Taste Of Rhodes: Village Cooking, Wine & Traditions

We don't do a lot of guided tours, but this was our best ever. Our guide Maria was fantastic. Over the top good she is. She explained everything in detail and was just wonderful to be around. We learned a lot at the Cooking Class and had fun, but also a lot about Rhodes and the surrounding area on our walk and subsequent visits to the winery and the coffee shop. Thoroughly enjoyed it and I highly recommend.

It was our first cooking class and a wonderful tour from the beginning until the end despite the rainy weather. Maria did a great job and made us feel very comfortable and welcome the whole time. The cooking complexity was well chosen in order to enable us to easily use the receipies back home. We also got many insights into "the real" greek culture on Rhodes. That was awesome! Two thumbs up for the whole Trip! We would recommend it any time and will definitely keep booking cooking classes during our vacations.

Amazing experience and value for money learning about the local village and traditions and history it was incredible thorough from the villiage shop to cooking our own traditional Greek dishes wine tasting a dining experience to eat the food we had prepared followed by Greek coffee it was a wonderful experience with a lovely tour guide and welcome locals who were about to accommodate our dietary needs 10/10 a must when travelling to Rhodes and suitable for all groups, couple and families

This was a great way to experience Rhodes. The food was great and it took ~5 hours of our day. Addie our guide was awesome and quick to answer all of our questions and even picked us up from the port which made everything very easy for us. Highly recommend this to anyone looking to try some food and get away from the old town of Rhodes.

We were met by our guide and a village women's coop who shared their baking, crafts and treats. We strolled through the delightful cobble stone streets, participated in preparing and eating five Greek dishes, sampled local wine and enjoyed individually prepared Greek coffee. The entire day was exciting and well worth going!

Maria was fantastic. It was intimate, informative and lots of fun. You need to experience a genuine and authentic tour.

The taste of Rhodes: village cooking and wine tasting tour exceeded my expectations. Addie, our guide, was very knowledgeable and engaging. I loved hearing about the houses, the people and walking the streets of the village we were going to have our hands on cooking class in. I really enjoyed learning about the ladies that started the agricultural Co-op and visiting the lovely boutique winery. The winery was in the middle of the town and we saw where the wines were made. The wines we tasted were very different from what is mass produced, with very different flavour profiles. I really enjoyed learning the traditional Greek recipes. It is really good to learn from someone who has experience with the recipes and learn the techniques that they use. I had a great time sharing stories while eating the foods that we made, as well as enjoying other dishes from the region. To finish we had a lovely dessert before going to have a traditional Greek Coffee. I would recommend this experience to anyone who loves being immersed in the culture and not just visiting Rhodes. It is a small group tour which makes the experience more personal. If you only get time to do one hands on experience, then I would recommend this tour. 10/10

Great time in the backcountry with Addie - with a sprinkle of botany to boot. Very well curated activities, and the meal at the end - chef's kiss!

Another fab day with Trekking Hellas in June 2025 in little village packed with big flavours and so many different products growing! Made part of our lunch & then came back to the taverna for feast at the end. Met a lovely bunch of people

We had a great day with Addy. She is extremely knowledgeable about the area and clearly loves what she does. We enjoyed our experience. The tour took us to a beautiful town that is an hour's drive outside of Old Town. The tour took the full day. Our favorites were the cooking lessons, the stop at a lovely coffee house, and the women's cooperative - although more samples would generate more sales.

Best tour we booked throughout Greece! Definitely worth the time and price. From the village tour, the wine tasting, the cooking to the magnificent lunch it was all perfection! Thank you, Addie, for being the most gracious host and guide! FYI if you’re on a cruise ship it was a bit longer than 4 hours.

Best tour we booked throughout Greece! Definitely worth the time and price. From the village tour, the wine tasting, the cooking to the magnificent lunch it was all perfection! Thank you, Addie, for being the most gracious host and guide!

