Experience an Authentic Greece

Experience an authentic, unspoiled Greece as you travel to the fabled islands of Naxos and Santorini in the blue Aegean with DELFINIA and Guest Host, Greek Master Chef Dimitris Skarmoutsos. On pastoral Naxos, you will learn to prepare traditional island recipes handed down through the generations. Fish alongside Chef Skarmoutsos, then return to his kitchen to prepare a delicious lunch. Explore the island's rich history – its traditional mountain villages, Venetian castle, Byzantine churches, and classical temples and ruins - and relax on some of the best beaches in Greece before transferring to the breathtaking island of Santorini.

On Santorini, take in the magnificent caldera view from your hotel balcony, then enjoy private tastings of dry, mineral whites and world-famous sweet wines, made from the native Assyrtiko grape varietal, at the island's top wineries. Discover unique local products such as cherry tomatoes, fava, and white eggplant that grow in the parched, volcanic soils, and prepare island specialties alongside well-regarded local chefs. Visit picturesque sun-washed villages, black and red sand beaches, and Akrotiri (a Bronze Age settlement frozen in time by a volcanic explosion some 3600 years ago), and sail in the waters of the dormant volcano as you immerse yourself in Greek island life!

TOUR PRICE

(10 days, 9 nights)
$ 9,875 per person double occupancy
$ 1,970 additional single supplement

OUR TOUR PRICE INCLUDES

• Nine (9) nights of luxury accommodations in stylish boutique hotels and elegant inns
• All meals, beverages and wines (excluding two dinners on your own)
• A special wine tasting dinner hosted by the foremost Greek wine expert,
  Konstantinos Lazarakis MW
• Winery visits and private tastings
• Hands-on cooking lessons with acclaimed local chefs, including
  Greek Master Chef Dimitris Skarmoutso
• Private Santorini caldera cruise
• Guided tours of ancient Athens, Venetian Naxos, and Akrotiri (the "Greek Pompeii")
• All luxury ground and air transportation within Greece
• All gratuities

WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED

• Personal expenses and purchases
• Two dinners
• Airfare to and from Athens, Greece

In Northern Greece, tour the vibrant city of Thessaloniki, the culture capital of Greece. Transfer to wine country and visit top producers in Naoussa and Amyndeo.  Taste the full-bodied Xinomavro reds of Naoussa that with age "can acquire a bouquet as haunting as all but the finest Barolo"* and the sparkling and rose Xinomavro wines of Amyndeo.  Dine on skillfully prepared Northern Greek specialties at some of Greece's most renowned taverns.  Visit picturesque mountain villages and a nearby nature preserve and revel in the beauty of Northern Greece.

Next, transfer to the island of Santorini, famous for its caldera views and orange-hued sunsets, as well as its world-class wines.  Tour wineries producing some of the best whites and sweet wines in Greece and southeastern Europe.  Try your hand at preparing Santorini specialties featuring local ingredients — such as fava, white eggplant and Santorini cherry tomatoes — alongside an acclaimed local chef.  Take in the breathtaking view as you walk the caldera rim.  Sail into the crater of a dormant volcano.  This and much more awaits you in magical Santorini!

* Hugh Johnson and Jancis Robinson, The Concise World Atlas of Wines, 6th edition

TOUR PRICE

(10 days, 9 nights)
$ 9,715 per person double occupancy
(Single supplements are limited — please inquire)

OUR TOUR PRICE INCLUDES

• Nine (9) nights of luxury accommodations in stylish hotels and elegant inns
• All meals, beverages and wines (excluding two dinners on your own)
• Two (2) special wine tasting dinners hosted by the foremost Greek wine expert, Konstantinos Lazarakis MW
  
• Winery visits and private tastings, including exclusive vertical and barrel tastings
• Hands-on cooking lessons with acclaimed local chefs
• Private Santorini caldera cruise
• Guided tours of ancient Athens, historic Thessaloniki, the Royal Tombs of Vergina, and Akrotiri (the "Greek Pompeii")
• All luxury ground and air transportation within Greece
• All gratuities

WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED

• Personal expenses and purchases
• Two dinners
• Airfare to and from Athens, Greece

Travel the food and wine roads of the rugged Peloponnese and discover the wealth of this region  — its abundant indigenous grape varietals; prized local products such as honeys, cheeses, and olive oils; stunningly picturesque villages; and some of the most important archaeological sites in the Western world.

