Name: 8 Day Culinary Adventure with The Locals on Poros Island, Greece
Brand: Adventure Tourism Services
Price: 3095 EUR
Availability: InStock
Rating: 2.5 (1 reviews)

Accommodation

Check-in Time:

14:00

Check-out Time:

12:00

During this holiday, you will be staying in Odyssey Center in an exclusive suite. The Odyssey activity center is the base for Adventure Tourism Services' operations. It is conveniently located 50 yards from the beach in the quiet coastal hamlet of Askeli, a 15-minute walk from the main town of Poros. Askeli Beach is the largest beach on Poros island and it is a blue flag beach with ample space for safe swimming and access to water sports activities. Odyssey activity center has 11 suites, all with private en-suite facilities.

The suites have various bed layouts, some suites have five beds spread over two private rooms making them suitable for groups of friends, families, couples, and singles, or for a large group, the whole center can be booked. Located in the same complex are the Odyssey restaurant, Odyssey Cooking School with purpose-built facilities, and the sea kayaking center. Guests booking a "with food" package can enjoy the convenience of all the facilities.

Odyssey is also open to non-residents providing a full menu and bar service and is open daily from 8:30 a.m. until around midnight March to the end of November each year. Odyssey suites only are also available from December to March. Odyssey Center has free Wi-Fi for all guests.

Amenities

50 yards from the beach
15 ensuite rooms some sleep up to four persons
Odyssey restaurant
Odyssey Cooking School
The activity holiday base
Free Wi-Fi
Cots or high chairs for young children
Terraced area for drinking cocktails
Five-star rating on Tripadvisor

Program

Adventure Tourism Services will provide you with many new, exciting, delicious, and healthy future meals for your family and friends in your home country on your return from Poros, and remember, many Greek cooking specialties are suitable for vegetarians. This Greek culinary adventure has been carefully planned and designed to give you a true flavor of Greek cuisine but also the week is perfectly balanced to provide you with ample opportunity to relax, swim, and enjoy the unique Greek culture. There are four four-hour traditional and modern Greek cooking classes.

You will enjoy a busy week, though there is still plenty of free time for you to enjoy the attractions of Askeli with its beautiful beaches, tavernas, and walks. There is always plenty going on around Odyssey Center and Poros town is easily accessible on foot or by a short taxi ride. At the start of your stay, Katerina will discuss menus with you to ensure you cover any particular skills you want to learn during your course.

The aim is to give you the skills to cook fabulous Greek dishes from the region to impress even the most experienced foodies back home. All cooking courses are hands-on and you will all have the chance to visit the lively local fish market and olive groves, lemon groves, or an organic Mediterranean vegetable farm. The chef at the school is Poros native, Katerina.

She is friendly, professional, and passionate about all aspects of Greek cooking and the historical roots of traditional Greek cooking. Specializing in both traditional and modern Greek cooking, Katerina’s skills have become very sought after and when she is not giving lessons in Poros or preparing and supervising the meals at the school’s Bistro in Askeli, she also provides lessons in Greek cooking throughout other parts of Europe.

Daily schedule - example shown below (may be subject to change)

Day 1: Arrival, welcome dinner

Arrive after 2:00 p.m. Check in to your exclusive suite at the Odyssey Center any time after midday. Katerina and your chef will welcome you. You will have the afternoon free to explore Askeli, relax by the pool, or enjoy a swim in the clear blue sea. In the evening, you will be a guest at the welcome dinner and Katerina will introduce you to some of the food that you will learn to cook during your stay.

Day 2: Free time, cooking class

Enjoy a leisurely Greek breakfast. After breakfast, you will have a chance to look more closely at the menus and recipes. Lunch will be served around 12:30 p.m. Afterwards, you may like to take a stroll into Poros town or a walk followed by a swim in the local bay. Your first cookery lesson will begin at 2:30 p.m. followed by a late afternoon drink or a small siesta. You will return to your class around 5:00 p.m. to cook the final stages of dinner which will be served in the relaxed evening atmosphere.

Day 3: Cooking class, visit to the fish market

An earlier breakfast will be followed by a walk into Poros Harbor to visit the fish market where you will select a range of ingredients for the day’s cooking. This will be followed by a visit to a local café for coffee and Greek pastries and some free time. In mid-afternoon, you will start to prepare the evening meal from the fish selected at the market. You will then enjoy dinner which you have created in relaxed and sociable surroundings at the center.

