Traveling in the 21st century is the evolution of time & a premium way of living. As founder and orchestrator of Greekly, I design & implement private or shared handmade trips from A to Z, in a way that each time a unique and holistic experience reveals itself. I also love being a tour leader in various trips in Greece with my company and with National Geographic, as I get to meet unique individuals from all over the world and check by myself the quality of the travel experiences I suggest.
After experiencing various aspects of this amazing life as a music teacher, a carpenter and a philosophy & theology enthusiast, I felt like dedicating my energy to variety & the harmonious succession of quality moments.
My cup of tea is suggesting combinations of experiences (1. Body-mind exercise, 2. Body-mind healing, 3. Gastronomy, and 4. Cultural Events) that seem impossible until they come to life! I am quite incapable of suggesting the same trip to more than one person, for I feel and appreciate each one’s uniqueness.
I agree that man’s greatest talent is to create his or her reality!
What places and activities do you specialize in?
"Since 2012 I try to find, explore and promote one-of-a-kind places in Greece, by designing and implementing multi-thematic trips. I could name a few destinations such as Cyclades, Athens, Peloponnese, Zagori, Meteora & Pelion. The truth, though, is that the more I explore the more I feel that my 'to explore' list is becoming bigger and bigger.
I have also invested lots of time promoting our philosophy and values such as ethical, all diets welcome, smoke-free welcome, pets welcome, no-discrimination, equity, quality, authenticity, safety, originality, flexibility & transparency.
I love every aspect of quality travelling (active, relaxed, gastronomy etc), especially when there is a harmonious succession throughout the trip. I believe my expertise is mainly related to helping travellers create their unique handmade trip, which is always different!
"
How did you get involved in travel?
"I was traveling in a mainstream way with no wowness, but after visiting some foreign friends in their countries, it felt more intimate. Then I started traveling solo, especially to places where I could feel nature. In 2011 I organized some trips to Greece for my students and their families, focusing on quality and meaningful connections. It was bliss for everyone and a revelation for me, so I wanted to do it again! After several years of organizing trips where I was combining unique & authentic experiences, I felt that this is the way to real ‘premium traveling’ and it became my vision in life. The feeling that after every trip travelers are thrilled is incomparable and gives me the sweetest ‘aftertaste’! "
Please share a unique travel experience you will never forget.
"Although it’s difficult to prioritize just one of the many and equally beloved experiences (especially in Greece, where each month and region have to offer different things), I’ll share my craving for an unknown part of Greece, South Evia: first there is the refuge of mountain Ochi, where the landscape is sooo out of this world, like living in a Tim Burton’s film. Another highlight is the ancient big dragon house, built out of huge stones. No one can explain who/how built it. The big surprise in the area is that after tons of dry land, you can hike to the other side of the island, the Dimosari Gorge, which is a real jungle: you hike among various flora and lots of libelulas through a medieval cobblestone path having the sound of a soothing river next to you. You can jump into some rock pools along the way and you end up on a divine and secluded beach with crystal Aegean Sea waters!"
Nikos's favorite itineraries and travel advice
Top itineraries and travel advice
Family itineraries
Recent trip reviews for Nikos
Designed a trip specifically for me
Greece
|
Sep 18 - Sep 24, 2023
Max M.
Compton, CA
| Reviewed on Sep 25, 2023
I’m so glad I was connected with Nikos at Greekly. I had some very specific requests for my trip and he was able to cater to them all. He even went above and beyond to change the schedule during the trip to accommodate my desire to see certain sites last minute. On top of that, his knowledge of and passion for Greece is truly infectious and took the trip to the next level for me.
Read more
I’m so glad I was connected with Nikos at Greekly. I had some very specific requests for my trip and he was able to cater to them all. He even went above and beyond to change the schedule during the trip to accommodate my desire to see certain sites last minute. On top of that, his knowledge of and passion for Greece is truly infectious and took the trip to the next level for me.
