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Samos
Quality Christian Holidays
Samos is a Greek treasure, an island bursting with spectacular scenery, idyllic beaches and coves, mountains, waterfalls, and picture-perfect Greek charm.
Surrounded by beautiful flora and with magnificent views over the ocean, the Zefiros Beach Hotel is just metres from the clean, pebble beach and sparkling Aegean Sea, perfect for swimming and watersports. Many of our guests have been coming on their Christian holidays to Samos year after year, and we understand why!
Don't just take our word for it!
Ministry
Our caring Ministry Leaders provide teaching, reflective prayer times and will be available in the days to chat and pray with you.
Themed Weeks
Take part in our popular programme of Themed Weeks across the summer, including walking, retreat, age oriented and creative weeks!
Children & Teens
During school holidays, our dedicated Children’s and Teens’ workers are on hand offering exciting activities where your children can have fun together in a safe environment.
Zefiros Beach Hotel
The family-run Zefiros Beach Hotel is perfectly positioned just metres from the beach. The hotel’s large terrace boasts an amazing panoramic view across the hotel’s pool and on to beautiful Mykali Bay.
The Greek hotel has a Mediterranean feel with cool blue and white decor. The whole area is beautifully designed and potted with vibrant bougainvillea and palm trees. There is sunbathing space around the pool and plenty of quieter corners for those who are looking for a bit of seclusion.
- Public areas include a spacious reception, an indoor lounge and bar, a large outdoor terrace and the hotel’s outdoor/indoor restaurant.
- Facilities at the hotel include a large swimming pool with sun loungers, a separate shallow toddlers’ pool, a tennis court, a poolside taverna and a beachside snack bar. There are also sunbeds available to hire along the beach for a small fee.
- The Richmond RYA watersports centre, exclusively for our guests, is also situated on the beach in front of the hotel – you won’t be able to miss it!
Samos Island, one of the most idyllic Greek islands found in the Aegean Sea, is a hidden treasure; its picture-perfect views and natural beauty makes it a stunning holiday location.
The Rooms
The rooms are arranged across all four floors of the hotel. Each of the hotel’s spacious, bright and airy bedrooms are air conditioned, and have their own private balcony, ensuite, mini fridge and hairdryer.
Classic Twin
Lower-Level Room
Classic Triple and Quad
Corner Suite
Penthouse Suite
Classic Twin
On the first or second floor of the hotel, these rooms enjoy a view of the sea from their balconies.
All Classic rooms have twin beds as standard, but it is possible to add an additional child’s bed, subject to availability.
Maximum occupancy two adults and one under-12.
Lower-Level Room
On the ground floor of the hotel, down one flight of stairs from the reception level, these rooms have garden views.
These rooms are available with a fixed double bed or twin beds and there is also the option of adding an extra child’s bed. Double rooms and twin rooms on this level are interconnected, making them perfect for families!
Maximum occupancy two adults and one under-12.
Classic Triple and Quad
On the first and second floor of the hotel, we have triple rooms and one quad room with views of the sea from their balconies. Triple rooms have three single beds; the quad room has four single beds.
Discounts are available for under-12s in the third and fourth beds in these rooms.
Maximum occupancy three adults in the triple rooms, four adults in the quad room.
Corner Suite
Comprising of two bedrooms and a bathroom, and on the front corner of the hotel, this Suite is perfect for families who enjoy gorgeous sea views! One bedroom has a fixed double bed while the second room has twin beds. Both rooms have a balcony to sit out on and enjoy.
Discounts are available for under-12s in the third and fourth beds in the Suite.
Maximum occupancy four adults.
Penthouse Suite
The crowning glory of the Zefiros Beach Hotel! The Penthouse Suite takes pride of place on the top floor of the hotel where you can enjoy panoramic sea views from the Penthouse balcony. The master bedroom of the suite has a larger bed (UK Super King) and direct access to the balcony. The Penthouse Suite is the only room in the hotel with a kitchenette area, equipped with sink, kettle, hob and fridge, perfect for those who prefer their morning cup of tea on their own private balcony!
With a sofa-bed in the kitchenette/living area, the Penthouse has a maximum occupancy of three people. Discounts are available for under-12s in the third bed of the Suite.
The Food
Just to say… we will do our best to cater for any dietary requirements, please let us know at the point of booking your holiday.
Our holidays are half-board, so they include a buffet breakfast each day as well as dinner in the hotel dining area.
A leisurely breakfast is a great way to start the day, and at the Zefiros Beach Hotel, breakfast can be enjoyed between 07:30 – 10:00 each morning. There is a varied continental breakfast including fresh fruit, yoghurt, cereals, pastries and bread. Each day there is a different egg option with accompanying meats such as chorizo, ham or bacon, and with extras such as cheese and tomatoes. Tea, coffee and fruit juice is available free of charge throughout breakfast.
