Greek Food & Wine Discovery Tour: Athens, the Peloponnese, Naxos & Santorini - 12 Days

 Highlights

• Follow in the footsteps of the Ancient Greeks with a tour of the Acropolis
• Taste extra virgin olive oils at a 13th-century castle and mill in Kalamata
• Experience Naxian cuisine with a local and tour the island's villages
• Sip local wines and learn about Santorini's volcanic vineyards

Brief Itinerary

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Athens, Explore the Plaka Neighborhood, Dinner with a View

Welcome to Greece! Upon arrival at the airport, meet your driver and transfer to your hotel in downtown Athens. Greece's buzzy capital is an eclectic mix of ancient and modern, acting as an outdoor museum to some of the world's most historic landmarks. Settle in and relax after your flight, then head out to discover the city's blend of towering temples, ancient ruins, and colorful markets. Many of the city's main sights can be found in the Plaka neighborhood, whose charming labyrinthine streets and neoclassical architecture make it perfect for a relaxed stroll.

Trace the remnants of the city's past with a visit to the Roman Agora, ancient Athens' administrative and commercial center, and home to the Tower of the Winds, an octagonal marble clock tower decorated with sculptures depicting the eight wind deities. Other highlights include several lovely Byzantine churches, the Monument of Lysicrates, and the white geometric architecture of the Anafiotika area, which lends a Greek island vibe to the pedestrianized district. 

Finish on Adrianou, a pedestrian street lined with cafés, restaurants, and shops—perfect for soaking up the city's atmosphere while enjoying a sundowner. In the evening, you'll have a dinner reservation at one of the capital's excellent restaurants, which range from Michelin fine dining to traditional Greek tavernas and international eateries. Choose from a stylish rooftop terrace with views of the Acropolis, or head to the harbor for a sea view and toast the start of your trip. 

Day 2: Acropolis & Parthenon Guided Tour, Foodie Tour of Athens

Today, you'll take a private tour of Ancient Greece's most iconic ruins. Start at the Acropolis, a vast fifth-century complex on a rocky hilltop overlooking the city and home to many of Athens' most famous sights. Stroll the temple of Athena Nike, the earliest of the Acropolis' temples, dating to 420 BCE, and the sacred Temple of Erectheion, regarded as one of the world's finest examples of classical architecture. As your guide regales you with captivating stories of Greek mythology, you'll arrive at the spectacular Parthenon, the temple dedicated to Athena, goddess of wisdom.

Day 3: Transfer to Nafplio, Greek Cooking Class

Considered one of Greece's most beautiful towns, the coastal city of Nafplio lies on the Peloponnese peninsula and is your base for the next three nights. Meet your driver and make the two-hour transfer along the Saronic Gulf coastline and across the Isthmus of Corinth, the narrow land bridge that connects the mainland to the peninsula. Check into your hotel, then set out for a stroll to find Ottoman fountains, the late Venetian hilltop fortresses of Palamidi and Akronauplía, and the 15th-century Bourtzi Castle in the middle of the harbor. 

After several hours of exploring, you'll experience traditional Greek hospitality and food this afternoon with a private cooking class in Nafplio's Old Town. Led by a talented local chef, you'll be warmly welcomed into their home and spend the next three hours cooking a locally sourced three-course meal combining traditional recipes and modern techniques. Afterward, you'll sit down together and enjoy the delicious meal you've created together alongside local wine or craft beers. 

Day 4: Day Trip to Nemea Wine Region

Spend today on a guided tour of Nemea, one of Greece's most important wine-producing regions. It's known for its indigenous grape variety agiorgitiko, whose grapes have grown in the region for thousands of years. Legend has it they were first grown from a vine brought by the god Dionysus. Meet your guide and make the 40-minute drive north to two boutique wineries in the area, where you'll be greeted by the owners and accompanied on a private tour of the vineyards and to observe the winemaking process.

There'll be plenty of time to taste the varietals, too, and after your tour, you'll head to the tasting room overlooking the Nemean Valley with its endless rows of vines. Enjoy a lunch of traditional Greek dishes paired with a selection of vintages from the estate, and if there are any bottles you particularly enjoyed, you'll have the chance to purchase directly from the winery's cellar. On your return to Nafplio, you'll stop at an organic balsamic vinegar producer, where you'll learn about the area's organic farming methods and taste their top-quality balsamic vinegar and olive oil. 

Day 5: Kalamata Olive Grove Tour & Lunch

For olive oil aficionados, Greek olive oil has long been equal to those from Spain and Italy, and today, you'll spend a relaxed few hours learning all about the Kalamata region's cultivation and harvest of their exceptional olives. Travel with your guide to the village of Androussa, home to a 13th-century castle and a family-owned olive oil mill. Start with a tour of the village, where you'll take a wander inside the fortress grounds, whose ownership has veered back and forth between the Venetians and Ottomans over the centuries.

