CLASSICAL GREECE & GREEK ISLANDS HOPPING

CLASSICAL GREECE & GREEK ISLANDS HOPPING

A saga to history, culture, the islanders hospitality, the cosmopolitan atmosphere and the care-free travelling.

(MAINLAND – PELOPONNESE - DODECANESE – CRETE – CYCLADES)

14 days / 13 nights

Pricing

 $3.986

(For One Person, Double Occupancy based on 2 people)

Single use: + $714

MAP OF THE TRIP

Inclusions:

13 nights hotel accommodation / double occupancy on bed & breakfast basis (fine located 4**** A Class & 5***** hotels ), 7 days English speaking private driver, 7 days private A/C vehicle, Fuel, Road taxes, Drivers accommodation and meals, All transportations Athens, Rhodes, Crete, Santorini, Flight and ferry tickets in Greece, All breakfasts and some of the lunches and dinners as per program

Included in the price

§         Accommodation Athens double occupancy at 4**** hotel for 3 nights (days 2,3 and 14)

§         ATHENS: Return transfers from / to Athens airport days of arrival and departure and port / hotel day of return from Santorini

§         Athens city tour including Acropolis in the morning  (escorted / guided)

§         Afternoon tour to Sounion –Apollo temple (escorted – guided)

§   3 days Classical Greece tour in PRIVATE with private chartered vehicle, English speaking driver and private professional tour guides on sites in the ancient sites of CORINTH / EPIDAVROS / MYCENAE / OLYMPIA / DELPHI

§         Chartered vehicle with private English speaking driver for the days 3/4/5

§         Fuel

§         Road taxes

§         Accommodation Olympia double occupancy at 4**** hotel for 1 night

§         Accommodation Delphi double occupancy at 4**** hotel for 1 night

§     5 breakfasts / 3 lunches / 4 dinners when in Athens and mainland during the Classical Greece tour

§         Transportation to the airport day 6 for the flight to Rhodes

§         Flight tickets ATHENS / RHODES

§         Transportation airport / hotel day 6 day of arrival to Rhodes

§         Accommodation Rhodes double occupancy at 4**** hotel for 2 nights

§         2 breakfasts + 2 dinners when in Rhodes

§         Full day tour island of Rhodes (escorted – guided)

§         Transportation hotel / airport day of departure for the flight to Crete

§         Flight tickets RHODES / HERAKLION - CRETE

§         Transportation airport / hotel day of arrival and hotel / airport day of departure for the flight to CRETE

§         HERAKLION - CRETE: 4 nights hotel accommodation at 4**** hotel in the center of Heraklion / double occupancy on bed and breakfast basis

§     3 full days cultural drives in private with chartered vehicle and English speaking driver – Fuel included

§         All meals when in Crete: 4 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 3 dinners

§         A visit to the palace of Knossos

§         A visit to the women’s co-operative work shop of Marathos

§         A visit to local bee-keeping honey producers and tasting of produce

§         A visit to local wineries and tasting of wine

§         Ferry tickets HERAKLION / SANTORINI by high speed boat (economy class)

§         Accommodation Santorini double occupancy at 4**** hotel for 2 nights

§         Island tour including wine tasting (semi private / guided)

§         2 breakfasts when in Santorini

§         SANTORINI: Transportation port / hotel by arrival and hotel / port by departure

§         Boat tickets SANTORINI / PIRAEUS by high speed ferry (economy class)

§         Transportation port of Piraeus / hotel Athens day of return from Santorini

§         Transportation from Athens hotel to the airport day of departure for the flight back home

Prices are based on two sharing a double room

ITINERARY:

DAY 1. ATHENS:

Arrival Athens. Reception at the airport. Transportation to the hotel. Dinner at the hotel. Accommodation Athens (Dinner)

Athens :  The Capital of Greece and the most ancient capital of Europe. Established by Athena herself and glorified by Pericles.  Athens is blessed with the best climate of Mediterranean. The glory which was classical Greece is evident everywhere from Akropolis to Parthenon to every corner of the old city. Her museums are renown from their marvels and her night life in the picturesque  Plaka , makes Athens a wonderful destination. 

Day 2.  ATHENS:

Athens city tour + Cape Sounion / the temple of Apollo. Morning will come and pick you up and do Athens city tour including Acropolis and the new museum of Athens. End around 1.-1.30 PM. (escorted – guided) A little later will come and pick you up for an afternoon 40 minutes drive to the sanctuary of Apollo at cape Sounion. Back late afternoon. Dinner at local restaurant at the slope of Acropolis. Accommodation Athens. (escorted – guided) (Breakfast– Dinner)

Day 3.  CLASSICAL GREECE:

1^st day: Classical Greece is a 3 days tour visiting the best of Greece as Corinth the theater of Epidavros, Mycenae, Ancient Olympia, -Olympic games place of birth-, Delphi. Today our first day includes the CORINTH CANAL (short stop). After the Corinth Canal, drive to EPIDAURUS and visit the Ancient theatre, world famous for its outstanding acoustics. Then you enter the region of Argolis, land of Homer’s Golden Mycenae, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Dating back to the second century B.C., Mycenae was one of the major centers of Greek civilization and a military stronghold which dominated much of southern Greece. You will see the Cyclopean Walls, the Lion’s Gate, the Royal Tombs, including Agamemnon  & Clytemnestra's, and the Treasury of Atreus, a magnificent 14th-century B.C. structure.   In the afternoon depart for OLYMPIA, the birth place of the Olympic Games, through the cites of Tripolis and Megalopolis. Overnight stay in Olympia. (Breakfast – Lunch - Dinner)

Day 4.  CLASSICAL GREECE

2^nd day: Visit the Olympia archaeological site with the Temple of Zeus, the Temple of Hera, the altar of the Olympic flame, the Stadium and the archaeological Museum. Depart via Patras to Rion, cross the Corinthian bay by the new bridge to Antirion. Break for lunch at the city of NAFPAKTOS and from there on, along the coastal road to Delphi, known in ancient times as the navel of the world. Overnight stay in Delphi. (Breakfast – Lunch - Dinner)

Day 5. CLASSICAL GREECE and FLIGHT TO RHODES / RHODES:

3^rd day Visit the archaeological site and the MUSEUM of Delphi. DELPHI, known in ancient times as the navel of the world. Pass by CASTALIA SPRING, visit at the archaeological site and view the monument of the Argive Kings, the temple of Pronaia, the treasury of the Athenians, the Athenian Stoa, the Polygonal Wall, the monument of Platea and  the Temple of Apollo famous for its oracle and  Delphi museum, with it's spectacular exhibits include the frieze of the Treasury of the Sifnians, the Naxian Sphinx, the Statue of Antinoos the metopes of the Athenian treasury, the famous bronze Charioteer,  and many other artifacts. Lunch and drive back to Athens. Transportation to the airport and flight to Rhodes. Arrival Rhodes airport. Reception at the airport. Transportation to the hotel. Dinner at the hotel. Accommodation Rhodes. (Breakfast – Lunch - Dinner)

Day 6. RHODES FULL DAY ISLAND TOUR.

Rhodes : Cosmopolitan centre internationally renown .It΄s the island Sun married with, according to the ancient myths and has never left her since. Excellent climate, wonderful beaches, very special and well organized hotel industry. Unlimited possibilities of choice  all year round.

This is an excellent opportunity for a visit to the most important of Rhodes’ tourist attractions, with the assistance of our highly skilled guide who will provide you with a comprehensive update on the history and culture of our island.
A first stop will take place at the Valley of the Butterflies: this world-renowned site of exceptional scenic beauty comprises a valley lavishly grown with plane and pine trees, crossed by gargling streams and peopled by in numerous butterflies often resting by the thousands along the tree trunks. The itinerary then brings visitors to the village of Embonas, famous for its vineyards and top-quality wineries yielding some of the island’s best wines – yours to taste and enjoy! Break for lunch. Then, on to the village of Sianna for some history and a visit for picture-taking to the ruins of the fort of Monolithos. Immediately afterwards, the journey will take you to the island’s southernmost tip, known as cape Prasonisi. More of an islet, this cape is only connected to Rhodes through a narrow strip of sandy land, forming two exotic beachfronts on either side. On the trip back, Lindos awaits to enchant you with its truly impressive citadel and the breathtaking, birds ‘eye views from above. A truly beautiful, indelibly memorable day ! Back to the hotel late afternoon. Dinner at the hotel. Accommodation Rhodes.(Breakfast – Lunch - Dinner)

DAY 7. RHODES / CRETE:

Crete : The largest of the Greek islands and the crossroads of three continents. Offers a great deal of choices to the visitor satisfying all expectations. Noisy and quite, savage and calm, expensive and thrifty, mountaingnous and fertile . Crete provides everything.

Morning the city at your disposal. Walk the old city. Afternoon transportation to the airport and flight to Heraklion – Crete. Reception at the airport. Transportation to the hotel. Accommodation Heraklion. Dinner at local restaurant with variety of Cretan traditional Mediterranean specialties (Breakfast – Dinner)

DAY 8.  CRETE / HERAKLION: WINE TASTING, THE PALACE OF KNOSSOS / CITY OF HERAKLION:

Iraklion: The largest of the cities in Crete. Crossroad of civilizations and distinct presence of the past. Minoans , Byzantines , Venetians , Ottomans , Arabs etc.  Left their mark here. But the soul of Crete remains unspoiled. An impressive Venetian castle with massive fortification separates the old city from the sprawling modern suburbs of Iraklion   

Today we visit the palace of Knossos.