Although lunch is not included in your holiday package, the hotel’s poolside taverna is a great place to enjoy a delicious meal. The taverna offers traditional Greek food such as souvlaki, grilled fish and the classic Greek salad. The taverna also serves pasta dishes, omelettes and toasted sandwiches. Alternatively, there are some fantastic nearby tavernas along Mykali Bay that you can find by turning left out the hotel and wandering along the beach towards Psili Ammos.
The evening meal is available between 19:30 – 21:00 in the hotel’s dining room. There are three courses and a large salad bar, with a mix of traditional Greek dishes and more classic dishes to choose from. There is a hot starter option followed by the main course including meat and/or fish and vegetarian options. The main course is served with a choice of sides. Enjoy different traditional Greek desserts each night from baklava to honey doughnuts and fruit!
There is bottled water on the table and alcoholic and soft drinks are available to order from waiters during dinner and can be added to your hotel tab. We would recommend trying some of the wonderful Samos wines from local vineyards. A glass of Samos’s famous Vin Doux, a honeyed sweet wine served ice–cold, is a particularly good way to end a meal! Alternatively, finish your meal with a complimentary coffee or tea.
Your Ministry Leaders
Greg Downes
27 Jun - 11 Jul 2024
Greg Downes is the Director of Kingfisher Ministries and lives in the Oxfordshire Cotswolds with his wife Tamie and their two young daughters. He is a member of the Archbishop’s College of Evangelists and speaks at missions, conferences and churches both in the UK and abroad.
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Dalton King
11-25 Jul 2024
Born in Montego Bay, Jamaica, Dalton came to England at the age of 9 and was saved at the age of 16 at a Boys Brigade Camp. Dalton is part of Little Hill Church in Wigston, Leicester, where he preaches occasionally on Sundays and at mid-week Bible studies. He regularly speaks at several churches in the surrounding area and has spoken on over 20 Christian holidays in various locations around the world.
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Mark Simmons
23 May - 06 Jun 2024
Mark Simmons is involved in a local church and serves the North West Baptist Association through his work as a moderato. Mark loves sport, music, travel, and food and loves to incorporate all of these into his ministry.
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Steve & Katrina Woodcock
25 Jul - 08 Aug 2024
Steve & Katrina are senior pastors of Five Valleys Christian Fellowship in Stroud, Gloucestershire. Steve is an experienced youth worker and spends half of his working week in a local secondary school mentoring students. Katrina works as an early years practitioner, she loves helping and supporting families as they journey through life.
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Trevor Gribben
22 Aug - 05 Sep 2024
Trevor is a Minister of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, currently serving as Clerk of the General Assembly and General Secretary– the senior all-Ireland leadership role in his denomination. Trevor has been involved in leading ministry with Richmond since the beginning of the Company and retains an ongoing passion for that ministry both to guests and to staff.
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Nick & Pam Jackson
19 Sep - 10 Oct 2024
Married to Pam and father to two grown-up sons. Formerly a Mathematics teacher and then IT Manager in commerce, Nick is currently the Team Pastor at LOVECHURCH in Bournemouth. Nick and Pam love the outdoors, sunshine and the sea and enjoy a glass of wine or a good cup of coffee.
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Helen Hender and Roger Constantine
13-27 Jun 2024
Helen has worked as a qualified youth worker and lecturer in a variety of settings including and now works for the international charity ‘Safe Families.’ Rog has experience of leading ministry and hosting with a number of tour operators. Together as a couple they enjoy being creative, making things, dogs, gardening, coffee, wine and walking.
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We believe a time away of fun and relaxation is the perfect opportunity to grow deeper in relationship with our awesome, loving God in the setting of His beautiful creation. Christian holidays in Samos are an amazing way to meet others, spend time with our Heavenly Father and encourage each other.
Each day in resort, our caring Ministry Leaders provide daily teaching and reflective prayer times. They are also available throughout the holiday to chat and pray with you.
Activities In The Resort
You have access to a wide range of activities in and around the hotel that are included in the price of your holiday
If you enjoy getting involved with everything that a place has to offer, then you will love our resort in Samos! Jump on a bike to explore the island, enjoy tennis and table tennis, or join in with our fun exercise sessions that are offered throughout your Richmond holiday.
Biking
Tennis
Exercise Classes
Multisport Programme
Biking
Our biking centre is home to a range of mountain and hybrid bikes that you can use at your leisure during your stay. Your Richmond Bike Leader will run regular trips during the week to explore areas of the island you may never have known existed with routes passing picturesque white Greek churches, olive groves, secret beaches and hidden churches! The trips are of varying lengths and difficulties – from road-based routes to rocky tracks, there’s something for everyone!
