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Blue
Water , Bright Greek Islands
SAILING
IN THE AEGEAN -Weekly on Saturdays
Apr-Oct
Secluded
coves of sand on cerulean waters . . . clusters of fishing boats in coves
. . . sun-drenched whitewashed houses ascending stone-paved lanes. . .
dramatic desert isles of cactus and hills and isolated monasteries . .
. crystalline waters gliding by, a splash away.
Ordinarily,
the lesser-known isles of the Cyclades-Ios, Iraklia, Shinoussa, Koufonissia,
Naxos and others-remain legends beyond the reach of visitors. But what
we are proposing to you is the extraordinary.
Discover
the secret isles of Greece on the Santa Maria, a sailing craft with every
amenity to complement a remarkable journey. With just three well-appointed
cabins, you'll embark on an intimate voyage away from the crowds.
 Where
no scheduled ferries ply the waters, the Santa Maria charts its course.
When a local celebration beckons, your captain obligingly alters course.
Where shallow waters keep larger vessels away, the Santa Maria roams at
will. Where a deserted stretch of sand and still waters promise a beach
delight, you head inshore and drop anchor. Where a taverna proposes excellent
fare in informal surroundings, there you will dine. Where inns lack amenities,
tasteful, air-conditioned cabins provide a night's rest, to the gentle
sway of waves in a snug harbor. When you awake, a leisurely breakfast
will be prepared to order.
Experienced
sailors will welcome new explorations. For the adventurous, the Santa
Maria is an unparalleled opportunity to go where few have gone. For a
honeymoon or a romantic escape in special company, or for the relaxing
solitude of the seas, the voyage is unforgettable.
Rendezvous
with us in Santorini during your journey in Greece for four exceptional
days on board. Or, allow Travel in Style to make all the arrangements
for a week that includes a stay in a charming villa hotel in Santorini,
and the experience of the Greek capital.
Blue
Water , Bright Greek Islands
SAILING
IN THE AEGEAN
This
ten-day, nine-night comprehensive program includes your stay in a villa
on the island of Santorini, the voyage aboard the Santa Maria to the lesser-known
reaches of the Cyclades, and, for a contrast, the experience of bustling
Athens. All your needs are seen to aboard . . . bring only your spirit
of adventure!
DAY
1 - ARRIVAL IN ATHENS Saturday
Our Athens representative will meet you at the airport, assist you through
customs and immigration, and escort you to your hotel (
Divani Palace or similar) in the bustling city center, where a welcome
fruit basket awaits. The rest of the day is yours to enjoy as you wish.
Stroll, browse for curios and treasures, and perhaps dine at a café
in the old Plaka district and take in a folklore show.
DAY
2 - ATHENS Sunday (B)
A morning tour will orient you to the high points of Athens, including
Syntagma Square, at the very heart of the city. You'll ascend to the Acropolis
to experience the purest of classical architecture. After a visit to the
site's museum, the rest of the day is yours for further exploration, shopping,
and the discovery of dining pleasures.
DAY
3 - ATHENS, SANTORINI Monday (B)
After breakfast at your hotel, it's off to the Aegean! We'll call for
you and escort you to the airport. Soon after takeoff, you'll be soaring
over deep blue waters; where ferries and freighters scurry between islands
near and distant. The large mass of Crete is visible in the distance,
and then you descend to an island marked with a signature volcano: Santorini.
Our personnel will be on hand to escort you to your accommodations at
PetraMare Villas. Here, the warming Greek sun will stream into
your whitewashed, arched quarters, trimmed with natural wood, provided
with all the comforts, from furniture in earth tones to a massive fireplace,
and private stone terraces. The air is informal yet tasteful, suggesting
complete relaxation, and the views-over the caldera toward the volcano,
the sweep of the island, and to the sea dotted with small craft and the
archipelago beyond-are awesome. Or, should you choose, we can arrange
lodgings in a totally charming private home, whitewashed, with signature
blue doors, set along a cobbled lane, comfortable and without pretension,
where you'll soon feel as if you've always belonged. Wherever you set
down, you'll soon adapt to the ways and rhythms of Santorini.
DAY
4 - SANTORINI Tuesday (B)
Spend the day relaxing, and take in breathtaking views of the volcano
and caldera. The shops, the sea, the port, the fishing boats and fishermen,
the cafés and boutiques will all fill your time, but should you
choose to go further afield, we suggest a visit to the archaeological
site of Akrotiri, reputedly the site of legendary Atlantis.
