Accommodation

Check-in Time:

14:00

Check-out Time:

12:00

During this retreat, you will be staying in Odyssey Center in an exclusive suite. Private room will be available with no single supplements charge in low season. A single supplement charge may apply if you are traveling in July and August due to availability.

The Odyssey activity center is the base for Adventure Tourism Services' operations. It is conveniently located 50 yards from the beach in the quiet coastal hamlet of Askeli, a 15-minute walk from the main town of Poros. Askeli beach is the largest beach on Poros island and it is a blue flag beach with ample space for safe swimming and access for our water sports activities.

Odyssey activity center has 11 suites, all with private en-suite facilities. The suites have various bed layouts, some suites have 5 beds spread over 2 private rooms making them suitable for groups of friends, families, couples and singles or for a large group the whole center can be booked.

Located in the same complex is the Odyssey restaurant, Odyssey Cooking school with purpose-built facilities and the sea kayaking center. Guests booking a "with food" package can enjoy the convenience of all the facilities. Odyssey is also open to non residents providing a full menu and bar service and is open daily from 8.30 am until around midnight March to the end of November each year. Odyssey suites only are also available from December to March.

Odyssey center has free wifi for all guests. It offers cots/high chair young children and terraced area for drinking cocktails.

Program

At the start of your stay, Katerina will discuss menus with you to ensure you cover any particular skills you want to learn during your course. The aim of the course is to give you the skills to cook fabulous Greek dishes from the region to impress even the most experienced foodies back home. All cooking courses are hands-on and you will all have the chance visit the lively local fish market and olive groves, lemon groves or an organic Mediterranean vegetable farm.

The chef at the school is Poros native, Katerina. She is friendly, professional, and passionate about all aspects Greek cooking and the historical roots of traditional Greek cooking. Specializing in both traditional and modern Greek cooking, Katerina’s skills have become very sought after and when she is not giving lessons in Poros or preparing and supervising the meals at the school’s Bistro in Askeli, she also provides lessons in Greek cooking throughout other parts of Europe.

Daily schedule - example shown below (may be subject to change)

Day 1: Arrival, welcome dinner

Arrive after 2 p.m. Check in to your exclusive suite at the Odyssey Center any time after midday. Katerina and your chef will welcome you. You will have the afternoon free to explore Askeli, relax by the pool, or enjoy a swim in the clear blue sea.

In the evening, you will be a guest at the welcome dinner and Katerina will introduce you to some of the food that you will learn to cook during your stay.

Day 2: Free time, cooking class

Enjoy a leisurely Greek breakfast. After breakfast, you will have a chance to look more closely at the menus and recipes. Lunch will be served around 12:30 p.m. Afterwards, you may like to take a stroll into Poros town or a walk followed by a swim in the local bay.

Your first cookery lesson will begin at 2:30 p.m. followed by a late afternoon drink or a small siesta. You will return to your class around 5 p.m. to cook the final stages of dinner which will be served in the relaxed evening atmosphere.

Day 3: Cooking class, visit to the fish market

An earlier breakfast will be followed by a walk into Poros Harbour to visit the fish market where you will select a range of ingredients for the day’s cooking. This will be followed by a visit to a local café for coffee and Greek pastries and some free time.

In mid-afternoon, you will start to prepare the evening meal from the fish selected at the market. You will then enjoy dinner which you have created in relaxed and sociable surroundings at the center.

Day 4: Visit Hydra

Enjoy a leisurely Greek breakfast. Today will include a visit to Hydra, with lunch provided. On return to Poros, you will start to prepare the evening meal from the fish selected at the market. You will then enjoy dinner you have created in a relaxed and sociable surroundings at the center.

Day 5: Free time, private cooking class

Enjoy a leisurely Greek breakfast. This is another free morning for you to do whatever you please on your sunshine holiday on Poros Island. Lunch will be provided at around 1 p.m.

This afternoon, you will enjoy a private cooking class with your chef! You will enjoy dinner in the evening either at the bistro or a local restaurant.

Day 6: Olive or lemon groves, cookery lesson

After breakfast, you will have an opportunity to visit either the lemon or olive groves to learn about the use of both these ingredients in Greek cooking. A picnic lunch will be provided.

