Aegean Escapade by Land and Sea

This 8-day itinerary combines the highlights of Classical Greece with a 3 day cruise of the enchanted isles and a foray into Turkey Your exact cruise routing will vary & depends on the line and ship confirmed/available at the time of booking . Add a Foray into Sicily

Departures every , Monday ,Tuesday , Wednesday and Thursday, Mar to Nov

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DAY 1 - ARRIVAL IN ATHENS - Monday

Our Athens representative will meet you at the airport, assist you through customs and immigration, and escort you to your hotel in the bustling city center. The rest of the day is yours to enjoy as you wish. You're free to stroll, browse for curios and treasures. Private air-conditioned vehicle. Private Chauffeur, for your airport transfer.

DAY 2 - Private Tour. ATHENS - Tuesday (B)
Private air-conditioned vehicle. Private Chauffeur. Private Guide .

This morning you'll tour the high points of Athens, most notably the towering Acropolis and the adjacent museum. Private air-conditioned vehicle , private guide :
You'll visit Syntagma Square, at the very heart of the city, and see the Parliament, and guards in colorful traditional outfits. Lunch is included at a local restaurant.
Your afternoon is free for further exploring or shopping, or you could well be drawn to return to the charm of the Plaka. Or take advantage of one of our optional tours, for an afternoon visit to Cape Sounion and the Temple of Poseidon, with spectacular sunset view.

Day 3– Argolis – (BL) Wednesday
Private Air Conditioned Vehicle - Private Chauffeur - Private Guide
Breakfast at the hotel. Lunch is included at a local restaurant . Bottled water / tea or coffee : included with your lunch. Drive through Corinth crossing the famous canal to Mycenae where visits are Included to the Lion Gate, Tombs of Agememnon and Clytemnestra, and the Palace. Luncheon at the seaside resort town of Nauplion. Afterward, a short drive to the world famous theater of Epidaurus, known for its perfect acoustics. Visit the museum and Askelpeion. Return to Athens in the early evening. For the lunch we will either stop in Mycenae or Nauplion.

Some detail on your drive today :

• Athens - Corinth canal is about 1.15 hours drive (depending on traffic)
  
• The distance is 85 kilometers.
  
• Corinth canal - Mycenae is around 30 minutes. The distance is 45 kilometers.
  
• Mycenae - Epidaurus is 45 minutes. This distance is 60 kilometers.
  
• Epidaurus - Athens (via the coastal road) is around 2:15hrs. The distance is approx. 150 kilometers.

DAY 4 - ATHENS MARKETS - Thursday (BL)

Ride the new Athens Subway alongside the locals today! We take pride in affording you this experience, entirely by public transportation, with orientation by our English-speaking representative. You'll get to tour Athens fascinating vegetable & fruit markets by subway and/ or taxi. Enjoy lunch at a charming local restaurant before we head back to the hotel. Add an extra day in Athens ? Private Guide .

DAY 5 - Friday- CRUISE to MYKONOS (cBD)

Our staff will call for you at your hotel and escort you to Piraeus, the port of Athens, to embark on your three-day cruise. You'll sail into the Aegean, and by sunset, reach the isle of Mykonos by early evening . Stroll at your own pace along lanes lined with whitewashed houses, up to the Church of Paraportiani, or along the shore to the island's signature windmills. Enjoy an ouzo or a glass of retsina at a waterside cafe before we set sail at night. As noted, exact itinerary may vary.

DAY 6 - Sat - KUSADASI (Turkey) and PATMOS (BLD)
Your ship will anchor early in Kusadasi, on the Turkish mainland, gateway to ancient Ephesus. Stroll the streets and stop in at shops filled with leather goods and bargains in gold. The cruise's optional tour takes you to Ephesus, one of the best-preserved archaeological sites in the world. You'll re-board in time for an early evening sailing.

Then your ship will call at the island of Patmos. Here you can visit the Monastery of St. John where the Book of Revelations was written ( shore excursions are always a supplement) .