We provide helmets, puncture repair kits and locks for each bike and ensure all the equipment is properly maintained. The bike centre is suitable for anyone aged 12 or above, children’s equipment is not provided.
Tennis
Keep fit and enjoy a little light competition on the tennis court this summer. If you are just starting out, or just want a bit of rally practice, the Richmond team will happily help to get you into the swing of things! Our Activities Reps can also host matches during your holiday to ensure you can make the most of this facility.
Additionally, the hotel has table tennis facilities where we often organise tournaments for those wanting to put their skills to the test – which most people tend to do as soon as they pick up the bat!
All tennis and table tennis equipment is provided for Richmond guests.
Exercise Classes
Richmond Activities Reps will lead exercise to music sessions during your holiday. These fun classes help improve physical fitness whilst stretching out muscles to release tension and avoid risks of injury while partaking in other sports and activities.
Some classes make use of mats and some will be pool-based for the added benefit of the water-resistance (and the cool, refreshing water!).
Multisport Programme
We are delighted to say ex-GB Triathlete Matthew Brearly and Rev Tim Matthews will lead Multisport Programme which will run alongside our full Samos resort.
As an additional, pre-bookable package, this is aimed at those looking to really break a sweat and work on both their physical and spiritual fitness while on holiday. The brilliantly crafted programme incorporates biking, running, climbing and personal coaching times. There is a small fee to add this package to your June booking, please click below for details!
Discover the Multisport Adventure Programme
Watersports
Our established Royal Yachting Association (RYA) recognised watersports centre in Samos is exclusive to Richmond guests. We offer a wide range of watersports including sailing, windsurfing, stand up paddleboarding and kayaking. Use of all our equipment is included in the cost of your Richmond holiday so come and join us, whatever your age or experience.
Generally, the wind starts light in the mornings, which is great for kayaking, stand up paddle boarding or learning to sail or windsurf. The wind then builds in the afternoons allowing great planing conditions for those wanting to perfect the legendary carve gybe.
The waterfront is enjoyed by people of all ages and abilities, from those who want a casual morning sail, right up to performance spinnaker sailors. The qualified Richmond team operates the waterfront every day (except Thursdays) from 9:30 to 17:30, subject to weather conditions.
Watersports Equipment
Our Samos fleet includes a range of RS and Laser sailing dinghies and catamarans:
RS Cat 16 Catamaran • RS Venture • RS Quest • Laser Pico • Laser One • Laser Funboat • RS Zest • RS Aero
Boards: brands such as Starboard and Fox plus RED windSUPs. The boards range from 210 litre beginner boards to sub-100 litre intermediate/advanced boards.
Rigs: A wide range of beginner, intermediate and performance rigs starting at 2.5m up to 7.5m. For the beginner windsurfer, we have tough Dacron and X-ply sails that are easy to get started with but tough enough to survive the falls. For the performance windsurfer, we have selected Severne and Tushingham rigs in sizes from 4.0 to 7.5m all mounted on 45 – 100% carbon masts.
We have a range of single and double hander sit-on-top kayaks and SUPs. These are perfect for making the most of the less windy days and a great way to explore the bay. We also find that kayaking and stand up paddle boarding is a great work out, so you can multi-task and enjoy the beauty of the Samos coastline whilst exercising your core!
We have a range of buoyancy aids, harnesses and helmets available for all guests to use.
RYA Courses and Lessons
Sailing and Windsurfing Lessons
Whether you are a complete beginner or a seasoned sailor, we love to see everybody enjoying the incredible watersports available in Samos! It’s not a problem if you’ve never sailed before, let us take you for a ride in one of our larger dinghies where you can experience the thrill of sailing and have a go knowing you’re in safe hands!
Want to progress a bit more? Our qualified instructors run classes through the week for windsurfing and sailing at no extra cost. If you want a little more, sign up for one of our RYA certificated courses.
RYA Courses
As a recognised RYA training centre, we are able to offer RYA certified courses meaning you can attain an internationally recognised qualification. We work through much of the RYA structure in the included lessons above and toward the end of the week run a conversion class to ensure you have attained at least the minimum standard in all the required skill areas.
If you are interested in a particular RYA course, you are welcome to express this to the Richmond office in advance of your holiday. We will always do our best to facilitate these courses, but please be aware that the courses are subject to availability and weather conditions. The courses are charged at £50 which is payable by card at the Richmond Reception Desk in the hotel.
For Adults:
- RYA Sailing, Levels 1 – 3
- RYA Start Windsurfing Course
For Children (8 to 14 yrs)
- RYA Youth Sailing, Stages 1-4
- RYA Youth Windsurfing, Stages 1 & 2
All courses are run by qualified RYA Instructors and RYA Certificates are issued to all who pass the course(s). All courses are subject to availability and weather conditions.
