Start your small group tour at the arranged meeting point: the magnificent 13th century castle of Androusa, located in the heart of Messinia, just a 20 minute drive from Kalamata and 10 minutes from Ancient Messene. Begin with beautiful olive walks to provide as an overview of the amazing olive groves of Messinia. Witness the olive trees as the guide tells you about the history, the tradition, and the mythical stories of the castle olive trees. The olive grove is the next visit. Walk though the groves and marvel the perennial olive trees. Learn about the different varieties of olive trees in the area and discover the story of the Messinian land as recorded on the stems. In the center of Androusa Village, visit a unique olive oil press and mill, located there for more than 120 years. The fifth generation owner will explain the procedure of extraction, the storage, and standardization process of extra virgin olive oil. Next, join a tasting session, where a dining table is filled with the special blue olive oil tasting glasses ready for you to try. Taste the extra virgin olive oil of 'Koroneiki' variety and learn about its organoleptic characteristics. Learn to recognize the elements that define the extra virgin olive oil. Taste different varieties of Greek extra virgin olive oil, such us 'Manaki', 'Xalkidikis', 'Mavroelia', and evaluate their flavours. What about food? The extra virgin olive oil of different varieties is matched with traditional recipes including fruit, gourmet small dishes, as well as tzatziki, kalamata olives, olive paste, lalagia, pasto (smoked ham) and local cheeses. Enjoy a unique experience in the historic olive groves, and learn about the history, the soul, the tradition, and the gastronomy of Messinia.

Be accompanied by a local Greek guide to visit several food shops. Meet and speak with local shop owners and have the opportunity to taste traditional food and learn about the Greek food culture.  Listen to Greek myths and stories about food that will deepen your knowledge about this beautiful country. Taste food ranging from bread products, olives, pies, meat products, to sweets. Enjoy your lunch at a local souvlaki restaurant.

A 3-hour olive oil tour and tasting experience that includes a visit of a small village, a walk through an olive grove and an olive oil tasting workshop. Where Join us for a 3-hour tour of the wonderful land of Messinia and its perennial olive trees. You will visit an olive grove located in a small village 50km (31 mi) from Kalamatai n Messinia region, Peloponnese, towards Pylos coastal town, just 10' away from Costa Navarino resort. The Olive oil experience The Olive oil tour and tasting experience is the outcome of a local couple for olive oil, nature and the land of Messinia. Their dreams found a home in a small village in Messinia, in their olive grove and the flavour of extra virgin olive oil. Nowadays, their mission is to introduce visitors to the wonderful world of olive oil and help them get a taste of Messinia. Part 1: Arrival at the grove - Warm welcome Visit a beautiful olive grove of a small village, located in the west of Messinia, just 10 minutes away from Costa Navarino Bay and Nestor’s Palace. It is the ideal backdrop to unravel the history, tradition and ancient myths of this historical place. The owners will welcome you with a homemade Greek local breakfast while the olive experience is enriched with a video presentation about the history of olive and olive oil! Part 2: Olive Harvest or Olive Grove Olive harvest (available only in October) – You’ll walk through the olive trees and meet local families as they harvest their own trees. You’ll enjoy the experience of a lifetime either by handpicking olives and placing them directly in a basket or by picking them using a net. Olive grove( April - October) – Experience a guided 30-minute relaxing stroll by the locals through perennial olive trees. During your walk, you’ll get acquainted with different varieties of olive trees in all shapes and of all ages. Part 3: Olive Oil Tasting (April - October) What follows is an interactive olive oil tasting workshop by an olive oil lover! The tasting session includes 3 different varieties of extra virgin olive oil, focusing on sensory tasting, defects and positive traits. Part 4: Light local lunch Get a taste of traditional, local food, such as lalagia (savoury or sweet looped ribbons of dough), pasto (cured pork), Kalamata olives, local cheese and enjoy a homemade local lunch!

