Exploring Greece and Its Islands featuring Classical Greece, Mykonos & Santorini

What's Included

• Welcome Dinner

  Join your fellow travelers for a welcome dinner featuring Greek specialties at a local restaurant in Athens.

• Guided Tour of Athens

  Enjoy a panoramic tour of the highlights in Athens showcasing the city's ancient and glorious monuments.

• Visit to Metéora Monasteries

  Visit two remote monasteries in Metéora, situated in a unique landscape of limestone rock towers.

• Delphi Museum Visit

  Experience the Delphi Museum with its priceless collection of ancient artifacts.

• Greek Dance Class

  Broaden your knowledge of traditional Greek music with a delightful Greek dance class.

• Mediterranean Cooking Experience

  Partake in a Mediterranean cooking experience followed by a traditional Greek lunch.

• Santorini Winery Tour

  Sample the finest wines in Greece with a winery tour and light lunch in Santorini.

• Farewell Dinner

  Celebrate the end of a memorable trip to Greece with a delightful farewell dinner.

What's Not Included

• Optional Excursions

  Optional excursions such as the Athens Local Food Tour, Ancient Delos excursion, and Santorini Dinner are not included.
  
  

• Personal Expenses

  Personal expenses such as souvenirs, additional meals, and drinks are not included.
  
  

• Travel Insurance

  Travel insurance is not included and is recommended to be purchased separately.
  
  

• Flights to and from Greece

  International flights to and from Greece are not included in the tour package.
  
  

Experiences

• Come to know two breathtaking Byzantine monasteries in Metéora, built over 600 years ago.
• Experience the Delphi Museum with its priceless collection of ancient artifacts.
• Broaden your knowledge of traditional Greek music with a delightful Greek dance class.

Options

Athens: Athens Local Food Tour

Experience Athens as a local! Join a local guide for a walking tour highlighting the cuisine of Athens. You'll make your way through three neighborhoods in the city, full of hidden gems that few travelers ever get to see. Be welcomed into several local restaurants, bakeries and markets to sample some of the area’s best culinary specialties and wine. Your guide will explain the significance each dish serves to the culture and region. You'll learn about common grocery items found in the markets and the importance of spices used in Greek cooking. Along the way, view the traditional architecture and see historic artifacts from ancient Athens that were recently discovered. Duration approximately 3.5 hour(s). Transportation is included. A minimum of 10 passenger(s) is required to operate this option.

This option does not operate on national and religious holidays when most venues are closed.
As this is a walking tour, a comfortable pair of shoes is recommended.

Take a step into the past with a half-day excursion to the island of Delos, the fabled birthplace of Apollo and Artemis. After a quick 30-minute boat ride, allow your guide to introduce you to this sprawling UNESCO site. See how the Greek myths intertwine with prehistoric ruins, passing through narrow streets from the Hellenistic age. Tour the awe-inspiring House of Dionysus, a relic from the 4th-century BC containing ancient mosaics and preserved columns. Peruse the Temple of Apollo, the Sacred Lake, and the guardian Naxian Lions with your guide before enjoying time to explore independently. Take in views of the Sacred Island of Delos as you ferry back to Mykonos. Duration approximately 4 hour(s). Transportation is included. A minimum of 15 passenger(s) is required to operate this option.

Duration of guided tour is 90 minutes and is subject to favorable weather conditions. This option needs to be pre-purchased at least 10 days prior to departure. Availability for purchase while on tour is not guaranteed.

Travel to the southern side of Santorini to the small traditional village of Megalochori, one of the most picturesque villages on the island, dating back to the 17th century. Embark on a walking tour through the narrow alleys and peek into the small shops, markets and churches for a taste of the local life. After your walking tour, make your way to a local restaurant. Savor regional cuisine during your delicious 3-course dinner in an open setting with breathtaking views of the rich, blue Aegean waters. Sit back and relax as you toast to your incredible experience. Duration approximately 3 hour(s). Transportation is included. A minimum of 15 passenger(s) is required to operate this option.


Dinner will take place indoors if inclement weather occurs.

Culinaries

• Taste olive oil and homemade jams at a local farm in the Peloponnese countryside.
• Partake in a Mediterranean cooking experience followed by a traditional Greek lunch.
• Sample the finest wines in Greece with a winery tour and light lunch in Santorini.

Must See

• Explore Mykonos, the whitewashed jewel of the Cyclades Islands, at your leisure.
• Join a local expert to explore Athens and its famed sites.
• Explore the grandeur of Olympia, birthplace of the Olympic Games.

Choice Highlights

Athens

A place where democracy was born and the birthplace of the Olympics; happens to be the largest city located in one of the most historic countries and is also the capital of Greece. Located in Athens is one of the 7 wonders of the modern world, Acropolis of Athens, the Holy Rock which dates back to 5 BC. Athens is recognized as a global city for its strategic location and its modernistic views in finance, commerce, media, entertainment, arts, international trade, culture, education, and tourism.

