Indicative 4-days Program

DAY 1
WELCOME DAY

From the airport we will

be transferred to the
hotel. After some rest,
we will get ready for
dinner which will take
place at a boat in the
famous lake Pamvotis,
in the heart of Ioannina!

The dinner will be accompanied by our orchestra that will guide us through the
musical tradition of the ancient, the Byzantine and the modern Greece.
The dinner will consist of traditional delicacies of the region.
DAY 2
WALKING, SWIMMING AND COOKERY CLASS AT ZAGORI VILLAGES

Today our programme includes walking, bathing and

cooking at the charming medieval stone villages of
Zagori. We leave our hotel and passing through the
breathing sceneries of Ioannina we arrive at the
Zagori villages. We will visit "Kolimpithres" at Papigko
villages, one of the most picturesque ones. It’s about
small lakes creating by the passing of the river,
where you can experience a unique swimming
adventure! Be warned that the waters are quite cold every time of the year!

For those who think water is

too cold, we will visit another
traditional village, called
Monodendri.
There, there will be a herd of
horses waiting for us. From
the centre of the village we
will ride, following the 1000
meters path, with a light to
medium list, down to the edge
of the famous Vikos Gorge,
and reach the monastery of
Agia Paraskevi. There, we
could light a candle, whisper a
prayer or meditate and enjoy
the view of the Vickos Gorge,
one of the deepest gorges in
the world.
Riding back to the village, we will join the rest of our group coming from
"Kolimpithres" and we will learn how to make one of the most simple and straight
forward salty pies in Epirus: 'alevropita'. Don't
forget that Epirus is the motherland of pie!
Everything can be made a pie: meat, vegetables,
cheese, rise, pastas, etc. We will enjoy the pie
accompanied with Greek appetizers and a glass of
Zitsa wine.

Back to the hotel for rest and dinner.

DAY 3
VINE HARVESTING & WINE TASTING AT A TRADITIONAL WINERY

Following breakfast, what better

way to begin the day with some
History and Legends about the
place you will stay for one week!
We will depart for the monastery
of Prophet Elias at 780mt of
altitude and visit the old
Christian Monastery from old
years. A day not to forget your
camera!

In the old monastery, where Lord Byron found shelter during an enormous, horrifying
thunderstorm in October 1809, and, inspired by this wild, natural beauty, composed
his famous "stanzas composed during a thunderstorm", dedicating to a girl named
Florence. You will be experienced the recital of this beautifull poem in the original
environment where is been written.

The tour continues through the famous Zitsa wine territory.

Today we will learn about the ancient vineyards of Zitsa, the history of this area
through the centuries and how the climate and temperatures soils influence its
winemaking. Get ready to experience traditional hand-harvesting in one of the biggest
vineyards in Epirus, while tasting the excellent fruit!
NOTE:
There will be two alternatives to this activity:
1. During October, instead of grape harvesting there will be a participation in
tsipouro making procedure.
2. Alternatively, during the seasons when there are no outdoor activities, we will
start our day with a visit to the "Pavlos Vrellis Wax Museum of Greek History" where
we will experience great moments of the history of Greece come to life, in an
evocative environment).

In a traditional winery, during a wine-

tasting, we will learn about Zitsa's
unique viticulture traditions.
We will taste selection of different and
delicious wine styles such as Premium
Wines ( Primus Zitsa, Red Velvet),
Classic Wines (Ampelones Zitsa, Rose
Prive, Apeiros Hora), Semi Sparkling
Wines (Kyra Frosyni, Frizzate Zitsa),
Sparkling Wines (Anna Maria Rose Demi). We will also sample traditional Greek
aperitifs such as Tsipouro (Epirus Tsipouro, Tsipouro Grande Resesrve) and
accompany them with local finger food (mezedes!).
DAY 4
DODONI: DIVINE EXPERIENCE

After a good Greek breakfast, we

will depart for the ancient site of
Dodoni, known for the ancient
theatre and the oracle which is the
oldest oracle in Europe, dated back
to the 10th century BC. There we
will embark on a fascinating journey
that will reveal the greatness of
greek antiquity.

Considered to be the cradle of culture,

this archaeological site has astonishing
monuments with the most important to
be its theatre (2.500 years old).
How about reciting ancient dramas or
comedies in the cradle of culture? It's a
unique experience as you will feel like a
member of an ancient chorus!
Then, we will attend a cooking class
under the foot of the majestic twin peaks
of mount Tomaros and have a meal with
ancient greek tastes.
There's no need to buy any souvenir,
you will make your own ones next to the
archaeological place, at the village
Manteio (Oracle). We will make
handicraft souvenirs, under the guidance of an expert.
Back to Ioannina for dinner at a local restaurant.
DAY 5
AWARD CEREMONY

We hope cooking courses will allow you to dive into the

culture of Epirus cuisine and embrace the passion of
Greek cuisine.
The Gastronomy Club of Epirus will declare you as
"Ambassador of Continental Gastronomy" and the
relative award will be handed to you by the Club
President!