- The International Kitchen
- Greece
- Diane Kochilas Cooking School on Ikaria Greece
Diane Kochilas Cooking School on Ikaria Greece
-
-
Select Your Trip Details
Diane Kochilas Cooking School in Ikaria
Watch Diane’s “My Greek Table” on PBS – check your local listings!
Learn the secrets of Greek cuisine and long life from Diane Kochilas, famed cookbook author, award-winning chef, and TV personality, at the Diane Kochilas cooking school on the island of Ikaria. Ikaria is one of the world’s famed “Blue Zones,” a small handful of locations around the world where scientists have discovered the inhabitants live measurably longer lives. The secret to the longevity of the inhabitants is usually attributed to, quite frankly, what we would call “the good life”: fresh, seasonal food, moderate exercise, and strong family living.
Join award-winning chef and cookbook author Diane Kochilas for an unforgettable Ikaria cooking class experience in her own kitchen in the ancient village of Aghios Dimitris. Known worldwide through her PBS series My Greek Table, Diane welcomes guests for select weeks each year to explore authentic Greek cooking through hands-on lessons, local excursions, and shared meals prepared together. From classic Greek salad and pita bread to seasonal seafood and main courses inspired by island traditions, each class celebrates the simplicity and joy of Greek food.
Ikaria offers a magical backdrop for a Greek cooking vacation, with therapeutic thermal baths, miles of beaches, and a slower pace of life that encourages connection and relaxation. During your stay, you will experience a small-group atmosphere designed to help you truly connect — with the chef, with fellow guests, and with the island itself. Whether you are passionate about the Mediterranean diet, curious about the secrets of longevity, or simply looking for a meaningful culinary trip in Greece, this cooking school Greece experience delivers both inspiration and authentic flavor.
Highlights of Your Greek Cooking Vacation with Diane Kochilas
Cook alongside Diane Kochilas at her celebrated Greek cooking school on Ikaria during an all-inclusive culinary journey designed for food lovers. The International Kitchen offers the easiest way to book a culinary tour with Diane Kochilas and our experience includes:
- Daily hands-on cooking classes with Diane Kochilas in her island home
- Local foodie visits, including a cheese producer, beekeeper, and local forager
- Delicious meals featuring authentic Greek cuisine and fresh seasonal ingredients
- Transportation for all excursions across the island
- Beautiful accommodations in a peaceful Greek island setting
Spend a week cooking, tasting, and discovering the traditions that make Ikaria one of the most inspiring destinations in Greece — a truly unforgettable experience rooted in food, culture, and community.
Diane Kochilas Cooking School Tour Itinerary
-
Day One
Please note that this is a sample itinerary for the Greek cooking holiday, subject to change based on season.
- Arrival and settle in to your hotel room on the beautiful island of Ikaria, home to the renowned Diane Kochilas cooking school and one of Greece’s famed Blue Zones.
- Time to explore this amazing Greek island on your own, stroll through nearby villages, or relax on the beach and begin to soak in the relaxed atmosphere that defines this Greek cooking vacation.
- Welcome dinner with your host, Diane Kochilas, featuring authentic Greek cuisine prepared with fresh ingredients and traditional flavors.
- Transfer back to your hotel and overnight
Day Two
- Breakfast, and transfer for your first Ikaria cooking class with Diane Kochilas at her island home. A sample menu might include traditional Greek dishes such as:
- Tender lettuce salad with herbs and green almonds
- Dolmadas
- Giant beans with herbs and honey
- Stuffed eggplant
- Lunch to follow, and return to your hotel around 1:30 pm.
- Free time this afternoon to relax, explore the island, or enjoy the peaceful surroundings of this small-group Greek cooking school Greece experience.
- This evening might feature an “Olive oil for dessert” demonstration — a highlight of the Mediterranean diet and Ikaria’s culinary traditions — followed by dinner out at a local taverna to taste more authentic Greek food.
- Transfer back to your hotel and overnight.
Day Three
- Breakfast.
- Next, a cheese experience, from milking goat to making the cheese —a look into local food traditions and the foundations of Greek cuisine.
- Enjoy a nature walk learning about and foraging for wild herbs and seasonal ingredients, including a lesson on folk pharmacopoeia and the island’s rich history of herbal knowledge.
- Next, time to cook together, perhaps focusing on “Land, Sea, and the Seasons,” or other local recipes.
- Lunch to follow.
- Rest of day on your own.
- Overnight.
Day Four
- Breakfast and either a free day or a seasonal excursion, depending on the time of year and local activities.
- Around 6:30, head back to the kitchen to prepare your dinner with Diane Kochilas. This cooking class will feature fresh herbs and seasonal ingredients for a fast, healthy meal prepared with authentic Greek food traditions in mind.
- Overnight.
Day Five
- Breakfast and your next cooking class, which might feature “fearless phyllo” and traditional grains.
- Lunch to follow.
- Free time this afternoon.
- Overnight.
