Greek Island Hopping – Naxos and Small Cyclades
Naxos-Amorgos-Folegandros
Naxos, the biggest island of the Cyclades is an all-in-one destination! With a traditional Cycladic architecture Chora (capital of Naxos) with blooming bougainvilleas, long sandy beaches with turquoise waters and the famous Naxian cuisine based on local products (Naxos produces excellent meat and cheese) and offering delicius local recepies in family-run taverns, is the most representative “greek-summer” choise. Amorgos.. the island where the movie “The Big Blue” was shot on 1988 because of its incredible crystal blue waters and till today still a hidden gem of the Cyclades. Nostalgic atmoshere, rocky seashores, out of a travelbook sunrise and locals that they welcome you with a schnapp of toasted raki, the trademark drink of Amorgos. Folegandros! Easily in Folegandros you realised that people living in this island, obeying the basic rules of the human scale and the mildness of the natural environment, have managed to create a heritage of huge aesthetic value. Spend your time between swimming, hikking and getting away from it all.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Naxos island
- Amorgos island
- Folegandros island
TOUR DETAILS
- Tout Code: Naxos and Small Cyclades
- Duration: 8 days / 7 nights
- Operating: Daily from 20 April to 20 October
INCLUDED
- All transfers with luxury private car or minivan
- Hotels 3* or 4* on BB base, 3 nights in Naxos island, 2 nights in Amorgos island, 2 nights in Folegandros island
- Meet & Greet at the airport on the arrival for Welcome and sharing informations
- A lunch or dinner in Naxos to explore dishes with local goods!
NOT INCLUDED
- Flight tickets or Ferry tickets
- Accommodation taxes (1,5€ per room per day for 3*hotel / 3€ per day per room for 4* hotel)
*All packages are flexible and dynamic for any changes according to any personal needs and desires upon request.
Welcome to Greece, Naxos!!
1st day: Arrival to Athens a/p, welcome from our staff at the a/p, share informations and private car will transfer you to Piraeus port for your embarkation to Naxos island. On the arrival private transfer to hotel for check in and relaxation. Your accommodation in Chora – the capital of the island – is the best place to stay in Naxos. This is the most popular area in Naxos, with the coast line to begin just 2km south of Chora, the Castle of Naxos on top and the numerous of traditional taverns located in the pebbled labyrinth of Chora to remind you every minute how beautiful this island is.
2nd day: The whole day is free to explore Naxos. Only 2km south of Chora begin the coast line of Naxos. In this side located the best beaches of the island. First is Agios Georgios, continue down the road is Agios Prokopios and then Agia Anna, perhaps the most famous and popular beach in Naxos, full of seaside taverns and beach bars. Further down the coast is the long white sandy beach Plaka, one of the most beautiful in the island. They are also beaches for the adventure lovers, like Mikri Vigla, Alyko and Hawaii beach..all with an exotic finesse. In the afternoon you can walk through the cobbled alleys of Chora, to climb up to the Venetian castle or to enjoy scenic seaside walks in the main harbor of Naxos.
3rd day: Today you can visit some of the traditional villages of Naxos. In an island with 45 villages is difficult to choose which villages to visit, but when asking locals, they recommended Chalki and Apiranthos. So do us! Chalki – perhaps the most picturesque village. There you can visit Vallindras Distillery, where the local liquer Kitron, was once produced and today operates as a visiting hall and Apiranthos, the biggest mountain village with the five museums (geological,archaeological,folklore,natural history and visual arts). OPTIONAL you can join a hiking tour (about 4hrs). Naxos is famous for her remarkable hiking routes which pass through traditional mountainous villages. Today you will enjoy a dinner, an indrodution to greek cuisine through the naxian menu with locally grown ingredients.
4th day: After breakfast transfer to port, for your embarkation to Amorgos Island. Above the main port of Amorgos, Katapola -a traditional fishing village- located the archaeological site of the Minoan ancient city. This was the summer residence of Cretan king Minos. An ancient site with magnificent view over the bay. You can visit it on the arrival if you want and then you will be transfered to hotel. Rest of the day is free to explore this alternative travel experience. Chora of Amorgos, the main town of the island, with its bohemian character and the pure cycladic architecture, ispires you to getting know it on foot. Walk around the small picturesque alleys, mingle with the locals at the central square of Loza, drink in one of the traditional cafe (called Kafeneio in greek) your greek coffee or the psimeni raki (local liquor) and enjoy the musik of the greek traditional instruments, which occur spontanius in these greek local places. Also from Chora’s main square you can reach the Venetian castle, built in the 13th century. During your walk in Chora you can visit the archaeological museum (free of charge), where you will see ancient objects from the Minoan civilization, found on the island. Finally, walk East of the Chora you will meet the ancient windmills.
5th day: Amorgos is not a big island, and you can take a rich taste of it today! About 5 minutes away from Chora, located the unique Monastery of Panagia Hozoniotissa. It is the island’s most iconic landmark. It was built in the 11th century, dedicated to the Virgin Mary and is the 2nd oldest Monastery in Greece. It is built on cliffsides, 300meters above the sea thatswhy you need to climb the 300 steps stairway to reach it. But it’s worth it more than anything else! After visiting the Monastery, walk down to Agia Anna cove. One of the most beautiful chapels in Greece, a characteristic white and blue-out of a travelbook- chapel, located there. The beach of Agia Anna, is just down from the Monastery. This is the famous beach fot the scenes in the movie “The Big Blue”. Other beaches that you can choose is Agios Pavlos, a white sand beach with turquoise waters, partially organized with nice restaurants, Aigiali, the longest beach of Amorgos with emerald waters, beach bars, taverns and sunbeds and Fokiotripa, one of the most beautiful beaches of Amorgos, an ideal spot for tranquillity.
6th day: After breakfast check out and private transfer to port to catch the ferry to Folegandros island. Arrival and private transfer to hotel. Rest of the day is free to relax and to explore. Folegandros, a small island in the Aegean sea, is a destintion that you will never forget, not only for the obvious cycladic beauty but also for the feeling of safety that you are long long away from the stress of modern civilization. On the arrival at Karavostasis port, you get a hint of the beauty to be found at the Chora of the island (the capital). Karavostasis port is a small village with an amazing beach and lots of food choices to tast the local specialite Matsata, handmade pasta with rooster or rabbit.
7th day: Although its small size and its obvious beauty, there are a lot’s of hidden beauties to discover on Folegandros. In Kastro area (part of the main town of Folegandros) the architectural way that the old white houses -nearly a century ago- with the colored blue-emerald windows and doors are built wall-to-wall, is very impressive. The settlement of Ano Meria, located 5km northwest of Chora, is a worth-seeing rural area, famous for it’s agricultural traditional farm houses, which in the past were actually complexes of homes, cellars and cisterns, giving the islanders the opportunity to live independently. Also enjoy the unique experience to swim in crystal emerald waters in one of the accessible beaches like Hohlidia and Vardia, most of them based in the wides Karavostasis area or OPTIONAL join a boat trip to Katergo beach, the most beautiful beach on the island.
8th day: Morning transfer to port for embarkation to ferry boat to Piraeus / Athens. Private transfer to Athens airport for your home flight. End of the tour.
