Best of Greece Package Tour
Tour Code: CS-GRE01
Duration: 10 Days 9 Nights
Highlights: Athens, 4-Day Cruise (Mykonos, Kusadasi, Patmos, Crete, Santorini), Corinth, Nafplion, Olympia, Corinthian Bay, Delphi, Kalambaka, Meteora, Thermopylae
Departures: Please check departures
Tour Price: From $1540 per person, double occupancy, Seat in Coach Tour
Quick Overview
Here is an outstanding opportunity to combine a 3-Day Cruise, offering great island destinations, with an outstanding Classical Tour of the most important archaeological sites on the mainland and in the Peloponnese. It’s a great way to test the cruise waters, if you’ve never cruised before, and includes quite different island ports-of-call. Including Kusadasi Turkish coast. The Classical Tour certainly adds a great deal of contrast. The sites could not be more interesting, and the landscape views are magnificent!
Itinerary
Day 1 Thursday – Athens
Upon your arrival at Athens International Airport, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. The remainder of the day is at your leisure. Overnight in Athens.
Day 2 Friday- Cruise to Mykonos
This morning you’ll be escorted to Piraeus, the port of Athens, to embark on your three-day cruise. You’ll sail into the Aegean Sea, and by sunset, reach the jet-set isle of Mykonos. (B, L, D)
Day 3 – Saturday Cruise to Kusadasi (Ephesus) and Patmos
We anchor at 7 a.m. in Kusadasi, on the Turkish mainland. You will join the tour to the ancient Roman city of Ephesus, one of the world’s most renowned archaeological sites. Highlights of your walking tour include the Celsus Library, the Temple of Hadrian, and Trajan Fountain. At the end of your walk, you will see the “Great Theater” where St. Paul preached, and the Temple Of Artemis (Diana). Then you return to Kusadasi, board your ship, and cruise to the island of Patmos. During the night, you sail to Crete.. (B, L, D)
Day 4 – Sunday Crete and Santorini (Cruise)
This morning you arrive at Heraklion, the capital of ancient Crete, and you will join the tour to home of the Palace of Knossos, once the center of the Minoan civilization, and one of the world’s most acclaimed archaeological sites. At noon, your cruise continues to the Santorini, the most spectacular of the Greek Islands, whose town of Thira is perched on a cliff created by volcanic eruption. You will visit to the monastery of Prophet Ilias, for a breath-taking view, deep inhalations of clean, pure, Cycladic air and memorial photos, so as to be the envy of all who didn’t come along. The tour continues its passage towards the north. To the east, in the background, you will have settlements like Kamari and Monolithos, while you will pass through Fira, the small traditional villages of Firostefani and Imerovigli with delicate architecture and beauties, to eventually arrive at the settlement of Oia. During the entire route, to the west you will have before your eyes the lace-like caldera, the little islands of Thirasia, Palea and Nea Kameni and an unsurpassable panoramic view. In Oia you will have plenty of time to stroll through the marble-paved alleys, to gaze at the adorably cute shops, to take pictures, to become acquainted with the characteristic buildings, carved into the rocks and the unusual captains’ manors, the settlement Ammoudi at the foot of the caldera… After your curiosity has been sated of the area which is characterized as being of “exceptional natural beauty”, your return begins … (B, L, D)
Day 5 – Monday Piraeus (Athens)
Early this morning you arrive back at the port of Piraeus, where you’ll be met and transferred to your hotel in Athens. The balance of the day is free for independent activities. An optional excursion to Cape Sounion, from where there is a spectacular view of Greece’s southern “Gold Coast.” Overnight in Athens.(B)
Day 6 Tuesday- Corinth Canal, Nafplion, Mycenae, Olympia
After breakfast, we’ll travel by the coastal road to the Corinth Canal, where we’ll make a short stop. We’ll continue to drive on and will next visit the Theater of Epidaurus, famous for its remarkable acoustics. Then we proceed to the Town of Nafplion, where we’ll have a short stop, before continue on to Mycenae to visit the Archaeological Site and the Tomb of Agamemnon. We continue our journey, traveling through the Central Peloponnese and the towns of Tripolis and Megalopolis, to Olympia, the “Cradle of the Olympic Games”. Overnight in Olympia. (B, D)
Day 7 Wednesday- Olympia, Achaia, Bay of Corinth, Delphi
In the morning, we begin with a visit of the Archaeological Site with the Sanctuary of Olympian Zeus, the Ancient Stadium, and the Archaeological Museum. We will then continue our drive, traveling through the plains of Eliad and Achaia until we reach the magnificent bridge crossing the Corinthian Bay from Rion to Antirion. Passing by the picturesque towns of Nafpactos (Lepanto) and Itea, we arrive in Delphi, where we have diner and spend the night. (B, D)
Day 8 Thursday- Delphi, Kalambaka
In the morning we’ll visit the Archaeological Site and the Museum of Delphi. Later, we depart for Kalambaka, a small town situated at the foot of the astonishing complex of Meteora, not far from its gigantic rocks. We’ll have dinner here and an overnight. (B, D)
Day 9 Friday- Meteora, Trikala, Lamia, Thermopylae, Athens
Today we have our long-awaited visit of Meteora, situated amid striking scenery, with the ageless monasteries perched on top of the huge rocks. Seemingly suspended between heaven and earth, and between time and space, the monasteries are the keepers of exquisite specimens of Byzantine Art. We return to Athens via Trikala, Lamia, and Thermopylae, where we stop to visit the Leonidas Monument. Our arrival in Athens will be early in the evening. Overnight Athens. (B)
Day 10 Saturday- Depart Athens
Free time, until you are transferred to the airport to board your homeward bound flight. (B)
PRICES & DEPARTURE DATES
| Departure Period | Per Person Double Occupancy | Per Person Triple Occupancy | Single Supplement |
|
April 13 to October 12, |
$1845 |
$1735 |
$460 |
** Single supplement valid for only IB cabin in the cruise. If you want to upgrade your cabin category, single supplement will change.
DEPARTURE DATES
WHAT THE PRICE INCLUDES:
- Airport transfers upon arrival and departure
- 3 night’s in Athens at a 4-Star Hotel, with breakfast
- 4-day/3-nights Greek Island Cruise, with 3 meals daily in IB category cabin
- Shore excursions in Kusadasi, Heraklion and Santorini islands (seat in coach)
- 4-Day/3-nights Classical Tour, with hotel accommodations and breakfasts and dinners
- Services of an English-Speaking escort/guide while on tour
- Transportation by air-conditioned motorcoach
- Entrance Fees to sites visited, per itinerary
- Transfers to/from hotels per itinerary
- Cruise Port taxes ($ 149 per person)
NOT INCLUDED:
- Gratuities to cruise and tour staff
- All items of a personal nature (laundry, taxis, etc.)
- Beverages (except for those served with meals during cruise).
- Visa fees
