6 small-group trips that will make you experience Greece differently
There’s no better way to learn about a place than with its locals; these 6 Exodus trips are the perfect way to experience Greece beyond the surface...
Words by Heidi Fuller-Love
Steeped in history and shrouded in legend, glorious Greece is the perfect destination to explore with Exodus. Want to mosey through ancient sites littered with age-old temples and pillared palaces where time seems to stand still? Long to hike along timeworn cobbled calderimi paths fringed with sweet-scented herbs with an expert guide discovering lost-in-the-past villages and local-loved tavernas? On a small-group guided tour with Exodus, you’re guaranteed to get under the skin of a destination in the safe knowledge that sustainable practices and respect for nature are at the forefront of every trip.
1: Delve into the mountains and villages of Evia
With its Caribbean-like beaches, unique sfyria whistled language and mysterious megalithic structures known as drakospita, or dragon houses, Greece’s second largest island is an unsung gem waiting to be discovered.
“I sometimes think it’s the best isle in Greece, because it’s got a bit of everything,” says Giannis who works in a taverna in the island’s capital Chalkida.
The colourful fishing village of Karystos, with its rustic tavernas overlooking shady squares, where must-try dishes include the richly flavoured katsikaki stifado (goat stew), makes the perfect base for your exploring.
Climbing thyme scented sun-dazzled trails far off the beaten track with only the sound of wind in the citrus-scented cypress trees and the tinkle of goat bells for company, you’ll seek out Roman aqueducts and Crusaders forts, cool off in icy mountain streams or explore the Gourna villages, a string of high-perched hamlets dotted with watermills, timeworn bridges and ancient forts.
Following the so-called Eagle Route, which loops like a bootlace high above the lush Styra valley, you’ll have the chance to spot countless birds of prey whilst admiring sweeping views of Karystos’ wide bay sparkling far below. On other days you’ll hike alongside dizzy ravines brilliant with the star-like pink and vanilla flowers of oleander bushes, stumbling across age-old ruins, abandoned watermills or exquisite slivers of the local green and white marble that was mined here in Roman times.
Evia is famed for its beaches, too. With its endless sweep of pale white sand scattered with pebbles descending to mirror clear turquoise waters beneath, Marmara’s secluded beach near Karystos is one of the loveliest. Whether you laze on the beach with hardly a soul in sight or cool off beneath rustling palm fronds on the terrace of one of a handful of rustic tavernas as you enjoy psari sto fourno (oven-baked fish), soupia stifado (cuttlefish stew) and other brine-fresh seafood dishes, you’ll feel like you’re in paradise.
2: Walk your way around the Greek Islands
With its laid-back lifestyle and tradition of filoxenia (welcoming strangers), Greece is made for travellers who love to take life at a slower pace. Ferry-hopping between Naxos, Paros and Santorini, you’ll leave the bustle of modern life behind as you explore these three Cyclades Islands on foot. Ambling through Santorini with an expert guide, you’ll hunt for spices, herbs and other unique souvenirs in the tangled alleys of the island’s capital Fira.
Strolling through Akrotiri, the spectacularly well-conserved Minoan site known as ‘The Greek Pompeii’ because it was buried beneath lava and ashes after the volcano erupted in 1600 BCE, offers a fascinating snapshot of the island’s fabled past, whilst following the pumice-lined calderimi cobbled path teetering above Santorini’s volcanic caldera is the perfect way to soak up mesmerising sunset views.
Naxos, with its harbour framed by the ancient marble gateway Portara, is the largest island of the trio. Here, you’ll step back in time as you hike through olive groves and citrus orchards seeking out the scenic ruins of the Temple of Apollo, or the remote sites where the island’s mysterious giant kouros statues have slumbered since the 5th century BCE. Naxos is also the birthplace of lemon-scented kitro liqueur, so make sure to try some in one of the traditional kafenions in the whitewashed alleys of Hora town, or the mountaintop Cretan village of Apeiranthos.
Sister island Paros’ marvels will also unfold on a walking tour of capital Paroikoia with its white-sailed windmills and magical Cathedral of Ekatontapyliani (church of 100 gates), or longer hikes along marble-paved Byzantine trails winding their way past tiny, whitewashed chapels, lesser-visited villages and vineyards where they produce the island’s full flavoured wines.
3: Explore Crete on foot
Greeks call Crete the megalo nisi – the big island – and it’s no surprise: Greece’s largest atoll is so varied it’s like a country in itself. With its colourful Venetian houses, pretty harbour and labyrinth of shopping lanes, Chania town is the perfect gateway for exploring this island where God of thunder, Zeus was born.
A web of trails leads to ancient clifftop cities like Lissos with its Temple of Asklepius and Eleftherna where Roman cisterns stand shoulder to shoulder with Hellenistic structures.
Hiking winding trails looping alongside thyme-spiked seascapes, you’ll discover villages like Loutro, tumbling in a blaze of blue and white to the balmy Libyan sea below, or the palm-tree studded sands of Preveli, backed by the Monastery of the same name where the statue of a priest holding a machine gun symbolises the island’s revolutionary spirit.
“Crete also boasts Europe’s longest canyon – stretching 16km from the high-flung Omalos plateau.”
This canyon leads to the translucent waters of Agia Roumeli beach, via dramatic views of sparkling seascapes, dizzy precipices and steep crags where you might spot the island’s endemic kri kri goat.
