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Athens & the Greek Islands

(2 customer reviews)

We love Greece so much that we try to go there every year to discover a new island or a new corner of Athens. There are so many islands that it’s easy to design and itinerary that suits your interests. Whether you’re looking for a relaxing beach-getaway or a deep dive into ancient history or off-the-beaten-track hiking, we’ve got you covered. You can begin in Athens, which has become one of Europe’s most lively capital cities, or fly directly to the islands (Santorini, Naxos, Rhodes all have airports, among others). Here below are a few ideas for island-hopping around the islands.
*** Sept 30 – Oct 11 (2024) departure is 11 night/12 days and goes to Athens and the islands of Crete, Santorini and Naxos
Duration: 7 nights / 8 days (** Sept/Oct 2024 departure is 11 nights/12 days)
Dates: Sept 30 - Oct 11, 2024 (private departures available upon request)
Trip starts/ends: Athens (2024 tour ends in Naxos)
Activity level: 1 - 3+ – EASY to MODERATE: You can enjoy the islands with an easy “light active” tour or add some hiking of varying levels of difficulty [more info]
Group size: min 4 - max 14

Highlights

  • guided visit of the Acropolis and Acropolis Museum
  • orientation walk through Athens’ Plaka district
  • Spectacular hike along the crater rim on Santorini
  • Visit of the ancient Minoan site of Akrotiri
  • Sea kayak adventure on Santorini
  • Winery visit and tasting on Santorini
  • Hike on Naxos past a Crusader castle and explore the Venetian citadel in town
  • Visit and tasting at traditional ‘kitron’ distillery on Naxos
  • Private all-day catamaran trip along the coast of Naxos
  • Enjoy luxury hotels on wide sandy beaches in both Santorini and Naxos
    *** 2024 departure also spends 4 nights on the island of Crete! 

Trip price includes

  • 8 nights in 3 and 4-star hotels
  • 8 breakfasts, 6 dinners and 1 lunch
  • all visits and transfers as per itinerary
  • at least 1 guide to accompany you throughout the week
    *** 2024 Sept 30 departure includes 11 nights

Not included

  • 7 lunches and 2 dinners
  • drinks other than water at meals
  • anything not mentioned in the inclusions

ITINERARY

2024 Athens – Crete – Naxos – Santorini Itinerary: 

Day 1: Independent arrival in Athens
Meet your guide at your hotel this afternoon for an informal walk around the city followed by drinks and dinner. We visit the Acropolis and Acropolis Museum the following morning before flying to Crete so you may want to arrive a day or two early if you’d like more time in Athens. 1 night Athens.

Days 2-5: Visit the Acropolis then fly to Crete
See the Acropolis this morning and then pack up and fly to the island of Crete this afternoon. You’ll love the beautiful beaches, colorful towns, and fascinating history of this Greek island that holds tightly to its local traditions. It’s one of the biggest islands in the Mediterranean and was home to the powerful Minoan kingdom. We have a few walks plus a hands-on cooking lesson and wine tasting and stay in the charming town of Chania plus one night in Heraklion. 4 nights Crete.

Days 6-8: Santorini Island
Take a short ferry hop from Crete to the spectacular island of Santorini, whose white-washed houses and black-sand beaches have captivated visitors for decades. The island used to be a massive volcano but an eruption in c. 1600 BC left only a dramatic crescent around a watery crater, which led some to link the island to the lost city of Atlantis. We’ll hike the crater rim, spend a morning exploring the coast in sea kayaks, and see some amazing ancient ruins, where you’ll see 3-story houses and indoor plumbing from 4,000 years ago! 3 nights Santorini.

Days 9-11: Naxos Island
Take a ferry this morning to Naxos, the biggest and greenest of the Cyclades island chain. It has been a center of civilization for millennia and then became capital of the Cyclades Archipelago when the whole area was under Venetian control. We’ll stay near a wide sandy beach just outside of the old town and have a variety of fun activities, from hiking to sailing to exploring the ancient Venetian citadel. 3 nights Naxos.

Day 12: Tour Ends on Naxos
Your tour ends this morning on Naxos since there are various options for continuing your journey. You can take a ferry back to Athens or else hop a short flight if you’re going directly to the airport. Or continue your exploration and visit another island!


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SAMPLE  Athens – Naxos – Amorgos Itinerary: 

Days 1-2: Arrival and Visit of Athens
Meet your guide at your hotel this afternoon for an informal walk around the city followed by drinks and dinner. On Day 2 we have a guided visit of the Acropolis and Acropolis Museum, then you have free time to explore some of the other sights in the city. 2 nights Athens.

Days 3-5: Transfer and visit of Naxos Island
Take a ferry this morning to Naxos, the biggest and greenest of the Cyclades island chain. It has been a center of civilization for millennia and then became capital of the Cyclades Archipelago when the whole area was under Venetian control. We’ll stay near a wide sandy beach just outside of the old town and have a variety of fun activities, from hiking to sailing to exploring the ancient Venetian citadel. 3 nights Naxos.

