Corinth to Nafplio

Our journey begins: we transfer by bus from Athens. En route we’ll pass over the Corinth Canal before stopping at Ancient Corinth to see the incredible monolithic columns of the temple to Apollo. A strategically important city, Corinth was one of the big-hitters of early Greece: home to tyrants, host to the Isthmian Games, and central to the Oedipus myth.

Adventurers might have the chance to head up to Acrocorinth (literally ‘high Corinth’), the ancient citadel, before we depart for Nafplio. Once we’ve settled in on the boat, we’ll have a weaving demonstration with a local craftswoman before heading back on board the Aegeotissa, the lady of the Aegean, for our first night on the water.

We'll spend an easy day in Nafplio to settle into the gentle routines of life outside the city, exploring the secrets of Greece’s first capital by a walking tour of its marble streets. Once we’ve orientated ourselves, we’ll allow the history of the early Greek state to sink in with the aid of an authentic gelato; after all, Nafplio was once part of the Venetian Empire! A visit to the ethnological museum with its range of traditional costumes will give us some ideas for our own designs. Later, we'll absorb the strategic importance of the city in the past by looking at the fortress Bourtzi (the unlikely setting for Greek film star Melina Mercouri’s wedding night in its previous incarnation as a hotel!) before a relaxing cruise before dinner.

Swim, Knit, Eat, Repeat

As we leave Nafplio to sail around the coast, we’ll cast on for our KAL on our way to our swim stop. We’ll have lunch on board before setting up for a workshop in the afternoon. Inspired by the textiles we saw in Nafplio’s ethnological museum, we’ll spend some time playing with the Estonian roosimine technique to try to incorporate traditional Greek woven motifs in our knitting.

Hail, Hydra!

Artists and writers have long frequented this stunning, car-free island with its main town spread out like a theatrical backdrop behind the harbor. From the Greek artist Nikos Hadjikyriakos-Ghikas to Maria Callas, Leonard Cohen to Nobel-winning poet Odysseas Elytis, Hydra has always spoken to the creative soul. We’ll make the most of the island’s museums to uncover its role in the Greek War of Independence.

Poros

Another day, another island! We’ll take our time heading to Poros with a swim stop on the way, taking life at a gentle pace, perhaps exploring a bakery, maybe heading up to climb the clocktower. No white sugarcube houses here, instead the local style features red-roofed houses, which will doubtless give us color inspiration to take back to our knitting projects.

Aigina

Aigina is home to one of the impressive ancient sanctuary settings in Greece, at the heart of which is the Doric temple of Aphaia. Although the temple’s decorative sculptures have long since been removed to Munich’s Glyptothek, the temple’s unique hilltop situation remains breathtaking. Antiquities aside, Aigina is also renowned for its pistachios (fistikia in Greek), so we’ll be sure to sample some of these before we leave!

Spetses

Spetses has featured in many films recently, and it’s not hard to see why. We’ll visit the former home of Laskarina Bouboulina, the Kapetanissa, the formidable female sea-captain in the Greek War of Independence of the 1820s. Having lost two husbands to pirates, she built a ship, the Agamemnon, fitted it with cannons, and was first to raise her flag in the Greek War of Independence in April 1821. Her house is now run as a museum by her descendants. We’ll have a look around it before taking the time to discover some of the sculptures by the Greek artist Natalie Mela, dodging horse-drawn carriages (or perhaps you’ll be riding in one) as we go.

Epidavros

Ancient Epidavros was home to the sanctuary of the healing god Asclepius. These days, it’s not only a UNESCO world heritage site, but every summer it also plays host to the annual festival. Without a doubt, it's one of the most spectacular sites in Greece. We’ll explore the ancient theatre (the energetic might want to head to the top row to check acoustics) and walk to the stadium and tholos, perhaps making it to the impressive gateway at the other end of the site. Then we’ll head back to the boat for our last night on board in Nafplio.

Mycenae and back to Athens

Our final tour day is one of the most compelling: the impressive hill fortress of Mycenae (contemporary with the world described in the Iliad and Odyssey) forms the backdrop to the myths of the House of Atreus. It’s another UNESCO world heritage site! Before we head through the impressive Lion Gate to explore the ancient citadel and the stunning beehive tombs below, we’ll think about what we have to learn from myths rich in curses, the sins of the fathers, and what happens to the women left behind when men go away to war. 

We’ll head back to Athens for our last night to draw together the threads of our journey as we talk over a final dinner.

Born in Switzerland and raised in Greece, Lise was from an early age influenced by different cultures, ideas and mentalities. Growing up, she would battle between Science and Arts and destiny made her an Optometrist when she decided not to pursue an artistic career after passing the entry examinations of the Beaux Arts.

When she learned how to knit and crochet she discovered a new fibery world, and later after a head injury, that she could dye and spin her own yarn. It was an epiphany, Science and Color made peace in her mind and TréLiz was born. Lise is interested in creating unique colorways, in a limited quantity and specializes in luxurious hand dyed yarns and fibers.

Semele's background is in Classics and Modern Greek. She has lived and worked in both Greece and Italy, and has traveled extensively in both countries (exploring the knitting opportunities as she goes!). Her love of warm weather means that she is usually trying to knit a shawl or jumper to try to replicate the Mediterranean summer in the Welsh countryside, where she is currently based. When she isn't knitting, she is probably reading, swimming, or attempting to track down the perfect coffee and cake. 

She has a professional interest in textile history and women's writing – as well as a passion for them – and to this end regularly writes for travel, well-being and crafting magazines, including The Knitter, Italia!, and Breathe. She is currently writing a novel. 

⛵ "It's a perfect combination of rest, sightseeing and crafting. Small group on a ship of our own made me feel like on luxorious family vacation. Fiber Ambassadors, the crew and tour guides are very friendly, accommodating and knowledgeable. I highly recommend this trip!" -Barbara B

⛵"This trip was amazing! How the trip was organized was so great and loved being on the boat and visiting the islands and all of the different experiences we had at each location. The food, scenery, staff on the boat and RTT staff were all incredible. I loved getting to know the other women and felt that Heather and Colleen were very approachable and accessible for all our needs. It was also wonderful to be with so many experienced knitters if I had questions or issues with our project. I look back on all that we did and experienced and it is so incredible and I will treasure it and hope that I can do another trip with RTT!"-Jane T

⛵ "This was my first time traveling abroad. Rowan Tree put together a sensational trip with wonderful experiences and adventures that were off the beaten path, as well as the must see sites like the Acropolis in Athens. They assembled a great group of travel companions and some great local guides. They handled the details, kept us safe and on track while giving us freedom to wander and explore in equal measure. Our Rowan Tree guides were knowledgeable, approachable and and just all around wonderful. Did I use the words great and wonderful too often? No, that was intentional. Can't wait to travel with them again." -Chris P