Back to the roots – Zakynthos island tour

I booked the “Back to the Roots” tour before leaving the UK. We were lucky we did as there was no availability for the period we were staying when we arrived in Zakynthos. The tour started early at about 8.20 with a pick very close to our hotel. We travelled in a comfortable coach which held 19 people, a nice size. Jackie the owner of Nifis Tours was our guide for the day. she is a mine of information about the island, its history, culture and people. She has a passion for the island and shares her personal experiences in an entertaining and humorous manner. The tour takes you to variety of places off the beaten track that you probably would not otherwise discover. We stopped at the Cross Taverna for lunch where tables were reserved for our party. The restaurant is situated above a small bay and the views out to sea are magnificent. Over lunch Jackie and one of the waiters from the taverna, who played the guitar, kept us entertained singing traditional Greek songs. This is a must do trip, and I would thoroughly recommend Jackie and Nefis Tours very highly.

This year we did the Back to Roots tour with Jackie. Pick up was on time and the minibus modern and clean. The driver was good and drove considerately… no scary speeding!!! We were a party of two adults and four children and we all loved the day. Jackie is so knowledgeable and passionate about the island. The views we saw, especially at the lunch stop were breathtaking and meeting the locals was a fantastic experience. We learned so much and fell in love with the island. I even bought the book ‘In the Olive Groves’ when I got home… thanks for the recommendation Jackie!! NEFIS are good value and highly recommended.

Went on back to the roots tour in June, Jackie was brill have been to Zante so many times but knew little about the island. Jackie changed all that, learned so much from the Greek orthodox church and belief to the world war. Fascinating info on traditional Greece, had a sing song and lovely food don’t go to Zante without doing this trip can highly recommend.

Jackie who guided had brilliant knowledge of the island and all the places we visited highly recommend this trip but you must book as soon as you arrive or online as it is very popular and well worth the money really enjoyed the day thank you Jackie and nefis travel

I had a wonderful day. With a small group what was nice. Jackie knows a lot of the history from zakynthos so I learned a lot. I liked the stories that she told us about how the Greek people living there life and there religion. Lunch with a amazing view and some singing/dancing. Thanks for this day! I recommend this trip!!

It was simple to book and they visited hotel to deliver tickets, the day started on a luxury 19 seater coach the tour guide was Jackie who had a wealth of information and history, we went to places you,d never find, quaint villages untouched by tourism, stopped for lunch in Kampi with our reserved tables and superb views, this is a must do and very memorable couldn’t have picked a nicer company to travel with, loved it

My wife and l never go on trips as we’ve done several times before but decided this trip sounded so varied and interesting. We’ll it did not dissapoint it was great value for money, superb tour guide Jackie and so interesting to learn so much history about Zante and Jackie was such fun and very knowledgeable. Truly a fantastic experience and a must tour for visitors to Zante. We’ll done Nefis travel kaaz n Sharon

We booked a couple of trips with Nefis as the reviews were good on here and also on the kalamaki facebook pages. I called the company as their office was quite far from our villa in Kalamaki. They took the booking over the phone and applied the online discount for us. One of thier staff came to our villa to collect the payment and deliver our tickets at no extra cost. We bookied the back to roots tour hosted by Jackie. She was very informitave and it was nice going to the rural areas and seeing the real Zante. We had lunch in a lovely restaurnt in Kampi over looking the sea and visited an olive oil factory in Aristeon . We also stopped for coffee at Botega folklore museum where we had the most amazing cake baked by one of the residents. I . We visited a monestry in Klooster and saw one of the monks making a beautiful mosaic. We visited Exochoa where we were entertained by a lovely lad who had downs syndrom singing and playing a mouth organ. All in all it was a fantastic day. The other trip we booked was the shipwreck and blue caves. It was also a lovelly trip.

We have enjoyed frequent visits to Tsilivi and this year decided to get moving with Nefis travel, Back to the Roots tour. It was a fantastic day from start to finish. Blessed with the sunniest day in May, perfect for photo’s, we were guided by Jackie stopping regularly to dip into the history of the island. The places we visited and local people we met were great. The trip was exactly as described in the useful information pack. The day included a stop for some lunch at the Cross Taverna, Kampi where we discovered the singing talent of our guide. Great fun Jackie! Thanks to all the great staff (love Maria)for the Nefis experience! We will be back.