DAY 7 - Sunday HERAKLION (CRETE), SANTORINI (BLD) -
We drop anchor in the port of Heraklion at 7 a.m. You can explore on your own, or take an optional excursion to the 5000-year-old Minoan Palace at Knossos and the archaeological museum. We sail at noon for Santorini, where the lost civilization of Atlantis flourished. We leave port at 21:00.
For those interested, you may disembark for your stay in your apartment/villa/or hotel. ( supplement applies)
Sample optional tours available based on Private arrangement or Local Group tour . Villas in Santorini:

DAY 8 - Mon - PIRAEUS, RETURN HOME (B)

You'll sail into Piraeus early in the morning. Our Athens-based personnel will take you to the airport .

Private air-conditioned vehicle. Private Chauffeur.

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This tour departs : Every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, March through November

Rates per person/Double Occupancy/ Cabins with 2 lower beds Cabins

For the cruise line, we'll use Golden Sun or Louise Cruise Line

Rates are in US $ per person

• Please deduct $ 50 per person for triple occupancy .
• Infant up to 2 years : Pays $100 flat rate on any of the categories
• Child 2- 12 years : $600 flat rate on any of the categories

Price includes:

• Lonely Planet travel guide to Greece.
• Hotel accommodation in Athens, with tax & continental breakfast daily.
• 3-day cruise to the Greek Islands and Turkey.
• Athens city tour.
• Breakfast daily at hotel .
• All meals during cruise.
• Ground transportation between hotel and airport, and between hotel and pier Airport greeting and assistance.
• Hotel service charges and taxes .Sample hotels in Athens :
  Deluxe: Divani Palace Acropolis. First : Titania, or Stanley
• Port taxes.

Not included:

• International airfare between USA and Athens.
• Trip interruption and cancellation insurance (please see our insurance brochure).
• Gratuities.
• Personal expenses, beverages, and meals not specifically listed

Clothing on shore:

Look forward to warm, even hot weather with some cooler breezes at night.
Especially for shore excursions, we recommend loose, comfortable cottons or other lightweight clothing.

Some of the tours involve long bus rides and/or considerable walking, so comfortable shoes are recommended.

Please bear in mind that shore excursion coaches are air conditioned and you may wish to bring a light sweater.

On tours that include visits to places of worship, shorts and bare shoulders are not permitted.

Your own Villa in Santorini - Your  Honeymoon Greek Island

Santorini Apartments/ Villas Philippi / Corinth Romantic Hideaways in Crete Louise Cruise Lines Greek Isles , Turkey & Mediterranean Delphi / Delos Baltic , Scandinavia Cruises Golden Star Cruises Mycenae  The Acropolis Sample of Greek Hotels Mediterranean Breezes Cruise From Barcelona Home Venetian Cruise Cruise From Barcelona or Venice

Private Cruise ship Shore excursions in Greece & Turkey

The cruise regular shore excursion are generally a good introduction to the city, most of the seasoned cruise travelers prefer to go sightseeing with a private guide.

The difference between ship organized and private tours is best described as "package versus tailor-made." Some people may feel all right joining a large tour group whereas sometimes it is difficult to hear the guide and the group moves only as fast as its slowest participant.

Others may not get their questions answered at all as there may be twenty other people in the group trying to do the same.

In contrast, a small tour group with tailor-made program is way more enjoyable and ensures personal attention for everyone. You will spend as much time as you want.

Therefore, if you want to maximize your limited time, the private escorted tour tailored to your unique wishes and interests is an ideal solution.

All our private shore excursions tours are carefully designed to give you the best possible experience. Our knowledgeable, friendly and qualified tour guide and driver will ensure that your visit ashore is truly memorable. When you tour with us in Turkey as part of a private shore excursion , your tour guide will get you into sites without waiting in lines that is especially valuable given the limited time you have to spend in Turkey.

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