2025 Culinary Trip to Greece
Embark on a Culinary Tour of Greece with Chef Dino Kolitsas
Depart Monday April 21, 2025 and Return Tuesday April 29, 2025
Join Chef Dino Kolitsas, the visionary chef/owner of Greca Mediterranean Kitchen + Bar, on an unforgettable journey to the heart of Greek cuisine and culture. With a passion for reimagining traditional Greek dishes and five years atop "Best of" lists, Chef Dino is ready to share his Greece with you—a Greece of vibrant flavors, rich history, and breathtaking beauty.
This exclusive culinary tour is every food enthusiast’s dream. Over seven extraordinary days, immerse yourself in Greece’s most iconic and hidden treasures, guided by Chef Dino himself:
Highlights of the Journey
Hands-On Culinary Experiences: Learn the art of Greek cooking through demonstrations and classes with renowned Greek chefs and cherished lessons from Greek grandmothers.
Farm-to-Table Adventures: Visit local wineries, olive oil factories, organic farms, and distilleries to uncover the secrets behind Greece’s celebrated ingredients.
Historic Excursions: Wander through history with guided tours of the Acropolis, Ancient Agora, and the Temple of Poseidon on the Athens Riviera.
Island Charm: Stay three nights on the enchanting island of Andros, known as "The Noble Dame of the Aegean," where cobblestone streets and Cycladic homes create a postcard-perfect setting.
The Culinary Journey
Savor Greece at every level, from the vibrant bustle of street food to the exquisite elegance of haute cuisine. Every bite is a celebration of tradition, creativity, and the culture for which Chef Dino has such passion.
Accommodations & Logistics
- Three nights in a boutique hotel in the center of Athens, where picturesque Plaka and elegant Syntagma merge.
- Three nights in a private villa overlooking the Aegean Sea on Andros.
- One night at the port of Rafina for a coastal retreat.
- Ferry transfers and private VIP bus transportation included.
- Gourmet meals provided for five of the seven nights.
- Price: $4,700 per person (based on double occupancy). Airfare not included.
Don’t miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to explore Greece through the eyes—and palate—of Chef Dino. For more details and to reserve your spot, contact Chef Dino at dinogreecetravels@grecamed.com today!
Spaces are limited—book your culinary adventure now! 🌿🇬🇷
Day One
Start with lunch in the center of Athens at one of the city's most iconic eateries steeped in the tradition of Asia Minor, once the cradle of the Greek Byzantine East.
Explore the picturesque areas of Plaka and Monastiraki before heading to the Acropolis for a private guided tour of one of history's most significant architectural and cultural wonders.
After dinner at one of Chef Dino's favorite meze (small plates) restaurants in Athens Center, enjoy a cocktail crawl of some of the bars listed on the famous Top 50 Bars in the World list.
Day Two
Start the day with a short tour of the Ancient Agora before attending an exceptional Cooking Demonstration with renowned Chef Aris Tsanaklidis followed by lunch at his rooftop restaurant, Kuzina, with its stunning views of the Parthenon.
Next, choose between a classes in how to make your own phyllo dough or in the wonders of Greek wines.
The evening finishes with dinner at an exciting new restaurant in Plaka, where Greek cuisine is being taken into new directions.
Day Three
Our private VIP bus will take us to Kapandriti where we'll enjoy an exclusive tour of the Lantides Winery and Wine Museum before settling into their tasting room where we'll enjoy wine and a light lunch.
Next, a stop at the Konstas Olive Oil Factory where we'll learn about Greece's liquid gold.
From there, we'll venture down to Cape Sounion's Temple of Poseidon, one of the most beautiful monuments in the world, perched atop the promentory where King Aegeus leaped to his death in the Aegean (hence the name) Sea, wrongly believing his son Theseus had been slain by the minotaur.
After Sounion, we'll drive up the beautiful Athens Riviera to the Vlachika section of Attica, where we'll feast on grilled meats in one of the best traditional rotisserie restaurants in the world.
Day Four
We'll start our day with a hands-on cooking class that begins with tour of the incredible Varvakeio Central Food Market. After lunch, we head to the idyllic island of Andros and check into our amazing seaside villa.
