Culinary Odyssey

Day 1 – Arrival

Airport to hotel private transfer. Welcome drink. Orientation walk,  Acropolis & Acropolis Museum guided tour. Welcome dinner.

Day 2 – Nemea

You will depart early in the morning for Nemea, the biggest wine-producing area of Greece and a site of rich ancient Greek history. Before arriving at Nemea the first stop will be at Acrocorinth, the ancient Acropolis of Corinth and a mighty medieval fortress perched atop a steep hill. There you will enjoy the majestic view of the Corinth Canal, the Corinthian and Saronic Gulfs, and the surrounding countryside.
From Acrocorinth you will depart to the land of Herculean myth, Ancient Nemea, where you will visit the ruins of the temple of Zeus, completely surrounded by vineyards, the site’s museum, and the ancient stadium of Nemea, the location where the ancient athletic 'Nemean Games' were taking place. After Zeus’ temple you will visit an organic farm, producing the most delicious sun-dried currants (also known as black Corinthian raisins). Following a light lunch at a local tavern, you will depart for one of the best wineries in Nemea, situated on the hills overlooking the plains, where you will sample a selection of the region's finest wines and take a guided tour of the state-of-the-art facilities. Following the wine tasting you will enjoy a home-cooked meal highlighting the local cuisine at the winery’s restaurant. Overnight stay at the winery.

Day 3 – Argolis

Enjoy your breakfast at the winery and be prepared for your departure to Argolis. During this day you will have the chance to experience the glory of the Mycenaean civilization and discover the hidden precious gems of atmospheric Nafplio, one of the best-preserved historic towns of the country.
After a scenic drive through the mountainous land of the Peloponnese you will reach the archaeological site of Mycenae. There, you will enjoy a guided tour of the site and museum, and get to admire the monumental ruins and the golden treasures of a civilization that flourished roughly around 1600 B.C.E..
After you have explored this astonishing archaeological location you will make a stop for lunch at a famous and historic tavern in the town of Argos, before setting off to the picturesque town of Nafplio, which sits wedged between its hilltop fortress and harbor. You will have plenty of time to lose yourself in the cobbled alleyways of the charming old town, explore the many sights it has to offer, and sample a selection of local cheese and cured meats. For dinner you will savor a delicious meal at a traditional seafood restaurant set by the sea front, followed by a visit to one of the best ice-cream shops in Greece. Overnight stay at Nafplio.

Day 4 – Arcadia

On this day you will depart for Arcadia, one of the most picturesque mountainous regions of Greece, an area full of villages steeped in history and tradition, sitting in the lush green valleys and slopes of the surrounding mountains. Your first stop will be at a traditional village where you will visit a modern agritourism facility run by the co-operative of the village’s women. After a guided tour of the in-house museum and a walk in the estate’s orchards where you will see all the crops and collect seasonal vegetables which will be used for the preparation of a traditional dish cooked by a local chef. The visit will be completed with lunch at the facility’s restaurant followed by a small walk to a 12th century byzantine church nearby. You will then depart for the village of Elliniko, famous for its stone-paved walkways and traditional architecture. Light dinner at a local tavern, overnight stay at Elliniko.

Day 5 – Dimitsana and arrival to Mani

After breakfast, you will visit a local dairy facility where you will witness the cheese-making process and sample a selection of local cheeses. Then you will depart for the neighboring village of Dimitsana where you will visit the water-power museum, an 18th century complex of great historic significance, that includes water-powered flour and gunpowder mills, as well as tanneries and a tsipouro (a traditional spirit made from grapes) distillation unit.
Leaving Arcadia, you will depart for the wild and beautiful region of Mani, a peninsula in the south of the Peloponnese, a land where the breathtaking scenery of ragged rocky hills, blue-green sea, and clear skies is awash with myths and stories from the past involving fiercely independent locals defending their land against pirates and invading armies, as well as blood feuds among noble families waging wars from their towering stone houses. Your base in Mani will be Areopolis, a picturesque town rich in history which best highlights the local architecture and culture. Following a traditional lunch you will visit a local honey producer, collect honey from a beehive, sample a variety of honeys and honeycomb, and savor a traditional homemade pastry. Overnight stay at Areopoli.

Day 6 – Areopoli and Mani

In the morning you will visit a local butcher shop, to taste the famous 'siglino', a locally produced smoked ham, followed by a visit to the farm where the ham is produced and smoked using wild sage and rosemary. After the farm, you will visit the village’s bakery with the 180-years-old wood-fire oven, to taste the freshly baked bread, rusks, pancakes, and pies.
In the afternoon you will visit the breathtaking Diros Cave Complex, which has been voted among the most beautiful in the world, a 5 km system of chambers full of stalagmites and stalactites following the course of an underground river that you will explore by boat. Overnight stay at Areopoli.

Day 7 –  Olive oil museum and press – Departure to Athens

In the morning you will visit the Museum of Olive and Greek Olive Oil in the legendary city of Sparta, located in the heartland of Laconia, one of the main olive-producing areas in Greece. In a guided tour, you will learn about the importance of olives and olive oil in Greek culture and economy from prehistoric times up until modern times, as well as about the development of olive oil production and olive oil soap-making. After the museum you will visit a local olive oil press where you will sample the variety of the olive oils and olives produced.
Following a lunch at Sparta, you will depart for Athens, making a stop to admire the Corinth Canal, a 19th century project that cuts through the narrow Isthmus of Corinth, thus connecting the Corinthian with the Saronic gulf. Dinner and overnight stay in Athens.

Day 8-  Athens & transfer to airport

On the last day of the tour, you will further explore the city of Athens. Following a light breakfast at the hotel, you will take a walk in the stone-paved streets of the historic neighborhood of Plaka, where you can marvel at the 19th century neoclassical buildings sitting under the Acropolis, while doing your shopping at selected establishments.
Following Plaka, you will focus your attention to the gastronomical delights offered to you by Greece’s Capital. First, you will have a break for Greek coffee, where you can learn about its history while enjoying an amazing view of the Acropolis. You will then continue your walk, making stops to sample one of the best souvlaki in town, as well as loukoumades, a doughnut-like dessert soaked in honey syrup and cinnamon, to end up in the central food market where you will learn a great deal  about Greek cooking and the seasonality of the produce by our chef tour leader. The walk will end at a traditional mezedopolio, a restaurant serving a wide variety of small plates of food accompanying your ouzo or tsipouro.

At this point, your epic journey has come to an end. It’s time to bid farewell to your newly-made friends and make your way to the airport for your trip back home or to new adventures.

Notes & Clarifications