aspa villas

Santorini - Από ψηλά.mp4

2012-01-29T08:18:00.000-08:00

Sailing santorini tours

2011-12-28T07:55:00.000-08:00

Santorini Sailing Tour

Volcano-Hot Springs-Thirasia Sailing Tour. Start From Oia.

This tour is the most popular in Santorini. You have the opportunity to discover the Nea Kameni island (the volcano), the famous Hot Springs and the picturesque island of Thirasia.

The total duration of our trip is about 5 hours and 30 minutes. We set sail from the two small ports of Oia, Ammoudi at 10:15 and Armeni at 10:30, and we will be back at about 15:45. We provide also a free transportation from aspa villas to Ammoudi port and at the end of the excursion from the Ammoudi port to aspa villas.Our spacious traditional boat is ideal for daily excursions and it is equipped with W.C, shade and a bar. After our embarkation in Ammoudi & Armeni port, our boat is heading for our first stop in Nea Kameni (volcano). There we will stop for about 1 hour and 30 minutes. Our guided tour (speaks fluently Greek, English and French) will show you the craters of the Volcano and will inform you about the history of one of the most important volcanoes of the whole world. If you are lucky and there is no wind at all, you can see steam coming out of the craters. Yes, it’s an active volcano.

Our second stop is the Palaia Kameni island and the famous Hot Springs. The temperature of the water is 5 Celsius degrees /41 Fahrenheit degrees warmer than the rest sea of Santorini. Also the sea water is mixed with sulphur. That gives a gold color to the waters and a very a nice mud bath to your body.

Our last stop is the picturesque island of Thirasia. Thirasia was an extension of Oia thousands years ago. Nowadays retains a unique character away from the growing life of the rest Santorini. There you can feast fresh fish, traditional mezedes (snacks) and local wine or you can take a donkey and visit the traditional village of Manolas.

This tour is ideal for people that get easily sea sick because you stay the most of the time at the places and not at the boat.

It is recommended to have sunglasses, comfortable shoes for walking, a towel (ask in the reception at aspa villas is free ) and a hat.

The tour has a great price and we have special prices for students and children.

Private Tours - Yacht Charter

Catamaran "Sunset Oia" Lagoon 500.

This amazing yacht is a brand new sailing catamaran. Built in the Bordeaux of France in 2009, it is a lagoon 500 type catamaran. The 500’s overall length is 51 feet and the beam 28 feet, which translates into a lot of square footage both above and below decks. Two 75hp Yanmar diesel engines and 1,722 square feet of working sail area provide plenty of horsepower.

Like all the other lagoon type catamarans it is all about luxury and elegance but with a very big difference, the steering station is above. This is a superb additional space with access from each side and a long six-seat bench. Under the helm there is a wide dinning and seating area with comfort seats and a table. The saloon of the “Sunset-Oia” lagoon 500 catamaran, located on the bridge deck between the hulls, has a big sofa and a large table. The galley has a four-burner hob, an oven and grill, a fridge and a freezer. It is also equipped with the latest electric, electronic and navigation systems. Our catamaran has 5 cabins, 4 with a queen size bed and 1 with bunk beds. All the cabins have their own shower and wc .

You can charter our catamaran per day, for sailing trips to other close by islands like Ios, Paros, Mykonos, Milos, Amorgos and all the other Cycladic islands. The “Sunset-Oia” lagoon 500 can accommodate, with luxury, for this purpose up to 8 people (plus the crew).

You can also rent the lagoon 500 for a 5 hour, day or sunset, private sailing cruise in Santorini. For this purpose our catamaran can hold more than 16 people and in special occasions (such as wedding ceremonies) can accommodate up to 25 people.

Our skipper will sail with you into the most wonderful Cycladic islands. The experienced crew will spoil you with their services and the great Mediterranean cuisine knowledge.

We believe that the ‘Sunset Oia’ lagoon 500 catamaran is your best choice, because is the biggest and the newest yacht in Santorini with a reasonable price.

Catamaran Sailing tour

Catamaran Day Sailing Tour-Lagoon 500 “Sunset-Oia”. Start from Ammoudi.

The Lagoon Experience!!!

The ‘Sunset Oia’ Lagoon 500 is a brilliant catamaran that offers luxury sailing tours in Santorini. The tours are “semi-private”, that means we take only a small number of participants as we want the tour to be something special for you.

