13D12N DINE & WINE IN GREECE

Please note that the following itinerary is an example, as all of our journeys are custom-made.

Exceptional Experiences:

• Visit the endless vineyards of Nemea, the place where Hercules killed the lion and performed the first of his 12 labours

• Enjoy an idyllic olive oil tasting underneath a 5.000 year-old olive tree.

• Embark on a private modern catamaran yacht and cruise along the caldera cliffs of Santorini for a top-notch experience on the water, stopping at the warm springs, the Red and White beaches.

• Explore three estate wineries, accompanied by an accomplished sommelier, Vaios Panagiotoulas and his team. Learn about the soil and microclimate, the indigenous grape varietals and cultivating techniques and more.

• Visit three family Estate wineries for a unique tasting of distinctive volcanic wines in Santorini

• Learn more about the culture and cuisine of Crete at a unique cooking class in the White Mountains. Discover how to cook and prepare traditional recipes, and sample the local cheese and wine during a delicious lunch.

• Enjoy a fun and authentic gastronomic experience with a visit to a traditional home where you will get to enjoy warm Greek hospitality along with a cooking lesson.

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Itinerary:

DAY 1: SINGAPORE – ATHENS

Upon arrival in Athens, meet your local guide and driver, then make a private transfer from Athens International Airport for the drive into the city. Then, check into the hotel.

In the afternoon, head for a private guided walking tour around the neighbourhood of Plaka and Anafiotika. Enter the most unique part of the city and discover with your knowledgeable local guide, its tranquil, picturesque and mystic hidden corners of the city.

Anafiotika is located on a hill above Plaka district. While you are here, forget the city sounds, stroll around the little alleys and admire the whitewashed cubic houses with brightly painted shutters and beautifully carved wooden doors, a typical Cycladic architecture!

Connect the dots between the past and the present by letting your tour leader unveil unknown parts of history and significant details on historical buildings, beautiful old chapels and numerous monuments. Find hidden gems of unspoiled beauty and magnificent views and learn secrets unknown even to many Athenians.

Then, continue on to the neighbourhood of Plaka, known as the “neighbourhood of the gods,”. It is also an old historic neighbourhood of Athens, incorporating maze-like streets and neoclassical architecture with narrow lanes lined with shops and cafes.  Continue strolling and enjoy your lunch here at one of the little, picturesque shops. visit the historic neighbourhood with narrow lanes lined with shops and cafes in the Plaka District.

Accommodation: 5* Hotel Grande Bretagne, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Athens

DAY 2: ATHENS

Today, make an exciting day trip to one of the most important wine-producing regions in the country. Wineries in Nemea are well-known for their Agiorgitiko wine, which has been grown here for thousands of years and it is considered to be among the finest red varietals in Greece. Visit the endless vineyards of Nemea, the place where Hercules killed the lion and performed the first of his 12 labours, and learn the secrets of wine and winemaking and enjoy a scenic drive through vineyards.

Make a stop at the archaeological site of Nemea where you will admire the sanctuary that was set up for Zeus, the father of Heracles and The Stadium of Nemea.

Afterwards, visit a small organic vinegar production unit, and hike across the self-owned vineyard. Taste a variety of products, from petimezi, tahini and several varieties of vinegar.

Then, visit a famous and award-winning winery of the region. Meet its producer and get briefed about the production conditions and the harvest procedures. The owner will reveal the secrets of wine and offer local wine varieties like Moschofilero, Roditis (white variety) and Agiorgitiko (red variety) accompanied by the most appropriate Greek tapas.

After your visit to Nemea, you will visit the picturesque city of Nafplio, where you will have free time exploring the old town and if you are up to enjoy a delicious lunch at one of the numerous taverns there.

Accommodation: 5* Hotel Grande Bretagne, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Athens

DAY 3: NAXOS

Hop on the ferry to the beautiful Naxos, famous for its spectacular beach with many long stretches made up of granite and marble sands along the brilliant turquoise waters.

Then, enjoy a refreshing swim and sunbathing or perhaps take a stroll along the narrow streets of Naxos Town Chora that are lined with Venetian architecture, rooftop patios, cafes, restaurants and unique boutiques. Here, you can opt to try some island specialities such as sausage and cheese complimented by local wines.

Then, go for afternoon tea together with crepe accompanied by locally made jams in one of the hidden cafes on a rooftop patio. Witness the stunning and sparkling waters of the Aegean.

Visit the town’s most emblematic sights on a relaxed evening walking tour. Learn about the past and present of Naxos from an experienced guide who is passionate about the island.  Next, arrive at Naos tou Apollona - Portara and admire the emblem of Naxos Island and take amazing pictures in sunset time.

