Itinerary
- Day 1
Rome
You'll get picked up from the airport and head to your hotel to settle in. Later in the afternoon, make your way to the Esquilino neighborhood where you can see some of Rome's major basilicas and get your first look at the Colosseum. Dinner's included, so you'll have a chance to eat and start getting oriented to the city.
- Meals
- Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Ih Roma Z3), Hotel (Ibis Styles Roma Aurelia)
Included Activities
- Dinner in Rome
Landmarks Colosseum Esquilino 
- Day 2
Rome
Start with a three-hour guided tour that combines walking through Imperial Rome with a bus ride for views from different angles. You'll see the Arch of Constantine, walk around the Colosseum exterior, check out the Imperial Forums, Circus Maximus, Baths of Caracalla, and several churches including the Basilica of Saint Mary Major. After stopping at Castel Sant'Angelo, the tour wraps up near Vatican City around 11:30 a.m., leaving your afternoon free.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Ih Roma Z3), Hotel (Ibis Styles Roma Aurelia)
Included Activities
- Three-hour guided tour of Imperial Rome including Arch of Constantine, Colosseum exterior, Imperial Forums, Circus Maximus, Baths of Caracalla, Basilica of Saint Mary Major, Pyramid of Cestius, and Castel Sant'Angelo
Landmarks Arch of Constantine Colosseum Imperial Forums Circus Maximus Baths of Caracalla Basilica of Saint Mary Major Pyramid of Cestius Castel Sant'Angelo Vatican City 
- Day 3
Rome
This day is yours to spend however you'd like around Rome. If you want a more structured experience, there's an optional guided trip available to Naples, Capri, and Pompeii that you can add to your itinerary.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Ih Roma Z3), Hotel (Ibis Styles Roma Aurelia)
Optional Activities
- Optional excursion to Naples, Capri, and Pompeii
- Day 4
Rome to Bari
You'll travel toward the Adriatic coast, driving through the Apennine Mountains. Along the way, stop at the San Giovanni in Venere Abbey, an 11th-century structure built right on top of ancient Roman temple ruins. Later, reach Termoli on the coast where there's a 13th-century castle and Romanesque cathedral to see. After lunch and a walk around town, continue south to Bari, a historic port city with narrow winding streets and beautiful churches showing off southern Italian character.
- Meals
- Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Parco Dei Principi), Hotel (Excelsior Bari)
Included Activities
- Visit San Giovanni in Venere Abbey with admission included
Landmarks San Giovanni in Venere Abbey Termoli Bari Old Town 
- Day 5
Bari to Igoumenitsa
After breakfast, head to Brindisi to walk along the waterfront and see an impressive Roman column, then explore the old town area. At 1:00 p.m., board a modern ferry for an 8-hour crossing of the Ionian Sea to Igoumenitsa in Greece. Once you arrive, you'll transfer to your accommodation.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Grand Serai Congress Spa)
Included Activities
- Breakfast before departure
Landmarks Brindisi 
- Day 6
Igoumenitsa to Kalabaka
Following breakfast, drive through the Epirus mountains to Metsovo, a charming Balkan village with traditional stone houses and wooden balconies. From there, head to Kastraki where you get incredible views of Meteora Valley. Stop for lunch and visit one of the famous monasteries at Meteora before settling into Kalabaka for the night, with dinner included.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Amalia Kalambaca), Hotel (Kosta Famissi)
Included Activities
- Admission to one Meteora monastery
Landmarks Metsovo Kastraki Meteora 
- Day 7
Kalabaka to Athens
Travel south through Thessaly with beautiful mountain scenery heading toward Delphi. Spend time exploring the archaeological site which sits above the Gulf of Corinth. After lunch, visit the Hosios Loukas Monastery, known for its remarkable 11th-century Byzantine mosaics and beautiful architecture. Continue on to Athens, arriving in the evening.
