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
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
Not included
- 7 lunches and 2 dinners
- drinks other than water at meals
- anything not mentioned in the inclusions
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.