Indigo Gazelle Tours

07/08/2024

Aside a rocky road leading to an isolated cove, a seemingly random table and two chairs under the shade of blooming oleanders welcome passers-by. These genius tableaus are the secrets of this Blue Zone island, gently luring you to stop, be present, de-stress, and if with company, converse softly between the whirrs of cicadas. Travel with us here to Ikaria on a small group private tour and experience what quality longevity looks and feels like. Message us if curious. More info via link in profile.

06/08/2024

When catching a glimpse of a seemingly ordinary moment reveals the extraordinary beauty of the world if we open our eyes wide. A “street” scene from Morocco’s “Blue Pearl” of Chefchaouen. Let Indigo Gazelle Tours introduce you and a small group of family and friends to such colorful and vibrant places across welcoming Morocco on a private tour. Culture, cuisine, wellness, and now golf are interests we can customize exclusively for you. Message us if interested. Details via link in profile.

15/06/2024

And then the meltemi north winds reliably return, scrubbing and cleansing and polishing the tableau until the colors and shine are ridiculous and painterly.

12/06/2024

Iero Beach and Cove. Splendid, quiet, and thankfully unmanaged.

10/06/2024

In the Ikarian mountain village of Perdiki, its lone taverna doesn’t open until “around” 8pm. Until then, you can wend your way along its old rocky paths, admire its timeless dry stack stone walls, pluck ripe wild cherries that shamelessly dangle with invitation, lament those iconic, stalwart slate roofs finally succumbing to vegetation, then romanticize a village revival with delicate agrotourism and architectural preservation (the montane peacefulness, pleasant birdsong, fresh air, blooming flowers, and Aegean views to Chios and Turkey all beg you to make it happen). By now, you need to feed the hope and wipe the worry of an abandoned village. The one of your paternal ancestors. The taverna is now open and locals gather to eat, play cards, and converse. There is ample laughter. Village tsipouro and wine find brims, and perhaps the best μπιφτέκι patties and fries on the island arrive to feed that hope. Of course, the taverna owner and cook happens to be a shepherd as well.

06/06/2024

On the breathtaking road (mind the edge!) to Drakano Tower, the 4th Century BCE limestone sentinel of the sea competes for your attention with the volcanic profile of Mount Kerkis (Circe) on Samos, thrusting from the Aegean at 4,701 feet. The panorama is vast enough to appreciate them singularly or together. The green scrubland, rock outcroppings, silence but for the wind, goat pen, and surrounding waters seem fit for an Irish fairy tale—or Greek myth. Nature meets drama.

04/06/2024

This is the tasty dinner formation at the family-run Restaurant Klimataria: pastitsio; gigantes; rustic bread; and dolmas (not pictured). Served in an ambient alleyway with grapevines cascading from above. Yes.

02/06/2024

As those Grecian blues saturate the early evening scene, a couple enjoys a leisurely repast at Almira Beach Bar and Café.

01/06/2024

Καλό μήνα σε όλους! Wishing a Good Month to all!

31/05/2024

On the island of Ikaria, your gait naturally slows. The pines on Faros Beach undulate with the constant Aegean zephyrs and you surrender and release. Seconds meld into minutes morphing into hours, seamlessly. Healthy hypnosis happens here.

29/05/2024

A café, bar, restaurant, and Nola block party are a common package on offer on many Athens street corners. Take your libation outside and engage. A brilliant combination that serves all desires and the community from breakfast to late-night. The climate here is just ideal for the al fresco hangout.

28/05/2024

Athens rhythm. Fresh, flavorful plates and a night stroll to soak up its vibrant street life.

16/05/2024

Interested in a private, small group tour to dive into this Blue Zone of Ikaria and experience its longevity diet and lifestyle? Message us if interested. Inspiration: https://www.indigogazelle.com/private-greece-2024

Ikaria, Greece, is one of the world’s Blue Zones. Here, we’ve compiled some of their go-to foods and how to cook with them.

11/03/2024

The annual “panegyri” (Patron Saint’s Day Festival) in Faros, Ikaria is an all-night expression of village exuberance that binds the community with plentiful food, good cheer, live traditional music, and plenty of dancing. A LOT of dancing. Coax out your inner panegyri on our June 7-15 “Genuine Greece” Cuisine, Culture, and Wellness Tour featuring Celebrity Chef and Mediterranean Lifestyle Specialist, Amy Riolo. Only a few days remain to register and save $500 per person. Deposits due on March 15th. Details via link in profile.

