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Greek Mainland

Athens · Costa Navarino · Amanzoe

15 nights 3 bases April 4 – 18, 2026 8.95

Highest peak — Greek Orthodox Easter

A trip built around Greek Orthodox Easter, with the Anastasi midnight resurrection service in Pylos as the structural anchor — bracketed by Aman-tier cliff-top calm at Amanzoe and the deep Messinia Peloponnese.

The standout moment

The Anastasi Midnight

Sat April 11 → Sun April 12 · 23:30 service · 01:00 magiritsa

Lights cut at midnight in the Church of the Transfiguration. The priest emerges with a single candle. The flame passes from candle to candle through 800 villagers — "Christos Anesti" echoes — bells ring and fireworks crack over Pylos harbor. A 15-minute drive back to MO Costa Navarino. Magiritsa, the traditional Easter offal soup, waiting on the villa terrace at 01:00. No other plan in the set offers anything like this.

Where you'll stay

Romantic dinners

  1. 01

    GB Roof Garden

    Grande Bretagne · Syntagma

    Sea bass à la spetsiota

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    19:30 · Parthenon floods on at 19:45
  2. 02

    Hytra (1★)

    Onassis Cultural Centre rooftop

    Bottarga risotto

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    20:30 · Acropolis westward
  3. 03

    Spondi (2★)

    Pangrati, Athens

    Pigeon · foie gras

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    20:30 · warm courtyard
  4. 04

    Easter Magiritsa

    MO Costa Navarino villa terrace

    Greek Easter offal soup

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    01:00 · post-Anastasi tradition
  5. 05

    Easter Lamb-on-Spit

    MO Costa Navarino gardens

    Whole-roasted lamb, kokoretsi

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    13:00 · Easter Sunday feast
  6. 06

    Amanzoe Beach Club

    Porto Heli bay

    Salt-crusted whole fish

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    20:30 · lanterns + waves

Day by day

Day 1 Travel

Athens · Arrival

Land ATH (Aegean/Delta from JFK). Welcome Pickups to Grande Bretagne. 19:30 dinner at GB Roof Garden as the Parthenon floodlights flick on. Bed by 22:30, jet-lag wins.

Day 2 Cultural

Acropolis · Plaka

Private licensed guide for the Acropolis (07:30 entry, before crowds). Lunch in Plaka. Hytra at 20:30 — bottarga risotto, sunset Acropolis view westward. After: an after-hours Acropolis night walk on the Areopagus.

Day 3 Cultural · Rest

National Garden · Spondi

Slow morning at the National Garden. Acropolis Museum at 11:00. Aperitivo at A for Athens rooftop. Spondi 2-Michelin at 20:30 — pigeon, foie gras, the warmest courtyard table you've ever had.

Day 4 Travel · Highlight

Athens → Costa Navarino

Helicopter from Athens to Navarino airfield — 45 minutes over the Saronic and Peloponnese. Settle in at MO Costa Navarino sea-view villa. Sunset walk on the Ionian-facing beach. Flame restaurant at The Romanos — Black Angus, 20:00.

Day 5 Rest · Highlight

Anazoe Spa · Pylos

Couples hammam + olive-oil massage at Anazoe Spa, ~3 hours. Lunch at Pisselos on Pylos harbor (14:00, grilled fish). Sunset on the villa terrace; in-villa dinner.

Day 6 Cultural · Highlight

Olympia day-trip

Private guide for Ancient Olympia (2h drive each way, leave 08:30). The actual Olympic stadium, the Temple of Zeus footprint. Lunch on the way back at a roadside taverna. Dinner at MO Anazoe Restaurant.

Day 7 Cultural · Highlight

Good Friday · Pylos epitaphios

Morning at the resort. Greek Cooking class at MO (€180pp). Evening: drive to Pylos for the Good Friday epitaphios procession — flowers, candles, the symbolic burial of Christ through the village. Quiet, profound. Light dinner back at the villa.

