Premium Greece Cyclades Islands
Premium Greece Cyclades Islands
Premium Greece Cyclades Islands
9 Days Starting in Athens and ending in Santorini
Visiting: Athens, Paros, Naxos, Santorini
Tour operator:
Tour code:
ZVPI
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
1 - 12
Age range:
15-99 years
Trip Styles:
Tour Overview
Let the charm of the Cyclades wash over you on this 9-day Premium island adventure in Greece. Start off in the storied city of Athens, explore the villages of Paros, uncover ancient riches in Naxos and soak up the views in Santorini. Hike a caldera, tour wineries, sample local kitron and take a cooking class with organic ingredients. Travel with a passionate local leader who’s eager to share the magic of their country as you discover fascinating histories, incredible food and welcoming locals.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Athens
Location: Athens
Accommodation: Athenaeum Luxury Hotel or similar
Meals Included: dinner
Kalimera! Welcome to Greece. Your adventure begins in Athens, Greece’s capital. There’s a lot to experience in this ancient city, so arriving a few days early is highly recommended. When you arrive at the airport, you’ll be met by a local representative and transferred to your hotel, where you’ll have a welcome meeting at 6 pm. If you arrive early, you might like to visit Athens’ iconic Acropolis or walk around the National Garden. After your meeting, get a taste of Greece’s celebrated cuisine during dinner with your group at a local restaurant in the vibrant Psiri neighbourhood.
Included Activities:
-
-
Day 2: Paros
Location: Paros
Accommodation: Hill Mill Paros Hotel or similar
Meals Included: breaksfast
This morning, you’ll be transported to Athens' port at Piraeus, where you’ll board a ferry to Paros – a beautiful and relaxed island with a layered history. Ferries are a great way to travel between the islands and are essential to many remote islands in Greece's archipelagos. In the afternoon, get to know Paros during an island tour with a local guide. Start off in Parikia, the island’s main town, where you’ll visit the Ekatontapiliani church, also known as the Church of a Hundred Doors. Drive through the island’s mainland, passing by ancient marble quarries, then stop off at the village of Lefkes. Take some time to explore the village surrounded by verdant hills, olive and pine trees, then call into a cultural centre in Marpissa to learn about island life from a group of local women. Carry on to Naoussa – a village known for its whitewashed alleys, Venetian castle and scenic port.
Included Activities:
-
Day 3: Paros
Location: Paros
Accommodation: Hill Mill Paros Hotel or similar
Meals Included: breaksfast
The day is yours to uncover more of Paros’ charms. There’s certainly no shortage of things to see and do on the island. You might like to take a guided morning hike along the coast – starting off at a fishing village and weaving through some of the island’s best beaches. In the afternoon, you’ll have the option to visit the nearby island of Antiparos – a favourite secret holiday spot for royals and celebrities. Or maybe you’d like to spend the day relaxing on one of Paros’ many beaches, cooling off with dips in Aegean Sea. Speak to your leader for more information about the activities on offer today and for tips on how to make the most of this island.
Day 4: Naxos
Location: Naxos
Accommodation: Naxos Princess or similar
Meals Included: breaksfast, dinner
Say goodbye to Paros this morning and catch a short ferry to Naxos. The largest of the Cyclades islands, Naxos has something for everyone – from beaches to an Old Town and hundreds of years of Venetian history. Take some time to settle in, then regroup in the late afternoon to learn about the town. Visit the Portara with a local guide – the giant marble doorway is the only remaining part of an unfinished temple of Apollo from 530 BC. Naxos is unique in the fact that it is the Cyclades’ only self-sufficient island, meaning all produce is grown and available on the island without imports. Because of this, the cuisine is hyperlocal and differs to the rest of the country. Try it for yourself this evening during a group dinner, where you will learn all about the regional specialties.
Included Activities:
-
Day 5: Naxos
Location: Naxos
Accommodation: Naxos Princess or similar
Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch
Drive to Eggares – a small farming village set in the region that produces most of the island’s produce. Learn about the importance of olive oil to Greek culture during a guided tour of an olive oil press museum. After your visit, you’ll put your new knowledge to good use as you travel to the nearby village of Galini for a hands-on cooking class. Meet with a local who will share her culinary knowledge with the group, leaving you with recipes you can cook up at home. First, collect fresh ingredients from your host’s organic garden and learn about cultivation and farming on Naxos. Then put the ingredients together to create a Naxian dish from scratch, enjoying the fruits of your labour for lunch. Pair your lunch with a tasting of local kitron. This citron liqueur, with a history stretching back to the 19th century and produced exclusively on Naxos, offers a taste of the island’s culture.
