Greece Peloponnese Style: Oranges, Olives, Fish, and Islands

There are overnight flights to Greece, roundtrip to Athens (ATH).

Everyone will be transferred upon arrival from the Athens airport to the group hotel. There will be a brief introductory meeting late this afternoon followed by a welcome dinner close to your hotel. You are likely to gather at approximately 4PM, therefore you will want to land early enough to settle into hotel and prepare for your first pictures starting with the Acropolis during the blue hour (flashlight and walking stick recommended). The evening will continue with a delicious Mediterranean dinner. If anyone would like to add additional evenings at the hotel, please contact Strabo tours. Overnight Athens (D=dinner)

Depart Athens this morning heading west to the Peloponnese Region, with a photo op at the Epidaurus amphitheater considered the best ancient Greek theatre with regard to acoustics and aesthetics. Accommodations for the next two evenings will be in Nafplio, a charming town by the sea, the first capital of modern Greece. There will be a photography walk to learn about this charming town.

The next morning we will go to the top of the nearby hill to photograph the vast landscape with the sea, mountains, olive and orange groves and the town at the base. Up there, the Venetians built a massive fortress meant to defend the region. The best oranges in Greece come from the area near the towns of Nafplio and Argos. You will be hosted at an organic farm and learn about oranges, trying different dishes and desserts. There are olive groves in the area, and you will photograph the vast farmland with interfering orange and olive groves. In the evening you will be back in Nafplio for a stroll by the sea as the sun sets behind the mountains. Overnight Nafplio (B=breakfast, L=lunch; B, L=Farm tasting)

Since this will be a Sunday, pass by a local church to witness how locals practice their Greek Orthodox religion. As people come out of church, it will be a good moment to capture some portraits. Continue your journey with a stop at a shipwreck stranded on a sandy beach for 40 years now. The story goes that the ship was used to smuggle cigarettes and it was abandoned by its owner.
In the afternoon arrive in Gytheio, a beautiful town by the water with many fishermen, this was the port of Sparta (which is inland). Here they have the tradition of drying octopus in the sun before grilling it. We hope to see that during the time spent here. Photograph the imposing lighthouse and stroll on the promenade between the fishing boats, tavernas and the colorful traditional houses up on the hill.

Weather permitting one morning you will have an early start to photograph a sandy beach at sunrise. Having a shipwreck as a main subject will make the shooting even more interesting. The fisherman return to the port. They will be busy untangling the fish from the nets, sorting the catch and cleaning it right on the boat. They use small traditional motorboats and catch 10 to 50 pounds of fish each, it is fascinating to see and photograph. In the afternoon travel to Monemvasia, the only town on a small island. This was a fortified town, and it is well preserved, the houses are built of brown stones and its pedestrian streets are like a labyrinth.

If you didn’t see enough fishermen the previous days, try your luck again this morning. Then explore the south tip of Mani peninsula, one of the best-preserved regions in Greece. Stop by a 3rd generation potter, and a cave with access by boat. Overnight Gytheio (B; B; B)

Visit the place where the biggest event in the world took place for a millennia and who’s ideals still inspire athletes to this day. The ancient site of Olympia, the place where the Olympic games took place over 2 millennia ago. From mainland Greece you will take the ferry to the island of Zakynthos, where there are iconic seascapes with white cliffs and azure colored water.

For sunrise you will be in the main port of Zakynthos to capture the town in the warm morning colors as the island wakes up to life. Then take a boat trip around the island to see and photograph the beautiful blue caves. Navagio beach and its location are truly wonderful, and pictures hardly do justice to the beauty of this place. Travel above to photograph looking down at the beach. There are three observation points which offer different perspectives so you will spend some time here . Those feeling adventurous may see all three, however it isn’t necessary if you prefer to rest a bit. Overnight Zakynthos (B, D; B)

From Zakynthos island travel back to mainland by ferry. Since the olive harvest is a main reason for coming to Greece in autumn, you will travel to the heartland of olive groves, home to the famous Kalamata olives. Greeks will agree that some of the best olive oil comes from the region of Messinia (in Peloponnese), the area surrounding the town of Kalamata. You will find out that there are olives for eating and olives for making olive oil and that there are different kinds of olive oil. And that terroir, just like with wines, has a very important role in the quality and taste of the olive oil. You will learn all about it, see locals harvesting it, and making the “liquid gold”. You will also have an olive oil tasting together with a light, early dinner. Overnight Kalamata (B, Olive Oil tasting L)

A favorite activity for Greeks is to go to the local farmers market to buy fresh vegetables, fruits, fish and meat. The program includes going to one of the best farmer markets in Greece, the one in Kalamata, mingle with locals and photograph the buzz of the market.

Make your way back to Athens. But on your way visit a beautiful wine region. Try some of the best wines in Greece and then photograph the landscape with vineyards, olive groves, rolling hills and cypress trees. Overnight Athens Airport Hotel (B, Winery L)

Everyone is on their own today, checking in with your airline for your journey home. (B)

Note: This itinerary has been carefully constructed to assure participants the best Peloponnese has to offer. However, should events arise that are beyond our control, itinerary, activities, and hotel arrangements are subject to change without notice. Be assured that we will make substitutions that are as similar in quality and interest as possible.