The Romance of the Greek Isles

Including a stay in a villa in Santorini

An 11 day Greek Honeymoon trip that combines the best of travel in Greece: classical Athens, a cruise through the Aegean, and three full days in a hideaway on Santorini

Weekly Fridays in Athens, Apr thru Nov .Tour code (# 4A)
Click here for the Paris or Istanbul version .

DAY 1 - ARRIVAL IN ATHENS - Fridays - Weekly : April - Nov - Private Transfer
Our Athens representative will meet you at the airport, assist you through customs and immigration, and escort you to your hotel in the bustling city center.
Transfer : Private air-conditioned vehicle, private chauffeur.
The rest of the day is yours to enjoy as you wish. Stroll, browse for curios and treasures

DAY 2 - Private Tour ATHENS (BL) - Saturday
Private air-conditioned vehicle, private chauffeur and private guide for today's tour:
This morning you'll tour Athens and get to know the high points of the city, especially the towering Acropolis and its museum, the Temple of Olympian Zeus, Hadrian's Arch, the Theater of Dionysus.

The Acropolis hill, so called the "Sacred Rock" of Athens, is the most important site of the city. During Perikles' Golden Age, ancient Greek civilization was represented in an ideal way on the hill and some of the architectural masterpieces of the period were erected on its ground.
The first habitation remains on the Acropolis date from the Neolithic period. Over the centuries, the rocky hill was continuously used either as a cult place or as a residential area or both. The inscriptions on the numerous and precious offerings to the sanctuary of Athena (marble korai, bronze and clay statuettes and vases) indicate that the cult of the city's patron goddess was established as early as the Archaic period (650-480 B.C.).

During the Classical period (450-330 B.C.) three important temples were erected on the ruins of earlier ones: the Parthenon, the Erechtheion, and the Temple of Nike, dedicated to Athena Parthenos, Athena Polias, and Athena-Apteros Nike, respectively. The Propylaea, the monumental entrance to the sacred area was also constructed in the same period.
The monuments on the Acropolis reflect the successive phases of the city's history. Some of them were converted into Christian churches, houses of the Franks and later on, of the Turks. After the liberation of Athens from the Turks, the protection, restoration and conservation of the monuments was one of the first tasks of the newly-founded Greek state. This major effort is continued until today, with the large-scale restoration and supporting of the monuments, which started in the 1970's and is still in progress.
The first excavations on the hill were conducted between 1835 and 1837. More systematic work was carried out in 1885-1890 by Panagiotis Kavvadias.

You'll visit Syntagma Square, at the very heart of the city, and see the Parliament, and guards in colorful traditional outfits. Your afternoon is free for further exploring or shopping, or you could well be drawn back by the charm of the Plaka. Or take advantage of one of our optional tours, such as an afternoon visit to Cape Sounion and the Temple of Poseidon, with spectacular sunset view.

Lunch is included at a charming local restaurant.

DAY 3 - Athens Markets or BYZANTINE Churches - Sunday (cBL)
Ride the new Athens Subway alongside the locals today ( always escorted with your English speaking Guide) ! We take pride in affording you this experience, entirely by public transportation, with orientation by our English-speaking representative. You'll get to tour Athens fascinating vegetable & fruit markets by subway and/ or taxi. Enjoy lunch at a charming local restaurant before we head back to the hotel . Markets days/dates are subject to change, we may have to change your program in Athens to accommodate such changes.

Or if you prefer you may choose instead to tour one of the following tours:

BYZANTINE CHURCHES
Russian Orthodox Church at Filellinon & Amalias
Athens cathedral (Mitropolis) at Mitropoleos
Kapnikarea at Ermou
Saint Theodore at Klafthmonos
They then visited the Jewelry museum (LALAOUNIS) before breaking for lunch.
They used the metro 3 times (because they wanted to).

HISTORICAL INTEREST- Museum Tour :
BENAKI MUSEUM - (closed on Tuesdays)
Covering the history of Greece from Paleolithic (pre-historic, 60000 B.C.) till present. Can easily spend over 4 hours in there. There is also a cafeteria for breaks.

ARCHAEOLOGICAL INTEREST
Temple of Olympian Zeus / Dionissos Theatre/ Ancient Agora/ Roman Agora

Guests who have been on the organized tour (the day before) can use the same entrance ticket to all the archaeological sites mentioned above.

