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Map of Greece Real Food Adventure including Greece

From crumbling ruins to crumbling feta, discover southern Greece on this indulgent adventure

Uncover a world of ancient treasures and authentic food on this indulgent adventure through 4000 years of culinary culture. From the pistachio farms and fish markets of the Saronic Islands to the olive groves and rugged coastline of the Peloponnese region, meet passionate cooks and local producers as you explore the diverse flavours and faces of Greece. Beginning in the historic hub of Athens, explore the farms of charming Aegina, cook up a storm in a local kitchen in Poros, relax on the beaches of Kardamyli and marvel at the legacy of ancient Greece at the Theatre of Epidaurus and Mycenae's Treasury of Atreus. With a hearty serving of breathtaking sites and mouth-watering bites, savour iconic Greek flavours from ouzo to olive oil on a real food adventure that’s sure to spoil your senses.

Start
Athens, Greece
Finish
Athens, Greece
Destination
Greece
Style
Original
Theme
Food
Code
ZMZG
Physical rating
Ages
Min 15
Group size
Min 1, Max 12

Why you'll love this trip

  • Be welcomed into a countryside farm and learn how to make lalagia – a delicious Greek doughnut that can be served sweet or savoury – then turn to savoury treats and tuck into a home-cooked Greek feast including moussaka and stuffed vegetables.

  • Add to your recipe repertoire as you learn to prepare a selection of traditional dishes from a local chef in Poros – an island renowned for its lamb and olive groves – who’s ready to share their best-kept cooking secrets.

  • Mingle with the local producers who are just as passionate about good food and fresh ingredients as you are with visits to a countryside pistachio farm; a small, family-run apiary (a bee yard); and a family-owned distillery for a taste of the iconic Greek aperitif – ouzo.

  • Take a step back in time and explore some of Greece’s most incredible sites – including Athens, Aegina and Poros islands, Epidaurus and Mycenae – with your locally based guide leading the way.

  • Get a real taste for Greece as you dig into iconic eats like cheese, honey, olives, spit-roasted lamb, moussaka, mezze and lalagia – delicious!

Is this trip right for you?

  • Greece is a great food destination for vegetarians. With wonderful fresh produce and many delicious local dishes, you'll have a great time on this trip. For vegans we recommend reviewing the itinerary and inclusions to ensure that you will be able to fully participate and enjoy this trip. We also have many other trips to Greece which can accommodate a range of dietary requirements.

  • Summer temperatures can reach 40°C or higher in some areas, so it's important to use sun protection, wear layers to combat the heat and drink plenty of water. Please carefully consider the time of the year you wish to travel and your suitability to that season.

  • While we start and finish our trip in Athens, there is no time for sightseeing in this city once the trip has commenced. If you wish to explore Athens' wealth of historic sites, such as the Acropolis, the Temple of Olympian Zeus and the Tomb of the Unknown Solider, we recommend that you extend your stay here either before or after your trip.

A plate of a traditional Greek dish called Moussaka on a rustic outdoor table
Sailing through the Greek islands with Intrepid
Enjoy al-fresco dining in Greece with Intrepid Travel
The Acropolis in Greece
An Aegina fish market in Greece
Group making traditional Greek salad in Aegina, Greece
Male traveller picking fresh pistachios on pistachio farm in Aegina, Greece
Basket of a traditional Greek donut of the Mani peninsula called Lalagia

Itinerary
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Yiasou! Welcome to Athens, the capital of Greece. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm. If you arrive early, be sure to explore some of the iconic ancient sites, including the Acropolis, the Temple of Olympian Zeus and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. After your meeting, celebrate the start of your foodie odyssey with a plant-based mezze feast – an array of small plates typically accompanied by a glass of wine or ouzo, in a rustic taverna. Zucchini balls, vegan moussaka, salads, tomato balls, fresh beans with zucchini, fava beans and stuffed vegetables are just a few of the flavoursome dishes that may be on offer tonight. Greece is home to a culinary culture that is thought to be more than 4000 years old.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Athens - Welcome Dinner
Optional Activities
  • Athens - Temple of Olympian Zeus - EUR8
  • Athens - Tomb of the Unknown Soldier - Free
  • Athens - Acropolis and Acropolis Museum combo ticket - EUR40
Meals Included
  • Dinner
Special Information
It’s very important that you attend the welcome meeting as we will be collecting insurance details and next of kin information at this time. If you are going to be late please let your travel agent or hotel reception know. Ask reception or look for a note in the lobby for more information on where the meeting will take place.

