Itinerary

Day 1 – Monday, September 11, 2023. Arrive in Athens
Arrive at the Eleftheros Venizelos International airport in Athens, a city of 3.2 million people, clear customs and be escorted to our hotel. Early in the evening our Greek guide will lead us on a short walking tour of the Plaka, the scenic old city in the shadow of the Acropolis, with narrow winding streets, old neoclassical mansions with red tile roofs and balconies with flowers, Greek taverns with live performances, cafes, street salesmen, and tourist shops. We will have a welcome dinner in a traditional Greek tavern with our guide and learn about our upcoming adventure, and enjoy the ambience of the ancient city, the birthplace of democracy.

We lodge at the at the Acropolis Hill Hotel located in the heart of the old city and only a short walk to the Acropolis. Amenities include free Wi-FI, a rooftop terrace with Athens and Acropolis views, outdoor swimming pool, and a lobby bar. (D)

Day 2 – Tuesday, September 12, 2023. Sightseeing in Athens
Athens was the heart of Ancient Greece, a powerful civilization and empire. The city is still dominated by 5th -Century BC landmarks. In the morning with our guide we visit the Acropolis, or City on the Hill. The Acropolis is located on a flat topped rock that rises 490 feet above Athens and includes the inspiring temples and monuments to their mythological gods. The Acropolis is dominated by the Parthenon, a marble Doric temple; the Propylaia, an entrance monument; the small Temple of Athena Nike; the impressive Erechtheion Temple and other historical structures. We next visit the Acropolis Museum, an archaeological museum focused on the findings of the archaeological site of the Acropolis. The museum was built to house every artifact found on the rock and on the surrounding slopes, from the Greek Bronze Age to Roman and Byzantine Greece. We have the afternoon free to relax, shop or explore Athens. We lodge at the Acropolis Hill Hotel. (B)

Day 3 – Wednesday, September 13, 2023. Fly to Santorini – Caldera Hike
In the morning we fly to the Island of Santorini located about 120 miles to the southeast from the mainland and check into our hotel located in Fira, the capitol of Santorini with a population of 13,500. Fira is perched on a cliff 1,300 feet above the sea. The Island was the site of one of the largest volcanic eruption in recorded history. This eruption occurred about 3,600 years ago at the height of the ancient Minoan civilization. The eruption caused the collapse of the volcanoes’ central part forming a large water filled crater (caldera) and a arch-shaped volcanic rim that rises steeply from the caldera. There are numerous small islands in the caldera around the major island. The Santorini Volcano is one of the few active volcanoes in Greece.

In the afternoon we hike the picturesque Caldera Trail along the rim of the caldera from the town of Fira to the town Oia. This 6.2 mile long hike is one of the most spectacular hikes in the Greece. This ancient trail passes through four small stunning villages and proceeds along pavement, cobble and dirt trails. The whitewashed houses, blue-domed churches, rugged coastline, panoramic views of the blue Aegean, caldera and volcano make this a photogenic hike. The hike ends in Oia, Santorini’s most picturesque town which is famous for its breathtaking sunsets. Oia has two types of houses; the cave house dug into the volcanic rock on the caldera cliff and the Captains house. The town has a myriad of colorful streets, awesome views and world class wine and food, and excellent shopping. We have dinner at a local restaurant and enjoy a magnificent sunset before we return to our hotel in Fira. We lodge at the Astir Thira Hotel which is located near the center of town and has free Wi-FI and a pool.

Day 4 – Thursday, September 14, 2023. Akrotiri Archaeological Site –Red Beach – Wine Country Lunch – Oldest Today we learn about the Minoan Civilization. First, we visit the Museum of Prehistoric Thera. It is one of the most important museums of Greece as it houses the artifacts of the Minoan civilization. Next we head to the south end of the island to the Akrotiri archaeological site. Akrotiri, a Cycladic Bronze Age (Minoan) settlement was destroyed by the volcanic eruption of the 1,650 BC and was buried in volcanic ash which preserved the remains of fine frescoes and many artworks. Our guide will introduce us to Akrotiri as we walk the paths between the well-maintained buildings, that Minoans lived in so many centuries ago.

