Greece 2025 - Zakynthos / Costa Navarino / Athens

28 September - 11 October 2025

13 Nights / 5 Rounds of Golf / Fully Escorted
5-Star Accommodation / 13 Breakfasts / 9 Dinners including Welcome Reception and Farewell Dinner

TOUR EXTENSION - ATHENS - 11 to 13 October 2025

An odyssey through the timeless wonders of Greece, blending golfing excellence with ancient culture, unspoilt natural beauty and luxurious leisure. Extend your journey with 2 additional nights to experience the irresistible charms of Hydra Island, and witness the changing of the guard in Syntagma Square.

Our Greek Odyssey begins with a luxurious 4-night sojourn at Lesante Cape Resort, an exclusive 5-star seaside property on the enchanting Ionian island of Zakynthos. The island boasts a rich history, countless magical beaches, including the highly Instagrammable Navagio Beach, and wineries with centuries of heritage.

Next, indulge in an unmatched experience with a seven-night stay at the acclaimed Costa Navarino, ranked seventh in Golf.com's World’s Top 100 Resorts. Enjoy five rounds of golf at this prime location, celebrated for its flawless fusion of elite golfing and opulent luxury. The exceptional courses include:

• The Dunes Course: Designed by Ross McMurray and Bernhard Langer

• The Bay Course: Crafted by Robert Trent Jones Jr.

• The Hills Course and The Olympic Course: Both designed by Jose Maria Olazabal

There's no need to pack your golf clubs; club rental is included.

Journey through history on guided tours of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Ancient Olympia, the birthplace of the Olympic Games, and Ancient Mycenae, the fabled realm of Agamemnon who commanded the Greeks in the Trojan War.

Our adventure culminates with a 2-night stay in the vibrant city of Athens. Enhance your experience with optional activities before joining your host Dina Taylor at a memorable farewell dinner with views of the Acropolis.

This 14-day excursion expertly blends championship golf, rich historical exploration, and distinctive experiences.

Opt for two extra nights in Athens and enjoy a day trip to the island of Hydra, an opportunity to witness the changing of the guard at Syntagma Square, and a visit to the remarkable Benaki Museum.

Don’t miss this opportunity for an unforgettable escape to glorious Greece! We also extend a warm invitation to non-golfers.

Greece 2025 Itinerary

Day 1:  28 September 2025 (D) - Welcome to Zakynthos Island!

Arrive at Zakynthos International Dionysios Solomos Airport, where you’ll be met for your transfer to Lesante. Join your host, Dina Taylor and meet your fellow travellers over an apéritif and traditional Greek dinner at a Welcome Reception.

Day 2:  29 September 2025 (B) - Day at Leisure

Take the opportunity to unwind from the long flight, soak up the summer sun on the hotel's private beach or infinity pool, and adjust to your new time zone.

If you can tear yourself away from gorgeous Lesante, consider exploring the nearby main town of Zante. If you’re feeling parrticularly energetic, you could spend a few hours walking from the promenade to Alexander Roma Street, and then all the way to the summit of Bochali Hill (or opt for a taxi!) to take in the spectacular view of the town. The quaint village of Bochali, perched on the headland, is home to the must-visit ruins of an ancient Venetian castle, the charming church of Zoodochos Pigi and several restaurants.

Alternatively, for those wishing to tap into their artistic side, a skilled potter conducts classes in a studio nestled among olive groves and vineyards. Master the art of Greek pottery and craft your own distinctive keepsake of Zakynthos.

Day 4:  1 October 2025 (B) - Gastronomic Tour of Zakynthos

The morning is yours to enjoy. Laze by the pool, or treat yourself to restorative wellness practices and therapies at the hotel Spa. A variety of optional activities are also available, such as an authentic Greek cooking class.

Later, we’ll embark on a sensory, gastronomic journey, to experience the distinctive flavours of Zakynthos through visits to a winery, oil press and a traditional cheese workshop. The island's viticulture has a long history, dating back to the early 17th century, as documented by a poem from that era listing several grape varieties that are still grown on the island today.

Day 5:  2 October 2025 (B, D) - Ancient Olympia and Transfer to Costa Navarino

Day 6:  3 October 2025 (B, D) - Day at Leisure

Spend the day unwinding at one of the many swimming pools, or on the beach at Costa Navarino.

Alternatively, guests are invited to connect with unspoiled nature and a unique cultural heritage, become acquainted with local traditions and experience the warmth and hospitality of the Messinia region through an endless array of optional activities, such as cooking classes, Astronomy nights, Philosophy walks, olive-tasting, birdwatching, etc.

If sports are more your thing, Costa Navarino boasts not only four renowned golf courses but also 12 tennis courts, a fitness centre, a plethora of waterside activities, and hiking, rock climbing, and biking opportunities.

We’ll meet up for dinner at Parelia tonight.

Day 7:  4 October 2025 (B, D) - The Bay Course

Enjoy your first round of golf today! You’ll tee off at the Bay Course. Set against the backdrop of olive groves and commanding views of the Bay of Navarino, this par-70 course designed by Robert Trent Jones II, artfully winds its way through three distinct terrains – the coastline, canyons, and olive groves – offering a visual feast of contrasts. Four holes had seaside greens framed by a scenic backdrop of the tranquil waters of the bay. As you move inland into the canyons, the scenery transforms, and elevated greens come into play. Next are the grove holes, graced by over a thousand mature olive trees, some dating back more than five centuries. These holes offer distinctive mountain views, a stark contrast to the coastal and canyon sections.

