Departure from the US to Athens.
Air fare is not included, Celestial Voyagers can help you to get the best schedule for your trip at the best value.
Morning arrival in Athens and transfer to the city center. Should you arrive on a different flight from the group transfer cost will be additional.
Early check-in to rest and refresh at ATHENS CENTER SQUARE 3*
(www.athenscentersquarehotel.gr/) or similar
Afternoon panoramic tour of Athens, passing through the Temple of Zeus, Hadrian’s Arch, the Zappeion Mansion, the Panathenaic Olympic Stadium (short stop 15’ min), the Parliament’s House, the National Gardens and the library. See the old district of Athens, explore ancient and modern Athens walking along Anafiotika, Plaka and Monastiraki square, always escorted by your guide.
In the evening: Athens Wine bar Hopping with Welcome Dinner & Athens by night
Start the walking tour from the hotel. Visit to 2 wine bars in the center of Athens. Taste 10 Greek wines in total from local grape varieties, from which 5 will be escorted by some great dishes.
Our first stop will be one of the very first wine bars of Athens, founded in 2008. It’s a cozy place with great Greek and foreign wines. We shall have the chance to taste 5 wines accompanied with a small plate full of Greek delicacies.
After our first stop, we shall continue our tour to a more modern but great wine bar, where we are going to have a 5 – course dinner paired with the most interesting wines of Greece including an “Orange Wine”, a wonderful Xinomavro what is known as the Greek “Pinot Noir” and a dessert wine from the Island of Samos.
Return to the hotel
Overnight in Athens at ATHENS CENTER SQUARE 3* hotel.
Breakfast at your hotel
Departure escorted by you English guide to visit the Acropolis and the new Acropolis museum; then, taste “Athens Food Walk” with Lunch. Experience the most entertaining and delicious way to see Athens with a tour at the food market district. Savor local delicacies in 20 tastings that will fill your stomach for the rest of the day and hear interesting stories from a local expert.
Return to the hotel. Free time in the afternoon. Dinner at leisure
Overnight in Athens at ATHENS CENTER SQUARE 3* hotel.
Breakfast at your hotel
Departure escorted by your English speaking guide.Get on board a mini cruise in the Saronic Gulf to visit three neighboring and quite charming islands; Aegina, Poros, and Hydra.
Transfer from the hotel to the port at 07h30 and embark on a cruise ship. Departure at 08h00. Arrival at Poros at 10h30 am.
Volcanic island formed by the meeting of two islets, very green, located near the coast of Peloponnese. It is an island that charms the visitor with its picturesque architecture and the variety of its landscapes dominated by pine and sea, clearing a typically warm and welcoming atmosphere.
11h20: Departure from Poros 12h30: Arrival at Hydra
Rocky island, also a cosmopolitan and artistic center, known for its particular architecture and distinguished by its beautiful 18th and 19th century mansions. Approaching the island, the view of the main town, built amphitheatrical as if embracing the harbor will charm you.
Hydra is a meeting place and inspiration for artists, art lovers will find many galleries of painting, which make it something more than a usual seaside resort
14h00: Departure from Hydra 16h00: Arrival at the island of Aegina
This is the largest island of the Saronic Gulf, known for its beautiful sandy beaches, charming villages, small fishing ports, varied landscapes and historical past.
18h00: Departure from Aegina
Lunch (drinks not included) is served on board between Poros and Hydra.
Return to the port of Piraeus around 19h00 and transfer to the hotel in Athens.
Dinner at leisure
Overnight in Athens at ATHENS CENTER SQUARE 3* hotel.
Breakfast at the hotel
Departure towards the Peloponnese always escorted by your English speaking guide
Arrive at the Corinth Canal (78 km –1h15’), and stop for 20 minutes
Continuation towards Epidaurus (31 km – 34’ minutes) and visit the archeological site and museum.
Free time for lunch at the village of Lygourio
Proceed to MELAS olive-growing estate in the Argolis region for a tasting of Greek olive oil. Participants will have the opportunity to discover the olive yards of the region and learn the secrets of production followed by a tasting of traditional olive oil.
At the end of the visit, receive a bottle of extra virgin olive oil.
Road to Nafplion (28 km journey – journey time 30 min): visit the first capital of modern Greece. Guided walk on arrival to discover this small town.
