Bella Greece Tour 2024

Antiparos / Paros – Cyclades – Greece

Paros is a beautiful Cycladic island only 2 hours by ferry from Santorini and 3 hours from Athens. Paros is best known for its great beaches, lively nightlife, and wonderful white-washed towns. People often describe Paros as a perfect mix of Mykonos (trendy clubs and restaurants) and Naxos (fantastic beaches and authentic inland villages). Taking a ferry from Paros is the only way to access Antiparos a smaller and more secluded island located just west of Paros.

Saturday – 

1:00 pm Pick up from Paros Airport, transport to lunch at Pantelis Taverna, in Antiparos very close to our villa. This will include a ferry ride across the bay.

After lunch we will drive to our villa on Antiparos about a 5 minute drive. Check into the villa is at 4:00pm. You will have a few hours to unpack, relax by the pool, start laundry if you have been traveling the week before. Get to know your new Greek home. 

We have a private chef her name is Stella, she will be preparing us a Greek dinner in our villa this evening. We will have cocktails by the pool prior to dinner.

Some of you will be arriving Paros on Friday the day before and have hotel reservations. We will be working with you on pick up time and location.

Sunday –

Morning on you own. Sleep in if you have jet lag or if you are exhausted from pre villa travel. Find a beautiful outdoor space to start a good book. Take a walk into town or down to the beach.

Sunday Greek Brunch will be prepared by Shelly and all who would like to join in on the cooking.

This evening we have a very special Olive Oil Tasting at our villa with Renata Stauropoulou who has her business in Antiparos town featuring the finest of Greek olive oils. Renata will be bringing with her a special guest an Olive Oil Sommelier from Athens Panagiotis Papanikolopoulos (do not ask me to pronounce this). I did some google research, he is quite the olive oil man.They are very excited to teach us why the Greek olive oil is so special, and they will be preparing a simple Greek dinner that will help show case the olive oils. Tim and I will be meeting with Renata prior to your arrival for a special wine tasting to choose some wines for this evening. I am sure we all are going to learn something new and find a new favorite olive oil or two.

Monday –

9:15 am leave from Villa Lyda ferry/drive to Naousa Harbor, Paros – meet up with Captain Ilias of Pantasoulas Daily Cruises (10:30am arrival ) we will have a private boat tour from 10:30am to 4:30pm. There will be plenty of time to swim, snorkel and sun. We will have four different stops on our tour. 1.) Santa Maria  2.) Platia Ammos  3.) Lageri Area  4.) Agia Kali Island

We will have a wonderful Greek lunch on board with Greek beer & wine. There will be time to shop in Naousa before driving back to our villa.

Evening: after a long day on the water we will stay at the villa and prepare a large charcuterie board with local products and have a relaxing evening around the pool.

Tuesday –

10:00am leave from Villa Lyda drive to AG Giorgios the southern part of the Island. We will hop on a boat for a quick transfer to Despotiko Island. Located 700 m southwest of Antiparos, the tiny, uninhabited island of Despotiko is packed with more antiquities per square meter than just about anywhere else in Greece. This extraordinary island, known as the “Other Delos,” was once home to an important sanctuary dedicated to the cult of Apollo, dating back to the late Archaic period (6th-early 5th century BC). 

Following our visit at Despotiko we will have lunch at the well sought after Captain Pipinos. Known for its location, views and great seafood.

Around 3:00pm we will drive back to Villa Lyda

Evening – dinner, drinks, shopping in our charming town of Antiparos. There will be time to wander the streets, to shop (don’t forget sandal shopping) Drinks @Stones Cocktails,  Dinner@Vassilenas Restaurant Modern Greek Cuisine.

Wednesday –

Is a free day, there are many options for you on your free day. If you would like to stay and enjoy the villa absolutely your may and here are some more ideas.

• Ferry to Parikia town in Paros – there is shopping, restaurants, beach clubs
• ATV or Scooter rental – exploring the island of Antiparos
• Paddle Boarding at a near by beach club
• Water color lesson (at villa minimum group of 5, or individual in Parikia town)
• Yoga at the villa
• Exploring more of Antiparos town
• Local beach

Late Afternoon Evening 

3:00 – 4:00pm wine tasting in Parikia, time to visit the town of Parikia

7:00pm Dinner reservations at Salair – roof top restaurant with amazing sunsets & dinner

Thursday –

10:30am leave from Villa Lyda drive to Soros Beach Club in Antiparos. Beach chairs, umbrella’s, cocktail service, lunch reservations. A day in the sun to soak away all the worlds problems.

3:00pm drive back to Villa Lyda

PIZZA NIGHT at the villa. Greek style pizza called Peinirli

 NIGHT at the villa. If there is a pizza oven at the villa, we must use it. Greek style pizza called Peinirli. We want everyone to participate and make their own Greek pizza. We will also have salad, and I hear there is a good gelato place in town… 

Friday –

9:45am leave from Villa Lyda transport to Naousa, Margarita Studios for Cooking Class (arrival time 11:00am) cooking class 11:00 – 3:00. We will prepare 4 – 5 Greek dishes with Stella Fyrogeni. We will also have a tasting of local wine with our lunch from Moraitis Winery on Paros Island 

3:00pm we drive back to Villa Lyda. We can allow more shopping time in Naousa if needed.

Evening

Our “White Party” don’t forget to pack something white, or there is plenty of time to shop and I am sure you can find something white on the islands. Reservations at @Sunset Antiparos for Sunset, Cocktails and special farewell dinner.

Saturday – 

It will be a sad morning to take you all to the Paros Airport or Ferry . Check out of the villa is 9:00am. We have a cleaning crew coming in to set up for our new guests arriving. We will have coffee and pastries set out as you are packing up.We will be confirming all guests departure times.