Next, we stop for a short visit to the nearby Red Beach, considered to be one of the most famous and beautiful beaches in Santorini. This spectacular beach, located at the base of a steep volcanic slope, has red volcanic sand and a Mars- like scenery.

Next we head north to the mountainous wine country for an awesome lunch. Santorini has a unique micro-climate for grapes and wines are the islands most famous product. We have a 4-course lunch and sample four exquisite local wines perfectly paired with the courses.

After lunch we visit the nearby village of Pyrgos, the oldest village on the island, perched high on a mountain with panoramic views of Santorini. This picturesque village is considered to be the most beautiful and best preserved village in Santorini. This postcard perfect village has five medieval castles, blue-domed churches and whitewashed cave houses with colorful flowers.

We next travel to a nearby Prophet Elias Mountain which is the highest point, 1860 feet, on the island. The Prophet Elias Monastery here, which was built in 1711, is one of the oldest on the island. From this location we have all encompassing awesome panoramic views of the entire island of Santorini. We return to the Astir Thira Hotel . (B,L)

Day 5 – Friday, September 15, 2023. Santorini Volcano Tour
Today we visit three small volcanic islands in the Caldera. First we sail for 20 minutes to the uninhabited island of Nea Kamen and the Neo Kamen Volcanic Park. This island is composed of black lava rock and has smoking craters and sulfurous hot springs. With our guide we hike 45 minutes to the volcanic crater. We spend about 90 minutes on this island. Next we sail to the uninhabited island of Palea Kameni. The landscape is wild, with black rock and the water around the island is warm due to the thermal hot springs. These waters are mixed with mud that contains sulfur, iron and other minerals that are good for the skin, rheumatism, arthritis and other physical pains. We stop here for 30 minutes and we can swim if we wish.

We next visit the island of Thirassia which is 3.4 square miles in size and has one village with a population of 300 people. This island is still untouched by tourism and a modern lifestyle. We explore the picturesque and traditional village of Manolas and have an authentic Santorini cuisine for lunch. At the end of the tour we return to the Astir Thira Hotel. (B,L))

Day 6 – Saturday, September 16, 2023. Ferry Boat to Heraklion, Crete- Minoan Archaeological Museum
We have the morning free to explore Fira. At noon, we transfer to the port and board a high speed ferry for a two hour trip to Heraklion, a port city on the north coast of Crete with a population of 174,000. In the afternoon we visit the Heraklion Archaeological Museum located in Heraklion. It is one of the greatest museums in Greece and the best in the world for Minoan art, as it contains by far the most important and complete collection of artefacts of the Minoan civilization of Crete.

We lodge at the DOM Boutique Hotel a 4 star Hotel located at Heraklion Center. It has 37 elegantly designed rooms with balconies, a lobby bar, free Wi-Fi and breakfast is included. The hotel combines modern lines and high technology to create an authentic Cretan hospitality. (B)

Day 7 – Sunday, September 17, 2023. Knossos Archaeological Site – Authentic Cretan Culinary Experience -Chania
In the morning, we explore the Knossos, the largest and most important archaeological site in Crete. Knossos was the glorious capital of Minoan Crete and one of the most powerful cities in the eastern Mediterranean and an ancient place steeped in legend. Knossos is crowned by the hilltop Palace of Knossos which was built around 2,000 BC and has a fascinating history that stretches all the way back to the earliest European civilizations.

We next have lunch and then drive west for 88 miles to Chania and check into our hotel. Chania, Crete’s capitol and most evocative city is located on the northwest coast of Crete. It has a population of 109,000 people. It’s known for its 14th-century Venetian harbor, beautiful Venetian mansions, fountains, churches, narrow streets and waterfront restaurants. At the harbor entrance there is a 16th-century lighthouse with Venetian, Egyptian and Ottoman influences.