Day 4: Visit Hydra

Enjoy a leisurely Greek breakfast. Today will include a visit to Hydra, with lunch provided. On return to Poros, you will start to prepare the evening meal from the fish selected at the market. You will then enjoy the dinner you have created in relaxed and sociable surroundings at the center.

Day 5: Free time, private cooking class

Enjoy a leisurely Greek breakfast. This is another free morning for you to do whatever you please on your sunshine holiday on Poros Island. Lunch will be provided at around 1:00 p.m. This afternoon, you will enjoy a private cooking class with your chef. You will enjoy dinner in the evening either at the bistro or a local restaurant.

Day 6: Olive or lemon groves, cookery lesson

After breakfast, you will have an opportunity to visit either the lemon or olive groves to learn about the use of both these ingredients in Greek cooking. A picnic lunch will be provided. On returning to the school in mid-afternoon, you will begin your final cooking lesson, a classic Greek meal which will then be served in the evening. One evening in the week, you will enjoy a delicious Greek cheese and wine tasting.

Day 7: Culinary visits

After a delicious breakfast, you can relax in the sunshine on the beautiful Greek coastline. Depending on the season, you will visit different locations to learn about the importance of seasonal ingredients in Greek cooking, including local herbs. Lunch will be provided either at the bistro or as a picnic. In the evening, you will enjoy the finale dinner, a true Greek experience with many surprises.

Day 8: Departure day

After breakfast, you are asked to check out of your accommodation by 11:00 a.m. taking home with you the skills, experience, and recipes that will last long after your holiday is over.

Included excursions

On day three, you will go on a walk into Poros Harbor to visit the fish market. On day four, you will go and visit Hydra, and on day six, you will visit either the lemon or olive groves.

Instructors

Katerina Sakelliou

Your host for all Greek cooking as well as all local sightseeing excursions and activities at Odyssey Centre is Katerina Sakelliou. Katerina is passionate about cooking and is interested and knowledgeable in the historical roots of traditional Greek cuisine. Katerina specializes in both traditional and modern Greek cooking. Katerina’s skills have become very sought after and when she is not giving lessons in Poros or preparing and supervising the meals at Odyssey Bistro in Askeli, she also provides lessons in Greek cooking throughout other parts of Europe.

Location

This culinary vacation will take place on Poros Island, Greece. Poros Island is located 35 miles or one hour by boat from Piraeus (port of Athens). Adventure Tourism Services' base on Poros is situated in Askeli, a small traditional unspoiled coastal hamlet. There are many other great activities on Poros island: beautiful beaches, and a wonderful taverna serving delightful traditional Greek food. Poros is the perfect location for an active or relaxing vacation.

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Food

The package includes all meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner). Additionally, you will experience four traditional and modern Greek cooking classes during your stay. Learn, have fun, meet, and party with the locals, the best recipe for successful culinary vacations. The menu includes tatziki, baklava, dolmades, stuffed peppers, and olives.

The following meals are included:

Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Drinks

The following dietary requirement(s) are served and/or catered for:

Regular (typically includes meat and fish)

If you have special dietary requirements it's a good idea to communicate it to the organiser when making a reservation

Things to do (optional)

Guests booking a Greek cooking vacation based at the Odyssey Activity Center will enjoy a busy week, though there is still plenty of free time for you to enjoy the attractions of Askeli with its beautiful beaches, tavernas, and walks. There is always plenty going on around Odyssey Center and Poros town is easily accessible on foot or by a short taxi ride. Tips: Why not combine your trip with a short visit to historical Athens or a couple of nights' stay on another Greek island close to Athens?

What's included

4 4-hour traditional and modern Greek cooking classes
Guided walk to Poros town and the fish market to select local produce
Guided trip to Hydra Island (whole day)
Visit to organic olive and lemon farm
7 nights accommodation
All breakfasts, lunches, and dinners
Transfers to and from Athens Airport
Odyssey cooking school souvenir cooking apron
Odyssey cooking school souvenir recipe book

What's not included

Airfare
Extra activities
Travel insurance

How to get there

Recommended Airports

ATH

Athens International Airport (Eleftherios Venizelos Airport)

63 km

Transfer included

Arrival by airplane

Please book your flight to arrive at Athens International Airport (ATH). Transfer from and to the airport is included. Adventure Tourism Services will pick you up from the airport.

Airport: Athens International Airport (Eleftherios Venizelos Airport) Airport transfer included: Athens International Airport (Eleftherios Venizelos Airport) No additional charges. You can request this in the next step.

Cancellation Policy

A reservation requires a deposit of 30% of the total price.
The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
The rest of the payment should be paid 30 days before arrival.

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