10 Day Greece Culinary Heritage Tour

This morning you'll join a guided tour of Athens' main sites with skip-the-line access to the Acropolis. After that, you'll walk through Mars Hill, then move into the winding streets of Plaka and Anafiotika where your guide shares stories about each spot. By afternoon, head to Psirri near Monastiraki square, which has a different energy from the older neighborhoods. Bring your camera since you'll have plenty of photo opportunities throughout the day.

Meals

Breakfast

Included Activities

• Skip-the-line Acropolis tour with professional guide
• Walking tour of Mars Hill, Plaka, and Anafiotika
• Exploration of Psirri area near Monastiraki square

Landmarks

Acropolis

Mars Hill

Plaka

Anafiotika

Monastiraki Square

Psirri

Today you're heading out to Stemnitsa and Dimitsana, two villages known for their stone architecture. You'll walk through the beautiful old mansions and check out Greece's only gold and silver craftsmanship school. In Dimitsana, see the Open Air Water Power Museum and visit several monasteries, including the Prodromou Monastery. From there, you'll drive to Nafplio, the country's first capital, and tour the narrow streets along with three fortresses (Bourtzi, Palamidi, and Akronafplia). End at Syntagma Square before heading back.

Included Activities

• Guided tour of Stemnitsa and Dimitsana historic towns
• Visit to Open Air Water Power Museum in Dimitsana
• Monastery visits including Prodromou Monastery
• Guided tour of Nafplio's historic alleys and Syntagma Square

Optional Activities

• Shopping at jewelry stores in Stemnitsa
• Visit to Greece's school of gold and silver craftsmanship in Stemnitsa

Landmarks

Stemnitsa

Dimitsana

Open Air Water Power Museum

Prodromou Monastery

Nafplio

Bourtzi

Palamidi Fortress

Akronafplia

Syntagma Square, Nafplio

A guide takes you through Athens' food scene this morning, hitting hidden shops, delicatessens, bakeries, and spice shops where you'll taste traditional Greek items. The main stop is Varvakeios food market, which is loud and packed with vendors selling produce, spices, and all kinds of goods. After several hours of eating and walking around, you'll transfer to the airport for your flight to Crete.

Meals

Breakfast (Food Tour), Dinner

Included Activities

• Guided food tour through Athens specialty shops and delicatessens
• Visit to Varvakeios central food market

Landmarks

Varvakeios Food Market

Start with a 1.5-mile walk through Heraklion's center, stopping to try local mezedes and Greek coffee with bougatsa while your guide talks about the city's history. Next, you'll visit the Archaeological Museum with its 27 rooms covering seven thousand years of Cretan objects and artifacts. Later, head to the Pastry History Museum where you'll learn about chocolate and get to make your own pastry to take with you.

Meals

Breakfast (Food Tour)

Included Activities

• Food and cultural walking tour of Heraklion city center with local food tastings
• Heraklion Archaeological Museum visit
• Pastry History Museum visit with chocolate-making experience

Landmarks

Heraklion Archaeological Museum

Pastry History Museum

Early on, you're working with a local shepherd to make cheese. You'll milk and feed goats, then help create two types of Cretan cheese, learning the traditional methods. While your cheese sets, taste various Cretan cheeses, homemade meze, and raki. After that, a cooking class starts where you learn to prepare authentic Cretan dishes using fresh organic ingredients, then eat what you've made with local wine. In the afternoon, drive to Agios Nikolaos to see the lake and port area.

Meals

Breakfast, Lunch (Meal prepared during hands-on cooking class)

Included Activities

• Hands-on cheese-making experience with goat herding
• Cheese tasting of four types of Cretan cheese
• Hands-on cooking class preparing authentic Cretan dishes
• Guided tour of Agios Nikolaos and Lake Voulismeni

Landmarks

Agios Nikolaos

Lake Voulismeni

You'll walk through Rethymno's old town with a guide, sampling local cheese, thyme honey, wine, olives, and raki along the way. The walk takes you past Byzantine, Venetian, and Ottoman buildings while learning about Cretan customs. There's an option to eat lunch in the city center or by the old port near the Egyptian lighthouse. Visit an olive mill to see how oil was traditionally made, then do a honey tasting and tour about Cretan honey history. End at a pottery workshop in Margarites where potters work at the wheel.

Meals

Breakfast (Food Tour), Dinner (Street Food Dinner)

Included Activities

• Walking tour of Rethymno old town with Cretan product tasting
• Olive mill tour with traditional olive oil production demonstration
• Honey tasting and tour
• Pottery workshop experience in Margarites village

Optional Activities

• Meal at a restaurant in the heart of Rethymno city
• Meal at a restaurant in the old port of Rethymno

Landmarks

Rethymno Old Town

Rethymno Port

Egyptian Lighthouse, Rethymno

Margarites

Begin at the Palace of Knossos, built about 3,500 years ago and one of the major sites to see. Then join a cooking and wine experience where you'll learn to make four Cretan dishes from scratch, including dakos, handmade pasta, pies, and traditional desserts. A sommelier talks about Cretan winemaking while you have lunch with your prepared food and estate wines. Later, visit Domaine Paterianakis winery in Peza for five wine tastings plus tsikoudia and olive oil paired with cheeses, deli meats, and homemade marmalade.

Meals

Breakfast, Lunch (Meal prepared during cooking class with wine pairing selection of 4 different wines)

Included Activities

• Visit to Palace of Knossos
• Hands-on cooking class preparing four authentic Cretan dishes
• Guided wine and sommelier experience
• Guided wine tasting with five select domaine wines
• Tasting of tsikoudia, virgin olive oil, and Cretan cheese platter

Landmarks

Palace of Knossos

Domaine Paterianakis

Today is yours to explore Heraklion at your own pace. Walk around and find the corners and monuments on your own terms. Heraklion's the largest city in Crete with Byzantine, Venetian, and Ottoman structures scattered throughout. Don't skip the 16th-century Koules fortress by the old Venetian port and the historic fortification walls. Browse the commercial center for souvenirs and local items. Then gather with the group in the evening for a farewell dinner with wine.

Meals

Breakfast, Dinner (Farewell dinner with wine)

Optional Activities

• Self-guided exploration of Heraklion city
• Shopping in Heraklion commercial center

Landmarks

Koules Fortress

Heraklion Venetian Port

Have breakfast this morning, then transfer to Heraklion airport for your flight home. Thanks for being part of the tour and have a safe flight back.

Meals

Breakfast