Athens, Mykonos & Santorini (2024 Departures)
Athens, Mykonos & Santorini (2024 Departures)
Athens, Mykonos & Santorini (2024 Departures)
8 Days Starting and ending in Hotel in Athens
Visiting: Athens, Mykonos, Santorin, Santorini
Tour operator:
Tour code:
EBG2L
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
10 - 51
Age range:
10-99
Special diets catered:
Vegetarians
Tour operated in:
EnglishInterests:
Tour Overview
Combine a Greek island adventure with fascinating ancient history! Discover incredible ancient sites on an Athens tour. Visit the Acropolis, the Parthenon, Hadrian’s Arch and much more. Then it’s time to relax under the Greek sun! Head from Athens to Mykonos to explore stunning beaches and picturesque villages home to historic windmills and churches. After three days, travel from Mykonos to Santorini. Savour Santorini’s famous whitewashed towns, panoramic sunsets and stunning coastline! It’s the ultimate Grecian holiday!
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Start Of Tour In Athens
Location: Athens
Welcome to Athens! Upon arrival, travel to the hotel and meet with an Expat Explore representative for check-in. If you arrive early enough, why not immerse yourself in the everyday buzz of Athens? Greece’s capital city is full of culture, history and lively locals! Stroll the streets, visit a few ancient sites and admire the views - look forward to seeing even more in an included city tour tomorrow! Athens at night time is a treat! Tourist shops and tavernas are open late and beg to be discovered. Tomorrow you will meet up with your tour leader and fellow travellers.
Day 2: Athens City Tour - Mykonos
Location: Athens, Mykonos
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Meet up with your tour leader and fellow travellers this morning, and embark on a city tour with an expert local guide. See top attractions like the Academy, National Library, Hadrian’s Arch, and the temple of Olympian Zeus. After the tour, why not join a guided tour of the Acropolis? Due to popularity, this optional excursion must be booked prior to the start of the tour! During this optional excursion, head to the sacred rock of Acropolis, visiting the Propylaea, the Erechtheion, the temple of Athena Nike and the Parthenon. Later, transfer to the port to catch the local ferry to Mykonos. Upon arrival, settle in at your hotel room and enjoy a relaxing evening.
Local guided tour of Athens
Day 3: Mykonos: Free Day
Location: Mykonos
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Enjoy a day at leisure to explore the magnificent island of Mykonos with its unique sandy coastline on your own. Mykonos is famous for its whitewashed villages, beautiful beaches and nightlife! A great way to embrace Greek Island life is on a cruise through the Cycladic islands on today’s Rheina & Delos cruise optional. On it, enjoy a day of cruising, swimming, visiting beaches and feasting on delectable Greek dishes during an included lunch before taking a step back in time at the archaeological site of Delos. It's the perfect combination of relaxation, fun and ancient adventure! This evening is free to find a local spot to enjoy dinner and dance the night away.
Day 4: Mykonos: Free Day
Location: Mykonos
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Another day at leisure to soak up some sun, explore the bustling town of Mykonos or simply relax at the hotel. Alternatively, explore more of the island on today’s South Coast Boat trip optional! During the excursion, you’ll sail the Aegean Sea on a traditional Greek Kaiki boat, enjoy stops for swimming and snorkelling, visit picturesque beaches and indulge in local food at lunch. This is definitely Greek island living! This evening, make the most of the final night in Mykonos.
Day 5: Mykonos - Santorini
Location: Mykonos, Santorin
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Spend the morning at leisure until it is time to transfer to the port to catch the local ferry to Santorini. Enjoy views of islands and local ports as the ferry cruises along the route. Arrive in Santorini and transfer to our hotel, then spend the rest of the day as you wish. With its dramatic cliffs, stunning beaches, white-washed buildings topped with blue domes, winding walkways and breathtaking views, Santorini is the epitome of an unforgettable (and romantic!) destination. It’s no wonder it appears on bucket lists for travellers from around the world!
Day 6: Santorini: Free Day
Location: Santorini
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
The day is yours to explore this incredible island. The Santorini Highlights optional is highly recommended as a fantastic introduction to the island! Join and look forward to visits to Santorini’s unique red and black sand beaches, time to wander through an ancient Greek village and a visit to a local winery for a taste of Greek wine. Complete the day in Oia where the group will get to watch the sunset - something Oia is famous for! Alternatively, choose to take it easy and explore the local villages and beaches. Be sure to taste local dishes Santorini is famous for while here!
Day 7: Santorini: Free Day
Location: Santorini
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Another day at leisure for you to explore this unique island in the Cyclades! Why not make it an adventure-filled day with the Caldera Islands optional? This excursion explores the islands dotted around the caldera and includes visits to Thirassia Island and Amoudi Bay, not forgetting the chance to visit a volcano and swim in hot springs! Finish the day at beautiful Oia village for another chance to watch the sunset in an epic location. After a week of Greek adventures, it’s the final night of the tour this evening.
