AEGEAN JOURNEY – Athens | Mykonos | Santorini | Crete – 9 Days / 8 Nights

Arrive at Athens International Airport and transfer to your hotel for check in. The remainder of the day at leisure to enjoy your first taste of Athens and rest after your flight. Discover Plaka, the oldest district of Athens, located under the Acropolis, the only district where you may see the Greek capital as it was 100 years ago or enjoy a spot of shopping at Ermou, Kolonaki and Voukourestiou streets.

(INCLUDED) Athens City Tour & Acropolis Museum (S.I.C.) – 5h: From the Acropolis to Omonia Square, with the half-day sightseeing and Acropolis museum tour you’ll see all the famous sites of ancient and modern Athens on this comprehensive morning tour. Hear insightful commentary from your guide, and pass top Athens attractions including the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Greek Parliament building and Presidential Palace. Offering a perfect overview of the modern city, this guided half-day tour will help you get your bearings if this is your first visit to Athens. Begin your carbon-neutral Athens half-day tour with a photo stop at Panathinaiko Stadium where the first Olympic Games took place in 1896. It is the only stadium built out of white marble. Proceed, passing by Zappeion and Temple of Olympian Zeus. You will then pass the Athens Trilogy which includes the University of Athens, the Academy of Athens, and the National Library. Continue passing by National Garden, Hadrian’s Arc, St. Paul’s Church, Parliament, Tomb of the Unknown soldier, Schliemann’s House (Numismatic Museum), Catholic Cathedral, Old Parliament, Constitution Square ,Russian Orthodox Church, and finally ACROPOLIS (visit Propylae the gateway, Temple of Athena Nike, Parthenon, Erechtheion with its Porch of Maidens). Stroll up to the UNESCO-listed site that served as the ancient citadel, and tour the buildings as you hear how they reflected Athens’ prosperity in the 5th century BC. Continue the expert guided Athens sightseeing and museum tour with a pleasant short walk passing by Herodion and Dionysos Theater, in order to visit the ACROPOLIS museum. Avoid and skip the lines of the new museum. Main attractions such as votives, artifacts of every day life, statues from archaic period, Caryatids, and of course the Parthenon hall with the metopes, the pediments and the frieze will impress you.

After breakfast transfer from the hotel to the port of Piraeus for your ferry to the cosmopolitan island of Mykonos where you are transferred to your hotel. Enjoy this famous island known for its excellent nightlife, beautiful beaches, and Cycladic architecture. Walk through narrow alleyways in Mykonos town and visit the blue-domed churches and the famous windmills.

(OPTIONAL) Wine and Culture Tour – 3h: On this walking tour through Mykonos town you will see all the famous highlights and at the same time get close to the history and culture of this exceptional place and people. We start at the top, the Panorama point, which gives us a great view over the town, the sea and the port. It is also an excellent spot for nice and impressive pictures. We then proceed to the windmill of Boni which is part of the agricultural museum. Here we enjoy great views as well as the roots of the rural lives of the local people. Our walk continues through picturesque typical neighborhood streets as well as the famous spots like the windmill area, Little Venice, the Paraportiani church with its outstanding architecture, the pirate alleys and the folklore museum. After this unforgettable walk we stop at a local taverna where we have our wine tasting. We get a taste of the national drink of Greece, the Ouzo, and afterwards 3 different wines, together with a nice mezé plate and bread. Together with the wine tasting you learn about the traditions of the Greek wines whose roots go back as far as the antique times.

After a tasty breakfast, appreciating life like a Greek, we will pick you up at the agreed time, in one of our private vehicles, to drive you to the port, where you will continue on to your next destination, the island that is an inexhaustible source of inspiration, Santorini. As the ferry approaches the port, you will admire the capital city of Fira, with its white houses perched on the Cliffside and facing the volcano.

(OPTIONAL) Volcano & Hot Springs Cruise – 3h: We start from the picturesque old port of Santorini, and sail towards our first destination the famous volcano of Santorini! After 20 minutes of sailing, we will reach Nea Kameni’s Jetty. Walk to the volcano’s ridge with your guide and he is going to explain you everything about the history and the geology of the volcano. You will stay at the volcanic island for approximately 1,5 hours before we embark our boat and continue towards our next stop. Our next stop will be the island of Palea Kameni where the famous hot springs are located on the west side. A place that is popular for its thermal waters. The waters are mixed with mud that tare full of sulfur, iron and other metals coming from the volcano! Good to bring with you on the tour is swimsuit ( dark colors are recommendable), Towel, Sun Hat and comfortable shoes (avoid flip flops) a moderate amount of walking is involved.

At the appointed time, we will transfer you to the new port of Santorini, Athinios. There, you will board the ferry bound for the largest island of Greece, Crete. More precisely you will arrive at the port of Heraklion, the capital of the island and home of the legendary King Minos and his Minotaur. Heraklion was the most important city of the Minoan civilization and it literally means the glory of the goddess Hera. The Palace of Knossos, the oldest palatial complex in Europe, is located in Heraklion. Upon your arrival, you will be transferred to your hotel.

(OPTIONAL) Chrissi Island Cruise – 10h: This exceptional outing begins with a drive to the picturesque town of Ierapetra on the south coast. From here a boat ride across the azure waters of the Libyan Sea takes us to the Island of Chrissi 8 miles away from the coast. During the journey you can sometimes observe the dolphins in their natural habitat, seemingly showing off as they swim and leap into the air, just a few meters away from the boat. Chrissi Island is the most southern as well as the hottest point in Europe with vegetation similar to tropical, with a beautiful “Lebanon” cedar tree forest amongst the sand dunes, probably the last existing in Europe. The island is now protected as an “Area of Intense Natural Beauty” as it looks like the last paradise on Earth. A perfect day for swimming, snorkeling, sunbathing, and relaxation away from the busy modern resorts…

Pick-up’s from:
Sissi, Malia, Stalis, Hersonissos (port), Koutouloufari, Piskopiano, Anissaras, Analipsis, Gouves, Gournes, Kokkini Hani, Amnissos, Karteros, Heraklion (port), Amoudara (Gazi, Heraklion), Lygaria, Agia Pelagia.

 At the agreed time, our representative will transfer you to either Heraklion or Chania airport, where you will board your flight back to Athens. Upon your arrival you will connect to your international flight, which ideally should depart after 12:30 pm.

Having spent a few fantastic days with us, we hope to see you again soon to create new and extraordinary moments that will be lovingly etched in your memory.

Have a nice trip! or as Greeks say: “Kalo taksidi!”

 (The domestic flights will be issued according to your international flights)