National Geographic Day Tour: A Local Experience in Mykonos
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Port
Mykonos, Greece
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Activity Level
Moderate Activity
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Excursion Type
Information Not Currently Available
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Wheelchair Accessible
No
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Starting At (prices in USD)
$250
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Minimum Age
Information Not Currently Available
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Duration
Approximately 3¾ Hours
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Meals Included
Meals not included
Begin the journey meeting a Mykonian National Geographic-trained local guide who will lead the tour inland, where you’ll leave the hustle and bustle behind and head to the Kafedenas village, where Nikos Loizos will welcome you into his homestead for a visit exclusive to National Geographic travelers. This experience is a true local immersion that will give you an intimate understanding of this amazing place and the people who call it home, something that will hopefully inspire you to protect it.
Nikos will take you to visit the private chapel of Saint Therapon located within his compound, which was built in honor of his sick grandmother, whose prayers were "heard’ by St. Therapon and she was healed as a result." It is with these stories that you’ll gain an understanding of the meaning it has for the family.
While at the chapel, you’ll experience a local tradition known as a panigiraki, which means a smaller feast, celebrated by the family, relatives, and friends. With this local family, you will become immersed in this local tradition in the most authentic way possible—by celebrating, eating specific food and drinks, and hearing tales about their ancestors.
Next, head into the courtyard, a structure built in traditional style over 300 years ago and includes a wood-fired oven where your meal is cooked during your visit. Relax and sample Greek coffee, an integral part of Greek culture, as Nikos tells stories about his family and the Mykonian culture of the past and present. In the same area, you’ll also see the cistern where rainwater is captured as well as the old-fashioned manual wine press.
Following storytelling in the courtyard, celebrate the Panigiraki as you cook and taste the Mykonian products, which include the cold cut louza, Tyrovolia cheese, and, of course, the famous Mykonian sausages—accompanied by local wine, beer, and traditional music.