Jewels of Greece and Aegean Islands - 8 Days

Jewels of Greece and Aegean Islands - 8 Days

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8 Days From

$2665

$2132

Jewels of Greece and Aegean Islands - 8 Days

8 Days Starting and ending in Athens

Visiting: Athens, Delphi, Kalabaka, Meteora, Mikonos, Kuşadası, Patmos, Crete, Thera

Tour operator:

On The Go Tours

Tour code:

2299/JGAI

Guide Type:

Fully Guided

Group size:

2 - 45

Age range:

Children aged up to 12 are welcome on these tours. However please note that finding family rooms for 2 adults and 2 children is not easy - so please check with the Ground Handler before confirming the booking. 

Tour operated in:

English
From: $2665 $2132 Operator discount: -$533 -20%

NB: Prices correct on 07-Jul-2024 but subject to change.

This tour is no longer available, please see similar tours below or send an enquiry

Tour Overview

SEMI INDEPENDENT TOUR: Combine classic Greek history with sun-kissed islands on this 8-day group tour which takes in the key sites of the mainland and includes a 3-night island hopping cruise. Discover the legendary Acropolis in Athens, marvel at the cliff-top monasteries of Meteora and relax on the beaches of Mykonos. Cross into Turkey to see the ruins of Ephesus and wander the streets of white-washed Oia and Fira on Santorini.

Highlights

  • Athens - Discover some of the world's most famous architecture, from the Panathenaic Stadium to the legendary Acropolis

  • Santorini - Wander the streets of the pretty whitewashed towns of Oia and Fira or relax on the volcanic black sand lava beaches

  • Meteora - Marvel at the magical and sacred cliff-top monasteries in one of the most beautiful regions of Greece

  • Kusadasi - Hop into Turkey for an excursion to the incredible ruins of Ephesus and marvel at the Library of Celsus

  • Delphi - Follow in the footsteps of ancient pilgrims along the Sacred Way and admire the Temple of Apollo

  • Mykonos - Relax on the Greek island's famous beaches and enjoy a glass of wine in one of the town's many bars

  • Crete - Enjoy an included excursion to the Minoan Palace of Knossos which was the home of the Minotaur in Greek mythology

  • Thermopylae - Visit the site where King Leonidas made his infamous final stand against the Persians in 480BC

Itinerary

Expand All

Day 1 : Athens

Location: Athens

Meals Included: No Meals

Welcome to Greece! On arrival in Athens, you will be met and transferred to our hotel. The rest of the day is free to head out and explore the city, an incredible contrast of the ancient and the modern.

Day 2 : Athens

Location: Athens

Meals Included: Breakfast

Today we embark on a guided coach tour of Athens. We take in important highlights of the city including the Temple of Olympian Zeus, the Zappeion and the Panathenaic Stadium, which is the only stadium in the world built entirely from marble. We also see the Greek Parliament and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.



Later we head to Athens' most iconic attraction - the legendary Acropolis. The Acropolis is an ancient citadel built atop a rock overlooking the city. As well as the amazing view, we take in the highlights of the site, including the Temple of Athena Nike, the Propylae and the most famous of all ancient Greek architecture, the Parthenon. We visit the excellent Acropolis Museum and the afternoon is at leisure to wander the streets of the picturesque Plaka district.

Day 3 : Delphi

Location: Delphi, Kalabaka

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Athens - Delphi - Kalambaka. Leaving Athens, we head north towards Delphi, which was once one of the world's most sacred sites and an important pilgrimage destination. We admire the UNESCO-listed Sanctuary of Apollo and follow the footsteps of ancient Greeks on the Sacred Way. Admire the remains of the Temple of Apollo, home of the legendary Pythian Oracle. After our visit, we cross the mountains of Central Greece to Kalambaka.

Day 4 : Kalambaka

Location: Kalabaka, Meteora, Athens

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Kalambaka - Meteora - Athens. Today we visit Meteora, where tiny sacred monasteries perch atop incredible towering rock formations. Meteora is considered one of the most beautiful regions in the whole of Greece and the view from the cliffs is breathtaking.



After our visit to Meteora, we begin to make our way back to Athens. We stop at Thermopylae, where King Leonidas and 300 Spartans made a famous last stand against the Persians in 480 BC. A statue now stands here in the Spartan king's honour. After a quick photo opportunity, we continue to Athens, where the evening is at leisure.

