sell11 Day Classical Greece with Cruise to Turkey & the Greek Isles 2024

Overnight flight, and back in time to the origins of our Western culture - Classical Greece.

Arriving at Athens Airport, meet your host and transfer to your hotel for check-in. The remainder of your day is at leisure for your first taste of Athens.

Welcome dinner at your hotel and overnight in Athens.

After breakfast, depart for your Athens sightseeing tour including the Acropolis and the New Acropolis Museum. Our expert guide will take you to see the center of the city, the Constitution Square (Syntagma), the House of Parliament, the Memorial to the Unknown Soldier and the National library.

On your way to the Acropolis, you will see Hadrian’s Arch, the Temple of Olympian Zeus and have a short stop at the Panathenaic Stadium, where the first Modern Olympic Games were held in 1896. On the Acropolis visit the architectural masterpieces of the Golden Age of Athens: The Propylaea, the Temple of Athena Nike, the Erechtheion and finally the famous Parthenon.

Your first taste of Athens would not be complete without a visit to the Acropolis Museum, a modern home for the artistic wonders and architectural masterpieces of the classical era.

Returning to your hotel, the remainder of your day and evening is at leisure.

After breakfast, depart for your 4-day tour of Classical Greece. Leave Athens by the scenic coastal road and reach the Corinth Canal for a short photo stop.  

Enjoy the imposing landscape in the Corinth Canal’s protected waters, one of the 19th century world’s engineering masterpieces dating back to 602 B.C.

Continue to Epidaurus with its 4th century B.C. theatre, famous for its astonishing acoustics. Next, the town of Nafplion, a modern seaside resort and old town, is crowned by the mighty ramparts at the Palamidi Fortress.

The last stop of the day is Mycenae, Homer’s city of Atreides - the city "rich in gold" of the ancient poets. Visit the Lion's Gate, the Cyclopean Walls and the Royal Tombs. Depart for Olympia through Central Peloponnese, Tripoli and Megalopoli.

Arrival at your hotel for included dinner and overnight.

After breakfast we’ll visit ancient Olympia, where the idea, and the site of the Olympic Games, were born.

Visit the Sanctuary of Olympian Zeus and the Archaeological Museum of Olympia, which hosts the famous statue of Praxiteles, Hermes.

Continue through Achaia and Rio-Antirrio towards Delphi, passing through the picturesque towns of Nafpaktos and Itea. We arrive in Delphi to enjoy dinner and overnight at our hotel.

Located on the slopes of Mount Parnasus, Delphi was believed to be the center, the “naval” of the Earth!  It’s also the home of the Sanctuary of Apollo Pythios.

In ancient times Parnassus was sacred to the Dorians and in mythology to Apollo and the Corycian nymphs. At the oracle of Apollo, Pythia, the high priestess of the temple, under the influence of the ancient god Apollo delivered her famous prophesies.

You will also visit the Treasury of the Athenians and the Delphi Museum, which hosts valuable pieces of art like the famous bronze charioteer.

Depart for Kalambaka. Enjoy your dinner at hotel and overnight.

After breakfast, visit the breathtaking monasteries of Meteora. Perched on huge granite rocks, the monasteries seem to suspend between earth and sky, providing a magnificent view. Each monastery contains priceless historical and religious treasures.

Enjoy your lunch at a local restaurant in Kalambaka (not included), before returning to Athens bypassing Trikala, Lamia and Thermopylae where a stop will be made to visit the memorial of Leonidas and the brave 300 Spartans.

Return to Athens and overnight at our hotel.

Early this afternoon we board our ship and settle in our cabin. Mykonos invites you to admire its stunning coastline, soft sandy beaches, and rugged rocky landscape.

Affectionately known as the ‘Island of the Winds’, Mykonos is home to the 16th century windmills that have become iconic landmarks on postcards. The energetic Greek island is well known for its beauty, diverse range of bars, cafes and restaurants and a vibrant atmosphere.

Tonight, we depart Mykonos for Kusadasi, Turkey.  Enjoy dinner at sea.

This morning, we arrive in the stunning coastal town of Kusadasi where you’ll join your expert guide for an excursion to the iconic Hellenistic ruins of Ephesus, one of the ‘Seven Wonders of the World’.  (Save some time to browse the port-side Bazaar.)

This afternoon we depart for the volcanic Patmos which enjoys an enchanting lace-like coastline and dramatic sheer cliffs.  Fascinating shore excursions such as the Monastery of St. John are available for purchase.

Tonight we depart Patmos for Crete!

This morning we dock in Heraklion, Crete. You’ll travel to the very depths of European history and mythology when you visit the Palace of Knossos, just outside Heraklion, the capital of Crete.

This was not only the site of Minoan Crete’s grandest palace but also where the legendary King Minos is said to have built the labyrinth to contain the deadly Minotaur. That is until it was killed by the heroic Theseus who escaped back to Athens with King Minos’ daughter, Ariadne. 

Was the Minotaur half-man or myth? You’re about to find out!  We depart Heraklion for Santorini at Noon today.

Santorini is close – let’s sail there next! Thought by many to be the lost continent of Atlantis we’ll visit the charming Oia Village. On route admire the panoramic view of the Aegean Sea and neighboring islands. Built on the Caldera rim, Oia Village is an excellent example of Cycladic architecture.

We walk along the cobble-stone streets and the white-washed houses with blue shutters appearing as a beautiful travel poster. Our excursion ends in Fira where our guide will show us the way to the cable car back to the ship.

Enjoy a final dinner on board as we navigate toward Athens.

We arrive in Athens early this morning. Disembark and transfer to the airport for our return flight home.