Day 1
Upon your arrival your English speaking driver will welcome you and transfer you to your Athens accommodation in the comfort of a luxury vehicle. After you have checked in and freshened up you will be greeted with a welcome drink in order to meet your "Insider" Wine and Spirits professional who will accompany you as a tour leader during the rest of your journey.
Next, your "Insider" tour leader will take you on a short orientation walk so as to get your bearings, attend to any practical matters you may want to address and explain how the days ahead of you are going to unfold. A stay in Athens would be incomplete, though, without a visit to the Acropolis and its Museum since you will be spending only one day here it is an opportunity you shouldn’t let slip. Your guided tour will be followed by dinner, during which you will get a preview of the gastronomical journey you will soon embark on.
Day 2
Your trip will begin in the morning and your first stop will be a short visit to "Markou Wine Museum", just outside Athens. Here you will be able to see the museum’s interesting collection and also learn about the long history of wine making in Greece. For those not acquainted with the subject of wine, it will be a perfect opportunity to acquire the tools necessary for understanding and appreciating the rest of the wine trip to the fullest.
The trip continues into the hinterland of Greece reaching, after a 2-hour drive, a village situated at the foothills of mount Parnassus unique not only for its traditional character but also for its beautiful natural environment. Your whole day will be spent at the local, family-owned winery’s guest-house. After checking in and freshening-up, you will enjoy lunch followed by a leisurely orientation walk of the village. In the early evening you will have your first tasting of wine, as you will be given a tour of the winery’s facilities and cellar, before sampling a delectable selection of the local produce. The night will finish with a food and wine pairing dinner, showcasing the cuisine of the region, famous for its unique artisanal cheeses and cured meats.
Day 3
After breakfast, you will have a tour of the vineyard, during which you will be given the opportunity to take in the commanding mountainous landscape and breathe in the fresh, crisp air. Next destination is Delphi, the famous religious capital of the ancient world, home of the Oracle and where the alleged “center of the world” – the Omphalos – was situated. A 2-hour drive, broken up by a short coffee stop, will finally bring you at your hotel for check-in shortly after mid-day. Lunch will take place at nearby Arachova, the ski resort of Athenians, also known as “the Mykonos of winter” due to its picturesque beauty and quality food & bar scene. Here you will have the option to return to your hotel for a rest or stay and explore Arachova further, before visiting the archaeological site and museum of Delphi, escorted by a state-licensed guide. For your dinner you will visit a local traditional tavern, specializing in uniquely authentic meat dishes.
Day 4
Galaxidi and Nafpaktos are two sea-side towns below the foothills of Parnassos, and will serve as short coffee-breaks, on the way to your next destination. Crossing the Rio-Antirio bridge – the longest cable-supported multi-span bridge in the world – will bring you to the Peloponnese and the viticultural area surrounding the city of Patras. Your first stop will be a state-of-the-art winery where you will experience first-hand the leaps that the Greek wine sector has made in recent years. After a light lunch you will depart in order to get to your hotel for check-in and take the opportunity for a short afternoon rest. In the evening you will get to visit the second winery of the day for another tasting, preparing your taste buds for the dinner that will ensue. After that, there will be the option to return to your hotel or, alternatively, venture out for a drink in one of the numerous bars of the city, famous for its vibrant night-life.
Day 5
Following breakfast at the hotel, your journey continues south, towards the town of Archea (ancient) Olympia, situated next to the historical birthplace of the Olympic Games of antiquity. After checking in, you will be off for the winery of the day, to taste wines of original character, made from rare local, as well as international varieties. Lunch will take place in a local fish tavern, where you will be able to taste the synergy of local food and wine, realizing how they evolved together, forming a delicious partnership. The visit to the archaeological site will follow after your meal. The complex is extensive, since its design, apart from the stadium were the athletes competed, included training, healthcare, administrative and religious facilities. A licensed guide will be with you providing all the necessary information.
Day 6
The scenery will change dramatically, as you will cut your path through the center of the Peloponnese, on your way from the west to the east coast of the peninsula, where the historic town of Nafplio sits on the shores of the Argolic gulf since the pre-classical years. The town’s proximity to the major viticultural area of Nemea, makes it an ideal base to explore the wines of this popular Greek appellation, famous for its fleshy reds and characterful whites. Before reaching the town you will stop to visit one of the top producers of the area and, after lunch, you will proceed to your hotel. In the evening there will be an orientation walk around the town with your "Insider" tour leader, before going for a food and wine pairing dinner.
Day 7
Mycenae is another must-see destination of archaeological interest in southern Greece and it is exactly where you will be heading for, following your breakfast at the hotel. The famous site comprises a citadel of impressive stone-masonry, as well as grandiose tombs originally attributed to the Homeric king Agamemnon, leader of the expedition of the Achaeans against Troy, and his kin. Your tour of the site will last approximately 2-hours, giving you the opportunity to take in its impressive architecture. The rest of the day will be devoted to the exploration and tasting of wine, since you will have the opportunity to visit a few of the best wine makers in the country, having lunch between visits. The evening will find you driving back to Athens, where you will arrive with plenty of time to relax before going out to enjoy a last fine dinner.
Day 8
Your stay in Greece is drawing to an end, but we hope that on your way to the airport any initial melancholy will turn into anticipation for meeting your friends and family back home, to tell them stories of rare experiences and share memorable moments.
Notes & Clarifications
- For pricing and the fully detailed itinerary and further information please send us an inquiry
What makes us different?
- We offer only private tours. No mixed groups
- We are absolutely flexible. Our tours can be customized to your wishes
- Special requests are always welcome. We love to tailor holidays
- All of our tours are designed and operated by our company
- Our “Insiders” tour leaders are thoroughly selected and trained, each one of them expert in his field
- We always match the most suitable “Insider” tour leader that matches your profile and interests
7+ days
Mainland Greece
Archeology
Food & Drink
Excursion
Shopping
1/2 day
Athens
en
