Delphi & Arachova Private Tour: History and Culinary Combo

We leave from Athens this morning for our 2-hour trip to Delphi. Just before Delphi, we stop in the delightful hillside town of Arachova for a visit with chef Aktida, owner of local restaurant, and enjoy a coffee. Aktida tells us about traditional food from the Parnassos region as well as some of her specialties we will be having later.
Arrive in Delphi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site which greatly influenced the ancient world and was considered by Greeks to be the navel of the earth. Delphi is situated on the south-western slopes of Mount Parnassus surrounded by high mountains and overlooking a valley full of pine and olive trees. Our guided walk takes us through the ruins of this fabled site, then we visit the Museum of Delphi with its impressive collection of sculptures, statues and ancient artifacts.
Return to Arachova for a culinary experience provided by Aktida. Aktida is known for her tasty creative Greek dishes such as stuffed courgette flowers,wild boar with mountain greens and a dip made from “lathouri” a fava bean indigenous to the Parnassos region. After lunch, roam around the cobbled streets of the picturesque mountain village with shops selling traditional textiles, homemade sweets, honey and local cheeses. You may wish to visit the majestic clock tower and Folklore Museum, wander around the backstreets with stone houses and balconies full of flower pots, or walk up the 264 stone steps to admire the panoramic view from Saint George’s church.
Our next culinary experience is at a nearby pastry shop and listen to shop owner Tommy as he describes how some of their pastries are made. We sample some fresh specialties of the region like “karidato” (with walnuts) and “amygdalato” (with almonds).
Finally, we step back a thousand years in time with a visit to the Byzantine Monastery of Osios Loukas. It houses a 10th century church with treasures, relics and exquisite frescoes and mosaics. Enjoy a refreshing beverage while admiring the magnificent mountain views. Return to Athens in time for a late dinner.