Private Tour: Kos Island Villages and Wine Tasting

Athens, Greece

Explore Kos Island on a half-day tour with a private guide and visit ancient villages, ruins and a family-run winery! After enjoying free time in the mountain village of Zia, stop at a winery in the hills and soak up the sunshine while sampling the local wine. Explore the gorgeous village of Pyli on a walking tour, and then enjoy stops at two must-visit Kos attractions: the Museum of Antimacheia and the Tree of Hippocrates.

Leave your Kos hotel by air-conditioned minivan, and then travel with your private guide to the quaint village of Zia on Dikaion Mountain. Enjoy some free time to walk around, admiring panoramic views of Kos and browsing the shops. Zia is popular with local artists and craftspeople, and its pretty village center is lined with stores selling handicrafts as well as natural products such as honey, herbs and soap.

Meet your guide and travel onward to a local vineyard, nestled in the heart of Kos’ fertile plains. The family-run winery boasts some of the finest local varieties of red and green grapes like malagouzia and asyritiko. Sample a few glasses of the estate’s red and white wine alongside snacks such as bread, local cheese and salami.

After relaxing in the sun, sipping on fine wine and chatting with your guide about the region’s winemaking history, travel to the ancient village of Pyli, popular for its colorful flower gardens and magnificent crusader castle ruins. See the village’s highlights on a leisurely paced stroll, admiring its stone houses – wreathed in tresses of tumbling bougainvillaea – while learning about its ancient ruins.

Hop back aboard your minivan, travel through the lively party resort of Kardamena, and then stop to admire the Castle of Antimacheia, a well-preserved 14th-century fortress, as well as a beautiful old windmill. Pose for photos while learning about the monuments, and then continue to your last visit of the day – the Tree of Hippocrates. Some 2,500 years ago, Hippocrates was said to have taught medicine to his students under the famous plane tree. Stretch your legs on a walk around, and then finish with a drop-off at your Kos hotel.