also one of the healthiest diets in the world. Travel advisors with clients passionate about Greek gastronomy and culture-seekers wishing to venture away from the crowds of Mykonos and Santorini need to visit Rhodes for the fall Rhodes Food Festival. 

The capital and the most significant island of the far-flung easternmost group of the Dodecanese Islands is a treasure trove of discoveries. With its UNESCO World Heritage Site, the stunning medieval cobblestone labyrinth of Old Town, Rhodes is the legacy of the Knights of St. John, who ruled the island from 1309 until 1522.

Your clients will not only immerse themselves in a celebration of Greek cuisine, but unbeknownst to most visitors, Rhodes has exclusive culinary masterpieces with recipes handed down from bygone generations. 

The Rhodian diet consists of the freshest wild greens, fruits, and vegetables grown on the island, seafood from the surrounding Aegean Sea, while goats and sheep roam freely, prized for their flavorful meat. Similar to fresh ricotta, myzithra is the local cheese and is as common as feta. 

Guests will take part in the traditional Rhodian cuisine and hospitality. Some of the meals to expect prepared by local chefs include fish tartare added to a Greek salad, braised lamb shoulder with fresh herbs, Corb fish, native to the Mediterranean Sea served with lentils and saffron sauce, and Lountza, a dish of dried smoked pork tenderloin accompanied with octopus. 

One of two sun-splashed beachfront luxury all-inclusive five-star resort hotels for the week-long journey is accommodation for the Ixian Grand Adults Only Hotel or the extravagant Mitsis Alila Resort & Spa. The package includes all transfers, festival events, experiential excursions, meals, and drinks. 

Ancient meals using the freshest available ingredients 

Whether fish or meat, savory dishes prevail using extra virgin olive oil, oregano, rosemary, spearmint, and thyme. 

Participate in epicurean-themed tours and encounters while enjoying an intimate introduction to Greek viticulture. Discover the diversity of Greek wines with an exclusive wine tasting tour of Rhodes paired with Greek mezes. Enjoy the freshest catch of the day with craft cocktails in a beach-chic backdrop that you will remember for a lifetime. Meet the top chefs and join fellow food lovers with a passion for Greek epicure at the Rhodes Food Festival evening gala held at the chic seaside spa at splendid Kalithea Springs. 

The host island of Rhodes is the fourth-largest in Greece and flawlessly blends time-honored customs with a cosmopolitan flair. Your clients will mingle with the life of locals while visiting the mesmerizing enclaves of Lindos, Apollona, and Empona, flaunting regional cuisine and time-honored customs. The weeklong tour includes downtime at either hedonistic resort. 

Possible trip extensions include excursions to picture-perfect chic Symi and relaxed Halki, the smallest inhabited Dodecanese Island. Both gems of the Dodecanese Island chain stand out from the other Greek islands for their quaint harbors, gorgeous neoclassical architecture, and pastel-painted houses, in a leisurely time stands still Greek atmosphere. 

Each day will differ from the next. Rhodes is waiting for you and your discerning clients to explore it. 

The festival dates are October 12-18. 

For more information, please visit the website. www.rhodesfoodfestival.com