07/03/2024

Climate change and a yearslong drought have forced Morocco’s famous public baths to close a few days a week in an effort to save water

05/03/2024

Lounging on Faros Beach on Ikaria island with a view of the Fourni archipelago. Your chaise awaits. Only 10 days remain (!) to register for our “Genuine Greece” Cuisine, Culture, and Wellness small group tour featuring celebrity Chef, culinary anthropologist, and Mediterranean Diet Ambassador, Amy Riolo. Now $500 off per person. The Blue Zone longevity island of Ikaria and vivacious “Gastronomy Capital” of Thessaloniki will be our curated destinations. Immersive experiences will happen. Details via link in profile.

04/03/2024

Morocco featured in this month’s State Department magazine, “Morocco: Enduring Partnership Builds Upon Shared History and Interests”

Story and photos by Isaac D. Pacheco In 1777, Morocco’s monarch, Sultan Mohammed ben Abdallah (Mohammed III), became the first national leader to publicly recognize the sovereignty of the nascent United States as it fought for independence from Great Britain. The United States bolstered relations ...

02/03/2024

Our June 7-15 "Genuine Greece" small group tour featuring Celebrity Chef Amy Riolo is now $500 off per person! Register by March 15th. If you are a group of 6-8, hurry and book this as your own private tour!

27/02/2024

Join us and acclaimed Chef Amy Riolo at this very Aegean-front taverna on Ikaria for our June 7-15 “Genuine Greece” Cuisine, Culture, & Wellness Small Group Tour. Space is intentionally limited to allow for a truly immersive experience in this island Blue Zone and in the “Gastronomy Capital” of Thessaloniki beforehand. Hurry and grab your seat by March 15! Details via link in profile.

26/02/2024

Less than 3 weeks are left to register for our “Genuine Greece” Cuisine, Culture, and Wellness small group tour to Thessaloniki and Ikaria featuring Celebrity Chef and Mediterranean Diet Expert, Amy Riolo! Here, the iconic White Tower in Thessaloniki has been a landmark along the Thermaic Gulf since the Ottoman occupation in the 15th Century. The structure was originally referred to as “The Red Tower” or “Tower of Blood” given its use as a notorious prison. After the Greeks reclaimed the city in 1912 following the First Balkan War, one story is that it was then painted white to symbolize an end to its brutal past and beginning of hope. The tower also served as a communication center during WW I, antiquities safe, and is now a museum offering resplendent city and water views from its top. This will be one of our many historic sites to explore during our three nights in Thessaloniki. Tour details via link in profile. 🇬🇷

22/02/2024

Morocco's brutal drought from space. A concerning foreshadowing for the Mediterranean Basin.

Reservoirs are running out of water and crops are browning in the North African country.

21/02/2024

This is warm and gentle Father Christos Tsakalos, priest of Perdiki village in the interior of Ikaria. Here he stands with a compassionate countenance in front of the altar at Agia Matrona church. One of the common factors of longevity of Blue Zones such as Ikaria is belonging to a faith-based community or having a spiritual practice. It is believed the social support network, stress outlet, and optimism source are contributors to healthspan. Perhaps Father Tsakalos will grace us with his understanding smile on our June 7-15 “Genuine Greece” Cuisine, Culture, and Wellness small group tour featuring Celebrity Chef and Mediterranean Diet and Lifestyle Expert, Amy Riolo. Registration ends soon on March 15th. Details via link in profile.

20/02/2024

A view from Dionysus’ Cave to the wind-whipped Ikarian Sea. According to legend, the Greek god of wine, revelry, theater, music, fertility, and ecstasy was born on Ikaria. Some accounts have him born on the island’s highest peak, 3,402 foot Mount Pramnos (aka Mount Atheras), then nurtured in this cave while others actually refer to the cave as his birthplace. Regardless, as you can imagine, it’s a pilgrimage spot for Dionysian worshippers, admirers, imitators, and the curious. It also happens to be located near a stunning turquoise cove with a cozy, quiet, pebbly beach (Iero Beach). Dionysus’ spirit is immortalized in Ikaria’s renowned panegyria festivals—all-night commemorations to a village’s patron Saint with copious food and wine, laughter-filled conversation, and joyful music and dancing. To no one’s surprise, such festivals have their origins in pre-Christian Greek antiquity. On our June 7-15 “Genuine Greece” Cuisine, Culture, and Wellness small group tour featuring Celebrity Chef, Culinary Historian, and Mediterranean Lifestyle Specialist, Amy Riolo, we will make our own pilgrimage to Dionysus’ Cave, take a swim, and likely toast him later that evening with strong “Pramnian” (Ikarian) wine referenced in Homer’s “Odyssey.” Registration ends in less than a month—March 15—so act quickly to reserve your special summer experience. Details in link via profile. Amy Riolo Amy Riolo

