Athens and Popular Greek Islands, Greek Island Hopping

ATHENS CRETE SANTORINI MYKONOS

ATHENS - CRETE - SANTORINI - MYKONOS - ISLANDS

ISLAND HOPPING TO THREE GEMS IN AEGEAN SEA - ALL WORLD FAMOUS

Island hopping to the most popular Greek islands

Mykonos island, the most famous cosmopolitan island of Greece, famous for its fantastic beaches and its night life. Stroll around its narrow marble streets and admire the whitewashed cubic houses with colorful doors, bougainvillea trees in purple bloom; along the lovely waterfront with the fleet of fishing boats casting colorful reflections in the azure waters and the waterfront cafes in Little Venice. Admire the view of the quaint windmills standing imposingly on the hillside above and the island’s hidden churches.

Santorini island, the volcano island famous for its Fira, Oia, Imerovigli and Firostefani villages with the breathtaking Caldera views and the unique sunset. Santorini island is also known as a culinary paradise with its famous traditional products like cherry tomatoes, white egg plants, fava, caper and “hloró tyrí”, a special kind of fresh goat cheese found on the island and the vast vineyards and wineries with the extremely high quality wines such as Assyrtiko, Athyri, Aidani, Mantilaria and Mavrotragano . Also it is considered to be the most sought after place for a romantic getaway and wedding destination for couples from all over the world.

Crete island, what can you write about Crete, the largest island in Greece, simply has it all !!!
Glorious beaches, impressive mountains capes, fertile valleys and steep gorges, impressive caves, traditional settlements, rich gastronomic culture and the remnants of brilliant Minoan civilization. There are too many things to write about this island you could write a book. So the best way to describe it, is to write the ‘don’t miss ‘ :

The cities of Chania with the old Venetian harbor, Rethymno with the historic monasteries, monuments and traditional mountain villages, Heraklion the capital of Crete with the exceptional archaeological treasures, significant coastal settlements, a series of picturesque villages, vast valleys with olive groves and vineyards. Lasithi region with the beautiful village of Ag. Nikolaos, Sitia, the palm tree forest of Vaï, the Gulf of Mirabello, the windmills on the Plateau of Lassithi and the Spinalonga rocky islet at the natural port of Elounda.

Nature. The unique golden exotic beaches lacing the Libyan Sea all along the Cretan shore, from Falassarna in the west to Vai in the east, where one feels they are on a tropic island while still being in Europe. The sandy beaches of Balos, Falasarna and Elafonisi are three beaches of great beauty in the region of Chania. Off course Matala the sixties and seventies hotspot for hippies and the highlight of Crete the gorge of Samaria, the longest in Europe

Cultural heritage.The arceological sites of Minoan palaces at Knossos and Phaestos and the historic monasteries of Arkadi, Preveli, Toplou, Agarathou, and Chrysoskalitissa

Gastronomy. Crete’s culinary tradition dates back to the Minoan Period (archaeological finds at Knossos). Crete’s recipes practically remained the same. Rich local cuisine, composed mainly of meat, virgin olive oil, aromatic herbs, fruit, vegetables and legumes, scientifically proven to increase life expectancy. Don’t miss to test the famous “ofto” (roasted baby goat) which is served almost everywhere in Crete, the fresh salads and traditional ‘dakos’ (barley rusks with fresh tomato, soft white cheese and olive oil), local cheese, bouyátsa with cream, a delicious cream pie at Chania and many others. Crete cusine is a culinary paradise, ask the locals!

TOUR DETAILS

Tour Code: ACSM_01
Duration: 10 days / 9 nights
Season: All the year round
Location: Athens, Crete, Santorini, Mykonos islands
Style: Island hopping – History – Nature – Photography

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Athens sightseeing with Acropolis and museum.
  • Crete island
  • Santorini island
  • Mykonos island

INCLUDED

  • Luxury bus or minivan transfers
  • Experienced En speaking driver
  • Hotels 3*, 4*, 5* or traditional guesthouses
  • Meals Breakfast(B,_,_)
  • Entrance fees to archeological sites and museums
  • Official En speaking local guides
  • Ferry tickets to Santorini and Mykonos
  • Meet & Greet on the arrival at the airport

NOT INCLUDED

  • Flight ticket (Domestic flight tickets upon request)
  • Accommodation tax (0.5€ per day per room for guesthouses -1.5€ per day per room for 3* hotels – 3€ per day per room for 4* hotels – 4€ per day per room for 5* hotels) paid directly by the clients to hotel.                                                                                    

*All packages are flexible and dynamic for any changes according to any personal needs and desires upon request.

Shorter tours based on above itinerary can be:
1) Tour 6d /5n – Days: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9

Conduct us for more available packages in the area.

