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Nestled in the rugged mountains of northwestern Greece, the Zagori villages are a hidden gem offering a peaceful escape into nature's embrace. This episode takes you through the timeless charm of the Zagorochoria, known for their traditional stone architecture, cobblestone streets, and stunning landscapes. Explore the dense forests, crystal-clear rivers, and the dramatic Vikos Gorge, one of the deepest in the world. Discover the unique blend of natural wonders and cultural richness that makes Za...
This is Part Two of my chat with Michelle Janicek, as we talk about her family's second trip to Greece, in June 2024. After meeting with me for another 1:1 Trip Consultation Michelle landed on an itinerary that included the Mama Mia islands of Skopelos & Skiathos , a road trip to Meteora and Delphi , several nights on the magical island of Hydra and a final night on the Athenian Riviera. A fantastic second trip, or any time really!...
Michelle Janicek and I chat about her first trip to Greece with her husband and two teenagers, in 2022. They went to Santorini , Milos , Paros and Athens . Michelle initially booked a private trip consultation with me to try and work out the best itinerary, places to stay and things to see and do, and they had such a fantastic time that she booked another consultation with me when they returned home to book trip #2, which they have just completed ( part coming next week). Some of the activities ...
Learn about one of the most incredible, less known, regions of Greece - Epirus, as I chat with Ioannis Smiris of Epirus Traveller. Located on the western mainland, above the Peloponnese, this region is packed full of some of the most amazing sites in Europe: Ioannina, the capital located on beautiful Lake Pamvotida Vikos Gorge - the deepest in the world! the 46 traditional villages of Zagori the Mythical Dragon Lakes of Drakolimnes the Acheron River - the Gates of Hades that lead to the underwor...
Host Sandy Pappas chats with Sophia Werning, who shares her deep family connection to Naxos and highlights the island's unique charm. They discuss Naxos' incredible culinary scene, from its famous potatoes and cheeses to the unique Kitron liqueur, alongside its rich history, ancient sites, and diverse natural beauty. The episode also covers the island's family-friendly beaches and its commitment to preserving authenticity against mass tourism.
Welcome back to my chat with Archaeologist Ilona Bartsch as we complete our three part series about her amazing trip to Greece. This time Ilona ventures to the islands. First up is Mykonos , mostly to visit the sacred island of Delos , before moving on to Santorini , Crete , Rhodes and Naxos . We discuss the many, many incredible wonders on these islands including a number of places steeped in Mythology , the construction of ancient cities and what life was like for these ancient civilizations a...
In this episode Ilona and I talk about the wonders of Thessaloniki and surrounds and her road trip back to Athens via Delphi , Arachova and Meteora , with a few stops along the way. These are some of the most significant historical sites in Greece and are also in arguably some of the most beautiful surroundings in the world. You can find out more about these and other astonishing Mainland sites, including how to get there are and where to stay,on the Mainland Page on the website....
Part one of a three part series with Archaeologist Ilona Bartsch. We talk about her amazing trip to Greece and her journey around the country visiting many of the best archeology sites including Delphi, Mycenae, Vergina, Knossos Palace, Delos and more. Join us as we talk about the history behind these incredible places as well the Mythology and also the logistics about how to get to them and lots more...
In this episode I chat with Anna Tzogia from Athens Food on Foot about her fantastic food tours and cooking classes too. We talk about how Anna acquired her love of food as well as the different types of tours she offers, including those that are great for families and children and some of the newer, niche tours that cover other topics as well. Read more at: Things to do in Athens
Join me as I chat with Yannis Papadakis, a young man who lives and works on the incredible 'island fortress' of Momenvasia, on the Peloponnese peninsula on the Greek Mainland. This is an incredibly unique and fascinating destination that is steeped in history and has a burgeoning food and wine industry. Step inside the castle and discover a magical medieval village, once home to over 20,000 people and now a charming place to spend a few days, or more. Read all about Monemvasia including how to g...
I finally got to chat with one of the amazing women from Sydney who built a hotel on Milos during the pandemic! Listen in as Lefkothea and I talk about all the wonders of Milos including activities, restaurants, and day trips as well as the process of building and now running the hotel. It's no secret that Milos has increased significantly in popularity in recent years and when you hear about the beaches, the charming villages, and some of the other things that make it stand out in the Greek Isl...
Today I chat with Kelly from The Hellenic Odyssey. Based in Melbourne Australia and Chania in Crete The Hellenic Odessey run fantastic cooking classes in Melbourne and online and do food tours in both Chania and Melbourne. I chat with Kelly about her business and its products as well as her favourite things to see and do in Chania. There are a few hidden gems that not many people know about! To book the tours and cooking classes AND to receive a 10% discount for listeners, head to either of thes...
