Greek Escape plus 4

The iconic Greek Islands are yours to discover on a guided cruise and tour of Greece. You’ve dreamed of the sparkling blue waters of the Aegean Sea and strolling among whitewashed buildings above pristine beaches. Now you can have both with a guided tour of Greece and a Greek Islands cruise. History comes alive on your guided visits to many of Greece's ancient sites. In addition to the Acropolis and Olympia, you'll also visit the ruins in Mycenae, dating from 1,350 to 1,200 BC and described in Homer’s epic poem, “The Iliad.” Also see the amazingly well-preserved, 2,300-year-old open-air theater in Epidaurus. In ancient Greece, people traveled to Delphi to seek the wisdom of the Oracle. Learn about the Oracle, tour the excavations, and visit the Archaeological Museum. To add to your Greek experience, enjoy a cooking demonstration where you learn to make traditional tzatziki; take a sirtaki dance lesson, and try a glass of Ouzo. Plus, you'll be accompanied by an expert Tour Director who will bring this country to life by sharing its history, stories, and insider secrets.

Take your escorted Greek vacation adventure further! Cruise the Greek Islands for four nights to experience the world-renowned Aegean Sea portion of the Mediterranean. Sail from Athens aboard a Celestyal Cruise ship to the legendary island of Mykonos. Wander amid its iconic windmills and white houses. Next, you’ll sail towards the shores of Turkey to visit Kusadasi and the ancient excavations of Ephesus. Discover the tiny Greek island of Patmos, before arriving at the island of Rhodes, where you’ll see the clifftop acropolis of Lindos and Athena’s Temple. Next, sail to Crete and dock at Heraklion to. You’ll also sail, weather permitting, to the panoramic and volcanic island of Santorini—“The Black Pearl of the Aegean.” Relax while basking in the beauty of the sea as you return to Athens. From the picturesque fishing villages to ancient historic sights and sailing the Aegean Sea, this guided tour of Greece has it all—including four spectacular nights on a Greek Island cruise.

Click for larger view.

Dates & PricesGet a Quote

SIMILAR VACATIONS

January & March 2020 Travel

MEALS

ITINERARY

Day 1

Welcome to Athens! At 6 pm, meet your traveling companions for a welcome drink with your Tour Director

Day 2

Sightseeing with a Local Guide features a visit to the world-famous Acropolis, perched high on a rocky outcrop overlooking the city. Here, see the Parthenon, the Erechtheum with its Porch of Maidens, the Temple of Athena Nike.. Enjoy a panoramic view that includes glimpses of the Temple of Olympian Zeus, Theater of Dionysus, and the beautifully preserved Theseum, where Socrates taught. Later, a city orientation tour features the Parliament House and a picture stop at the Panathenaic Stadium. Built in the 2nd century AD, it is the only stadium in the world built entirely of marble, and was host to the opening and closing ceremonies of the first modern Olympics in 1896. The rest of the day is at leisure. Tonight is your chance to join an optional dinner outing to try the local fare
Breakfast

Day 3

Cross the spectacular Corinth Canal. Two highlights today: Mycenae, where 19th-century excavations reveal impressions of the splendors so vividly described by Homer. Admire the Beehive Tombs, known as the Treasury of Atreus; Lion Gate, Europe’s oldest known monument; the remains of Agamemnon’s Royal Palace, and the impressive fortifications of the Citadel. Also visit the museum. Then, a short drive to Epidaurus for a tour of its amazingly well-preserved 2,300-year-old open-air theater. Overnight in nearby Nauplia. Today’s Distance: 132 mi / 212 km
Breakfast Dinner

Day 4

Spectacular scenery on the way through the Arkadian Mountains. Then, spend the afternoon in Olympia, where the athletes of antiquity competed in honor of the King of Deities. Learn about the history of those original Olympic Games as you walk among the impressive remains of the Gymnasium and the Temples of Hera and Zeus. Also visit the museum that displays Praxiteles’ magnificent statue of Hermes. Tonight, enjoy [LF] a cooking demonstration and learn how to make the traditional Greek tzatziki appetizer. Today’s Distance: 112 mi / 181 km
Breakfast Dinner

