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Voyage to the heart of Ancient Greece and rediscover the heroic soul of man, where discipline, strength, and endurance will pave the way of excellence.
Strength and Virtue: A Fitness Expedition in Greece
An eight-day expedition for men on the legendary island of Samos in Greece. Reclaim the Ancient Greek belief that man’s greatest calling is to prepare his body and soul for the daily war of life.
You will join a brotherhood of men committed to athletic and spiritual training as you ruck into ancient caves, swim in the wine-dark sea, summit a mountain, and tread a labyrinthine path to hidden beaches. Exercise for strength and self-discipline at our personal outdoor gym, take on arduous physical challenges, relish the rewards of meat and wine, and experience the ancient practice of camaraderie in the struggle to be a better man.
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In a world drowning in fitness hacks and self-help tips, the lonely grind of willpower has replaced the bond of men united by purpose. But Strength and Virtue is a shared mission—not to outdo each other, but to raise every man to his highest potential. This expedition revives the lost art of shared struggle and brotherhood.
Competition is essential because it ignites ambition, sharpens focus, and forces men to pursue their manifest potential—but without the pressure of comparison, and through the internal drive of personal excellence.
If you are not the master of yourself, then your appetites will master you—driven by impulse, rather than purpose. The foundation of self-mastery is the physical, for it is through conquering the body that we unlock the capability to control our passions—physical, emotional, sexual, and intellectual. Mastery over the body is the bedrock of mental and intellectual discipline, creating a foundation to become a virtuous man.
Samos, with its rugged terrain, towering mountains, and the deep, clear waters of the Aegean Sea, offers a striking backdrop for a journey of self-discovery and communal challenge. The retreat takes place in the more remote and untamed western part of the island, in Limnionas, where Mount Kerkis rises imposingly over the landscape. This part of Samos, much less inhabited than the eastern side, echoes with the island’s ancient past—a place where the first philosopher Pythagoras once sought solitude in its caves. It was here, in these remote mountains, that Pythagoras contemplated the deeper truths of existence.
The island, like the mountain that dominates it, invites those who venture here to engage in the physical and mental struggle necessary for self-mastery, offering both challenge and sustenance in equal measure. Samos is a place where the journey inward is reflected by the rugged beauty of the land, calling participants to conquer both their own weaknesses and the trials that nature offers.
Elijah Weaver, Yale graduate and founder of SQ4 Elite, will be the personal trainer leading the group throughout the retreat. Known for his transformative approach to fitness, Elijah is inspired by the radical culture of heroic virtue (arete) and struggle (agon) found in Homeric Greece. His training philosophy is centered on forging strength—physical, mental, and emotional—through a combination of rigorous challenges and unflinching self-assessment.
Before the retreat, Elijah will work one-on-one with each participant to understand their individual fitness goals and craft a personalized plan of preparation. This preparation ensures that everyone, regardless of their starting point, is ready to fully engage with the challenges ahead. During the retreat, Elijah’s guidance will focus not only on physical transformation but also on building resilience, grit, and a warrior’s mindset. With his proven ability to help clients achieve life-changing results, Elijah is committed to making this experience as impactful and rewarding as possible for every participant.
Afternoon and Evening:
Your challenge today is to arrive in one of the far corners of Greece, the island of Samos. Whether you arrive directly by plane or take the ferry from Athens, we’ll help you arrange transportation to Limnionas Bay–our base overlooking the Aegean for the week.
Between 4:00-8:00 pm your local host will give you an orientation to the accommodation and workout area before a group meal with your traveling companions. You’ll be given a checklist to pack in preparation for the morning. Take advantage of an early evening to shake off jet leg and prepare for the challenges in the coming days.
Morning:
Wake up before dawn, collect your weighted vest, and ride to the nearby town of Kampos. Here you'll embark on a three-kilometer hike with the group, culminating at an undisclosed location of historical and philosophical significance.
Afternoon:
Return to Limnionas Bay for a hearty lunch and a formal introduction to the group. Enjoy some downtime after lunch to rest or take a refreshing dip in the sea.
Regroup for your first group workout session.
Evening:
Enjoy a feast of grilled meats and vegetables. Tonight, you’ll also be assigned your teammates for the challenge that awaits tomorrow.
