Culinary Tour of Greece & Turkey

(10 Days - Departs Daily on a Private Basis)
Athens, Crete, Istanbul

On this private culinary tour of Greece and Turkey, savor the flavors of the renowned cuisines of the region, tour local food markets, enjoy cooking classes and dine at the best local restaurants. Also, enjoy in-depth private cultural touring of Athens and Istanbul—two of the most ancient and culturally rich cities in the world—and get to know Crete, an island steeped in culinary and mythological traditions.

Begin in Athens, the capital of Greece and a showcase of ancient civilization. During touring with your private guide, visit the breathtaking Acropolis, a UNESCO World Heritage Site of ancient ruins (including the Parthenon), and the wonderful Acropolis Museum. One morning, explore the lively Athens food markets to learn about local ingredients and see stalls overflowing with the freshest produce and seafood. Then, enjoy a cooking class in a small, upscale restaurant with a Greek chef who creates some of the finest modern Greek cuisine in the city. The next morning, learn to make traditional Greek pies, including rolling the dough and filling it with ingredients such as spinach, feta, meat and herbs. In the afternoon, continue private city touring or take a scenic excursion to Cape Sounion to see the Temple of Poseidon and enjoy the sunset.

Continue to Crete, the largest of the Greek Islands and home of one of the world's oldest and healthiest cuisines. During touring, visit a local market to learn about local ingredients such as flavorful olives and olive oil, fresh fish, wild greens, and seasonal fruit such as oranges, figs and grapes. Then, enjoy a cooking class focused on Cretan recipes. One day, enjoy flexible culinary and cultural touring, including an excursion into the rolling hills to an olive estate for a private tour and olive oil tasting.

Continue to Turkey. During in-depth cultural touring in Istanbul, visit the highlights of this extraordinary city, such as the Aya Sofya (Hagia Sophia), Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace (including its beautiful tiled Harem), and an ancient underground cistern. Time permitting, also visit the Grand Bazaar to browse for locally produced handicrafts such as carpets, jewelry, textiles and ceramics. One morning, enjoy a private tour of Istanbul's vibrant Spice Bazaar to see stalls displaying neat piles of spices, herbs and fruit, and learn how these ingredients are used to create classic Turkish dishes. Later, enjoy a private Turkish cooking class followed by a lunch of your creations. In the afternoon, enjoy a private food tour of Istanbul and visit different neighborhoods to experience Istanbul's best street food stalls, specialty food shops, and small local restaurants.

Itinerary Overview

Day 1 Arrive Athens, Greece VIP airport assistance. Private arrival transfer to hotel for 3 nights. Afternoon private culinary tasting tour Day 2 Athens Full-day private tour Day 3 Athens Morning market tour and private cooking class. Afternoon city touring or sunset excursion to Temple of Poseidon Day 4 Athens – Crete Private arrival transfer to airport for flight to Crete. Private arrival transfer to Elounda resort for 3 nights Day 5 Crete Morning private cooking class. Afternoon at leisure Day 6 Crete Private culinary excursion to local villages including wine tasting, olive oil experience and cultural and scenic touring Day 7 Crete – Istanbul, Turkey Private arrival transfer to airport for flight to Istanbul (flight not included). VIP airport assistance on arrival. Private arrival transfer to hotel for 3 nights Day 8 Istanbul Full-day private tour, including tasting tour Day 9 Istanbul Morning private market tour and private cooking class. Afternoon private touring Day 10 Depart Istanbul Private airport transfer. VIP departure assistance

Hotels

Athens: Four Seasons Astir Palace, King George Hotel or Hotel Grande Bretagne Crete: Rosewood Blue Palace or Daios Cove Istanbul: The Peninsula Istanbul or Four Seasons Sultanahmet

Cost

$19,595 Per person (based on four travelers/two rooms) $24,525 Per person (based on two travelers/double occupancy)