Day tour: 5 hours

The morning tour starts from the Ammoudi port of Oia at 10.20-10.30 and the catamaran sails very close to the caldera cliffs so that you could explore the ‘Caldera’ and take some great photos. Our crew members will offer you refreshments on board as the catamaran sailing very close to the Volcano, heading to the first stop at the Hot Springs. There you can have a mud bath and you will feel the activity of the volcano of Santorini and its thermal characteristics.

After half an hour our catamaran will sail to the south part of the Island. Sailing close to the Akrotiri, Light House and Indian Rock our catamaran will stop at the White Beach. At this unique beach we will stop for an hour for swimming and snorkeling. Our crew members after offering you snorkeling equipment and towels, they will prepare the delicious barbeque meal with Greek Traditional products, Santorinian wine, fruits and soft drinks.

The Red beach is the last stop before ending the tour. The Red Beach has been formed from the Hot Lava of the volcano and its red color is vivid and unparalleled. The catamaran will stop there for about half an hour for swimming and snorkelling.

Our mini bus will wait for you at the Vlychada port and within 25-35 minutes they will take you back at aspa villas.

Why choosing us.

Our catamaran Lagoon 500 is the biggest and wider catamaran of its type in Santorini offering more space for sunbathing and relaxation.

We use only fresh products at our meals and we are offering special options to vegetarians, to people that have allergies and to people that they don’t like certain foods.

We have always 3 crew members look after you. As all of our boats we follow the latest safety regulat

Catamaran Sailing tour

Catamaran Sunset Sailing Tour-Lagoon 500 “Sunset-Oia”. Start from Vlychada.

The Lagoon Experience!!!

Sunset Tour: 5 hours
The sunset tour starts at about 15.15-15.30 from the Vlychada port. Our crew members welcome you on board with refreshments as our catamaran sails to the first stop, the famous Red Beach. The Red Beach has been formed from the Hot Lava of the volcano and its red color is vivid and unparalleled. There we will stop for about half an hour for swimming and snorkelling. Our crew members will offer you towels, snorkels, fins and life jackets.

Next stop will be at the White beach. At this unique beach we will stop for an hour for swimming and snorkeling. Our crew members will prepare the delicious barbeque meal with Greek Traditional products, Santorinian wine, fruits and soft drinks.

After our dinner on board, our catamaran sails very close to the Indian rock, Light House and Akrotiri heading to the Hot Springs. At the Hot Springs we will stop for about half an hour. There you can have a mud bath and you will feel the activity of the volcano of Santorini and its thermal characteristics.

Leaving behind the Palaia Kameni Island and the Volcano our catamaran will sail very close to the Caldera cliffs so that you could explore and admire the scenery of the houses that hanging over the cliffs. As the sun sets our catamaran will stop below Oia village so that you could watch one of the most spectacular sunsets in the world. The famous sunset in Oia.

Our mini bus will wait for you at the Ammoudi port and within few minutes they will take you back at your hotel.

Why choosing us.

Our catamaran Lagoon 500 is the biggest and wider catamaran of its type in Santorini offering more space for sunbathing and relaxation.

We use only fresh products at our meals and we are offering special options to vegetarians, to people that have allergies and to people that they don’t like certain foods.

We have always 3 crew members look after you. As all of our boats we follow the latest safety regulations.

Our company is the only one that stops below Oia village at the best possible point to watch the sunset.

We have the best rates on the island.

Santorini Bus Tour

Mini bus tour

Apart from the sailing experiences, our company could offer you a short 3 or 4 hour tour to explore the beauties of the land of Santorini. Our English speaking driver could meet you outside of your hotel at an hour that you will choose.

Our air conditioned mini buses can accommodate up to 16 people. We drive you with a speed of 40 km per hours so that you could enjoy the view and have many photo opportunities.

What is there to see?

Fira is the capital city of Oia and there are museums that you could visit such as the Pre-historical and Archaeological museums.

Megalochori is a traditional village with narrow streets and Cycladic style houses.

Wineries, there are more than 10 wineries that you could visit and taste the authentic Santorinian wine.

Please contact us so that we could offer you a program based to your needs.