We booked this excursion, "A Taste of the Island of Rhodes (RH53)" through the Disney Cruise Line. We started with a stop at a local bee store where you could taste honeys, jams, oils, etc. We then stopped at the Women's Association of Apollona and had a tasting of some bakery items. We then went to Piperis Winery to taste some (very good!) wines. We then headed to Giareni Restaurant for a class in Greek cooking. What a blast this was! We made several different dishes and then sat down to eat our creations for lunch. This was an exceptional excursion and we heartily recommend it to everyone! We would actually repeat this, it was so enjoyable.

Our excursion with Addie on A Taste of Rhodes was delightful! Since my husband and I were her only tourists that day, it was a very special and private tour. We learned a lot about the history and traditions of Rhodes. We toured a bakery, winery, and coffee house, and enjoyed many wonderful samples. The highlight of our tour was of course the cooking we did under her guidance. It was so much fun then to eat what we made during our lovely luncheon. Addie was very friendly and pointed out so many interesting facts throughout our afternoon. We especially learned a lot about all the produce that is grown in Rhodes. She made it a game of guess what this plant is, which was very engaging. We highly recommend this tour,especially with Addie, if possible. She was punctual, personable, and spoke English clearly! We will have many fond memories of this tour, and all the photos she took of us during our afternoon are so appreciated. Gabe and Carl Genz

This was the best thing we did our whole Greece trip. Maria was amazing!! She took her time telling us the history of Rhodes, stopping to allow us to take pictures, it was nrelaxing and not rushed at all. We toured the village, saw many gardens, fruits, and flowers. We then went to prepare our food. It was so fun! Then while the food was cooking we went to a local family owned winery. The wine was amazing! We returned to eat our food and they provided other food too, it was a feast! After we ate we stopped for Greek coffee. We bought so many things we knew we needed an extra suitcase. Maria stopped at a market so we could purchase one. She even suggested a restaurant and made reservations for us. She was sooooo sweet! So glad to have met her. This excursion is a MUST when in Rhodes. 10 stars!

A fantastic and very well organised experience from start to finish! Our tour guide Addy was very friendly and knowledgeable of the local town and culture. The experience was very interesting and fun, where we got to learn a lot about the local businesses, traditions and try some lovely wine. The experience was excellent to see a part of Rhodes that you may not usually get to see and to learn how to make some traditional dishes. After the trip we were sent the recipes and some lovely photos. I would 100% recommend to anyone!

A great experience from start to finish. Addie our guide was very friendly and knowledgeable and looked after us really well, as well as all the other hosts for the cooking and wine tasting. Was a very traditional and authentic experience which encompasses the way of life in Rhodes. The cooking class was really good, using fresh ingredients and we enjoyed what we had made and it was very tasty and enjoyable. The length of the trip was just right, not too long and not too short. I would highly recommend for anyone wanting a traditional and authentic feel of Rhodes and it was definitely great value.

Great tour. Both the scenic drive and cooking class. Our guide was excellent. We will definitely be making these dishes at home.

I had such a lovely day. Ade was an amazing host and was knowledgeable, friendly and fun! would definitely recommend.

There was nothing about this day we didn’t love! Panos made sure he had planned a day that was interesting, fun, enjoyable and informative. Our cooking lesson was fantastic - easy enough for us to remember but ensured we leant new skills. The wine tasting at Piperis Winery was also really enjoyable - we would have bought SO much more wine if we had room in our suitcases! A quality winery. And then there was lunch in the taverna which was delicious , with wine and dessert. We could not have asked for a better day and we felt like we had seen so much of Rhodes at the end of the day. Thank you Panos!!

The trip was very well organised. The pickup was done on time as suggested. This is a really good tour to do if you'd like to experience the Greek culture and food. The tour guide was amazing from beginning to end. Definitely value for money!

We had a fantastic time, picked up on time from our hotel by Pano and George who were friendly and knowledgeable. They drove us to a traditional Greek village and hosted a cooking experience, we then took a short walk to do some local wine tasting and then back to the taverna to eat what we had made plus fresh bread, pitta and a main dish, there was so much food and everything was delicious. Afterward we went for Greek coffee at another location and then headed back, it was a wonderful trip which we highly recommend.

