Athens, Greek Islands Cruise and Classic Tour 8 days

Upon your arrival in the mythical city of Athens, you will be greeted with a seamless transfer to your hotel in one of our vehicles, where your professional and friendly English-speaking driver will ensure your comfort and convenience throughout the journey.

Later in the afternoon, at an agreed time, our representative will meet you at the hotel to provide all the essential details of your trip. They will also offer a captivating presentation of the city, sharing insights into its everyday way of life. This is an excellent opportunity for you to ask any questions and have any doubts dispelled, ensuring a smooth and enjoyable experience throughout the rest of your trip.

You will have the remainder of the day free to relax and explore Athens at your own pace, taking in the sights, sounds, and flavors of this remarkable city.

Greca Tip: Extend your stay in Athens by adding more nights during Step 1 of 3 of your reservation!

In the morning, and after a good breakfast, you will visit Delphi, a UNESCO World Heritage site and the center or 'navel' of the ancient world. It was here where the renowned Oracle of Delphi, a counselor of kings and pilgrims, could be found. You cannot miss out on a visit to the museum, which houses the "Bronze Charioteer", a masterpiece of Greek sculpture.

At the end of your Delphi tour, you will descend the slopes of Mount Parnassus and head towards the plains of Thessaly, where the city of Kalambaka is located.  

Upon your arrival in Kalambaka, you will check in at your hotel, have dinner, and rest or you can go out to explore the town’s old picturesque district with its narrow cobblestoned streets and traditional houses. 

Greca Tip: You may also use your free time to visit the Temple of Athena Pronaia at Delphi.

Early in the morning, you will visit Meteora, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1988.

In this mysterious landscape, the natural beauty is combined with the compelling presence of the eternal monasteries suspended or "Meteora" on top of the huge rocks. Currently, there are only six in use, five for the male and one for the female monastic community.

Dress code to the Monasteries: Sleeveless clothing and shorts above the knee are not allowed. Skirts, shawls, and trousers are available at the entrance of the Monasteries in case visitors do not have such clothing to cover themselves with.

On the way back to Athens, you will briefly stop at Thermopylae, where you can see the statue of the Spartan King Leonidas, famous for leading the battle against the Persians in 480 BC. In the late afternoon, you will arrive in Athens, where we will drop you off at your hotel.

Greca Tip: Take a stroll in Kalambaka's old town and look for handmade wood-carved objects and religious icons as well as home-made sausages, honey, fruit sweets and jams, and the regional pudding “spatoula” or “halva” for a sweet aftertaste.

Boarding begins at the port of Lavrion at about 8:30 AM, and the ship is scheduled to leave the port at 1:00 PM.

Sailing the Aegean in the morning is the ideal time of the day to observe its deep blue color, enjoy the sun on deck or entertain yourself by joining in one of the many activities and services offered by the cruise company.

Onboard, Greca Travel includes a full-board meal plan along with non-alcoholic beverages during our meals, so our only concern is to have a good time.

Your first destination will be the glamorous island of Mykonos, where the cruise ship will dock from 6:00 until 11:00 PM, before continuing your tour around the wonderful Greek islands.

Mykonos is the meeting point of the international "jet set" and is famous for its wonderful beaches, dazzling shops, and vibrant nightlife.

Only a short distance away from Mykonos there is also the historic island of Delos, the birthplace of Apollo and Artemis according to Greek mythology. This small island, inhabited since 3000 BC, was one of the most significant cultural centers of Antiquity.

You will also have the opportunity to pre-book excursions organized by the cruise company to yet more fascinating places in your itinerary.

At 7:00 AM, after a peaceful and comfortable night's cruising, you will awaken on the Turkish coast and at the port of Kusadasi.

During this stop, you will be able to explore, at your own pace, the ancient city of Ephesus, once visited by Saint Paul, Mark Antony, and Cleopatra, among others. Ephesus was one of the twelve Ionian cities and flourished as an important cultural, religious, and commercial center.

At noon, the cruise will leave port and sail towards the island of Patmos, where Saint John wrote the Apocalypse, and where Jesus Christ appeared to him in the Grotto of the Apocalypse, according to the Book of Revelation.

From 4:30 to 9:30 PM, you will have free time to visit the Holy Cave of the Apocalypse, and the Monastery of Saint John the Theologian and to stroll in the port of this small but so important island.