Crete is also famed for sumptuous food, ranging from xochloi (snails cooked in a garlicky sauce) to vlita (wild greens served with a zip of lemon and a drizzle of olive oil), which forms the basis of the healthy Mediterranean Diet. And wherever you wander, whether it’s a handful of grapes from a local farmer, a cool glass of water and a powdery cube of loukoum Turkish delight from a villager – or maybe even a tumbler of the island’s punch-packing white spirit raki offered by a priest, you’re sure to experience Crete’s legendary hospitality.
4: Discover Greece by bike
Pedal power is the perfect way to get off the beaten track and explore Greece’s mythical sites and sights. This free-wheeling holiday, which is packed with opportunities to cool off on beautiful beaches, starts in Greece’s lively Acropolis-topped capital city. From here you’ll hum along bike paths to the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Centre, home of the Greek National Opera House and The National Library of Greece, before pedalling over to Piraeus.
“Once a run down transport hub, Piraeus is now a lively port city studded with hip art galleries and chic restaurants.”
Crossing the Argo Saronic gulf, you’ll arrive on the island of Poros. Here you’ll pedal through the lush and lovely landscapes that inspired Nobel prize-winning Greek poet, George Seferis to write his poignant Poriotika poems.
Back on the mainland – and back in the saddle – you’ll spin from bay to near-deserted bay with the wind in your hair as you head for the UNESCO World Heritage site of Epidaurus, which was a renowned centre of health and healing in ancient times. Tucked into the ‘thumb’ of the five-fingered Peloponnese peninsula, the picturesque seaside town of Nafplio offers a perfect pit stop where you can relax as you wander in a tangle of whitewashed shopping lanes or sit at a waterside café and sip refreshing mastic drink hyposkafo.
Now it’s time to pedal on to Mycenae, the kingdom of Agamemnon, Commander-in-Chief of the Greek forces during the ten-year Trojan War, where Royal Tombs and mighty ruins are guaranteed to keep you enthralled. Cycling from here, along narrow roads fringed with the gnarled vines that grow the region’s agiorgitiko grape, you’ll also explore the Nemea region famed for its fruity full-bodied wines. Enjoy a taster with an expert vintner, before ending your epic trip in Loutraki’s hot spring waters that have been used for therapeutic purposes since antiquity.
5: Dive into the heart of the Dodecanese
A gourmet hiking adventure across four of Greece’s Dodecanese atolls is an ideal way to get off the beaten track, whilst dipping a fork into this fabled
island’s food culture.
Your thrilling Odyssey starts in Rhodes, the largest Dodecanese island, where you can wander the cobbled streets of the UNESCO World Heritage-classed old town, citadel of the knights who ruled here 500-700 years ago, or climb the whitewashed alleys of lovely Lindos, with its ancient clifftop acropolis.
Travelling out to traditional mountain villages, you’ll sample luscious meze snacks in local kafeneions (cafés), munch on handcrafted sweet treats and sip authentic elliniko Greek coffee made in a briki copper pot, before donning an apron and learning to make some of the region’s succulent culinary specialities yourself.
“Crossing turquoise seas to sister island Symi, you’ll explore the island capital’s picturesque waterfront.”
Fringed with pretty pastel-coloured houses, you can climb the scenic Kali Strata stairway which leads to Chorio town’s high-perched neoclassical mansions. Travelling on local buses, you’ll step back in time here as you follow hidden trails to discover age-old monasteries, swim from remote beaches, or glide across the island’s clear waters in a traditional kaiki fishing boat, before heading for Tilos.
Named for Telos, son of the sun god Helios, Tilos is Greece’s first zero-waste island and a haven for wildlife. With its lofty mountains, silk sand beaches and ancient castles and caves, this eco-friendly paradise is also a haven of peace. Plunging into blissfully shaded oak forests or striding along sun-drenched, thyme-scented trails accompanied by the whisper of wind and the screech of Eleonora’s Falcons, you’ll seek out storied spots, including a ghost village that was abandoned during the Second World War, before ending your stay in the bustling streets of charming, cosmopolitan Rhodes.
6: Uncover the highlights of Ancient Greece
Birthplace of the mysterious Minoans and land of the fearsome Spartans, Greece is wreathed in myth and legend. Start your trip by exploring Athens, the city where democracy was invented. Stroll through the colourful Anafiotika district to visit the Acropolis, mosey through the glass-floored Acropolis museum, which contains more than 4,000 artefacts, or enjoy luscious Greek treats ranging from gemista (stuffed vegetables) to kokoras krasatos (wine-stewed rooster), in one of the rustic tavernas near Monastiraki’s lively flea market.
Later, crossing the fabled 19th-century Corinth canal, you’ll visit the archaeological site of Corinth, home to one of Greece’s oldest stone temples and famed site of the massive, fortified Acrocorinth.
“If you’ve ever dreamt of running around the racetrack of Ancient Olympia, the site where the original Olympic Games were inaugurated back in 776 BCE, now’s the time to tick that wish off your bucket list.”
Alternatively, why not hike through silvered olive groves to consult the oracle at Delphi in the foothills of mighty Mount Parnassus?
Or make a beeline for the late Bronze Age kingdom of Mycenae with its massive Lion’s Gate, bulky stone walls said to have been built by The Cyclops, and atmospheric Royal Tombs, including the one where Agamemnon’s golden mask was discovered.
Or perhaps you’d prefer to get further off the beaten track as you venture out to some of the country’s lesser known, but equally legendary sites? Whether exploring the beautifully conserved city of Ancient Messene in the Peloponnese or seeking out rustic tavernas serving slow-cooked lamb dish bogana and other traditional treats in the bougainvillea-shaded alleys of the picturesque coastal town of Nafplio, an Exodus small-group trip is the ideal way to experience authentic Greece.
Discover authentic Greece on a small-group trip with Exodus, where history and authenticity go hand in hand