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GREECE & THE AEGEAN
16 DAYS FROM $1,999
US
Details below or
click here for more information INQUIRY FORM
Phone: 1-888-682-6449/1-303-670-5640
Fax: (425) 984-7676
See the best of Greece’s ancient and
modern mainland, beautiful islands of the Aegean, and Kusadasi, Turkey.
Spend the first two nights in Athens with guided sightseeing that
includes the Acropolis and its museum as well as time at leisure. Cross
the Corinth Canal and marvel at the perfect acoustics of the Epidauros
Theater and at the city fortress of Mycenae. Visit Sparta and see the
monument to its king, Leonidas, then to Olympia, the legendary home of
the Olympic Games. Cross the spectacular Rion-Antirion Bridge, and
spend time in mythical Delphi. Marvel at the extraordinary rock-top
Meteora monasteries before returning to Athens. Next, embark your
cruise ship and set sail for Mykonos with its “Little Venice” district,
then Kusadasi, a bazaar town and seaside resort but known for the
Ephesus archaeological site. In Patmos, stop by the 11th-century
monastery, stroll through the charming old walled city and souvenir
stalls in Rhodes, see Heraklion in Crete, and marvel at awe-inspiring
volcanic Santorini, the “Black Pearl of the Aegean.” Return to Athens
for time at leisure, the ideal ending to your journey.
Day 1 Fri.
BOARD YOUR OVERNIGHT
TRANSATLANTIC FLIGHT
Day 2 Sat. ARRIVE IN ATHENS, GREECE
Check into your hotel. The
rest of the day is free for you to start exploring the Greek capital.
Later, meet your Tour Director and fellow travelers.
Day 3 Sun. ATHENS
A day to do just as you
please. You could also join an optional day cruise to the islands of
Aegina, Hydra, and Poros. In the evening, free time to enjoy the lively
atmosphere of the tavernas and nightclubs in the old Plaka district
with its narrow streets and sound of bouzouki music. (B)
Day 4 Mon. ATHENS–EPIDAURUS–NAUPLIA
Join the included sightseeing
tour of Athens featuring the highlights of this ancient capital and a
visit to the Acropolis. Next, westward to the Corinth Canal. Journey
into the Argolis to make a stop in Epidaurus. Visit the open-air
theater, which can still seat 14,000 spectators, then head for the
coast and overnight in Nauplia. (B,D)
Day 5 Tue. NAUPLIA–MYCENAE–SPARTA
This morning, enjoy the
included excursion with a Local Guide to Mycenae, a city fortress
cursed by the gods but rich in gold and warrior kings. Motor south in
the afternoon deep into the Peloponnese to Sparta for an overnight.
(B,D)
Day 6 Wed. SPARTA–MYSTRA–PYLOS
Your morning highlight will be
the included sightseeing of the medieval Byzantine citadel of Mystra,
at one time known as the “Florence of the East.” In the afternoon,
drive west to Pylos, located on a majestic bay on the Messenian Gulf.
(B,D)
Day 7 Thu. PYLOS–NESTOR’S PALACE–OLYMPIA
Drive north this morning to
Nestor’s Palace. Your included visit will help you imagine the siege of
Troy, where Nestor commanded a large fleet. A short stop at the Chora
Museum will get you acquainted with the splendor of the past. Later,
travel northwest to Olympia, the legendary venue of the Olympic Games,
when every four years the city-states engaged in sport instead of war.
(B)
Day 8 Fri. OLYMPIA–PATRAS–DELPHI
Focus on Olympia, where the
athletes of antiquity performed in honor of the King of Deities. Learn
more about the history of the Olympic Games on the optional sightseeing
tour. In the afternoon, drive north towards Patras, the capital of the
Peloponnese and the west coast’s largest port. Then, proceed through
the picturesque fishing villages along the south coast of the mainland
to mythical Delphi, crossing the spectacular Rion-Antirion Bridge. (B)
Day 9 Sat. DELPHI–KALAMBAKA
Optional morning sightseeing
of the archaeological site of Delphi. In the afternoon, drive north by
way of Lamia and on to Trikala in Thessaly for an overnight in
Kalambaka. (B,D)
Day 10 Sun. KALAMBAKA–METEORA–ATHENS
A short drive to Meteora,
which is a cluster of monastic buildings perched in an unforgettable
manner on a set of rising rock formations. Your included visit is
certainly the day’s highlight. Later, drive south via Lamia to Athens
for an overnight. (B)
Day 11 Mon. ATHENS–PIRAEUS (EMBARKATION)–MYKONOS
Early morning embarkation and
an afternoon spent cruising in the Aegean. Evening arrival in Mykonos,
a granite island and the most typical of the Cyclades. Its cubic
houses, windmills, and chapels seem to make the island’s light even
more translucent. Spend some time visiting a taverna or just wandering
around the town enjoying its timeless beauty. (B,L,D)
Day 12 Tue. KUSADASI, TURKEY & PATMOS, GREECE
Two ports of call today.