Day 5

Proceed to mystic Delphi. The afternoon is devoted to a fascinating tour of the ancient sanctuary of the god Apollo in its dramatic setting on the slopes of Mount Parnassus. Hear about the Oracle and tour the excavations. End the day with a visit to the Archaeological Museum to admire the Charioteer, an extraordinary 5th-century-BC bronze statue. A highlight this evening is [LF] a dance lesson, where you’ll learn how to dance the sirtaki, made famous in the movie Zorba the Greek, accompanied by a glass of the traditional Ouzo. Today’s Distance: 149 mi / 239 km
Breakfast Dinner

Day 6

Leave fascinating Delphi behind this morning and head back to Athens stopping en-route at the pretty town of Arachova located on the slopes of Mount Parnassus. Enjoy panoramic views and stroll around the town and admire the picturesque architecture before arriving in Athens with time to do some exploring on your own and tonight, enjoy an optional dinner at a local restaurant. Today’s Distance: 118 mi / 190 km
Breakfast

Day 7

This morning, head for Piraeus, where you will sail into the deep-blue waters of the Aegean Sea. Later dock at the mountainous island of Mykonos with its characteristic windmills and dazzling white houses
BreakfastLunch Dinner

Day 8

Two ports of call today: First, Kusadasi on the Turkish coast. Visit the fascinating Greek, Roman, and Byzantine excavations of Ephesus. Next, stop at the tiny Greek island of Patmos, where St. John the Divine wrote the Revelation, and see the Grotto of Apocalypse
BreakfastLunch Dinner

Day 9

Today is dedicated to the island of Rhodes. Explore the sights in the historic Old Town with its ramparts and palaces built by the Knights of St. John during the Crusades. Next is Lindos with the fabulous Temple of Athens. Sail from Rhodes around dinnertime
BreakfastLunch Dinner

Day 10

First port of call today is Heraklion on Crete. An optional excursion to Knossos, the center of the 3000-BC Minoan civilization is available. Afternoon call (weather permitting) at Santorini, the “Black Pearl of the Aegean”. The optional shore excursion takes you up to the clifftop village of Oia for one of the world’s most glorious panoramic views
BreakfastLunch Dinner

Day 11

After breakfast on board, disembark at Piraeus and return to Athens
Breakfast

Day 12

Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning
Breakfast

Day 13

ATHENS, GREECE

Day 14

ATHENS

Day 15

ATHENS–CORINTH CANAL–MYCENAE–EPIDAURUS–NAUPLIA

Day 16

NAUPLIA–OLYMPIA

Day 17

OLYMPIA–DELPHI

Day 18

DELPHI–ARACHOVA–ATHENS

Day 19

ATHENS–PIRAEUS (EMBARKATION)–MYKONOS

Day 20

CRUISING: KUSADASI, TURKEY–PATMOS, GREECE

Day 21

CRUISING: RHODES

Day 22

CRUISING: HERAKLION, CRETE–SANTORINI, GREECE

Day 23

PIRAEUS (DISEMBARKATION)–ATHENS

Day 24

ATHENS

Day 25

Breakfast

Day 26

BreakfastDinner

Day 27

BreakfastDinner

Day 28

BreakfastDinner

Day 29

Breakfast

Day 30

BreakfastLunchDinner

Day 31

BreakfastLunchDinner

Day 32

BreakfastLunchDinner

Day 33

BreakfastLunchDinner

Day 34

Breakfast

Day 35

Breakfast

Day 36 ATHENS, GREECE.

Welcome to Athens! At 6 pm, meet your traveling companions for a welcome drink with your Tour Director

Day 37 ATHENS.

Sightseeing with a Local Guide features a visit to the world-famous Acropolis, perched high on a rocky outcrop overlooking the city. Here, see the Parthenon, the Erechtheum with its Porch of Maidens, the Temple of Athena Nike.. Enjoy a panoramic view that includes glimpses of the Temple of Olympian Zeus, Theater of Dionysus, and the beautifully preserved Theseum, where Socrates taught. Later, a city orientation tour features the Parliament House and a picture stop at the Panathenaic Stadium. Built in the 2nd century AD, it is the only stadium in the world built entirely of marble, and was host to the opening and closing ceremonies of the first modern Olympics in 1896. The rest of the day is at leisure. Tonight is your chance to join an optional dinner outing to try the local fare
Breakfast

Day 38 ATHENS–CORINTH CANAL–MYCENAE–EPIDAURUS–NAUPLIA.

