8 Days in Poros
Your Holidays take place on the island of Poros a beautiful island in the Saronic Gulf, opposite the mainland (Peloponnese and Argolida).
It is located only 31 miles from Piraeus, which is daily connected by fast hydrofoils and ferry boats. It is separated from the mainland by a slender channel that is 360 meters wide at its narrowest point. There is an everyday connection by ferry boat or water taxi.
According to Pausanias, the distance between Poros and the continent was so short that we could cross the channel walking. Some say that the name Poros comes from the word poros (passage) due to its channel characteristics, but it may also derive from Greek mythology. Plato wrote (Symposium 178 trans. Greek philosopher 4th B.C): Poros who was the worse for nectar (there was no wine in those days), went into the garden of Zeus and fell into a heavy sleep, and Penia considering her own straitened circumstances, plotted to have a child by him. Poros, with its harbor and excellent climate, became a popular stop-over for travelers from the 1830s onwards.
The island is made up of two smaller islands, Sferia, where Poros town is situated, and Kalavria, a tree-filled expanse of hills to the north of the town. Those two (2) islands are today connected with a very small bridge. Kalavria means a gentle breeze. Kalavria at first was offered to the god Apollo and he made it over to the god Poseidon in return for Delphi. Kalavria is quite larger than Sferia, is very green, is planted all over by pine trees, olive trees in the agricultural area. Sferia has a volcanic origin.
In the north part of the island, there are the ruins of Poseidons Temple, which was built in 520BC. The main Temple was built in Doric style, though some of its columns were Ionian. At the Poseidons Temple Demosthenes, came the ancient great orator, availing himself of its right of the sanctuary as Philip the King of Macedonia chased him.
The main town is built into the hill and has many fine examples of neoclassic architecture. The most noteworthy modern building in the town is the clock tower, a local meeting place, with its blue dome that looks over the port. The old town, which is located behind very nice houses with new-classical style, invites to be lost in the middle of those narrow Aegean streets, with bougainvilleas and Mediterranean flavors.
Poros has a fascinating monastery, Moni Zoodohou Pigis, which contains some beautiful examples of icons from Asia Minor. There are some good beaches such as Askeli beach, Russian Bay & Monastiri Beach (see map), but the island’s main attraction is its proximity to the Peloponnesian mainland.
It is a good base to explore the wonders of Epidavros, Mycenae, Nafplio, or Hydra. For Poros, the early twentieth century brought visitors such as Henry Miller, Lawrence Durrell, Diana Dragoumis, and George Seferis to stay in the town and to enjoy the wine and food in local tavernas.
Available from the first weekend of April until the second weekend of October
Saturday to Saturday
Activities
Day 1 - Arrival
After landing in Athens, you will be provided with a transfer to our 4-star family-run hotel in Poros, where you will have time to unpack and marvel at the spectacular views.
Early in the evening, we will enjoy a relaxing welcome dinner. Night in your accommodation.
Day 2 - Full Day
Relax in the morning with breakfast at the hotel. What follows is a guided walking tour of Poros town including, the clock tower where you will be awed by the view, the smells, the sounds, and the light of the heart of the Mediterranean heaven! Lunch on your own.
In the late afternoon, you will have your first amazing cooking lesson with fresh and seasonal ingredients at a house of a local lady with a lifetime of cooking experience. A nice traditional Greek lady will do the lesson. Dinner at the house with the host enjoying the fruit of your labor. It will be a 3-course meal. Night in your accommodation.
Day 3 - Cooking School
After breakfast at our hotel, our fabulous cooking day begins with another cooking class at a Poros restaurant. The chef of the restaurant will be the instructor. Lunch included after the lesson, you will enjoy what you have prepared with our chef. The meal will be a 3 course one with wine.
The afternoon will be free for personal activities. Suggestion(s): visit the Poseidon Temple in the center of the island, visit the archaeological museum in town where you will be able to see objects found in Poseidon Temple and in Trizina, the mainland opposite Poros. Dinner at the hotel's restaurant (included). Night in your accommodation.
Day 4 - Free Day
Free day for individual activities. We advise you to hire a car and visit the famous ancient Epidaurus theatre, one of the most famous ancient theatres in the world, and the most well preserved in Greece. This theatre is marveled for its exceptional acoustics.
Alternatively, you can hire a car and visit the town of Methana which is also on the mainland opposite. You can also stay in Poros and enjoy your swim and visit the Poros museum. Lunch and dinner on your own.
Night in your accommodation.
