Best of Greece with 4-Day Aegean Cruise Premier

Best of Greece with 4-Day Aegean Cruise Premier

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Best of Greece with 4-Day Aegean Cruise Premier

13 Days Starting and ending in Athens, Greece

Visiting: Athens, Nafplion, Olympia, Delphi, Kalambaka, Meteora, Mykonos, Kusadasi, Rhodes, Crete

Tour operator:

Trafalgar

Tour code:

AGLLMZN20

Guide Type:

Fully Guided

Physical rating:

Medium

Tour operated in:

English

Trip Styles:

Cruise

Activities:

Sightseeing

This tour is no longer available

Tour Overview

Embark on an unforgettable journey through Greece and Turkey with the "Best of Greece with 4-Day Aegean Cruise Premier" tour. Begin your adventure in Athens, exploring iconic sites like the Acropolis and the Parthenon. Travel through ancient cities such as Corinth, Mycenae, and Delphi, and experience the rich history of Olympia. Enjoy a unique cultural experience with the Karabelas family on their olive and wine farm. The tour includes a luxurious 4-day Aegean cruise aboard the MV Celestyal Discovery, visiting stunning islands like Mykonos, Rhodes, Crete, and Santorini, as well as the ancient city of Ephesus in Turkey. With expert guides, cherry-picked accommodations, and a blend of guided tours and free time, this tour offers a perfect mix of history, culture, and relaxation.

Highlights

  • Visit the Acropolis and Museum in Athens, and explore the ancient ruins in Corinth.

  • Experience the incredible rock monasteries in Meteora.

  • Explore the ancient city of Ephesus in Turkey.

  • Discover the beautiful islands of Mykonos, Patmos, Rhodes, Crete, and Santorini.

  • Join a traditional Greek experience with the Karabelas family in Olympia.

  • Taste thyme honey at a local honey farm in Delphi.

  • Walk the Sacred Way to the Temple of Apollo in Delphi.

Itinerary

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Day 1: Welcome To Athens

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Location: Athens

Accommodation Name: Divani Caravel, Radisson Blu Park, Crowne Plaza Athens City Center

Meals Included: Dinner

Put the 'oh' in opa and embark on an unforgettable exploration of an ancient land of gods and goddesses, myths and legends. Your springboard to your spellbinding holiday is the vibrant capital of Athens, an effortless mix of ancient treasures and modern verve, which you will have an opportunity to explore after being transferred to your hotel. This evening, join your Travel Director and travel companions for a light meal.

Day 2: Explore Amazing Athens Dive Into Culture

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Location: Athens

Accommodation Name: Divani Caravel, Radisson Blu Park, Crowne Plaza Athens City Center

Meals Included: Breakfast

Join your Local Specialist for a guided morning sightseeing tour to the ancient complex that was once the 'Cradle of Western Civilization'. Along our journey into antiquity, we'll have an opportunity to explore the Acropolis with its treasures and admire the Parthenon, dedicated to the goddess Athena,the Royal Palace and the Temple of Zeus. Dive Into Culture and see remarkable displays of an ancient world during an included visit to the Acropolis Museum, and see Hadrian's Arch and the stadium where the first modern Olympics took place in 1896. The rest of the day is yours to enjoy on your own. Stroll through the Plaka, people-watch in Syntagma Square or go in search of the city's tastiest souvlaki – the choice is yours.

Day 3: Journey To Corinth, Mycenae And Nafplion

Location: Nafplion

Accommodation Name: Amalia Nafplio

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

We depart Athens this morning, crossing the mighty Corinth Canal to the wild Peloponnesian Peninsula. Arriving in Corinth, we join a Local Specialist to explore an ancient city that several empires fought over throughout the centuries. We continue to Mycenae, a mighty kingdom of Ancient Greece, where we'll see the Beehive Tombs (the Treasury of Atreus), the Lion Gate and the remains of Agamemnon's Royal Palace, in the company of a Local Specialist. Later, we'll travel to Epidaurus to visit the ancient theater and view the Sanctuary of Asclepius, the God of Medicine, whose snake-entwined staff remains the symbol of medicine to this day. Arriving in the Venetian town of Nafplion later, we'll dine in our hotel this evening.

Day 4: Continue To Ancient Olympia Connect With Locals

Location: Olympia

Accommodation Name: Amalia Olympia

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

We traverse the Mountains of Arcadia to ancient Olympia, the site of the first Olympic Games held in 776 BC. This evening, we Connect With Locals joining the Karabelas family for dinner on their olive and wine farm at a Be My Guest experience featuring traditional dancing and characteristic Greek philoxenia.

