Yiasou! Welcome to Athens. If you arrive early, be sure to explore some of the ancient sites for which the city is famous, including the Acropolis, the Temple of Olympian Zeus and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.  Greece is home to a culinary culture that is thought to be more than 4,000 years old. While wheat, olives and wine are considered seminal, Greek food is equally renowned for vibrant Mediterranean vegetables, liberal use of herbs such as dill and mint, succulent lamb and locally-caught seafood, and syrup-soaked sweets. Greece is credited with spreading ancient culinary traditions well beyond its borders and, in turn, its cuisine reflects Ottoman influences through Arabic, Persian and Turkish-tinged flavours. While many dishes require patience and time to prepare, Greek food celebrates a rustic simplicity, and it is most likely this quality which has made it one of the world's best-loved cuisines. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting tonight at 6pm. Please ask reception to confirm the time and place of your meeting. Have your insurance details and next of kin information on hand for collection by your leader. If you can't arrange a flight that will arrive in time, you may wish to arrive a day early so you're able to attend.  Celebrate the start of your foodie odyssey with a feast of mezethes, an array of small plates typically accompanied by a glass of wine or ouzo, in a rustic taverna.

Catch the city train to Piraeus port and travel by ferry to the island of Aegina, your first stop in the Saronic Gulf. The ferry ride takes approximately 40 minutes. After checking in at your hotel, strap on your helmet and go on a bike tour along the coast, past sandy beaches and vegetable gardens, to the charming fishing village of Perdika. Stop on the way to visit a pistachio farm. It is thought that pistachio trees were first planted on the island in the 19th century, brought to Aegine via Syria, and the Greek island of Chios. Enjoy a sample from the farm and also 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. Your leader will have some excellent local suggestions come dinnertime.

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 an afternoon cooking class with a local foodie who has lived on Poros her whole life. Learn to prepare some classic regional dishes, then feast on your creations over late lunch.

Take a day trip to Hydra Island, a quintessential Greek getaway with white-washed houses climbing up the hills from the port below. Enjoy a deliciious lunch of lamb, sourced from free-range flocks that roam the island of nearby Poros. In the afternoon, relax with a stroll along the marina, before returning to Poros in the evening. 

Take a private vehicle from Poros to the archealogical site of Epidaurus (approximately 1 hour). 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. The site was built to celebrate the power of the healing gods of the Hellenic and Roman worlds, with some structures dating back as far as the 6th century BC. Explore this incredible site, then continue on to Nafplio (1 hour). Take an orientation walk through Nafplio. This charming seaside town, considered one of the most beautiful in the eastern Peloponnese, reflects the legacy of Frankish, Venetian and Turkish conquerors in its culture and architecture. Stop in at a family-owned ouzo distillery for a taste of this 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. The rest of the afternoon is free to explore. In summer, boats are also available to the Venetian fortress of Bourtzi, one of the most photographed sites of Nafplion.

Wake early and travel to the ancient site of Mycenae to visit the Treasury of Atreus, also called Tomb of Agamemnon. Believed to have been built about 1350 to 1250 BC, this is one of nine intriguing beehive structures unearthed in this area. Continue to the seaside town of Kardamyli (approximately 3 hours). Located in the rugged coastal region of the Mani Peninsula, south of Kalamata, this stunning village is set against a beautiful backdrop of aqua-blue ocean, cypress trees, wild olive groves, and distant snowcapped mountains. Settle back in your accommodation and enjoy a glass of retsina watching the sun set over the Messinian Gulf.

Take a day trip to meet some of the passionate food producers of the Mani Peninsula. Visit olive groves and a traditional old fashioned olive mill. There will be an introduction to olive oil making and some olive oil tasting with bread, rusks and olives. A full lunch will be provided and, depending on the weather, this will be a picnic or lunch in the local kafenio. Afterwards, visit an apiary and learn about the craft from a local beekeeper. Taste honey fresh from the hive, then finish your day with a revitalising Greek coffee, before returning to Kardamyli for the night.

Today is a free day in Kardamyli. Pack some hiking shoes and walk one of the town's seaside trails or perhaps go biking through the Taygetos mountains bordering the town. There are also optional day trips available to Sparta or Olympia (the day trip to Olympia is an 8-hour round trip). In the evening, enjoy one final Greek feast with new friends.

The Real Food Adventure Greece concludes on arrival at Kifisos Bus Station in Athens at approximately 3.30pm. We recommend that onward flights be booked no earlier than 8pm. To reach Athens International Airport from Kifisos Bus Station, you can take a taxi (approximately 40 mins, EUR 40-45) or the Airport Express Bus (route X93), which departs from Kifisos Bus Station every 30-40 mins (approximately 1 hour, EUR 6). Tickets can be purchased from the bus driver. If you wish to extend your Greek adventure, why not enjoy a spot of island-hopping from Athens to the idyllic Santorini. Check out trip code ZMSE for more information. Special Information