Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival in Athens
You'll land at Eleftherios Venizelos Airport and get transferred by car to your Athens hotel. The rest of the day is yours to settle in and get a feel for the city, where ancient ruins sit alongside modern neighborhoods and busy streets.
- Start point
- Athens, Georgia, United States (Athens AIRPORT )
- Accommodation
- (Wyndham Grand , Athens or similar)
Optional Activities
- Explore Athens streets and local attractions
- Day 2
Athens City Tour, Acropolis & Museum
After breakfast, you'll start a full-day tour with a photo stop at Panathinaiko Stadium, then see the Temple of Olympian Zeus, the Athens Trilogy buildings, Hadrian's Arch, and Greek Parliament as you move through the city. The main event is the Acropolis, where you'll walk through the Propylaea, Temple of Athena Nike, Parthenon, and Erechtheion. Later, you'll skip the lines at the Acropolis Museum to check out ancient artifacts, statues, and the Parthenon Hall before heading back to your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- (Wyndham Grand , Athens or similar)
Included Activities
- Panathinaiko Stadium photo stop
- Athens City Tour including Temple of Olympian Zeus, Athens Trilogy, National Garden, Hadrian's Arch, St. Paul's Church, Greek Parliament, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Schliemann's House (Numismatic Museum), Catholic Cathedral, Old Parliament, Constitution Square, Russian Orthodox Church
- Acropolis visit including Propylaea, Temple of Athena Nike, Parthenon, Erechtheion with Porch of Maidens
- Acropolis Museum with skip-the-line access including Herodion and Dionysos Theatre
Landmarks Panathinaiko Stadium Temple of Olympian Zeus Zappeion University of Athens Academy of Athens National Library of Greece National Garden of Athens Hadrian's Arch St. Paul's Church Greek Parliament Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Numismatic Museum (Schliemann's House) Catholic Cathedral of Athens Old Parliament of Greece Constitution Square (Syntagma) Russian Orthodox Church of Athens Acropolis Propylaea Temple of Athena Nike Parthenon Erechtheion Porch of Maidens (Caryatid Porch) Herodion Theatre Dionysos Theatre Acropolis Museum - Day 3
Athens to Santorini
You'll have an early breakfast, then head to the port and board a high-speed ferry to Santorini. Once you arrive, you'll get to your hotel to check in. From there, the day is open for you to wander around, take in the caldera views, and see the white-washed buildings the island is known for.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- (Splendour Resort Santorini Or Similar)
Optional Activities
- Explore Santorini island at leisure
- Enjoy caldera views
- Discover white-washed buildings and local attractions
- Day 4
Volcano, Hot Springs & Thirassia Island
After breakfast, you'll board a traditional wooden kaiki for a boat tour around Santorini's volcanic sites. You'll land on Nea Kameni to walk the active volcanic craters for about 1.5 hours, then spend roughly 30 minutes swimming in the naturally warm hot springs at Palea Kameni. Next comes a stop at Thirassia village for 1.5 to 2 hours, where you can try traditional food, swim, or explore the village by donkey. You'll return to your hotel with stories of Santorini's natural landscapes.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- (Splendour Resort Santorini Or Similar)
Included Activities
- Nea Kameni volcanic island exploration with walk on volcanic soil
- Palea Kameni hot springs swim
- Thirassia island visit with free time for swimming and village exploration
Optional Activities
- Traditional Santorini lunch on Thirassia (not included)
- Explore Manolios village by donkey on Thirassia
Landmarks Nea Kameni Palea Kameni Thirassia Manolios - Day 5
Santorini to Heraklion, Crete
You'll start with a relaxed breakfast, then head to the port for your ferry to Crete. After landing in Heraklion, the capital, you'll get transported to your hotel to check in and rest up. In the evening, you can walk through Heraklion's streets and try local food at whatever pace feels right.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- (Galaxy Hotel Iraklio Or Similar)
Optional Activities
- Explore Heraklion's lively streets
- Sample local culinary offerings
- Day 6
Heraklion City Tour, Knossos & Archaeological Museum
Following a nice breakfast, you'll visit the Palace of Knossos, the center of the ancient Minoan civilization from over 4,000 years ago. You'll explore the ruins, including the Throne Room and frescoes with myths and legends. Then you'll go to the Heraklion Archaeological Museum to see artifacts showing the island's history. Later, you'll walk through Heraklion itself, a city of about 160,000 people with fountains, castles, walls, and palaces mixed with modern shops and streets.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- (Galaxy Hotel Iraklio Or Similar)
Included Activities
- Palace of Knossos visit including Throne Room and ancient Minoan frescoes
- Heraklion Archaeological Museum
- Heraklion City Tour
Landmarks Palace of Knossos Heraklion Archaeological Museum - Day 7
Spinalonga Island, Agios Nikolaos & Elounda
After breakfast, you'll take a guided tour of Spinalonga Island, a former leper colony and the setting for Victoria Hislop's novel The Island. You'll sail across Mirabello Bay with nice views and then spend free time in Agios Nikolaos, where you can sit at cafes, shop, or relax by Lake Voulismeni. There's also a stop at Elounda, known for resorts and beaches, before you head back to your Heraklion hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- (Galaxy Hotel Iraklio Or Similar)
Included Activities
- Spinalonga Island guided tour including fortress exploration
- Mirabello Bay sailing
- Agios Nikolaos visit with free time
- Elounda visit
- Lake Voulismeni
Optional Activities
- Shopping in Agios Nikolaos
- Relax at Lake Voulismeni
Landmarks Spinalonga Island Mirabello Bay Agios Nikolaos Lake Voulismeni Elounda - Day 8
Departure from Heraklion
You'll have your final breakfast in Greece, check out of your hotel, and then get driven to Heraklion Airport for your flight home. You'll leave with memories of ancient ruins, island landscapes, and the time you spent in Greece.
- Meals
- Breakfast
