Project Description
Guided 8 Day Cultural Wine Tour
From Athens to Delphi and Olympia, and then through the mountains to Nafplion, Mycenae, Epidauros and the famous wine estates of the Peloponnese. Food, wine and culture, the ultimate experience in 8 days! For wine and food lovers, but also for those who are interested in the historical archaeological sites.
Everything will be taken care for you so that you can concentrate on enjoying the wine, food and atmosphere of the area you will be travelling. And of course you will be accompanied by our tour guide; specialised guides will take you around the archaeological sites. The groups may vary from 10-20 people.
Rates & dates
| Guided Cultural Wine Tour 8 days | 4 star accommodation |
|---|---|
| Double room | € 1750 per person in a twin or double room |
| Single room | Supplement € 285 |
Departure dates:
04 – 11 April 2021 &
12 – 19 September 2021
Due to the constantly changing measures regarding COVID-19, other options and prices may apply.
Included:
- 7 Nights’ accommodation in 4* hotels
- 7 x Breakfast
- 6 x Lunch
- 7 x Dinner
- Entrance fees to all archaeological sites and museums as mentioned in the program
- English speaking licensed guide
- Informative introduction about wine
- 4 x Wine tasting
- Transfer by mini coach or touring car
Sample 8 Day Itinerary
Day 1
- Arrival in Athens, at hotel Royal Olympic.
- Meet with your tour leader and the other participants.
- Dinner at a local restaurant.
Day 2
- You start the morning with a stroll through the old centre of Athens, followed by a visit of the monuments on the Ancient Acropolis hill, and a tour of the new Acropolis Museum where many masterpieces of the Holy rock are on display.
- Lunch at a local restaurant.
- In the afternoon you will depart for Delphi.
- After checking in hotel Kastalia – most rooms with a splendid view on the valley – you will have dinner at their restaurant where you can taste delicious homemade dishes.
Day 3
- In the morning a visit of the Archaeological site of Delphi, one of the most important ancient relics of Greece.
- Afterwards you depart for your first wine tasting experience. With the lunch in a local restaurant you will taste different wines, explained by a wine expert.
- On your return from the restaurant you will pay a visit of the Museum of Delphi, and in the evening you will dine in your hotel.
Day 4
- Departure for the peninsula of the Peloponnese, where most of the well-known sites of Greece are located. A beautiful trip along the coast, passing picturesque villages, and the famous Antirrion Bridge.
- Lunch in a traditional tavern in Olympia.
- After lunch a visit of the archaeological site of Olympia. The sanctuary is dedicated to Zeus, the father of Gods. Also in the afternoon you will visit the Archaeological museum of Olympia. It presents the long history of one of the most celebrated sanctuaries of antiquity.
- You will stay in an excellent hotel, situated on the beautiful hill of the forest of Olympia, among olive trees and majestic gardens, with swimming pool.
- Your dinner will be in the restaurant of the hotel, where you can taste traditional dishes.
Day 5
- Departure from Olympia.
- On the road you stop at one of the most famous wineries in the area. This renowned estate is extensive with over 150 years of history in the production of wine and olive oil; the working farm is tastefully preserved in a beautiful landscape. You will taste their excellent wines – one of the ingredients is the famous Mavrodaphne grape – and their food, because lunch will also be on this famous estate.
- Then you will be leaving for the small city of Nafplion, your base for the next few days. You will stay in a neoclassical style hotel right in front of the port, in the centre of the old city. Nafplion, the first capital of Greece, is one of Greece’s prettiest and most romantic towns, with a lively centre and excellent restaurants.
- Dinner at a local restaurant.
Day 6
- You will start this day with a visit of Mycenae, the kingdom of the mythical Agamemnon. Its name was given to one of the greatest civilizations of Greek prehistory, the Mycenaean civilization. Myths related to its history have inspired poets and writers over many centuries; think of the Homeric epics.
- Wine tasting and lunch in a winery near Argos. An estate with an unique approach, established by a Dijon-trained winemaker, the first wine producer to blend the Greek Saint-George (Agiorgitiko) grape with Cabernet Sauvignon. And as you will taste, with illustrious results.
- After lunch a visit of the Archaeological site of Epidaurus. In a small valley, the shrine of Asklepios, the god of medicine, developed as the official cult of the city state of Epidaurus. Its principal monuments are the temple of Asklepios and the Ancient theatre, considered one of the purest masterpieces of Greek architecture.
- Dinner at a local restaurant with wines from the region.
Day 7
- In the morning you will leave for a real wine day.
- Located in the ancient city of Argos, the first winery you visit creates fine wines from their vineyards in the highlands of the Argolis province. They specialize in two Greek grape varieties and encourage you to try their spectacular wine creations.
- The second wine estate takes you to the historical wine region of Nemea. We visit a third generation winemaker born in Nemea, and one of the Greek wine industry’s most dynamic characters. The flagship grape for his wines, Saint-George, enjoy now worldwide recognition.
- Lunch at the winery.
- In the afternoon you will be free to explore Nafplion. The fortress of Palamidi is worth visiting, and you can make an optional boat trip to Bourtzi. Bourtzi, the Turkish word for tower, is a tiny island located in the middle of the harbour of Nafplion.
- Dinner in a local restaurant.
Day 8
- After breakfast you will make the trip back to Athens.
- If possible with a stop at the Corinth Canal. This famous canal separates the Peloponnese from mainland Greece. The Corinth Canal, though only completed in the late 19th century, was an idea and dream that dates back for over 2000 thousand years. Before the canal was constructed, ships had to travel all around the Peloponnese which added several days more travel to their journey time.