Day 8 THE PEAK

Holy Saturday · ANASTASI

Rest day, prepare for late night. Light dinner ~20:00. At 23:00 your driver takes you to the Church of the Transfiguration in Pylos. 23:30 service begins. At midnight every light cuts. The priest emerges with one candle. The flame passes light-to-light through 800 villagers — "Christos Anesti." Bells. Fireworks over the harbor. 01:00 back at MO — magiritsa on the villa terrace. This is the night you came for.

Day 9 Highlight · Rest

Easter Sunday lamb feast

Slow morning. 13:00 Easter lamb-on-the-spit + kokoretsi in the MO gardens — the resort's annual Easter feast. Afternoon nap. Easter Sunday dinner light at Inbi (Japanese, sunset views).

Day 10 Travel

Navarino → Amanzoe

Slow breakfast, pack. Private driver 3 hours via Tripoli and Argos to Porto Heli. Check into your Amanzoe sea-view pavilion with private pool. Sundowner. 20:30 dinner at the Amanzoe Main Restaurant — modern Greek tasting menu.

Day 11 Rest

Amanzoe · deep rest

Pavilion morning — private pool, the staff bring breakfast. Amanzoe Spa double treatment, 90 minutes (~€600). Beach Club for lunch. Reading + napping. Dinner at the Beach Club at 20:30 — salt-crusted whole fish, lanterns and waves.

Day 12 Highlight

Spetses by caique

Private traditional caique from Kosta across to Spetses, ~25 minutes. Walk the harbor, horse-and-carriage to the Anargyrios school. Lunch at Tarsanas at 14:30 — lobster spaghetti on the old harbor. Return by caique. Dinner: Patralis in Kosta, 20:30.

Day 13 Cultural · Rest

Epidaurus

Drive 90 minutes to Ancient Epidaurus theatre with a private guide — the acoustics are still measurable from the top tier. Lunch at Karagiannis taverna in Ligourio. Back to Amanzoe for sunset on the pavilion. Late dinner at the Main Restaurant.

Day 14 Rest

Amanzoe · do nothing

Pavilion + pool + spa. Lunch in. A reading day. Aperitivo on the cliff bar at sunset. Casual dinner at the Beach Club.

Day 15 Cultural

Nafplio · final night

Drive 1h20m to Nafplio with the same driver. Palamidi Fortress at the top (lots of steps — go early). Lunch on the seafront promenade. Back to Amanzoe for the final-night sunset and Beach Club dinner at 20:00.

Day 16 Travel

Departure

Driver 2h45m to ATH. Aegean lounge. Direct flight home.

Transportation · how + where to book

  1. Flight
    JFK / EWR (US East Coast)Athens (ATH)

    Delta DL126 · Aegean A3 211 · Emirates EK210

    ~9h 45m direct$3,500–4,800 business class

    Aegean is Star Alliance — useful for status / partners.

    Book direct ↗
    orGoogle FlightsKayakSkyscanner
  2. Private driver
    ATH airportHotel Grande Bretagne (Syntagma)

    Welcome Pickups (black-car)

    ~45 min€55–75
    Book direct ↗
    orBooking.com transfersTripadvisor
  3. Helicopter
    Athens (Spata Heliport / ELHA Megara)Costa Navarino (private helipad)

    Hellenic Seaplanes / Air Lift

    ~45 min€3,500–5,000 one-way (3-4 pax)

    Weather-dependent. Backup: 2h45m A6/A7 motorway drive. Best arranged through Mandarin Oriental concierge once booked.

    Book direct ↗
    orAir Lift GreeceOlympus HelicoptersMO Concierge
  4. Private driver
    Costa Navarino (Messinia)Porto Heli (Amanzoe)

    Private SUV via MO or Amanzoe concierge

    ~3h€450–650 one-way

    Concierge handles — both ends are private resorts with their own car services.

    orMandarin Oriental Costa NavarinoAmanzoe Resort transfers
  5. Private driver
    Porto Heli (Amanzoe)Athens (ATH airport)

    Amanzoe car service

    ~2h 45m€350–500
    orAmanzoe transfers