ZAKYNTHOS GROUP HOLIDAY
EXPERIENCE, DISCOVER, EXPLORE ZAKYNTHOS
A real taste of Zakynthos - Seasonal unique tours with the locals
Experience, discover and explore the beautiful idyllic island of Zakynthos.
Would you like to get acquaintance with the authentic side of Zakynthos, where meeting the locals is the main aim? Let us take you off the beaten track and explore picturesque villages, narrow streets and cozy taverns and get to know the welcoming Zakynthians. Explore Zakynthos in a different way, see the island through the eyes of the locals. Step back in time and help out with seasonal harvesting activities, whether it’s making your own wine, bear feet in the old barrels, creating your own olive oil, making medical syrups from the amazing flowers or the famous Zakynthian Lado Tiri Cheese.
Under the clear blue sky you will meet local farmers, beekeepers, shepherds, singers and folk storytellers who will tell you proudly about their life on Zakynthos!
Let us introduce you to the welcoming Zakynthian spirit with our unique seasonal harvesting tours and get enchanted by the local myths and stories.
Harvest of the grapes
In the month of August Grandma Thassia will help us to explore for the harvesting of the Grapes. You will pick grapes and experience the old fashioned ecological way "with your feet in the vat". This is how some of the Zakynthian wine is still produced. You will meet the local beekeeper, Makis, who will tell you about the special world of bees and making honey. After the hard work you will all toast together and enjoying a delicious lunch with local winemakers and villagers.
Olive harvesting
At the end of September it’s time to explore Zakynthos in a different way as we create the liquid gold. Under the watchful eye of the locals you will discover how olives are harvested, while they will tell you everything about the process. After all the hard work you will gather in the village tavern where you experience the real way of island life. As we gather around a big table, the local dish will be served and the stories from long ago will be shared.
Meet the local fishermen
In the summer there will be opportunities to meet the local fishermen and go on an expedition, to learn about one the oldest occupations in Greece: fishing. The local stories and sailor wisdom will be shared while your catch of the day is being prepared and served in a setting of a private beach and turquoise water.
"Among the Olive Groves" Tour
During the summer, while we travel off the beaten track with our Back to the Roots - Zakynthos island tour, Jackie tells our dear Nefis friends about the book “Among the Olive Groves" and the heroic moment in time which changed the course of the history of the island forever. A story of heroism and courage, as Zakynthos is the only place in Greece where during the Second World War all of the Jewish community was saved. During the last few years, we got a lot of messages from our Nefis friends who read the book "Among the Olive Groves" and got so inspired wanting to know more about this enchanting period of time and to meet the author Chrissie Parker. This new unique tour in partnership with the Author Chrissie Parker is perfect for book fans of the award winning book Among the Olive Groves. You will travel by minibus to locations in the book and meet some of these heroic locals who lived through this period; Chrissie will read parts of the book and talk about her inspiration and book characters. There will also be a chance to ask Chrissie more about the book. This unique tour is not to be missed and Nefis Travel is pleased to be partnering with Chrissie Parker for this special tour.
Back to the Roots
From the very first start until the last days of the season you can go off the beaten track and explore 85% of our island during the unique and highly praised VIP Back to the Roots tour. You travel to the most traditional villages on the island, completely away from mass tourism, and largely untouched by time. You will have the opportunity to see real Greek island villages and experience day-to-day life while have meetings with the locals at undiscovered places. This day is made special by Jackie Boots, founder of Nefis Travel, who is passionate about her beloved island. She will enchant you with local myths and stories. During lunch Jacky and a local guitarist will take you on a musical journey with Greek live music, there’s a good chance you will sing along and get on your feet! The inspiring aim is now within your reach. You can explore Zakynthos like the Locals have done for hundreds of years. Become part of the rural way of live and live it like the villagers do. If you are interested in one of the out of the box season or all summer activities then do contact us.
Tracy J
We have been on many tours with Nefis over the last few years and have thoroughly enjoyed every one of them! The guides are all amazing – most of them speak more than 1 language, making the trips enjoyable for many nationalities, they give very interesting facts and pieces of history when travelling around the island, and they definitely don’t see their work as “just a job”.
Jackie and the team must research everything really well – the tavernas they take you to are always quaint and off the beaten track, the photo stops are different on every trip, meaning that you can see many lovely places on this beautiful island.
The staff in the office are really friendly and helpful, but not pushy when you are walking past. They even helped us arrange scuba diving this year! I can’t praise Jackie and all the staff at Nefis highly enough, and I would definitely recommend every tour we have been on. We will definitely be back for another trip next summer!