First, Kusadasi on the Turkish coast. An optional morning excursion
takes you to the fascinating Greek, Roman, and Byzantine excavations of
Ephesus. Next, discover the tiny Greek island of Patmos, where St. John
the Divine wrote the Revelation. The 11th-century monastery with its
valuable manuscript collection is well worth a visit. (B,L,D)
Day 13 Wed. RHODES
Dock in Rhodes, largest of the
Dodecanese Islands and site of the Colossus of Rhodes, a 105-foot
statue destroyed by an earthquake in 224 BC. All day is dedicated to
the island of Rhodes. Explore the sights in the historic Old City with
its ramparts and palaces built by the Knights of St. John during the
Crusades. Another possibility: join an optional excursion to Lindos and
the fabulous Temple of Athena. And if sightseeing is not your thing,
Rhodes’ sun-drenched beaches and colorful shopping districts are within
easy walking distance of the port. Sail from Rhodes around dinner time.
(B,L,D)
Day 14 Thu. CRETE & SANTORINI
Morning at Heraklion on the
island of Crete. A few miles away is Knossos, the center of the 3000 BC
Minoan civilization, and an optional excursion can be booked. Next port
of call (weather permitting) is Santorini, the “Black Pearl of the
Aegean.” The optional shore excursion here takes you up to the
cliff-top village of Oia for one of the world’s most breathtaking
panoramas. (B,L,D)
Day 1 5Fri. PIRAEUS (DISEMBARKATION)–ATHENS
Early morning arrival in
Piraeus; drive to Athens. More time to explore the unseen parts of the
city or do some last-minute shopping. (B)
Day 16 Sat.
YOUR HOMEBOUND FLIGHT ARRIVES
THE SAME DAY. (B)
INCLUDED
FEATURES
Visits to Epidaurus, Sparta,
Mystra, Nestor’s Palace, Olympia, Delphi, Kalambaka, Meteora, Mykonos,
Kusadasi, Patmos, Rhodes, Heraklion
Notes:
Shore excursions can be booked
on board. Please allow for a total cost of approximately EUR 256 per
person if you plan to participate in all excursions offered. We also
recommend that you plan to spend about EUR 36 per person for gratuities
to the service personnel on board.
Port taxes of approximately
US$115 are included in the price.
SCENIC HIGHLIGHTS
Peloponnese, Mount Parnassus,
Arcadian Mountains, Corinth Canal, Rion-Antirion Bridge
INSIDE VISITS
Inside visits and special
features are shown in the description, including admission charges when
applicable.
GUIDES
Local Guide for city
sightseeing in Athens, Mycenae; services of a professional Tour
Director.
STANDARD INCLUDED FEATURES
Learn more about
transportation, hotels, and other standard included features offered.
MEALS - (B) Breakfast (L) Lunch (D) Dinner
Buffet breakfasts (B); 4
lunches (L); 8 dinners (D)
ALL CRUISES INCLUDE:
Buffet breakfasts—Open-air
buffet lunches—Multi-course dinners—Captain’s welcome cocktail
dinner—Greek Night dinner—Cabaret show—Resident band—Disco dancing and
casino
HOTELS - (F) First-Class (ST) Superior Tourist-Class (T) Tourist Class
Athens Coral (F), Nauplia Rex
(ST), Sparta Maniatis (ST), Pylos Karalis (ST), Olympia Olympion Asty
(ST), Delphi Parnassos (ST) or Acropole (ST), Kalambaka Antoniadis (F),
Athens Poseidon (F) or Coral (F)
TRANSPORTATION
Touring by private first-class
air-conditioned motorcoach. Cruise in fully air-conditioned inside
cabins with private shower and toilet. Supplement.
Departures:
March
- October
PRICES:
From approx
$1,999 US per
person double occupancy
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Phone: 1-888-682-6449/1-303-670-5640
Fax: (425) 984-7676
tours@a-ztravel.com
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