You will visit one of the most beautiful coastal cities of the Peloponnese: Kalamata, in Messinia region. The olive oil tour and tasting experience is available all year round either in the mornings or in the afternoons. The Olive oil Experience If you want to get to know all about the unique features of olive oil or simply wonder what an olive-oil tasting seminar involves, this activity is right up your alley! Part 1: Olive grove & Visit at an Olive oil Mill Olive grove (available all year round) You’ll walk through the perennial olive trees and experience a 30' relaxing stroll through an olive grove located just 10' away from Kalamata. During your walk, you’ll get acquainted with different varieties of olive trees in all shapes and of all ages and learn the history of the olive tree and the olive oil from the Neolithic era until today! Olive oil mill (depending on season & availability - From March to October) You will learn all about the extraction process, from the olive grove to bottling and if it is the olive harvesting season, you’ll get to taste fresh and warm extra virgin olive oil, during our olive oil tasting! Part 2: Olive Oil tasting experience Along with our professional and certified olive oil expert, you’ll learn about the queen of Greek olive-oil varieties, Koroneiki, as well as other just as superb Greek olive oils. You’ll discover their key aromas, flavours and tastes, and will learn which olive-oil variety to pair with your favourite food. Part 3: Light or Full lunch (upon request & at an extra charge) If you wish to conclude your olive oil experience with a delicious light or full lunch, full of Messinian flavours, in one of the most welcoming Coffee Shop-Cum-Ouzo Taverns in the heart of Kalamata’s historic centre, just let us know and we can arrange it for you!

Join us for a wonderful journey through space and time, where legends come to life and become a game, weaving the marvellous history of Kalamata in Messinia region. Where You’ll stroll around one of the most beautiful coastal cities of the Peloponnese: Kalamata. Our journey through time starts from Homer and the heroes of the Iliad. It then continues on to the Byzantine years with the Franks, the Venetians and the Turks, reaching all the way up to the 19th and 20th century, when Kalamata was reborn through the ashes and transformed into the beautiful modern city it is today. The Walking tour experience Put on your walking shoes and enjoy a beautiful stroll through the streets of Kalamata! Meeting Point Maria, our passionate food lover and local host, will be waiting for you at the beautiful central square of Kalamata, Vasileos Geogiou Square, (Πλατεία Βασιλέως Γεωργίου) in front of the Statues (Agalmata) of the Messinian war Heroes of 1821. What you’ll discover After a warm welcome, you’ll set off on your walking experience and together we’ll discover some of the more interesting sights. You’ll not just find out all about their history, but also about the people of the time, their way of life and funny stories about their day-to-day routine. Some of the Walking Tour highlights: •Cultural Centre – Nikolaos and Regina Pantazopoulou Neoclassical Building •General State Archives Building •Church of Agios Nikolaos •19th century Classical and Neoclassical Buildings •Mavromichali Square •Victoria G. Karelias Collection of Greek Traditional Costumes Museum •Frangolimna Square •Old Karelia Tobacco Factory •Upper Square / Church of Presentation of Jesus (Ypapanti tou Sotiros) •St. Constantine and Helen Convent •The area around Kalamata's Frankish Castle •Archaeological Museum •Amfeia Square or Paplomatadika (Quilt Makers) •Byzantine Church of the Holy Apostles •Othonos Square •Varvoutsis and Lontos Galleries The leisurely stroll continues around the small alleys of the city and walk around the sights that interest you. Half-way through the tour, you might feel a bit peckish, so stopping at a small traditional shop for a few minutes is a must! It’s the ideal way to get to know the rich culinary tradition of this area, tasting one of its local delicacies. During our walking tour, you’ll have time to do some shopping and at the end you may wish to enjoy a mouthwatering local lunch in one of the cosiest Coffee Shop-Cum-Ouzo taverns in Kalamata. Why tour with a local Visiting a new place is always a unique and beautiful experience. You usually visit museums, marvel at monuments and the sights, go shopping around the main streets and maybe watch the people go by. How would you feel if you were able to discover the old, hidden stories behind everything you see? Or if you found out about true stories of love and betrayal that have become novels? If you have a local walking next to you, you’ll get to do all that and so much more!

