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Abercrombie & Kent
OFFER ID 1721549
Its archipelago splintering across the Aegean Sea, Greece is, quite literally, the stuff of legend: a land of unparalleled ancient history and breathtaking scenery, of delicious cuisine and famously warm welcomes. Explore Athens, the cradle of democracy and a city of mouth-watering food, before escaping to the islands, scattered like lost treasure through placid turquoise waters. On this Greek odyssey, A&K’s experts are on hand to pair you with passionate guides and locals, ever willing to share their culture, be it through a private museum tour or a freshly cooked meal in their own home kitchen.
12 nights | Call for pricing
1 Arrive Athens, Greece
The seed of Western civilization is a chaotic tangle of busy streets and bougainvillea-fringed squares, a romantic litany of ruins and relics. It is no stranger to reinvention: factories are now chic hotels, historic sites a showcase for high-end fashion. But Athens is always poised to offer an education in the classics: turn the corner and she might just present you with a time-worn temple or amphitheater, set beneath the peerless gaze of the Parthenon.
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2 Athens – Exploring The Ancient Acropolis
Journey to Cape Sounion for a guided tour of the Temple of Poseidon, believed to date to the fifth century BC. Take in stunning views from temple’s clifftop position and see signatures carved here by centuries of travellers, including Lord Byron. Back in Athens this afternoon, discover the rich heritage of Greece’s capital, starting at the Acropolis, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. View the Parthenon up close, the shrine to the goddess Athena first built in 447 BC. Continue to the Acropolis Museum to peruse some 4,000 artifacts from classical Greece. In the Parthenon gallery, marvel at the carved reliefs on the stones that formed the temple’s iconic frieze, positioned as they would have been on the monument. Afterward, if time allows, stroll through the ancient district of Plaka, one of Athens’ most picturesque neighborhoods.
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3 Athens – Delights Of The Grecian Palate
Observe Athenians in their everyday lives and experience Greece’s rich and varied culinary tradition as you walk the city with a local guide. Visit specialty food stores to sample olive oil, cheese, honey and other locally sourced delicacies. Immerse yourself in the colors and aromas of local spices and stop at Varvakios, Athens’ renowned food market.
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4 Crete – Mythic Island, Modern Fun
Greece’s largest island is a distillation of every Mediterranean dream: exceptional food, flowery streets steeped in history and swathes of olive-green scenery, where lemon groves rise above sapphire-blue seas. A Cretan adventure can be anything you wish: a barefoot, beachside affair; a romp through ancient Minoan history or a thrilling active escape.
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5 Crete – Remote Venetian Fortress
From Plaka, board a local fishing ferry to the island of Spinalonga and rove the ruins of a Venetian fortress built in 1579 to defend the city of Elounda. Discover the island’s role as a former leper colony, closed in 1957, and the stories of the people who lived in isolation here. Once more in Crete, stroll the picturesque streets of Plaka, filled with flowers, tavernas and shops selling handmade wares.
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6 Crete – At Your Leisure
On this Greek odyssey, A&K’s experts are on hand to pair you with passionate guides and locals, ever willing to share their culture, be it through a private museum tour or a freshly cooked meal in their own home kitchen.
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7 Santorini – Ultimate Greek Island Getaway
You may be forgiven for thinking the Greek flag drew its colors from Santorini, so synonymous with the country are the island’s whitewashed houses and deep blue seas. Journey to this moon-shaped isle, the relic of a volcanic caldera, by ferry, and bask in a Greek-island bliss of exquisite food, black-sand beaches and amber sunsets that have backdropped countless honeymoons.
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8 Santorini – Wine Tasting And The Greek Pompeii
Discover the black-sand beaches of Perivolos and the island’s highest peak, Mount Prophitis Ilias, crowned by an Orthodox monastery. Your driver-guide has cherry-picked the best family-run vineyards to visit crisp whites or velvety reds. If history is more in your wheelhouse, visit the Akrotiri excavation site — Greece’s answer to Pompeii — to discover the treasures unearthed from this one-time Minoan town buried by the ash of a volcanic eruption in the 17th century BC.
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9 Santorini – Spend The Day Your Way
Take advantage of a full day at leisure, whether you simply relax round the pool, taking in unfettered views of the volcano caldera and the rich blue Aegean; stroll Santorini’s winding backstreets to absorb the laidback vibes; or head out by catamaran for an optional snorkeling expedition, at an additional cost, exploring the balmy shallows around some alluringly secluded islands.
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10 Mykonos – The Mediterranean’s Ritziest Playground
A stone maze of boutiques and flower-filled alleys, of harbor towns and paradise beaches, the turning sails of old windmills – in many ways, Mykonos is the quintessence of the Greek Islands, the fair queen of the Cyclades. And in the same breath she is undeniably the place to be in summer, an A-list playground where the jet set lounge on gleaming yachts and clubbers party till dawn.
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11 Delos – Sacred Island
The sacred island features prominently in Greek mythology as the birthplace of Artemis and Apollo. Boat to it and tour the archaeological ruins of its former port.
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12 Mykonos – Picnic On A Secret Beach
Today you may wish to escape to a secret beach, lapped by crystal-clear waters, for a feast of delicious Greek meze (small plates) and homemade wine crafted by a dedicated winemaker for an unforgettable supper on the sand. Or simply relax and soak in the sun-drenched Aegean island atmosphere.
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13 Depart Mykonos
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All fares are quoted in US Dollars.
35 Old South Road
Nantucket, MA 02554
USA
(508) 228-3201