Greece Under the Mediterranean Sun
Tour: NNC 4
Athens, the Greek Isles, and Istanbul 11 Days

Santorini/Crete edition

Click here for the Mykonos / Santorini edition

The mystery of Istanbul . . . the treasures of Athens . . . the romance of the Greek isles. What's better than a journey with a cherished companion to one of these prized destination? Why, an interlude that includes all three, of course.

This is a trip tailored to make the most of that special company and unique occasion, be it an anniversary, a honeymoon, or a singular chance to be alone and away. We have selected superior and deluxe hotels notable for their charm, atmosphere, and, of course, fine service. Weekly Mondays & Saturdays in Athens : April-Nov

DAY 1 - ARRIVAL IN ATHENS
Our Athens-based personnel meets you at the international airport, assists you with the formalities, and sees you to your charming and comfortable four-star hotel, your base for the next two nights. Check in, relax, then take a stroll through the lively streets. Browse for treasures and curios, savor a coffee or aperitif at a terrace café, or enjoy a fine meal in the old Plaka district.

DAY 2 - ATHENS (BD) Enjoy the sights, sounds, and flavors of the Greek capital, today we have included a half day tour of Syntagma Square, and the towering Acropolis.
An evening dinner with a folk show at the ancient Plaka district.

DAY 3 - ATHENS,SANTORINI (B)
We'll call for you and see you to the airport for your flight over the blue Aegean to Santorini (Air fare included, Isle of Ancient " Atlantis ?!", where you'll find a room waiting in a four-star beach hotel. Or a cliff -side Villa .

DAY 4 - Santorini (B)
Enjoy breakfast at your lovely hotel (or Villa),or venture out,to explore ON YOUR OWN Akrotiri,reputedly the site of fabled Atlantis. Then on to Athinios port to take a boat across to eh dormant volcano, and ascend through a crater-pocked moonscape to the crater. Visit Thirassia Island and watch sunset in Oia. Return to your hotel/villa early evening, the decision is totally yours :).

DAY 5 - Santorini (B)
To stay in your lovely hotel and enjoy the beach, the service, and the amenities, or to venture out to explore some of the dramatic cliffs, coves, and villages . . . that is the question! No doubt, you'll mix a bit of both; Relax, and revisit a favorite café or shop ,sip an ouzo or retsina at a waterside café, discover a beach or two, pick up a loaf of fresh bread and cheese and olives, and picnic on a hillside as you look out to sailboats at sea. Your days will be filled.

DAY 6 - SANTORINI, CRETE (B)
We'll rendezvous in time to take you to your flight to Crete, Hreaklion & your hotel. Flights operate only on Thu & Sat, other days, ferry is 5 hours, or flights via Athens (Supplement applies).

DAY 7 - CRETE (BL)
Today in Heraklion. We visit the unique 5000 year old museum, enjoy lunch in a local tavern, and tour to the three-story Minoan palace of Knossos.

DAY 8 - CRETE (B)
Enjoy your stay at the hotel or explore one of the beaches. Or explore on your own the Venetian part of the old town , see below more details on tours in Crete.

DAY 9 - ISTANBUL (B)
After a leisurely breakfast, we'll pick you up and escort you to board a flight for Athens, and onward travel to Istanbul. Our personnel will be on hand to greet you upon arrival and see you to your Ottoman mansion-style boutique hotel in the Turkish capital.

DAY 10 - ISTANBUL (BL)
Full day tour : including the Blue Mosque and Aya Sophia, and Topkapi Palace, with its Ottoman treasures. The Grand Bazaar with its endless bargains in its 5000 stands, kiosks, and shops. Soak up the atmosphere of a traditional coffee house, complete with bubbling water pipes. Lunch will be included in a local restaurant.

DAY 11 - DEPARTURE (B)
Do your last-minute shopping this morning, or just linger deliciously in bed, like Turkish royalty. Then we'll call for you and see you to the airport to begin your journey home.

Bon Voyage. Gule Gule

This tour operates daily from May through September.