Giving nature the opportunity to heal itself! Discover the sustainable farming practices applied at a fully Organic Farm and attend a Farm to table Greek cooking class. Get ready to become one with nature! You will visit an Organic Farm located in a very small village, 150km (90 mi) from Kalamata in Laconia region towards to Sparta. The Organic Farm produces also olive oil and wine, strictly through sustainable farming practices and techniques. It also operates as a retreat, offering unique experiences, close to nature. The Culinary Experience Join us for a 4-hour guided tour of the farm from the locals, veggie picking and a Greek cooking class! Part 1: Short tour of the Organic Farm & veggie picking Start off with a guided tour by the owners around the facilities of the Organic Farm. You’ll find out all about our sustainable farming methods and techniques at the Organic Farm. You’ll also discover the story and the people behind this great idea. Enjoy also a stroll around the veggie gardens and pick fresh, organic veggies and feel closer to nature than ever! Part 2: Organic Farm to table Cooking class Learn how to make delicious traditional meals during a 3-hour cooking class. Assisted by local chefs, who’ll share their experience with you, you’ll get to create 2 appetizers, one main dish and one dessert, using organic produce and the extra virgin olive oil of the Farm. Part 3: Full Local Lunch Enjoy your gastronomic creations through a mouthwatering full lunch in the ancient olive grove. All meals are accompanied by the organic wine from the vineyards and unique drinks, such as a very own homemade lemonade. Extra Experiences (upon request) Depending on the season, availability and provided time permits, you may participate in extra experiences upon request. Visit to a Greek Women’s Cooperative Meet the local women in their workshop and learn how they make their mouthwatering local delicacies following the recipes from their grandmother!

You’ll discover hidden little villages, perched on mountainsides, and taste magnificent local products and food, prepared by Greek mamas. Stop 1: Winery Visit and tour and Local Wine Tasting During this 2-hour activity, you’ll visit a well-known estate in one of the largest villages, known for its local produce. You’ll tour the vinification and wine ageing areas and the vineyards, and find out all about the indigenous varieties of Moschofilero and Agiorgitiko. The tour concludes with a wine-tasting experience, paired with local cheeses. Stop 2: Tour in a Greek village and Full Lunch Part 1: Coffee-shop stop and tour of the village and area You’ll enjoy a coffee, tea or any other hot beverage and a light snack at the local coffee shop, before embarking on a tour of the village. You’ll then go on a small hike of the surrounding area, taking in the natural beauty. Part 2: Full lunch with local cuisine at the village tavern Enjoy some of the finest meals based on traditional recipes, cooked daily by a local mama, who uses the freshest of ingredients. Meals are seasonal and there is something for everyone, including vegan and vegetarian options, while the dish of the day may include wild boar, pork with garlic and walnuts, homemade cheese or vegetable pies. Visit to an Environmental Centre, Hiking and Visit to Traditional Shop Part 1: Visit to Environmental Centre and hiking A local tour guide will tell you all about rare and indigenous flora and fauna, types of natural habitats, & local areas of historic, religious and archaeological interest. The village is also home to one of the two Environmental Information Centres in the area. The experience can be combined with activities in nature, such as exploring the Juniperus drupacea forest, a rare cedar species, unique in the entire European continent. Part 2: Visit to traditional local shop Discover unique local delicacies, such as walnuts, honey and aromatic herbs from Mt. Parnonas, in a traditional shop right on the central village square. Maria, the owner, will reveal some of the secrets of local products, including trachanas (fermented milk pasta), liqueurs, homemade desserts and spoon sweets, and excellent cheeses. As a matter of fact, her sour cherry spoon sweet has received an award in a Greek contest. Stop 4: Visit to a small Cheese Farm & cheese tasting in a small Greek village You’ll visit a small local cheese-making farm, where Takis produces graviera, myzithra and feta cheese with milk from local farms. Takis will give you a tour of his farm and will explain the whole cheese-making process, from the moment the milk is received to the end product. You’ll then enjoy a cheese tasting experience at the local cheese shop, accompanied by rusks and olives. You can even buy any of the cheeses that take your fancy. This gastronomic one-day tour experience through nature concludes with a trip down Mt. Parnonas and back to the seaside town of Paralio Astros Kynourias.