Day 8: Santorini - End Of Tour In Athens
Location: Santorini, Athens
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Early in the morning, the group will be transferred to the airport of Santorini to catch a local flight back to Athens. After arriving back in Athens it’s time to say farewell to your newly made travel friends as the tour wraps up in Athens in the early afternoon. Expat Explore hopes to welcome you onto another tour again soon!
What's Included
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Accommodation
7 nights in 2, 3 & 4* hotel accommodation in twin rooms with private bathrooms
Single travellers have the option to pay a single supplement to ensure a private room (subject to availability) -
Transport
Modern air-conditioned coach with reclining seats and toilet onboard
Public ferry between Athens, Mykonos and Santorini
Any public transport used as part of the tour days (excludes free days)
Internal flight from Santorini to Athens -
Meals
7 Breakfasts, 1 Lunch*Vegetarian options available for all meals on request
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Tour Leader
Fully guided tour with experienced tour leader
Tour leader will accompany group throughout and manage all logistical details
What's Not Included
International flightsTravel to the start point and from the end point is not included. We recommend using Skyscanner to find the best deals on international flights.Travel insuranceFor a relatively small price, travel insurance provides you with peace of mind so that you can enjoy your tour without any worries.
All passengers travelling on an Expat Explore tour are required to have valid travel insurance cover and you are responsible for arranging your own insurance.
Mode of Transport
Modern air-conditioned coach with reclining seats and toilet onboard
Public ferry between Athens, Mykonos and Santorini
Any public transport used as part of the tour days (excludes free days)
Internal flight from Santorini to Athens
Accommodation
7 nights in 2, 3 & 4* hotel accommodation in twin rooms with private bathrooms
Single travellers have the option to pay a single supplement to ensure a private room (subject to availability)
Traveller Comfort - *COACH* tours
We welcome all travellers on our tours but we would like to ensure that you are as comfortable as possible. In light of this, please ensure that you are happy with the below information and level of fitness required.
Expat Explore tries to be as accommodating as possible, however, our tours are unfortunately not designed for people travelling with wheelchairs or severe mobility issues.
Our tours are fast paced because they are designed for you to see the most a destination has to offer. We also want to ensure that you explore as much as possible, which may require long periods without stops on the coach as we drive to a new destination.
We offer walking tours in most cities (up to 3 hours), and a wheelchair is not always a practical option as there are often cobbled streets and stairs on these tours.
For travellers in wheelchairs, you will only be able to store your wheelchair under the coach with the other luggage. Thus, on the long drives between cities you will not necessarily have access to your wheelchair if we make a quick bathroom stop along the way. Please note that travelling with a wheelchair could prove difficult as our coaches don't have wheelchair lifts, as such you will need to be able to board and alight the coach on your own.
With regards to our accommodation, not all hotels have lifts and this means potentially having to carry bags up and down stairs.
For more information regarding traveller fitness please see our Terms and Conditions.
Health and Fitness
We welcome all travellers on our tours but we would like to ensure that you are as comfortable as possible. In light of this, please ensure that you are happy with the below information and level of fitness required.
Expat Explore tries to be as accommodating as possible, however, our tours are unfortunately not designed for people travelling with wheelchairs or severe mobility issues.
Our tours are fast paced because they are designed for you to see the most a destination has to offer. We also want to ensure that you explore as much as possible, which may require long periods without stops on the coach as we drive to a new destination.
We offer walking tours in most cities (up to 3 hours), and a wheelchair is not always a practical option as there are often cobbled streets and stairs on these tours.
For travellers in wheelchairs, you will only be able to store your wheelchair under the coach with the other luggage. Thus, on the long drives between cities you will not necessarily have access to your wheelchair if we make a quick bathroom stop along the way. Please note that travelling with a wheelchair could prove difficult as our coaches don't have wheelchair lifts, as such you will need to be able to board and alight the coach on your own.
With regards to our accommodation, not all hotels have lifts and this means potentially having to carry bags up and down stairs.
Experiences
Local guided tour of Athens
Check out our Q&As
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Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?
All our tours are conducted in English.
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Is there a limit to luggage that can be brought on the tour?
Due to weight and space limitations, you are allowed to bring one main piece of luggage weighing no more than 20kg, and one small soft bag for hand luggage weighing a maximum of 7kg. On all tours, you will have to carry your own luggage (e.g. into hotels and up to your room if hotels don’t have elevators). Please bear this in mind when you are deciding what to pack
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What is the standard of the hotels on this tour?