Dinner tonight will be at Kooc, where fusion meets traditional homemade Messinian dishes.

Day 8:  5 October 2025 (B, D) - The Hills Course

Round 2 is at Navarino Hills. The par 72 Hills Course climbs upwards away from the sea, is rocky, rugged and untamed with large elevation changes and a good mix of lengthy challenging holes, and exhilarating short holes. Routed through an ancient forest, you’ll need all your focus to stay on the fairways. The garden plantings of the flowering grasses in large swathes along some of the paths is a feast for the eyes and beautifully softens the ruggedness of the course which is set high above the coastline offering panoramic Ionian Sea views.

Dinner tonight is at Nargile, where we’ll experience fine Lebanese cuisine.

Day 9:  6 October 2025 (B, D) - Day at Leisure OR Optional Game of Golf

The choice is yours! Choose to do nothing at all, or experience one of Costa Navarino’s myriad offerings, or play a round of golf…

We’ll meet again at dinner tonight, this time at da Luigi’s, which showcases the diversity of Italian cuisine.

Day 10:  9 October 2025 (B, D) - The International Olympic Academy Course

Today you'll be back at Navarino Hills playing the International Olympic Academy Golf Course, perched high on the clifftop plateau. The front nine holes share a kinship with The Hills Course, albeit with a touch less ruggedness and more large plantings of vibrant flowering grass gardens lining the pathways. As the course loops back towards the sea, the fairways narrow, and the holes stretch longer and are more demanding. The gardens with their mass plantings set the course apart from the other Navarino courses. Our 2023 tour participants voted this course with its combination of ruggedness, sea views and manicured gardens their favourite.

Tonight we’ll dine at the Dunes Clubhouse.

Day 11:  8 October 2025 (B, D) - The Dunes Course

Today we play the impressive seaside Dunes Course, Greece's first signature golf course, designed by Bernhard Langer, two-time US Masters Champion and former Ryder Cup Captain. The Par-71 offers an wonderful backdrop of both sea and river views, accompanied by the gentle presence of the Sellas River meandering along a few of the holes. Much of the course's layout pays homage to the rugged contours of the distant mountains. As you venture further inland, it feels as if you’re teeing off in Navarino's very own food basket, with fragrant rosemary, thyme, and fennel lining the paths. The course continues to surprise and delight as you journey through olive groves and orchards, where citrus, fig, quince, pomegranate trees, and grapevines thrive in abundance. The fairways, lush and verdant, beckon, while the rough is almost as pristine as the fairways. Playing The Dunes is nothing short of a joyous experience. Its expansive fairways, undulating greens, and the strategic placement of steep-faced pot bunkers add to its unique style and playability.

For our last evening at Costa Navarino, we’ll be returning to the lovely Parelia Restaurant.

Day 12:  9 October 2025 (B) - Mycenae and Athens

We check out of our hotel after breakfast and transfer to Mycenae, one of the greatest cities of the Mycenaean civilization, which dominated the eastern Mediterranean from the 15th to the 12th century B.C. and played a vital role in the development of classical Greek culture. A private guided tour will enhance your experience and bring to life the kingdom of Agamemnon, who led the Greeks against Troy.  

We transfer to Greece’s vibrant capital, Athens, where we check in to our centrally-located, 5-Star hotel. Some of the city’s top historic landmarks, including the Acropolis, Hadrian’s Library, and several museums, can all be found within an easy 20-minute walk.

Evening at leisure.

Day 14:  11 October 2025 (B) - “Andío” (“Adieu” / Farewell) to Greece!

Today we bid “Andío” and “Kalo taxidi” (Farewell and bon voyage) to those not joining us on our 2-night extension.

Airport transfers can be arranged.

Athens Extension

Day 1:  11 October 2025 - Hydra Island

After breakfast, we’ll transfer to Piraeus for the ferry to Hydra.

For more than a century, the charms of Hydra have attracted artists, writers, poets and celebrities to visit this tiny yet utterly delightful island. Famously, Leonard Cohen met his muse, Marianne, and lived here with her during the 1960’s. In addition to a guided tour of the main town, there’ll be leisure time to enjoy the pretty harbour or take a sea taxi to a nearby beach before returning to Athens.

Day 2:  12 October 2025 (B, D) - Changing of the Guards and Benaki Museum

After a leisurely morning, we’ll stroll to Syntagma Square to witness the ceremonial changing of the Presidential Guard, and follow this with a visit to the Benaki Museum. The Benaki showcases the development of Greek culture through its significant collections of Prehistoric, Ancient Greek and Roman antiquities, Byzantine art, Greek regional costumes, post-Byzantine ecclesiastical art, neo-Hellenic secular art and heirlooms related to the struggle for Greek Independence.

We’ll meet up this evening to celebrate the end of our glorious Greek voyage at a traditional Greek restaurant.

Day 3:  13 October 2025 (B) - “Yia sas” (Good-bye)

We check out of our hotel and say a final good-bye to our fellow travellers.

Book before 31 December to take advantage of the Early Bird Saving of €500 per room