Let your senses guide you through a winery counting nearly 40 years of wine-making tradition! A 3-hour guided wine experience from the locals that includes a tour in the vineyards and the winery, the cellars and a wonderful wine tasting! A visit to Kapsia Cave, one of the top ten Greek caves upgrades the whole wine experience depending on the season. Visit the first certified winery in Arcadia region in Peloponnese to open to the public, taste award-winning wines and discover the secrets of the Greek wine-making tradition. You will visit a local Estate and an organic winery located at a small village at the foot of Mt Mainalo, located in Arcadia region in Peloponnese, 100 km (60 mi) from Kalamata. The Estate is a family business, with a wine-making tradition that goes back nearly 40 years. The private vineyards occupy an area of around 30 acres and produce 3 varieties: Moschofilero, Cabernet and Merlot. The local family use organic methods to produce all their wines, with natural vinification. Part 1: Tour of the Vineyards (May - November) Enjoy a tour of the vineyards and find out all about the history and philosophy of organic farming. This part of the experience is only available from May to November. Part 2: Grape Harvesting (depending on availability - September & October) Get a first-hand look at the harvesting of organic grapes, straight from the vineyards. Find out all the secrets of traditional winemaking from the local experts. Part 3: Tour of the Cellars Take a tour of the wine cellars and discover all the different wine varieties of the beautiful winery! Part 4: Wine Tasting Get a taste of the Estate's entire wine range. Immerse yourself in the deep flavours and rich aromas of the 5-7 different wine labels. Part 5: Petimezi Tasting Discover the flavoursome and aromatic petimezi (boiled grape must). At the Estate, this traditional Greek product and superfood is produced from organic grapes. Part 6: Full local Lunch at a village tavern (upon request & at an extra charge) What could be better than conclude your exciting wine experience with a delicious homemade food that includes mouthwatering appetizers, such as traditional pies with eggs, wild greens, Greek salad and local cheeses? This is followed by a choice of pork cooked in egg-lemon sauce, beef in red sauce served with homemade pasta or oven-baked lamb with potatoes or similar dishes. For dessert, there’s traditional walnut pie with ice cream! Vegan and vegetarian dishes are also available.