Accommodation: 4* Naxos Rock Villas

DAY 4: NAXOS – APEIRANTHOS

This morning after breakfast, enjoy a visit to the neighbouring village of Apeiranthos. It is a mountainous village that many consider being Naxos’s crown jewel. The suburban landscape of the village is made of stone and white marble in every building: houses, towers, and beautiful flocks of stairs.

It is famous for its natural beauty and food. The village also rose to fame after a dish, the rich Rosto (pork with garlic) impressed the late chef and television personality, Anthony Bourdain. Apeiranthos also has a long-time textile tradition of hand-woven fabric and embroidery, crafted with local looms known as krevataria.

Due to its high altitude and location on the slopes of Mount Fanari, enjoy extraordinary views from the restaurants. Most of them serve local product while overlooking lush valleys and peaks. Then, take a stroll along the marble paths and see the village’s old-fashioned arts and try tasty dishes.

Accommodation: 4* Naxos Rock Villas

DAY 5: NAXOS

Today after breakfast, meet your local guide and driver and visit locations off the beaten track and dive into the island's vast history, local tradition, and food culture!

Go back in time and revisit the times when olive oil production was a much more painstaking process and Naxians celebrated in appreciation of what nature so generously offered to them.

Enjoy an idyllic olive oil tasting underneath a 5.000-year-old olive tree. Then, visit an old olive press and try to picture it in operation just a few decades ago, before you enter one of the island’s 5 modern-day presses to learn how technology evolved the same basic principles and helped raise the standards of olive oil extraction.

Learn more about the country’s famous product, Olive Oil. Greece is the world’s most important exporter of high-quality olive oil. Learn about olive trees and why they are so important to Greeks for centuries as a staple in the Mediterranean diet since early Minoan times around 3500 BC.

In the afternoon, head towards the Old Town and the Venetian Castle, where you’ll visit a family-run tavern to savour traditional Naxian recipes, before climbing up the Castle to enjoy a snack inspired by the Venetian presence on Naxos and how the Italian conquerors influenced its cuisine too while gazing at the breathtaking views from the highest point.

Then, you will be taken to Town’s oldest grocery to check out herbs, olives, a variety of cheeses and oh so much more. After which, set off to one of the oldest liqueur stores of Naxos, where the original PDO Naxian liqueur, the famous “Kitron” is distributed from.

To end of the day, make a visit to a wine bar hidden in the heart of Naxos Town where the young, knowledgeable and passionate wine producer will guide you through a wine tasting session of Greek varieties only.

Accommodation: 4* Naxos Rock Villas

DAY 6: SANTORINI

This morning, enjoy a scenic and relaxing ride onboard a ferry to the spectacular Island of Santorini. The first impression of the island is sure to impress you as you step off the ferry and gaze up at the steep sides of the caldera. You’ll have the day to enjoy at your leisure.

Explore the black, red, white sand beaches and the fascinating prehistoric archaeological site of Akrotiri that has been well-preserved for centuries under volcanic ash and Oia Village, with its whitewashed homes spilling down the island’s steep cliffs.

Spend an unforgettable evening around Santorini, exploring one of its most famous beach resorts and the evocative Emporio Village, combined with the local tastes of Santorini’s first distillery.

Begin your evening with a tasting of traditional, signature spirits of Santorini at Canava Santorini, where you will taste tsikoudia, ouzo and the local liqueur. Then, enjoy a guided tour of the museum and distillery.

Your adventure continues with an atmospheric stroll around the medieval Emporio Village. Make a stop at a traditional café to enjoy Greek coffee before continuing your journey to the popular black sanded Perivolos Beach, with numerous entertainment options and a lovely promenade.

Here, enjoy a private candlelight cocktail and finger food at “41 Forty-One” beach bar-restaurant. Enjoy your night under the moonlight. A private space will be created for you and your party.

Accommodation: 5* Canaves Oia Hotel

DAY 7: SANTORINI

Today, enjoy your morning at leisure.

Then, in the afternoon, embark on a private modern catamaran yacht and cruise along the caldera cliffs of Santorini for a top-notch experience on the water, stopping at the warm springs, the Red and White beaches.

Experience the romance and beauty of the island as you set sail from the southern port of Vlychada. Stop to enjoy refreshing dips in the warm springs of the volcanic crater and explore the magnificent underwater world by snorkelling and swimming through the crystal-clear Aegean Sea.

Venture below the imposing Indian Rocks and marvel at the sea caves and rock formations close to an old Venetian lighthouse. Get breathtaking views of the volcanic landscape as you travel through the middle of the caldera. Visit the hot springs for a healing mud bath, and then go to a private bay at Palea Kammeni Island to relax on the deck or jump in for a swim.