When visiting the island of Crete someone must see the ancient palace of Knossos, built 3.500 years ago. Combination of archaeological discoveries and food tasting: The day start at 9.30  am and Visit takes 1 1/2 hour. After the palace we drive to the near village of Sivas where we visit one of the finest small family wineries providing organic wines. Spend some time there tasting a variety of wines. After the wine tasting we drive back to the city and will walk the streets of the city and meet nutritional wanderings elevating the palate to heaven!!  Will explore unique tastes on this walking tour of Heraklion. Visit at a small cheese shop (one of the best in Crete) and taste unique fresh and old Cretan cheese accompanied by a shot of Raki. Walk the central market and stop for an OUZO (anise) with MEZE (small bites accompanies the spirit) at one of the traditional Mezedopolion of the street. The day do not ending here. Back to the hotel and after a relaxing rest we pick you up for dinner to taste a number of traditional Cretan Mediterranean specialties accompanied by local home made wine. Accommodation Heraklion. (Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner)

DAY 9. CENTRAL CRETE: FORGOTTEN MONASTERY. MOUNTAINS AND THE WOMEN COOPERATIVES ART PASTRY WORK SHOP AND HONEY TASTING:

This will be our gift to you: We will pick you up and spend the day together visiting places tourists don’t go, meet local people, taste food that only locals taste. In other words you will be part of Cretan daily life. After your breakfast your tour will start in the direction of Mount Nida (Psiloritis) the highest mountain on Crete, and according to legend, where Zeus was grew up. A visit to a unique small stoned church of St. Iakinthos (Orthodox Saint Valentine) built by the well-known Cretan Artist, musician, and singer Loudovikos of Anogia. You will taste the finest quality cheeses, including Kefalotyri and Kefalogryere. Drive via the village of Axos and the drive ends at the small village of Drossia known by the local people with the Turkish name GENI-GAVE where you will enjoy lunch at one of the finest restaurant on the island – Giannis Petoussis Tavern. Lunch will feature everything natural and fresh from the proprietor’s own land, cooked by the lady of the house. After lunch, you visit the almost forgotten monastery of Halepa. Next stop at the women cooperative work shop at village Marathos and at Doxa, a small local café run by the owners since 1949. Just 20 km from the city, it is beautifully untouched, and a natural pasture for bees. Old traditional bee-keeping methods ensure ecological, clean honey that is free from any additives. This golden yellow honey is a perfect source of natural vitamins and minerals. You will sample honeycombs straight from the beehive and learn a few secrets know only to the bee-keepers. At the end of this visit you will sample an herbal tea comprised of 9 mountain herbs, and enjoy local donuts drizzled with pure thyme honey. Back to the hotel late afternoon. Dinner at local Mezedopolion (providing variety of little dishes – like tapas -. Accommodation Heraklion (Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner)

DAY 10.WESTERN CRETE: ARKADI MONASTERY, CITY OF RETHYMNON AND THE WATERS OF ARGYROUPOLIS

After a rich breakfast, you will enjoy a drive through the HILLS and small villages of the northern Crete region. You will visit the 16th century monastery of Arkadi, the small village of Margarites popular for the ceramics they produce and the city of Rethymnon where every street will take you on a journey through history. Venetian and Turkish buildings have become small restaurants, cafés and shops. Your walk down the narrow streets will take you to small tourists’ shops and coffee houses where you can mingle with locals. A slow drive to the Water of Argyroupolis where lunch will be served with a variety of Cretan vegetable and cheese specialties and abundance of grilled meats. After lunch drive back to Hheraklion. Rest of the day free for shopping. We will pick you up later in the evening for the last dinner in Crete. Accommodation Heraklion. (Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner)

DAY 11. CRETE / SANTORINI:

Morning transportation to the port. Embarkation and boat trip to Santorini. Arrival. Reception at the port. Transportation to the hotel. Accommodation Santorini. (Breakfast)

Day 12. SANTORINI:

Santorini : The volcanic environment combined by the most beautiful Sunsets in the world makes Santorini the Unique island. The now  dormant volcano is harmless but its forces have helped the creation of a breath taking view. The black sandy beaches and the deep blue of her seas an  extra attraction. But next to the evidence of the volcanic forces , peacefulness and tranquillity are the main characteristiques of this  extraordinary island.

Island tour with wine tasting. Rest of the day at your disposal. Accommodation Santorini. (Breakfast)

DAY 13. SANTORINI / PIRAEUS – ATHENS: Morning free for last walk / shopping. Early noon transportation to the port for the ferry trip to Piraeus. Embarkation. Arrival Piraeus. Reception at the port. Transportation to the hotel. Accommodation Athens. (Breakfast)

DAY 14. ATHENS: FLIGHT BACK HOME: Breakfast and transportation to the airport for the flight back home. KALO TAXIDI (have a nice trip) (Breakfast)

Questions? Feel free to contact Mr. George Portokalakis info@portoclub.gr