We have searched and invested in excellent accommodation options, either located in cities or well placed with public transport connections. Clean linen, towels is always included. Toiletries (shampoo, shower gel etc) and hair dryers are not always included, so you may wish to bring these with you. Accommodation is provided in twin share en-suite rooms. We use a mix of mostly 2, 3 & 4-star hotels.
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Are children permitted to take part in the tour?
Our tours are not suitable for young children, so we set a minimum age limit of 10 years old.
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Are vaccinations required for this tour?
We are committed to curating excellent travel experiences and to do so we need all of our travelers to feel safe.
In order to ensure the peace of mind and safety of our travelers and staff on board the coach, we are still requesting that all travellers, regardless of their vaccination status, produce a negative Covid test. This test can be a PCR test
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Is there a supplement for solo travellers?
There is an optional single supplement/private room upgrade available for single travellers who wish to have a private room. This can be added at the time of booking or by contacting our customer services team. Please note that the room provided may be a single room with a single bed.
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Are all entrance fees included in the price?
No, entrance fees are not included.
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What is the fitness level required to do this tour?
All travellers are required to carry their own bags, get on and off the coach, and use public transport. Our city walking tours can last up to 3 hours and certain places involve walking up and down lots of steps. We want you to enjoy your tour, so read through the itinerary thoroughly and make your own conclusions as to whether you feel that you are fit and healthy enough.
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Are airport transfers included in this tour?
Airport transfers are available at an additional cost.
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Is the tour coach air conditioned?
Yes, Full air-conditioning
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Are flights included in this tour?
No, you will need to make your own arrangements to get to the meeting destination for the first day of your tour. Make sure you keep departure times and possible delays in mind when booking flights.
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What is the tipping policy?
Whilst we fully understand that some nationalities are not accustomed to tipping, this is a normal part of the culture in many of the countries we visit. Tipping has become an increasingly accepted practice in all areas of the service industry, but particularly in restaurants, bars and taxis worldwide.Expat Explore crew members
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Is free Wi-Fi available in the accommodation used?
All of the hotels on this tour offer Wi-Fi, which is available free of charge as part of your Expat Explore tour.
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Do you require a visa for this holiday?
Certain nationalities may require a visa(s) for this tour.
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Are all the relevant entry visa’s included in the price of the tour?
No, visas are each traveler’s personal responsibility, and we recommend that plenty of time is allowed for visas to be applied for. When applying for your visa, please ensure that the proper research is carried out before you apply, and that you deal directly with the embassies or certified agents with regard to acquiring correct and timely information. We cannot take responsibility for customers
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What is the maximum group size?
It depends on how many other people book! There could be up to 51 other passengers, so you will have the opportunity to make lots of friends!
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Is there any free time to explore places during the tour?
Yes
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What currencies are required for this tour?
Euro
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Will I know the names and details of all the accommodation before I depart?
A full list of confirmed accommodation names and addresses for your particular departure will be emailed to you around 1 week before the tour starts.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
If you are travelling alone there is no compulsory charge - you will share a twin room with another passenger of the same gender. There is an optional single supplement/private room upgrade available for single travellers who wish to have a private room. This can be added at the time of booking or by contacting our team.
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Children on tour?
Our tours are not suitable for young children which is why we have a minimum age limit of 10 years old. However, at the discretion of Expat Explore we may consider younger children on certain tours if they meet certain criteria and a request is received in writing via email. Minors (between 10 and 18 years of age) must be accompanied by a parent or guardian who accepts full responsibility for them. Unaccompanied minors will not be accepted on tour. Expat Explore reserves the right to decline any booking at our discretion. Any minor (between 10 and 18 years of age) is priced the same as an adult.
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What policies are in place for Covid-19?
The health and safety of our travellers and employees are our top priority. Which means, when you travel with us, our enhanced hygiene protocols will ensure you do so in a safe and responsible way - ask for details of current policies.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Since 2005
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
At Expat Explore we value responsible travel and are committed to exploring the world consciously and kindly. We are proud to make responsible travel possible with a number of our sustainable travel practices!
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Am I contributing to any charity by booking the tour?
Relate is a South African based not-for-profit organisation that Expat Explore supports. The group aims to help those less fortunate create better lives for themselves through a variety of fundraising initiatives. On our South Africa tours, each passenger will receive an Expat Explore branded Relate bracelet. We donate the cost of these bracelets to our chosen Relate charity: the Nelson Mandela Sc
Reviews from travellers on this tour
Book with Confidence
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Free Date Changes
Expat Explore Travel allows you to make 5 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 76 days before the start of the tour.
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Low Deposit
Expat Explore Travel requires a minimum deposit of 10% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 45 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of expat explore travel charges.
Up to 45 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 44 days before tour starts: Forfeit 40% of booking price.
At 29 days before tour starts: Forfeit 70% of booking price.
At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.