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Islands & Cyclades of Greece – 8 Days

$ 1,350.00

Take in Greece’s highlights as you explore the country’s beautiful islands. Discover the iconic nightlife of Mykonos and the rugged volcanic landscape of Santorini in the Cyclades.

8 days showcases Mykonos, Delos, Paros, Gulf of Marathi, Naxos and Santorini.

Description

DAY 1 ARRIVE ATHENS
Upon arrival, after clearing Customs and Immigration, a local driver will meet you, and then you will be transferred to your centrally located hotel for check-in.


Moderate
* * *
Featured Merderate Hotel or similar

  • Pefkos City Hotel


Superior
* * * *
Featured Superior Hotel or similar

  • Ajax Hotel


Luxury
* * * * *
Featured Luxury Hotel or similar

  • The Royal Apollonia

In the afternoon, meet your driver and guide and depart for Cape Sounio.

Driving along the coastal road past the wonderful beaches of Glyfada, Vouliagmeni, Varkiza and countless coves, one has a splendid view of the Saronic Gulf. A crowning feature of the tour Cape Sounion dominated by the spectacular Temple of Poseidon overlooking the Aegean sea.

Sounio has been a sacred site since very ancient times. The “sanctuary of Sounion” is first mentioned in the Odyssey, as the place where Menelaus stopped during his return from Troy to bury his helmsman, Phrontes Onetorides.

Cape Sounion is also noted as the site of an ancient Greek temple of Poseidon, the god of the sea in Greek classical mythology. In a maritime country like Greece, the god of the sea was bound to occupy a high position in the divine hierarchy (in power, Poseidon was considered second only to Zeus). The temple at Cape Sounion, constructed in 444-440 BC, therefore, was a venue where mariners, and also entire cities or states, could propitiate Poseidon, by making animal sacrifice, or leaving gifts.

DAY 2 ATHENS
After breakfast in your hotel. Please walk 5 minutes from your hotel to the Hotel Amalia Athens (400 meter) to meet your driver and guide and depart for your half day tour to visit the Acropolis & the new Acropolis Museum with your English speaking guide.

The striking contrast between breathtaking monuments of a glorious past and modern elegant structures is what you will enjoy during your tour of Athens.

Visit the Acropolis,the crowning beauty and glory of Ancient Athens, with its many monuments atop its rocky base, including the awesome Parthenon, the Propylea, the temple of Athena Nike and the Erechtheion, with its Porch of Maidens.

Drive to the Roman Temple of Olympic Zeus, the Panathinaikon Stadium (site of the first modern Olympic Games in 1896), the Tomb of the unknown Soldier in front of the Parliament House on Constitution Square. See views of government buildings and elegant structures of the 19th century.

Drive along Panepistimiou Avenue and view the Catholic Cathedral, the Academy, University, National Library. In contrast, conclude your tour with a visit to the new Acropolis museum, a marvel of architecture with a full exhibition of the glory of Ancient Athens.

The rest of the day is free at leisure.

Day 3: ATHENS – MYKONOS
After your breakfast at hotel, you are met in your hotel and transferred to Athens airport for your flight to Mykonos.

On arrival, transfer from airport to your hotel and Rest of the day is free at leisure.


Moderate
* * *
Featured Merderate Hotel or similar

  • Pefkos City Hotel


Superior
* * * *
Featured Superior Hotel or similar

  • Ajax Hotel


Luxury
* * * * *
Featured Luxury Hotel or similar

  • The Royal Apollonia

Mykonos bathed in brilliant light, filled with windmills, cool “Meltemi” (north wind) blowing is one of the most cosmopolitan places for intellectuals, artists, and ordinary tourists from all over the world – a “homeland” weather holiday.

Day 4: MYKONOS – DELOS – MYKONOS
Boat trips to Delos. Mythology linked Delos with the birth of Artemis and Apollo, god of light, wisdom and poetry. Since the island was for millennia a sacred place of worship, and was forbidden to mortals.

Today the island is uninhabited. A unique large excavation of the ancient world, a place which for nearly a millennium was the political and religious center of the Aegean Sea and continues to attract thousands of visitors every year as a place of worship. Particularly impressive is the way of the Lions, the three temples of Apollo, altars, sacred inscriptions and incomparably beautiful mosaics.

Early in the afternoon return to Mykonos, have dinner and rest.

Day 5: MYKONOS – PAROS
Depending on the ferries during the morning or afternoon, excursion by boat to Paros (approx. 2 hours journey).