Morning:
Today, teamwork is paramount. Engage in an all-out, sweat-drenched competition across land and sea—a unique team triathlon that rewards collaborative problem solving and collective strength.
Afternoon:
Savor a big lunch featuring simple, fresh ingredients, and enjoy some free time to relax, explore, or join an optional workout session.
Evening:
Spend the evening on your own. Use this time to reflect on the morning’s challenges and prepare for the adventures ahead.
Morning:
After a full Greek breakfast, set off for the island’s northern coast. Hike to Mikro and Megalo Setani beaches—the only access to these natural wonders is by foot or sea.
Afternoon:
After a refreshing swim and a light snack by the water, you'll hike the most remote part of the Island up to the town of Drakei. Here you'll have free time for lunch in one of the town's small taverns.
Evening:
Return to Limnionas Bay and have some downtime before joining a scheduled group weightlifting session. Later, travel to the small port town of Ormos for a shared dinner.
Morning:
Enjoy a later start—sleep in and recover. Then, prepare to swim with your team from the shore to board a local fisherman’s boat, which will serve as your transportation for the day.
Afternoon:
Visit various beaches with the group, including an isolated spot for personal exploration, and enjoy a seafood lunch provided by the boat captain.
Evening:
Return by boat to Limnionas Bay, where you’ll have the rest of the evening free to rest, lift, or explore at your leisure.
Morning:
Rise well before dawn and ride with the group to the Mount Kerkis trailhead. Dress warmly and prepare for a challenging hike that gains over 1,400 meters in elevation. At the summit, take time to relish your hard-won victory.
Afternoon:
Complete the ascent and descent—an approximately six-hour journey—with an expected return to home base around noon. Enjoy some well-earned rest and recovery after this monumental effort.
Evening:
Gather for a communal barbecue featuring grilled meats and seasonal vegetables. Savor this hearty feast as you celebrate your achievement, knowing it’s your last meal before an early start the next day.
Morning:
Begin with invigorating challenges: ice baths, pull-ups, push-ups, dead hangs, and a farmer’s carry. These exercises are designed to test your physical endurance and mental resilience, setting the tone for a day of self-mastery.
Afternoon:
Refuel with a robust “break-fast” lunch shared with your fellow travelers. Later, engage in competitive games that blend agility and strategy, and then take some quiet time to pack your belongings and reflect in your journal on the week’s transformative journey.
Evening:
Conclude the day with a final communal feast—a celebratory dinner where you toast your accomplishments and share your reflections. This final evening is a tribute to the challenges overcome and the bonds forged over the past week.
Morning:
Gather for one last shared breakfast at Limnionas Bay. Enjoy this final moment of fellowship before we help organize your transportation back to the airport or the ferry terminal. Bid farewell to new friends and carry the strength and insights of Samos with you as you head home.
For further questions don't hesitate to reach out to us directly.
This journey is open to any man ready to explore and expand his inner strength, and to reawaken a sense of purpose, meaning, and masculine identity. Whether you're just beginning your path toward improved fitness and mental clarity or you're already committed to personal growth, this trip is designed to challenge and inspire you. It’s not about being the most physically prepared at the outset; it’s about the willingness to push your boundaries, embrace transformative experiences, and grow alongside a supportive brotherhood of like-minded individuals.
This is a very active trip that includes daily activities intended to challenge and strengthen your physical and mental capabilities. There will be daily hiking, running, rucking, lifting, and other physical activities, including team sports and recreation. While it will demand a high level of effort, there will be plenty of time for rest and recuperation throughout the week.
This is a very active trip that includes daily activities intended to challenge and strengthen your physical and mental capabilities. There will be daily hiking, running, rucking, lifting, and other physical activities, including team sports and recreation. While it will demand a high level of effort, there will be plenty of time for rest and recuperation throughout the week. If you cannot run three consecutive miles without stopping, then Elijah will work with you in the months before the trip in order to be fully prepared.
Every participant will receive two months of personalized preparation and training from Elijah, including resistance training and cardio training. Your training will be virtual and housed on Elijah’s SQ4 Elite app.
Yes! We will have a few virtual meetings and opportunities for engagement with the other men before you arrive on the island.
