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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
.
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 (BL)
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
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)
Athens
Markets or BYZANTINE
Churches
Ride the new Athens Subway alongside the locals today ( always escorted
with your English speaking Guide) ! 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. Tour
as well the Jewelry museum (LALAOUNIS)
Enjoy lunch at a charming local restaurant before we head back to the
hotel . Markets days/dates are subject to change, we may have to change
your program in Athens to accommodate such changes.
Or
if you prefer you may choose instead to tour one of the following tours:
BYZANTINE CHURCHES
Russian Orthodox Church at Filellinon & Amalias
Athens cathedral (Mitropolis) at Mitropoleos
Kapnikarea at Ermou
Saint Theodore at Klafthmonos
HISTORICAL INTEREST- Museum Tour :
BENAKI MUSEUM - (closed on Tuesdays)
Covering the history of Greece from Paleolithic (pre-historic, 60000
B.C.) till present. Can easily spend over 4 hours in there. There is
also a cafeteria for breaks.
ARCHAEOLOGICAL INTEREST
Temple of Olympian Zeus / Dionissos Theatre/ Ancient Agora/ Roman Agora
Guests who have been on the organized tour (the day before) can use
the same entrance ticket to all the archaeological sites mentioned above.
Above are only suggestions , you may discuss with the guide and modify
(add / subtract) according to what you are most interested in. The guide
will advise you on what is feasible to cover in a half-day. Or add another
half day : additional $$$ apply
Add
an extra day in Athens ?
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.
Rates
are in US $ per person
Louis
Cruise Lines
or
Golden Star Cruises |
First Class Hotel
in Athens |
Deluxe Hotel
Divani Palace
or similar
|
Inside
Cabin
Category DA
Two Lower Beds |
$ 2200.00
|
$ 2360.00
|
Outside
Cabin
Category C
Upper and Lower Beds |
$ 2300.00
|
$ 2451.00
|
Standard
outside Category B
Two Lower Beds |
$ 2500.00
|
$ 2645.00
|
Superior
outside
Category A
Two Lower Beds |
$ 2753.00
|
$ 2995.00
|
Suite
Category S |
$ 3176.00
|
$ 3401.00
|
Suite
with Balcony
( not available on all ships)
Category BS |
$ 3795.00
|
$ 4167.00
|
- 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 ( except suites)
Price
includes:
-
Lonely Planet travel guide to Greece.
-
Hotel accommodation in Athens, with tax & continental breakfast
daily.
-
Three 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
-
Gratuities.
-
Personal expenses, beverages, and meals not specifically listed
More
choices :
- Compare
with the : 8 days :
Athens, Mykonos and Santorini ,
the 10-day version , add
Istanbul ,
Crete , or
Cairo .
- Compare
with the :
8
days : Athens, Santorini and Crete , or
the 10-day version
- Tour
Athens and Crete in
10 days .
- Athens
, Santorini , Crete and Istanbul , all
in 11-days
- Athens
, Mykonos , Naxos and Santorini ,
all in 13 days
Island
Hopping
Book
in advance to be able to stay at one of the luxury Maris hotels in Crete
Family Friendly Greece. Children are mooooooost welcomed :-)

Gallery
of Romantic Hideaways of Crete
Map
and
Maris Hotel - Crete
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