Day 5: Onwards To Patras And Delphi

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Location: Delphi

Accommodation Name: Amalia Delphi

Meals Included: Breakfast

We join a Local Specialist this morning to delve into centuries of history. We'll visit the ancient Olympic site, the museum and the ruined remains of the Temples of Zeus and Hera. Leaving Olympia, we skirt the coastline north to Patras, crossing the Gulf of Corinth to mainland Greece before continuing to Delphi, where you may wish to try your hand at preparing some local dishes during an interactive cooking lesson.

Day 6: Off To Thermopylae And Kalambaka

Location: Kalambaka

Accommodation Name: Amalia Kalambaka

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Tread in the footsteps of the ancient Greeks, who would descend on the sanctuary of Delphi to consult with the most important oracle in the classical world. Join your Local Specialist and walk the Sacred Way to the 4th-century Temple of Apollo. View the statues immortalising the strength of the athletes who once competed in the Pythian Games, held in honor of Apollo and the Arts. Continue on to a family-ran honey farm for a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience. Taste the rich thyme honey freshly collected from the hive and come up close to the unique biodiversity of the area. A scenic afternoon drive brings us to Thermopylae, famous for the heroic defense by Leonidas and his brave Spartans against the invading Persians. We cross the lush Thessaly region, traveling north through the 'breadbasket of Greece' towards Kalambaka.

Day 7: Admire Meteora And Return To Athens

Location: Meteora

Accommodation Name: Divani Caravel, Radisson Blu Park, Crowne Plaza Athens City Center

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

The UNESCO World Heritage monasteries of Meteora are our first stop today. Join a Local Specialist to visit two of the six Eastern Orthodox monasteries that cling impressively to immense, rounded rock towers overlooking the town. A scenic drive returns us to Athens, where we'll enjoy a rousing Farewell Dinner with our travel companions and reminisce over an incredible journey through Greece.

Day 8: Embark And Cruise To Stunning Mykonos

Location: Mykonos

Accommodation Name: MV Celestyal Discovery

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We depart Athens, boarding our ship to cruise the azure waters of the Aegean, bound for Mykonos. Spend the evening getting lost in its labyrinthine lanes lined by white-washed cottages and tumbling cerise bougainvillea.

Day 9: Continue To Ancient Ephesus And Patmos

Location: Kusadasi

Accommodation Name: MV Celestyal Discovery

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Touch the Turkish coastline and visit the port of Kusadasi for a complimentary Shore Experience to the ancient city of Ephesus. We continue to Patmos later, where the Book of Revelations was written by St. John. Here, you could choose to visit the Cave of the Apocalypse and St. John's Monastery on an Optional Experience.

Day 10: A Day To Explore Beautiful Rhodes

Location: Rhodes

Accommodation Name: MV Celestyal Discovery

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Arriving in Rhodes, you may wish to join an optional experience for an encounter with one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World today. Walk in the footsteps of the medieval knights who conquered this land. There’s time to explore it for yourself as you trace the thick stone walls, gates and cobblestone lanes of its capital before returning to your cruise.

Day 11: Cruise To Crete And On To Santorini

Location: Crete

Accommodation Name: MV Celestyal Discovery

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We sail to Heraklion on the island of Crete, where we have the opportunity to delve into the centuries-old culture and heritage of the Minoans at the Palace of Knossos. Our final stop today is the beautiful volcanic island of Santorini with its cliff-top villages, where you might consider an optional Shore Experience to the sun-kissed village of Oia.

Day 12: Disembark In Athens

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Location: Athens

Accommodation Name: Divani Palace Acropolis

Meals Included: Breakfast

This morning, disembark from your cruise ship and board a transfer to your hotel.

Day 13: Journey Home

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Location: Athens

Meals Included: Breakfast

Transfers are provided to the airport for your return flight home. Find out more about your free airport transfer at trafalgar.com/freetransfers.

What's Included

  • An expert Travel Director and professional Driver

    An expert Travel Director and professional Driver are included in the tour.

  • Cherry-picked hotels, all tried and trusted

    Stay in cherry-picked hotels that are tried and trusted.

  • All porterage and restaurant gratuities

    All porterage and restaurant gratuities are included.

  • All hotel tips, charges and local taxes

    All hotel tips, charges, and local taxes are included.

  • Breakfast daily and up to half of your evening meals

    Enjoy breakfast daily and up to half of your evening meals.

  • Must-see sightseeing and surprise extras

    Must-see sightseeing and surprise extras are part of the tour.

  • Audio headsets for flexible sightseeing

    Audio headsets are provided for flexible sightseeing.

  • Luxury air-conditioned coach with Wi-Fi

    Travel in a luxury air-conditioned coach with Wi-Fi in most countries or alternative transportation such as rail journeys.

  • Optional Experiences and free time

    Optional experiences and free time are included in the itinerary.