Richmond Clinics
In addition to the lessons and courses described above, we can also provide specific tuition for particular techniques both for sailing and windsurfing. These are charged at £25 per hour for 1-2 people.
Excursions From Resort
In addition to all the fantastic activities available at the hotel, Richmond offer a range of excursions with opportunities to explore more of the island of Samos, as well as travelling further afield to Ephesus in nearby Turkey and Patmos, another of the Aegean islands. Our excursions are offered at a variety of price points, so there’s something for everyone! Some excursions are full day trips and others are evening excursions after dinner. Read more about some of the exciting excursions that may be on offer during your stay.
A day out to the mountain village of Vourliotes includes a traditional Greek cooking demonstration, tour of the local farm and a delicious lunch of all the food you saw being prepared!
The Captain’s BBQ trip is a firm favourite! Sailing in a traditional wooden boat, Captain Andreas will take you along the southern coast of Samos, between small islands, past coves and caves. A beautiful, idyllic beach awaits you that cannot be reached by road. Enjoy a swim in the crystal waters whilst the crew prepare a delicious BBQ lunch.
Take the Samos ferry to the Turkish port of Kusadasi and join a coach trip to the amazing Biblical city of ancient Ephesus. Explore the truly inspirational Greek-Roman findings. There will also be free time in Kusadasi for some sightseeing, and to visit the lively shopping areas or eat some traditional Turkish food.
Take a tour of the beautiful island of Samos, stopping at historical and cultural points of interest such as the Hera Temple, Efpalinos tunnel, the monastery of Megali Panagia and Kumaradei. The tour will stop for lunch in one of the island’s most beautiful villages, Platanos, and visit a ceramics workshop and the winery at Karlovassi. Last stop is the village of Kokkari where there will be time to explore and have a coffee before heading back to the hotel.
Visit this stunning island where St John received the revelation. There is an optional guided tour of the 11th Century Monastery of St John as well as the Cave of the Apocalypse.
Shorter day trips are available thanks to the complimentary daily shuttle bus that runs between the hotel and Pythagoria or Samos Town, both approximately 15 minutes drive from the hotel. Pythagoria in particular is a favourite haunt of many Richmond guests with its harbourside tavernas, cobbled quayside and delicious ice-cream shops!
Each week, Richmond runs an evening excursion to one of the local harbourside villages; here you can enjoy a gelato ice-cream or glass of local wine whilst watching the boats bobbing on the water and the reflections of the many twinkling lights dancing on the surface.
An outdoor cinema in the village of Mitilini offers a memorable evening out. Heading off after dinner, you can enjoy one of the latest films under the stars of a beautiful Samos night. Mid-way through the film there is an interval where the friendly owners bring around plates of delicious traditional honey doughnuts – the best cinema snack in our opinion!
Getting There
Flights
There is a direct flight from London Gatwick to Samos operated by TUI each week on a Thursday which matches our holidays perfectly.
We are able to book this TUI flight for you, providing you with an ATOL-protected package holiday. Please note that flight prices fluctuate, sometime quite dramatically and availability cannot be guaranteed. Please contact us to enquire about booking a package holiday inclusive of these direct flights and we will provide you with a quote!
Alternatively, there are a number of flights with connections in Athens and other European hubs which you can book independently. These provide great options for if you do not wish to fly from London Gatwick. For example, Aegean Airlines operates flights from Manchester, Edinburgh, Dublin and London Heathrow to Samos via Athens. Other flight operators including Easyjet, British Airways and Jet2 also operate flights to Athens from UK airports such as Birmingham, London Heathrow and Manchester. From Athens, there are three return flights a day to Samos with Aegean Airlines and one with Sky Express.
Transfers
Direct transfers from Samos airport to the Zefiros Beach Hotel take just 20 minutes and are available for £12pp each way. To book, please confirm these and your flights details at least 2 weeks prior to departure.
Airport Hotels
Many people like to stay overnight nearby their departure airport to reduce the hassle of early morning travelling. For those travelling from Gatwick, there are a number of guest houses and B&Bs near the airport which allow you to park and stay very close to Gatwick airport. In particular, Premier Inn has two hotels very close to the airport, which have proven very popular with our guests.
For those travelling on flights via Athens, there is the option of an overnight stop. If you would like to stay in Athens before travelling on, we recommend the Holiday Inn in Athens which has a free airport shuttle or the Sofitel which is located just 50m from the airport. Athens is a beautiful city to explore and there is an easy to use metro service running from the airport right into the centre of Athens. Some of our guests choose to extend their holiday and get a flavour of Ancient Greece, visiting the Parthenon, the Acropolis Museum or the Temple of Hephaestus.
Programmes in Samos
Let our friendly and encouraging leaders coach and inspire you! The programmes that we have put together are built around bringing like-minded people together to enjoy shared activities and meet people with similar passions.
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