On Saturday afternoon, our van picked up a lovely family from Ioannina — two parents and their three little explorers, aged 3, 5, and 8. With curious eyes and excited voices, they hopped into the Epirus Odyssey van, ready for a weekend of discovery and connection.

First stop: the charming village of Klimatia, where a wooden chalet was waiting to host their overnight stay. During the ride, the parents complimented the comfort and spaciousness of our van, while we exchanged stories and laughs. Upon arrival, a beautiful moment unfolded — the youngest daughter picked a flower from the garden and offered it to our driver. That was it — connection made.

A few hours later, we met again at the village square for a traditional dinner at the local taverna. Afterwards, the kids joined the village children for Uno, games, laughter, and — to top it all off — a Dubai-style chocolate croissant. Pure joy.

Sunday started early. Some morning football on the chalet’s lawn, a few photos, and off we went for coffee and our first experience of the day: “Bakery of the Village”. The kids rolled dough, shaped cookies, made their own pies, and experienced firsthand the culinary roots of Epirus. They loved it so much, it was hard to convince them to leave!

Next stop: a visit to Mr. Vaggelis, a local winemaker. We walked through his vineyards, explored grape varieties like Malagouzia, Debina, and Cabernet, and entered the cellar to see the oak barrels and learn the process of wine and tsipouro production.

The experience continued in a beautiful stone villa overlooking the valley. Wine tastings began — each wine paired with unique canapé bites designed to match the flavor. Meanwhile, the BBQ was sizzling: beef, pork, chicken, a wide variety of appetizers and fresh salads — a full, rich meal filled the table with colors and aromas.

Star of the show? The golden beets. Everyone was talking about them!

As the adults enjoyed the wine and deeper conversations, the children played happily on the grass. And the highlight? The parents shared that it was the first time ever their kids didn’t reach for a screen all weekend.

That’s the power of Epirus. That’s the magic of Epirus Odyssey.