Above are only suggestions , you may discuss with the guide and modify (add/subtract) according to what you are most interested in. The guide will advise you on what is feasible to cover in a half-day. Or add another half day : additional $$$ apply

DAY 4 - CRUISE TO MYKONOS - Monday (BLD)
A 30 - minute drive (transfer included)will take you to Piraeus, the port of Athens, to embark on your four-day cruise. You'll sail into the Aegean, and by sunset, reach the jet-set isle of Mykonos. Stroll at your own pace along lanes lined with whitewashed houses, up to the Church of Paraportiani, or along the shore to the island's signature windmills. Enjoy an ouzo or a glass of retsina at a waterside cafe.

DAY 5 - RHODES (BLD)
Our cruise ship arrives early at the harbor, allowing a full day on the Island of Roses. The compact, cobbled medieval city is perfect for exploring on your own. You'll want to visit the Palace of the Knights of St. John, take a look at the wares in the boutiques, and spend some time in a seaside cafe. We also offer an optional excursion to the Acropolis of Lindos and the Valley of the Butterflies.

DAY 6 - KUSADASI (Turkey) and PATMOS (BLD)
We anchor at 7 a.m. in Kusadasi, on the Turkish mainland, gateway to ancient Ephesus. Stroll the streets and stop in at shops filled with leather goods and bargains in gold. Our optional tour takes you to Ephesus, one of the best-preserved archaeological sites in the world. You'll re-board in time for an afternoon sailing. In the late afternoon, your ship will call at the island of Patmos. Here you can visit the Monastery of St. John where the Book of Revelations was written.

DAY 7 - HERAKLION (CRETE), SANTORINI (B)
We drop anchor in the port of Heraklion at 7 a.m. You can explore on your own, or take an optional excursion to the 5000-year-old Minoan Palace at Knossos and the archaeological museum. We sail at noon for Santorini, where the lost civilization of Atlantis flourished. You'll disembark for three nights or more in a private villa.

DAY 8 - SANTORINI (B)
You'll take a leisurely breakfast on your private terrace. An optional tour to the archaeological site of Akrotiri is offered. Or, you can spend the day relaxing, and take in breathtaking views of the volcano and caldera.

DAY 9 - SANTORINI (B)
The day is yours for relaxing or exploring on your own--or both! You might take a boat across to the dormant volcano, and ascend through a crater-pocked moonscape to the crater. Or savor a soak in hot sulphur springs.

DAY 10 - SANTORINI (B)
Enjoy the views from your villa, discover a black-sand beach, savor the sea breezes from the terrace of a cafe, or try your hand at fishing. Or arrange a winery visit or another excursion. The choice is yours.

DAY 11 - SANTORINI, ATHENS, USA (B)
Our personnel will assure a seamless transfer to Santorini's Airport. You'll catch an early morning flight to Athens, where you'll board your connecting flight.

Departures are every Saturday and Sunday, April through October.

Rates per person in US$
Double Occupancy Cabins with 2 lower beds
Departure April - Oct

Rate includes:

• Lonely Planet travel guide book
• 4-day cruise to Greek Isles and Turkey .
• Villa accommodation in Santorini, sample villas that are used:
  For First Class , 4 stars accommodation:
  Villa style "Astra Apartments" in Imerovigli, or in a 1 or 2-bedroom apartment villas , Cliff side suites in Firostefani in a 1 or 2 bed-room apartment.
  
• 2 nights in Athens Breakfast daily at the hotels.
• All meals during the cruise .
• Airport greeting and assistance.
• Transfer to hotel in Athens, and and from hotel to the cruise in Piraeus.
• Round-trip transfers in Santorini.
• Hotel service charges and taxes
• Port taxes
• Our local hospitality services
• One-way Santorini/Athens airfare in economy class, tax included

Not included:

• Shore excursions
• International airfare from/to USA
• Gratuities Personal expenses, beverages, and meals not specifically listed.
• Trip cancellation insurance, travel insurance, please ask for the flyer .

The cruise itinerary may vary, depending on the ship available at the time you book

Sample hotels in Athens :
Deluxe: Divani Palace Acropolis. Superior First : Electra Palace.
First Class : Stanley

Sample Villas in Santorini:
Dana Villas, in Firostefani with view of the volcano.
Chromata Apartments, in Imerovigli with a view of the volcano.
For Katikies Villas & Pantheon supplement applies , varies depending on the season/dates , please inquire