Twelve days across Greece, from the ancient monuments of Athens to the island villages of Naxos and the caldera views of Santorini, ending at the sanctuary of Delphi.
Begin in Athens with Syntagma Square, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the marble Panathenaic Stadium, then spend a morning on the Acropolis with a licensed guide before the Acropolis Museum and the Ancient Agora.
Sail to Naxos for three nights of Venetian lanes, sunset at the Temple of Apollo, a tasting at Saint Anna Winery, a food tour of the old town and a full day in the mountain villages. Continue to Santorini for the Bronze Age town of Akrotiri, the hilltop village of Pyrgos, sunset at Oia and a catamaran cruise with dinner on board.
Return to Athens for a final day at Delphi, which the ancient Greeks considered the center of the world, followed by a farewell dinner.
Athens, Greece
(international flights are not included, see International Flights below)
Athens International Airport (ATH) on Day 2, where Nord Skies staff meet you
info@nordskies.com
Begin with your overnight flight to Athens, Greece. International flights are not included in the tour price, and Nord Skies is happy to help you book yours free of charge.
Arrive in Athens, where Nord Skies staff meet you at the airport and transfer you to the hotel to settle in and refresh. We then head out for lunch in the Plaka, the old neighborhood of flower-lined lanes beneath the Acropolis.
In the afternoon we walk to Syntagma Square and the neoclassical Hellenic Parliament, where the Evzones stand guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. We pass the National Library on the way to the Panathenaic Stadium, the marble arena that hosted the first modern Olympic Games in 1896.
We start early to beat the summer heat and climb the Acropolis with a licensed guide. The Parthenon has stood on this hill for nearly 2,500 years, and the views across the city are worth every step. Our guide then leads us through the Acropolis Museum, home to the original sculptures from the hill, displayed above the excavated remains of an ancient neighborhood.
In the afternoon we explore the Ancient Agora, the marketplace and civic heart of classical Athens, where Socrates once taught. Its Temple of Hephaestus is among the best preserved temples in Greece.
This morning we transfer to the port of Piraeus and board a high-speed ferry to Naxos, the largest of the Cyclades. After checking in and lunch there is time to relax by the sea.
Late in the afternoon we walk up through the lanes of Chora to the Venetian Castle, built by Marco Sanudo in the 13th century. We finish at the Temple of Apollo, whose great marble doorway, the Portara, is made of four blocks weighing about 20 tons each and frames one of the finest sunsets in the Aegean.
After breakfast we drive inland to the green village of Kato Potamia and the traditional stone Saint Anna Winery for a tour and a tasting of wines made from local grapes.
Later we set out on a food tour of Naxos Town, tasting island cheeses such as graviera, traditional sweets and kitron, the citrus liqueur distilled on Naxos for generations.
Today we head into the mountains on a full-day tour of the island. Our first stop is Halki, once the capital of Naxos, with its Venetian tower houses and Byzantine churches.
We continue to Filoti on the slopes of Mount Zas, the highest peak in the Cyclades, and on to Apiranthos, the village of marble-paved lanes and small museums. We return to Chora in the late afternoon with the evening free.
We take the ferry from Naxos to Santorini, the island famous for its whitewashed villages and volcanic caldera. After checking in there is time to enjoy the beach.
In the afternoon we visit Akrotiri with a licensed guide. This Bronze Age town was buried by a volcanic eruption more than 3,500 years ago and preserved beneath the ash, and is often called the Pompeii of the Aegean. In the evening we sit down together for a traditional Greek dinner.
Enjoy a relaxed morning at the beach before we explore the Santorini countryside in the late afternoon. We begin at Mesa Gonia, home to Byzantine churches, and continue to Pyrgos, the hilltop village that served as the island’s capital until the early 19th century, with panoramic views and medieval lanes.
We end the day in Oia, watching the sun go down over the caldera from beside the old Kastro walls.
The morning is yours to swim, relax or browse the island’s shops. After lunch we board a catamaran for a cruise around Santorini, stopping to swim and snorkel in clear coves along the way.
Dinner is served on board as we sail back, timed for one last Santorini sunset over the water.
This morning we check out and head to the port for the ferry back to Piraeus, a scenic crossing past the islands of the Cyclades.
We arrive in Athens in the late afternoon, settle into the hotel and gather for dinner.
After an early breakfast we drive to Delphi, one of the most important archaeological sites in Greece. The ancient Greeks considered it the center of the world, and pilgrims came from across the Mediterranean to consult the oracle at the Temple of Apollo. We explore the sanctuary with its theater and hillside stadium, then visit the museum that holds the famous bronze Charioteer.
On the way back we stop in Arachova, a mountain village known for its handwoven textiles and local cheese. In the evening we gather for our farewell dinner.
Transfer to Athens airport for your flight home.
Payment can be made in full or following the payment schedule below:
International flights are not included in the tour price. The tour begins and ends in Athens, so you are free to fly from your nearest airport, use your airline miles or extend your stay.
If you need assistance with booking your international round trip, Nord Skies will extend this service free of charge. Email info@nordskies.com with your preferred departure airport and we will find the best options for you.