INFORMATIONS ABOUT ALL THIS TOURS YOU ASK AT THE RECEPTION OF ASPA VILLAS

we love santorini the best insland in the word

2011-12-27T12:21:00.000-08:00

Landing in Santorini

2011-12-27T12:17:00.000-08:00

Αρχαια Θήρα Σαντορινη-Ancient Thira Santorini video guest

2011-12-26T12:06:00.000-08:00

Thera Volcano (story of volcano) video

2011-12-26T12:05:00.000-08:00

Ancient Thera - Santorini, Cyclades, Greece

2011-12-26T12:00:00.000-08:00

A cuisine full of taste

2011-12-24T23:20:00.000-08:00

The Santorini Cherry Tomato
The famous Santorini cherry tomato is a unique variety that flourishes thanks to the arid soil and dominated the islands cultivating from the 18th to the 20th century. Tomato paste and tomato balls (a traditional dish of Santorini) are produced from cherry tomato and have a really inimitable taste.
The most characteristic products of Santorini are:

Fava-Split peas

Santorini split peas have also distinctive attributes as they become mushy on their own, they have a purer aroma and they are tighter. You will find them in many recipes, along with onion, with small pieces of pork, with aubergines and tomatoes, as well as in the form of soup.

Fresh cheese

Fresh goat cheese with a creamy texture and a slightly sour taste.

Capers

In the island you will find shrubs of wild capers, from which we collect the blossom and the leaves. It has a characteristic sharp aroma and a spicy taste.White aubergine

It differs from the others as it is sweet and juicy due to the particular features of the soil.

Watermelon

It is small, dark, with many seeds. Santorini’s watermelon stands out because of its taste.

Katsouni

A type of cucumber that is very tasty thanks to the microclimate and the terrain's composition

White aubergine

White aubergine
Traditional produce of Santorini. Its seed originates from Egypt (from the time when pumice stone was exported to Suez). Due to the terrain it does not have the same bitterness as aubergines. On the contrary it is sweet and juicy and has few seeds

Santorini Wine – a special grapevine… on a special island !

2011-12-24T22:55:00.000-08:00

If “necessity” is the mother of invention then “practicality” must surely be its father. Out of necessity comes the need, out of practicality comes the solution. Add to this the genius of Albert who taught us that “things should be made as simple as possible…but no simpler” and voila. We have all the ingredients required for one of the most ingenious inventions in the history of viticulture.

What you are about to see may not be new to some of you, but will be new to a lot of you. In my mind it is the very essence of what being a farmer is about and it is the absolute epitome of what being a farmer/grower on an arid, windblown island is all about. Necessity, invention, minimalism… practicality. Nothing fancy, nothing elaborate, nothing wasteful. Sheer, practical, evolutionary design at work on the land.

Ladies and Gentlemen…. meet the humble Santorini Vine !

It doesn’t look like much… does it? Come to think of it neither does the soil. It simply looks like a desert, or some kind of arid mountain side plant. When you think about it… that’s exactly what it is. But this simple image hides so much, as is often the case with so many wonderful creations.

As you can see, the soil this vine is growing on is not what you expect to see in a vineyard. Its a mixture of lava pebbles (you can clearly see them), volcanic ash, pumice and other materials that combine to make for an un-inspiring soil mix. But the vines love this soft, porous soil as it retains the morning mist – the vines only source of moisture and it allows it to develop a deep root system.

To all of you wine growers out there, or to those who – like me – take great pleasure in walking through or near vineyards just to enjoy the gorgeous views they offer, the Santorini vineyard is a completely different experience.

The terrain is not always flat or gently slopping, as in the picturesque French & Italian vineyards. The islanders will build terraces to take advantage of every available piece of land they own.

That’s not to say however that there aren’t vineyard views to enjoy on Santorini…far from it. The vineyards here seem almost “free”. They are far less formal, far less mechanised, far less “interfered with” than their landscaped cousins around the world. There are no poles or wires holding them up, there are no nets over them, there are not even fences around them. Necessity and practicality rule.

This by any standards is a small ditch…but the growers felt they could fit 10 or so vines in there, so they did and they thrived.

In August…during harvest, the whole family comes out. Everything… and I mean “everything” is done by hand. There is no machine harvesting here… everything is still done the way it has for thousands of years. Same land, same vines… same methods. Just add the love of the growers for what they do… and you have a product that’s unique.