Cross the spectacular Corinth Canal. Two highlights today: Mycenae, where 19th-century excavations reveal impressions of the splendors so vividly described by Homer. Admire the Beehive Tombs, known as the Treasury of Atreus; Lion Gate, Europe’s oldest known monument; the remains of Agamemnon’s Royal Palace, and the impressive fortifications of the Citadel. Also visit the museum. Then, a short drive to Epidaurus for a tour of its amazingly well-preserved 2,300-year-old open-air theater. Overnight in nearby Nauplia. Today’s Distance: 132 mi / 212 km
Breakfast Dinner

Day 39 NAUPLIA–OLYMPIA.

Spectacular scenery on the way through the Arkadian Mountains. Then, spend the afternoon in Olympia, where the athletes of antiquity competed in honor of the King of Deities. Learn about the history of those original Olympic Games as you walk among the impressive remains of the Gymnasium and the Temples of Hera and Zeus. Also visit the museum that displays Praxiteles’ magnificent statue of Hermes. Tonight, enjoy [LF] a cooking demonstration and learn how to make the traditional Greek tzatziki appetizer. Today’s Distance: 112 mi / 181 km
Breakfast Dinner

Day 40 OLYMPIA–DELPHI.

Proceed to mystic Delphi. The afternoon is devoted to a fascinating tour of the ancient sanctuary of the god Apollo in its dramatic setting on the slopes of Mount Parnassus. Hear about the Oracle and tour the excavations. End the day with a visit to the Archaeological Museum to admire the Charioteer, an extraordinary 5th-century-BC bronze statue. A highlight this evening is [LF] a dance lesson, where you’ll learn how to dance the sirtaki, made famous in the movie Zorba the Greek, accompanied by a glass of the traditional Ouzo. Today’s Distance: 149 mi / 239 km
Breakfast Dinner

Day 41 DELPHI–ARACHOVA–ATHENS.

Leave fascinating Delphi behind this morning and head back to Athens stopping en-route at the pretty town of Arachova located on the slopes of Mount Parnassus. Enjoy panoramic views and stroll around the town and admire the picturesque architecture before arriving in Athens with time to do some exploring on your own and tonight, enjoy an optional dinner at a local restaurant. Today’s Distance: 118 mi / 190 km
Breakfast

Day 42 ATHENS–PIRAEUS (EMBARKATION)–MYKONOS.

This morning, head for Piraeus, where you will sail into the deep-blue waters of the Aegean Sea. Later dock at the mountainous island of Mykonos with its characteristic windmills and dazzling white houses
BreakfastLunch Dinner

Day 43 CRUISING: KUSADASI, TURKEY–PATMOS, GREECE.

Two ports of call today: First, Kusadasi on the Turkish coast. Visit the fascinating Greek, Roman, and Byzantine excavations of Ephesus. Next, stop at the tiny Greek island of Patmos, where St. John the Divine wrote the Revelation, and see the Grotto of Apocalypse
BreakfastLunch Dinner

Day 44 CRUISING: RHODES.

Today is dedicated to the island of Rhodes. Explore the sights in the historic Old Town with its ramparts and palaces built by the Knights of St. John during the Crusades. Next is Lindos with the fabulous Temple of Athens. Sail from Rhodes around dinnertime
BreakfastLunch Dinner

Day 45 CRUISING: HERAKLION, CRETE–SANTORINI, GREECE.

First port of call today is Heraklion on Crete. An optional excursion to Knossos, the center of the 3000-BC Minoan civilization is available. Afternoon call (weather permitting) at Santorini, the “Black Pearl of the Aegean”. The optional shore excursion takes you up to the clifftop village of Oia for one of the world’s most glorious panoramic views
BreakfastLunch Dinner

Day 46 PIRAEUS (DISEMBARKATION)–ATHENS.

After breakfast on board, disembark at Piraeus and return to Athens
Breakfast

Day 47 ATHENS.

Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.

Accommodations