DAY 5 - SANTORINI Wednesday (B)
Relax at your hotel or with walks around the village, or go off to explore!
Take a boat to cross to the dormant volcano, and ascend through a pocked
moonscape to the crater. Venture to dramatic cliffs, coves, and villages,
perhaps with a picnic of fresh bread, cheese, and olives. Or savor a soak
in hot sulfur springs. Discover a black-sand beach, savor the sea breezes,
or try your hand at fishing. Or arrange a winery visit or another excursion.
Cap your day with an optional private boat ride to Thirassia island, or
treasure the view of the sunset in Oia. The choice is yours.
DAY
6 - SANTORINI, IOS Thursday (B)
After a morning savoring the pace and pleasures of Santorini, we'll call
for you and escort you to the harbor, where you'll board your sailing
craft, the Santa Maria. You'll settle into a surprisingly comfortable
cabin kept at a pleasant temperature, no matter how strong the sun outside.
You'll be introduced to the captain and your fellow passengers, then we'll
weigh anchor and set sail to the legendary islands of the Cyclades. By
evening, we'll sail past numerous beaches and churches on the island of
Ios, and drop anchor in the shelter of a cove.
DAY
7 - IOS, IRAKLIA Friday (B)
Breakfast will be prepared exactly to order whenever you choose to arise.
You may stay on board and relax, or go ashore to explore the ancestral
home of the epic poet Homer, and perfect beaches and crystalline waters.
Tides, winds, sea conditions, and, perhaps, whimsy, will determine our
departure time. The goal of our afternoon voyage is Iraklia, an unspoiled
beauty spot marking the southernmost reach of the Lesser Eastern Cyclades.
Along the way, maybe you'll sunbathe, or take a turn at the helm, or drop
a line and pull in a surprise catch. Once ashore, your exploration can
include the cave of Agios Yiannis, with its notable stalactites.
 DAY
8 - SHINOUSSA, KOUFONISSIA Saturday (B)
Every island is unique, every landing a surprise. At Shinoussa, we'll
shelter at Mersini, a charming harbor with one of the safest anchorage.
Over a dozen beaches will tempt us to spend the morning, before or after
an amble to the medieval fortifications that survive from a well-established
civilization. Later, we'll follow on the sea breeze to tiny Koufonissia,
where abundant fish support a surprisingly large population. We'll admire,
and stop at, stretches of alluring beach.
DAY
9 - NAXOS, AMORGOS Sunday (B)
The little world of the Cyclades is a continent in miniature. When we
arrive at Naxos, we'll discover an island larger than any we've touched,
with a surprisingly green landscape, and impressive mountain ranges. There
are ancient sites of all eras through which to amble, and villages to
explore on winding paths, and, of course, beaches, each distinct in its
curve, its backdrop, its expanse of sand, its pattern of cooling breeze.
At Amorgos, in the eastern reaches of the Cyclades, we'll discover the
rugged peak of an undersea mountain, with ruinous settlements that bespeak
occupation over countless generations since the dawn of history, and inhabitants
who are quite content to preserve their traditions.
 DAY
10 - SANTORINI, DEPARTURE Monday (B)
We sail into Santorini in the morning, as voyagers returning to a safe
and familiar harbor. Should this mark the end of your sojourn in Greece,
our personnel will see you to your flight to Athens, and onward transportation.
Or, perhaps, unsurprisingly, you'll stay to continue your idyll.
Rates
per person in double occupancy, $4517.
Please
note: The yacht Santa Maria offers three double cabins, yet to ensure
more privacy when we have at least 2 couples then we close the sailing
for that date.
Of course other parties and families up to 6 guests are always welcomed
to charter the boat or book eh three cabins . Families of three will be
accommodated as a double and a single.
Rate includes:
- Domestic
airfare within Greece (tickets issued and delivered in Greece)
- All
transfers in Greece.
- 5
stars Hotel accommodations as per itinerary , including tax and continental
or buffet breakfast.
- Accommodations
in cabin aboard the yacht Santa Maria, with breakfast and snacks provided
daily.
- Half-day
group guided tour in Athens. ( Available on a private basis for an additional
$ 75 per person)
Not
included:
Drinks with meals
Meals except breakfast and on-board snacks
Tips for guides and hotel personnel
Expenses of a personal nature
Trip interruption and cancellation
insurance (please see our insurance brochure).
Expenses ashore while sailing
International air transportation (please consult us for special fares)
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