Greek Culinary & Local Experience

ITINERARY

• DAY 1
  Greek Flag

  Welcome to Athens, Greece

  Upon arrival, your driver will be awaiting you at the airport with a sign with your name on it. Private transfer to your hotel.
  
  Athens’ heyday was around 400 years BC; that’s when built most classical monuments. During the Byzantine and Turkish eras, the city decayed into just an insignificant little village, only to become the capital of newly-liberated Greece in 1833. Ahead of the 2004 Olympics, it transformed almost the entire infrastructure: the Metro, trams, new ring roads, and viaducts have eased the pressure of the heavy traffic.
  
  Athens is still a rather messy and chaotic place—it wouldn’t be Athens otherwise—and despite all the improvements, it still retains a great deal of its oriental charm. The whole coastal stretch from Piraeus to the old Hellenikon airport has been improved with new plantings, viaducts, and paths for walking. The Plaka district is becoming more and more popular, and it is on the way to catching up with Psyrri, Gazi, and Rouf regarding restaurants. Discover the beauties of the Anafiotika district at the feet of the Acropolis, and visit the ancient village still housed amid the city. In Exarchia, there is still a somewhat in-your-face anarchic atmosphere around the Technical University. Meanwhile, Kolonaki is becoming chicer and chicer.

  What's included?

  • Accommodation
  • Transfer
• DAY 2
  Acropolis, Athens

  Athens - Acropolis & Flavors of the city

  A perfect tour to get an authentic feel of Athens! Ascend to the top of the sacred rock of the Acropolis to be confronted by one of the world’s most essential structures in history, the Parthenon. Once there, you will enjoy a guided tour that will reveal the magnitude and the rich heritage of Athens and the cultural achievements of the Greek civilization of the Golden Age.
  
  Sense the intriguing Greek cuisine and local food culture through an experiential food tour in the heart of the bustling capital of Greece. After visiting Acropolis, get ready for a 3-hour food tour that will truly make you feel like an Athenian! Wander through authentic corners of the city and visit many dedicated artisans that have perfected their recipes over the decades, specialized food stores sourcing the best products from all over Greece, and the vibrant central food market.
  
  You will enjoy a leisurely walk through the city's old quarter to marvel Plaka neighborhood with its picturesque cobbled streets, quaint restored buildings, and distinct and atmospheric architecture. You will walk by the Roman Agora, the Tower of the winds, Hadrian’s Library, Lycicrates Monument, Fethiye Mosque, beautiful neoclassical buildings, and many more Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman traces of the old city.

  What's included?

  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Accommodation
  • Tour
• DAY 3
  Breathtaking shot from the Santorini Island, Greece

  Santorini - Explore the hidden gems of the island at your own pace

  Your driver will deliver you to Athens Airport. Domestic flight from Athens to Santorini - A short flight and you will find yourselves on the magical island of Santorini!
  
  Upon arrival, you have a private transfer to your hotel. Without mentioning dazzling panoramas, and the mesmerizing sea of vibrant villages, Santorini's culinary tradition would be something worth experiencing. Borrowing a pronounced Mediterranean diet from the mainland, Santorini tends to use vegetables, quality olive oil, meat, and fresh seafood generously, creating its own cuisine by adding products that are cultivated solely on its fertile soil.
  
  Santorini is in all aspects a work of art, and its souvenirs and local produce doubtlessly reflect the island's beautiful facets. Try the island's peculiar white eggplants with mozzarella, or sample the unique "Tomatokeftedes," tomato fritters made of Santorini's produce, with a glass of Vinsanto. Oia and, above all, Fira is the island's major shopping destination, with unrivaled charm where traditional shops line up neatly down narrow streets.
  
  In Santorini, a visit to one of the local art galleries is a must: evocative handicrafts, folk art, and jewelry can be bought at accessible prices, guaranteeing a souvenir that mirrors the authenticity of the villages. Another worthy shopping experience is all about local produce. The diversity of products makes it hard to choose from the numerous delicacies grown on volcanic soil. Fava, the Greek version of split peas, is particularly unique in Santorini and makes a down-to-earth yet scrumptious puree. The island's grapes make a heavenly wine exported worldwide and can buy in any local wineries. Last comes Santorini's trademark tomato, the locals' pride and a must-try for food enthusiasts - wonderfully flavorful and juicy.

  What's included?

  • Breakfast
  • Accommodation
  • Transfer
  • Flight
• DAY 4
  Wine Retsina is a Greek white wine made for at least 2,000 years in Greece

  Santorini - Cooking and Wine Tasting

  Today we are leaving the selection to you. We have two options to select.
  
  Option A: Santorini Cooking and Wine Tasting
  A blend of Santorini’s best tastes and flavors with a “touch” of your effort to cook authentic Santorinian recipes are the main ingredients of the experience that is the Cooking & Tasting Experience Tour. The tour includes a visit to a winery, a hands-on cooking lesson by local experts, a format about the local wines, and enjoying your gastronomic creations. What will you take with you? Experience the joy of cooking traditional Santorinian dishes, savor the memory of an exquisite gastronomic experience with the delicious tastes of the island, and take home a booklet with all the recipes you cooked.
  This tour is perfect for foodies, honeymooners, cooking class aficionados, or food and wine lovers.
  