Day 1: Athens arrival (_,_,D)

Arrival to Athens. Meet our staff at the airport. Transfer to your hotel. In the evening walk at Plaka, Athens old town and Monastiraki area. Dinner at a local tavern with souvlaki and shish kebab dishes.

Day 2: Athens city tour (B,_,_) 

Athens sightseeing tour, Constitution Square (Syntagma), the House of Parliament, the Memorial to the Unknown Soldier and the National Library. Driving down Herod Atticus st, you will see the Evzones in their picturesque uniform and the Presidential Palace. On your way to the Acropolis you will see the Hadrian’s Arch, visit the Temple of Olympian Zeus and you will make a short stop at the Panathenaic Stadium where the first modern Olympic Games took place in 1896. Then Acropolis, the architectural masterpieces of the Golden Age of Athens, Propylaea, Temple of Athena Nike, Erechtheion, and finally Parthenon, a place any civilized person has to visit. We complete the visit with the Museum of Acropolis.

Day 3: Athens – Chania Crete. (B,_,_)

Morning transfer to Athens airport and get your flight to Chania Crete. (Alternatively you can get a night ferry to Chania the previous day night). Transfer to your hotel. Rest of day free to relax and swim. In the afternoon visit the picturesque Chania. Stroll along their narrow alleys, at the Venetian harbor and the old city. Go to the leather street (Skridlof), at the knives street (Sifaka), walk on the Kanevaro street, the old Muslin quarter on Zambeliou. Go to the closed market, a beautiful building from the early 20th century, to buy herbs and cheese. From the back door walk down to Agios Nikolaos Square with its plane tree which is over 200 years old and have a coffee. For dinner you can go to Tamam tavern, in an old Turkish bath, and test the amazing meze..

Day 4: Chania Relax day (B,_,_) 

Free day at Chania. West of Chania city and after the city of Kissamos (aka Kasteli) one can find the Falasarna Beach (40 minutes drive). From Falasarna take the road towards south, go past Sfinariand after a beautiful 40 minutes drive (with amazing views of the sea) you arrive at the famous Elafonissi Beach (just before Elafonissi stop to visit the Chryssoskalitissa Monastery). Don’t stay at the main beach, walk through the lagoon sea and get on the little island just in front with a number of beautiful and uncrowded coves.

Day 5: Chania – Rethymno- Heraklion (B,_,_)

Morning drive to Rethymno to visit the Fortezza, the citadel of the city of Rethimno. It was built by the Venetians in the1573 to protect the city and was captured by the Ottomans in 1646. We continue to Arkadi Monastery, containing one of the finest Venetian churches on Crete and which is a symbol of Crete’s heroic struggle for independence – holocaust during the 1866 rebellion against Turks. We continue our tour to the city of Heraklion, we visit the archaeological site of Knossos and its palace and the archeological museum. Then drive to the hotel.

Day 6: Heraklion – Santorini (B,_,_)

Morning transfer to port and get the ferry to Santorini. Transfer to your hotel. Rest of day free to walk in the allays with the white cubic houses and to admire the sunset having a drink in one of numerus bars, set on the caldera cliffs.

Day 7: Santorini island (B,_,_)
Relax day to explore this romantic island. Take a donkey taxi or cable car to old port and from there take a boat excursion to volcano. In the afternoon go to Oia to admire the word’s most famous sunset OR take a FD Santorini sightseeing (9 hrs) bus tour. Spend a full day discovering Santorini’s ancient history, local culture, and famous views on this great-value highlights tour. Explore the Minoan archaeological site at Akrotiri, swim at the black-sand Perissa beach, and observe traditional island life in the village of Megalochori. You’ll also take in panoramic views from Prophet Elias Monastery, sip volcanic varietals at a winery, and finish the day with an unforgettable sunset from Oia village

Day 8: Santorini – Mykonos (B,_,_)
Morning transfer to port and embark on high speed boat to Mykonos. Transfer to your hotel. Rest of day free to walk to Little Venice for coffee and to windmills for panoramic views of island. Later stroll into town and party the night away. Mykonos is the most cosmopolitan island with great restaurants and nightlife scene.

Day 9: Mykonos island (B,_,_)
Free day for swimming in one of famous Mykonos beaches Paradise, Super Paradise or Psarou, OR take a local boat (kaiki) excursion to Delos for a guided visit (4 hrs) to the UNESCO world heritage site, being a conspicuous religious and economic center in the ancient time. Sacred island where god Apollo, god of light, and goddess Artemis having been born. Return to Mykonos. Evening walk to Mykonos town and remember one night in Mykonos is not enough.

Day 10: Departure (B,_,_)
Morning transfer to Mykonos airport for your flight to Athens and then to your next destination