Frolic in the water as the crew prepares dinner to satisfy your hunger with Greek salad and traditional appetizers, accompanied by unlimited wine and soft drinks. In the evening, journey out to open waters after dinner and watch a magnificent sunset in the middle of the Aegean Sea. Then, sail back to port, where your driver will be waiting to take you back to your hotel.

Accommodation: 5* Canaves Oia Hotel

DAY 8: SANTORINI

Today, embark on the ultimate private tour for wine enthusiasts. Sample the unique and wonderful flavours of the island’s volcanic wines and learn more about how they are produced.

Explore three estate wineries, accompanied by an accomplished sommelier, Vaios Panagiotoulas and his team, you will learn about the soil and microclimate, the indigenous grape varietals and cultivating techniques, and more – all tailored to your level of wine knowledge – as you sip on dry white wines.

Moving from one winery to the next, you also have a chance to see the biggest part of the island, pull over to visit a vineyard, and see how the vines are grown in the kouloura method for protection from the strong winds and harsh summer sun. Enjoy a unique tasting of distinctive volcanic wines in the wineries.

Accommodation: 5* Canaves Oia Hotel

DAY 9: SANTORINI

This morning after breakfast, enjoy a fun and authentic gastronomic experience with a visit to a traditional home where you will get to enjoy warm Greek hospitality along with a cooking lesson.

Treat your taste buds to a culinary island adventure. Taste fresh, seasonal produce at a local farm, and sip volcanic varietals at a family estate winery, where all the aromas and tastes of the local wine styles will be unfolded through a unique wine tasting. Broaden your taste buds, enhance the flavour of local products and impress with your culinary skills! Then, head to an open-air restaurant for a cooking class designed around traditional island recipes.

Explore the Santorini gastronomy at a fun, hands-on cooking class and be initiated to local food & recipes with roots back in time. Embark on a fun culinary & socializing journey, crowned with a mouth-watering meal.

Sit down to enjoy your handmade feast along with more wine, and receive a recipe booklet so you can impress your friends and enjoy the flavours of Santorini back home. Savour your creations during lunch, relax and take in all the earthy notes of the Santorini cuisine.

Enjoy your evening at leisure.

Accommodation: 5* Canaves Oia Hotel

DAY 10: CRETE

Hop on board the ferry and cruise to Crete, one of the largest of the Greek Islands. Upon arrival, explore this enchanted isle at your leisure.

You can consider taking a hike to discover the Minoan ruins or make a visit to one of the beautiful beaches. You will find plenty of museums and galleries to wander through, along with shops, restaurants and nightlife to indulge in. Gaze out into the magnificent scenery and experience daily life on the island. You will not be disappointed with the flavourful local cuisine, renowned for the quality and freshness of its ingredients, typically featuring wild herbs and greens.

Accommodation: 5* Blue Palace, a Luxury Collection Resort and Spa, Crete

DAY 11:  CRETE

Today, discover the art of making mouth-watering Cretan cuisine and learn more about the culture and cuisine of Crete at a unique cooking class in the White Mountains. Discover how to cook and prepare traditional recipes, and sample the local cheese and wine during a delicious lunch.

Taste the authentic foods of Crete using only healthy organic ingredients, such as extra virgin olive oil, local meats, aromatic herbs and freshly picked vegetables.

Stroll around the vegetable garden to get a feel for the raw produce and learn more about the herbs. Then, prepare a traditional meal and learn the secrets of how the locals cook. Go for a mountain walk to shepherds and hear how olives are harvested.

Return to the house to sample some cheese and wine from Crete and prepare some appetizers such as nachos and tzatziki. End with a tasty lunch with wine pairings and traditional jar desserts.

Accommodation: 5* Blue Palace, a Luxury Collection Resort and Spa, Crete

DAY 12: ATHENS

After bidding farewell to Crete, catch your morning flight back to Athens and enjoy a tour of Acropolis Hill in the afternoon. Discover this UNESCO-listed archaeological site with an expert guide, taking a trip back in time as you walk the footsteps up ancient greats.

Accommodation: 5* King George, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Athens

DAY 13: ATHENS

After breakfast, check out of your hotel and prepare for pick up via private transfer to Athens International Airport for your flight back to Singapore.

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Please note: This itinerary is designed to give you an idea of what to expect on the tour but is not set in stone. What we actually do on a given day is flexible and can be tailored based on the interests of the group.

This itinerary and its package inclusions might be changed later in time, subject to availability.

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