Activity Reviews
Shake, Stir & Chill with a Mastiha Masterclass
Greece
Rarely have I found a person with such a passion for what they do. Leonidas loves the flavors and ingredients of Greece and by the end of this masterclass, so did I. What took the experience to the next level was the amazing view of the mountains and sea you have while tasting some of Greece’s most unique flavors.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Seaside Lunch in Fokida region
Greece
This restaurant has some of the freshest and most unique seafood I’ve ever had. The owner clearly loves sharing each morning’s catch with his guests. On top of that, the view of the small island with the church of St Nicolas is charming. The owner even took me to the island in his fishing boat which was way beyond what I’d expected and was a highlight of the trip.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Local specialist: Nikos Aivatzidis
Nikos Aivatzidis
Local specialist in Peloponnese (Corinthia)
| Replied on Sep 27, 2023
Dear Max,
I’m so glad that you were connected with us, as your trip was one of our beloved to handmake for you: the very specific requests and your clear view of what you wanted helped us focus on making your customized trip and cater to what you asked.
Since you booked your private trip, we could cater to any last-minute changes, especially since I was your tour leader during these days, which gave us 100% freedom to change things fast and efficiently. On top of all, it was an amazing...
Read more
Dear Max,
I’m so glad that you were connected with us, as your trip was one of our beloved to handmake for you: the very specific requests and your clear view of what you wanted helped us focus on making your customized trip and cater to what you asked.
Since you booked your private trip, we could cater to any last-minute changes, especially since I was your tour leader during these days, which gave us 100% freedom to change things fast and efficiently. On top of all, it was an amazing experience for me as well, as you were open to seeing the real Greece, where even locals have never been, which inspired me to share my love for this amazing country.
I'd be really happy to meet you again anytime in the future.
On behalf of the Greekly team,
Nikos Aivatzidis
Family Trip to Greece
Greece
|
Aug 9 - Aug 23, 2023
Nicole C.
Baltimore, MD
| Reviewed on Aug 30, 2023
Thanks to Nikos, my family and I had a fantastic trip to Greece. We did, saw, and learned so much in our short time in Greece that we never would have been able to do without his guidance. By finding hotels with the best breakfasts, recommending excellent restaurants, and suggesting unique excursions he made sure we had the best experience possible. Nikos was very responsive throughout the entire planning phase as well as throughout the trip to ensure everything was in accordance with our...
Read more
Thanks to Nikos, my family and I had a fantastic trip to Greece. We did, saw, and learned so much in our short time in Greece that we never would have been able to do without his guidance. By finding hotels with the best breakfasts, recommending excellent restaurants, and suggesting unique excursions he made sure we had the best experience possible. Nikos was very responsive throughout the entire planning phase as well as throughout the trip to ensure everything was in accordance with our expectations and ran smoothly. While we were in Santorini, we encountered a conflict with our boat cruise. Nikos immediately made phone calls and proposed an alternative plan that ended up being one of the highlights of our trip. He is very passionate about providing the best service possible.
Local specialist: Nikos Aivatzidis
Nikos Aivatzidis
Local specialist in Peloponnese (Corinthia)
| Replied on Aug 30, 2023
Dear Nicole, thank you for your warm and personalized review! We are thrilled to read that the whole of your family had a fantastic trip to Greece and that you felt that we were 'there' for you, as one point of contact for anything you would wish or need. I'm also happy that I had the chance to meet all of you in person and spend some time together.
Your above description is exactly what we aim to do, to provide the best possible handmade trip, related to each one's budget and unique wishes,...
Read more
Dear Nicole, thank you for your warm and personalized review! We are thrilled to read that the whole of your family had a fantastic trip to Greece and that you felt that we were 'there' for you, as one point of contact for anything you would wish or need. I'm also happy that I had the chance to meet all of you in person and spend some time together.
Your above description is exactly what we aim to do, to provide the best possible handmade trip, related to each one's budget and unique wishes, in a way that any traveler will have a truly memorable experience with the best service possible.
I'd be really happy to meet you again anytime in the future!
