The olive road · OLIVE OIL AND HONEY TASTINGS
Thyme honey and new oil come off the same hillside and are usually poured by the same family. These 15 tastings are priced, timed and clear about how much else lands on the table.
Spend seven hours in rural Crete with a local English-speaking guide, often Linda or Electra. Visit the ancient Olive Tree of Vouves, a bakery, cheese maker, honey and olive-oil producer, and family winery. Tastings include Cretan breads, cheeses, honey, olive oil, local delicacies, and up to 20 wines.
“Our guide was amazing. She truly loves her job. Very enthusiastic and knowledgeable”
Join host Stathis at STOA Bar Restaurant beneath Fira’s main square for a 90-minute tasting of organic extra virgin olive oils, flower honey, pine honey, Greek snacks, and raki. You’ll learn how olive oil and honey are harvested, produced, stored, and judged, in a private group capped at 10 people.
“Stathis made our experience so fun and personable! We felt like we were with a friend the whole time! He was so knowledgeable about olive oil and made the experience educational and enjoyable. We highly recommend this to anyone visiting Santorini!”
At Idiosmos in Pervolakia, hosts including Mariana, Marianna, and Nancy introduce you to Cretan beekeeping and cold-pressed olive oil made from the family’s own trees. In about an hour, you’ll see the production process, watch a short film, and taste eight honeys, olive oil, bread, cheese, tomatoes, olives, and yogurt.
“It was great to learn about the olive making process and also about beekeeping. Lots of tasty snacks at the end too!”
Spend 6.5 hours exploring Crete’s food and mountain culture in a private 4x4 from Rethimno. Visit Klados Winery, Garazo, Halepa Monastery, Paraschakis Olive Oil, Apithano Honey Museum and Melidoni for lunch. Multilingual guides such as Xari, Manos and Panos add local context, while tastings and hotel transfers are included.
“Sehr schöner Ausflug in Gegenden, in die man sonst nicht kommt. Informativ, kleine Gruppe, super nette Guides. Lämmer wieder gerne.”
From Katakolo port, ride in a small-group van to Ancient Olympia with live commentary, then visit Klio’s family honey cottage and Padelina’s local-food market. Expect about five hours, up to 17 people, and extra fees of €20 for Olympia and €12 for the honey farm. Guides may include Elena, Eleni, Maria, or Nikos.
“This is a fun excursion. Our guide did a great job showing us where the 1st Olympics took place plus took us to a honey farm. It was nice seeing rural countryside of Greece.”
Travel from Katakolon Port to Ancient Olympia in a small air-conditioned vehicle. Walk through the gymnasium, temples, and original stadium with a local guide, then visit Klio’s Honey Farm for sweets and coffee before sampling olives, oils, and balsamic vinegar at Padelina Shopping Center. Expect about five hours, walking, and extra entrance fees.
“I can not say enough good things about this tour, it was one of the highlights of our vacation. Our guide was exceptional and made the tour feel personable and beyond welcoming. Klio’s honey farm was amazing, the true essence of Greek culture. They will make you feel so welcomed and like part of the family. We learned so much and had a delicious lesson in honey. Highly recommend this tour and definitely will be doing this tour again when we return to Olympia.”
Spend about 6.5 hours with guide Vasilis exploring Crete’s olive oil, wine, and honey traditions. Visit a family-run mill, taste oils and local sweets, sample barrel wine, and help prepare a generous Cretan lunch in the vineyards. Pickup is offered, and groups are limited to eight people.
“Had so much fun with friends! I thought the wine was going to be the star of the show, but the food was absolutely amazing. In addition to the Cretan salad, we had dolmas, bread with cheese with the honey from on site, and pork. Definitely no shortage of food and the best meal I had in Crete. Highly recommend donating to the bees and bringing home the heather and cardamom honey and thyme honey. Wish I got more while I was there.”