Day Six
- Breakfast and pickup this morning for a visit with a local beekeeper. Travel into the forested interior of Ikaria to meet one of the island’s most accomplished beekeepers and taste wonderful local honey — a delicious example of the region’s fresh, natural ingredients. (Some weeks may feature another seasonal activity.)
- Transfer to Diane Kochilas’ home for your farewell class/lunch. The menu might include:
- Ikarian fish soup with trahana
- Grilled octopus
- Katsikaki riganato
- Your hostess’s special roasted potatoes
- Garden salad
- Galaktoboureko
- Transfer back to the hotel rest of day at leisure.
Day Seven
- Breakfast and departure.
Ikaria Greece Cooking Vacation Trip Details
-
Included in the 6-Night Greek Culinary Tour
Accommodations6 nights accommodations in Armenistis
Food & Beverages- Daily breakfast
- 5 lunches
- 4 dinners
- Wine included with all included meals
Classes & InstructorsEnjoy daily 3- to 4-hour cooking lessons with award-winning chef, cookbook author, and TV host Diane Kochilas and her husband, Vassilis, at the renowned Diane Kochilas cooking school on Ikaria. Greek by heritage and New Yorker by birth, Diane is widely recognized as one of the foremost authorities on Greek cuisine. She hosts the Greek TV show What’s Cooking Today, Mom? and has appeared as a guest on numerous international news and cooking programs.
Together, Diane and Vassilis share the spirit of Ikaria — its food, culture, and longevity — as you explore the island’s incredibly fresh, seasonal ingredients. From wild herbs and plants that you will learn to identify and gather with a knowledgeable guide, to local wines rooted in ancient tradition, each day offers a deeper connection to authentic Greek cooking.
Your daily hands-on cooking classes will introduce a wide range of dishes, from appetizers and homemade phyllo to main courses centered on fresh seafood, vegetables, and classic Greek recipes, finishing with traditional desserts. The experience is enriched by visits with local food artisans, highlighting regional specialties such as cheese, honey, and wine, making every lesson a true celebration of Greek culture and the Mediterranean way of life.
ExcursionsThe activities vary by week and season, but might include:
- Cheese producer visit, from milking to making the cheese!
- Nature walk/herb foraging with local expert
- Trip to local monastery
- Beekeeper visit
Transfer Details- Arrival and departure transfers are not included but should be arranged prior to your trip. A taxi from the airport will run around 60 Euro each way, from the port of Evdilos a taxi will run around 15 Euro each way. Please note that since flights and ferries to Ikaria are not frequent – especially in the shoulder seasons – you may need to spend a night in Athens on arrival or departure. We would be happy to assist you with your travel arrangements.
Not Included
- Local hotel tax (approx €5 per person, per night)
- Liquor
- Personal expenses
- Cost of taxi transfer on arrival/departure days
Accommodation Information
Diane uses the one of two hotels on Ikaria, the Cavos Bay or the Erofyli Beach Hotel in Armenistis. (In 2025 she is using the Cavos Bay.)
The Erofyli Beach Hotel has a decidedly Greek aesthetic and sustainable construction featuring wood and Ikarian stone. The rooms feature traditional furniture, WiFi, air conditioning, satellite TV, safe, mini-bar, telephone, hair dryer, and room service. The hotel has a pool and beach access to two of the most beautiful beaches in Greece. (If unavailable another comparable hotel will be substituted.)
—-
Diane Kochilas Cooking School on Ikaria: Pricing and Dates
Find pricing and dates for the DIane Kochilas cooking school in Greece below, and contact us for availability or to book your trip.
-
2026 Pricing
See moreUS$4900 per person based on double occupancy
- Add US$300 for single occupancy (use of a double room by 1 person)
30% deposit due to confirm booking.
Balance payment due 90 days prior to tour start date. Questions? Please contact us!Diane Kochilas Cooking School Tour Dates
See moreSee the available dates below for the Diane Kochilas cooking school on Ikaria, Greece, and inquire for more information. Other dates may be available for groups of 6 or more, please inquire.
2026
May 31-June 6
June 7-13
June 14-20
June 21-27
September 6-12 – Sold out
September 13-19 – Sold out
September 20-26 – Sold out
September 27-October 3 – Sold out*Interested in a sold out week? Ask to be put on the waitlist.
Please inquire for 2027 weeks!
Plan Your Diane Kochilas Cooking Experience on Ikaria
Cooking with Diane Kochilas on Ikaria is more than a class — it is an invitation into the heart of Greek island life. Our team makes it easy to secure your place in this highly sought-after experience while helping you shape the rest of your journey in Greece. Whether you are thinking about extending your stay in Athens, pairing this week with another Greek island adventure, or simply want guidance before you travel, we are here to help every step of the way.
From coordinating logistics including flights or ferries, to answering your questions about the itinerary, we aim to make planning as relaxed as the island itself. Reach out when you’re ready, and let us help you turn this unforgettable cooking school Greece experience into a seamless and inspiring Greek culinary journey.