Dinner at leisure
Overnight in Nafplio, at HOTEL GRANDE BRETAGNE 4* or similar
www.grandebretagne.com.gr/
Breakfast at the hotel and check out
Road to Olympia, passing through the pretty villages of Arcadia(165 km journey – journey time 3 hours – Stops can be made to admire the view or relax for a moment during the journey to Olympia)
Visit to the archaeological site and the museum of Olympia, where the famous Hermes of Praxiteles is located.
Lunch at leisure after the visit and after lunch visit Clio’s Honey Farm.
Your visit to the farm will offer you Greek hospitality; a cool and refreshing break from the modern village of Olympia and off-the-beaten track into a garden filled with fruit trees and vegetables. Under the shade, discover the secrets of the traditional crops and productions as we chat about life on a small farm both in past and present day Greece. Try the fruit platter always in season accompanied by fresh juice and coffee. Sample the variety of spoon sweets and jams made from the fruit on the farm and preserved by the housekeepers as an age old tradition; recipes which have been passed on from mother to daughter for centuries. Top off your visit with “diples”, a traditional sweet with honey. Mrs. Roula, herself, will prepare them before you as she unfolds the dough and the secrets of this mouth-watering dessert.
Free time in the afternoon. Dinner at leisure
Overnight at OLYMPIC VILLAGE 4* (www.olympicvillagehotel.com/) hotel or similar
Breakfast at the hotel and check out
Departure for Delphi. Crossing by the largest suspension bridge in Europe, from Rion to Antirion, then continuation by the coastal road passing the towns of Nafpaktos (Lepanto) and Galaxidi (220 km –3h30)
Arrival in Delphi and visit of the magnificent archaeological site of Delphi
Free time for lunch before visiting the museum which contains superb pieces including, among others, the famous bronze statue of the Charioteer.
Check in at PARNASSOS 3* hotel. (www.parnassosdelphi.gr) or similar.
In the afternoon visit the picturesque village of Arachova.
Dinner (drinks not included) at a traditional tavern in the village of Arachova at KAPLANIS Tavern.
Overnight in Delphi
Breakfast at the hotel and check out
Departure for Kalambaka (Journey 232 km – journey time 3h30 + stops for rest).
Arrival in Kalambaka and quick coffee stop (included) before the visits
Visit two of the most famous monasteries of Meteora, “suspended in the air”, built at the top of gigantic rock towers which suddenly arise in the plain of Thessaly (enter the two monasteries).
Lunch at leisure in the village of Kalambaka and free time in the afternoon
Arrival at the hotel and rest
Dinner (drinks not included) at the hotel and overnight in Kalambaka, at the GRAND METEORA 4* (www.grandmeteora.gr/) hotel or similar
Breakfast at the hotel and check out
In the morning, depart for a truffle hunt in the forests of the region (40-minute journey on foot). In the beautiful unknown forests of the region, a short distance from Kalambaka, participants can enjoy an unprecedented truffle hunt, taste a pasta recipe, cook with truffles and learn about mushrooms. On the return visit to the mushroom museum in Kalambaka and taste different types of mushrooms, accompanied by an excellent local wine (this activity lasts about 3 hours). Cooking lessons and lunch during the activity (cooking in the forest)
Departure to Thessaloniki (227 km trip – 2h30)
Arrival in Thessaloniki; installation at the CITY HOTEL 4* (www.cityhotel.gr) or similar
After the check-in, enjoy a guided city tour by night.
Dinner at leisure. Overnight in Thessaloniki
Breakfast at the hotel
Departure escorted by your English speaking guide
Panoramic Tour of Thessaloniki: Visit of the upper city (walls, citadel of the Heptapyrgion, the Church of Ossios David, St. George) and of the lower city (St. Nikolas of the Orphans, the Arch and the palace of Galerius , the Roman market – the ancient agora and the Roman baths, then the churches of Prophitis Illias, Saint Demeter and Saint Sophia)
Visit of the Archaeological Museum and the Byzantine Museum
Lunch at leisure in Thessaloniki city center
In the afternoon, departure for a personalized fun visit/activity: Making a Komboloi
The “Komboloi” was previously used by Byzantine monks. Over the centuries it has become an artifact reflecting wealth and power. Different types of “Komboloi” are used nowadays: everyday ones with smaller and less “decorative” beads and those with larger and more expensive objects, in which the beads are made from semi-precious stones. Our interactive point offers attendees the opportunity to learn more about these artifacts and discover the story behind them. A small “handmade” Komboloi will be offered to participants.