Included Activities:
-
-
Day 6: Naxos
Location: Naxos
Accommodation: Naxos Princess or similar
Meals Included: breaksfast
Today is free to explore more of Naxos as you wish. You may like to head to one of the island’s beaches or discover more of its history at a local museum. The Archaeological Museum of Naxos in Chora Naxos dates back to the 17th century and houses artefacts from the Neolithic to the early Christian periods, and the Geological Museum of Apeiranthos digs up the natural history of the island. If you’re after a sweet treat, walnut cake flavoured with local kitron is an excellent regional specialty. Your leader will be on hand to help tailor a day that suits your interests.
Day 7: Santorini
Location: Santorini
Accommodation: El Greco Resort Hotel (Feature Stay) or similar
Meals Included: breaksfast
Depart Naxos in the morning and catch a ferry to Santorini. When you arrive in Santorini's capital, Fira, you’ll be met and transferred to your Feature Stay hotel – a whitewashed building in traditional Cycladic style, El Greco Resort wraps around the year-round swimming pool. Featuring modern, spacious rooms, this hotel also sits in a prime location for exploring Santorini. It’s only a short walk from the Archaeological Museum of Thera, so perhaps head there to learn about how previous civilisations lived on the island. Tonight, make sure you catch Santorini's world-famous sunset.
Day 8: Santorini
Location: Santorini
Accommodation: El Greco Resort Hotel (Feature Stay) or similar
Meals Included: breaksfast
In the morning, embark on a hike along Santorini’s legendary caldera. The island you see today is what remains from a huge volcanic explosion that destroyed the early settlements and created a geographical caldera. The natural beauty of this caldera is what makes Santorini such a special place. Your walk will take you along the north-western rim of the caldera, passing steep cliff faces and amazing views along the way. The walk ends in the town of Oia, built on a steep slope inside Santorini’s volcanic caldera. Famous not only for its scenery, Santorini’s microclimate and volcanic soil make it a top spot for wine production. Sip your way around the island with two special stops – the Symposium Cultural Centre, where you’ll learn about Greek wine and try it in traditional cups, and a family-run winery, where you’ll discover more about the history of wine production and taste the different varieties yourself.
Included Activities:
-
-
-
Optional Activities:
-
-
Day 9: Santorini
Location: Santorini
Meals Included: breaksfast
Your adventure comes to an end after breakfast this morning. If you want to spend some more time in Santorini, just speak to your booking agent to organise additional accommodation.
What's Included
-
Accommodation
Comfortable hotel (6 nights), Feature Stay (2 nights) -
Athens - Welcome Dinner at Local Restaurant
-
Complimentary Airport Arrival Transfer
-
Paros - Highlights of Paros Half Day Island Tour with Local Guide
-
Naxos - Old Town Walk & Portara Visit
-
Naxos - Cooking Class at a Local Home
-
Naxos - Eggares Olive Oil Press
-
Santorini - Caldera Hike
-
Santorini - Winery Excursion & Wine Tasting
-
Meals
8 breakfasts, 1 lunches, 2 dinners
-
Complimentary Arrival Transfer
What's Not Included
-
Tipping and Gratuities
-
International Travel
Transport
- GREEK FERRIES
- The main means of transportation in the Greek Islands is by public ferry. These ferries are large car ferries that transport hundreds of people, along with cars and trucks. There are no reserved seats and passengers are free to walk around the ferry freely. Luggage is stored in a designated area on the car deck and is not accessible while the ferry is moving.
- STRIKES
- Ferry strikes, bad weather and the general unpredictable nature of Greek public transport means you need to be prepared for possible delays and itinerary changes.
Accommodation
- The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline only and may change. On some occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our preferred accommodation. In these cases, we will use a similar standard of accommodation.
- Throughout the trip, we request that our properties prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we're arriving prior to normal check-in time. However, this isn't always possible which means we won't be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination or on some trips, have use of shared day rooms until all rooms are available.
- OCCASIONAL ALTERNATIVE ACCOMMODATION
- The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline. On rare occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our usual accommodation. A similar standard of accommodation will be used in these instances.
- TWIN SHARE BASIS
- Accommodation on this trip is on a twin/multishare basis. We pair up solo travellers with another traveller of the same gender as per the gender marker on each of their passports. Please note there may be times where facilities will be shared rather than ensuite and rare occasions when you share a room with passengers travelling on different Intrepid trips than your own.
- CHECK-IN TIME
- Throughout the trip we request that our hotels prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we're arriving prior to normal check-in time. However this isn't always possible which means we won't be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination.
- PRE/POST TRIP ACCOMMODATION
- If you've purchased pre-trip or post-trip accommodation (if available), you may be required to change rooms from your trip accommodation for these extra nights.