Attend an authentic cooking class in an olive grove and combine it with a unique bread making experience. Find out all the culinary secrets from a Greek mum who will share with you age-old recipes! You will visit an olive grove located in a small village 50km (31 mi) from Kalamata in Messinia region, Peloponnese, towards Pylos coastal town, just 10' away from Costa Navarino resort. The Culinary Experience Join us for 3 hour cooking class experience and feast on a mouthwatering full traditional lunch among olive trees! Part 1: Arrival at the grove - Warm welcome Visit a beautiful family olive grove of a small village, located in the west of Messinia, just 10 minutes away from Costa Navarino Bay and Nestor’s Palace. It is the ideal backdrop to unravel the history, tradition and ancient myths of this historical place. The owners will welcome you with homemade local delicacies while they will narrate you the whole story behind their efforts. Part 2: Bread making in a Wood-Fired Oven Make your own bread from scratch along with a Greek mum and bake it in a traditional wooden fired oven. Smell the unbeatable aroma of the freshly baked bread and enjoy it with your lunch! There is also the possibility, instead of bread to make another Greek pastry delicacy like a Greek seasonal pita (pie)! Part 3: Cooking class During a fantastic cooking class, a traditional Greek mum will show you how to make Greek appetizers and food like gemista (stuffed tomatoes and peppers with rice and fresh herbs), tyropita (cheese pie), lamb or pork cooked in the stone fired oven, Greek salad or other seasonal recipes using the freshest of ingredients. The mum will tell you stories about how, in the olden days, they used to make the hilopites (Greek egg pasta) and trachana (Greek fermented milk pasta) only during summer, to last them all through the winter months. Of course as you may already know, there are plenty food choices also for vegetarians and vegans in the Mediterranean and Greek cuisine so not to worry about; just let us know! Part 4: Full traditional lunch Food is finally ready! Enjoy a full, delicious lunch with everything you made during the Cooking class and feel proud for yourself and your efforts accompanied with a lots of Greek wine! Extra Experiences (upon request & at an extra charge) Depending on availability, you may also choose to participate in extra experiences upon request: Olive oil tasting experience (45’) Enjoy an exciting olive oil tasting experience while your delicious food is being baked in the wood-fired oven! Sweet pastry making session (45') You’ll have the chance to experience a unique sweet pastry making session, guided by the local mum, and make one of the emblematic delicacies of Messinia. Table Olive-Making Workshop In this 45' family friendly workshop, a Greek mum will show you how to make the famous Kalamata table olives, step by step.

You will visit an Eco Farm located in a small village just 15 km (10 mi) from Kalamata, in Messinia region, Peloponnese. The Eco Farm is a multi-functional eco and cultural farm, an arts and educational centre, and a treehouse resort. Complete with an amphitheatre, it has become the key entertainment hub in the region. Built on 1.3 acres of land, this unique farm combines arts with nature in the most traditional way, taking you on a journey from antiquity to modern times. You’ll get the chance to pick fresh fruit and vegetables, feed the animals, participate in a cooking class and enjoy a mouthwatering Greek feast. And if that’s not enough, there’s a host of extra activities for those of you who are true nature lovers. The Eco Farm Experience Join us for a 5-hour guided tour by the locals and discover some of the secrets of the Greek cuisine! Part 1: Tour of the Eco Farm You’ll tour all the facilities of the Eco Farm, including the amphitheatre, the crops, the animal farm and the veggie garden. Enjoy a leisurely stroll, explore every corner of the farm and marvel at the unique treehouses, built from all-natural materials. Experience rural life at its best by feeding the animals and picking fresh fruit and veggies (fruit and vegie picking in only available from May to October). Throughout the tour, you’ll get the chance to enjoy local delicacies, Mt Taygetos tea or homemade lemonade! Part 2: Greek Cooking Class experience Discover the secrets of traditional homemade food, based on local recipes, just like mama used to make. A local cook will guide you through the experience and unravel the mysteries of the Greek cuisine. You’ll learn how to make and bake bread in a wood-fire oven, and prepare homemade food and local delicacies in the Eco Farm’s open-air kitchen! Part 3: Traditional Local Feast Get a taste of freshly baked bread, a home-cooked Mediterranean meal and tasty snacks prepared by you in the Eco Farm’s open-air kitchen. All ingredients are from the Eco Farm and other local producers. The meal includes appetizers, main and dessert, accompanied by Greek wine, soft drinks, Greek coffee or tea. Part 4: Stroll through the Village (if time permits) Enjoy a stroll through the small cobblestone lanes, immerse yourself in the local culture and find out the local history of the small village. Extra Experiences (upon request and at an extra charge) Depending on the season and provided time permits, you may participate in extra experiences: • Hike to the Tower of Kapetanakis • Woodcraft & Sculpture Workshop • Essential Oil Preparation Workshop • Visit to the Vineyards & Wine Tasting • Visit to the Olive Oil Mill & Olive oil tasting • Visit to a Honey Bee Farm