Once you've had a chance to admire the sweeping views of the Messinian olive valley, you'll head inside the mill to see how the prized green oil is extracted. Then, enjoy a tasting of a selection of different extra virgin olive oils (EVOO) paired with a delicious array of mezedes (Greek tapas). In the afternoon, you'll return to your hotel, where you'll have a new appreciation for your dinner's essential ingredient. 

Day 6: Transfer to Athens, Fly to Naxos, Explore the Island

Leave the Peloponnese behind today with a private transfer to Athens, where you'll hop on a short flight to Naxos. The largest island in the Cyclades, Naxos combines long sandy beaches and crystal-clear waters with a beautiful inland featuring lush vegetation, quaint villages, and historical sights (plus fewer tourists than its Cycladic neighbors). Meet your driver at the port and transfer to your hotel in Chora (Naxos Town). After a refresh, the rest of the day is yours to unwind or explore at leisure. 

Day 7: Naxos Food & Culture Tour

Naxos has a reputation for its wide-ranging agriculture alongside its tourism and is known for its exceptional local produce. Today, you'll discover the island's gastronomical heritage on a private food and culture tour that takes you to three of the island's villages. Start in Kaloxylos, a tiny hamlet where streets adorned with centuries-old olive trees and flower-filled courtyards are home to just 30 residents. You'll visit one of these homes and, over a Greek coffee and pastry, learn about Naxian cuisine before taking a stroll together through the village to pick up some delicacies.

Day 8: Beach Day on Naxos 

Drawing smaller crowds than its Cycladic neighbors, Naxos makes it easy to find your own slice of paradise on its famed beaches. After breakfast, you'll be picked up by your driver, who, using local knowledge, will take you to the perfect beach for the day. You'll take your pick of the island's best stretches of sand, some known only to islanders, and decide the ideal spot based on the weather forecast and knowledge of any day trippers visiting the island.

Day 9: Ferry to Santorini, Explore the Island, Experience Santorini's Sunset

It's an early start this morning as you catch a 1.5-hour ferry to Santorini, the southernmost island in the Cyclades, famous for its volcanic beaches and cosmopolitan feel. It's a sight to behold as you watch the sunrise over the island's iconic cliffside architecture and spot the central caldera, the site of one of the most significant volcanic eruptions in history. Settle into your hotel and enjoy your pool and a good book, or go to Perissa Beach or Kamari Beach on the southeastern coast, both known for their volcanic black sands. 

Of all the Greek island sunsets, Santorini's always tops the list, and the views from Oia, the island's northernmost tip, are astonishing. Tonight, you'll head out to marvel at the views from the caldera with a stroll along the Fira to Oia walking path. The route runs underneath the island's main road, which means you can often beat the crowds and enjoy uninterrupted views. After you've captured a few scenic shots, return to Oia, where the rest of the evening is yours to dine at one of the cliffside restaurants as you watch the sun disappear over the horizon. 

Day 10: Leisure Time in Oia, Santorini Wine Tour

Oia's matte white buildings, stoically perched on the cliffside amid the island's infamous blue domes, are a photographer's dream. Exploring the town only takes a couple of hours, and you'll find plenty of independent boutiques to peruse and dreamy terraces to relax on as you while away the morning. For incredible views of the Aegean and a stretch of the legs, take a trip up to the highest peak on the island. You'll need your camera for the views at the top and the many stops on your way down. 

Later this afternoon, you'll head out on a private wine tour to three of Santorini's volcanic wineries. Hear from the winemakers how the island's volcanic soil not only impacts taste but also protects the vines from diseases, resulting in some of the oldest vines on the continent. After a tour of the vineyards, you'll snack on local bread and cheeses while sampling several wines, including the island's signature red vinsanto and the fruity white assyrtiko. In the evening, dine on freshly caught seafood alongside the island's signature white eggplant at one of Oia's restaurants.

Day 11: Free Morning to Explore, Sunset Cruise Around the Caldera

Today is yours to spend as you choose. Relax on one of the black or red-sand beaches formed from lava pebbles and take a dip in the inviting waters, or wander the whitewashed streets of the island's capital, Fira. The town's excellent museums offer a fascinating insight into the island's history, and the Archaeological Museum of Santorini and the Church of Hypapante should be top of the list for history buffs. Meanwhile, the Museum of Prehistoric Thera houses many extraordinary finds from the excavated Bronze Age settlement of Akrotiri. 

As the afternoon unfolds, you'll head to Vlychada Port to board a catamaran cruise around the island. Your captain will drop anchor at Santorini's Red Beach and White Beach, where you can swim in the cobalt waters and admire the distinctive volcanic sands. Then, sail past landmarks at Aspronisi, the Ancient Lighthouse, and Indian Rock while the crew serves a delicious barbecue and drinks. Look out for the archaeological site at Akrotiri, then head to the uninhabited island of Nea Kameni, where you can immerse yourself in the therapeutic waters of the island's hot springs. 

Day 12: Fly to Athens, Depart

It's time to say goodbye to the Aegean. In the morning, you'll catch a flight back to Athens in time for your flight home or onward journey. Safe travels!

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