Day 5 - Fish Recipes
Breakfast at the Hotel and off to a new cooking class at our cooking school in Askeli. Time to learn all about seafood and fish! For lunch, you will enjoy the meal you cooked along with wine and other Greek delicacies. Dinner at the hotel's restaurant (included). Night in your accommodation.
Day 6 - Hydra Island
Today will include a visit to the magical Hydra! This island is protected by Unesco Heritage! It is a must-see place. It is a day not to forget your camera! Hydra is only a 20 minute trip by hydrofoil. The hydrofoil return journey is included in the price. This trip is not escorted by our guide. The island has kept the old traditions: no cars are allowed, the only transport is donkeys, bicycle or foot. You will visit the lovely main part (chora) of the island.
Lunch on your own. Return to Poros late afternoon. Dinner at the hotel (included) Night in your accommodation.
Day 7 - Monastery Tastings
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel and then spend the morning exploring with our guide the Orthodox Monastery of Poros which is located in Kalavria. You will be able to visit the Monastery first. Please, respect the monks who live there, so don't forget to wear the right clothes. Then you will enjoy some famous Greek pastry on the house at a traditional Kafenio. (Greek coffee & pastry shop) next to the monastery at an extraordinary location. Lunch on your own. The afternoon is free to relax, swim, or for shopping in Poros town or anywhere else.
In the evening, we invite you for dinner at a magical taverna in Poros. You will have a 3-course meal but before the dinner, you will have a full wine tasting including snacks and the major wines of Greece! Night in your accommodation.
Day 8 - Departure Day
Departure following breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to Piraeus by hydrofoil is included. After you take a bus or a taxi on your own to the airport. To get to the international airport of Athens or your hotel in Athens (if you wish to stay longer in Greece), it is very easy and cheap as well, as buses (5 €) take you straight to the airport or elsewhere in Athens. Taxies are also at the port.
You could also book additional nights in Poros or Athens at very special rates, so please contact us.
* Due to Greek Easter or other festival periods the order of the activities or the activities themselves may change a little.
Accommodation
Your accommodation is a family-run beach located 4* hotel
Situated in Askeli, in front of one of the most beautiful and biggest beaches of the island, just 1,3 km away from the town and the main port of Poros. The hotel is a modern hotel unit with 80 fully equipped rooms. In the hotel, the guest can enjoy the high-quality service and the magical sea view.
All rooms have:
Balcony, Telephone, TV Satellite, Air-conditioning, central heating, bath or shower (upon guest΄s choice), hairdryer, refrigerator, safety box.
When you book with us, you can decide between these choices depending on :
- One double bed or 2 twin beds
- With bath or shower
- Smoking or non-smoking room
- Rooms with sea view or mountain view
For your leisure and relaxing moments, the hotel has one lounge with piano, wifi area, an outdoor swimming pool, a beach with sunbeds and umbrellas, table tennis table, beach volley ground, and a water sports center with a jetski, parasailing, paragliding, banana drive, water ski, windsurfing, etc. In addition to that, there is a Gym with additional good facilities such as massage & sauna (only 3 minutes away from the hotel)
All rooms have:
- common or private Balcony or terrace
- direct-dial telephone
- TV Satellite
- Air-conditioning
- central heating
- bath or shower
- hairdryer,
- refrigerator
- safety box
- free Internet wireless access
- luggage storage
- Taxi services.
Important notes:
Poros is an island, transfer times are dictated by the ferry schedule. Please note that you must organize your arrival flights to be in Athens between maximum until 18:00, and your return flight after 12:00 to be able to connect to your transfer from Athens to Poros.
If you cannot keep flight times within these parameters, plan to spend extra time in Athens before and/or after your cooking vacation. In most cases, it will also be possible for pickup and drop-off directly from/to a centrally located Athens hotel.
*Inquire for a combined Poros-Athens culinary program if you wish
Triple room: on request
Price: 1270 euro
Single supplement: 260 euro
Non-Participating Guest at the cooking lessons: 950 euro
Children discount :
From 0 till 2,99 years old FREE
From 3 till 11 years old -50%
Minimum of participants: 2
Maximum of participants: 12
30% of the amount is required at the time of booking
For reservations mail us at hello@aegeanflavours.com
Price includes:
Transfer from Athens airport to Poros and return from Poros to Piraeus port.
7 nights at a 4* Hotel in Poros (Category A) with daily breakfast
8 Meals (lunch or dinner) mentioned in the program with ½ water and ¼ wine per person
3 Greek Cooking lessons, Greek wines, olive oil, and pastries tastings
One excursion to the famous island of Hydra
One book with Greek recipes
