Arrive in Ikaria
Welcome Dinner
A culinary journey with Diane Kochilas
Experience the real Greece through its food, people and traditions. A thoughtfully curated journey through islands and city, with hands-on cooking. local stories and unforgettable moments around the table.
I am super excited to share with you our new, exclusive culinary and cultural adventures in Greece, expanding on the Ikaria experience a few times a year to include Athens and less traveled places around the country, all with a rich and fascinating food history and cultural depth.
Together with a small group of like-minded fellow travelers, not more than 15 people in all, we will enjoy a magical combination of urban sophistication, exquisite antiquities, Blue Zone wellness, and cosmopolitan excitement! In other words, the very best that Greece has to offer!
Depending on the time of year, the trip starts either in Athens or Ikaria, and from there explores the food cultures beyond Ikaria’s shores.
Together we will explore and experience the Greek capital in all its glory, both ancient and modern, then segue to Ikaria, my native island, for an immersive experience in one of the world’s Blue Zones, where people “forget to die.” The last leg of our journey will take us to worldly Syros and dainty, delicious Tinos, where we’ll see both the cosmopolitan and traditional sides of these Greek island gems.
Experience the real Greece through its food, people and traditions. A thoughtfully curated journey through islands and city, with hands-on cooking. local stories and unforgettable moments.
Cock, taste, and learn directly through curated food experiences.
Meet producers, artisans, cooks and people connected to each destination.
Enjoy a balanced itinerary with culture, food, and time to absorb each place.
A more personal experience with space for conversation, connection and discovery.
Arrive in Ikaria
Welcome Dinner
Introduction to Ikarian Longevity
Cooking Class & Lunch at Diane’s Home
Afternoon Free
Nature Walk, Naturopathy Demo
Dinner Locally
Goats & Cheese!
The Ikaria Way – Plant-Based Deliciousness in the Spirit of Ikaria
Cooking Class & Lunch at Diane’s Home
Afternoon Free
Honey Time – Visit to the Hives & Honey Tasting
Dinner Locally
Finding Your Peace….Visit to a Local Monastery
The Power of Herbs to Heal
Lunch Locally
Late Afternoon Ferry to Syros
Check into Hotel in Syros*
(*most likely the Hermes)
Introduction to Cycladic Cuisine – Different Islands, Different Natural Environments, Different Food!
Dinner Locally
Ermoupoli – Layers of History and Flavor – Historical, Cultural and Culinary Walk Through Syros’s Stunningly Beautiful Capital.
Terse, Robust, Delicious: The Cooking of the Cyclades – Cooking Class & Lunch at a Local Villa
Afternoon Free
Ermoupoli by Night – Dinner TBA
Noon Departure - Based on Current Boat Schedule
Arrive 1 PM in Tinos – Check into Hotel
Local Lunch & Intro: Tinos – A Living Sculpture: Food, Traditions, and Agriculture on the Cyclades Most Mystical Island
Afternoon Walk – The Panagia Tinos (The Island’s Most Famous Church, Renowned for a Miraculous Icon of the Virgin Mary)
Afternoon Free to Wander
Welcome to Tinos Dinner at a Local, Renowned Seaside Restaurant
Visit Kechrovouni Monastery,
Drive to old Venetian capital in Examvourgo.
Then to Volakas and drive through artichoke-growing valley, Komi, near the sea and also visit a local artisanal cheesemaker.
Stop for lunch at a g reat family restaurant or, weather and wind permitting, on the water!
Head to The Marble Museum to Explore Tinos’s Rich History as a Sculpural Center.
Drive back to town through marble quarries back to Chora, near Venetian Windmills (gristmills for grain).
Back by about 4 pm.
Free time to roam Chora.
Dinner TBA
A Taste of Tinos - Cooking Class with a Renowned Local Cook and Lunch
Leave for Athens
Check in at Hotel
Walk through Plaka (or jitney if necessary) and Guided Tour of Athens Most Historic Neighborhood, Before Heading to the Acropolis & Acropolis Museum for a Private Tour.
Lunch Locally.
Afternoon Free.
Cooking Class & Dinner at Varoulko Restaurant with Chef Lazarou, U/A
Food & Culture on the Streets of Athens! A Food & Market Walk with Tasty Stops and Light Lunch Along the Way!
Optional Day Trip to One of the Major Sites Outside Athens.
Farewell Dinner with a View of the Marbles!
This tour is available on request on the following dates:
APRIL 20 - MAY 2, 2026 (Sold Out)
OCTOBER 5 - 17, 2026 (Sold Out)
MAY 18 - 29, 2027
OCTOBER 3 - 15, 2027
Share your preferred tour date and guest details. Our team will confirm availability, pricing, and the next steps for your booking.
No payment is required at this stage. Our team will contact you with avallatitty pricing, and next steps.
Diane Kochilas is one of the world’s foremost experts on Greek and Mediterranean cuisine.
Diane hails from the Blue Zone Greek island of Ikaria and New York City and brings a combination of innate Blue-Zone wellness and result-oriented NYC spirit to everything she does.
She is an award-winning author of more than 18 books on Greek-Mediterranean Cuisine.
About 45 minutes, depending on traffic.
We stay in either a four- or five-star hotel near Syntagma, such as the M Gallery or Electra Palace or Metropolis, depending on availability. We work with a number of the best hotels around Syntagma.
About 1 ½ to 2 hours.
35 minutes.
Olympic/Aegean and Sky Express fly to Ikaria.
1 hour and 20 minutes.
We will arrange for that, either by taxi or jitney.
The ferry boat takes about 4 hours.
We usually house people at the Cavos Bay, in Armenistis.
We usually house our guests at the Hermes on Syros and the Favie in Tinos.
Dress code is casual and comfortable. Bring layers, as the weather can get chilly at night. Make sure to have one pair of closed walking and/or hiking shoes, long socks, and one pair of long pants, preferably light colored.
Most people tip the kitchen assistants and hotel personnel, i.e. cleaning person. Taxi drivers are generally not tipped. It is customary to leave a 10% – 15% tip in restaurants.
Our maximum capacity is 15.
Absolutely. We have many single guests and everyone feels at home and very comfortable.
This would be a hard trip to make with young children. Young adults over 15 are welcome.
Share your preferred tour date and guest details. Our team will confirm availability, pricing, and the next steps for your booking.