I enjoyed this tour so much. Adi was fantastic, I could not have asked for a better guide. The food and wine were lovely and all the locations were great.

Fantastic tour with Abbey and Panajoti through the landscape and small villages. The village of Appollonia is fantastic with herbs and fruit growing everywhere. Nice things in the Shop. The cooking lessons were fun and great to have the results later with a great lunch. The coffee shop was full of interesting things and the coffee good. A really great experience

WOW if there was a 10...that would be my rating..Panos was exceptional, kind, knowledgeable and an excellent guide. The Woman founded store opened especially for us as well as the restaurant where we did the cooking class AMAZING!

Panos was an excellent tour guide. We were in port on a cruise. One hour ride to the village was easy enough. Then a stroll thru the village showing off the gardens and scenery. Stopped at a women’s coop and a local winery. These were all authentic. No other tourists in sight. The cooking class was amazing as was the lunch that resulted. The winery too was small and local. Can’t say enough about this authentic Greek experience. Great communication and coordination. Would highly recommend

Fabulous experience. Lots of fun and a great way to learn about Greek village life. The food we learnt to cook and the wine tasting along with very personable guides made for a wonderful day.

Absolutely fantastic day out with really good guides. This was such an interesting tour , a real taste of Greece. The food we made and the wines we tasted were superb. This is definitely the highlight of our tours in Rhodes Definitely want to recreate the dishes we made with you now that we’re home

We had the most amazing time at this cooking class in Rhodes in September! From start to finish, we were so well looked after. Addie and her team were incredibly personable, kind, and knowledgeable, making the whole experience both fun and educational. We learned so much and got hands-on with some delicious traditional recipes, which we then enjoyed together. Beyond the cooking, the day was beautifully planned — we visited a winery where we tasted some lovely local wines, and even stopped at a traditional greek café for coffee, which was such a unique and special touch. The small group made it even more enjoyable — people of different ages, all kind and friendly, which gave the experience a really warm and welcoming atmosphere. It was truly one of the highlights of our trip. We left with full hearts, full stomachs, and wonderful memories. Absolutely recommend this experience to anyone visiting Rhodes! 10 out of 10, thank u so much!! Natalie and Viv

One of the best things we did on our trip to Greece. Not only was the experience amazing but the town of Apóllona is very charming. The guides also take photos and send the photos along with the recipes with no additional charge

We had a fantastic time with Panos and Mando from start to finish. Collected on time from our apartment we enjoyed Panos' commentary as we drove to the village. It was great seeing the interior of the island. There was no pressure to buy from the shops we visited and we had an interesting walk around the village where Panos showed us all the fruit that grew there. The cooking part was fun and easy to follow. The wine tasting was generous as was the lunch afterwards. So much food, including what we prepared of course. Would thoroughly recommend for anyone looking to see a different side to the Island and experience some Rhodian culture.

We had such a wonderful experience on this tour! From start to finish, the guides were extremely helpful, knowledgeable, and very friendly, which made the whole day even more enjoyable. The cooking class was excellent – the food was absolutely delicious, and we learned so much about the traditional dishes and ingredients found on the island. The wine tasting was a real highlight, with a great selection of local wines that were both unique and tasty. To top it off, enjoying a coffee afterwards was the perfect ending to the day. What made the experience even more special was the chance to meet new people and make friends along the way. The whole day was a fantastic balance of learning, tasting, and exploring. I would highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting the island – it’s an experience not to be missed!