One of the greatest sanctuaries of ancient Athens dedicated to the goddess Athena is located in the center of the modern city of Acropolis. The masterpieces of ancient architecture in Acropolis have influenced art and culture for many centuries. Although many of the historical sites take up a majority of space in Acropolis, many small rural communes were built around these sites.

Meteora, located in Thessaly and Kalampaka, is a city under the rock of towers. The most famous attraction is the monasteries on the top of the rock towers. Today, the Orthodoxy has been continually practiced uninterrupted for over 600 years by the monasteries on top of the Meteora rocks: Holy Monastery of the Great Meteoro, the Varlaam Monastery, the Saint Stephen Monastery, the Holy Trinity Monastery, the Saint Nicolas Anapafsas Monastery, and the Roussano Monastery.

The place where heaven meets earth. It is said that the Pythia, the priestess serving as the oracle in the pre-classical Greek world, resided in Delphi. Delphi is the setting for many Greek myths and serves as a major site for the worship of Apollo because of his accomplishment of slaying Phython, a dragon protecting the navel of Earth. Delphi is both an archaeological site and a modern town in Greece. Delphi’s deep history is a large attraction for tourists.

The birthplace of the Olympics, which was held in honor of Zeus. Olympia is a sanctuary of ancient Greece in Elis on the Peloponnese peninsula, also nicknamed the “Vallyey of Gods.” Overtime the site was buried under sedimentary deposits, from what is thought to have been a flood. It wasn’t until 1766 when it was re-discovered. The first excavation took place in 1829. Today the Olympic flame of the modern Olympic Games is lit by the reflection of sunlight in a parabolic mirror in front of the Temple of Hera. Visitors can walk through the ruins of the area where athletes trained in the ancient stadium as well as visit the museum that houses sculptures of decoration of the temple of Zeus, which happens to be one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Visitors can also take part in activities, such as walking along the promenade, and outdoor sports like biking, rafting, kayaking, and kite surfing.

Farming has been a core part of Greek culture since the ancient times. This was one of the main sources of income for the Ancient Greek economy. Now, farming still flourishes in Greece thanks to its most famous crop – olives. Although olives are the most popular crop, Greece also produces many other crops such as grapes, tomatoes, and cotton. You’ll be able to visit an authentic Greek farm and meet with the owners to learn about daily life in the countryside.

Guests will experience a presentation of Mediterranean cuisine followed by lunch, which includes: Greek Cheese pies & Tzatziki (cucumber, yogurt, garlic and oil), giant beans, stuffed vine leaves, seasonal salad, "spetsofai" sausages cooked in real tomatoes with peppers OR stuffed tomatoes & Peppers, grandmother's meatballs, lentil soup, bread, oil, olives, feta cheese and traditional dessert, mineral water, coffee or tea, ouzo, and house wine.

The Greek dance class is an interactive, one hour Greek dance and music presentation on a variety of Greek dances and musical instruments. Guests will be able to participate in various traditional dances.

Mykonos, also known as the island of the winds, is one of the Greek Islands, Cyclades. It is also the name of the largest town on the island. Because of the location of Mykonos, several islands relied on it and it became an important place for supplies and transit. Mykonos also holds a place in Greek mythology. It is said that Mykonos was named after its first ruler, Mykons, the son of the god Apollo. Another myth says the island is the location of a great battle between Zeus and the Titans. Today, the island relies heavily on tourism and is widely known for its incredible nightlife.

High on the hill overlooking the turquoise Aegean Sea sits Santorini, the world’s only inhabited caldera (volcano cauldron). This mountainous island is an amazing sight. Its towns are filled with whitewashed houses that "spill" over the edge of the cliff toward the sea. The striking cobblestone alleyways painted in white and highlighted with blue and red are lined with colorful fabrics and artwork and filled with friendly people. Take in the atmosphere and relax as you gaze at the breathtaking sunsets and stroll along the stunning black sand beaches; then you'll truly understand why this island has been inhabited for thousands of years.

A Minoan Bronze Age settlement located on the volcanic Greek island of Santorini. The settlement was buried in volcanic ash by the Theran eruption in 1627 BC. The site was excavated. Much of what was found was the remains of Frescoes (type of painting style) and other objects and artworks. Today Akrotiri is still under some construction. However, a path was built from the city to the parking lot of excavations that is suitable for outdoor activities such as mountain biking, walking and running.

Mode of Transport

Travel through Greece with ease, including a high-speed ferry ride to Mykonos and a cruise to Santorini, ensuring a seamless and scenic journey across the Aegean Sea.

Accommodation

Stay in comfort at the Crowne Plaza City Center in Athens, the Grand Hotel Meteora, and the Domotel Anemolia Mountain Resort, among other well-appointed accommodations throughout your journey in Greece.