Luxury Tailor Made Journeys depart on the dates that work for you and feature expert local guides throughout your journey. The itinerary below can be customized to your interests.
ARRIVE ATHENS, GREECE
Arrive in Athens, where you are met by your Guardian Angel, transferred by private vehicle to your hotel and assisted with check-in.
ATHENS | EXPLORING THE ANCIENT ACROPOLIS
Accompanied by your private guide, start your day with a tour of the Acropolis — a complex of monuments that symbolize Athens, highlighted by the Parthenon. Conceived in 447 BC and dedicated to the Goddess Athena, it is one of the most important ancient monuments in the Western world. At the foot of the Acropolis Rock, visit the museum and, on its top floor, view the 2,500-year-old frieze created by the legendary sculptor Pheidias — an impressive sequence of carved stone reliefs depicting ancient rituals, sacrifices, athletic contests and musical performances — and then look out on to the majestic Parthenon itself. Enjoy the balance of the day at leisure.
ATHENS & CAPE SOUNION | CULINARY DELIGHTS & POSEIDON’S TEMPLE
Begin with a guided walking tour of the city to observe Athenians in their everyday lives and experience Greece’s rich and varied culinary tradition. Visit specialty food stores to sample olive oil, cheese, honey and other locally sourced delicacies, such as pastourma (cured meat). Stroll through local neighborhoods and visit pastry shops serving Greek sweets. Immerse yourself in the colors and smells of local spices and stop at Varvakios, a picturesque food market. This afternoon, drive to Cape Sounion, where you tour the ruined Temple of Poseidon, believed to date to the fifth century BC. Enjoy stunning vistas from the temple’s clifftop position and see where it has been marked with the carved signatures of many travellers over the centuries, including that of Lord Byron. Later, return to Athens.
CRETE | A MYTHIC ISLAND IN TIME
Fly to Crete, where are met by your guide and private vehicle. Depending on your arrival time, visit the Palace of Knossos, which belonged to King Minos and was the center of the Minoan civilization. Evidence has been unearthed of mosaic floors, the grand staircase and the throne complex. Time permitting, after sightseeing, you may opt to visit a local winery to enjoy a tasting of locally produced wines. Afterward, privately transfer to your hotel in eastern Crete.
CRETE | REMOTE VENETIAN FORTRESS
Rise early to join your guide on a drive to Plaka, where you board a local fishing ferry to the island of Spinalonga, to see the remains of the Venetian fortress built in 1579 to defend the city of Elounda. The island was also a leper colony from 1903 until 1957. Wander along the ruined streets of this former community, learn about the people who lived in isolation in this remote place and visit the burial ground. Upon your return to Crete, take a stroll through the picturesque streets of Plaka, filled with flowers, tavernas and shops selling handmade wares. Enjoy the remainder of your day at leisure.
CRETE | A DAY AT LEISURE
Enjoy a day in this Mediterranean paradise completely at your leisure, free to relax, enjoy the many amenities of your luxurious accommodations or explore on your own.
SANTORINI | JEWEL OF THE CYCLADES
Today, board a ferry to Santorini, part of the Cyclades island group and one of the most popular destinations in Greece, where you are met on arrival and privately transferred to your hotel. The rest of your day is at leisure.
SANTORINI | WHITE HOUSES & WINE TASTING
The essence of Santorini is not simply its stunning whitewashed houses and chapels offering uninterrupted views across the Aegean Sea; it also has an extraordinary ancient past. Together with your expert local guide, explore the impressive Akrotiri excavation site. After the sudden and successful evacuation of its inhabitants in the 17th century BC, the Minoan town of Akrotiri was buried by a widespread Theran eruption. Subsequently, Akrotiri’s buildings and their contents were naturally preserved under the thick layer of volcanic ash that covered the entire island. To some, this significant archaeological site is a fascinating Minoan center of commerce; to others, it’s a Greek version of Pompeii, but true romantics believe it to be the legendary lost city of Atlantis. Finish with a visit to one of the three best wineries on the island, which produces a truly unique white wine using the Assyrtiko grape, grown here in some of the oldest vineyards in the world.
SANTORINI | A DAY AT LEISURE
Enjoy a full day at leisure in this dreamy setting, relaxing and enjoying your hotel's many amenities and taking in unfettered views of the volcano caldera and the rich blue Aegean Sea.
MYKONOS | PICTURESQUE PARADISE
Board a ferry to the island of Mykonos, where you are met and privately transferred to your hotel. This evening, your local Guardian Angel reveals the charming town of Mykonos, pointing out the finest shops and nightlife hotspots.
DELOS | SACRED ISLAND
This morning, join your guide for a public cruise to the island of Delos. Now uninhabited, the sacred island features prominently in Greek mythology as the birthplace of Artemis and Apollo. Learn the captivating history of this UNESCO World Heritage Site as you tour the archaeological ruins of its former port.
MYKONOS | RELAXING ON THE AEGEAN
Enjoy the last full day of your personal Greek odyssey at leisure, perhaps indulging in your hotel's spa and other amenities or basking beside the vivid blue Aegean.
DEPART MYKONOS
After breakfast, transfer to the airport and board your departing flight.
Enhance Your Journey
Elevate your experience with a host of options available for an additional cost.
Dine High Above Athens
Enjoy an extraordinary culinary experience high above Athens as your unique table is hoisted and suspended from a crane. Savor a five-course, gourmet meal and spectacular views spanning the Acropolis, mountains and sea from your perch 165 feet above the ground.
Hike the Hills of Santorini
Begin your exploration at the summit of Mount Elias, visiting the Acropolis of ancient Thera. Then, descend the historic Spartan Trail to the ancient Dorian settlement of Mesa Vouno (Hidden Mountain) and the 1,000-year-old church of Episkopi, concluding your hike in the main square of Megalochori.
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