- FACILITIES
- Your accommodation may not always have private en suite facilities or air-conditioning. European hotels generally don't provide kettles or fridges.
Important Information
- 1. A complimentary airport arrival transfer is included; valid if you are arriving on Day 1 or if you have booked pre-tour accommodation through us. You must provide your flight details to your booking agent at least 14 days prior to travel.
- 2. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room?on this trip. The single supplement applies to all nights of your trip?and is subject to availability. There are a limited number of single supplements available per trip departure. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
Mode of Transport
- GREEK FERRIES
- The main means of transportation in the Greek Islands is by public ferry. These ferries are large car ferries that transport hundreds of people, along with cars and trucks. There are no reserved seats and passengers are free to walk around the ferry freely. Luggage is stored in a designated area on the car deck and is not accessible while the ferry is moving.
- STRIKES
- Ferry strikes, bad weather and the general unpredictable nature of Greek public transport means you need to be prepared for possible delays and itinerary changes.
Check out our Q&As
-
Is this trip right for you
Pickpocketing can be an issue in Athens, especially on public transport. Make sure you keep your valuables concealed and secure while travelling on the metro or bus and you should have no problems.
Summer temperatures in Greece can reach up to 40°C, so you will need to be able to cope with the heat if you're visiting at this time. Please consider the time of year and your suitability for visiting during that season. -
What policies are in place for Covid-19?
Please contact us for latest COVID-19 policies
-
How long has the tour company been trading?
Intrepid Travel has been taking travellers around the world for over 30 years
-
Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
-
What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
Since 2002, The Intrepid Foundation has supported over 130 organisations across the world. We’re creating positive impact through the joy of travel, community and connection.
-
Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Over 50% of traveller travel solo with Intrepid. You can choose to share a room with another solo travelle of the same sex for no additional charge, or choose to pay a single supplement if you’d like your own room. Please request this when booking, and we will secure you a single supplement wherever possible. Please note, if you are booking a last-minute trip, it may be harder for us to secure a single room
Reviews of this operator
1 Select your preferred date
Sunday - Monday
May 11, 2025 - May 19, 2025Sunday - Monday
May 18, 2025 - May 26, 2025Sunday - Monday
May 25, 2025 - Jun 02, 2025Sunday - Monday
Jun 08, 2025 - Jun 16, 2025Sunday - Monday
Jun 22, 2025 - Jun 30, 2025Sunday - Monday
Jun 29, 2025 - Jul 07, 2025Sunday - Monday
Jul 20, 2025 - Jul 28, 2025Sunday - Monday
Aug 24, 2025 - Sep 01, 2025Sunday - Monday
Aug 31, 2025 - Sep 08, 2025Sunday - Monday
Sep 07, 2025 - Sep 15, 2025Sunday - Monday
Sep 14, 2025 - Sep 22, 2025Tuesday - Wednesday
Sep 23, 2025 - Oct 01, 2025Sunday - Monday
Sep 28, 2025 - Oct 06, 2025Tuesday - Wednesday
Oct 07, 2025 - Oct 15, 2025Sunday - Monday
May 10, 2026 - May 18, 2026Sunday - Monday
May 17, 2026 - May 25, 2026Sunday - Monday
May 24, 2026 - Jun 01, 2026Tuesday - Wednesday
May 26, 2026 - Jun 03, 2026Sunday - Monday
Jun 07, 2026 - Jun 15, 2026Sunday - Monday
Jun 21, 2026 - Jun 29, 2026Sunday - Monday
Jun 28, 2026 - Jul 06, 2026Sunday - Monday
Jul 19, 2026 - Jul 27, 2026Sunday - Monday
Aug 23, 2026 - Aug 31, 2026Sunday - Monday
Aug 30, 2026 - Sep 07, 2026Sunday - Monday
Sep 06, 2026 - Sep 14, 2026Sunday - Monday
Sep 13, 2026 - Sep 21, 2026Tuesday - Wednesday
Sep 22, 2026 - Sep 30, 2026Sunday - Monday
Sep 27, 2026 - Oct 05, 2026Tuesday - Wednesday
Oct 06, 2026 - Oct 14, 2026Book with Confidence
-
Free Date Changes
Intrepid Travel allows you to make 10 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 56 days before the start of the tour.
-
Transfer as credit to Future Tours
Intrepid Travel allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform intrepid travel, 56 days before departure.
-
Low Deposit
Intrepid Travel requires a minimum deposit of 400 USD per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 56 days before departure.
-
Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of intrepid travel charges.
Up to 56 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 55 days before tour starts: Forfeit 30% of booking price.
At 30 days before tour starts: Forfeit 60% of booking price.
At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
-
Terms and Conditions