13/02/2024

How do you prefer your Bougatsa (μπουγάτσα)? Its phonemes alone convey something very full, fulfilling, and overflowing. Do you like your bougatsa with sweet semolina custard and cinnamon bursting through the flaky phyllo? Or a more savory encounter with spinach and cheese spiking the phyllo crunch? Thankfully, you can have it all ways in Thessaloniki where this famous pie of Byzantine origin flourishes on numerous street corners. Greek refugees from Asia Minor after the Greco-Turkish war of 1919-1922 brought these recipes to northeastern Greece and Macedonia where they settled, and Thessaloniki serves up some of the best. On our culinary walk of the city, we will taste both the sweet and the savory—a mix that reflect bougatsa’s bittersweet history. Join us and Celebrity Chef and Culinary Anthropologist, Amy Riolo, on our June 7-15 “Genuine Greece” small group tour which will explore Thessaloniki’s culture and cuisine and Ikaria’s Blue Zone wellness formula. Registration ends on March 15th—just a month away—and spaces are few. Details via link in profile. Alex Safos Amy Riolo

06/02/2024

Windswept wild olive trees on the island of Ikaria, Greece make way for blooms of fragrant thyme in season. Mount Kerkis on the island of Samos looms volcano-like in the distance, rising to 4,705 feet. Relish these pure landscapes and unadulterated Aegean views on our June 7-15 “Genuine Greece” Cuisine, Culture, and Wellness small group tour featuring Celebrity Chef, author, and Mediterranean Diet/Lifestyle Ambassador, Amy Riolo. Register by March 15th. Details via profile.

30/01/2024

Morocco’s rich and colorful culture + its exceptional championship golf courses (designed by standard bearers such as Jack Nicklaus, Robert Trent Jones, and Vijay Singh) = a one-of-a-kind travel experience. A perfect mix of activity, wonder, hospitality, natural beauty, and luxury. We’ve designed an exclusive 12 day/11 night private tour for a golf group of 10-12 (with spa opportunities for non-golfers) which spans Casablanca, Tangier, Chefchaouen, Fes, Ifrane, and Rabat—with an optional extension in Marrakech. Spring or Fall 2024 based on availability. Watch the below video for inspiration, visit www.indigogazelle.com/golf-north-morocco for more information, then contact us to make this a reality! Alex Safos

Indigo Gazelle Private Golf & Culture Tour to Morocco

29/01/2024

The cavernous Agios Demetrios Church in Thessaloniki is dedicated to Saint Demetrios, the city’s patron saint. The basilica was first constructed in the 7th Century AD and has been faithfully restored numerous times after multiple fires and invasions. It is famous for six iconic Byzantine mosaics dating back to its founding and earning the site UNESCO World Heritage status. The vast space is dramatic in its evocation of spiritual solemnity and quiet contemplation. We will experience its awe on our June 7-15 “Genuine Greece” small group tour featuring Celebrity Chef and Mediterranean Wellness Expert, Amy Riolo. Register by March 15th. Details via profile and at www.indigogazelle.com/tours

25/01/2024

Our are that we passionately concur! June 7-15 is your opportunity to experience the of Ikaria, Greece (along with a stay in Thessaloniki) on our exclusive “Genuine Greece” Cuisine, Culture, and Wellness Tour featuring Celebrity Chef and Mediterranean Diet and Lifestyle Ambassador, Amy Riolo. Reserve your place by March 15th. Details: www.indigogazelle.com/tours

This year, travel to one of the healthiest places on earth. We asked Blue Zones expert Dan Buettner for tips on visiting these five destinations, and ways to incorporate longevity habits into your own life.