Join Dimitris for a private Kefalonia food tour from Argostoli, visiting an olive oil mill, honey producer, and winery. You’ll taste several oils, pure island honey, and local wines with snacks, while learning how each product is made. Pickup is offered, and cruise ship timing can be adjusted.
“We loved this experience so much! Dimitris was a wonderful guide and so informative about the island. Each stop was really well thought out and so enjoyable. It was wonderful talking to individuals (particularly at the bee farm and olive oil stop) who are passionate about what they do - it becomes such a joyful experience. I recommend this to anyone who's looking for a local feel of the island. An experience we won't ever forgot!”
This 9-hour small-group island tour takes you from Rhodes to Lindos, Prasonisi, Monolithos Castle, Embonas, Profitis Ilias, and Butterfly Valley. You travel by minibus with up to 16 people, enjoy wine, olive oil, and honey tastings, and have free time at several stops. The tour is self-guided, so plan to explore independently.
“Very good trip around the Island, great guide, lovely lunch most enjoyable”
Spend four hours exploring Kefalonia beyond Argostoli with an English or German-speaking guide. Visit the Katavothres sinkholes, Fanari Lighthouse, Kastro, St. George’s Castle, and St. Gerasimos Monastery, then taste two olive oils and two local honeys before a Koutavos Lagoon photo stop. Pickup is available from Argostoli Port and selected hotels.
“It was pouring rain but our guide was out there leading the way for those of us brave wet souls like us! A bit late in the season - suggest travelling earlier to see everything.”
Visit Argostoli’s sinkholes and lighthouse, Kastro Village, St George’s Castle, Agios Gerasimos Monastery, and Koutavos Lagoon with hotel or cruise-port pickup. Your local guide leads a tasting of two Kefalonian olive oils and two local honeys. Christina is one guide praised for adding warmth and clear local insight.
“A fantastic way to experience the area! We had an excellent guide who shared a lot of information! Our driver was amazing ! Some if the streets were extremely narrow!”
Spend 7 to 8 hours with a private English-speaking driver, often George, traveling from Chania to Elafonisi Beach. Taste honey and olive oil at Idiosmos, visit Agia Sofia Cave, stop for optional lunch in Elos, and finish at a family winery. Umbrellas, towels, mats, water, pickup, and tasting fees are included.
“George was great! It is a full day, so be prepared. You can spend as much time or as little time as you want at each place.”
Spend 5 to 7 hours exploring four sides of Crete: tour a working olive-oil factory, taste honey at Apithano, shape pottery in Margarites, and visit Arkadi Monastery. Private transport, bottled water, an air-conditioned vehicle, and an English-speaking driver are included. Pickup is offered in Heraklion and Rethymno.
“It was the best tour we have taken from beginning to end. Professional and extremely pleasant driver. Followed by unbelievable experiences at every stop. We added a lunch stop on the way which made our journey a bit longer. Thank you Antonius”
Spend five hours with an English-speaking driver-guide visiting a family olive oil press, a traditional bee farm, and Sarris Winery. You will taste extra virgin olive oil, local honey, Robola wines, cheeses, and Greek snacks. Private pickup is available from hotels, villas, and the cruise terminal, with Dimitris often serving as host.
“Everything was great! For an additional fee we got picked up outside of the pick up location, and we enjoyed the explanations of Dimitris about the island. All places we visited are small family businesses and you feel their passion while enjoying all the good products. Highly recommended!”
Start near Monastiraki and walk through the Evripidou and Athinas markets with an English-speaking guide such as Mike or Rachel. Taste pies, cheeses, sausage, yoghurt, honey, olive oil, Greek coffee, and a Greek spirit, then eat at a local meze taverna. The group is limited to 10.
“Rachel was very engaging and personable. She went above and beyond to accommodate my Mom’s dietary restriction. She educated on the healthy choices of olive oil and the different flavors of honey. I would do this tour again and any other food tour she offers. Definitely recommend. The group size was very small and made the experience even more enjoyable.”
By what you do, not by what is nearest.
