Highlights of the Greek Islands

Arrive in Athens at any point in the day. Combining the ancient and modern world, the centre of Athens in surprisingly compact. If your flight arrives earlier in the day, perhaps you might choose to visit one of the cafes in the colourful Psyrri district which offer traditional Greek cuisine of scrumptious aubergines, tomatoes and cheese washed down with ouzo or raki. There are traditional rustic tavernas in the well-known Plaka area at the foot of the Acropolis.



For those arriving on time our Leader plans to meet you in the hotel reception at 6.30pm and for those that wish, there is the chance to go out for dinner. Due to a number of flights arriving into Athens later in the evening, our welcome meeting will take place on day two. There are no other activities planned today, so you are free to arrive in Athens at any time. If you would like to receive a complimentary airport transfer today, you'll need to arrive into Athens International Airport (ATH), which is about one hours' drive, depending on traffic.



Our time in Athens on this highlights trip is limited, if you can spare more time why not consider extending your trip by arriving a couple of days earlier.

Heading out on foot from our hotel, its a short walk to the Plaka district, to soak up the atmosphere of the old town.



The streets are full of atmospheric tavernas with their tables spilling out onto the narrow cobbled streets and small traders selling all kind of specialties. Its a very picturesque area. Climbing up from Plaka to the Acropolis we pass through the Anafiotika district, where the architecture is more in keeping with Santorini than the Greek capital.



We have a guided tour of the Acropolis, deservedly one the wonders of the ancient world made up of the Temple of Athena Nike, Pericles and the Parthenon tower and the monument most venerated by the ancient Athenians themselves - the Erechtheion.



Making our way back to our hotel, we collect our bags and drive to Piraeus harbour where we board the ferry to Naxos (which departs at around 5.30pm and takes just over five hours). On the ferry we will have reserved seating, so we are assured of a seat, but you are also free to take in the sea air from the deck or enjoy a drink in the bar.



We disembark at the port of Naxos and drive to our hotel close to the town centre. Naxos is the largest and most fertile of the Cyclades island group, covering an area of about 430 square kilometres, with fine beaches and a mountainous interior.

The morning is free to relax at our hotel. Read a book in the garden courtyard, take a dip in the pool or take a stroll on Agios Georgios Beach.



This afternoon we head out to explore Naxos town on foot. At the entrance to the harbour sits the grand Portara stone that has greeted visitors for over 2500 years. The town itself is a mix of whitewashed houses and medieval Venetian mansions, with the fortified 'kastro' or castle occupying a prominent position overlooking the bay. Our tour leader will show us around the network of alleyways and courtyards, as well as making recommendations for eating out in town. We return to our hotel along the promenade alongside Grotta beach.

Heading inland, we drive to a small chapel at the foot of Mt. Zas. Situated at over 500 meters, the air here is noticeably cooler most days, a welcome escape from the summer heat.



Walking to the village of Apiranthos along the foothills of Mt. Zas (also known as Mount Zeus), the highest mountain in the Cyclades island group, we stop at the amazingly well preserved Fotodoti Monastery before continuing to Apiranthos. In total we cover just over five kilometres, for those who want to opt out of the walk there is the option to drive directly to Apiranthos and re-join the group for lunch.



Apiranthos is a charming village, far removed from the crowds of the beaches along the coast; with the most Cretan influence of all of the interior villages of the island. The village square is surrounded by cafes and tavernas looking out to the terraced valley below. It is an idyllic spot to have a leisurely lunch, with time afterwards to visit the village museum.



Returning to Naxos town we make a stop at the Vallindras distillery, known for its distinctive citron liqueur. Now in their fifth generation the Vallindras family continues the tradition producing their fragrant liqueur made from the leaves for citrus fruits grown on the islands' fertile slopes. We have a tour of the distillery followed by a tasting.

Checking out of our hotel we head back to the port of Naxos to board the lunch time ferry to Santorini, a journey of 2.5 hours.



Renowned for its amazing natural beauty, Santorini (or Thira as the island is also known) is the most southerly of the Cycladic Islands. It's one of the most picturesque areas in the Aegean and the familiar images of whitewashed churches with blue-domed roofs adorn this beautiful landscape. It's also an area of particular interest to those keen on the Lost Atlantis legend.



Formerly a huge volcano, its centre disappeared in an enormous explosion in around 1450 BC and this area now forms a lagoon where some believe that the city of Atlantis now resides having been destroyed by the eruption and swept into the waters. Record show that the eruption did overwhelm the Minoan settlements at Akrotiri as well as those on Crete.



We drive to our hotel which features a large swimming pool and beach front location. The rest of the day is at leisure. Please note that our accommodation is located near the village of Kamari. It is a 20 minute drive into Santorini's main town of Fira, there are frequent bus departures from the bus stop near the hotel.

This morning we have a coastal walk from Thira to Oia. This moderate walk takes approximately three to four hours and covers eight kilometres.



We head to our starting point by public bus. The path goes along the lip of a caldera and provides great views along the way out to sea and of the surrounding countryside. Halfway through the walk there's the option to stop at a coffee shop for refreshments.



The town of Oia on the northwestern tip of Santorini, is built along a rocky stretch of coastline and is one of the most photogenic places on Santorini. It has a long seafaring culture and there are two types of houses here - the whitewashed cave houses that are dug into the volcanic rock in the cliff side and the captain houses above ground where the upper class ship owners once lived.



Oia has a host of taverns and cafes; it is well worth spending time here after our walk and getting the bus back to hotel later in the day, it's also a great place to witness a magnificent Santorini sunset.

The morning you can choose to join a local wine tasting at Artemis-Karamolegos Winery in Exogonia, t he island is best known for its delicious white wines.



The middle of the day is left free to further explore the island. Late afternoon we head to the port of Athinios and board our sailing boat. Our Captain takes us to the best spots to enjoy the views and take spectacular pictures of the Caldera and the Volcano. A delicious buffet dinner is served during the cruise. Before the sun starts setting into the sea, our Captain brings the boat to the best location to see the amazing sunset of Santorini. After the sunset we sail back to Athinios port, where we are met and returned to our hotel.

The trip ends after breakfast at our hotel in Santorini.



There are no activities planned today, so you are free to depart from Santorini at any time. If your flight is departing later in the day luggage storage facilities are available at our hotel. If you would like to receive a complimentary airport transfer today, you need to depart from Santorini Airport (JTR), which is about fifteen minutes drive, depending on traffic.