Day 1: Arrival in Athens – Transfer to hotel. Overnight.
Day 2: Breakfast at the hotel. In the morning city tour of Athens which will give you the opportunity to observe the striking contrasts that make Athens such as fascinating city. Your guide will take you to the center: Constitution Square, the House of Parliament, the Memorial to the Unknown Soldier. Driving down Herod Atticus Street you will see the Evzones in their picturesque costume and the Presidential Palace. On your way to the Acropolis you will see the Panathenaic stadium (where the first Olympic Games of the modern era were held in 1896) and the Athens of the 2nd century A.D., the temple of Olympian Zeus and the Adrian’s Arch. On the Acropolis visit its museum and the architectural masterpieces of the Golden Age of Athens: the Propylea, the temple of Athena Nike, the Erechthion and finally, the “harmony between matter and spirit”, the monument that “puts order in the mind”, the Parthenon. Afternoon at leisure. Overnight in Athens.
Day 3: Breakfast at the hotel, time at leisure and then, in the late afternoon, transfer to the port and embarkation for the 7-day cruise to the Greek islands and Turkey. Sailing to Thessaloniki.
Dinner and overnight on board.
Day 4:
Breakfast on board. In the morning, arrival in Thessaloniki.
This seaside resort has undergone vigorous development in recent years and is an excellent place to shop for Turkish goods. The tour (included) to nearby Ephesus is not to be missed, for here the history truly comes to life. Walking towards the ancient harbor, down a marble road rutted by the wheels of countless chariots, you pass such architectural masterpieces as the Magnesian Gate and the Library of Celsus before arriving at the great amphitheater where Saint Paul was arrested and cast out of the city.
Day 5:
Breakfast on board. In the morning, arrival in Kusadasi.
This seaside resort has undergone vigorous development in recent years and is an excellent place to shop for Turkish goods. The tour (included) to nearby Ephesus is not to be missed, for here the history truly comes to life. Walking towards the ancient harbor, down a marble road rutted by the wheels of countless chariots, you pass such architectural masterpieces as the Magnesian Gate and the Library of Celsus before arriving at the great amphitheater where Saint Paul was arrested and cast out of the city.
Day 6:Breakfast on board. Early morning arrival in Heraklion, Crete.
Excursion (included) to the Minoan Palace of Knossos situated few kilometers from Heraklion. Discovered in 1899 by Sir Arthur Evans and partially reconstructed, the elaborate palace is believed to be the mythical labyrinth of King Minos and the seat of the ancient Minoan culture. The archeological museum in Heraklion displays many of the treasures found during the excavations.
Day 7:Breakfast on board. In the morning arrival in Santorini.
This island is perhaps the most breathtaking of all the Greek islands. Around 1500 B.C., a volcanic eruption destroyed the center of the island, leaving a crescent shaped rim of cliffs around a harbor formed in the volcano’s caldera. The town of Fira is accessible by donkeys or by cable car. Excursion (included) to spectacular Oia Village perched on the Caldera rim. Afterwards, free time on the island for suggested visit to Akrotiri located on the Southern point of the island. The excavation site has been roofed over to fashion a unique museum. Everything is in place as it was before the gigantic earthquake, including the narrow “streets” which wind through the area which has been cleared of the ash that filled the houses and engulfed the town. Akrotiri is often compared to Pompeii but the ruins here date back to the prehistoric times, around 1500 B.C.
Lunch/dinner and overnight on board.
Day 8: Breakfast on board. In the morning arrival in Mykonos. Time at leisure for shopping and strolling through the typical white-washed narrow streets of the picturesque town. You have the whole day & night in Mykonos to enjoy the beautiful beaches & the famous nightlife.
Day 9:
Breakfast on board. In the morning arrival in Milos, an island that is not only rich in spectacular sunset views and minerals but also in the things that travelers come to Greece looking for: beautiful beaches, inspiring views, a rich history, white-washed Cycladic villages, excellent food and good-hearted people.
Milos is largely an undiscovered island, with perhaps the most interesting coastline of any other island this size in the world. A volcanic island, Milos is known as the island of colors, mainly because of its spectacular, colorful rock formations.
It is called “The Island of Lovers” because it is the discovery site of the famous statue Venus de Milo, the ancient Greek Goddess of Love and Beauty
Late afternoon departure from Milos & sailing to Mykonos.
Lunch/dinner and overnight on board.
Breakfast on board. Y.Time on leisure. In the afternooon departure and sailing to Piraeus.
Lunch/dinner and overnight on board.
Day 10: Morning arrival to Piraeus. After breakfast disembarkation and transfer to the airport.
8 Day Cruise to the Greek Islands and Turkey – On board Crystal
8-DAY / 7 NIGHT IDYLLIC AEGEAN
DATE | PORT/CITY | ARRIVE | DEPART |
---|---|---|---|
Day 1 | Athens (Greece) | 17:00 | |
Day 2 | Thessaloniki (Greece) | 10:00 | 19:00 |
Day 3 | Kusadasi (Turkey) | 13:00 | 19:00 |
Day 5 | Heraklion, Crete (Greece) | 08:00 | 19:00 |
Day 5 – 6 | Santorini (Greece) | 07:00 | 00:30 |
Day 6 – 7 | Mykonos (Greece) | 08:00 | 02:00 |
Day 7 | Milos | 09:00 | 19:00 |
Day 8 | Athens (Greece) | 07:00 |
CRUISE DEPARTURE DATES 8-DAY / 7 NIGHT IDYLLIC AEGEAN:
FROM ATHENS (PIRAEUS) | ||
APRIL | 06, 13, 20, 27 | |
MAY | 04, 11, 18, 25 | |
JUNE | 01, 08, 15, 22, 29 | |
JULY | 06, 13, 20, 27 | |
AUGUST | 03,10,17,24,31 | |
SEPTEMBER | 07,14,21,28 | |
OCTOBER | 05 |
Rates start from EURO 1,787.00 per person, in Double occupancy room in 3* hotel in Athens & in Inside Cabin in low season. The cruise is All Inclusive (accommodation on board in the booked category, all meals, an extensive choice of alcoholic & non-alcoholic beverages, 3 shore excursions, all port & service charges & entertainment on board)
Please contact us for more details.