What an incredible experience (and delicious)! Addie, our guide, met us in Apollonia, a beautiful village in the mountains of Rhodes. There were six guests total. The atmosphere was that of a social get-together of new friends. Our cooking lesson took place on the covered patio of the local taverna. After Addie took us on a culinary plant tour of the village we settled in to our cooking lesson. The food was simple to prepare (with excellent guidance) using fresh produce from the area. While our food was cooking, we had a personal wine tasting at the local family run winery. Lunch was amazing back at the taverna. Our efforts were tasty, but the food kept coming! We were treated to a full traditional meal. This was followed by Greek coffee at a local cafe under a fabulous ancient tree. I will definitely be making the recipes we learned back at home. I highly recommend this experience when visiting Rhodes. The experience of making and sharing a meal in a new land with new friends is priceless!! This was one of two excursions we had with Hiking Hellos. Both were amazing.

My 19-year-old daughter and I had a wonderful time at the cookery class and wine tasting. Everything was so well organised, the atmosphere was warm and friendly, and the food was absolutely delicious. We’d highly recommend it!

My experience with Tasting Rhodes was absolutely unforgettable! From the moment we arrived in the charming village, we were welcomed like family. The cooking class was both fun and hands-on—we learned traditional Greek recipes step by step, and everything tasted even better knowing we made it ourselves. The wine tasting was another highlight: we sampled excellent local varieties while hearing the stories behind each one. Our hosts were passionate, knowledgeable, and eager to share their culture. What made this experience truly special was the authentic village atmosphere—you really feel like you’ve stepped into the heart of Rhodes, far from the typical tourist spots. If you’re looking for something authentic, warm, and delicious, this is the perfect activity. Highly recommended!

Had an awesome day walking through the village, tasting Greek coffee, wine, preparing and eating our traditional meal.

A superb day out combining a cooking lesson for Greek food, a wine tasting and finished by eating the food that we made. Great guide. very informative on Greek culture and history. Thoroughly recommended

I think this tour was the highlight of our trip! What a fantastic experience for all of us. We have a family of 4 with a 14 year old girl and an 11 year old boy. We all had a fantastic time at the shop, with the cooking class, coffee and wine tour. It was so fun doing the cooking class and learning about authentic Green cuisine. The coffee shop across the street was such a treat and had vintage, eclectic treasures from years past. It was so nice to also get away from the crowds from the cruise ships and visit such a small country town. Highly recommend this tour. Our guide even snapped photos of us and sent us the link! As a side note, this was our first time not going with trips from the cruise ship and instead opting for 3rd parties. So glad we did, the private and semi private experience is so much better than the crowds from the ships ;-)

We had an excellent day . Panos , our guide was very knowledgeable and informative about the history of Rhodes and the dishes we tasted . We had a lot of fun cooking various traditional dishes and then eating them . Everything we tasted including the wine was delicious !

The experience, the hosts and the taste was all truly divine! Our driver, Panos, was kind, insightful and made us feel like locals. Georgia, helped us prepare food with her heart. The wine tasting and the women's collective were added bonuses. We left with our hearts and bellies full. Do this excursion to create great memories you will not soon forget!

We had the most beautiful morning out with Trekking Hellas visiting small Greek villages and a women's run cooperative. Our guide was so wonderful and couldn't do enough for us. Unfortunately, we had to cut our trip short due to illness (no fault at all of the guide or tour) and we were very kindly offered an alternative date to try again. I would 100% recommend this trip and company, they were a delight from start to end. We will definitely use them again :)

This was absolutely fantastic - a real highlight to our holiday. We got picked up from our hotel and driven into the beautiful mountains where the landscape really changes to a beautiful, traditional village. We explored the village by foot (only a short walk) to see all kinds of fruit trees and herbs grown by the locals. We visited a co-operative which was a great place to pick up some treats to take home, before heading to the Taverna for the cooking class. It was brilliant - so hands-on and easy to do. Our guide Panos was fantastic taking the time to explain lots about the food, culture and what life is like in Rhodes. The food tasted fantastic and after we prepared it, we went for wine and Olive oil tasting which was brilliant. We tried 6 different wines, as well as Olive oil and honey. We went back to eat the food we had cooked in the class with a nice glass of wine, before finishing the excursion off with the best coffee we had all holiday at a local village spot. I can't recommend this highly enough - it is a great way to learn more about life in Rhodes through culture, food, wine and connection. You get sent all of the recipes afterwards so you can (attempt) to re-create the magic back home! This trip will elevate your holiday!