The vines of course are not grown in your typical (vertical way). In the photos above you see them at harvest time, which hides the ingenious work that’s taken to get them to this stage. Let’s take a look at a growing method that is unique in this world we live in.

This is earlier in the year and it allows us to see the “kouloura” (bird’s nest) that the growers have shaped the vine into. This means that the plants profile is low and the winter winds will hardly touch it. All the fruit will grow inside the “kouloura” which protects it from sand storms, birds and all else that can harm it. Then as summer approaches the full foliage of the vine will also protect the fruit from the harsh summer sun. All along however, this ingenious bird’s nest helps trap the morning mist as it goes through the vineyard. The moisture captured is kept under the foliage and transferred to the deep root system through the porous soil. It is the “only” form of irrigation these vines ever receive.

To get the vine to grow in this form is an art, a skill developed over thousands of years and passed on with every generation. It’s simple, highly effective and absolutely ideal for the island conditions. All kinds of technology could have been introduced…. but it hasn’t been. Necessity and practicality, as well as a love for tradition and history, has meant that we are all lucky enough to this day to be able to marvel at this ancient growing method, still working and still producing sublime fruit recognised the world over.

There are a lot of lessons here for all of us dear friends. The yield of these vineyards is low, the temptation from other sectors is very high. The growing method is very difficult and it makes harvest by hand the only option. Yet… I look at the faces on the growers that bring their harvest to the Co-op daily and they are beaming. They simply love what they do, they love what they produce and to them mass production and commoditisation of their beloved grapes is unthinkable. They do this for the love of it.

Maybe that’s why (in my opinion) drinking VinSanto, the world famous naturally sweet dessert wine produced on Santorini…
is as close as you can get to kissing an angel !

Oia Santorini – digging a cave home (working with an end in mind)

2011-12-24T22:30:00.000-08:00

Many of you have sent emails asking about the cave… as promised the story continues!

The boys started work at 7am daily… and continued, often till 10pm. Three jackhammers and up to six others shovelling the dirt into bags for the mules to carry up. The noise and dust is unimaginable. I stopped them after a couple of days and asked why none of them were wearing ear-muffs? They just looked at me…

Decisions had to be made…where do the robes go? where does the bookcase go? how wide will the tunnel joining the two caves be? The beauty of digging a cave is that within limits you can dig any space you like….but the dirt has to go somewhere and the cost of the removal by mules can be higher than the cost of the people digging. This old dug out spot was going to be the first robe…

The tunnel was to be three metres long and two wide. It took ten days to dig completely…what you see here was not even half way.

Outside the bags of dirt were piling up…and we weren’t even a quarter of the way through.

You see dear reader there is a lot that’s not known about the cave houses of Santorini. Visitors arrive in spring or summer and find them all freshly painted and ready for the season. The fact is that a lot of them (at least the older ones) have moisture and damp problems. Paint peels off every winter and they have to be scraped and painted every year….unless of course you completely cover the walls with a thick plastic membrane and then place a steel wire mesh over it, to hold the render. Its a delicate art. Every nail holding the plastic has to have rubber seals so that damp will not go through and ruin the walls.To put all this in some perspective I need to tell you at this point that my average week for almost twenty years consisted of flying to another city twice a week, working with clients and staying in hotels. On average… 80 trips a year, for many many MANY years. On most days I would leave a client’s office at 6 or 7pm…. go to the hotel and work till midnight or 1am. I am a nocturne and the many years of travel have reduced my sleeping requirements to no more than four hours a night. So…up at 5am….some more work, then off to the clients for the day followed by a flight home. Apart from the last few years at home, that was my routine for a long long time. But here…. well here things were different. Instead of room service I woke each morning with dust in my mouth. My ears were still ringing from the jackhammers the day before and when I went outside all i could see were endless bags of dirt waiting for the mules. Once those were taken…there were dozens more to replace them from the daily digging.

Oia Santorini – the Great Walk along the cliffs of Santorini

2011-12-24T21:50:00.000-08:00

I went for a walk this morning. It was a long walk….but not just any walk. This was the Great Walk along the cliffs, facing the caldera of Santorini. We thought you might like to see what we saw…. enjoy ;-)

and soon we were high enough to look back at our village – Oia, in the background…

and in front of us was Imerovigli….

just an ordinary Greek church you might say…but how wrong you would be! It was a lovely walk on a Sunday morning…we hope you enjoyed it too ;-)