This morning, take the city train to Piraeus port and travel by ferry to the island of Aegina, your first stop in the Saronic Gulf. After checking in at your hotel, drive to a local farm where you'll meet the owners for a tasty tour of their property. Say hello to their sheep and cows, sample their homemade cheeses and help make rizogalo (rice pudding). Next up is a visit to a local pistachio farm. It’s thought that pistachio trees were first planted on the island in the 19th century, brought to Aegina via Syria, and the Greek island of Chios. Enjoy a sample from the farm and be sure to seek out fistikato or fistiki Aeginis glyko, specialty pistachio sweets of Aegina. The late afternoon and evening are free for your own exploration.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Aegina - Pistachio farm visit
  • Aegina - Farm visit with cheese tasting
Optional Activities
  • Aegina - Archaeological Museum of Kolona Aegina - EUR4
  • Aegina - Agios Nektarios Monastery Entrance - Free
  • Aegina - Temple of Aphaia Entrance - EUR6
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information
Today's ferry ride takes approximately 40 minutes.

After breakfast, stroll down and check out the catch of the day at the open fish markets by the port. Perhaps also stop past the island's most famous pastry shop to pick up some pistachio goodies to take with you. Next, board another ferry bound for Poros, a small Greek island renowned for lamb, olive groves and charming white houses with terracotta roofs. Take part in a cooking class with a local chef and learn to prepare some classic regional dishes, then feast on your creations over lunch. Enjoy a free afternoon by your accommodation’s pool and be sure to ask your leader for recommendations for dinner tonight.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Poros - Cooking Class
Optional Activities
  • Monastery of Zoodochos Pigi - Free
  • Clock Tower Poros - Free
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
Special Information
Your hotel is located approximately a 5-minute taxi ride or 40 minutes walking distance from the town centre. A taxi one-way will cost approximately EUR6. The hotel has a pool and private beach.

Take a day trip to Hydra Island, a quintessential Greek getaway. Hydra is truly the gem of the Saronic Gulf and stands alone among Greek islands as the one free of wheeled vehicles – no cars, no scooters – just tiny marble-cobbled lanes, donkeys, rocks and sea. So, put your walking shoes on and get acquainted with the locals with a spot of people watching and enjoy this one-of-a-kind, Greek Island. Enjoy a delicious lunch of spit-roasted lamb then relax with a stroll along the marina, before returning to Poros in the evening.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Hydra - Day Trip
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch

Take a short ferry ride this morning before jumping in a private vehicle from Poros to Nafplio (with plenty of interesting stops along the way). First up, a small, family-run apiary. Visit their honey museum to learn how their bees make honey, before sampling their products with aromatic Greek tea, homemade bread and cheese. Travel onwards to the ancient site of Epidaurus. Named after Epidauro, the son of Apollo, the UNESCO World Heritage site of Epidaurus comprises the remains of the Sanctuary of Asklepios (the ancient god of medicine) as well as one of the best-preserved theatres of ancient Greece. Your final stop today is at a family-owned ouzo distillery for a taste of their iconic Greek aperitif. Traditionally distilled in copper pots, ouzo acquires its distinct flavour from the addition of anise. Star anise, fennel, mastic, cardamom, coriander, cloves, and cinnamon may also be added, and recipes are often closely guarded family secrets. Arrive in Nafplio in the late afternoon, a charming seaside town, considered one of the most beautiful in the eastern Peloponnese, it reflects the legacy of Frankish, Venetian and Turkish conquerors in its culture and architecture.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Epidaurus - Guided Tour
  • Kranidi – Beekeeper farm visit
  • Nafplio - Ouzo Distillery Visit and Tasting
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

