: you have a 30-day cooling off period from the date you book where you can cancel for a full refund, no questions asked. After that, refund windows tighten as we get closer to September, with May 1st, 2027 being the final date after which no refunds are issued. The full policy is linked here.
What if I need to cancel last minute?
Cancellations after May 1st, 2027 are not eligible for a refund of any kind. This is exactly why travel insurance is required — trip cancellation coverage exists for situations like this. If you cancel after May 1st, I'll make every effort to resell your spot, and if that happens a goodwill refund of everything above your deposit may be offered, but that is never guaranteed. The policy exists to protect the experience for every woman who shows up.
Do I need to know anyone coming?
Not at all. Most women arrive not knowing a single person in the group — and leave with friendships that outlast the tan.
Will I have alone time or is everything group activities?
You are a grown woman and you get to decide how you spend your time. There are no mandatory group activities. If you want to spend a morning alone by the pool with a book and a coffee while everyone else is exploring, that is a completely valid choice. The week is designed to give you options, not obligations.
What's the food like — can dietary needs be accommodated?
Most meals are prepared by a private chef and included in your retreat price. As we get closer to September I'll be in touch to ask about dietary needs and preferences, and I'll make sure your chef knows exactly what works for you.
How physical are the excursions?
Moderate at most. Think walking, some uneven terrain, a catamaran. Nothing that requires training or special fitness. If you can walk around a beautiful Greek town in good shoes, you can do everything on offer this week.
What should I pack?
The essentials: a bathing suit, good walking shoes, and something you feel gorgeous in for our evening out in town. Beyond that, pack light and leave room to bring something beautiful home.
What if I book a Shared Twin — who will I be sharing with?
You'll be sharing with another woman who, like you, chose this on purpose. She wants rest, good company when it suits her, and space when it doesn't. You're not being paired with a stranger from the internet — you're being paired with someone who is exactly where you are.
Can I request to share with a specific person?
Absolutely. If you're booking in with someone you know, just drop their name in the notes section at checkout and I'll make sure you're paired together.
Is the villa air conditioned?
Yes.
Why is travel insurance required?
Because life is unpredictable and I want you protected. If something happens that requires you to cancel outside of a refundable window, travel insurance is what covers you. It's not a bureaucratic checkbox — it's the thing that means an unexpected situation doesn't also become a financial one. Arrange it through your own insurance provider or a travel agent before you travel.
What's included vs. what do I need to budget for beyond the retreat price?
Think of this as fully all-inclusive from the moment your feet touch Crete. Your accommodation, all meals, airport transfers, excursions, and gratuities are all covered. The only things you'll want to budget for separately are your flights to and from Heraklion, travel insurance, personal shopping, any additional drinks you want beyond what's provided with meals, and anything else that's purely for the joy of it. Once you land, it's taken care of.
Is there a deadline to join the payment plan?
The payment plan is available from the moment you book, and the earlier you secure your spot the more payments you have to spread your balance across. As we get closer to September the payment windows naturally get shorter, and if you're booking in August a payment plan won't be available — your balance will need to be paid in full at that point. If you want the most breathing room, book early.
I've never done anything like this — is this for me?
If you feel like this is for you, it's for you. You already know the answer. And if it helps to hear it — you won't be thrown in the deep end. I stay in close contact with every woman who books from the moment they secure their spot to the moment we land in Crete together. You will never feel like you're figuring this out alone.
Will this feel like a healing retreat or an actual holiday?
This is not a healing retreat. There's no curriculum, no homework, no structured emotional processing. It's going to feel exactly the way you want it to feel — and for most women, that's somewhere between the best holiday they've ever had and the most themselves they've felt in years.
Is Athens mandatory?
Not at all. Golden Hour: Crete stands completely on its own and it is everything. Athens is for the woman who wants to arrive in Greece a few days early and go deeper. There are only five spots, so if it is calling you, do not sit on it.
Can I book Athens without booking Crete?
No. The Ancient Ones is exclusively available to women who have already said yes to Crete. It is not a standalone experience — it is what happens when a woman decides she wants the whole thing.
Is the $1,800 CAD included in my payment plan or is it separate?
It folds right into your existing payment plan. The $1,800 CAD is divided across the remaining months of your plan, adding less than $165 CAD per month on an 11 month plan. One plan, everything included, no separate tracking.