Day 5 : Mykonos

Location: Mikonos

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Athens - Mykonos. Enjoy a final breakfast in Athens before we transport you to Piraeus Port where you board your boat for a four day Greek island cruise. Your tour is independent from here. Settle in onboard before you depart for Mykonos, the island famous for its pristine white sand beaches and busy nightlife. There's free time to explore Mykonos town and relax with a glass of wine in one of the islands many bars.

Day 6 : Kusadasi

Location: Kuşadası, Patmos

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Mykonos - Kusadasi (Turkey) - Patmos. Today we have a trip into Turkey as we dock at Kusadasi and visit the legendary marble ruins of Ephesus on an included excursion. Highlights of these famous ruins include the Temple of Serapis and the colossal Library of Celsus.



After our visit, the ship sets sail for the small Greek island of Patmos. Here you can join an optional visit to the famous monastery of St John and the Grotto of the Apocalypse. This site is believed to be where John of Patmos had the visions that he recorded in the Book of Revelation.

Day 7 : Crete & Santorini

Location: Crete, Thera

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Patmos - Crete - Santorini. Early this morning we dock at Heraklion, Crete. Enjoy an included visit to the Minoan Palace of Knossos. Legend has it this is where King Minos dwelt, and kept his son, the Minotaur, hidden in a labyrinth beneath the city.



We sail to the enchanting island of Santorini this afternoon. Santorini is considered one of the prettiest islands in the world, with black sand lava beaches and pretty whitewashed towns. There's free time to explore the island and you may opt to ride the cable car up to Fira town or join an optional excursion to Oia village, perched on the rim of a volcanic caldera.

Day 8 : Athens

Location: Athens

Meals Included: Breakfast

Santorini - Athens. Today we cruise back to Athens. Enjoy breakfast onboard before disembarkation and an included transfer to the airport.

What's Included

  • Accommodation
    4 star hotels & cruise ship

  • 7 breakfasts, 3 lunches and 4 dinners

  • 4 nights 4 star hotels

  • 3 nights Greek island cruise aboard a Celestyal Olympia Cruise ship - inside cabin with all meals, daily drinks package (alcoholic and non-alcoholic), port taxes and service charges, tips on board

  • One Airport arrival on Day 1 and one departure transfer on day 8 per booking

  • Guided sightseeing in Athens, Delphi and Meteora and included excursion to Ephesus and the Minoan Palace of Knossos

  • Services of an English-speaking tour guide for all scheduled sightseeing from days 1 - 4 and services of local guides for included sightseeing

  • Entrance fees for all included sites

  • All transfers and transportation in modern air conditioned vehicles

  • Note: Touring is operated in conjunction with other tourist groups, not solely On The Go. You will join travellers who booked through other operators for sightseeing each day, some staying in different hotels, and spend your evenings at leisure. The group

What's Not Included

  • Tipping - an entirely personal gesture (tipping is included on the cruise from days 5 - 8)

  • International flights and visas

  • A hotel tax of €3.00 per room per night to be paid directly to the hotel at time of check in. The hotel tax is not applicable on the cruise. See Trip Notes additional info for details

Check out our Q&As

  • What is the standard of the hotels on this tour?

    4 star hotels & cruise ship

  • Are airport transfers included in this tour?

    One Airport arrival on Day 1 and one departure transfer on day 8 per booking

  • Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?

    Yes

  • What is the maximum group size?

    45

  • What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?

    Ensuring our footprint is light and that the benefits of travelling reach the local communities you visit is paramount to us. We’re proud to say that when travelling with us, the large majority of your holiday funds remain within the countries you visit, supporting local economies at a grass roots level.

  • How long has the tour company been trading?

    Since 1998

  • Who will be my travelling companions on the tour?

    With English-speaking tours, it's not a huge surprise that most on our travellers are from English-speaking countries or have English as their second language. Our group tours cater for everyone from 18 years old to 70+

  • Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?

    Yes

Reviews of this operator

Nicola Hodgkinson (Google Reviewer)  

Recently returned from Greece, a...

07-May-2024

Recently returned from Greece, a 5 day tour with OTG. Unfortunately, I had a negative experience on day 2 where I needed local support to get me out of a tricky situation. Thank you to Alexandra Z from Hetco Tours in Athens for helping me continue on with the trip, to the Hotel Zafolia staffing team and to Danielle and team here in the UK for supporting me with the aftermath. Your kindness will not be forgotten and I will pay it forward. I've now booked 3 trips with yourselves and will continue to go back. Thank you all. Honestly, I am SO grateful. Blessings to you all. Nicola

Calvin  

Wonderful experience

05-Jan-2023

Jamal is our tour guide. Right from the start, he created a group chat in whatsapp and if any issues to make sure we contact him. He was on the ball with every issue thrown at him. Luggage being left behind, stragglers wondered off in a different path, hotel room etc. He explains the various site along our route to give us a better understanding of the local cultures. We had a great time, thanks to Jamal.

