Blend the traditions of contemporary culture and ancient heritage during your 14-day Greece food tour. Diverse flavors from around the Mediterranean will influence centuries-old recipes while exclusive wines will showcase the strong roots of viticulture around the Aegean Sea. Ancient ruins and Venetian architecture will decorate charming landscapes as you find wild herbs, sample aromatic liqueur, and uncover secret tastes to find the culinary essence of Greece.
Customizable Itinerary
Day 1
Athens – Arrive in the Capital of Greece with a Day Free Day in Athens
You will arrive at Athens International Airport, where your private transfer will meet you at customs to escort you into the city. Greece has an incredible balance of ancient heritage and contemporary culture as ancient temples celebrate Classical mythology, Byzantine temples embody the canonized shift to Western European monotheism, and restaurants blend historical recipes with modern taste. The city of Athens symbolizes the “Cradle of Western Civilization,” and the marvelous clash of the past and present.
Cafes serve Greek coffee and sweet baklava topped with vanilla ice cream, and you need to stop and enjoy your first serving. The remainder of the day is yours to indulge in the unique ambiance of the city finding enchantment atop the Acropolis or the aroma of local culinary delights along Aiolou Street. A fantastic introduction to Greece’s gastronomic specialties leads you to a marvelous view of the Acropolis to sample a loukoumades, a Greek donut often topped with honey and cinnamon. The freshly fried pastry is served warm from the fryer and made with a traditional recipe filling the air with the scent of spices and sugar. Adventurous Greeks fill their loukoumades with chocolate, creamy cheese, banana, or mastiha—a resin from the mastic trees which contains an herbaceous pine-like flavor.
What's Included:
Day 2
Tinos – Venture to Tinos by Ferry for a Day at your Preferred Pace
Day 3
Tinos – Uncover the Secrets of Tinos with a Culinary Workshop
Day 4
Mykonos – Travel to Mykonos with the Remaining Day at Leisure
Day 5
Mykonos – Spend Time at a Traditional Farm before a Delicious Dinner
Day 6
Naxos – Ferry to Naxos and Discover the Island Marvels at Leisure
Day 7
Naxos – Indulge in the Cuisine of Naxos and Enjoy a Castle Tour
Day 8
Crete – Traverse Naxos to Reach Apiranthos before Traveling to Crete
Day 9
Crete – Relish a Day of Olive Oil and Raki Tasting at Archanes Village
Day 10
Crete – Delight in the Charms and Culinary Delights of Vamos Village
Day 11
Crete – Explore the Fascinating Ruins of the Apokoronas Villages
Day 12
Crete – Visit Chania Botanical Gardens and Enjoy Dinner with Dancing
Day 13
Athens – Return to Athens for A Classic Cooking Course
Day 14
Athens – Depart for Home
Trip Highlights
- Visit a working olive grove in Crete to learn about extra virgin olive oil and sample some of the vibrant and diverse oil flavors produced
- Indulge in the flavorful traditions and distinctive characteristics of Greek cuisine with a hands-on cooking class in Athens
- Taste the customary flavor of a traditional Naxian liqueur at a working distillery first opened in the 19th century
- Discover the stunning aromas and unique layered flavors of celebrated across Naxos, Tinos, and Mykonos
- Learn about the wine-making traditions of Tinos at a family-owned vineyard and enjoy a delightful tasting of select wines produced in the winery
- Explore the fascinating Apokoronas Villages to find ancient Minoan, Mycenaean, Roman, and Byzantine ruins at Aptera and Stylos
- Enjoy a glimpse into the preserved culture of Crete during a traditional dinner and dance performance inside beautiful botanical gardens
Detailed Description
Experience authentic cuisine and culture during your 14-day food tour of Greece that will celebrate local and sustainable ingredients rooted in the ancient culinary traditions that span Athens, the Cyclades, and Crete. The Classical diets once stemmed from the ancient marketplaces where farmer stood alongside politicians and athletes, and the tradition continues across Greece with farmers sharing their crops with restaurants serving traditional dishes, cutting-edge gastronomy, contemporary cuisine, and household chefs focusing on the flavors passed down through the generations. Your Greece food tour basks in the importance of gastronomic heritage and the way the past has shaped the present culinary landscape of the islands.
The treasures of Greek cuisine highlight the importance of seasonality, locality, and health in crops grown across the country, and with your arrival on the island of Tinos, you will begin to feel the joy of Greek recipes. Enjoy an apprenticeship for the day under the wing of a local farmer known for harvesting delicious herbs and producing fantastic wines, accompanied by sensational local cheeses. On Mykonos, blend pleasure and gastronomy with time at one of the celebrated beaches alongside an educational tour of a local farm that will bring insight into the heritage of raising livestock, growing crops, and serving sensational meals with endlessly flowing wine.
Upon reaching Naxos, the beauty of the Cyclades’s largest island accentuates the splendor of the culinary scenery illustrated by the antique distillery that makes raki and the antique fortress known as Kastro. Crete provides a different perspective of the Greek culinary and architectural traditions through a deep connection of Minoan culture. Stunning ancient villages rise out of the diverse scenery ranging from gorges to mountains, olive groves to rolling hills. Learn the precise art of making olive oil, sample the flavors of delicious raki, delight in the elegant Venetian harbor in Chania before returning to Athens. The capital city becomes your ultimate culinary playground with a cooking class focused on the dishes you select for a complete meal ending with a deliciously sweet homemade baklava. Consider learning more about our travelers’ best Greece travel experiences by reading their Greece travel reviews.
Starting Price
$5,700 per person (excluding international flights)
Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.
What's Included
- Accommodations
- In-country transportation
- Some or all activities and tours
- Expert trip planning
- 24x7 support during your trip
Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.
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