RATE in US $, per person in double occupancy:

Rate includes:

• Air transportation from Athens to Santorini, Crete , and back to Athens, and from Athens to Istanbul.
• Transportation between airport and hotels in Greece & Turkey
• Accommodations with breakfast (B) as indicated below, or at comparable properties, according to availability:
  Athens:
  Divani Palace Acropolis : 5 Stars Moderate
  Electra Palace (four stars).

• Santorini:
  Chromata Apartment, in Imerovigli with view of the Volcano (Four stars superior).

• Dana Villas: in Firostefani with view of the volcano. ( Four stars superior)
  

• Rose Bay on Kamari Beach Hotel (for the four stars category )

Crete:

Heraklio / Hersonissos Area:
* Creta Maris ( 5 stars)
* Knossos Royal Village (5 stars)
* Royal Mare Village (5 Stars)
* Atlantis Hotel ( 5 stars - Town property)
* Aldemar Royal Mare (5 stars)

Heraklio /Amoudara Area:
* Candia Maris Hotel ( 5 stars)

Elounda Area:
* Hotel Elounda Mare (5 stars):
Supplement $65 per person per night with breakfast & dinner included (part of the deal, cant delete).

Lasithi Area:
* Hotel Elounda Mare (5 stars) : PRIVATE BUNGALOW with private pool: Supplement $200 Per person per night.

4 - Star Properties:

Heraklio Area:
* Sylva Maris Bungalows hotel ( 4 stars)
* Galaxy Iraklio Hotel ( Town property)
* Asotria Capsis Hotel ( Town Hotel)
* Marina Beach in Gouves area
* Pantheon Palace in Gouves area

Lasithi Area:
Miramar in Aghios Nikolaos

• Istanbul:
  Ottoman-style boutique hotels, such as Arena or Armada, providing intimacy and fine service. Or Madison / Senator, contemporary style hotels in case the Ottoman Mansions are not available.
  
• Guided sightseeing as indicated in each of : ATHENS, CRETE, & ISTANBUL, including preset menu lunch as indicated "L".
• Entrance fees for all sites listed in the itinerary.

Not Included:

• International air transportation
• Optional excursions, such as tours on Santorini, sailing, cruising
  
• Any meal not specifically mentioned, beverages, and personal expenses
• Gratuities for local personnel
• Travel insurance (please inquire about flyer).
• Airport taxes. Visa fee for Turkey (in Cash) secured upon arrival, or thru the Turkish Consulate.

CRETE
One of the largest islands in the Mediterranean ,and for thousands of years it has been a crossroads of three continents- Europe, Asia and Africa.

The birthplace of the first glorious Greek civilization, the Minoan one, as well as that Zeus, El Greco, the famous painter, and Kazantzakis, well known for his Zorba the Greek, Crete is a spirited and enchanting place with a wonderful climate. Ravishing scenery, picturesque harbors, ancient Minoan palaces and Byzantine churches are but a few Crete's pleasures. Add to that the friendliness of the Cretan people and one has the setting for a memorable convention or incentive destination. Crete demands to be explored by ca or by jeep and there are several interesting excursions that may be organized. Heraklion, the capital of the island with its world class Archaeological Museum and the Palace of Knossos dating back to 1500 BC, the town of Rethymno with its Venetian Fortress and the old Turkish quarter with mosques and minarets, the town of Chania, a typical Venetian town with a small secluded harbor with picturesque houses and cafes and last but not least, the port of Aghios Nikolaos and the village of Elounda around the Bay of Mirabello are all visiting points.

Trekking through the Samaria Gorge, mountain biking on the Lassithi Plateau with its countless windmills, watching a traditional Cretan wedding ceremony or enjoying a glass of Raki whilst listening to the traditional Cretan music played by the lyra during one of the Cretan nights and shopping for handicrafts and local wines can be a part of interesting incentives activities.

KNOSSOS - MUSEUM They say that if you try to leave without visiting Knossos, you are turned away from the airport. Knossos is not simply foundations but a three story Palace complex of rooms, halls and passengers, dating from 2.500 B.C. and the center of Minoan civilization (when in most parts of the world people were still living in caves). This is the labyrinth were Theseus slew the Minotaur, and where history and legend go hand in hand. After Knossos, we visit Heraklion's Archaeological Museum where all the best finds of Knossos and other cities are housed. Included in the tour is a sightseeing trip of Heraklion.

