Alternative Historic experience in Delphi & Meteora (1-3 pax)
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Visit
Delphi, ancient Greece’s most sacred site, discover a beautiful
abandoned village and watch one of the last tanners and bellmakers of Greece at
work.Reach the top
of incredible rock formations to admire the great orthodox monasteries of Meteora, perched on
soaring rocky promontories.Visit a local icon painter from a family of artists linked
for generations to the monasteries there and customize an orthodox icon.Enjoy a Greek writing lesson in old school-turned-museum
Lose yourself in
the Forest of the White River, a wonderful mountain
wilderness area full of natural beauty.Explore the
flavors of northern Greece with a fun food tour, wine tasting and a Greek pie cooking class!Embark on a journey of discovery through mainland Greece that will take
you to the famed archaeological site of Delphi and the world-famous Meteora monasteries -both UNESCO World Heritage sites– but also to roads
less traveled, like the Koziakas mountain range and the forest
of the White River. Although Greece is inextricably tied to the sea, few people
know that it is the mountains that dominate its landscape. With the help of a
fun and knowledgeable private guide, during this Delphi & Meteora tour you will
discover an unknown side of Greece and learn how these mountains shaped the
local folks’ life, culture and traditions.Day 1: Delphi Tour
After a
morning departure from Athens, the ancient past meets the present in this
spectacular exploration of the breathtaking site of Delphi, navel of the ancient World and
oracle of the Gods. Here, you’ll marvel at the ruins of the Temple of Apollo and the Athenian Treasury. You’ll have plenty
of time to soak in the magical scenery, after which it’ll be time to visit the Delphi Museum, where some of the finest
examples of ancient Greek art are on display – including the world-famous
bronze statue of the Charioteer of Delphi.Then you’
ll head to Amfissa, the regional capital of Phocis, where Greece’s last hand-made bell-maker will show you how livestock
bells have been forged by hand in his family for generations; then you’ll
stroll through the cobbled streets of the old leather-tanning district. Here,
in one of the last remaining tanning workshops in Europe, you’ll see what a tanner’s working life was, almost unchanged
from a century ago up to today, and listen to the tanners’ stories – father and son – to understand
what life is like today in this part of Greece.You’ll then
enjoy your lunch under the shade of the large plane
tree in the town square, where you will taste local delicacies prepared for you by women of the
village.From
Amfissa, you’ll then head north across the mainland to continue towards our Meteora tour. A few miles before reaching
your destination, you will have dinner in a traditional family-run
taverna in the foothills of Mt Koziakas. The food there is delicious, sourced
from local farms and gardens, and the tavern itself looks like a setting from a Middle Earth fantasy, featuring a giant
tree right in its middle! You will spend the night in a charming family-run
guest house in the pretty village of Kastraki, right under the
towering rocks of Meteora.Day 2: Meteora Tour
Meteora is a stunning natural
phenomenon, featuring towering sandstone columns, formed
millions of years ago, all pointing heavenward. These remote rocky
skyscrapers became dwelling-places for Christian Orthodox monks and, by the
14th century, large monastic communities were flourishing on the summits of
many of these rocks. Today, six Meteora monasteries are still
functioning, two of which you will visit. You’ll also walk and drive around
Meteora, to make sure you soak in the sights and the awe-inspiring landscape
before enjoying lunch in a nearby Kalambaka.After
lunch, you’ll visit a local icon painter from a family of
artists linked for generations to the monasteries here. In his tiny workshop
you’ll have a chance to learn about his art and try out your skills in customizing an orthodox icon to take back home with
you!Then it’s a
stop at the small but original Book Museum, where you’ll get to try your skills at Greek handwriting and find out
about Greek classrooms of the past. The owner is a fascinating personality, a
collector of rare books who decided to turn his passion into a private museum!After the
Meteora tour, we’ll be heading south, to the little-known Forest of the White River, a wild area of small
mountain villages hidden in the depths of a massive forest. Here, at a mountain lodge in perfect harmony with its
surroundings, you’ll dine and spend the night under the warm hospitality of Mrs
Eleni, the owner who fell in love with the region some 40 years ago.Day 3: Greek mountain
life tourThe next
morning, you’ll embark on a Greek food tour to discover the
local specialties and flavors of Northern Greece! First, you’ll join a local shepherd and help him milk his sheep
and goats before hitting a local kitchen for a quick cooking lesson: Pie making is on the menu
today!After work
comes play; a swim at a beautiful river, a spot known only to
locals. Close by is a charming small monastery rarely visited
by tourists, which you will also visit.Afternoon Greek coffee will be offered at a
charming rustic outpost with far-reaching valley views. Here you will also
taste Greek yoghurt and traditional ‘spoon sweets’, or fruit preserve, that Mrs
Soula, the owner’s mother, makes year-round.Then it’s
off to a nearby local winery to taste the area’s best
wines, cheeses and cold cuts, before lunch at a local tavern. Here,
you’ll eat like locals, savoring wild mountain greens, juicy lamb ribs and other local specialties. With this wonderful meal in a
village that you won’t find in any tourist map or guide, your 3-day Delphi & Meteora Tour will be reaching
its end, and satisfied in body and soul, you’ll be ready for the ride back to
Athens. -
Ideal starting time 07:30 -08:30
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Return time: 19:00-19:30 ( Next day)
4* traditional guest house
2 Overnights at traditionalnguesthouses 4*