Greece Itinerary

September 28: Welcome to Athens !
	*Morning:* FREE *Afternoon:* The tour begins in the early afternoon. (It is strongly advised that you *arrive the day before* to avoid any missed connection with the group and to allow extra time for jet lag.) There’s no better way to start this trip than with a visit to Greece’s crown jewel, the Acropolis and its Parthenon. The special site has a power to stir your heart as few other historical places can. *Evening:* Tonight we’ll dine at one of Athens’ most renowned “foodie” restaurants. Owned by a famous chef who not only has her own TV cooking show but also is cookbook, author, the restaurant offers an unforgettable setting with a panoramic view of the Parthenon and Acropolis.
September 29: Wine & Temples !
*Morning:* FREE *Afternoon:* Tour of Athens’ most famous sites including Hadrian’s Arch, the 2004 Olympic Stadium and the Presidential Palace & Gardens. Then, we’ll journey to the countryside to visit one of the country’s top wineries. *Evening:* The Greeks in 400 BC chose to honor the God of the sea, Poseidon, by building an enormous temple to him at Cape Sounion. What could be better than to watch the sunset at this magical spot? Dinner will be at a seaside taverna, known for its high level of traditional style cooking.
September 30: Market Tour
	*Morning:* Today we’ll visit Athens’ bustling marketplace replete with a colorful array of freshly-plucked produce, as well as a huge array of colorful stalls offering Athen’s finest seafood and meats. *Afternoon:* Next, a visit a cheese producer…and the remainder of the day is free. *Evening:* FREE
October 1:
*Morning:* FREE *Afternoon:* Bid your goodbye to Athens as today we journey to south to the Peloponnese part of Greece. Our home for the next three nights will be the seaside village of Nauplion. The first capital of modern Greece, this town is one of the most charming one in all of southern Greece. *Evening:* Dinner by the sea at a family-run restaurant specializing in just-plucked-from-the-ocean fish and seafood.
October 2: Marble Streets & Venetian Fortresses
	*Morning & Afternoon:* FREE. The town, famous for its marble-lined streets and two Venetian fortresses, makes a perfect venue for exploring and shopping. For museum lovers, there’s one on folklore, another on archaeology, and still another with military artifacts. For beach bunnies, there’s an idyllic cove with pristine waters. Strollers can enjoy two pretty city parks and a gorgeous harbor-side promenade. *Evening:* Dinner at one of Greece’s most heralded wineries. Trained in Bordeaux, the winemaker will guide us through the tasting and accompany us for dinner.
October 3: Home of the Original Olympic Games
*Morning & Afternoon:* Today we’ll head across the Peloponeese Peninsula to the world famous Olympia, a former religious sanctuary and an athletic complex. Here we’ll tour the ancient stadium where the first Olympiad was held in 776 and where participants came as far away as Asia Minor and Italy. Evening: FREE
October 4: Olives, Olive Oil & Cooking Class
	*Morning:* On our way to the famous olive town of Kalamata, we’ll stop in Sparta. Few sites on the Pelopnenese are more imposing than the immense, snow- capped Mount Taygetos towering above the town. Known for its military heroism as early as the 5^th century BC, Sparta offers an acropolis and other relics of bygone millenniums. *Afternoon:* Tasting at an olive oil producer at the epicenter of olive production in Greece, the seaside town of Kalamata. Then, a visit to one of the stellar wine producers in the region. *Evening:* Cooking class featuring recipes handed down over centuries of local specialties--dinner will follow of dishes made during the course.
October 5: Magical Greek Islands
*Morning:* Today we’ll take a ferry that passes several of the country’s exquisite islands. Our destination is Santorini. If you’ve seen a travel poster of Greece, most likely it’s a picture taken on Santorini as this place is considered by many as the most beautiful in all of Greece. *Afternoon:* FREE *Evening:* As the island is home to the jet-set, this means jet-set restaurants. Tonight we’ll dine at one of the top restaurants in all of Greece on brilliantly prepared food that will be accompanied by the island’s famous white wine.
October 6: Spectacular Santorini
	*Morning:* Visit to a local cheese producer. As the island is well known for its white wine, we’ll have a private tour & tasting at one of its leading wineries. *Afternoon & Evening:* FREE
October 7: Fabulous Island Wines
*Morning:* FREE *Afternoon:* We can’t leave the island without a visit to its pinnacle winery where we will have a private tour and tasting. *Evening:* We’ll bid our goodbyes to Santorini at a knock-your-socks-off restaurant heralded by foodies-in-the-know.
October 8: Farewell
	*Morning:* Tour ends. Those who wish to stay extra days in Santorini may do so. Or, if you want to visit another island there is ferry service to nearby spots such as Mykonos. If you want to return back to the mainland, there are options for either a ferry or plane.