PHAESTOS-GORTYS-MATALA This trip takes South the mountains and more of Crete's unique scenery and stopping first at Gortys, the Capital during the Roman occupation. You can view the ancient forum and theater and see the famous Doric law code, chiseled forever into stone and publicity displayed in Dorian times. Also at Gortys is one of the best & most beautiful of ancient churches on Crete -St.Titus dating from 5-6 AD From here we move to Phaestos, the second major Minoan site, situated overlooking the beautiful Messara plain. At Phaestos you can evidence of the original complex destroyed by fire and earthquake, and also the second, rebuilt complex. Since we believe that too much culture is not the best way to spend a holiday the afternoon is spent on the beach of Matala, overlooked by the famous Neolithic caves.

RETHYMNO - CHANIA (WEST CRETE) Our major excursion travels along the north west coast with breathtaking scenery on both sides - spectacular mountain ranges , and sleepy little fishing villages. First stop in famous monastery of Arkadi. Then will stop in Rethymno, known as the city of scholars. Here you can stroll through the narrow streets with their venetian flavor, or maybe take coffee in a harbor side coffee bar We move to Chania for lunch. Chania is the little Venice of Crete. It possesses reputedly the largest market in the Balkans, and a street almost dedicated to leather goods, where you can see items such as boots, shoes, handbags e.t.c. Handmade. After lunch, by the beautiful venetian harbor of the town, where «Zorbas the Greek » was filmed, we go to nearby Souda bay, where lies the British Commonwealth war cemetery.

CRETAN EVENING A not to be missed opportunity for an evening out amidst the flavor and atmosphere of Cretan Tavern. We travel into the mountains to a village no more than hour away, and our evening is spent eating, drinking and dancing in the local style. During the meal which will be typical there is unlimited free wine, and you will be serenaded by local musicians, afterwards there will be a demonstration of the energetic Cretan dancing and you will be enthusiastically invited to join in.

GOURNIA - KRITSA - AG. NIKOLAOS This trip takes you east through the mountains and beautiful villages. First stop in the traditional village Gournia and then we visit the Byzantine of Kera church and the village of Kritsa. Next stop in Ag.Nikolaos, situated on the bottomless lake «Voulismeni» and also famous for a TV series «The lotus eaters». You can stroll around the picturesque harbor, sample some «meze» at a local tavern.

PLATEAU OF LASSITHI You expect coach captain, will take you through the impressive scenery of the road that climbs from the coast up to high Lassithi. A narrow road, with tight bends, weaving its way between the hills onwards and upwards, brings you to a vast plain as far as the eye can see, with windmills is the Plateau of Lassithi. Here is where the history and legend go hand in hand once again and therefore your guide will tell you about and give you an chance to visit the Dicteon cave where Zeus was born.

SPINALONGA ISLAND This excursion journeys along the north east coast and first visits the village of Elounda. If the name doesn't ring a bell, think of "who pays the ferryman" - it was filmed here, a small but charming fishing village. We take a boat trip from Elounda to the island of Spinalonga, fortified by the Venetian, and used this century as a leper colony. Free time for BBQ lunch and swimming at the island of Kolokytha. Having returned to Elounda we travel down to Agios Nikolaos and enroute you have a wonderful view over the bay of Mirabello. Agios Nikolaos is possibly the most chic spot in Crete.

SAMARIA GORGE The trek through the Samaria gorge will probably be one of the most exciting days of your holiday in Crete. It is 18 km of breathtaking scenery in the longest gorge in Europe, with imposing sheer rock faces and the pine filled atmosphere of another world. We begin our descent early in the morning to avoid being in the gorge when the sun is at it's hottest. As you reach the bottom you will be making the same exit as the British soldiers and the Greek partisans made during their escape in the last war. Waiting for you at the bottom will be the crystal-clear waters in Libya Sea and the small village of Aghia Roumeli where after a good rest, we will board the boat to Chora Sfakion for the return to hotel.