Day 1: Monday 8 October: Athens 

Upon your arrival in the mythical city of Athens, you will be greeted with a seamless transfer to your hotel in one of our vehicles, where your professional and friendly English-speaking driver will ensure your comfort and convenience throughout the journey.

Later in the afternoon, at an agreed time, our representative will meet you at the hotel to provide all the essential details of your trip. They will also offer a captivating presentation of the city, sharing insights into its way of life.

This is an excellent opportunity for you to ask any questions and have any doubts dispelled, ensuring a smooth and enjoyable experience throughout the rest of your trip.

You will have the remainder of the day free to relax and explore Athens at your own pace, taking into the sights, sounds, and flavors of this remarkable city.

In the evening, you will join our walking tour, where you will see Athens from a different perspective and have the chance to familiarize yourself with the most charming neighborhoods, such as Anafiotika, Thiseio, Monastiraki, and Plaka.

Day 2: Tuesday 9 October : Athens city tour 

Built in the Attica Basin, Athens, the modern capital and largest city of Greece, lies between Mount Parnitha, Penteliko, Hymettus and the Saronic Gulf. The importance of its geographical position and its mild climate were the main reasons that the first inhabitants chose to settle here. The citizens of Athens, together with their rich history, produced a brilliant civilization and thus made an incomparable contribution to mankind.

Your day begins at 08:15 hrs., with a panoramic tour of the main monuments of Athens. Among the monuments and places of interest, you will have the chance to visit the famous Syntagma or Constitution Square, National Gardens, the Presidential Residence, Hadrian's Arch, the Greek Parliament, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, where the Evzone soldiers change guard in honor of those fallen in battle, and last but not least, the University, Academy and National Library, or simply the Trilogy of Athens, which have all been recently restored.

There will be two stops during our tour: the first one at the old Panathenaic Stadium, or as the Greeks call it, Kalimarmaro (good marble). This is the place where the first modern Olympic Games were held in 1896, but also the site of another major event in antiquity, known as the Panathenaic Games, in honor of Athena the patron of the city. You will visit the Temple of Olympian Zeus, which was completed by the Emperor Hadrian many centuries later, showing his passion for the Greek culture. The "main course" of the day is your visit to the "sacred rock", the famous Acropolis and symbol of Athens. Once there, you will appreciate some of the most well-known Monuments of Classical Greece, such as the Parthenon, Erechtheion, the Temple of Athena Nike and the Propylaea.

Finally, you will visit the Acropolis Museum, the most important museum of the city and one of the five most celebrated museums in the world, because of its cultural, sculptural and archeological heritage.

Greca Tip: Wander in the tight, twisting alleys of Plaka with its 19th-century facades garlanded with flowering bougainvilleas and enjoy your meal or a drink in one of the fine restaurants and bars.

Day 3: Wednesday 10 October : Cape Sounion and temple of Poseidon

Cape Sounion is at the very end of the Attica peninsula. Athenians used to worship the gods Poseidon and Athena there.

Sounion was a good place to watch ships because it was in a good spot.

During the 65-kilometer drive to Cape Sounion, you will see the pretty Athenian shoreline.

When you get to Cape Sounion and the Temple of Poseidon, our guide will tell you about the interesting history and stories of this place.

After visiting the Temple of Poseidon, you will have some free time to enjoy the beautiful Cape before going back to Athens. You'll have great memories from this trip.

Greca Tip: Remember to see the beautiful sunset near the Temple of Poseidon. It will be a peaceful experience for your soul.

Day 4: Thursday 11 October : Athens to Delphi

Early in the morning, you will head towards Delphi via Thebes, Levadia, and the picturesque village of Arachova, on the slopes of Mount Parnassus.

Delphi was formerly called Pytho, due to the ancient sanctuary that grew rich as the seat of Pythia, the oracle who was consulted about important decisions throughout the ancient classical world. The ancient Greeks considered the center of the world to be in Delphi, marked by the stone monument known as the omphalos (navel).

Once in Delphi, you will visit the Sanctuary of Apollo Pythios, the Treasury of the Athenians, the Temple of Apollo among other monuments, and the Museum of Delphi.

The afternoon is free for you to relax and enjoy your dinner tasting traditional Greek dishes and stay overnight at Delphi.

Greca Tip: Remember to wear comfortable shoes and clothes.

Day 5: Friday 12 October : Delphi to Kalambaka

After your hearty breakfast, you will have the morning free to relax.

In the afternoon, at the agreed time, we will leave Delphi for an interesting trip through Central Greece and the town of Lamia to Kalambaka.

Kalambaka, the closest town to Meteora, was burned to the ground by the Nazis in WWII, nowadays, however, it is almost entirely of recent construction. While not especially attractive in itself, it does occupy a stunning location immediately in front of some gigantic rock formations. 

After enjoying dinner, we will stay overnight in Kalambaka.

Greca Tip: Take a stroll in Kalambaka's old town and look for handmade wood-carved objects and religious icons as well as home-made sausages, honey, fruit sweets and jams, and the regional “spatoula” (pudding) or “halva” for a sweet aftertaste

Day 6: Saturday 13 October : Meteora to Athens

Today, early in the morning, after your delicious breakfast you will visit Meteora, also recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site since 1988.

In this mysterious landscape, the natural beauty is combined with the compelling presence of the eternal monasteries suspended or "Meteora" on top of the huge rocks. Currently, there remain only six in use, five for the male and one for the female monastic community.

