Cyprus FoodandWine Tourwith a Local Guide

Food and drink are an integral part of Cypriot culture. And this adults-only tour is a celebration of the island's gastronomic delights. You'll eat and drink your way from village to village – sipping coffee in picturesque Palaichori, savouring spoon sweets in Agros and sampling wines in Pelendri. Andreas, one of our local guides, says, ‘You'll get to visit villages where few outsiders go and where meals bring people together.'Your culinary adventure in the Troodos Mountains kicks off in Palaichori. Sip on a coffee in a shaded square café terrace, where locals often set up stalls selling local delicacies. Afterwards, it's on to Agros, where you'll discover the true meaning of the Cypriot greeting of kopiaste – ‘come join us'. Taste homemade spoon sweets – fruit preserved in syrup – and watch rosewater production and enjoy the chance to tuck into local smoked meats. Andreas says, ‘All products for sale in the village are homemade and sourced from the surrounding countryside.'Next, head to Pelendri for lunch in a rustic taverna with stone walls and a wood-beamed ceiling. You'll be served dishes cooked from locally sourced ingredients and munch on salads prepared from produce grown in the taverna's garden. And to round off the day, you'll visit the Tsiakkas winery, which is hidden away in the hills. Tour the facilities, learning about the wine-making process, and then sample some of its wines while admiring the views over vineyards that tumble down the mountain slopes.