Culinary Delights of Athens, Santorini and Crete

Begin your 9-nights Greek adventure with your arrival into Athens International Airport. After picking up your luggage you’ll be welcomed by your private transfer for transfer to your hotel in the city, where you can take the rest of the day to relax and enjoy at your leisure. You might take advantage of the facilities at your hotel or wander around to find an enticing sidewalk for sipping wine while watching the world go by. There are plenty of rooftop patios too, providing views of the city and its iconic symbol, the Parthenon which sits atop Acropolis hill.

A half-day sightseeing tour will bring you to many of Athens’ highlights while your private guide will make the landmarks come to life with commentary on their history. You’ll pass significant buildings like the neoclassical Greek House of Parliament that overlooks the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Syntagma Square, the National Library and more, providing an orientation of the city center before heading to the Acropolis. Here you’ll climb to the top for a panoramic vista over the city, explore the world-famous Parthenon, the Temple of Athena Nike, Erectheion and Propylaea. Afterwards, enjoy a leisurely walk through the colourful Plaka district.

Get to known Athens through its tasty cuisine on this private guided culinary walking tour. You’ll follow your food-savvy guide through the streets of Athens, stopping at the popular Varvakios Central Market where local vendors display their products from across Greece. Here you’ll sample eats that the locals often enjoy such as local cheeses, souvlaki, traditional cheese pie, loukoumades, Greek coffee, dried fruit and nuts, and olive oil. You’ll also visit with local food artisans that have maintained family traditions for decades and pop into specialty food shops while learning all about the flavours that Athenians love the most.

This morning your private driver will pick you up for the transfer back to Athens airport where you’ll catch your flight to Santorini. You’ll be greeted by another driver for private transfer to your hotel. Get settled in and then embark on a winery tour. The island’s volcanic soil is renowned for producing the tasty Santorini wines that are rarely found outside of the country. You’ll begin the half-day tour by driving through the village of Pyrgos, enjoying a panoramic vista from the island’s highest point, followed by a visit to a village winery for a tasting of three local wines and lunch.

Enjoy the day to yourself on Santorini – this evening you’ll experience one of the highlights of your trip, a sunset cruise. Some of the options before it begins include taking the hike between Fira and Oia following the edge of the caldera cliffs or visiting the famous Pompeii-like Akrotiri settlement. At the scheduled time, take private transfer to the port for your cruise around the island. You’ll visit beaches like Red Beach with time for a swim, then back on board dine on a tasty BBQ meal, paired with local wine. Conclude by watching the sunset over the caldera just below Oia village.

It’s on to your next destination, this time via high-speed ferry. You’ll take private port transfer to Santorini port and be assisted through to ensure you a smooth connection. The journey to Heraklion is about 90 minutes and you’ll be able to enjoy the dazzling views of the Aegean along the way. Upon your arrival to Heraklion’s port, a private driver will meet you for the approximately 2.5-hour drive to your hotel in Chania, one of Crete’s most appealing cities. Get settled in and then perhaps stroll the narrow lanes in the Venetian quarter where remnants of Venetian and Turkish architecture abound.

Today you’ll get to know Chania on a private walking tour that’s focused on the city’s culinary traditions. You’ll stroll at a leisurely pace through the old Turkish and Jewish quarters, and Chania’s historic district, stopping into authentic local food shops and restaurants. Along the way, take in the architecture which provides an excellent glimpse of the city’s history. You’ll get to chat with the warm and friendly locals, including those who create Chania’s popular culinary delights while getting a sample too. Some of the delicious tastings including items like traditional bougatsa pie, loukoumades, honey, rusks and olives.

Venture into the scenic countryside outside of Chania with your private/driver guide today, starting with a visit to Biolea, a small estate that produces olive oil and includes both a rustic family-run restaurant and winery. The ecological prototype farm promotes a traditional method of organic olive oil production with the oil cold-pressed and stone milled. The owners will give you a tour through the premises and host an olive oil tasting. You’ll drive to a picturesque winery to explore the grounds with a wine expert and enjoy a tasting of the Cretan wines before ending with a delicious meal at a local family-run tavern.

Enjoy the day to yourself, exploring at your own pace. You might want to escape the city and take a tour through the hinterland to visit an ancient city and charming villages, or perhaps explore by water. Yacht cruises can bring you to sail up the coast, soaking up the sun and the scenery, stopping to visit gorgeous beaches along the way like Agios Pavlos, Agia Roumeli, Sweet Waters and Loutro, along with the Marmara Caves. Trips include opportunities to swim the crystal-clear aquamarine water as well as a Mediterranean lunch, traditional local snacks and a variety of beverages, including wine.

After nine nights exploring Athens, Santorini and Crete, your itinerary comes to an end. After checking out of your hotel, you’ll meet your private driver for transfer to the airport, boarding your flight in Chania to Athens. From there you can begin your journey home or embark on further travels – if you need ideas our travel experts can help.