On the way back to Athens, you will pass by Thermopylae, where you can see the statue of the Spartan King Leonidas I, famous for leading the battle against the Persians in 480 BC.

Arrival in Athens in the afternoon and drop off at your hotel.

Greca Trip: Take care of the dress code in the monasteries. Sleeveless clothing and shorts over the knee for men are prohibited. For ladies skirts and shawls are available at the entrance in case they don’t have such clothing to cover themselves.

Day 7: Sunday 14 October : Athens - Cruise to Mykonos 

Boarding begins at 9:30 AM, and the departure time is 12:00 PM towards the island of Mykonos.

This is the ideal time to enjoy the sun on the deck, marvel at the deep blue of the Aegean, or join one of the activities and services offered on board.

On this cruise, Greca Travel includes a full-board meal plan, as well as limited alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks during meals, so you can concentrate on having a great time!

Mykonos is a meeting point of the international "jet set", known for its wonderful beaches, exclusive shops, and unbeatable nightlife. Its historic center attracts the attention of travelers for its whitewashed houses, and its narrow and labyrinthine streets invite us to get lost in their corners.

Before leaving for Santorini, you will have free time to enjoy the island's vibrant nightlife, from 19:00 PM to 02:00 AM.

Greca Tip: On step 1/3 of booking, you can add optional shore excursions organized by the same cruise company, and make the best out of every stop!

Day 8: Monday 15 October : Mykonos to Santorini

After a quiet navigation, at around 09:00 AM you will arrive at the wonderful island of Santorini, regarded by many as the lost continent of Atlantis.

Approaching the island is a fascinating experience and a fantastic opportunity to capture with your camera the beauty of Oia, with its white houses perched on the cliff overlooking the volcano.

Santorini presents the perfect combination of archeological sites, black sand beaches, an active volcano, and magnificent sunsets; all of these form a part of its romantic and picturesque identity. Whenever someone thinks of the Greek islands, Santorini is bound to come up right on top!

You will have enough free time to immerse yourself in the magical atmosphere of the island! You can visit the caldera and the two small islands of Nea and Palea Kameni, with their hot springs of green and yellow waters, or simply venture out on land.

At around 17:00 hours, you will set sail again to continue your sea journey.

Greca Tip: Explore the winding and narrow streets of Fira, taste its local wines, and savor the excellent local cuisine.

Day 9: Tuesday 16 October : Rhodes

After a peaceful night's navigation, you will wake up on the famous island of Rhodes, where the seventh wonder of the ancient world once stood: "the Colossus of Rhodes".

From 09:00 AM to 17:00 PM, you will have the whole day free to discover the medieval city of Rhodes (declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO). 

During your stay, you should not miss out on the opportunity to visit the Acropolis of Lindos, founded by the Dorians and led by King Tlepólemo as well as the oldest settlement on the island that is located on Filérimos Hill, just outside the capital or Rhodes. 

There you will also visit the old monastery, known for housing the icon of the Virgin of Filerimos and attributed to St. Luke the Evangelist, and enjoy the panoramic views of the Aegean stretching out to the Asia Minor coast.

Throughout your time in Rhodes, you will enjoy the great natural beauty of the largest island in the Dodecanese island complex.

Greca Tip: You can also visit the Valley of the Butterflies, a habitat of unique value and incomparable beauty with lush vegetation and streams along cleverly laid paths. 

Day 10: Wednesday 17 October : Cruise to Kusadasi and Patmos

At 06:00 hrs, after a peaceful and comfortable night's cruising, you will awaken on the Turkish coast and at the port of Kusadasi.

From this point, you can explore at your own pace the ancient city of Ephesus once visited by Saint Paul, Mark Antony, and Cleopatra, among others. Ephesus was one of the twelve Ionian cities and flourished as an important cultural, religious, and commercial center.

At noon, the cruise will leave port and sail, this time towards the island of Patmos, where Saint John wrote the Apocalypse and where Jesus Christ appeared to him in the Grotto of the Apocalypse or Book of Revelation.

From 16:00 hrs to 20:00 hrs, you will have free time to visit the Holy Cave of the Apocalypse, the Monastery of Saint John the Theologian and to stroll in the port of this small but so important island.

Tip Greca: You can buy a souvenir from the quaint little shops at the port of Skala and Xerotigana, a deep-fried kind of pastry with abundant use of honey and cinnamon.

Day 11: Thursday 18 October : Return to Athens 

At 7:00 AM, and after gentle navigation, while you enjoy the comfort and services that the cruise offers, you will arrive at the port of Piraeus.

After breakfast, one of our representatives will drive you to Athens International Airport.

Having spent a few fantastic days with Greca, we hope to see you again soon to create new and extraordinary moments that will be lovingly etched in your memory!

Have a nice trip! Or, as Greeks say, "Kaló taksídi!"

Greca Tip: You may extend your stay by adding extra nights during step 1 of 3 of your reservation.

Day 12: Athens

At the appointed time, one of our drivers will transfer you to Athens International Airport, where you will check in your luggage and benefit from the tax return resulting from your last-minute tax-free shopping for family and friends.

Having spent a few fantastic days with Greca, we hope to see you again soon to create together new and extraordinary moments that will be lovingly etched in your memory.

Have a nice trip! Or, as the Greeks say: "Kalo taksidi!".

Greca Tip: As a going-away gift you can choose from a wide range of brightly colored flokati rugs, handmade sandals, embroidered covers, and Greek honey or olive oil.