Day 6-8: Transfer and visit of Amorgos Island
Go even farther into the blue this morning with a ferry over to Amorgos, one of the most impressive islands of the Cyclades. Explore the pretty hilltop villages and colorful port towns, hike the rugged mountain trails, visit a spectacular monastery that clings to a sheer rock face, and then dive into azure waters at the end of the day. 3 nights Amorgos.

Day 9: Tour Ends
Your tour ends this morning with a ferry back to Athens. Or continue your exploration and visit another island! We also love exploring the lesser-visited parts of famous Santorini!

Optional: Santorini
Santorini is one of the most famous islands in the world – and for good reason! White-washed towns grace the top of a jet-black crater like icing on a cookie, and hotels spill down the sides with their glittering tiny blue swimming pools. Its beauty has attracted millions of tourists from around the world who flock to it for their honeymoons, holidays and photo shoots. But it also has a 5,000 year old history and some very interesting archaeological sites and museums, with rich culinary and wine-making traditions. It also has an airport, which makes it a convenient start or end to our Greek island adventure.

 

Other Islands:

  • Hydra: a quick hop from Athens, this island is traffic free and has no cars!
  • Poros: just an hour from Athens, this pretty island is a nice break from the city
  • Andros: this island lies en route to Naxos from Athens for an added stop
  • Tinos: between Andros and Naxos, it has a historical church that’s famous in Greece as a pilgrimage site as well as numerous hikes and a sweet port town
  • Rhodes: farther southeast, this larger island played a critical role in the history of the Crusades as home to the Knights of Saint John (later The Knights of Rhodes). Use it as a base for exploring the Dodecanese island chain.
  • Other…? We’re happy to add new islands to our repertoire!

 

Getting there and away: You can fly directly to the Athens international airport, or skip Athens if you’ve already been and fly directly to one of the bigger islands to start your trip. Post-tour we can return to Athens or arrange for you to fly out of an island with an airport.

from €3,190 (** 2024 10-night trip price starts at €4,500)
[info on prices]

2 reviews for Athens & the Greek Islands

  1. Andrea E. –

    We just completed this amazing trip with Claire and her local tour expert in Greece and the Islands. We LOVE putting ourselves in Claire’s hands because we know (having enjoyed an amazing tour in Italy with her years ago) that she scouts all the best untouristed hotels and restaurants for amazing beach locations with easy access to towns and the most amazing culinary experiences (indulging us in a dessert specialty and bakery treat every so often). Her hiking, kayaking, and sailing excursions are nothing short of spectacular fun. Claire’s hunt for historical and scenic adventure (not to mention her professionalism and ongoing friendship) is what is going to set the Wild Sage experience above other travel companies. I can’t wait to schedule our next trip–THANK YOU!

  2. Mary –

    Such a wonderful trip! We have been traveling with Claire for years and she never disappoints. Highlights of this tour included the archeological site at Akrotiri and a fabulous kayaking day on Santorini. And Naxos is the perfect Greek Island — uncrowded, scenic, and with beautiful beaches and historic sites!

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Activity Levels

Some tours have a range of activity levels through the week, where some walks may be more challenging than others, but this will give you a general idea of the type of walking/hiking involved on your tour.

1 – EASY: City walking, all or mostly paved, minimal climbing
2 – GENTLE: Moderate hills & easy terrain
3 – MODERATE: Some sustained hills with occasional steep grades on a mix of terrains
4 – HIKE: Classic hiking with rough/rocky terrain, sustained hills, and longer mileage
5 – CHALLENGING: Challenging hiking with steep climbs and descents over rocky terrain and some longer mileage

See below for more detail:

1 – EASY: City walking, all or mostly paved, with minimal climbing (though some cities may have steeper inclines). Archaeological sites may be unpaved but the grades and difficulty level is easy. TOURS: Sicily Coast-to-Coast and any “light active” version of a tour

2 – GENTLE: Moderate hills & easy terrain
The terrain is easy to navigate with packed earth or gravel roads. There are some climbs but nothing too challenging. TOURS: Tuscany, Puglia, Provence
[2+ The “plus” indicates more challenging terrain though the walks are gentle].

3 – MODERATE: Some sustained hills with occasional steep grades and rocky terrain
Here you find a mix of terrain with some steep stretches.
TOURS: Corsica, Sardinia, some of the Dolomites tours, and some hikes on the Greek Islands
[3+ The plus indicates rockier terrain or lots of stone steps (Amalfi, the Cinque Terre) or greater elevation gain/loss (the Dolomites)].

4 — HIKE: Classical hiking with rough terrain, sustained hills, and more mileage. These hikes are on a mix of rough terrain, sometimes involving steep stretches and difficult footing. TOURS: some of our hikes in Sardinia, some of the days in the Cinque Terre, some of the variants of our Dolomites tours.

5 – CHALLENGING: Longer days, challenging climbs, rocky terrain. We don’t do a lot of seriously challenging tours but we do have a Dolomites trip where we hike from hut to hut, so that’s probably the closest we get to a 5.

Info on prices

The price indicated is for a minimum of 6 people and our basic itinerary based on double occupancy (a “single supplement” covers hotel prices only, we apply no extra fees). Departures with fewer people or with upgraded hotels will have a higher price. We can organize private departures for any number of people but prices vary depending on number of participants. Please contact us for details!