Best of Greece with 4-Day Aegean Cruise Premier
Best of Greece with 4-Day Aegean Cruise Premier
$4239
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:
Tour code:
AGLLMZN20
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
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 Corinth, Mycenae, and the stunning rock monasteries of Meteora. Experience the rich history of Olympia and Delphi, and enjoy a traditional Greek evening with the Karabelas family. Cruise the Aegean Sea, visiting the enchanting islands of Mykonos, Rhodes, Crete, and Santorini, and explore the ancient city of Ephesus in Turkey. With expert guides, luxurious accommodations, and immersive cultural experiences, this tour offers a perfect blend of history, culture, and breathtaking landscapes.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Welcome To Athens
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
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
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
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
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
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An expert Travel Director and professional Driver
An expert Travel Director and professional Driver are included to guide and assist you throughout the tour.
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Cherry-picked hotels, all tried and trusted
Accommodation in cherry-picked hotels that are tried and trusted is included.
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All porterage and restaurant gratuities
All porterage and restaurant gratuities are included in the tour package.
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All hotel tips, charges and local taxes
All hotel tips, charges, and local taxes are covered in the tour package.
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Breakfast daily and up to half of your evening meals
Daily breakfast and up to half of your evening meals are included.
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Must-see sightseeing and surprise extras
The tour includes must-see sightseeing and surprise extras.
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Audio headsets for flexible sightseeing
Audio headsets are provided for flexible sightseeing.
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Luxury air-conditioned coach with Wi-Fi in most countries or alternative transportation
Travel in a luxury air-conditioned coach with Wi-Fi in most countries or alternative transportation such as rail journeys.
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Optional Experiences and free time
The tour includes optional experiences and free time for personal exploration.
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On occasion, hotels of similar standard and location may be utilized.
On occasion, hotels of similar standard and location may be utilized.
What's Not Included
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Flights
International and domestic flights are not included.
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Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is not included and is recommended to be purchased separately.
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Personal Expenses
Personal expenses such as souvenirs, additional meals, and drinks are not included.
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Optional Excursions
Optional excursions and activities not listed in the itinerary are not included.
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Visa Fees
Visa fees and other travel documentation costs are not included.
Mode of Transport
Travel in luxury with an air-conditioned coach equipped with Wi-Fi, and enjoy a 4-day Aegean cruise on the MV Celestyal Discovery, exploring the beautiful islands and coastlines of Greece and Turkey.
Accommodation
Stay in cherry-picked hotels such as Divani Caravel, Radisson Blu Park, and Crowne Plaza Athens City Center in Athens, Amalia Nafplio, Amalia Olympia, Amalia Delphi, and Amalia Kalambaka, and enjoy a cruise on the MV Celestyal Discovery.
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
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What unique cultural 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, dancing, and learn about their history on the land. Additionally, there is a 'Make Travel Matter' experience at a honey farm in Delphi, where you can taste thyme honey and learn about the role of bees in nature regeneration.
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What historical sites will we visit during the tour?
The tour visits several 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. You will also visit Mycenae, the Sanctuary of Asclepius, and the battle site at Thermopylae.
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What is the significance of the Delphi hotel in the tour?
The hotel in Delphi is designed by renowned architect Nikos Valsamakis and is a notable example of postwar Greek architecture. It integrates seamlessly with the Delphic landscape, with rooms arranged to follow the terrain.
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What can I expect during the cruise portion of the tour?
During the cruise, you will visit Mykonos, the ancient city of Ephesus in Turkey, Patmos, Rhodes, Crete, and Santorini. The cruise includes opportunities for optional shore experiences, such as visiting the Cave of the Apocalypse in Patmos or exploring the Palace of Knossos in Crete.
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Are there any meals included in the tour?
Yes, the tour includes breakfast daily, up to half of your evening meals, and some lunches. Specific meals are provided on certain days, such as dinner with the Karabelas family in Olympia and a farewell dinner in Athens.
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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.
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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.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Since 1947
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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.
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
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Low Deposit
Trafalgar requires a minimum deposit of 350 USD per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 90 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of trafalgar charges.
Up to 91 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 90 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 29 days before tour starts: Forfeit 80% of booking price.
At 1 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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Terms and Conditions