Santorini and Northern Greece Delights (Tour code: 12008)

Welcome to Athens the birthplace of Western Civilization, the Capital of Greece!

Upon arrival at Athens International Airport meet with your English-speaking escort and transfer to your hotel. 

Rest of the day at leisure.

Overnight stay in Athens at the Acropolian Spirit Boutique Hotel.

Athens by night

After breakfast, wander the landmarks of Historic Athens including the Acropolis and the New Acropolis Museum focused on the findings from the Acropolis.

Ancient yet modern, classic yet creative, traditional yet constantly changing… Athens is a city of memorable contrasts. The past and the present of Athens unfolds before your eyes while driving around the city's highlight spots and monuments like the Temple of Zeus, the Old Stadium, Syntagma Square, the Parliament and the Tomb to the Unknown Soldier, the Academy, the Library, and the National Gardens.

On the natural fortress of the Acropolis, reinforced by the hand of man, stand the Propylaea, the temple of the Winged Victory, Erechtheion with the Porch of the Caryatids and, towering overall, and the majestic Parthenon.  A winding path leads to the treasure of antiquity. Visible are the relics of the civilization of which we are the proud inheritors.  A few meters away from the Acropolis entrance and the Ancient Theatre of Dionysos, the New Acropolis Museum, built on pedestrian walkway of Dionysiou Areopagitou Street, looks like hanging between the past and the present of Athens. 

Designed by Bernard Tschumi and Mihalis Fotiades, the new Acropolis Museum has a total area of 25,000 square meters, with exhibition space of over 14,000 square meters. Made of stainless steel, glass, marble and concrete, materials typical of the Athenian environment, the new museum has a direct view of the Acropolis. With bioclimatic planning, which gives ideal lighting and heating conditions, the New Museum offers all the amenities expected in an international museum of the 21st century.

Proceed on foot to visit different spots taste local products like olive oil, honey, cheese, wine, vinegar, liquor, and sweets, all made by small producers from all over Greece. Next, it’s a treat from the street, as you sample a koulouri, one of the all-time classic snacks on the go and then a cup of authentic Greek coffee in a wonderful old café.  After this, get ready to duck into a boisterous visit to the central fish and meat market, where butchers and fishmongers compete for the attention of Athens’ serious food shoppers. The old Central Market of Athens (Varvakios Agora) is located exactly in the heart of the city, and learn from your guide about the city's culinary history. You'll next visit specialty food stores to try local produce cold cuts, and discover some of the hidden stores to purchase tantalizingly fresh fruit, Greek olives, cheese, ham and other alluring deli produce, local wine, aged aromatized vinegar, organic olive oil and honey.  Around the corner is the famous spice street of Athens, lined with traditional herb shops that also carry amazing specialty meats and other traditional delicacies. After that you will end up having lunch, tasting the famous Greek souvlaki!!  & traditional spinach pie. Finally, a last stop to taste of the Greek specialty loukoumades (Greek doughnuts with honey syrup and almonds) and return to your hotel.

Overnight stay in Athens at the Acropolian Spirit Boutique Hotel.

Acropolis, Athens

After breakfast, transfer to port for embarkation to the high-speed boat for Santorini Island.

Upon arrival in Santorini, meet with your English-speaking escort and transfer to your hotel.
Rest of the day at leisure.

Ovenight stay in Santorini at the Cliff Side Suites.

After breakfast, enjoy one pre-selected activity from our Freedom of Choice options.

Overnight stay in Santorini at the Cliff Side Suites.

Freedom of Choice Options

• Indulge in the quaint atmosphere of Santorini's Hidden Gems:

  Follow your guide on a journey through time, while trying to unveil the myths and legends of more than 4000 years of History.

  First stop will be the Monastery of Prophet Elias, one of the oldest monasteries and the highest point of the Island. Next stop the Archaeological site of Akrotiri, one of the main urban centers of the Aegean. Visit a traditional canava (home-cellar) tasting 3 different types of wines of Santorini. Step on an ancient vineyard and get information for the special “terroir” of Santorini wine and the famous white grape variety.

  Free time for swimming followed by a “meze” style lunch including variety of tapas the majority made from local products such as fava, cherry tomato, round zucchinis, white eggplants and more!!!
  After lunch transfer back to your hotel.

OR

• Semi-Private Catamaran sunset cruise with dinner (5hrs):

  In the afternoon around 15.30hrs, transfer from your hotel to the port and depart for a Semi-Private Catamaran ride up to 14 pax. Your Sunset Cruise includes:

  • Welcome drink
  • Snorkeling gear
  • Towels
  •  Dinner on board: Seafood, chicken fillet, salads, open bar with local white wine, beers, beverages, fruits (Vegetarian meal available upon request).

  Set sail from the picturesque Marina of Vlychada and enjoy sailing along with the magnificent coastal scenery of Santorini. Your first photo shooting stop is at the Red Beach in Akrotiri, one of the most beautiful beaches of the island with the red rocks and the dark pebbles. Move on and reach the White Beach – accessible only by boat – and the Mesa Pigadia swimming spot and snorkel in the crystal-clear blue waters with the rich underwater environment and reefs.

  Then sail past the Indian Rock, the Venetian Light House of Akrotiri. Pass by the Aspronisi Island and marvel at the glorious views of the Caldera and the cliff-hanging white houses. Sail around the must-see Volcano coast and stop at its’ hot springs, where you can treat yourself to a natural spa in the thermal mixed volcanic mud waters. One more stop follows up, this time to a secluded private bay and plunge in the majestic waters as our attentive crew prepares for you a delicious meal.

  At the end of this unique sailing experience, we head back to the Marina of Vlychada.

Day at leisure to discover what the stunning island of Santorini has to offer.