- Meals
- Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Novotel Athenes), Hotel (President), Hotel (Athens Comfort)
Included Activities
- Admission to archaeological site of Delphi
- Admission to Hosios Loukas Monastery
Landmarks Delphi Archaeological Site Hosios Loukas Monastery 
- Day 8
Athens to Piraeus
The morning is free, so you can explore Athens, visit some museums, or do some shopping around the city. In the afternoon, head to Piraeus Port where you'll board a night ferry with amenities similar to a cruise ship. You'll have a double cabin for the night and stay onboard.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Ferry Atenas Rodas)
Included Activities
- Night ferry accommodation in double cabin from Piraeus Port
- Day 9
Rhodes
The ferry arrives early in the morning in Rhodes. Start your day with a guided city tour that covers the walled citadel and Old Town, showing influences from Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Knights of St. John, Ottoman, and Italian periods. After the tour, the afternoon is yours to walk around and explore independently.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Rodos Palace), Hotel (Semiramis City), Hotel (Arte)
Included Activities
- City tour of Rhodes including walled citadel and Old Town
Landmarks Rhodes Old Town - Day 10
Rhodes to Crete
Leave Rhodes city for a day exploring the rest of the island. Visit Filerimos monastery sitting on a hilltop with great landscape views, then go to Lindos to see its fortress and Acropolis with sea views. You can walk through whitewashed streets, spend time on beaches, or try a traditional donkey ride if interested. After lunch back in Rhodes city with free time, you'll head to the airport for a flight to Crete and arrive at your hotel in Heraklion.
- Meals
- Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Ibis Styles Heraklion)
Included Activities
- Island excursion from Rhodes including Filerimos and Lindos
Optional Activities
- Traditional donkey ride to Lindos Acropolis
Landmarks Filerimos Lindos Lindos Acropolis - Day 11
Heraklion to Rethymno to Chania
Head west along the coast to Rethymno, a coastal city with Venetian origins and a medieval castle to explore. Continue to Chania, a city shaped by many cultures including Romans, Byzantines, Venetians, and others, with an impressive fortress and historic buildings throughout. The drive back to Heraklion happens at the end of the day.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Ibis Styles Heraklion)
Landmarks Rethymno Chania - Day 12
Heraklion to Palace of Knossos to Agia Galini
Travel to the Palace of Knossos to learn about Minoan culture and see how it influenced Greek civilization. After that, drive through tall mountains heading south toward the Libyan Sea and the town of Agia Galini, which has winding streets, a fishing port, and local tavernas. You'll have time for lunch and a swim if you feel like it before returning to Heraklion.
- Meals
- Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Ibis Styles Heraklion)
Included Activities
- Palace of Knossos admission and guided tour
Optional Activities
- Swimming in the sea at Agia Galini
Landmarks Palace of Knossos Agia Galini - Day 13
Heraklion to Kritsa to Agios Nikolaos to Spinalonga
Go east along the coast and stop in the small town of Kritsa to visit Panagia Kera, a 13th-century church with exquisite frescoes. Continue to Agios Nikolaos, a town with a natural port where you can walk around and have lunch. From there, head to Elounda and take a boat out to Spinalonga Island to see an ancient Venetian fortress that was later used as a leper colony. The boat brings you back to Heraklion for the night.
- Meals
- Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Ibis Styles Heraklion)
Included Activities
- Visit Panagia Kera church with admission included
- Boat ride from Elounda to Spinalonga Island
- Admission to Fortress of Spinalonga
Landmarks Panagia Kera Church Agios Nikolaos Elounda Spinalonga Island - Day 14
Heraklion to Santorini to Athens
Early in the morning, transfer to the port and board a high-speed ferry to Santorini, arriving between 9:00 and 10:00 a.m. Take a bus through beautiful landscapes to Oia, the island's most spectacular town with white streets, cliff views, castle ruins, and windmills. Have lunch and walk around, then visit Fira, the island's capital. If interested, you can ride a cable car or donkey down to the port. Board the high-speed ferry back to Athens around 3:15 p.m., arriving around midnight.
- Meals
- Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Novotel Athenes), Hotel (President), Hotel (Athens Comfort)
Optional Activities
- Cable car descent to Santorini port
- Donkey ride descent to Santorini port
Landmarks Oia Fira 
- Day 15
Athens
A local guide takes you on a city tour starting at the Presidential Mansion and continuing to the Panathenaic Stadium where the first modern Olympic Games took place. See the National Library and check out the bustling city center squares, plus some of the newer neighborhoods built for the 2004 Olympics. The tour finishes at the Acropolis. In the evening, head to Plaka, Athens' historic neighborhood known for traditional Greek tavernas and local culture.
- Meals
- Dinner (Evening in Plaka neighborhood with Greek tavernas)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Novotel Athenes), Hotel (President), Hotel (Athens Comfort)
Included Activities
- City tour of Athens including Presidential Mansion, Panathenaic Stadium, National Library, city center squares, and Acropolis area
Landmarks Presidential Mansion Panathenaic Stadium National Library of Greece Acropolis Plaka - Day 16
Departure from Athens
After breakfast, your trip comes to an end. You'll leave with plenty of memories from your time traveling through Italy and Greece.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Breakfast before departure