Wander the cobblestone streets of the walled Byzantine fortress of Monemvasia that was once an important trading port for the sweet Malvasia wines.  Relax on your veranda next to the sea at one of our favorite boutique hotels (a beautifully restored castle).  Learn to prepare herb and cheese pies, seafood moussaka and kakavia (traditional fish soup made from seawater) from a talented local chef.  Tour the abandoned town of Mystras (once home to Emperors of Byzantium and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site).

Transfer to the eastern coast of the Peloponnese where your base will be one of Greece's most luxurious resorts.  From there, tour wine country in Nemea (homeland of the native Agiorgitiko varietal that produces charming medium and full-bodied reds) and Mantinia (where the indigenous Moschofilero varietal produces crisp, floral whites) and be treated to private tastings led by winemakers and oenologists.  There will be time to visit ancient Epidavros (famous for its acoustically-perfect theater) and be pampered in the resort's serene, well-appointed spa before transferring to Athens where your tour ends.

(10 days, 9 nights)
$ 11,050 per person double occupancy
(Single supplements are limited-please inquire)

• Nine (9) nights of accommodations in elegant, luxurious hotels
  
• All meals, beverages and wines (excluding two dinners on your own)
• Two (2) special wine tasting dinners hosted by the foremost Greek wine expert, Konstantinos Lazarakis MW
  
• Hands-on cooking lessons with accomplished Greek chefs
  
• Winery visits and tastings, including exclusive vertical tastings
• Private guided tours of ancient Athens, Mystras, and ancient Epidavros
  
• Luxury transportation within Greece
• All gratuities

WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED

• Personal expenses and purchases
• Two dinners
• Airfare to and from Athens, Greece

Embark on an unforgettable culinary journey to Crete with Celebrity Chef Penny Davidi.  There you will learn the principles of the island's celebrated diet, famous since antiquity for its healthful benefits, and prepare sumptuous meals based on its wholesome elements — olive oil, fresh greens and herbs, pulses and whole grains — alongside renowned Cretan chefs including Greek Master Chef Dimitris Skarmoutsos.  Visit with cheese makers, beekeepers and organic olive oil producers and sample their artisanal products.  Pick fresh greens in the mountains and return to prepare a delicious Cretan meal with these and other locally sourced ingredients. Visit the picturesque seaside town of Chania, among the loveliest in Greece, and tour its Venetian harbor and covered food and spice market.

Transfer to the middle of the island and relax among rolling hills blanketed with olive groves, as you enjoy the herb-scented air while gazing at the sea.   Visit the charming coastal town of Rethymnon with its Venetian fortress and old town, and enjoy a magical afternoon cooking lesson and wine tasting at one of Crete's most lauded restaurants.  Join Chef Penny Davidi in the kitchen and prepare her interpretations of Cretan and Greek specialties.   Decompress and embrace the Cretan way of life before returning to Athens.

TOUR PRICE

(9 days, 8 nights)
$9,315 per person double occupancy
$980 additional single supplement

OUR TOUR PRICE INCLUDES

• Eight (8) nights of luxury accommodations in stylish hotels and elegant inns
• All meals, beverages and wines (excluding one dinner on your own)
• Exclusive daily hands-on cooking lessons with renowned local and guest chefs, including Greek Master Chef Dimitris Skarmoutsos and Chef Penny Davidi
• A special wine tasting dinner hosted by the foremost Greek wine expert, Konstantinos Lazarakis MW
  
• Winery visits and private tastings
• Private guided tours of ancient Athens and the Minoan Palace of Knossos
  
• All luxury ground and air transportation within Greece
• All gratuities

WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED

• Personal expenses and purchases
• One dinner
• Airfare to and from Athens, Greece