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11 Day Greek Islands Tour
offered by supplier M19330 (view this supplier profile)
Key Information:
Tour Duration: 11
day(s)
Group Size: 2
- 12
people
Destination(s):
Greece
Specialty Categories:
Cultural Journey
Season: January - December
Airfare Included: No
Tour Customizable: Yes
Minimum Per Person Price: 2800 Canadian Dollar (CAD)
Maximum Per Person Price: 2800 Canadian Dollar (CAD)
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Greece stirs the Western imagination, not just as a beginning point of our culture, but as one of the richest countries to tour. Imagine cool mornings exploring Mycenaean ruins, swimming or snorkeling or just lying on the beach in the afternoon, and eating traditional meals in Tavernas in the evening. Always surrounded by, enchanted by, Homer’s eternal “wine dark sea.”
Tour Itinerary:
Day 1: We meet at Piraeus, the central dock area of Athens and board our ferry to Mykonos. It will take the day to reach the island, but is delightful as we pass the time looking out on the Aegean and the islands. Mykonos town is our port of call and we will settle into our hotel before we search out a Taverna to have dinner. Try the Souvlaki or perhaps Lavraki (sea bass, perhaps served on salad greens). Later in the evening watch the sun dip into the darkening sea.
Day 2: We tour Mykonos town in the morning, walking through winding streets, to Kastro, the historic part of the town. We will tour the Archaeological Museum. It houses Greek and Roman artifacts found on the island and from nearby Delos. In the afternoon we head to the beach at Platys Gialos.
Day 3: Today we leave Mykonos early for the trip to Island of Delos. Delos was inhabited in the third millennium BC, becoming in time a religious center for the Cyclades. Today it has one of the most important archaeological sites. People are not allowed to stay overnight on the island so we will have to return to Mykonos by three in the afternoon. There is much to see. The magnificent Lion Terrace, with Mycenaean statues of lions guarding the Sacred Lake, the Sanctuaries of Apollo and Dionysus, the House of Dolphins with its famous mosaics.
Later in the day we tour the Theater Quarter. We will have an opportunity to take in the Theater itself, as well as the House of the Masks, a residence for actors. Before we leave the island we tour the Archaeological Museum. After returning to Mykonos, we can spend time on the beach or have a drink and compare stories of our visit to Delos.
Day 4: In the morning we head inland to Ano Mera, one of the quieter areas in Mykonos. The 16th Century monastery Panagia I Tourliani has substantial icons. The road weaves its way across the hills, and we will visit Moni Palaiokastrou and Maraithi. Eventually the road falls away to the sea at Panormeos Bay. Here we will have an opportunity to try our hand at windsurfing. In the evening we return to Mykonos.
Day 5: We leave Mykonos and sail south to Paros, arriving in the afternoon. After unpacking we will tour the city of Paroikia, a mixture of Greek, Roman, Byzantine, and Venetian influences. The most impressive sight is the Dormition of the Virgin, a Byzantine cathedral. It is also known as the Church of a Hundred Doors (Ekatontapyliani). It is ornate, in the form of a Greek Cross, and has a venerated icon of the Virgin and a footprint in stone said to be of Agia Theoktisti, the patron saint of the island. We will make stops in the Archaeological Museum and tour the Venetian fort of Kastro.
Day 6: In the morning we sail for Santorini. Many have said that the most beautiful sunsets on earth are at Oia. It is a volcanic island, and it is the postcard of the Greek Islands, white and blue everywhere; white church's with blue domes, blue gates, pastel homes with blue blinds, alabaster bars with blue awnings, blue umbrella's. Many of the towns appear to be sliding off the cliffs. We will spend day 7 and 8 on Santorini. Tonight though we watch the sun set from our window seat in a local tavern.
Day 7: In the morning we tour Fira. Later we will travel to Ancient Thira, settled in the 9th BC by the Dorian's. The ruins are on a promontory overlooking the sea, with scrub growing among the rocks. The site shows the influences of Ptolemaic, Hellenistic, and Roman cultures among the remains of houses, temples and agora (market). Mosaics abound, on the floors of the homes and in a sanctuary built in the 3rd century BC are relief carvings of symbols representing Greek Gods. From Thira we will have an opportunity to either hike Mount Profitis to see the monastery or hike down to Kamari and its beach of volcanic sand. We will have dinner in Kamari before returning to Fira.
Day 8: We travel to Akrotiri this morning to see the Minoan ruins. They are 3500 years old, preserved under ash from volcanic eruptions. A great number of artifacts have been unearthed, but more importantly are the frescoes which have sustained little damage. In the afternoon we go on a wine tour of Santo Wines, a modern winery that produces award winning Vinsanto and offers one of the best views on the island. The remainder of the day is free; you can either shop or go to one of the many beaches to the south of Fira. For our last night on Santorini we will have dinner on the waterfront of Oia and watch the sunset.
Day 9: We take the ferry to Milos, arriving in the late afternoon. Our hotel is in Plaka, overlooking the sea. Dinner at a local tavern.
Day 10: Relaxation is the theme for the day. We travel in the morning to the beach at Papafragos. Rock formations have created a natural swimming pool. Swim or lie on the sand and in the afternoon explore the nearby Neolithic ruins at Phylakope where a number of buildings and tombs have been excavated.
Day 11: We return to Athens in the morning and ready ourselves for our trip home.
Member discount:
10% discount for InfoHub customer. Request a free gift certificate.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Price Includes:
- 4 star hotels
- Sea and land transportation
- Guide
- Museum fees.
Also see tour packages in:
Europe
Greece
Local Culture
Cultural Journey
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