Hide Away in the Greek Isles Athens , Rhodes and Crete 10 -Days in Mediterranean Greek Paradise

The treasures of Athens . . . the romance of the Greek isles. What's better than a journey with a cherished companion to one of these prized destination?

This is a trip tailored to make the most of that special company and unique occasion, be it an anniversary, a honeymoon, or a singular chance to be alone and away. We have selected superior and deluxe hotels notable for their charm, atmosphere, and, of course, fine service.

Tour starts Daily in Athens : April- Oct . Click here for 8 Day Crete & All Inclusive Resorts

DAY 1 - ARRIVAL IN ATHENS - Private transfer
Tour starts Daily in Athens : April- Oct
Our Athens-based personnel meets you at the international airport, assists you with the formalities, and sees you to your charming and comfortable hotel (private transfer from Athens Airport to your 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.

Morning arrivals for guests flying from Europe or the east coast of the USA may connect same day to Crete if so desire and have Athens's stay at the end or eliminate Athens completely.

DAY 2 - ATHENS - Private car/driver/guide (BD)
Enjoy the sights, sounds, and flavors of the Greek capital, today we have included a half day ( private car/driver/guide for this tour) tour of Syntagma Square, and the towering Acropolis.
An evening dinner with a Greek folk show

DAY 3 - ATHENS, CRETE (B)
We'll call for you and see you to the airport for your flight over the blue Aegean to Crete (Air fare included, to Heraklion ), and our local rep will escort you to your hotel.
CLICK HERE for more images of the Romantic Hideaways hotels of Crete.

DAY 4 - Crete (B)
Enjoy breakfast at your lovely hotel,or venture out,to explore ON YOUR OWN. Maybe join an optional tour .

DAY 5 - Crete(B)
Another day to relax in this Mediterranean paradise ,or to explore ON YOUR OWN.

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DAY 6 - Crete - Own activities(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 , 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.

DAY 7 - CRETE- RHODES (B)
Today we fly to Rhodes the Island of Roses ( Flights & flight schedule are subject top change) . Transfers are always included.

DAY 8 - RHODES (B)
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.

DAY 9 - ATHENS (B)
We'll call for you and see you to the airport to fly back to Athens.
If your flight on Day 10 is an evening one, then you may stay tonight in Rhodes if you prefer, then connect on Day 10 to Athens

At Athens Airport , proceed on your own to the Airport location hotel : Sofitel Athens Airport.

DAY 10 - ATHENS (B)
Check-out & proceed on your own to the next door Athens Airport .

Extend to Italy . Bon Voyage.

RATE in US $, per person in double occupancy

First Class (4 stars): $ 2775	Deluxe (5 stars): $3625
Honeymoon Ultra Deluxe Arrangement : $3504.00 Based on Grand Bretagne in Athens, 1 bedroom Suite with Private pool in Elounda Mare in Crete.

Price includes:

• Air transportation from Athens to , Crete , Rhodes and back to Athens.
  
  
• Transportation between airport and hotels in Greece
  
  
• Accommodations with breakfast (B) as indicated below, or at comparable properties, according to availability:
  Rhodes : Rhodes Grand Hotel ( Sea View), or similar to be used for both categories listing /rates
• Athens:
  Divani Palace Acropolis : 5 Stars Moderate
  Electra Palace (four stars).
  Crete: Royal Mare Sea View , Creta Maris ( Hersonissos) , or similar for Deluxe & Silva Maris
  ( Hersonissos) for First Class
  

• Guided sightseeing as indicated in : ATHENS, including entrance fees & preset menu dinner as indicated "D".

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.

4 - Star Properties:

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

Not Included:

• International air transportation,Ask us about the special air fare from/to USA.
• Optional excursions,
• Any meal not specifically mentioned, beverages, and personal expenses
• Gratuities for local personnel
• Travel insurance (please inquire about flyer).
• Airport taxes.

Map & Maris Hotel - Crete * Weather Crete

CRETE
One of the largest islands in the Mediterranean ,and for thousands of years it has been a crossroads of three continents- Europe, Asia and Africa.

The birthplace of the first glorious Greek civilization, the Minoan one, as well as that Zeus, El Greco, the famous painter, and Kazantzakis, well known for his Zorba the Greek, Crete is a spirited and enchanting place with a wonderful climate. Ravishing scenery, picturesque harbors, ancient Minoan palaces and Byzantine churches are but a few Crete's pleasures. Add to that the friendliness of the Cretan people and one has the setting for a memorable convention or incentive destination. Crete demands to be explored by ca or by jeep and there are several interesting excursions that may be organized. Heraklion, the capital of the island with its world class Archaeological Museum and the Palace of Knossos dating back to 1500 BC, the town of Rethymno with its Venetian Fortress and the old Turkish quarter with mosques and minarets, the town of Chania, a typical Venetian town with a small secluded harbor with picturesque houses and cafes and last but not least, the port of Aghios Nikolaos and the village of Elounda around the Bay of Mirabello are all visiting points.