On returning to the school in mid-afternoon, you will begin your final cooking lesson, a classic Greek meal which will then be served in the evening. One evening in the week, you will enjoy a delicious Greek cheese and wine tasting.

Day 7: Culinary visits

After a delicious breakfast, you can relax in the sunshine on the beautiful Greek coastline. Depending on the season, you will visit different locations to learn about the importance of seasonal ingredients in Greek cooking, including local herbs. Lunch will be provided either at the bistro or as a picnic.

In the evening, you will enjoy the finale dinner, a true Greek experience with many surprises!

Day 8: Departure day

After breakfast, you are asked to check out of your accommodation by 11 a.m. taking home with you the skills, experience, and recipes that will last long after your holiday is over.

Included excursions

On day three, you will go on a walk into Poros Harbour to visit the fish market. On day four, you will go and visit Hydra, and on day six, you will visit either the lemon or olive groves.

Instructors

Katerina Sakelliou

Your host for all Greek cooking as well as all local sightseeing excursions and activities at Odyssey Centre is Katerina Sakelliou. Katerina is passionate about cooking and is interested and knowledgeable in the historical roots of traditional Greek cuisine. Katerina specializes in both traditional and modern Greek cooking. Katerina’s skills have become very sought after and when she is not giving lessons in Poros or preparing and supervising the meals at Odyssey Bistro in Askeli, she also provides lessons in Greek cooking throughout other parts of Europe.

Location

This retreat will take place in Poros Island, Greece. Poros Island is located 35 miles or 1 hour by boat from Piraeus (port of Athens). Adventure Tourism Services' base on Poros is situated in Askeli, a small traditional unspoilt coastal hamlet. There are many other great activities on Poros island: beautiful beaches, wonderful Taverna serving delightful traditional Greek food. Poros is the perfect location for an active or relaxing vacations.

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Food

During this retreat, you will be served with daily breakfasts, six lunches either at a hotel or picnic, and seven dinners including one evening meal in at a local restaurant or taverna and a farewell dinner on the last night. You will savor traditional and modern Greek cuisine.

The following meals are included:

Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Drinks

The following dietary requirement(s) are served and/or catered for:

Regular (typically includes meat and fish)

If you have special dietary requirements it's a good idea to communicate it to the organiser when making a reservation

Things to do (optional)

During your free time, you are free to explore Askeli, relax by the pool, or enjoy a swim in the clear blue sea. You may also take a stroll around Poros town or a walk followed by a swim in the local bay.

What's included

4 Greek cooking lessons
Recipe booklet
Guided trip to the Island of Hydra
A seasonal Greek culinary outing
Visit to the local location for food tastings
Visit to olive or lemon groves or an organic Mediterranean vegetable or herb farm
School cooking apron
Welcome drinks
7 nights accommodation
Daily breakfast, six lunches, and seven dinners
1 evening meal in at a local restaurant or taverna and a farewell dinner on the last night
Airport transfers

What's not included

Airfare
Travel insurance

How to get there

Recommended Airports

ATH

Athens International Airport

63 km

Transfer included

Arrival by airplane

Please book your flight to arrive at Athens International Airport (ATH). Transfer from and to the airport is included. Adventure Tourism Services will pick you up from the airport.

Travelling to Poros Island:

Poros island is situated approximately 35 miles south west of Athens and is easily reached by using a combination of the excellent and modern Greek public transport system. Every guest who makes a booking with Traditional and modern Greek cuisine will receive detailed travel guidance notes. In order to travel to Poros it is important to arrive in the Port of Piraeus by 6.00 pm. This is generally when the last boat departs. You can find information on times at the following websites: Hellenic Seaways and Saronic Ferries. Allow yourself approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes to travel from either Athens airport (ATH) or Athens center to Piraeus, so bear this in mind when booking arrival and departure flights from ATH. The 2017 cost of this travel is around 30 EUR per person. Alternatively Adventure Tourism Services can arrange for you a private transfer for various sized groups. The minimum cost of this is 180 EUR for up to 4 people, for larger groups the cost varies.

Airport: Athens International Airport Airport transfer included: Athens International Airport No additional charges. You can request this in the next step.

Cancellation Policy

A reservation requires a deposit of 30% of the total price.
The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
The rest of the payment should be paid 30 days before arrival.

Menu

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