  Option B: Santorini Eat & Walk Food Tour
  Our goal is to showcase the flavors and ingredients of Mediterranean cuisine from a local standpoint in a fun & informative manner to let you experience Greek food as the locals do!
  Our fun local food expert will meet you at a starting point in Firostefani and lead you through the traditional towns of Firostefani and Fira, following a pebbled downhill footpath right on the edge of the world-famous Santorini caldera. Start your day with a traditional Greek coffee. Follow your guide through the historical alleyways and hidden paths of Fira with several stops for samplings of local treats, including an olive oil tasting and a quick bite of souvlaki - the ultimate greek street food. During the tour, you will have the opportunity to taste Santorini & Greek food, street food, samples of local beer, wine, and raki, Cycladic cheeses & cold cuts, olive oil tasting, delicacies from the bakery, and traditional sweets. Of course, lunch at a caldera view restaurant combined with some local wine is a 'must'!

  What's included?

  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Accommodation
  • Tour
• DAY 5
  Chania is the capital of the Chania regional unit in Crete, Greece

  Welcome to Chania, Crete

  Hydrofoil boat from Santorini to Heraklion. Your driver will pick you up from the hotel and transfer you to the port. After about 2 hours, you will be in Heraklion port! Upon arrival, your driver will be waiting for you with your name. Private transfer to your hotel, and the drive will be around two hours.
  
  Free time at leisure in Chania Old Town
  Walkthrough the stone paths and the narrow streets of the Old Town and discover the hidden spots of the Venetian Harbor. You will enjoy a leisure stroll in the puzzled alleys where the Venetians, the Ottomans, and the old Cretans lived and occupied. Enjoy this tremendous flower-decorated neighborhood, meet the locals, and eat like locals! The unique Cretan Gastronomy is something you would not want to miss!

  What's included?

  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Accommodation
  • Tour
  • Transfer
  • Cruise/Boat
• DAY 6
  Chania old city Crete, Greece

  Chania - Explore the seven villages of Apokoronas

  This is a tour of the unique area of Apokoronas, the eastern province of the Chania Region, which is one of the first villages in Armenoi. Following a route through the nature and traditional Cretan towns like Stylos, Tsivaras, and Kalives, you will arrive in Gavalochori village and visit the folklore museum of Apokoronas. The seven rooms of it will reveal everything about history, handcrafts, and the everyday life of the people. You will enjoy a cup of Greek coffee next to the nature and water springs of the village.
  
  Leaving Gavalochori, driving towards Vrises village, you will enjoy the view of the river and the square. The village of Emprosneros is following to see the theatre “Mikis Theodorakis and the hidden church of St. Antony, built on the rock. You visit a cheese factory and taste the local “Graviera,” “Mizithra,” or “Anthotiros” cheese varieties. You will also taste some olive oil on warm bread, cookies, and Cretan biscuits in the local bakery. The experience of the Cretan cheese-making process follows.
  
  After that you will enjoy lunch in a traditional “kafeneio” in Fres village, speaking with the locals and learning about the countryside way of life. You will have the chance to see pure beauty and feel the real Crete around you. A whole place is ready to be explored by you! Apokoronas is one of the most historical places in Crete because of its people. Apokoronas is waiting to reveal his secrets.

  What's included?

  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Accommodation
  • Tour
• DAY 7
  Greek salad with white cheese

  Chania - The Real Cretan Cooking Experience

  Up in the high peaks of the White Mountains, you will prepare some traditional and delicious homemade dishes using healthy organic Cretan ingredients like extra-virgin olive oil, fresh vegetables picked from the garden, dairy products, and the most aromatic herbs. Follow us on the extraordinary journey through the Cretan flavors and taste the real Cretan way of life.
  
  You will have the chance to walk around our vegetable gardens to see, feel, smell, touch, and taste the pure products of Mother Earth. You will prepare a traditional Cretan recipe and learn how Cretans cook with your own hands. Your host will also reveal the secrets of local herbs, how the Cretan olive oil affects people’s health, and valuable tips about the local products you will use.
  
  After the magnificent cooking experience, you will taste delicious Cretan wine paired with local cheese. The view of the mountain is breathtaking right out of our window. Enjoying the extraordinary wine, you will feel like it’s heaven on earth! Later, after the tasting, you will prepare some appetizers like “Ntakos” and “Tzatziki” and, of course, the popular Cretan Cheese-pies “Kalitsouni.” You will love the bread-making as well. In the meanwhile, the meal will be ready. You will taste your own dishes, paired with fruity local wine, and taste some traditional jar desserts at the end. The healthy Mediterranean diet and the famous Cretan cuisine have already been revealed in front of your eyes.

  What's included?

  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Accommodation
  • Tour
• DAY 8

  Depart to Chania Airport

  Today, you will have to say goodbye to beautiful Greece. Your driver will pick you up and transfer you to Chania Airport, taking the domestic flight back to Athens. Once Athens Airport arrives, check in to your international flight and depart Greece.

  What's included?

  • Breakfast
  • Transfer
  • Flight