NEW YORK – Greek-Australian construction magnate Peter Maneas continues his mission to set foot on all the inhabited Greek Islands through his landmark television series My Greek Odyssey. 

The team from My Greek Odyssey announced on December 16 that Series Four of this visual and historic feast will be served up on December 23. After a year filled with turmoil and heartache, with so many people enduring the pain caused by COVID-19, host and Executive Producer of the show, Peter Maneas felt he had to do something to help provide some joy and momentary respite to fans of My Greek Odyssey. 

Maneas told The National Herald, “I’ve always been passionate about Greece and travelling in general. But this year the happiness I get from spending time in the islands and sharing the journey with friends and family was taken away from me. But thankfully we had already filmed series four of the show. So I tasked the production team with completing it as quickly as possible, so we could give people somewhat of a distraction from the everyday. My hope is that by experiencing a slice of Greece vicariously through me, I may be able to bring a small amount of joy to those stuck at home and longing for a holiday.” 

My Greek Odyssey Series 4 from My Greek Odyssey – Peter Maneas on Vimeo.

Series Four of My Greek Odyssey follows Maneas as he travels through the southern islands of the Dodecanese. From Kos to Symi and Rhodes, all the way down to Kastellorizo. It is a region of Greece with significant influence from Asia Minor, and landscapes quite unlike other parts of the Mediterranean. The history is as dramatic as the scenery, and, of course, the cuisine is unforgettable. There are the clichéd beaches and wonderful people, plus unique cultural elements that give each destination its own personality. Maneas will be cruising through the islands on the magnificent Mia Zoi, his yacht, and along the way chef Kyriako will be cooking local delicacies, while Captain Yianni will make sure Maneas doesn’t miss any of the regional highlights. 

Initially, Series Four will be available to view on Vimeo on Demand via this link https://vimeo.com/ondemand/mygreekodyssey.   

The team is also working on making the series available on Amazon Prime with a likely launch in March 2021. 

Peter Maneas in My Greek Odyssey series 4 approaching Kazi. (Photo: My Greek Odyssey)

Episode 1 

In the first episode, Maneas arrives on the island of Kos. It’s the third largest island in the Dodecanese, and the second most populous. So apart from there being plenty of landmass to explore, there’s also loads of interesting people to chat to along the way. Maneas will be covering every inch of the island, by foot, bike, boat and car, so it’s going to be a busy few days. 

Episode 2 

In this episode, Maneas makes his way across to Nisyros. After spending the first few days of this trip to Greece exploring the busy hub of Kos, it was time to go somewhere a little more relaxed, which Nisyros sure is. Despite being known for its volcanic heart and quaint towns, it doesn’t have the infrastructure and resorts that draw in the masses. So that means things move just a touch slower. 

Peter Maneas amid pumice stones in My Greek Odyssey series 4. (Photo: My Greek Odyssey)

Episode 3 

Following visits to Kos and Nisyros, Maneas finds himself headed to the tiny island of Tilos. It’s one of those off the beaten path destinations and remains relatively untouched by mass tourism. From there, he makes his way to the picture perfect island of Symi, which unlike Tilos, gets its fair share of holidaymakers. “Both islands have their charms and unique stories, and we’ll do our best to bring them to life for you,” said Maneas. 

Episode 4 

Maneas continues spending time on Symi in episode 4. He’d already spent a couple of days here, but with so much to see and do, he decided to stay the week. Maneas is also going to visit one of the smaller nearby islands, Alimia, abandoned for about 50 years. “This little gem has some great stories that have sat under the radar for way too long,” Maneas noted. 

Peter Maneas in My Greek Odyssey series 4 with Chef Kyriakos. (Photo: My Greek Odyssey)

Episode 5 

Episode five finds Maneas on his way to Chalki. “It’s another one of those beautiful islands that most folks have never heard of. It’s a place of contrasts. The seafront in the port area is alive with people and energy, but the interior of the island is a barren landscape with very few inhabitants,” Maneas said. After Chalki, Karpathos is next, where Maneas experiences its unique culture in more ways than one. 

Episode 6 

In this episode, Maneas begins his time on Karpathos. He has never been to this huge island, so naturally, he was keen to see as much as he could. This episode finds Maneas with a couple more days to explore the place, before heading south to another island he has never visited – Kasos. So prepare to see Maneas a little more excited than normal! 

Episode 7 

In this episode Maneas arrives on the Island of the Knights, Rhodes. “It’s one of the most well-known destinations in the world, and it’s easy to see why,” Maneas said. “It’s a place that constantly amazes, with grand architecture, dramatic history, and even more spectacular landscapes.” Maneas shows all the major sites, but also some of the unique experiences that locals have kept to themselves. 

Peter Maneas in My Greek Odyssey series 4. (Photo: My Greek Odyssey)

Episode 8 

In the final episode of the series, Maneas leaves the largest island in the group, Rhodes, and heads east to one of the smallest, Kastellorizo. It’s in the farthest corner of Greece, sitting just off the coast of Turkey. Maneas also pops across to the Turkish mainland where he shows us a little fishing town. The long journey also includes a visit to the tiny island of Ro with a significant personal story of a lady – the ‘Lady of Ro’ – who embodies a spirit of pride, determination, and resistance with which many Greeks identify. 

More information is available online: https://www.mygreekodyssey.com/.