The Real Greece of the Peloponnese Peninsula:
​The History, Culture and Food of Southern Greece

Our Trip Itinerary
Nov 16 - Nov 25, 2023   

Limited to 10 participants

​The itinerary is subject to change but will always be planned for the best photographic opportunities. 

Day 1, Thu, Nov 16
 The workshop adventure will begin in Athens Thursday evening, Nov 16th where we will meet for our first of many Mediterranean dinners. Our stylish hotel in the center of town is perfect for last minute Wi-fi downloads and for getting some good rest before we hit the road.

 Day 2, Fri, Nov 17 
 The next morning we begin our travel  by visiting the Acropolis and the Parthenon, our first glimpse of Greek history and a must-see for every visitor. Our air-conditioned, private minibus (16-19 people capacity) then continues across the Corinth Canal to the Peloponnese peninsula and the countryside.  We drive into the heart of olive country where the locals are harvesting and preparing the olives. Two nights will be in Kalamata while we fill our days visiting olive groves and learning about the harvesting of these famous olives and olive oil. Overnight in Kalamata. ​Drive Time with breaks: 3h30m

Day 3, Sat, Nov 18
A favorite activity for Greeks on Saturday morning is to to to the local farmers' market to buy fresh fish, fruit and vegetables. We'll visit  one of the best markets in Greece mingle with the locals and photograph the buss of the market. In the afternoon, we travel to Olympia, the place where the Olympic games took place over 2000 years ago. This day in the countryside offers bucolic landscapes and rolling hillsides of olive groves. Overnight in Kalamata. Drive Time with breaks: 3h30m

Day 4, Sun, Nov 19
Traveling along the rugged coastline of Mani, we'll see traditional fishing towns and dazzling seascapes. On one stop, we visit the Agios Spyridon church and the Troupakis-Mourtzinos Fortress. Moving on to our next guesthouse, we come to Gytheio, a beautiful town by the water where the fishermen dry their catch in the sun. We will photograph the imposing lighthouse and stroll on the promenade between the fishing boats, tavernas and the colorful traditional houses up the hill. This town was the port for ancient Sparta, the legendary militaristic city-state. Overnight in Gytheio. Drive Time with breaks: 2h30m

Day 5, Mon, Nov 20
In the morning we will wait for the fishermen to bring in the day's catch. They will be busy untangling the fish from the nets, sorting the catch and cleaning it right on the boat. They use small motorboats and catch 10-50 lbs of fish each. We then will explore the southern tip of Mani. Our excursions include an abandoned stone village, a 5th generation potter's workshop and a cave accessed by boat. Overnight in Gytheio. Drive Time: 3h
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Day 6, Tue, Nov 21
Continuing along the coastline, the next day will bring a stop at an abandoned shipwreck on a sandy beach on our way to the fascinating island town, Monemvasia. This fortified town features houses of stone and a labyrinth of alleys and passageways. A local guide will present the town's tangled history during a walking tour of its streets. Overnight in Monemvasia.  Drive Time: 1h30m

Day 7, Wed, Nov 22 
Early light in Monemvasia will bring a beautiful sunrise glow to the rooftops. After breakfast, we travel toward Nafplio, a charming town surrounded by farms growing some of the best oranges and lemons of the region. Our trip will take us to an organic farm where we can enjoy a cooking class and try different dishes and deserts from oranges. We will enjoy two nights here before we turn our travel northward. Overnight in Nafplio.   Drive Time: 3h30m

Day 8, Thu, Nov 23
We enjoy a day of exploration throughout this area photographing farmers picking, transporting and storing oranges and lemons. The mix of olive groves and citrus trees offers a uniquely Mediterranean landscape. The drive takes us to the ancient Epidaurus amphitheater, a well-preserved structure which can seat 15,000 people and still boasts perfect acoustics. Overnight in Nafplio. Drive Time: 2 h

Day 9, Fri, Nov 24
​​On our way back to Athens, our travels take us through wine country with a landscape dotted with vineyards, cypress trees and olive groves. A wine tasting will give the chance to sample some of the best wines in Greece.  As is our tradition, our final dinner together will be a time to share our creative photos and our snapshots of this memorable trip. Overnight in Athens. Drive Time: 4h

Day 10, Sat, Nov 25
Time to get to the airport to return home carrying fresh memories of our Greek adventures.

Covid Related Policies

Your fellow travelers plus Jill, Dan and Daniel have all received Covid vaccinations. The transportation company that we use also has this requirement for their drivers. We will follow all suggested guidelines depending on what safety rules Greece has in place at that time.

Each hotel or guesthouse lists policies for your protection. Check out their websites for more details.

Accommodations are subject to change due to availability. We will be booking with these hotels if possible.

Athens - Heritage Hill Hotel, 36 rooms
Kalamata - Elektra Hotel, 32 rooms
Gytheio - Las Hotel - full service hotel
Monemvasia - Malvasia Traditional Hotel, 14 rooms
Nafplio - Hotel Marianna

Image by Daniel Roșca

Image by Daniel Roșca

Image by Daniel Roșca

Important Cancellation Information

Hold your spot with a $1000 deposit with the balance due Oct. 1. If you need to cancel before Oct 1, $500 will be refunded. Because of advanced planning, if the cancellation is after that date, we will not be able to refund the workshop fee. In our post-Covid world, the hotels are applying strict cancellation penalties to try to stay in business. Watch this date as it approaches!

On the unlikely chance that we need to cancel the workshop for any reason, you will be refunded the entire workshop price.

Rooms are based on double occupancy and all have private baths. If you prefer a single room, the supplement is $600. We will make every effort to connect you with a roommate should you like to share a room. However, if we’re unable to make a match, the single supplement fee will apply. Let us know early if you have difficulty with stairs or have other special needs.

Image from Pixabay and edited

Sign up now with a deposit to reserve your spot. Space is limited.

Greece, Nov 16 - Nov 25, 2023, Deposit Only

$1,000.00

Add to Cart

DEPOSIT - Discovering the hidden adventures along the southern coast of Greece. Olive oil, oranges, fishermen, magical blue seas and craggy landscapes. Any camera is welcome — from DSLR to Mirrorless to iPhone — as long as you have a way to get your images onto an iPhone or iPad for viewing and editing. A lightweight, modern approach to our image making with photo critiques and classes all based on iPhones and iPads. Total cost is $4700. 

Included:
•  Nine nights lodging and 10 days of photographic instruction
•  Various entrance fees, visits and shooting opportunities
•  Ground transportation in private, air-conditioned bus
•  Breakfasts included
•  2 Dinners on the first and last night in Athens
•  1 Dinner and Cooking Class at an organic farm
•  1 Olive grove and olive press visit with light dinner, olive oil tasting with Greek Meze cold platter and olives
•  Fluent, English-speaking local guides at historic sites
•  Tour Organizer and Photographer, Daniel Roșca
•  Transfers to and from the airport

Not included:
•  Passport
•  Covid Vaccinations and Any Testing Required
•  Airfares and related taxes or fees to and from Athens
•  Meals not listed above, expect to pay $17-22/per meal on average
​•  Soft drinks and alcoholic beverages
•  Personal expenses, services, or purchases
•  Transportation after the workshop ends
•  Travel/cancellation Insurance which includes Overseas Medical Care and Evacuation