Early afternoon arrival in Paros: Transfer to our hotel – delivery rooms, a brief meeting at the hotel reception.


Moderate
* * *
Featured Merderate Hotel or similar

  • Pefkos City Hotel


Superior
* * * *
Featured Superior Hotel or similar

  • Ajax Hotel


Luxury
* * * * *
Featured Luxury Hotel or similar

  • The Royal Apollonia

For the rest of the day we take a walk in the port of Parikia, which is also the capital of the island, in the same place that the ancient city was located. Dominated by the ruins of the Venetian fortress, the houses hiding behind a sea of flowers, basil and jasmine, windows and doors, according to custom, are always open to “Welcome foreigners”. Cobbled streets lead us to one of the most impressive monuments of Christianity, the church Katopyliani or Ekatontapiliani with many legends. The precious relics kept here, pictures, paintings, sculptured ornaments. The temple is dedicated to the Assumption.

Day 5: GULF OF MARATHI, LAFKA
Tour of the island to visit the ancient marbles of the Gulf of Marathi, which made the island very rich in ancient times. Here they had the best marble in all of Europe. The most famous ancient sculptures such as the Venus de Milo, the Hermes of Praxiteles etc. are made of Parian marble.

Visit the village Lafka (short stroll). Later, you can go to the beach “Meadow” or “Gold Coast” for a swim.

In return we will visit the picturesque harbor of Naoussa. Here you can dine.

DAY 7: PAROS – NAXOS – PAROS
Early in the morning by boat to Naxos. First, our arrival at the port of Naxos, you can see the Portara, in Greek it means “great gate”.

We will visit the archaeological gate of the temple that was dedicated to the god Apollo, and the Orthodox cathedral “Metropolis.” The trails are narrow and partly covered with curvature roofs, steep turns and unexpected deadlocks. We will visit the museum with findings of the Cycladic civilization and the nearby village “Moni” with a late ancient Christian church (6 cent.) “Panagia Drosiani” which contains frescoes dating to the 7th century.

Return to the port of Naxos, and late afternoon return to Paros. Transfer to hotel, dinner and rest.

DAY 8: PAROS – SANTORINI
In the afternoon boat from Paros to Santorini. The island stands out from all the other islands of the Cyclades, for the strange shape and geological structure due to the catastrophic explosion of a currently inactive volcano. An interesting view at the harbor entrance is that of the steep wall, the ridge is filled with white houses. The coast drops sharply on the west, the east coast is flat and the beaches are sandy and pebbly and ideal for swimming.


Moderate
* * *
Featured Merderate Hotel or similar

  • Pefkos City Hotel


Superior
* * * *
Featured Superior Hotel or similar

  • Ajax Hotel


Luxury
* * * * *
Featured Luxury Hotel or similar

  • The Royal Apollonia

We arrive late afternoon in the harbor. Transfer to hotel. There’s a chance after the distribution of rooms for a short walk to village Oia, to enjoy the sunset. Return to the Hotel.

Day 9: PROPHET ELIAS, KAMENI
After breakfast we have another important element in our program for today.

We are going by bus to “Prophet Elias” a point that you can enjoy the spectacular views of the island. Then continue to the Cape. Here we will visit a Minoan settlement from the 2nd century BC that was buried beneath volcanic ash.

On the way back we will make a brief stop at a winery for a tasting and then we will visit the archeological museum.

The afternoon will be boat trip to the volcano island Kameni.

Return to the hotel in Santorini, dinner and rest.

Day 10: RETURN HOME
Early in the morning with the first flight fly from Santorini to Athens and then back home.


Privately customized tour
ON REQUEST
Quote will be based on the season of travel, number of passengers, category of the hotel used.

Additional information

OVERVIEW

Take in Greece’s highlights as you explore the country’s beautiful islands. Discover the iconic nightlife of Mykonos and the rugged volcanic landscape of Santorini in the Cyclades.

DEPARTURE

Group departure guaranteed for minimum 2 travelers.

HOTELS

Hand Picked for individual booking.

INCLUSIONS

Accommodation at the hotel of choice with daily breakfast
Ferry transportation between the Islands
Sightseeing tours with English speaking Guide

EXCLUSIONS

City Taxes / Tourist Fee charged by local government.
International Airfare/train ticket, Call 1-888-887-1688 to get a quote from your home city
Travel insurance. visa fees, gratuities, drinks, personal spending and optional activities.
Personal expenses, extras in the hotels, tips to guides and drivers and beverages

QUESTIONS

Should you have any further questions, please call 1888-887-1688 for assistance.

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