Itinerary

This tour starts at 4:00PM. Please assure that your flight arrives before 2:00PM on May 17, 2012.

Day 1: Sights and Soul Travels representative will meet you at the Athens International Airport at your flight arrival time for a private transportation to Hotel Herodion, at the foot of the Acropolis in  Athens. In the afternoon, we'll enjoy an introductory walk through the ancient Plaka area, stopping at the Dionysus Theatre, the Roman Forum, the Hadrian's Gate and the Temple of Olympian Zeus, then we'll get to know each other during the welcome dinner of local specialties in an elegant, Greek mythology inspired restaurant.
Meals: D

Day 2: We'll spend our first full day in Greece exploring the treasures of Athens with a private guide. Step back in time, as we visit Acropolis and its imposing temples, including the masterpiece of Periclean Athens: the Parthenon. We'll also tour the city's ancient Agora and other antiquity monuments. The afternoon will be free for individual exploration of the Athens' Archeological Museum, the new Acropolis Museum, right by the hotel or you may choose to enjoy the atmospheric heart of the city with excellent shopping and people watching. In the evening, we'll relax over dinner in a moonlit Greek taverna in Plaka, overlooking the lit up Acropolis, then kick back and join the locals in traditional Greek dancing.
Meals: B, D

Day 3: In the morning, we'll leave Athens and fly to the stunning island of Santorini, set among the lovely Cyclades, where we'll stay in a luxury Volcano View Hotel, overlooking the sunken caldera and the remains of the mythical Atlantis. After check-in and lunch, we'll enjoy the hotel's many pools, terraces and amazing views. In the evening, we'll set out to explore the atmospheric town of Fira with its narrow, winding streets, tiny, whitewashed houses, sapphire blue domes and many terraces overlooking the Aegean Sea.
Meals: B, L

Day 4: Today may be the highlight of our trip, as we sail around the volcanic crescent island of Santorini, on a private yacht, exploring the island's red, black and white sand beaches and hidden coves, swimming in volcanic hot springs, then enjoying freshly prepared lunch and Santorini wines onboard the yacht. You will be accompanied by a local captain who will share with you his love for the island and enhance your understanding of Santorini's natural beauty, ancient sites and contemporary culture.
Meals: B, L

Day 5: In the morning, we'll visit two of Santorini vineyards, Santo Winery and Art Space, where we'll get to appreciate the creative cultivation methods used in the island's vineyards, and sample some of the best wines produced here. In the afternoon, we'll visit the black sand beach of Kamari and the whitewashed village of Oia, located on the hillside overlooking the caldera crescent and we'll enjoy the ultimate sunset dinner at a restaurant perfectly located to appreciate the eerie beauty of the flooded caldera.
Meals: B, D

Day 6: We'll start the day with another sea voyage, this time to the volcanic island of Nea Kameni, where we'll take a walk in the moonscape surrounding the still active volcano crater believed to be the remains of the lost Atlantis. On the way back, we'll ride donkeys or take the cable car back to town, then take the hydrofoil boat for a short ride to the Island of Crete. After checking into boutique Hotel Lato in Heraklion and a rooftop restaurant dinner of Cretan specialties, we can enjoy the rest of the evening exploring Heraklion's Old Town dating back to the ancient times.
Meals: B, D

Day 7: Today, we'll spend the day exploring the Minoan civilization of Crete. We'll start with a visit to Heraklion's Archeological Museum which holds the beautifully preserved remains of the 3,000 year old Minoan civilization. We'll continue to the Palace of Knossos, the most important Minoan palace complex. According to tradition, Knossos was the seat of the legendary Cretan king Minos. The Palace is associated with myths of the Labyrinth and the Minotaur, as well as the story of Dedalos and Icarus, and the site was continuously inhabited from the Neolithic period (7000-3000 B.C.) until Roman times. In the afternoon, we'll travel to western Crete and Chania's Thalassa Beach Resort. In the afternoon, we'll enjoy the hotel's beautiful pools, the beach and views of the sea and St. Theodore's Island from our rooms.
Meals: B, D

Day 8: After breakfast, we'll set out for a slow exploration of Chania, Crete's most beautiful town, designed in a Venetian style. With its white marble streets, labyrinths of narrow alleys, colorful markets, Byzantine architecture and Venetian fortifications overlooking atmospheric harbors, the city casts its spell on all who visit. During the farewell dinner of delicious Cretan specialties at a Turkish bath house turned a unique restaurant, we'll eat, drink, and remember all the best moments from our Greek adventure.
Meals: B, L, D

Day 9: After a full day of history and architecture, today we'll focus on food and wine. We'll start in the morning by joining a Cretan gourmand for a shopping visit to a local market and a private cooking class which will introduce us to Cretan cuisine, which is the basis for the Mediterranean diet. In the afternoon, there will be some time to be spent at leisure, enjoying the Thalassa Resort, its spa services, pools and powdery sand beaches, and in the evening, we'll try dancing the Syrtaki (Zorba's dance) with a Cretan folk dance troupe.
Meals: B, D

Day 10: After breakfast, we'll transfer to Chania airport for an early morning flight to Athens before flying back home.
Meals: B

Day 10 with optional tour: After breakfast, we'll set out to explore Crete's Most Beautiful Beaches: Falassarna and Elafonissi and the breathtaking mountain scenery that surrounds them.
Meals: B

Day 11 with optional tour: After breakfast, we'll transfer to Chania airport for an early morning flight to Athens before flying back home.
Meals: B

This tour ends at 8:00AM on May 26 (or on May 27 with the optional tour) at Athens International Airport. Please assure that your flight leaves Athens after 10:00AM.

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