We decided of all the tours booked this trip, this was our FAVORITE one. We booked with transportation, this was good - it was the port that made locating our guide/driver the most difficult part (no fault of their own). The plan is a full day, moderate walking early on. Excellent hospitality and genuine kindness during the experience. Very accommodating, the booking has a minimum age for children - with 2 adults we knew our child would be mostly attentive and we would make arrangements for times when she was less interested (iPad). Team was excellent at accommodating and she had an excellent time. LOVED that our guide took pictures during the day and sent them to everyone (via link) after, it made being in the moment and enjoying everything that much easier. Do not pass up this experience. Guide, team, hosts, and partner businesses are best in class.

Addie was a very knowledgeable guide and also generally lovely person making our experience so special. We thoroughly enjoyed the whole tour packed with lots of opportunities to immerse ourselves in Greek culture and food. Would highly recommend this tour - one of the best we have done in our travels!

Addie is an exemplary host who blew us away with her local and botanical knowledge and phenomenal language skills! The tour was a delight from start to finish- the people we met and the hospitality from the local business owners. We came away with wine, honey , local produce and fantastic memories of our 30th wedding anniversary. We now have to cook the menu every year!! Don’t miss this trip - you will love it. Thank you so much Addie!! X

Great day! Prepared some local dishes with a chef at a village taverna. Visited a womens co-operative making and selling traditional bakery products, has a wine tasting at a local family wine producer & coffe in a traditional & quirky coffee house with a lovely bunch of people on the trip.

We had a great time in Rhodes ! Panos was our guide and he was beyond amazing ! Not only was he informative but he was also so helpful with my mother who was a wheelchair. The food we made was wonderful ! Can’t rcmd enough .

This tour was one of the most special experienes we had during a 7-night cruise. Most outstanding of all was our wonderful tour guide, Panos, who grew up in Rhodes and clearly had a deep love of the island; it was so special to learn about this wonderful place through his eyes. He was warm, thoughtful, knowledgeable, and truly one of the best tour guides we have ever had. The tour itself was excellent; there were only 4 of us in the group, and it felt like we were being brought into the fold of a beautiful, warm mountainside village. Everything about the experience felt authentic and crafted with love. Timing was perfect - we were able to fit so much into ~3 hours, but never felt rushed. Still daydreaming about the experience, we hope to come back again!

Great day out with great tour guides Panos and Julie. We opted for pick up from our hotel for a small added price for which they were on time. Pick up was 8:05 but will differ depending on location. On the way to our first event we were given lots of interesting local knowledge and our guides were able to answer all of our questions. Our group was 9 with 5 of us picked up and 4 travelling separately in hired vehicles. Our first event was a women's cooperative bakery. We tried local produce that we've not seen before. There was an opportunity to buy products once that tour had finished and the guides patiently waited outside for us, with no pressure or comments from anyone to buy. Our second activity was an approximately 30min walk (lots of stopping so distance wise under 0.5 mile) around the village taking in the vegetation and discussing the large variety of plants and produce that can be grown there. It was a good chance to talk to the group, view pretty properties and sample daily life of a rural village. Stop 3 was the cookery class. We made 4 dishes with help from the local cook and later sat down for a group meal with all the dishes that were made and plenty of extra food too! 80% was vegetarian with another alternative provided for vegetarians. A complimentary drink and dessert was also included. All was enjoyed by the whole group. Anything left could be taken away for later. Stop 4+5 A quick wine tasting at the village winery before the meal had several options to try. There was another chance to buy the local wines while the guides went outside, again no pressure from anyone. After the meal we had a stop at the village coffee shop where we we could browse the vintage paraphernalia adorning the shop and were treated to a complimentary coffee too. A lovely end to a brilliant day. Cannot compliment the guides enough, Panos and Julie guided us with lots of interesting information and plenty of humour also. The while day felt comfortable and like we were with friends from the start. Thank you guys!