What an amazing trip Jackie’s knowledge of the island and its history is absolutely mind blowing a fantastic trip one of the best we have done ever the lunch stop of Point has breath taking views and the food was lovely if you so one trip whilst on the island this should be the one to do 1st well done to NEFIS and the team and the singing at the end was a pleasent round of to a perfect day

We have visited Tsilivi several times now and every time have tried to book the back to the roots tour, with no luck as its always fully booked, but this year we booked online before we arrived.
What can i say from the moment we were picked up in the morning it was fantastic , cant fault anything, Jackie is such a lovley lady who makes you all feel very welcome, everything about the tour was very interesting, jackie and her knowledge bring the Island alive,if you love Zakynthos then you will most definately love this tour as we did from the stop at Tragaki , the monestery, the oldest olive tree on the island, the roadside market with homade food & crafts, the olive factory , and not forgetting the breathtaking view for lunch with the best singing, we can highly recommend this tour ! Thank you Jackie & Nefis Travel for a trip we will never forget x

This was my second time doing this trip and both times were the highlight of my holiday. Very informative and great fun, not too much walking

Did back to roots and shipwreck bay tour would highly recommend both of these had an amazing time

Finally went on the Back to the Roots tour after coming to Zante for 12 years. Jackie is so knowledgable and gave us so much information but not in a boring way. Loved all the places we visited especially lunch with amazing views and singing thrown in ! Personally I would love to do the trip again. Thank you Jackie.

Wow experiences on both tours! Thanks to the very knowledgable Jackie, she really does put her all into these tours, taking you away from the usual “touristy stuff” giving a taste of both what island life is like in the present & its history. It’s clear her passion for the island & islanders, thank you for two brilliant days!

You state in your introduction that you “best of holiday memories for our guests”. Well you certainly did that for us last week during our three trips booked with you. Back to the Roots was a lovely way to see some of the mountain and village scenery of the beautiful island and to meet some people who are proud to call it home. I have to say that the absolute highlight for me was having lunch on a terrace above the Ionian Sea listening to Jackie and Nico singing some traditional Greek songs. I keep playing the video just to hear them singing again!

We went on the back to the roots tour with Jackie on 17th Sept. Had a brilliant day. So much nicer to be in a mini-bus, much more personal, get to know the people on the trip with you. Jackie made the tour very interesting and for first timers to Zakynthos, we learnt a lot about the Island. The tour by mini-bus is defenitely the way forward. Lot less time waiting for people to return to the bus and with regards our stop at Giri, probably a place a standard coach could not drive through.
Thank you Jackie for a super day we both enjoyed it. If by any chance one of the two cornish ladies is reading this, the next bit is for you. If you win that thumbs up competition with the photograph that I took of you two and Turtle Island – feel free to let me know.
Thank you and ya’mas

Just back from a week at the Erietta Suites, went on the back to the roots tour. The most enjoyable holiday trip we have ever been on even the choppy boat trip it was a laugh, for that we thank you Jackie. You are very knowledgable, talented lady more power to your elbow.

Just returned from a week in Zakynthos and whilst we were there took a VIP Back to Roots tour with Jackie. It was a fabulous day out, which takes you to off the beaten track to places where tourists would not normally go. From mountain villages to beautiful sandy beaches to the monastery and the oldest olive tree on the island – with loads of stories of Greek mythology and history thrown in). As there were only 14 of us on this trip we felt we really were getting VIP treatment. I would highly recommend this trip (we went with a 11 year old who also had a great day – he especially enojoyed the traditional Greek breakfast). Thank you Jackie, you obviously love your job.
Alison, Allan and Jack. Glasgow, Scotland

Hi Jackie,
Just looked at the videos of the day out we spent with you on the fantastic back to the roots trip.
Watching the video brought back lovely memories of the trip – knew we had enjoyed it but it was lovely to see again.
Sorry don’t think we will be in zante this year but when we do come again we will come to see you and probably go on this wonderful trip again.
Thanks again – really enjoyable.
Gill & Ian.

We went with Jackie on the back to the roots tour and we also went to Olympia, firstly both were considerablely cheaper than the ones offered by the main tour operators. secondly smaller groups so you could hear what was being said, both were well worth the money Well done guys keep up the good work loved ever minute.

We had a great holiday in Tsilivi especially on the two excursion we did the Shipwreck and Back to roots which was my favourite. Jackie was a great tour guide full of passion and knowledge about Greek Mythology (i loved the little tales she told). Not only is she multi-lingual but she has a talent for singing. She found the best taverna’s to eat at and created a great atmosphere for our small group.
Thank you for a great time x

Thank you for the great time that I spent with you Jackie, especially listening you singing in those beautiful tavernas and trying to see turtles in Laganas bay. I will have to come again to see baby turtles later on.
Best regards from Nena

Hello Jackie
My wife Doreen and I had had some excellent trips with you from Tsilivi in Zante.
The best one was “Back to the roots” a short tour of the island then to the small village taverna for lunch. local food and wine very good. Best of all was the songs and music of the island by yourself and the old man a geat relaxing day.
If we come back it would be to you for all our tours.
Eddie and Doreen from Bridge of Earn near Perth in Scotland