Return to the hotel and dinner at leisure
Overnight in Thessaloniki
Breakfast at the hotel.
Departure from the hotel to the small port of Ouranoupoli (130 km – 02h00)
Free time at the village of Ouranoupolis
Lunch at leisure at Lemonis tavern before a 3-hour cruise along the peninsula of Mount Athos. Boarding to a shared boat and sailing along the peninsula to see 9 monasteries from outside Mount Athos. Return to Ormos Panagias and leave for Thessaloniki (104 km – 01h20).
Check-in at your hotel for 3 nights: CITY HOTEL 4* (https://www.cityhotel.gr/) or similar
Dinner (drinks not included) at the traditional tavern “DORE ZITHOS”
Overnight in Thessaloniki
Breakfast at the hotel then check out. Free time in the morning to discover Thessaloniki on your own. Lunch at leisure
Departure towards the airport of Thessaloniki in the afternoon always escorted by your guide
Fly to Chania in the island ofCrete (airfare not included)
Arrival at Chania airport in late afternoon. Transfer to the hotel and check-in at KYDON 4* (www.kydonhotel.com) hotel or similar
Dinner at leisure and overnight in Chania.
Breakfast at your hotel
After breakfast we will depart for the visit of the city of Rethymnon. Guided city tour including the traditional Baklava store to experience the making of the authentic thin Filo
Proceed towards Chania and the Manousakis Winery. Visit this beautiful domain:
Enjoy a wine tasting of 5 wines, and a traditional Cretan lunch accompanied with local wines. After lunch visit the city of Chania: Guided tour including the traditional Cretan Knives store Skalidakis as well as the archeological museum
Chania is a very picturesque town, known for its old town, its Venetian port and its leather market. The walk starts with the market and then takes you to the old town.
Dinner at leisure and overnight Chania
Breakfast at your hotel and check out to go to Heraklion and Cnossos for the visit of the archeological palace. Visit of the archeological site and the Palace of Cnossos; continue to the village of Archanes
Lunch at leisure at a traditional tavern in Archanes
Afternoon visit to the archeological museum of Heraklion which gathers almost all of the discoveries made in Crete, which relate to the Minoan civilization.
Walking guided visit through the city of Heraklion and check-in at hotel ASTORIA CAPSIS 4* (https://capsishotels.gr/) or similar
Walk downtown for the goodbye dinner (drinks not included) at the awarded restaurant PESKESI.
Overnight in Astoria Capsis, Heraklion
Breakfast at your hotel and check out
According to the flight schedule, departure towards the airport is accompanied by your English speaking guide.
Arrival at the airport, help and assistance with the check-in formalities
Flight departure
Mainland Greece:
Crete
MAIN LAND GREECE ONLY 10 nights / 11 days
$3745.- per person sharing a double room
Single supplement + $610
GREECE & ISLAND OF CRETE 13 nights / 14 days
$4640 – per person sharing a double room
Single supplement + $840
DEPOSIT: $500
Final payment date: February 12, 2023
| Airfare is not included. Your schedule should arrive in Athens in the morning and leave from Heraklion. Afternoon flight from Thessaloniki to Chania will be advised Celestial Voyagers can help to make reservations and get the best value schedule for this trip. Ticketing fee is $50 per ticket. A single transfer will be included for the main group. For individual arrival and departure, airport transfers will be additional. |
$500 deposit due upon registration
Balance is due at 60 days prior to departure, no later than February 12, 2023
We highly recommend to protect yourself with a trip cancellation insurance
We advise all travelers to purchase travel insurance in case of any unforeseen circumstances and if you are no longer able to travel. We offer the following insurance policies through Allianz Travel Insurance: Basic, Classic, and Classic with cancel anytime. Prices vary with age and amount insured.
Click on the link below for more details:
https://celestialvoyagers.com/leisure/leisure-insurance-passports-visas/
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Most countries require that a passport be valid for six months beyond the completion of a trip. If your passport expires before October 26, 2023, you must apply to renew your passport.
Please check with the respective consulate or a visa agency for the latest requirements.
Gineth is in charge of the Operations Department, supervising ticketing and travel planning. With over twelve years of experience in the travel industry, Gineth has exceptional leadership experience, and her passion for travel has contributed to her successful career.