Canaves Collection Launches ‘Harvest & Heritage’: 5 Immersive Experiences Connecting Guests with the Real Santorini

For 40 years, the Chaidemenos family has welcomed guests to Santorini’s most iconic cliffs. In 2026, they go deeper — introducing a series of hands-on experiences that bring the island’s makers, seafarers, and storytellers directly into the guest journey.

The Experiences

1. Clay Workshops with a Fourth-Generation Potter

In a working ceramics studio, guests shape clay alongside Andreas Makaris — a fourth-generation potter whose family originally hails from Naxos. Andreas relocated to Santorini in the 1980s and has spent decades creating pieces inspired by prehistoric ceramics found at the ancient site of Akrotiri. His handcrafted vases were selected to furnish the newest suites at Canaves Ena in 2024.

Sessions are conducted in Greek with translation, offering a genuinely local atmosphere — surrounded by handcrafted vessels, from traditional wine jugs to contemporary glazed pieces. Guests leave with a piece they’ve made themselves.

Ideal for: design lovers, families, travelers seeking meaningful souvenirs

2. A Sea-to-Table Journey

Guests board a boat with Kostas Papalexopoulos, a lifelong Santorinian seafarer, for a journey along Oia’s dramatic cliffs. The route passes the chapel rock of Agios Nikolaos and the historic vakouses — cave dwellings carved into volcanic rock once used by fishermen as winter shelters and summer homes.

The destination is Armeni Restaurant, a beloved local institution at the water’s edge. On arrival, guests choose from that morning’s fresh catch — dorado, sea bream, red mullet, sardines — which is then grilled simply, letting the flavours of the Aegean take centre stage.

Ideal for: food lovers, couples, guests who want to experience Santorini from the water

3. Field-to-Table Cooking Classes at a Santorinian Vineyard

At Aroma Avlis, the restaurant of Artemis Karamolegos Winery, guests gather around a communal table to cook traditional Santorinian dishes with seasonal ingredients from the estate and nearby farms. The experience is led by Margarita Karamolegou, from one of the island’s most respected winemaking families — known for over 20 years of crafting Assyrtiko wines that reflect Santorini’s volcanic terroir.

The menu includes dishes that define the island’s culinary identity: tomatokeftedes (Santorini’s famous cherry tomato fritters), fava (the island’s creamy split-pea purée), pork simmered in Vinsanto wine, grilled octopus, and local cheeses including kefalotyri and feta.

Ideal for: food and wine enthusiasts, couples, groups

4. Private Photography Sessions in Santorini’s Hidden Corners

Most visitors see the same Santorini. This experience, guided by Machos Kapetanakis of Kapetanakis Studios, takes guests to a different one — the black-sand shores of Vlychada, the volcanic cliffs of Akrotiri, the winding paths of Pyrgos, and little-known caldera viewpoints in Oia.

Sessions can be timed around golden hour for the soft, warm light that Santorini is famous for. Guests return with a curated collection of photographs — and memories of corners they’d never have found alone.

Ideal for: honeymooners, photography enthusiasts, guests celebrating milestones

5. Insider Walking Tours from Akrotiri to Hidden Village Tavernas 

Eugenia Liodaki, a native Santorinian, leads guests through the island’s quieter side — sun-warmed courtyards, peaceful village streets, and hidden corners most visitors never reach. Stops include the hilltop village of Pyrgos, the iconic chapel of Agios Nikolaos, and the ancient ruins of Akrotiri, with rare insider access that goes beyond the standard tourist trail.

Along the way, guests taste freshly baked pastries, regional wines, and local delicacies in family-run tavernas — participating in daily island life, not just observing it.

Ideal for: culture seekers, history lovers, curious travellers