Naxos villages tour: Olive oil & kitron tasting experience

Four villages, two tastings, and a temple most visitors miss

A 6-hour guided tour of Naxos visiting the Temple of Demeter, Kaloxylos, Apiranthos, and Chalki with a small group of up to 16 travelers. The tour includes entry to the temple, olive oil tasting at a working mill, kitron liqueur tasting at the island's oldest distillery, and an English-speaking guide in an air-conditioned minibus. Hotel pickup and dropoff are available as an option at checkout.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Naxos villages and landmarks

• Visit Temple of Demeter and museum
• Explore Kaloxylos village and taste olive oil
• Drive through Filoti and visit Apiranthos village
• Have lunch in Apiranthos
• Stroll Chalki village and taste kitron liqueur

The experience

The Temple of Demeter anchors the morning. Your guide walks you through its history and the mythology of the goddess before you enter the on-site museum at your own pace. The guide cannot accompany you inside, but you'll have the context beforehand. From there the minibus climbs into the interior, passing Mount Zas and stopping first in Kaloxylos, a village of 50 residents built around a historical building that once housed the island's first electric company and its first olive press. You'll taste extra virgin olive oil there and wander the narrow streets.

Apiranthos comes next, known locally as the marble village for its paved streets and Venetian towers. The architecture is dense and layered: two-story stone houses with archways, narrow passages that open into small squares. Lunch happens here on your own time. The guide can point you toward local dishes like rosto and kalogeros, or the Naxian salad made with xinomizithra cheese. Then the route drops to Chalki, described as one of the Cyclades' most beautiful villages, where cobbled paths wind past neoclassical buildings and taverns shaded by vines and bougainvillea. The final stop is the Vallindras distillery, the oldest in Naxos, where you'll taste kitron, the local liqueur, before heading back.

The group stays under 16 people, which means the minibus moves through villages without the crowd that follows larger tours. An English-speaking guide leads the whole day. The air-conditioned vehicle handles the heat and the winding roads. Olive oil and kitron tastings are included, as is entry to the Temple of Demeter. Hotel pickup and dropoff are optional. You can arrange your own transport to the meeting point if you prefer.

What’s included

• English-speaking professional guide.
• air-conditioned minibus transport.
• Temple of Demeter entrance fee.
• olive oil tasting at Ergostasio Olive Mill.
• kitron liqueur tasting at Vallindras distillery.
• hotel pickup and dropoff (available as an option at checkout).

Options for this experience

2 options

Guide in English10:00

Guide in English10:00

Options with the same name differ in details you'll see when you pick a date.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesThursdayDeparts at 10:00Last departure this season: 24 Oct

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (4 to 11 years) · Infant (under 4)

GroupUp to 16

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Easy physical levelPets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Naxos Bus Transfer

Is this one for you?The small group size keeps the experience intimate as you move between villages, and the fixed 6-hour schedule fits easily into a day without dominating your whole itinerary. Choose this if you want to see inland Naxos and taste local products without renting a car or navigating the mountain roads yourself.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 11 years); Infant (under 4).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What exactly is the Temple of Demeter, and why is it significant to Naxos?

The Temple of Demeter is the most significant ancient monument on Naxos, dedicated to the goddess of grain and harvest. Your guide will explain its history and the mythology behind it before you enter. The on-site museum holds artifacts and details about the site's importance to the island's past.

Do I have time for lunch in Apiranthos, or is it rushed?

Apiranthos is where you eat on your own schedule. The tour builds in free time there specifically for lunch, so you can sit at a tavern and order local dishes without feeling hurried. The guide can recommend places, but the pace is yours.

What's included in the olive oil and kitron tastings?

Olive oil tasting happens at Ergostasio Olive Mill in Kaloxylos, where you'll sample extra virgin oil from a working mill. Kitron tasting is at the Vallindras distillery in Chalki, the oldest distillery on the island. Both are included in the tour price.

Is the tour physically demanding, or can anyone do it?

The tour is suitable for all fitness levels. You'll walk through villages on flat or gently sloped streets, spend time at the temple and distillery, and ride the minibus between stops. There's no climbing or strenuous activity required.

Can I book this tour without hotel pickup, or is it required?

Hotel pickup and dropoff are optional. You can choose to include them at checkout, or arrange your own transport to the meeting point and save that cost.