Tip Greca: You can buy a souvenir from the quaint little shops at the port of Skala and Xerotigana, a deep-fried pastry with abundant honey and cinnamon.

On this day, your cruise ship will drop anchor at the largest Greek island: Crete.

After a generous breakfast, you will start your day in Heraklion, the capital of the island and home to King Minos and the ferocious Minotaur. This city was the most significant center of the Minoan civilization, with the oldest palatial complex in Europe, the Palace of Knossos.

You will enjoy free time in the morning. Around noon, you will depart for the amazing and picturesque island of Santorini. As your cruise ship approaches the island, you will be filled with admiration and awe. It is the perfect moment to capture with your camera the beauty of the capital city of Fira and its white houses perched on the cliffside, from across the volcano.

From 16:30 to 21:30 hours, you will have free time to wander through its winding cobbled alleys and watch one of the most beautiful sunsets in the world.

Greca Tip: Anywhere you face the caldera, from the main squares to cafes, bars, restaurants, and streets, the view will not disappoint you!

We will be arriving at the port of Lavrio at around 06:00 AM, and as pointed out by our assistant, one of our vehicles will pick us up at 09:15 AM and transfer us to our hotel in Athens.

After checking in, we will move to the meeting point, where our guide will be waiting for us at 10:00 AM to start the panoramic visit. This visit will completely change our way of seeing the city from the historical, architectural, or artistic points of view, without forgetting about modern Athens.

The tour will start at the indicated place, and we will appreciate the most beautiful neoclassical buildings on Panepistimiou Avenue, among which are the Numismatic Museum, the National Archaeological Building, the Catholic Church of Dionysius the Areopagite, the Ophthalmological Hospital of Athens, the building of the Central Bank of Greece, and course, the three temples for learning: The Academy of Fine Arts of Athens, the University and the National Library, which are known as the architectural "trilogy".

Our tour will continue to Syntagma Square, passing through Voukiristiou Street where the most chic shops in the city are. In Syntagma we will find the headquarters of the Hellenic parliament, and we will have time to contemplate the changing of the guard with its traditional soldiers.

After the changing of the guard, we will enter the National Gardens, an oasis located in the center of the city and created by the order of Queen Amalía in 1839. The gardens host more than 500 different types of plants and trees, a small pond for numerous aquatic birds, a botanical garden, remains of some ancient monuments, and even a small zoo with local fauna.

We will also take a panoramic view of the Kalimarmaro Stadium ("good marble"), which hosted the first edition of the Modern Olympic Games, the only stadium in the world built entirely in white marble!

The Zappeion was the first building constructed for the modern Olympic Games and today, it is used for both official and private ceremonies and meetings.

Approaching the end of our tour, we will pass through the Temple of Olympian Zeus, where the Roman emperor Hadrian had a statue of himself housed next to the 13-meter-high statue of Zeus inlaid with gold and ivory, similar to the one sculpted by Phidias.

We will conclude our walk at the Acropolis Metro Station, next to the Dionysiou Areopagitou pedestrian street, and from here we will marvel at the impressive view of the Acropolis, crowned by the Parthenon, as we dream that we travel back in time to classical Greece.

After the visit, we can choose to continue our cultural sightseeing by visiting the Acropolis and its museum, or continue the adventure on our own losing ourselves through the streets of Plaka, having lunch in one of the many taverns with its exquisite cuisine, or if we wish to buy some typical gifts in the countless shops in the neighborhood.

In the evening, also included, we will enjoy a night walking tour of the most captivating areas of Athens, such as Anafiotika, Thissio, Monastiraki, and Plaka.

Greca Tip: It is suggested to bring a hat, a bottle of water and comfortable shoes.

At the agreed time, a member of our staff will drive you to Athens International Airport, where you will check in your luggage and benefit from any tax returns on your last-minute "tax-free" shopping for family and friends.

Undoubtedly and after spending a few fantastic days with Greca, we hope to see you again soon to create new and extraordinary moments that will be etched in your memory forever.

Have a nice trip! Or, as Greeks say, "Kalo taksidi!"

Greca Tip: As a going-away gift you can choose from a wide range of brightly colored flokati rugs, handmade sandals, embroidered covers, and Greek honey or olive oil.