Escapade to the Greek Isles

Santorini -Crete Edition

15 days . Tour code # 5/Santo/CR

Our Aegean tours,Includes a 7 day Cruise , voyage of discovery includes classical Athens and the islands of the Aegean: Santorini , Mykonos, Rhodes and even takes you to Istanbul
Starts in Athens Weekly every Friday & Thursday : Apr - Nov

Add Paris , or Egypt , or Italy ,
extend your stay in Greece
Compare with the , 10 day or 14 day Classical Greece version

DAY 1 - ARRIVAL IN ATHENS - Friday ( Weekly )
Our Athens-based personnel meets you at the international airport, assists you with the formalities, and sees you to your charming and comfortable four-star hotel, your base for the next two nights. Check in, relax, then take a stroll through the lively streets. Browse for treasures and curios, savor a coffee or aperitif at a terrace café, or enjoy a fine meal in the old Plaka district

DAY 2 , CRETE - Saturday (B)
We'll rendezvous in time to take you to your flight to Crete, Heraklion & your hotel.

DAY 3 - CRETE - Sunday (B)
Enjoy your stay at the hotel or explore one of the beaches. Or explore on your own the Venetian part of the old town , see below more details on tours in Crete.

DAY 4 - Santorini - Monday (B)
Do your last-minute shopping this morning, or just linger deliciously in bed. Then we'll call for you and see you to the port or airport ( depending on the day ) to go by ferry or plane to Santorini and your hotel in Santorini the Isle of Ancient " Atlantis ?!", where you'll find a room waiting in a four-star beach hotel. Or a cliff -side Villa .

DAY 5 - Santorini- Own activities- Tuesday (B)
To stay in your lovely hotel and enjoy the beach, the service, and the amenities, or to venture out to explore some of the dramatic cliffs, coves, and villages . . . that is the question! No doubt, you'll mix a bit of both; Relax, and revisit a favorite café or shop ,sip an ouzo or retsina at a waterside café, discover a beach or two, pick up a loaf of fresh bread and cheese and olives, and picnic on a hillside as you look out to sailboats at sea. Your days will be filled.

For those interested , a complimentary full day Greek cooking class ( available only on Thursdays -except during Easter week):
Advance reservation required, space is limited, must book this at the time you book your tour package with us

ONE DAY COOKING COURSE AT "SELENE" RESTAURANT.

Weekly on Thursday : at 10 30 a.m. we will welcome you at Selene Restaurant with fresh juice, coffee and traditional Greek cookies. A lecture by Evelyn Volikas and George Hatziyianakis will give you an introduction to the cuisine of the Cycladic Islands and particularly of Santorini .Following the lecture, we will introduce to you the unique local products of our island. The volcanic eruption that broke the island of Santorini apart almost 3500 years ago left the dramatic caldera that you see today. With more than 300 days of sunshine and its rich volcanic soil, the island yields a bounty of unusual indigenous herbs and vegetables. White eggplant, capers and caper leaves, fava (small yellow peas), exquisite baby tomatoes - all grown virtually without water.We will introduce you to the Santorini wine, to the grape varieties and to the Santorini vineyard, and you will have the chance to sample four different wines in the wine tasting we have arranged for you.
Cheeses and sausages from several other Cycladic islands, including Naxos, Siros, Ios, Tinos, brought especially for this occasion, will accompany the wines.At about 12.0 the presentation and the demonstration of four different recipes will take place. You will learn how to prepare an entire Greek menu: an appetizer,
a salad, a main course, and a dessert.

-Fava beans with tomato caper sauce or Tomato fritters (tomatokeftedes)

-Eggplant salad with octopus or Taramosalata

-Rabbit with egg- cheese sauce or Lamb in grapevine leaves

-Cheese and honey sweet pastry or Melitinia (traditional Santorini cookie)After we have prepared the dishes, at about 2.0 p.m. you will be able to enjoy the fruits of your labors accompanied by a bottle of delicious wine from Santorini.
The cooking class takes place every Thursday. Web site for the world famous " Selene" Greek restaurant : www.selene.gr

DAY 6 - Wednesday -Athens
WELCOME back to TO ATHENS!
Our staff escorts you to the Airport and fly back to Athens and your hotel, with time left to start exploring Athens.

DAY 7 - ATHENS Thursday (B)
A half-day city tour will orient you to the high points of Athens. We'll visit Syntagma Square, at the very heart of the city; the Parliament; Hadrian's Arch; and culminate with the Acropolis and its museum. Your afternoon is free for further exploring, shopping, or, perhaps, another visit to the Plaka. Or take advantage of one of our optional tours, such as an afternoon visit to Cape Sounion and the Temple of Poseidon, with spectacular sunset view; or the Sound and Light show at the base of the Acropolis, combined with folk dancing.

DAY 8 - ATHENS, EMBARKATION- Friday (BLD)
Your morning in Athens is unscheduled, leaving you the choice of relaxation, meeting up with friends at a cafe, or browsing the shops. In the afternoon, we'll see you to Piraeus, the port of Athens, where you'll embark around 04:00 PM on your seven-day cruise.

DAY 9 - ISTANBUL - Saturday (BLD)
Constantinople! Stamboul! Istanbul! Today you reach the fabulous city where East and West have clashed, met, and blended over the centuries. Where to start? We reach Istanbul around 05:00 PM

Choices and optional evening escorted tours (additional $$$ cost) are available on board the ship or through our office to help you take it all in. There's no need to unpack. Your ship serves as your hotel in port.