Trekking through the Samaria Gorge, mountain biking on the Lassithi Plateau with its countless windmills, watching a traditional Cretan wedding ceremony or enjoying a glass of Raki whilst listening to the traditional Cretan music played by the lyra during one of the Cretan nights and shopping for handicrafts and local wines can be a part of interesting incentives activities.

KNOSSOS - MUSEUM They say that if you try to leave without visiting Knossos, you are turned away from the airport. Knossos is not simply foundations but a three story Palace complex of rooms, halls and passengers, dating from 2.500 B.C. And the center of Minoan civilization (when in most parts of the world people were still living in caves). This is the labyrinth were Theseus slew the Minotaur, and where history and legend go hand in hand. After Knossos, we visit Heraklion's Archaeological Museum where all the best finds of Knossos and other cities are housed. Included in the tour is a sightseeing trip of Heraklion.

PHAESTOS-GORTYS-MATALA This trip takes South the mountains and more of Crete's unique scenery and stopping first at Gortys, the Capital during the Roman occupation. You can view the ancient forum and theater and see the famous Doric law code, chiseled forever into stone and publicity displayed in Dorian times. Also at Gortys is one of the best & most beautiful of ancient churches on Crete -St.Titus dating from 5-6 AD From here we move to Phaestos, the second major Minoan site, situated overlooking the beautiful Messara plain. At Phaestos you can evidence of the original complex destroyed by fire and earthquake, and also the second, rebuilt complex. Since we believe that too much culture is not the best way to spend a holiday the afternoon is spent on the beach of Matala, overlooked by the famous Neolithic caves.

RETHYMNO - CHANIA (WEST CRETE) Our major excursion travels along the north west coast with breathtaking scenery on both sides - spectacular mountain ranges , and sleepy little fishing villages. First stop in famous monastery of Arkadi. Then will stop in Rethymno, known as the city of scholars. Here you can stroll through the narrow streets with their venetian flavor, or maybe take coffee in a harbor side coffee bar We move to Chania for lunch. Chania is the little Venice of Crete. It possesses reputedly the largest market in the Balkans, and a street almost dedicated to leather goods, where you can see items such as boots, shoes, handbags etc. Handmade. After lunch, by the beautiful venetian harbor of the town, where «Zorbas the Greek » was filmed, we go to nearby Souda bay, where lies the British Commonwealth war cemetery.

CRETAN EVENING A not to be missed opportunity for an evening out amidst the flavor and atmosphere of Cretan Tavern. We travel into the mountains to a village no more than hour away, and our evening is spent eating, drinking and dancing in the local style. During the meal which will be typical there is unlimited free wine, and you will be serenaded by local musicians, afterwards there will be a demonstration of the energetic Cretan dancing and you will be enthusiastically invited to join in.

GOURNIA - KRITSA - AG. NIKOLAOS This trip takes you east through the mountains and beautiful villages. First stop in the traditional village Gournia and then we visit the Byzantine of Kera church and the village of Kritsa. Next stop in Ag.Nikolaos, situated on the bottomless lake «Voulismeni» and also famous for a TV series «The lotus eaters». You can stroll around the picturesque harbor, sample some «meze» at a local tavern.

PLATEAU OF LASSITHI You expect coach captain, will take you through the impressive scenery of the road that climbs from the coast up to high Lassithi. A narrow road, with tight bends, weaving its way between the hills onwards and upwards, brings you to a vast plain as far as the eye can see, with windmills is the Plateau of Lassithi. Here is where the history and legend go hand in hand once again and therefore your guide will tell you about and give you an chance to visit the Dicteon cave where Zeus was born.

SPINALONGA ISLAND This excursion journeys along the north east coast and first visits the village of Elounda. If the name doesn't ring a bell, think of "who pays the ferryman" - it was filmed here, a small but charming fishing village. We take a boat trip from Elounda to the island of Spinalonga, fortified by the Venetian, and used this century as a leper colony. Free time for BBQ lunch and swimming at the island of Kolokytha. Having returned to Elounda we travel down to Agios Nikolaos and en route you have a wonderful view over the bay of Mirabello. Agios Nikolaos is possibly the most chic spot in Crete.

SAMARIA GORGE The trek through the Samaria gorge will probably be one of the most exciting days of your holiday in Crete. It is 18 km of breathtaking scenery in the longest gorge in Europe, with imposing sheer rock faces and the pine filled atmosphere of another world. We begin our descent early in the morning to avoid being in the gorge when the sun is at it's hottest. As you reach the bottom you will be making the same exit as the British soldiers and the Greek partisans made during their escape in the last war. Waiting for you at the bottom will be the crystal-clear waters in Libya Sea and the small village of Aghia Roumeli where after a good rest, we will board the boat to Chora Sfakion for the return to hotel.