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How a pioneering idea became a holiday experience that has endured since 1979
How Skyros began
Skyros began with a simple but pioneering idea: to create a different kind of holiday on a Greek island, bringing together personal development, creativity, community and the freedom to explore new possibilities.
The idea first emerged in the late 1970s, when psychologist Dina Glouberman and journalist and historian Yannis Andricopoulos were both looking for a new direction. Dina was already leading personal development groups, while Yannis brought a deep knowledge of Greece, a practical determination to make things happen and a belief that the island setting could offer something truly distinctive.
In 1977, Yannis travelled through the Sporades islands in search of a suitable place. On Skyros, he found a large, neglected former schoolhouse in the village and immediately felt that it was right. Dina and Yannis bought the building, and two years later, in the summer of 1979, the first Skyros holiday began.
The early days were far from polished. The house was still being completed, accommodation was basic and everyone helped to make the experience work. Yet the essential spirit of Skyros was already there: people coming together with openness, curiosity and a willingness to take part in something new.
From the beginning, the aim was more ambitious than simply offering courses in a beautiful place. Dina and Yannis wanted to create a small world shaped by different values – one in which people could feel at home, be accepted as themselves, discover new interests and experience the life-enhancing power of community.
What began as an experimental holiday for a small group of people soon became something much larger. Skyros helped pioneer a new kind of travel: a holiday that could be creative, restorative, sociable and deeply enriching, while still being full of laughter, friendship and the pleasures of Greek island life.
The Founders
Skyros was founded by psychologist Dina Glouberman and journalist and historian Yannis Andricopoulos, whose very different backgrounds proved to be a remarkable combination.
Dina brought a deep understanding of personal development, group work and the human need for connection, meaning and change. Yannis brought an intimate knowledge of Greece, a strong practical drive and the determination to turn an imaginative idea into a real place.
Together, they created something that had not existed before: a holiday that combined learning, creativity, community and the freedom to explore new possibilities in a beautiful Greek island setting.
Dina Glouberman
Dina Glouberman is a psychologist, psychotherapist, author and pioneer in personal development and imagery work.
Her vision for Skyros grew from a lifelong interest in community, transformation and the conditions that help people feel more fully themselves. From the beginning, she understood that the most important part of the experience would not be courses alone, but the atmosphere created when people feel welcomed, valued and free to explore.
Dina shaped the community structures and personal development approach that became central to Skyros. Her aim was to create what she described as a world that heals: a place where people could step away from their usual roles, reconnect with themselves and discover new ways of living.
She has written widely on imagery, life choices, burnout and personal transformation, and her work continues to influence the spirit and philosophy of Skyros today.
Yannis Andricopoulos
Yannis Andricopoulos is a journalist, historian and author whose energy and determination were essential to the creation and growth of Skyros.
When the idea first emerged, it was Yannis who travelled to Greece in search of the right location. On arriving on the island of Skyros, he discovered the former schoolhouse that would become the Skyros Centre and immediately recognised its potential.
Yannis created the practical and physical foundations that allowed the vision to take shape. He organised, built, expanded and developed Skyros over many years, while also bringing to it a strong belief in Greek culture, individuality, social responsibility and the importance of living fully.
His journalistic imagination also helped shape the distinctive voice of Skyros, from its early brochures to the Writers’ Lab and the many creative programmes that followed.
The partnership between Dina’s insight into people and community and Yannis’s ability to make bold ideas happen gave Skyros its original character – and helped it grow from a small experiment into a pioneering holiday organisation with an international reputation.
The people who helped shape Skyros
Skyros has always been shaped by the people who brought their ideas, talents, energy and care to it. Over the years, an extraordinary range of writers, teachers, therapists, artists, performers and facilitators have helped create the character of the holidays and the experiences of those who came.
Some were involved for a season, others returned for many years, and a few became central to the continuing development of Skyros. Together, they helped build a culture of creativity, openness, learning and connection that has endured across generations.
Meet some of the outstanding people who have taught and inspired at Skyros.
Silke Ziehl and the growth of Skyros
Silke Ziehl has been part of the Skyros story from its very first summer. A bodywork practitioner and teacher, she joined the inaugural Skyros Centre session in 1979, leading one of the original groups alongside Dina Glouberman.
She returned to teach year after year and became far more than a visiting facilitator. Her experience, judgement and unwavering commitment to the values of Skyros made her one of the people most closely involved in its development, particularly during the early years of Atsitsa Bay, where her practical support helped the centre flourish.