Overnight stay in Santorini at Cliff Side Suites.

The breathtaking island of Santorini

After breakfast, the morning is at leisure.

Transfer to Santorini Port for embarkation to the high-speed boat for Athens. Upon arrival at Piraeus Port around 17.00hrs transfer to your hotel.

Overnight stay in Athens at the Acropolian Spirit Boutique Hotel.

After breakfast, start your journey from Athens till Corinth first stop.

Since 1893, it separates Central Greece from Peloponnese, so you will have to cross it to reach the peninsula Peloponnese. Another particularity of Corinth Canal is its 2 submersible bridges. Located at each end of the Canal, they must be lowered into the water every time a boat cross. It’s quite unique to watch.

Head towards Epidaurus, an irreplaceable spectacle of unique beaty with huge cultural heritage. Its monuments are true masterpieces of the ancient Greek art, a genuine testimony of the Greek culture that is still alive. The great Theater of Epidaurus, has been characterized as the best preserved and the most beautiful one in the entire country. It was designed from the architect Polycleitus the Younger in 340 BC. The theater is situated close to Asclepius Sanctuary, one of the most sacred temples in ancient Greece dedicated to the god of healing which belonged to the city-state of Epidaurus.

Continue your journey towards Nafplio. Nafplio is a lovely seaside town. Continue towards Mycenae, one of the most thriving towns of ancient Greece. It was the most important city of the Mycenaean civilization between 1600 and 1100 BC.  This UNESCO World Heritage Site is best known for being the former home of King Agamemnon. Explore the city founded by Perseus, according to Greek mythology, when he discovered a water spring in his exploration and believed it to be a good omen. Discover the Treasury of Atreus or Tomb of Agamemnon, the large “tholos” tomb, a marvelous 14th century BC structure and stroll through the Lion Gate, standing strong against the withering of time. Continue towards the birthplace of the Olympic games Olympia.

Overnight stay and dinner in Olympia at Europa Hotel.

Enjoy a breakfast at the hotel.

Located in the western Peloponnese, Ancient Olympia was one of the most sacred and glorious sanctuaries of the ancient world. And, though only foundations of many of its structures remain, it is still one of the most evocative of Greece’s archaeological sites. Capturing all the spirit of the Olympic Games, it’s also the place where the Olympic flame is lit in commemoration of the Games that originated and were held here every four years for a staggering 1,000 years. The most important building of the Altis (or Sacred Precinct of Zeus) was the immense 5th-century-BC Doric temple dedicated to the king of the gods.

It housed Pheidias’ statue of Zeus for more than 800 years. One column of the temple has been restored, allowing us to appreciate its size. Passing through a stone archway, you enter the remains of the Ancient Stadium, once housing more than 45,000 spectators. The mind boggles at being able to line up on the track (measuring 192.27m), just as the finest athletes in the land did thousands of years ago. Nearby are the judges’ seats.

Leaving behind us Olympia we head towards Rion. Passing through Patras, Greece’s Gate to the West, we will catch our breath as we reach the “state of the art” award-winning suspended bridge connecting to Antirion.Spanning a 3 km-wide straight across the Gulf of Corinth, the bridge is considered to have the longest continuous, cable-stayed, fully suspended deck in the world. As we drive by the city of Nafpaktos, where, according to legend, the Heraclid built a fleet to invade the Peloponnese, we will follow the scenic coastal road to the omphalos or “navel of the earth”, according to Ancient Greeks, Delphi

Overnight stay and dinner in Delphi at the Amalia Hotel Delphi.

Enjoy a breakfast at the hotel.

Delphi is one of the most sacred places of Greece perched on the high slopes of Mount Parnassus, indeed its cultural richness designated it as a World Heritage Site from UNESCO. Delphi served as the religious and spiritual center of ancient civilization that contributed to the cultural development of the entire country. The permanent exhibition of the Delphi museum covers a history of one thousand years, from the Mycenaean era to the Greco Roman times, accommodating one of the most valuable collections of ancient Greek art.

In the central region of Greece, on the way towards the Valley of Peneus river and the enormous Thessaly plain, you will arrive to the majestic, mysterious, astonishing and spiritual monasteries of Meteora. The city of Kalambaka is the city center of Meteora. Driving alongside, your eyes will be impressed from the amazing monasteries from a distance of eighteen kilometers. It is a city with its hidden mysteries.

Overnight stay and dinner in Kalambaka at the Amalia Hotel Kalambaka.

Breath-taking at first site, the Monasteries are of great cultural and natural importance, honourably included in the UNESCO’S World Heritage list. Split from earthquakes, weathered from the wind and the water over millions of millions of years, these immense rocks are an authentic masterpiece of mother nature.

The Holy Monastery of Great Meteoro is the biggest and oldest one. Its name refers to the formation of the gigantic rock on top of which the monastery was built. The Holy monastery of Varlaam, the second biggest monastery, was established from ascetic monk Hosios Varlaam, who lived in a cave as a hermit and built a chapel on top of a rock, during the middle of the 14^th century.

Continue your journey towards Veria. Veria was the second most significant town, after Aigai, during the blooming ancient Macedonian years. The city is built on the foothills of Mt. Vermion and crossed by the River Tripotamo. Then we will head to Vergina, the legendary burial site of the Macedonian kings. This place is considered as a World Heritage Site, also known as the Royal Tombs and houses the tomb of King Philip II, father of Alexander the Great and conqueror of Greek territories which resulted in the expansion of Hellenism. Late afternoon reach Thessaloniki.

Overnight stay in Thessaloniki at The Modernist Hotel.

Day at leisure to relax and recharge!

Overnight stay in Thessaloniki at The Modernist Hotel.

After breakfast, transfer to Thessaloniki airport for your departure flight back home.