Details & Itinerary
2nd – 15th/19th June 2026
“I’ve loved the Greek Islands since I first visited over forty years ago. Each time I return, I fall in love all over again. How can anyone not love the sparkling, crystal-clear seas, the welcoming locals, the traditional whitewashed buildings accented with deep blue and adorned with scarlet bougainvillea, the hustle and bustle of markets, the delicious fresh food and interesting wines, and the little stone-paved alleys that beg to be explored? A tour of the Greek Islands charms all the senses. The Greek kitchen is renowned for more than salads and dolmades, although we will taste the finest examples of these dishes, along with simply cooked seafood and superb vegetable dishes. We’ll taste olives and oils, Citron and honey, cheeses and wines, and enjoy excellent coffee and sweet treats wherever we go. In Athens, there is time to take in the historic sights, and a private wine tour to Nemea in the Peloponnese. Our first island stop is Paros, where we have set up a tasting of the island’s P.D.O. wines and local cheeses and other tasty titbits, followed by a shared cooking lesson. On Naxos, we will visit a local pottery workshop, indulge in a Citron tasting in a distillery, followed by an olive oil tasting, then enjoy a long lunch. Your taste buds will be all abuzz by then! I’m delighted to include the island of Crete in our tour – it’s one of my favourite places in all of Europe. We will make kleftiko – the famous ‘stolen’ lamb dish that is slow-cooked in a wood-fired stone oven – along with traditional flaky filo cheese pies and pastries, and stuffed vegetables and vine leaves in a hands-on cooking class with locals. In the charming village of Koronos, we will cook together in a family-run taverna using fresh produce from the family’s garden. Add in wine tastings, a basket-weaving lesson, and a visit to the ruins of the Palace of Knossos, one of Greece’s most significant archaeological sites, to round out our stay. If you continue with us on the second part of the tour, we will head to Santorini, then on to Mykonos. The wines from Santorini are considered some of the best in Greece, and we will enjoy a winery visit, wine tastings, and more delicious food as we soak up the atmosphere of these two iconic islands. The recipes won’t be left behind in Greece – I will gather them as we go, so once you are home, you’ll be able to share your fabulous Greek Islands experience with family and friends. Come join me in June. We’ll have so much fun!”
We are thrilled to have Julie Biuso, a renowned, award-winning food personality, join us on this tour to enrich your culinary experience.
Julie Biuso is one of New Zealand’s best-known and most respected culinary personalities. She trained and taught at Le Cordon Bleu in London and has been an ambassador for Le Cordon Bleu Institute NZ. She has cooked for dignitaries worldwide and was Maestro Luciano Pavarotti’s personal chef during his visits to New Zealand. Julie has also been a magazine food editor and radio and television broadcaster for over four decades. In 2015, she launched the successful blog site www.sharedkitchen.co.nz. She’s the author of 17 food books, many of them award-winners, and has contributed to dozens more. Julie is a newly minted Master of Creative Writing (Auckland University 2024). She lives on Waiheke Island and is currently writing her first work of fiction.
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Highlights
- Hosted by Julie Biuso, renowned award-winning food personality.
- Time to explore Athens & the Acropolis site
- Enjoy food & culture tours in Crete
- Experience the village life in Koronos
- Immerse yourself in an authentic cooking class in Chania
- Prepare traditional Cretan dishes
- Private wine tour in Nemea
- Optional 4 night extension to Santorini & Mykonos
- Private round trip transfers in each stop by A/C coach
- Ferry transfers – Athens – Paros – Naxos – Crete
- 13 / 17 nights 4 star+ hotel accommodation
- All breakfasts and selected lunches & dinners included
Accommodation
Hotels are indicated in the brochure.
Prices
Prices:
NZD$16,995pp Twin Share; Single supplement NZD$4,995pp
Santorini Extension: NZ$6,995pp Twin Share; Single supplement NZ$2,995pp
Map
How to book
Taxes & other incidental costs
Flexibility
This brochure
All reasonable care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of this brochure at the time of printing, but services offered, package availability and times may be subject to change from time to time. We will advise you of any changes as soon as we are made aware of them ourselves. These terms and conditions should be read in conjunction with those shown here: https://www.travelencounters.co.nz/terms-conditions/
Travel insurance
Prices
You will be required to pay a deposit or deposits when booking. We advise you of how much that will be. Subject to the cancellation schedule listed above, all deposits are non-refundable for changes of mind or cancellations by you (subject to your rights under the Consumer Guarantees Act). Final payment is required no later than 60 days prior to departure unless otherwise stated. Some airfares or services must be paid in full at the time of booking. Cheques are no longer accepted as a valid form of payment now that the New Zealand banks have stopped issuing them.
Documentation
Visas / Passports
We recommend that you contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade or visit their website at www.safetravel.govt.nz for general travel advice, as well as specific advice (including safety alert levels) relating to the destination you wish to visit. You can also register your travel plans with SafeTravel, so that you may be more easily contacted in an emergency.
Sharing
Cancellations
If the tour does not proceed due to lack of numbers, deposits will be refunded in full.
Prior to flight ticketing and confirmation of tour, refunds of deposits will be made in full.
Once tours are confirmed to run, deposits become non-refundable.
After flight ticketing and up to 60 days before departure, loss of deposit
Under 60 days - commencement of tour, no refund.
Once again we strongly recommend that you take out travel insurance at the time of booking in case of sickness or other problem that might prevent you travelling, as well as giving you peace of mind whilst you are on tour. Whilst your booking is paid in NZ Dollars, some of your booking may be booked and purchased in other currencies. If your booking is cancelled or amended, even in the event a full refund may be due, it may be impacted by currency changes and/or fluctuating buy/sell rates.
Our Change and Cancellation Service Fees
Subject to your refund and remedy rights under the Consumer Guarantees Act, a service fee will apply in the event that you need to change or cancel your booking, regardless of whether your booking was made in person, over the phone or by email. This service fee is to cover our reasonable costs for our professional services and is in addition to any third party supplier change and cancellation fees that may apply. Service fees may range from $50-250 per person, depending upon the tour and the complexities of the situation.
Supplier Change and Cancellation Fees
Cancelled bookings may also incur supplier fees, which can be up to 100% of the cost of the booking, regardless of whether travel has commenced. Supplier fees may also apply where a booking is changed and /or when tickets or documents are re-issued. Where we incur any liability for a supplier cancellation fee for any booking which you change or cancel, you agree to indemnify us for the amount of that fee. Where you seek a refund for a cancelled booking for which payment has been made to the supplier, we will not provide a refund to you until we receive the funds from that supplier.
General Tour Information
- If you wish to book your own airfare, you will be charged a land only price. If your flight times do not coincide with the tour group transfers, you will be required to make your own way to the accommodation at the start of the tour and to the airport at the end of the tour.
- Sharing. If you are travelling alone, but wish to share a room with someone else, please indicate this on your registration form. We will do everything possible to arrange quad/twin share accommodation in these instances. However if it cannot be arranged, the ‘own room’ supplement will apply.
- Our tours are contingent on sufficient numbers participating on the tour. If the tour does not go ahead due to lack of numbers, a full refund of your deposit will be made.
- Bookings are required at least 60 days prior to departure. Late bookings will be considered, but may be subject to surcharge costs.
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Get In Touch
PO Box 25 254 St Heliers, Auckland 1740, NZ
- 0800 377 479 (New Zealand)
- 1800 377 479 (Australia)