8 Days in Santorini
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Santorini is maybe the only place on earth that you feel that you have stepped into a postcard.
Learn all about the celebrated wines of Santorini, their history and evolution, and the unique microclimate of this ancient, volcanic island.
Aegean Flavours takes you on a healthy Mediterranean diet trip. Hands-on classes will help you discover the local cuisine and wines. We are committed to ensuring your culinary experience while visiting Santorini is unforgettable. Santorini is about food, wine, and lifestyle.
Santorini is also identified with Atlantis. This is the story about a prosperous land that disappeared without a trace, sunk into the sea by the anger of gods. In similar versions, it occurs in many civilizations. The classical Atlantis story, however, the one where the name Atlantis is used, is the one told by the Ancient Greek philosopher Plato in two of his dialogues, Kritias and Timaeus.
In Plato's version, it is not an objective report of events, but rather a moral tale that uses the story of - true or invented - events in the background. As a consequence, when it comes to interpreting the story as a report, it is not ambiguous. One of the most debated questions has always been the location of the place Plato might have referred to. Many serious investigators think that the source of the legend is actually the Minoan eruption of Santorini.
Activities
Day 1 - Arrival Day. Welcome to Santorini!
Week Saturday to Saturday, April- November
After arriving in Santorini, during your private transfer from Airport / Port to your beautiful Hotel, your personal driver will take you through a uniquely stunning landscape, to one of the most picturesque and luxurious places in the world. Santorini has been described as one of the most beautiful places on earth. This inviting, charming boutique hotel will be your home for the week. You will have time to unpack and unwind or to relax.
Enjoy a free evening to already explore the magic area at your leisure. Dinner on your own.
Night in your accommodation. Overnight.
Day 2 - Mythical Atlantis
Santorini, the mythical Atlantis? After breakfast, our first day will start with a visit to the Akrotiri Excavations, one of the most important settlements of the Aegean. Akrotiri is a Minoan Bronze Age settlement on the volcanic Greek island of Santorini (Thira). The settlement was destroyed in the Thiran eruption about 1627 BC and buried in volcanic ash, which preserved the remains of fine Frescoes and many objects and artworks. Herewith our guide learns about the legends of Santorini, investigating whether it is the fabled Lost city of Atlantis. Discover evidence of winemaking that has been estimated to date back to the 3rd Millenium BC, making Santorini one of the oldest winemaking regions in the world.
Then we will continue with the mountain of Prophet Elias at 600mt of altitude and visit the old Christian Monastery from 1700BC.
Continue your wine discovery by strolling through the island's basket vines at a traditional winery, and learn about Santorini's unique viticulture traditions. The tour will finish with a wine-tasting. Light lunch will be served at the end of the tour. Free afternoon for your personal activities, Suggestion: Fira, Firostefani, Imerovigli. Dinner on your own. Night in your accommodation. Overnight
Day 3 - Cooking Lessons
Discover the Mediterranean flavors of Santorini.
Leaving our hotel after breakfast, our fabulous cooking day begins. Today you will learn how to cook like a Greek under the guidance of an awarded local chef at a traditional restaurant located on the eastern coast. Enjoy plenty of Greek appetizers, and come away with some classic Greek recipes. You will cook some traditional Greek recipes to impress your friends back home with! A true gastronomic field to table tasting dinner menu. Savor traditional Greek aperitifs such as Raki and Ouzo, and of course, you will also get to enjoy the fruits of your labor at the end of your cooking lesson! Enjoy a fresh-cooked lunch at a traditional restaurant. Free afternoon for your personal activities
Suggestion: you can relax and swim on the red or black beach. Dinner on your own. Night in your accommodation. Overnight.
Day 4 - Oldest Vineyards in the World
Explore the vineyards and wineries of Santorini. Following breakfast, we will depart for the countryside of Santorini where you will visit distinct wineries and cellars. Learn about the ancient vineyard of Santorini, the history of the island through the centuries, and how the volcanic soils influence its winemaking. Winemaking on Santorini dates back more than 4.000 years and the tour covers the most traditional cellars of the island, starting at a vineyard on the volcanic soils. Taste a selection of different wine styles from across Santorini and Greece, such as Assyrtiko, Nykteri, and the sublimely sweet Vinsanto wine served with local cheese and olives. Lunch on your own
The afternoon will be free to enjoy the beauty of the island or to relax. Dinner on your own. Night in your accommodation. Overnight
Day 5 - Free Day
Free day for you in order to explore yourself Santorini Island or/and its surroundings. You to rent a bike, a scooter, a car or to take the local buses to go around the island. If you prefer you can go to a next-door island called Ios, or just relax by the beach or the pool.
Lunch and dinner on your own. Night in your accommodation. Overnight
Day 6 - Cooking Lesson, Food Styling & Fine Dining
Unique Cooking! After breakfast, you will attend a cooking class at an authentic venue. Learn about the cuisine of the Cycladic Islands and particularly of Santorini, as well as, the unique local products of our island. In Santorini, with more than 300 days of sunshine and its rich volcanic soil, the island yields a bounty of unusual indigenous herbs and vegetables. White eggplant, capers and caper leaves, fava (small yellow peas), exquisite baby tomatoes - all grown virtually without water.
Then, the presentation and the demonstration of different recipes will take place. After we have prepared the dishes, you will be able to enjoy what you cooked accompanied by bottles of delicious wines from Santorini which will be presented to you. Dinner on your own. Night in your accommodation. Overnight.
Day 7 - Sailing & Volcano
The Scent of the Aegean Sea. In the morning, you will be free to relax, swim or go shopping. Lunch on your own.
In the late afternoon and for our last evening, we will take you on a sunset sailing tour: Swim at the volcanic island and the hot spring! Dinner included will be served on board. Night in your accommodation. Overnight.
Day 8 - Departure! After breakfast, Private Transfer to the port/airport of Santorini.
In order to ensure personalized attention, each trip and the culinary lesson is done with a small group, bringing a sense of exclusivity. Spaces on each unique tour are limited, so call today to reserve your spot.
You could also book additional nights in Santorini, or Poros at very special rates, so please contact us. Due to local events such as seasonal festivals, holidays, etc., the order of activities is subject to change.
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 (prices vary from 1,40 to 5 euro) take you straight to the airport or elsewhere in Athens. Taxies are also at the port. You could also book additional nights in Poros at very special rates, so please contact us. Due to local events such as seasonal festivals, holidays, etc., the order of activities is subject to change.
Accommodation
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:
Santorini is an island, transfer times are dictated by the ferry schedule. You may travel by boat from Athens Port (Piraeus). It is a 6-8 hour journey. Please note that you must organize your arrival flights to be in Santorini on Saturday ( through a direct flight or a connection flight via Athens International Airport).
If you cannot keep flight times within these parameters, plan to spend extra time in Athens before and/or after your vacation.
All the travel arrangements can be done by Aegean Flavours at an extra cost.
Also, the cooking lessons and the escorted/guided tours will be in the English language.