Start your day with a visit to Mycenae to see the Treasury of Atreus, also called Tomb of Agamemnon. You’ll join a local guide to learn more about how the tomb is believed to have been erected in the period between 1350 to 1250 BC and is just one of nine intriguing beehive structures unearthed in this area. Next up, visit a family-owned boutique winery to sample their finest drops, accompanied by a selection of delicious snacks. Take a walk in the vines to stretch your legs before heading back to Nafplio where the rest of the day is free to explore as you wish. In summer, boats are available to the Venetian fortress of Bourtzi, one of the most photographed sites of Nafplio.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Mycenae - Guided Tour
  • Argos – Winery visit and tastings
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

Continue to the seaside town of Kardamyli, stopping en route to visit an olive oil mill. Walk through the olive groves and visit their mill, seeing the oil production process from start to finish. Enjoy a farmer’s lunch here and tuck into some of their incredible local produce (alongside an olive oil tasting) before getting back on the road. And finally, stop in Kalamata for a short walking tour and market visit with a few more food tastings for good measure. You’ll arrive in Kardamyli by early afternoon, located in the rugged coastal region of the Mani Peninsula, south of Kalamata, this stunning village is set against a beautiful backdrop of the open ocean, cypress trees, wild olive groves, and distant snow-capped mountains. The afternoon is free for you to explore. You might like to pack some hiking shoes and walk one of the town's seaside trails or venture out to the nearby Diros caves (approximately 1 hour from Kardamyli). In the evening, settle back into your accommodation and enjoy a glass of retsina while watching the sun set over the Messenian Gulf.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Kalamata - Market visit with olive tasting
  • Parapougki – Olive mill visit and tastings
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
Special Information
Today’s total driving time is approximately 4 hours. The drive from Kalamata to Kardamyli is quite windy on a two-lane road, this section of the journey is expected to take around 1 hour.

This morning you may like to do an optional sea kayaking activity, exploring the coastline and caves of the Mani Peninsula or simply enjoy a little free time at your leisure. In the afternoon, be welcomed at a local farm and learn how to make lalagia – a delicious Greek doughnut that can be served sweet or savoury. Afterwards, enjoy one final Greek feast with your new friends. Home-cooked moussaka, stuffed vegetables, rice, salad and ice cream await!
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Kardamyli – Lalagia making
  • Kardamyli – Home-cooked dinner
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Dinner

Today you’ll journey from Kardamyli to Athens where your Real Food Adventure will come to an end on arrival at Monastiraki Square in the centre of Athens. If you’re not ready for the adventure to end just yet (we don’t blame you) and would like to spend more time in Athens, we can arrange extra accommodation for you, subject to availability.
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information
If you’re flying out of Athens today, we recommend that onward flights be booked no earlier than 5:30pm.
Want to tailor this itinerary?

Meals

8 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 2 dinners

Transport

Private vehicle, Bicycle, Ferry, Metro

Accommodation

Hotel (8 nights)

Included activities

  • Athens - Welcome Dinner
  • Aegina - Pistachio farm visit
  • Aegina - Farm visit with cheese tasting
  • Poros - Cooking Class
  • Hydra - Day Trip
  • Epidaurus - Guided Tour
  • Kranidi – Beekeeper farm visit
  • Nafplio - Ouzo Distillery Visit and Tasting
  • Mycenae - Guided Tour
  • Argos – Winery visit and tastings
  • Kalamata - Market visit with olive tasting
  • Parapougki – Olive mill visit and tastings
  • Kardamyli – Lalagia making
  • Kardamyli – Home-cooked dinner

Dates & availability

Trip departures are unavailable.

There are currently no scheduled departures on our Greece Real Food Adventure trip. If you are interested in other trips in the region visit one of the links below.

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Important notes

1. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement applies to all nights of your trip and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information. 
2. While we endeavour to cater for specific dietary requirements, some meals and food activities are set in advance and may be difficult to adjust. Please advise us of any dietary requirements at the time of booking so that we can ensure you’ll enjoy this trip.
3. This trip ends at approximately 1pm on Day 9 in central Athens. We recommend that onward flights be booked no earlier than 5:30pm on the final day of the trip. Please refer to Day 9 of the itinerary for details, and before booking any flights.

Essential trip information

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