Itinerary
- Day 1
Athens
After checking into your hotel in Athens, you'll have time to wander around the Greek capital on your own and get a feel for the place. Ancient ruins and historical sites are scattered throughout the city, so you'll come across them pretty naturally as you explore. Later in the day, you'll meet up with your Travel Director and the other travelers on the trip.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Novotel)
Optional Activities
- Self-guided exploration of Athens
- Walking tour of historical sites and archaeological treasures
- Day 2
Athens to Delphi
Start the day with a local guide leading you through the Acropolis, where you'll see the Parthenon, Panathenaic Stadium, Temple of Zeus, and Hadrian's Arch. After that, head to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier to watch the Evzone guards. The afternoon is yours to spend however you like, so you can either wander around Athens on your own or take the optional choice to visit a turtle sanctuary if that interests you. Later in the day, you'll travel to Delphi and settle in for the night.
- Meals
- Lunch, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Nafsika Palace)
Included Activities
- Guided tour of the Acropolis with Local Guide
- Visit the Parthenon
- See the Panathenaic Stadium
- Visit the Temple of Zeus
- Visit Hadrian's Arch
- Stop at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
- Travel to Delphi
Optional Activities
- Visit a turtle sanctuary (MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Choice Experience)
- Self-guided exploration of Athens
Landmarks Acropolis Parthenon Panathenaic Stadium Temple of Zeus Hadrian's Arch Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Delphi Archaeological Site 
- Day 3
Delphi to Kalambaka
You'll walk the Sacred Way toward the Temple of Apollo, the very same route Alexander the Great once traveled. Your local guide will explain the history of the site and share stories about the Oracle's prophecies, plus how Delphi hosted the Pythian Games. From there, you drive to Thermopylae to learn about King Leonidas and the Spartans' stand, then continue on to Kalambaka where dinner is waiting at your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Dinner at hotel)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Aeton Melathron)
Included Activities
- Walk the Sacred Way to the Temple of Apollo with Local Guide
- Guided tour of Delphi with historical insights and Oracle prophecies
- Visit to Thermopylae
- Dinner at hotel
Landmarks Sacred Way Temple of Apollo Thermopylae 
- Day 4
Kalambaka to Athens
The day takes you to Meteora, where Eastern Orthodox monasteries sit perched on rock formations built by monks back in the 14th century. A local guide will walk you through this UNESCO World Heritage Site before you head back to Athens in the afternoon. The evening is yours to do what you want, though there's an optional taverna experience if you're interested in traditional food, music, and drinks.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Zafolia, Dorian Inn, President), Hotel (Novotel)
Included Activities
- Guided visit to Meteora monasteries with Local Guide
Optional Activities
- Taverna evening with traditional cuisine, dancing and drinks
Landmarks Meteora - Day 5
Athens to Mykonos (Cruise embarkation)
You'll board a three-night cruise through the Aegean and sail toward Mykonos, known as the Island of the Winds. Once there, you can walk through the winding streets of Chora or settle into one of the sunny courtyards where you'll see locals and cats hanging around.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel (MV Miray Gemini), Hotel (MV Celestyal Discovery)
Included Activities
- Embarkation on three-night Aegean cruise
- Exploration of Mykonos
Landmarks Mykonos Chora 
- Day 6
Kusadasi to Patmos
The cruise stops at Kusadasi on the Turkish coast, where a complimentary shore experience takes you to the ancient ruins of Ephesus. From there, you sail to Patmos, the island where St. John wrote the Book of Revelation. You have the option to visit the Cave of the Apocalypse and St. John's Monastery if you're interested.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel (MV Celestyal Discovery)
Included Activities
- Shore Experience to ancient Ephesus from Kusadasi
Optional Activities
- Visit to the Cave of the Apocalypse
- Visit to St. John's Monastery
Landmarks Ephesus Kusadasi Patmos Cave of the Apocalypse St. John's Monastery - Day 7
Crete to Santorini
Today brings you to either Crete or Santorini, depending on what interests you. If you choose Crete, you can visit the Palace of Knossos to see the ancient Minoan ruins with their restored wall paintings and pre-Christian history. Alternatively, there's an option to explore the countryside for an authentic look at local Cretan life. Later, the ship sails to Santorini as it rises out of the sea. If you want, you can head to Oia to see the white-washed buildings and blue-domed churches overlooking the caldera.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel (MV Celestyal Discovery)
Included Activities
- Stop in Crete
Optional Activities
- Visit to Palace of Knossos
- Drive through Cretan countryside
- Shore Experience to Oia, Santorini with village and vineyard views
Landmarks Palace of Knossos Crete Santorini Oia Fira 
- Day 8
Santorini to Athens
After your time on the islands, the cruise returns to Athens and you'll disembark. This is when it hits you how much history and culture you've seen over these past days, from ancient sites to island life across the Aegean. You've walked where Socrates, Aristotle, and Plato once walked, and experienced thousands of years of Greek civilization.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Return cruise to Athens
