The Greek Islands: Crete & Santorini

Board your overnight flight to Athens today.

Welcome to Greece! Meet your Tour Director at the airport and transfer with them to your hotel, where you’ll get to know your fellow travelers over a welcome dinner served with your choice of beer or wine.

Meet up with a local guide for an introduction to Greece’s bustling capital, home to the world’s first democracy and over 3,400 years of recorded history.

• Pass by three points of interest: the Panathenaic Stadium, Syntagma Square, and the Arch of Hadrian. Now home to various local soccer teams, the Panathenaic Stadium, built entirely out of marble—the only such stadium in the world. Syntagma Square memorializes the signing of the first Greek constitution in 1844, following an armed rebellion against the rule of King Otto. Carved from marble and standing since the second century, the Arch of Hadrian is an iconic landmark of modern-day Athens.
• View the ruins of the Temple of Olympian Zeus. Built less than a kilometer from the Acropolis, this structure dates back to the sixth century B.C. and, when intact, was the largest temple in Ancient Greece.
• See the classically inspired Old Royal Palace, home of the Hellenic Parliament, and drive through Plaka—the historic “neighborhood of the gods” built in the shadow of the Acropolis.
• Set off on a walking tour around the Acropolis of Athens, a millennia-old, UNESCO-listed citadel and the enduring image of Greece. First properly developed by the renowned politician Pericles, it now contains the ruins of the Parthenon, Temple of Athena Nike, Erechtheion, and dozens of other archaeological sites.

Enjoy a free afternoon in Athens or add an excursion.

Fly to Chania, a coastal city on Crete’s northwestern shore that has passed between Greek, Venetian, and Ottoman hands through the centuries. After settling into your hotel, join your group in the evening for an included dinner, served with your choice of beer or wine.

This morning, join a local guide on a walking tour of Chania’s Old Town, a historic quarter especially tinged by its Venetian heritage.

• Step inside Trimartiri—a Greek Orthodox cathedral dedicated to the Virgin Mary—before visiting Etz Hayyim. The only synagogue on the island, this still-active place of worship is a symbol of the city’s age-old Jewish community.
• Walk along the Old Venetian Port of Chania, a harbor that’s served the city since the mid-1300s. Catch a glimpse of its famous Egyptian lighthouse, and pass by the Yiali Tzami—a former Ottoman mosque, instantly recognizable by its main dome, that nowadays houses art exhibitions.

Please note: Etz Hayyim closes on Saturdays and Sundays

Enjoy a free afternoon in Chania or add an excursion.

Board your bus and cruise past Crete’s olive-covered landscapes en route to Heraklion—an ancient port town that was once the hub of the Minoans, Europe’s first civilization. Disembark and enjoy an included lunch before setting off on a guided tour.

• Visit the ruins of the Bronze Age palace of Knossos. Part administrative center, part place of worship, it held a special place at the heart of Minoan culture (and was where, according to the myth, King Minos imprisoned the Minotaur in the heart of a labyrinth).
• See the Heraklion Archaeological Museum, home of the world’s preeminent collection of Minoan art and many artifacts taken from the excavation of Knossos and other dig sites around Crete.

Board a ferry and chart a course across the Aegean Sea to Santorini, the crown jewel of the Cyclades islands. Built up by lava flows over thousands of years and irrevocably changed by a devastating eruption in 1,600 B.C., its rock-laden terrain and flooded caldera are a definitive example of the stark beauty of volcanic landscapes.

Upon arrival, enjoy free time to explore its cliffside villages, roam its rugged hills, or simply soak in its charming culture before settling into your accommodations.

Take in the sights of Santorini—a volcanic isle known for its black-sand beaches, cliff-lined shores, and stunning whitewashed architecture—on a guided tour.

• Visit the prehistoric settlements that were unearthed during the archaeological excavations at Akrotiri.
• Ride to the top of Mount Profitis Ilias for panoramic views of the whole island.
• Stop in small, picturesque Pyrgos, a well-preserved medieval village that’s situated on the island’s highest point and is latticed with steep, cobblestone alleys.

Spend a free afternoon in Santorini or add an excursion.

Fly back to Athens, then celebrate your trip with your fellow group members over a farewell dinner, served with your choice of beer or wine.

Transfer to the airport for your flight home, or extend your stay a little longer. Mystical Delphi, legendary Marathon, the relaxing Athenian Riviera: You’d be in for three days well spent.