On behalf of the Greekly team,
Nikos Aivatzidis
The PERFECT romantic and memorable Greek adventure
Greece
|
Apr 17 - Apr 26, 2023
Kasey J.
Portland, OR
| Reviewed on May 15, 2023
What a phenomenal, exciting, beautiful, romantic, and memorable adventure!
I still marvel at Nikos' ability to plan the perfect and unique experience for us. At every turn, he asked the right questions to create so many of these special little moments for us all throughout this incredible country. There is no way we could have planned something so thoughtful and authentically Greek on our own.
He planned every little detail so all we had to do was follow his itinerary to be constantly...
Read more
What a phenomenal, exciting, beautiful, romantic, and memorable adventure!
I still marvel at Nikos' ability to plan the perfect and unique experience for us. At every turn, he asked the right questions to create so many of these special little moments for us all throughout this incredible country. There is no way we could have planned something so thoughtful and authentically Greek on our own.
He planned every little detail so all we had to do was follow his itinerary to be constantly delighted and amazed by what he had in store for us. By the end, we kept laughing at the absurdity of how magical it all was and we'd say to each other, "Of course, this is happening. Nikos planned it."
I started to write out our favorite experiences, but genuinely, I would have listed every single thing we did on our trip.
Here's the point: If you want to go to Greece, work with Nikos. Tell him about you and your travel partners, your budget, and what makes a trip exciting/memorable/desirable and then trust Nikos. He'll plan things you would never find in a tour book and you'll wind up with the most beautifully unique trip. Seriously.
Hotel Review
Daphne's Club Hotel & Apartments
Xylokastro
Daphne has created the perfect little oasis on the Corinthian Gulf in Greece. She has everything you need and lots more than you didn't even know you needed — like the most beautiful and delicious breakfast buffet in all of Greece.
Activity Review
Santorini Sailing Cruise & meal on Board
Santorini
This was downright magical. By this point in the trip, we were a little tired, and having 5 hours of lying on a sailboat, drinking wine, and eating a fabulous meal was exactly what we needed. Also, Cosmos was fabulous. He told great stories, taught us the history of the Santorini Caldera, and looked like the perfect handsome sailor.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Local specialist: Nikos Aivatzidis
Nikos Aivatzidis
Local specialist in Peloponnese (Corinthia)
| Replied on May 16, 2023
Dear Kasey,
thank you for your amazing review!
It's true that from the time we had a call to discuss in detail about your trip, I felt that you and your partner knew what you wanted and were open to exploring the best available options in Greece, which is always a 'bliss' for me.
I'm really happy and proud of the result of 'our' trip (I'm also 'there' all the time!) and I cannot thank you enough for pointing out aspects of a trip that can make a difference and a memorable yet romantic...
Read more
Dear Kasey,
thank you for your amazing review!
It's true that from the time we had a call to discuss in detail about your trip, I felt that you and your partner knew what you wanted and were open to exploring the best available options in Greece, which is always a 'bliss' for me.
I'm really happy and proud of the result of 'our' trip (I'm also 'there' all the time!) and I cannot thank you enough for pointing out aspects of a trip that can make a difference and a memorable yet romantic adventure, like the handmade approach on 'kneading' trips for every traveler, the balance between exploring and relaxing and so on. I'm also thrilled that you were open to discovering unknown locations of my country, such as the biggest wine region of Greece, the mountainous side (which is 80% of the country!) while enjoying famous locations such as Santorini during the same trip.
Moreover, I have to admit that you are 'gift travelers', cause you were available to discuss and reply to critical questions during important stages of planning your trip. This was a gift for me, as I knew clearly what you prefer (or not) and I felt confident to suggest experiences and locations that even locals do not know, and that I learned from my field trips during the last 12 years. It's one of the reasons for me offering handmade trips: to show travelers from around the globe how anyone can meet the world in Greece. And -by reading your review- I can say that it's rewarding :)
I'll be really happy to meet you both anytime in the future. You are an inspiration on how to explore and enjoy life. Seriously!