Dinner at a farm-to-table traditional taverna with enough time for a night cap in the lively town of Batsi.
Day Five
Our first full day on Andros includes a Cooking with Locals class learning how to make some traditional Andriote dishes, a tour of the island, and dinner at one of Andros's best seafood tavernas.
Day Six
We'll start with another Cooking with Locals class (this one for your sweet tooth), a visit to Livada Farm (where the owner, Alexandros will give us a talk/tour of his permaculture fields), a tour of the Cyclades Olive Oil Museum, a visit to a local distillery, and some free time in the beautiful town of Chora, renowned for its cobblestone side streets and architectural elegance.
Day Seven
Our last day on Andros starts with a cooking demonstration with renowned Chef Yiannis Stantisas followed by lunch at his seaside Mastello restaurant.
From here, we'll head back to the mainland and the port town of Rafina where we'll have a farewell dinner at one of the town's great rustic seafood tavernas. We'll stay overnight in Rafina and the next morning take a shuttle to the nearby airport before heading home with our wonderful memories.
Pricing and Accommodation
The cost of this trip is $4,700 per person based on double occupancy hotel and villa rooms. For travelers wishing to have single accommodations during the trip, there is an additional $800 cost (stay in Andros will be in a lovely apartment in Batsi, apart from the group in the villa). A $1,000 non-refundable deposit per traveler is required to secure space on the trip. The balance is due on or before February 21, 2025.
Arrival and Departure
International airfare is not included in the price or the package. A private VIP bus will be available to transport our guests from the airport to the hotel in Athens at 9:00 AM on Tuesday April 22**. The following flight is suggested: Delta 202 departing JFK on Monday April 21 at 3:35 PM. The suggested return flight is Delta 203 departing Athens on Tuesday April 29 at 10:30 AM and arriving at JFK the same day at 2:30 PM. We are happy to assist plans for guests looking to extend their stay in Greece beyond of the scope of this trip.
Inclusions
• Three nights of accommodation in a boutique hotel in Athens Center (Ergon Bakehouse Hotel on Mitropoleos Street)
• Three nights of accommodation at a seaside villa in Andros, Greece (Captain’s Villa in Kato Aprovato) *
• One nights of accommodation at the Avra Hotel in Rafina
• Five breakfasts, seven lunches, and six dinners (excludes alcohol except at specific planned dinners in which wine is a part of the experience)
• All activities and events as mentioned in the itinerary.
• VIP bus transportation from the airport** and to Cape Sounion; ferry tickets to and from Andros; shuttle bus service to the airport the day of departure
• Admission to all archeological sites listed in itinerary; guided tour of Acropolis
• All cooking demonstrations and classes listed on itinerary
Exclusions
• Transportation and flights to and from Athens
• Food and drink outside of Trip offerings, including one dinner, alcoholic beverages, and any snacks during the day, as well as any personal expenses.
• If applicable, applying for a Greek visa
• Travel insurance (recommended).
Activity Level
Travelers should feel comfortable walking an aggregate of a couple of miles each day. Some of the archeological sites require an uphill walk. There will be several cooking classes that afford hands-on participation, requiring some physical exertion.
Dietary Restrictions
Our experience has been that Greek restaurants are extremely vigilant with regard to food allergies and sensitivities; dietary restrictions and preferences. Most of our lunch and dinner experiences will be “family style” meals of small plates and shareable platters. Vegetarians will have plenty of delicious food to enjoy! That being said, please advise us at the time of booking of your dietary requirements for planning purposes.
Subject to Change
Some things (such as weather and unplanned changes from our activity partners) are beyond our control; as such, the published itineraries and daily schedules are subject to change.
Hold Harmless
As with any travel excursions, cooking workshops, etc., there are inherent dangers. Guests will hold harmless Greca Group LLC, and Chef Dino Kolitsas from any damages that may occur at any time on this trip.
Cancellation Policy
Cancellation prior to March 1, 2025 will receive a full refund minus a $1,000 per-person service fee. Cancellations made between March 1, 2025 and March 21, 2025 will incur a 50% cancellation fee. There are no refunds for cancellations made after March 21, 2025. The purchase of travel insurance is highly recommended as there are no exceptions to this policy, inclusive of cases of family/medical emergency.