  • On occasion, hotels of similar standard and location may be utilized

    On occasion, hotels of similar standard and location may be utilized.

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What's Not Included

  • Flights

    International and domestic flights are not included.

  • Travel Insurance

    Travel insurance is not included and is recommended to be purchased separately.

  • Personal Expenses

    Personal expenses such as souvenirs, additional meals, and drinks are not included.

  • Optional Excursions

    Optional excursions and activities not listed in the itinerary are not included.

  • Visa Fees

    Visa fees and other travel documentation costs are not included.

Dining Summary

  • 9 Dinner (D)
  • 12 Breakfast (B)
  • 4 Lunch (L)

Dive Into Culture

  • Athens: Visit the Acropolis Museum containing remarkable antiquities giving visitors an insight into the lives of Athenians centuries ago.

Check out our Q&As

  • What unique experiences are included in the tour?

    The tour includes a 'Be My Guest' experience with the Karabelas family on their olive and wine farm in Olympia, where you can enjoy dinner and traditional Greek dancing. Additionally, there is a 'Make Travel Matter' experience at a honey farm in Delphi, where you can taste thyme honey and learn about beekeeping and its role in nature regeneration.

  • What type of transportation is provided during the tour?

    The tour provides travel in a luxury air-conditioned coach with Wi-Fi, and includes a 4-day Aegean cruise aboard the MV Celestyal Discovery, exploring various Greek islands and the Turkish coast.

  • What kind of accommodation can I expect on this tour?

    You will stay in a selection of cherry-picked hotels such as Divani Caravel, Radisson Blu Park, Crowne Plaza Athens, Amalia Nafplio, Amalia Olympia, Amalia Delphi, Amalia Kalambaka, and the MV Celestyal Discovery cruise ship.

  • Are meals included in the tour package?

    Yes, the tour includes breakfast daily and up to half of your evening meals. Additionally, there are 9 dinners, 12 breakfasts, and 4 lunches included in the dining summary.

  • What are some of the key historical sites visited on this tour?

    The tour visits several key historical sites including the Acropolis and Museum in Athens, the ancient ruins in Corinth, the ancient theater at Epidaurus, the Olympic Stadium in Olympia, the Oracle at Delphi, and the rock monasteries in Meteora. It also includes visits to Mykonos, ancient Ephesus, Patmos, Rhodes, Crete, and Santorini.

  • Who will be my travelling companions on the tour?

    The beauty of taking a guided holiday with us is that you’ll have the opportunity to meet and travel with people from all over the globe.

  • What policies are in place for Covid-19?

    Vaccination against Covid-19 is not mandatory to travel with Trafalgar. However, we strongly recommend that guests are vaccinated before travelling. Please note that airlines and/or other authorities may have different requirements. It is the guest's responsibility to comply with these requirements at all times.

  • How long has the tour company been trading?

    Since 1947

  • What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?

    Trafalgar is a founding partner of the TreadRight Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation established in 2008. So far, the charity has donated more than US$2 million to help underprivileged communities and support sustainable tourism around the world.

  • Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?

    Yes

Reviews of this operator

Renato Arrieta  

Best tour I joined so far

14-Jan-2023

My first time with Trafalgar and I see no reason why I should not join them again.

Feefo Trusted Reviews
King Ng, Lafayette, California  

Very well planned trip with timely breaks during the coach ride..

08-Nov-2021

It was a well organized tour group and we hit lots of interesting and beautiful scenes. Like our previous trips with Trafalgar, tourists were treated with well manner and professional tour guide/director, making our trip very enjoyable and delightful!

Feefo Trusted Reviews
Trusted Customer  

Best of Egypt

14-Jan-2023

We really did see the best of Egypt and beyond. Our tour guide, Mohammad, guided us through the rich history and the urban and rural life of such a unique and delightful country. We felt very safe and pampered.

Feefo Trusted Reviews
Marshal Daguio  

Wonderful Best Of Turkey

06-Nov-2021

It was my first time with Trafalgar Tour and I had a wonderful trip from day 1 till the last day. The Tour Director, Yocel Atik is very knowledgeable and Excellent. The health director and coach driver are helpful and supportive as well. The hotels selected were comfortable especially Rixos Hotel and Movenpick Hotel. The Best of Turkey is better than I expected.

Feefo Trusted Reviews
Barbara, Canada  

Irish Experience

09-Nov-2021

I am single and travel alone. I always feel secure and well-looked after when I travel with Trafalgar

Feefo Trusted Reviews

Book with Confidence

  • Transfer as credit to Future Tours

    Trafalgar allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform trafalgar, 90 days before departure.

  • Low Deposit

    Trafalgar requires a minimum deposit of 200 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 90 days before departure.

  • Cancellation Policy

    We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of trafalgar charges.

    Up to 60 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.

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