Over the decades, Silke offered advice, encouragement and steadfast friendship, helping Skyros navigate periods of growth and change while always preserving its warmth, openness and sense of community.
As a teacher, colleague, supporter and trusted friend, she has played a unique and enduring part in the Skyros story, helping shape the experience enjoyed by generations of participants and staff.
Christine Schulz and carrying Skyros forward
Christine Schulz first came to Skyros in 1990 as a participant. Fascinated by how little of our true capacity we often fulfil as human beings, she was immediately drawn to the Skyros concept of areté – the development of our individual potential. She returned for several summers as a work scholar, becoming increasingly involved in the life of the community.
Over the years, Christine took on greater responsibility for the organisation and its development. In 2004, Skyros established a new base at The Grange on the Isle of Wight, later relocating its headquarters there.
Today, Christine continues to lead Skyros with the support of its teams in the UK and Greece, carrying its original values forward as the organisation continues to evolve.
How Skyros evolved
Skyros began in 1979 with one small centre in the island’s main village, but the original idea soon developed in new directions.
In 1984, Atsitsa Bay opened on the other side of the island. Set among pine trees beside the sea, it offered a broader programme that brought together personal development, creativity, movement, music, yoga and watersports. Participants could choose from several activities each day, while still becoming part of the same warm and supportive community.
As interests changed, Skyros continued to develop its programme. In 1992, Yannis created the Writers’ Lab, at a time when the idea that creative writing could be taught was still relatively new. It went on to attract many distinguished writers and became recognised as one of the world’s leading writing holidays.
The organisation also found ways to carry the Skyros spirit beyond the island. In 2004, Yannis and Christine established The Grange by the Sea on the Isle of Wight, offering shorter courses in writing, yoga, art, music and personal development. Three years later, the Skyros office moved there from London, creating a new base for the organisation.
Over the years, the facilities, courses and practical organisation have changed considerably. What has remained constant is the original intention: to offer more than an ordinary holiday – a place where people can explore their interests, meet others naturally and return home with fresh energy and a renewed sense of possibility.
Skyros continues at Atsitsa Bay and the Skyros Centre, shaped by nearly five decades of experience but still guided by the pioneering spirit with which it began.
established on the Isle of Wight in 2004
Why it has lasted
Skyros has lasted because, beneath all the changes, the essential experience has remained the same.
People come for many different reasons: to write, paint, sing, move, learn, rest or simply try something new. What they often discover is something more – the freedom to follow their own interests, the pleasure of being among open and curious people, and a sense of belonging that develops naturally.
From the beginning, Skyros brought together elements that are powerful in combination: inspiring courses, a beautiful setting, time away from everyday demands, and a community in which people can relax and be themselves. The holidays are structured enough to create connection, but spacious enough to allow each person to choose their own pace.
The quality and generosity of the facilitators have always mattered, but so too has the spirit created by everyone who takes part. Each group is different, yet the same warmth, humour, creativity and openness reappear year after year.
Skyros has also continued to evolve. Courses, expectations and practical arrangements have changed with the times, while the organisation has held on to what matters most: freedom of choice, meaningful connection, curiosity, playfulness and the possibility of returning home renewed.
Perhaps that is why so many people come back. Skyros is not simply a place they remember; it becomes part of their lives – a holiday they can, in Hugo Williams’s words, “take home with them.”
“I don’t know another place I can meet such great people in such a beautiful, unspoiled environment and so quickly have a sense of belonging – not to mention the fantastic courses on offer with top people.”
Sarah, Atsitsa participant
“I’ve been coming for 18 years and it keeps getting better!”
Dawne, Atsitsa participant
Skyros today
Skyros continues to offer the same distinctive combination of creativity, choice, community and time to reconnect with yourself and with others.
At Atsitsa Bay, guests stay close to nature among the pine trees and beside the sea, choosing from a wide range of courses and activities each day. At the Skyros Centre, the experience is more intimate, with focused courses, village life and time to explore the island at a gentler pace.
Many people still come on their own, drawn by the freedom to follow their interests and the ease with which friendships form. Some are visiting for the first time; others return year after year, often finding that each stay brings something different.
The programme has evolved with the times, but the heart of Skyros remains unchanged: inspiring people, meaningful experiences, laughter, learning and the chance to return home feeling renewed.
