Olive Picking and Walking Experience in Kythira, Greece

8 Days, Multiple Departures

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Olive Picking and Walking Experience in Kythira, Greece
  • About
  • Gallery
  • Things to keep in mind

Have you ever been curious about harvesting olives? Then you must visit Greece in late autumn and experience how different daily life can be on an inspiring island such as Kythira. There are hardly any tourists, you are alone with the Greeks and the island is unspoilt. During the day, you will be very active, immersed in nature, harvesting olives or walking. Late in the afternoon at home, after a warm and refreshing shower, you will recover from another energetic day, with the heating turned on, a glass of ouzo, the candles burning and a good book. All that remains is to go out for dinner in one of the tavernas in Potamos.

So: complete relaxation together with strenuous activities – the perfect combination to get away from your daily routine, to escape a bit from your daily life.

The olive walking weeks in summary:

Enjoying an active autumn on the Greek island of Kythira

A week immersed in nature

Completely away from normal routine

Emptying your mind

3 olive picking days

2 walking days

1 free day

Information:

Arrival is possible on every day in November.

On your arrival day we will inform you about the week’s program.

Harvesting: you will be picking olives together with locals. You will enjoy hard work and may experience some aching muscles!

Walking: you will be walking in small groups, guided by Frank. The walks – one in the north and one in the south – are relaxing and inspiring.

Excursions: you will be visiting an Olive Oil Co-operative and a tsipouro distillery.

You can extend your stay on Kythira, of course. We will be happy to inform you about the possibilities.

About

7 nights accommodation

All meals from dinner on arrival day up to breakfast on departure day (apart from lunch and dinner on your free day)

All transfers

2 guided walks

Excursion to the Olive Oil Co-operative and tsipouro distillery

Free walking route descriptions

A bottle of fresh olive oil to enjoy back home and recall an unforgettable week.

Airfare

By plane:

There are no direct international flights to Kythira. You will have to change flights in Athens and on many days it is possible to book an onward flight for the same day. Of course you can use the opportunity to stay one or more days in Athens before you come to Kythira. We can advise about accommodation and will give you useful tips about activities and excursions in the exciting Greek capital.

The direct, 40 minute flight, from Athens to Kythira is operated by Olympic Air/Aegean Air or Sky Express. From April until October these flights are usually on a daily basis, from November until March, four times a week.

We will be happy to advise you about the various options.

By boat:

If you want to take your own car, ferries leave from the following harbours to Kythira’s Diakofti Harbour:

Neapolis – Peloponnese, duration 1 hour and 30 minutes (daily)

Gythion – Peloponnese, duration 2 hours and 30 minutes (once a week)

Piraeus – (Athens harbour) duration 7 hours (twice a week)

Kissamos – Crete, duration 3 hours and 30 minutes (three times a week)

We will be happy to give you further information about schedules and, when you have booked your accommodation with us, to make a reservation for your ferry as well.

Car rentals and taxis:

Kythira doesn’t have any public transport. Therefore we advise you to rent a car in order to discover the island in a convenient and comfortable way. We cooperate with Panayotis Rent a Car – Motorent, the only car rental company on Kythira with an office at the airport and the ferry port. It’s very easy: you pay a pre-arranged fair price and you pick up the rental car upon your arrival.

If you don’t have a driving license or if you don’t want to rent a car, you can use our special taxi service. We cooperate with English speaking taxi-drivers who will meet you at the airport or ferry port. You won’t have to wait; you pay a pre-arranged price and get the best service. We will be happy to give you further information.

Breakfast every day in a kafeneion in Potamos

3 Lunches in the olive groves, on harvesting days

2 Lunches along the route, on walking days

6 Dinners in one of the Potamos tavernas

Gallery
About The Host

We like to share our love for Kythira and our knowledge of the island with other walking enthusiasts and Greece lovers. Walking is our passion. In 2024 we will publish the 20th edition of our walking guide ‘Kythira on Foot’. The many kilometers of footpaths between the sixty villages make the green and peaceful island a unique walking paradise. We offer many walking options: individual trekking tours, guided walks, group walking holidays, and our well-known olive-picking walking weeks.

By joining one of our excursions or workshops, you will meet local Kythirians who enthusiastically talk about their island. Prepare the loveliest meals together for example or make organic olive oil soap – all these experiences will make your holiday on Kythira unforgettable.

If you are eager for excitement and adventure, you should have a look at our outdoor program with many different tours like canyoning and sea kayaking. Be inspired!

Things to keep in mind

Cancellation

If you have to cancel, you have to send us an email about the cancellation. We will send you a confirmation by email.

If you cancel your booking, we will refund:

Four weeks or more prior to arrival date: the total booking costs

Four to three weeks prior to arrival date: 75 % of the booking costs

Three to two weeks prior to arrival date: 50 % of the booking costs

Two to one week prior to arrival date: 25 % of the booking costs

Less than one week prior to arrival date: 0 % of the booking costs

Booking

If you want to make a reservation, please fill in the contact form. Please note this is not a confirmed booking yet, only an enquiry. We will check if the period you want to come is available and we will contact you as soon as possible.

Option

If you need time to think, or would like to book your flight first, please make sure to ask us for an option and we will hold the accommodation for you.

Payment

After we have confirmed by mail your booking, we ask you to pay 25 % of the total amount within 7 days.

Changes

Until four weeks prior to arrival date, you can change your booking, if availability allows. Send us an email and we will consider your request. Less than four weeks prior to arrival date, a change in the booking will be treated as a cancellation.