2. From Kalamata: Day Trip with Wine & Food Tasting in Arcadia
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.