Gems of Greece: Islands & Legends

Welcome to Greece! Meet in the lobby around 7:00pm for an informal meeting with your guide and other tour members. Afterwards, join us for an optional group dinner to get to know your new travel mates.

Let’s start our tour in Greece’s capital, Athens, which is one of the world’s oldest cities with history spanning back over 3000 years and is considered the birthplace of Western Civilization. Take a step back in time and explore an amazing array of historical and cultural sites in our city tour including: the National Library, the Academy, Constitutional Square and Parliament, The Temple of Zeus, and of course, the iconic Parthenon and Acropolis. The night is free for you to explore more of this incredible city.

Rise and shine, we have an early start to catch the ferry from Athens to Mykonos. In the afternoon, you will meet with your tour leader and your fellow travellers to explore Mykonos town, and its white washed houses.

The day is yours to soak up the sunshine, swim in the sea or chew through your memory card taking pics of cute windmills and quaint streets. Or discover the birthplace of Apollo by taking an optional tour to Delos Island. Tonight, hit the bars and restaurants and dance the night away!

Next up: Santorini! After our ferry ride, we will wander through the town of Fira to get our bearings. See why the blue door houses, white church domes make Santorini the iconic postcard town of Greece. Santorini is formed from volcanic activity, and from the caldera witness the most epic sunset and breath-taking views.

We’ve got a free day today. Relax on the red or black sand beaches, wander the streets and browse through the shops of the main town or take an optional quad biking tour! Explore the island’s volcano and check out an active crater and hot springs in our optional volcano tour. The choices are endless!

Enjoy one last breakfast in beautiful Santorini before transferring to the port for your ferry to Paros. Sit back, relax, and take in the sparkling Aegean views as you continue your island-hopping adventure in comfort.

On arrival in Paros, transfer to your hotel and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure. Spend the afternoon discovering the island’s laid-back charm, from whitewashed villages and pretty harbourfronts to golden beaches and inviting local tavernas. As the evening settles in, soak up the relaxed Cycladic atmosphere and enjoy your first night on this beautiful island.

Set out to discover the relaxed beauty of Paros with a guided orientation tour of the island. Begin with its charming whitewashed streets, traditional Cycladic architecture, pretty harbourfronts, and inviting local cafés as your guide introduces you to the island’s easy-going character and highlights. Wander through picturesque lanes, learn about local life, and get your first taste of Paros’ warm island atmosphere.

The rest of the day is yours to enjoy at leisure. You may choose to relax on one of the island’s golden beaches, explore boutique shops and waterfront tavernas, or continue wandering through Paros’ beautiful villages at your own pace. Whether you spend the afternoon by the sea, sampling fresh local flavours, or simply soaking up the Cycladic charm, this is the perfect day to slow down and enjoy island life.

After breakfast, transfer to the port for the ferry ride to Santorini, from where we will be taking the flight to Thessaloniki. In the evening, join the panoramic bus tour to discover the hidden gems of the city.

After breakfast, we depart for Kalambaka, the gateway to Meteora. Meteora is famous for its breath-taking scenery and ageless monasteries, almost suspended between the earth and sky. The town hosts one of the largest and steepest complexes of Eastern Orthodox monasteries, literally named as “middle of the sky”. The World Heritage-listed site is out-of-this-world with its unique landscape of immense monolithic pillars and huge rounded boulders hosting monasteries on top, and one of the most visited locations in Greece. Each monastery has a central courtyard surrounded by chapels and living cells of monks, who have inhabited the region since the 11th century – for far less than the first inhabitants from 50,000 years ago. Later in the afternoon, hop on the bus for Delphi.

Eat up at breakfast, you will be discovering Delphi and all its wonders. Built high atop the cliffs with spectacular scenery, the town made its name in ancient Greek mythology. Chosen as the centre of the earth, here is where the famous powerful Oracles of Delphi resided. UNESCO World Heritage Site of Delphi had a tremendous influence in the ancient world, uniting many city-states under the Hellenic spirit as displayed in rich monuments and ancient stories. In the afternoon, embark on a scenic drive to Athens. As you get your bearings and all the information you need about the capital from your guide, arrive at the hotel to freshen up. Prepare to cap off the amazing tour Greek-style; bring in the mezes, it’s time to do some Sirtaki!

Have your final breakfast on us and start bidding farewells to your travel mates before checking out of the hotel (11:00). Time to start counting days for your next adventure with Travel Talk!