Roundtrip flights are not included in the tour price. We recommend using Skyscanner or Google Flights to search for international flights to Samos. If coming from Athens, you may also take the ferry (Blue Star) from Pireaus to Karlovasi.
For September 2025:
This trip will be confirmed when eight or more travelers have joined--or by June. Purchase your flights when you receive the trip confirmation on or before June 1st. We recommend leaving the USA on Friday, September 12th in order to arrive in Samos (SMI) on September 13th, but you may wish to arrive earlier in order to adjust to the time change. Since the trip will end on Saturday, September 20th you should book your departure flight for this day.
Yes, airport transfer on arrival and departure will be provided. After you purchase your ticket we will collect yourr arrival and departure information to coordinate transportation.
US citizens are currently not required to apply for a visa in order to enter the European Union.
The deposit payment is $500 and is fully refundable within 30 days--unless booked within 90 days of departure.
Of course. Sign up and send us a note. We'll make sure you room together.
This is a packed itinerary with full days, but you will have downtime in Limnionas to relax, swim in the sea, or have a conversation with new friends. Keep in mind that our hotel will be in an isolated area of Samos, so without a bicycle or car you cannot easily reach other towns for shopping or sightseeing.
In addition to shopping and your own miscellaneous travel expenses, there will be be four independent meals that are not covered in the itinerary. With €200-€400 euros you will be able to cover meals, shopping, and miscellaneous expenses.
For further questions don't hesitate to reach out to us directly.
This journey is open to any man ready to explore and expand his inner strength, and to reawaken a sense of purpose, meaning, and masculine identity. Whether you're just beginning your path toward improved fitness and mental clarity or you're already committed to personal growth, this trip is designed to challenge and inspire you. It’s not about being the most physically prepared at the outset; it’s about the willingness to push your boundaries, embrace transformative experiences, and grow alongside a supportive brotherhood of like-minded individuals.
This is a very active trip that includes daily activities intended to challenge and strengthen your physical and mental capabilities. There will be daily hiking, running, rucking, lifting, and other physical activities, including team sports and recreation. While it will demand a high level of effort, there will be plenty of time for rest and recuperation throughout the week.
This is a very active trip that includes daily activities intended to challenge and strengthen your physical and mental capabilities. There will be daily hiking, running, rucking, lifting, and other physical activities, including team sports and recreation. While it will demand a high level of effort, there will be plenty of time for rest and recuperation throughout the week. If you cannot run three consecutive miles without stopping, then Elijah will work with you in the months before the trip in order to be fully prepared.
Every participant will receive two months of personalized preparation and training from Elijah, including resistance training and cardio training. Your training will be virtual and housed on Elijah’s SQ4 Elite app.
Yes! We will have a few virtual meetings and opportunities for engagement with the other men before you arrive on the island.
Roundtrip flights are not included in the tour price. We recommend using Skyscanner or Google Flights to search for international flights to Samos. If coming from Athens, you may also take the ferry (Blue Star) from Pireaus to Karlovasi.
For September 2025:
This trip will be confirmed when eight or more travelers have joined--or by June. Purchase your flights when you receive the trip confirmation on or before June 1st. We recommend leaving the USA on Friday, September 12th in order to arrive in Samos (SMI) on September 13th, but you may wish to arrive earlier in order to adjust to the time change. Since the trip will end on Saturday, September 20th you should book your departure flight for this day.
Yes, airport transfer on arrival and departure will be provided. After you purchase your ticket we will collect yourr arrival and departure information to coordinate transportation.
US citizens are currently not required to apply for a visa in order to enter the European Union.
The deposit payment is $500 and is fully refundable within 30 days--unless booked within 90 days of departure.
Of course. Sign up and send us a note. We'll make sure you room together.
This is a packed itinerary with full days, but you will have downtime in Limnionas to relax, swim in the sea, or have a conversation with new friends. Keep in mind that our hotel will be in an isolated area of Samos, so without a bicycle or car you cannot easily reach other towns for shopping or sightseeing.
In addition to shopping and your own miscellaneous travel expenses, there will be be four independent meals that are not covered in the itinerary. With €200-€400 euros you will be able to cover meals, shopping, and miscellaneous expenses.