Later in the afternoon we drive south to the small village of Sebroias, located high in the mountains at an elevation of 2,000 feet. The one hour drive takes us through scenic mountainous landscapes. The inhabitants of Sebronas are farmers and gardeners. They have many kinds of livestock and grow a diversity of crops and they are self-sufficient. The climate of Sebronas and its pristine spring water create conditions excellent for growing chestnuts, walnuts, apples, kiwi, and may other fruits and vegetables. Our destination is Eleni’s Restaurant which has been operating for over a hundred years, from generation to generation. Eleni Restaurant, an extension of her farm, provides a unique culinary experience as their food comes from seasonal crops and ingredients from the homestead.

Eleni will welcome us and guide us to the ancient vineyard and explain vineyard care, and the stages of wine and raki production. We next walk through olive groves and chestnut trees to the restaurant. During our dinner we will have the opportunity to taste all the ingredients that make up a Cretan diet from ancient years to the present. Dinner will include local delicacies such as various kinds of cheese, olives, honeycombs, fresh vegetables, fruits, along with raki and wine. We will have an authentic culinary experience. After dinner we return to our hotel in Chania.

We lodge at the Kriti Hotel located in the central part of Chania. This hotel has a pool, a gym, a snack bar, and free Wi-Fi. All rooms have a balcony and breakfast is included. (B,D)

Day 8 – Monday, September 18, 2023. Hike Imbros Gorge – Afternoon Free in Chania In the morning we hike the Imbros Gorge. The trail starts from the village of Imbros in the mountains and proceeds downhill for 4.1 miles to the village of KomitadesIt. This is a magnificent gorge with walls up to 1,000 feet high in places and as narrow as 5 feet wide in one place. This canyon was the scene of battles between the Ottomans and the Christians during the Turkish occupation of Crete. After the hike we return to Chania and have the afternoon free. We lodge in the Kriti Hotel again. (B)

Day 9 – Tuesday, September 19, 2023. Elafonissi Beach
Today we venture out to southwest end of Crete to the spectacular and scenic Elafonissi Beach, noted for its clear blue waters, pink sand, and unique landscape. This beach is utterly stunning, with saturated hues, wildflowers, intriguing rock formations, pink sands, and waters so crystal clear that you can perfectly observe fish and other marine life. Today we can relax and swim. (B)

Day 10 – Wednesday September 20, 2023. Moring Free in Chania – Flight to Athens
We have the morning free to explore Chania. Later in the day we have a 50 minute flight back to Athens and check into the Acropolis Hill Hotel. (B)

Day 11 – Thursday, September 21, 2023. Athens City Tour
First with a cultural guide, we visit the National Archaeological Museum which houses some of the most important artifacts from a variety of archaeological locations around Greece from prehistory to late antiquity. It is considered one of the greatest museums in the world and contains the richest collection of Greek Antiquity artifacts worldwide. We also witness the Changing of the Guard which takes place every hour by the military unit whose members stand proudly in perfect stillness in front of the Parliament building. We have the afternoon free to explore Athens. Tonight we have our farewell dinner. (B,D)

Day 12 – Friday, September 22, 2023. Depart for Home This morning we will be escorted to the airport for our return flight home. (B)

COSTS

Land Cost: $4,050 for 6-8 based on double room occupancy. Single Supplement $546.

Cost Includes: 11 nights lodging; 11 breakfasts; lunch and dinner only where noted in itinerary; airport arrival and departure transfers; transportation throughout the tour; domestic airline tickets (Athens- Santorini & Chania – Athens); Ferry Boat (Santorini – Heraklion economy class); English speaking Greek guide throughout tour; admission to archaeological sites & museums noted in the itinerary along with English speaking Greek guides;

Cost Does Not Include: International airfare to Greece; insurance; or alcoholic beverages except where noted in itinerary.

Acropolis Hill

Zeus Statue

Changing of the Guards

Fira Santorini

Oia Santorini

Oia at Sunset

Prophet Elias Mountain

Knossos

Minoan Art Bull Riders

Minoan Art Dolphins

Imbros Gorge Trail

Elafonissi Beach

Aerial view of Elafonissi Beach