The Noble Olive at Odyssey
Adding this experience to my holiday selection in Greece has been a wish of mine for quite a while. I even had a program ready for 2020, but that somehow did not work out. For 2025 I have finally managed to offer you a special experience that includes a week of olive picking on the Odyssey olive grove on their farm in Galatas.
During these two weeks you will be immersed in the culture, but you will also experience first hand what it means to pick olives, how it is done, how olives are turned into oil and how nature rewards us with this heavenly green fluid gold. You will be part of a larger group of guests and locals that all participate in the harvest. This outdoor activity might lead to some dirty clothing, so an extra set of olive picking, sustainable clothes is advisable.
We will start off with a week that gets you acquainted with the daily life in Poros and in Greece with some excursions to neighboring towns and sites. You will walk with a guide on the historical Poros walk and learn the deep history of this island. You will have the opportunity to hop to another island, Hydra, for the day, take a renowned Greek cooking workshop, take a day trip to Naufplio, the first capital of Greece, and visit the site of the classical Mycenae for a journey into the rich history of this country.
One of our guests favorites during the two weeks is the fishing trip with Captain Tassos (optional). In the morning we will fish, and then, while Tassos is cleaning the catch, maybe take a swim, before our lovely lunch is served onboard. Maybe one day you will choose to sail or explore the island by moped.
The second week will give you an experience of a life time. After an early breakfast, the water taxi will take you to the olive grove of Odyssey. After a short introduction into the ins and outs of the olive picking it is time to start harvesting. Lunch will be served on site. After a full day of picking, the water taxi will return you to Odyssey for dinner. The olive harvest of 3 days will be taken to the local olive press and you will be witnessing the process that smashes the olives into pulp and results in the fluid green oil. Of course you will be using this freshly pressed oil in the cooking workshop that follows. Did you know that olive oil can be an important ingredient of soap? You will learn first hand.
There will be more surprises during these two weeks and one thing is for sure, it will be very hard to get bored and these weeks will be most likely full of several first time experiences.
The last day you'll spend in Athens. You'll be leaving Poros in the morning and arrive a bit after noon at your hotel in Athens. You can spend the afternoon and evening on your own exploring the city center, or optionally book a (guided) visit both the Acropolis and the spectacular Acropolis Museum and have dinner in Plaka.
Odyssey Suites, your home-away-from-home is ranked tops in all of Greece. Katerina, Rik, Dora and I, along with the amazing staff, will do our best to make sure that all of your needs are met. Your meals are fresh and organic, your rooms traditional and cozy and it is all directly across from one of the many beaches of Poros. If you choose to venture, there are many spectacular tavernas, cafes and shops in Poros Town.
You will have plenty of free time to make your very own memories!
Please click here to find instructions how to get to Poros.
What is included?
- Transfer from Piraeus port to Poros
- Lodging & Breakfast @ Odyssey, 13 nights
- Lodging & Breakfast in Athens, 1 night
- Welcome Meze Dinner
- Additional 6 Dinners @ Odyssey
- Historical walk
- 2x Cooking Workshop with dinner, one with freshly pressed olive oil
- Hydra Excursion
- Visit Mycene
- Visit Nafplio
- Wine tasting
- Ouzo tasting
- Olive oil tasting
- Visit Olive grove by taxi boat (3x)
- Soap making
- Transfer Poros – Hotel Athens
