Day 1: ATHENS – Arrival Athens
Welcome to Athens the birthplace of Western Civilization, the Capital of Greece! Upon Arrival at Athens International Airport meet with your English speaking escort, transfer to your hotel. A welcome envelope will be handed to you with all relevant information about your trip. Rest of the day at leisure. Overnight Athens
Day 2: Athens – City Tour followed by walking gastronomy tour
Wander the landmarks of Historic Athens including the Acropolis and the New Acropolis Museum focused on the findings from the Acropolis.
Ancient yet modern, classic yet creative, traditional yet constantly changing… Athens is a city of memorable contrasts. The past and the present of Athens unfolds before your eyes while we drive around the city’s highlight spots and monuments like the Temple of Zeus, the Old Stadium, Syntagma square, the Parliament and the Tomb to the Unknown soldier, the Academy, the Library, and the National Gardens. On the natural fortress of the Acropolis, reinforced by the hand of man, stand the Propylaea, the temple of the Winged Victory, Erechtheion with the Porch of the Caryatids and, towering over all, and the majestic Parthenon. A winding path leads to the treasure of antiquity. Visible are the relics of the civilization of which we are the proud inheritors. A few meters away from the Acropolis entrance and the Ancient Theatre of Dionysos, the New Acropolis Museum, built on pedestrian walkway of Dionysiou Areopagitou Street, looks like hanging between the past and the present of Athens.
Designed by Bernard Tschumi and Mihalis Fotiades, the new Acropolis Museum has a total area of 25,000 square meters, with exhibition space of over 14,000 square meters. Made of stainless steel, glass, marble and concrete, materials typical of the Athenian environment, the new museum has a direct view of the Acropolis. With bioclimatic planning, which gives ideal lighting and heating conditions, the New Museum offers all the amenities expected in an international museum of the 21st century.
We will proceed on foot to visit different spots taste local products like olive oil, honey, cheese, wine, vinegar, liquor, and sweets, all made by small producers from all over Greece. Next, it’s a treat from the street, as you sample a koulouri, one of the all-time classic snacks on the go and then a cup of authentic Greek coffee in a wonderful old café. After this, get ready to duck into a boisterous visit to the central fish and meat market, where butchers and fishmongers compete for the attention of Athens’ serious food shoppers. The old Central Market of Athens (Varvakios Agora) that is located exactly in the heart of the city, and learn from your guide about the city culinary history. We will next visit specialty food stores to try local produce cold cuts, and discover some of the hidden stores to purchase tantalizingly fresh fruit, Greek olives, cheese, ham and other alluring deli produce, local wine, aged aromatized vinegar, organic olive oil and honey. Around the corner is the famous spice street of Athens, lined with traditional herb shops that also carry amazing specialty meats and other traditional delicacies. After that you will end up having a lunch, tasting the famous Greek souvlaki!! & traditional
spinach pie. Finally, a last stop to taste of the Greek specialty loukoumades (Greek donuts with honey syrup and almonds) and return you back to your hotel. Overnight Athens
Day 3: From Athens to Delphi & Kalambaka
Drive through the rolling plain of Boeotia, renowned in antiquity for its grain fields and cattle, and through the city of Thebes, birthplace to the tragic King Oedipus and to the divine hero Hercules. From the verdant slopes of Parnassus to the sanctuary of Apollo and the oracle of Pythia, Delphi will surpass the expectations of your imagination. Determined from the eagles of Zeus as the navel of earth, Delphi is one of the most sacred places of Greece perched on the high slopes of Mount Parnassus, indeed its cultural richness designated it as a World Heritage Site from UNESCO. Delphi served as the religious and spiritual centre of ancient civilization that contributed to the cultural development of the entire country. In the central region of Greece, on the way towards the Valley of Peneus river and the enormous Thessaly plain, you will arrive to the majestic, mysterious, astonishing and spiritual monasteries of Meteora. The city of Kalambaka is the city centre of Meteora. Driving alongside, your eyes will be impressed from the amazing monasteries from a distance of eighteen kilometres. It is a city with its hidden mysteries. Dinner & Overnight Kalambaka
Day 4: From Kalambaka to Athens
Breath-taking at first site, the Monasteries are of great cultural and natural importance, honourably included in the UNESCO’S World Heritage list. Split from earthquakes, weathered from the wind and the water over millions of millions of years, these immense rocks are an authentic masterpiece of mother nature. The Holy Monastery of Great Meteoro is the biggest and oldest one. Its name refers to the formation of the gigantic rock on top of which the monastery was built. The Holy monastery of Varlaam, the second biggest monastery, was established from ascetic monk Hosios Varlaam, who lived in a cave as a hermit and built a chapel on top of a rock, during the middle of the 14th century. As we leave the magnificent Meteora behind us on the fourth day, let us not overlook the Battle of Thermopylae of 480 BCE, which has long been the topic of cultural motivation, as it is perhaps the most famous military last stand of all time. The monument of the Great Leonidas, king of Sparta, in Thermopylae, will grace our path on our way back to Athens in the late afternoon. Overnight Athens
Day 5: From Athens to Mykonos
After breakfast transfer to Piraeus port for embarkation to the high-speed boat for Mykonos Island. Upon arrival, in Mykonos meet with your English speaking Escort and transfer to your hotel. Rest of the day at leisure. Overnight Mykonos
Day 6: Mykonos – Day at leisure
Day at leisure to relax and recharge! Overnight Mykonos
Day 7: From Mykonos to Santorini
After breakfast transfer to port for embarkation to the high-speed boat for Santorini Island. Upon arrival at Santorini meet with your English speaking Escort and transfer to your hotel. Rest of the day at leisure Overnight Santorini
Day 8: Santorini – Catamaran Semi-Private Cruise up to 14 pax (15:30-after sunset)
Enjoy a dramatic sunset while dining on board
Set sail from the picturesque Marina of Vlychada and enjoy sailing along with the magnificent coastal scenery of Santorini. Your first photo shooting stop is at the Red Beach in Akrotiri, one of the most beautiful beaches of the island with the red rocks and the dark pebbles. Move on and reach the White Beach – accessible only by boat – and the Mesa Pigadia swimming spot and snorkel in the crystal-clear blue waters with the rich underwater environment and reefs. Then sail past the Indian Rock, the Venetian Light House of Akrotiri. Pass by the Aspronisi Island and marvel at the glorious views of the Caldera and the cliff-hanging white houses. Sail around the must-see Volcano coast and stop at its’ hot springs, where you can treat yourself to a natural spa in the thermal mixed volcanic mud waters. One more stop follows up, this time to a secluded private bay and plunge in the majestic waters as our attentive crew prepares for you a delicious meal. At the end of this unique sailing experience, we head back to the Marina of Vlychada.
Overnight Santorini
Day 9: From Santorini Island to Athens
Morning at leisure. Transfer to Santorini port for embarkation to the high-speed boat for Athens. Upon arrival at Piraeus port transfer to your hotel. Overnight Athens
Day 10: Departure from Athens
After breakfast transfer to Athens International airport for your departure flight back home.