DAY 10 - Full Day Private tour of Istanbul - Sunday (BL)
We are providing on a complimentary basis , a full day tour , with private car/van/ driver & English speaking guide ( please advise if you prefer other language), visiting Aya Sophia, the Blue Mosque, the Topkapi Palace, the bustling and strategic Bosphorus straits and a choice of visiting Istanbul Jewish Heritage & the Synagogues ( the Jewish Heritage portion is not available during weekends) . 6 p.m. sailing.

DAY 11 - MYKONOS -Monday (BLD)
We reach MYKONOS late afternoon : the fabled isle of windmills, beaches, cliffs, blue seas, and over 350 churches and chapels. Photo opportunities are unlimited, and shopping options are almost as plentiful. Set sail around 11 PM

DAY 12 - PATMOS -Kusadasi -Ephesus -Tuesday (BLD)
This morning we'll drop anchor at Patmos (Using tenders in Patmos) . Here you can visit ( all shore excursions are optional) the Monastery of St. John where the Book of Revelations was written. You'll reboard around 10:30 , as we head to Turkey .
Once again, we'll drop anchor in the Turkish mainland and Kusadasi ( around 2:30 PM) , gateway to ancient Ephesus. Join one of the ships shore excursion (Additional$$$) , or Stroll the streets on your own and stop in at shops filled with leather goods, carpets, and bargains in gold. Or we'll be glad to arrange for a our private basis optional tour takes you to Ephesus, one of the best-preserved Greco-Roman cities in the world. We set sail from Kusadasi around 8:30 PM

DAY 13 - RHODES- Wednesday (BLD)
You'll sail into the harbor of Rhodes at first light, allowing a full day on the Island of Roses. The compact, cobbled medieval city is perfect for exploring on your own. You'll want to visit the Palace of the Knights of St. John, take a look at the wares in the boutiques, and spend some time in a seaside cafe. We also offer an optional excursion to the Acropolis of Lindos and the Valley of the Butterflies, we sail out around 06:00 PM.

DAY 14-SANTORINI, HERAKLION - Thursday (BLD)
We drop anchor in the port of Heraklion / Crete Santorini around 07:00 AM . Explore on your own, or take an optional excursion to the 5000-year-old Minoan Palace at Knossos and the archaeological museumand , reboard in time for lunch , then it is off to Santorini , and drop anchor around 5 PM . ( using tenders to disembark / reboard) . Explore on your own, the lost civilization of Atlantis flourished. Enjoy the outdoor cafes and wander the lanes of Thira, lined with craft and clothing shops and bakeries and cafes. Ride the funicular to the cliff top, or be adventurous, and do it on muleback! . We set sail for Athens at 11 AM.

DAY 15 - PIRAEUS, RETURN HOME - Friday (B)
You'll sail into Piraeus early in the morning (06:00 AM) . Our Athens-based personnel will take you to the airport . Bon Voyage

Rates per person in US$
Double Occupancy Cabins with 2 lower beds

Supplemental charges:

Rate includes:

• Seven-day cruise to Greek Islands and Turkey.
• Two nights at the hotel of your choice in Athens.
• Athens sightseeing tour .
• Breakfast daily at the hotel.
• Domestic air fare in Greece, economy class with tax included
• All meals during the cruise.
• Greeting and assistance on arrival, and transport to hotel, to cruise ship, and back to airport .
• Hotel service charges, taxes, and hospitality services .
• Port taxes .
• Lonely Planet guidebooks

Not included: Shore excursions. International airfare from/to your home country Gratuities Personal expenses. Beverages, and meals not specifically listed. Travel Insurance, Trip Cancellation Insurance

Cruise Skd is subject to change without notice

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.

Sample hotels in Athens :
Deluxe: Divani Palace Acropolis. Superior First : Electra Palace. First Class : Stanley

Sample hotel in Crete:

Heraklio / Hersonissos Area:
* Creta Maris ( 5 stars)
* Knossos Royal Village (5 stars)
* Royal Mare Village (5 Stars)
* Atlantis Hotel ( 5 stars - Town property)
* Aldemar Royal Mare (5 stars)

Heraklio /Amoudara Area:
* Candia Maris Hotel ( 5 stars)

Elounda Area:
* Hotel Elounda Mare (5 stars):
Supplement $65 per person per night with breakfast & dinner included (part of the deal, cant delete).

Lasithi Area:
* Hotel Elounda Mare (5 stars) : PRIVATE BUNGALOW with private pool: Supplement $200 Per person per night.

First Class : 4 - Star Properties in Crete :

Heraklio Area:
* Sylva Maris Bungalows hotel ( 4 stars)
* Galaxy Iraklio Hotel ( Town property)
* Asotria Capsis Hotel ( Town Hotel)
* Marina Beach in Gouves area
* Pantheon Palace in Gouves area

Lasithi Area:
Miramar in Aghios Nikolaos

Sample Villas/ Apartments in Santorini:

For Deluxe rates : Dana Villas with a view of the Caldera & the sea ( Firostefani) .

First Class accommodation:
" Sun Rocks ", in Firostefani" , "Astra Apartments", " On The Rocks" or Chromata Apartments with a view of the caldera & the sea (Imerovigli.)

For first class accommodation in the: "Grotto Villas" in Firostefani . Or Rose Bay on Kamari Beach Hotel.

For Katikies Villas & Pantheon , please add 10 % supplement to the deluxe rate.

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