Join me as I chat with my driver and tour partner Terry Drukakis from CATTaxi in Athens. We find out more about Terry, his team and his fleet of vehicles as well as the services they offer. We also talk in detail about our amazing overnight tour to Meteora as well as the new tour - Highlights of Corinth and The Peloponnese. Terry shares some great tips about drivers vs guides in Greece as well as hidden gems and accommodation choices on the Tours. He also points out that listeners, readers and g...
Small family-run hotels in Greece are famous the world over for their amazing breakfasts, great amenities, extra services and most of all their deep love of 'filotimo' a much-loved Greek virtue that closely translates to 'doing the right thing'. These hotels are not like most others in the world and choosing not to stay at them may mean you are missing a vital element of the Greek experience. In this episode, I talk to Hotelier Chrys Roboras of the Paliomylos Spa Hotel in Naoussa on the wonderfu...
Tune in as I chat with Santorini Travel Agent and Tourmaster extraordinaire Gianluca about all things to do with this incredible island. Find out about the highlights and 'must do' attractions of the island, how to make the most of your visit and some of the things to avoid as well. And more! You can find Gianluca at: https://medshoretours.com/ And don't forget to check out all our Santorini resources at: https://www.greecetravelsecrets.com/explore-greek-islands/explore-greek-islands/santorini/...
Learn all about the wonderful Saronic Island of Poros with acclaimed Artist and American ex-pat Pamela Rogers. Pamela has lived on Poro now for over 20 years and still believes it is her spiritual and certainly her creative home. We chat about how she came to end up in Poros, why she loves it there so much and what things there are to do and see on the island and in the surrounding area. Pamela has also published a book about her journey which you can purchase HERE and you can visit her Gallery ...
Find out all about the amazing Peloponnese region of Greece! This huge peninsula on the Mainland is home to some of the most beautiful, incredible and interesting places in the country. Learn about fascinating sites such as the Corinth Canal, Monemvasia and Olympia as well as beautiful beaches, gorgeous towns and villages and so much more. For further reading check out: The Peloponnese - a complete guide The best Peloponnese Beaches A complete guide to visiting Nafplio...
In our last episode, I talked about the differences and similarities between Santorini and Mykonos, the two most popular Greek Islands. In this episode, I do a similar comparison between Paros and Naxos - islands nearby in the same Cyclades Group that are also popular and that travellers often have trouble choosing between. Articles mentioned in Paros vs Naxos include: https://greecetravelsecrets.com/visit-ithaca-greece/ https://greecetravelsecrets.com/antiparos-greece/ https://greecetravelsecre...
Santorini and Mykonos are the most famous and iconic of the Greek Islands. But what sets them apart from each other? Both incredible, both similar in many ways but quite different in others. If you can only choose one for your trip to Greece, are visiting both and want to understand them better or are just curious about what makes these two islands so special then listen in as I explain the differences between the two islands, the types of people they attract and things to consider when trying t...
Athens is the capital of Greece and the largest city in the country. It is often referred to as the cradle of Western Civilization and the Birthplace of Democracy as well and offers much for visitors to do and see. In this episode, I talk about the history of Athens and how it was established and how it came to play a vital role in history and helped to shape the world as we know it. I then talk about many of the highlights of the city ranging from ancient ruins and archeological sites to roofto...
Learn all about the beautiful island of Paros in Greece. For many, this is the perfect Greek Island that really ticks every box and our special guest, John Papas, explains why this island is his favourite of all. Hear about highlights of the island, things to see and do, where to stay, which are the best beaches and restaurants on Paros and more. Further reading at : https://greecetravelsecrets.com/explore-greek-islands/explore-greek-islands/paros/...
Has your much longed-for trip to Greece been cancelled or postponed? Don't despair, there are a number of ways you can still enjoy many of the experiences that define Greece and make it the unique and incredible destination that it is, without leaving home. Let me take you through some great activities you can do. Read some amazing books and watch movies set in Greece, brush up on the Greek language, cook Greek food and explore museums and archeological sites online. Learn Greek dances and liste...
This episode touches on the things you need to consider when thinking about whether to cancel your trip to Greece due to travel bans and restrictions, as well as the merits of postponing or rescheduling.
We covered Planning in episode 2 and talked about the different parts of Greece including the various island groups. This digs a bit deeper and focuses on the main destinations you might want to consider and what attractions and sights/sites make them worth considering. From the famous Acropolis of Athens, the most popular islands of Santorini and Mykonos as well as other incredible islands that shouldn't be missed and the wonders of the Greek Mainland! Topics covered include: Athens The Acropol...