Trustpilot
Norma Sullivan  

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10-Sep-2021

The Land of Northern Lights tour was a triumph! My tour of Southern Iceland was absolutely wonderful. The venues chosen, the timing allotted at each venue and the variety of things to experience was nearly perfect. Our guide, "Thor", was smart, amusing, full of history and anecdotal stories as well as being incredibly hospitable and helpful. This small group experience was my first, but not my last thanks to On the Go.

Trawls (Google Reviewer)  

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05-Feb-2024

On The Go Tours Sri Lanka was an incredible experience that was made even better by our tour guide Akthar. He was incredibly knowledgeable about his country and he loved sharing it with us. The tour covers a wide range of activities so you can truly experience what Sri Lanka is all about. The beautiful 4-5 star hotels at the end of every day was an absolute bonus. Thanks for a great trip OTGT I’m sure this won’t be my last

Xtreme Floor Care (Google Reviewer)  

Traveled through Egypt with On...

30-Nov-2023

Traveled through Egypt with On the Go Tours, professional service, very informative and helpful tour guides. The choice of hotels was excellent... Definitely recommend this company

Gavin Harrigan  

King Tutankhamun 10 day tour of Egypt

16-Sep-2021

I have just returned from my tour with On The Go and it was an amazing trip! From arriving at the airport and meeting the OTG representative, everything was well organised and hassle free.  Our tour guide was Amir. He is awesome!! From the beginning he was so friendly and enthusiastic about showing us around Egypt, giving us loads of information at each place and time to explore ourselves. Learnt so much from him about this fascinating place, and he was always happy to answer more questions.   The trip itself was amazing. There's lots of travelling on this trip, but it's really not too bad, and the sights you see when you get to where you are going are worth it. I'm not a big fan of boats, but the Felluca ride across the Nile was pretty fun too.  On the first day I also did the optional tour of Cairo with Ahmed Helal - another excellent guide from OTG. It's worth doing this add on as you don't spend much time in Cairo, and you go to three very different places.  I'm so glad that I decided to do this trip. It was just ace.  If you're thinking about it too, you should probably just book it. And hopefully you get Amir as your guide.

Paul Kelly (Google Reviewer)  

TOTALLY MOROCCO We booked a 9...

26-Feb-2023

TOTALLY MOROCCO We booked a 9 day tour of Morocco visiting many main cities and places of interest. The coach was very comfortable and we felt safe with the driver Suliman. The guide was Hicham Touraouine and he was fantastic. He spoke perfect English as well as French, Arabic and Berber. He was so kind and considerate and made a good tour great. We particularly enjoyed ‘glamming in the Sahara Desert. So much to see and do and great food and company. We would definitely use On The Go Tours again, especially if Hicham was the guide. Paul & Penny

Joyce Heitler (Google Reviewer)  

I would give this tour...

09-May-2024

I would give this tour group no stars if possible. The tour was not guaranteed but they did not inform me when I booked and they did not have enough people. Way after I booked they said I needed a doctors letter because I was over 70. Also way after booking I was informed I needed travel insurance. They knew my age when I booked. They would not refund my tour even though it was 4 months away.

Sarah Paterson (Google Reviewer)  

Terrible tour of India. For...

27-Dec-2023

Terrible tour of India. For some reason On the Go hadn't realised that my room mate had booked her own room for the first night of tour. So the hotel in Delhi had tried to put me in her room after midnight, by wheeling in an extra bed. She went Crazy!! I then had to sit in hotel reception for hours. While the tour guide said he couldn't find me a room. Throughout the tour the guide consistently ask me and my room mate for money for my room, causing more friction between us. Don't book with this company had the worst experience ever. Go with Intrepid or G Adventure

brandy hoffman (Google Reviewer)  

I had used them once...

09-Aug-2023

I had used them once before and loved them. I decided to try them again for a Baltic tour not knowing that they put me on another Tour group- Baltic vision. Loved that tour but was not impressed they marked up the cost for me over 100%. I understand taking some for yourself because of paperwork, but over double the cost everyone else paid on the tour. Just double check before you book with them that you’re not over paying.

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Operator discount: -$533

Book with Confidence

  • Low Deposit

    On The Go Tours requires a minimum deposit of 400 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 60 days before departure.

  • Cancellation Policy

    We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of on the go tours charges.

    Up to 60 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.

    At 59 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.

    At 30 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.

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