THE BEST OF GREECE & SANTORINI in 12 days
Delphi - 1 night
Olympia - 1 night
Nafplio - 2 nights
Hydra Island - 2 night
Athens - 2 nights
Santorini Island - 3 nights
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$5089 + air
Single Supplement = $850
My Best of Greece & Santorini tour visits my favorite Greek mainland and island destinations. We begin in the countryside at Delphi, home of the ancient Oracle and her temples. After crossing the Bay of Corinth, we'll spend several days on the Pelopenes Peninsula, visiting ancient temples, worship sites, historic cities, and theatres. Hopping on a ferry, enjoy a short ride to traffic-free Hydra Island for two days of relaxation. Then it is off to Athens, where we’ll dedicate the better part of two days to exploring this capital city. Finally, we will hop on a short flight to Santorini, home of white-washed villages on an ancient volcano caldera. My Best of Greece & Santorini tour provides the perfect mix of sightseeing, education, and relaxation.
Your Adventure Starts Here!
DAY 1: Welcome to Greece! –Leaving Athens for later, we will head north to the barren slopes of Mount Parnassus. Here we find Delphi, the 2500-year-old home of fortune-telling oracles, temples of worship, and Olympic-like stadiums and theatres. Enjoy dinner together and overnight in peaceful Delphi town. Sleep for 1 night near Delphi. Walking: light. Driving: 4 hours. Dinner.
DAY 2: The Gulf of Corinth and Peloponnese – It is a beautiful drive through the mountains and across the gulf to the Peloponnese Peninsula. This afternoon, after the tourist crowds dissipate, we will visit Olympia, the site of the first Olympic games more than 2700 years ago. We will set up tonight near Mount Olympia. Sleep for 1 night near Olympia. Walking: strenuous. Driving: 5 hours. Dinner.
DAY 3: Ancient Corinth and Nafplio – We will do a bit of driving today across the Peloponnese to Ancient Corinth, a stop on the Apostle Paul's missionary journey in the 1st century. Then, it's onward to Nafplio for a relaxing two days. Sleep for 2 nights in Nafplio. Walking: light. Driving: 4 hours. Dinner.
DAY 4: Mycenae and Nafplio – Today, we will take a walk through this ancient, fortified city, seeing the Lion's Gate, "cyclopean" walls, and buried tombs. Returning to Nafplio, you'll have the remainder of the day to poke around town, hike to the hilltop fortress, or relax at a beach or hotel pool. Walking: moderate. Driving: 1.5 hours.
DAY 5: Epidavros and Hydra – This morning, we will drive to nearby Epidavros to look at Greece's most well-preserved theater, seating 15,000 spectators. Then we will head south across arid mountains and valleys loaded with century-old olive trees. After a ferry ride across the gulf, we will step onto traffic-free Hydra. Enjoy the afternoon and evening getting to know the little town. We'll pick out a taverna for dinner to enjoy together tonight. Sleep for 2 nights on Hydra. Walking: light. Driving: 2.5 hours. Dinner.
DAY 6: Hydra –No group plans for today. So, enjoy shopping in the village, sitting at the harbor with a drink and "people-watching," taking a donkey ride, hiring a boat, or basking in the sun at one of the many beaches. Walking: your choice.
DAY 7: Athens – This morning, we'll hop on a ferry and, within about two hours, arrive at your Athens city-center hotel. Then, join a local guide for an informative and scenic tour of the ancient Acropolis and Agora. The remainder of the day and evening are event-free to explore more of Athens on your own. Sleep for 2 nights in Athens. Walking: strenuous. Boat or Drive: 2 hours.
DAY 8: Athens – Visit Athens at your leisure. There are no group plans today, so Explore the Forum, medieval streets of the Plaka, and more on your own. Later, we will meet for dinner at a local restaurant for dinner. Walking: your choice. Dinner.
DAY 9: Santorini - This morning, we will transfer to Athens Airport and take a short flight to the island of Santorini. Once in Santorini, we will set up in a seaside village. Nothing to do here but bask in the sun, swim at the beach, and enjoy the views. Sleep for 3 nights at a traditional Santorini resort hotel. Flying: 1 hour. Driving: 1 hour.
DAY 10: Santorini – This morning, we will have a local guide show us around the island of Santorini. We'll visit several towns, see the volcanic caldera, and get an overview of the island's history. Later, board our private catamaran for a 5-hour sunset cruise on the caldera. Enjoy dinner and drinks on the boat and plenty of time to jump in and take a swim. Walking: moderate. Driving: 2 hours. BBQ Dinner on our catamaran.
DAY 11: Santorini –There are no scheduled plans for today. Enjoy the beach, local shopping, a hike through the mountains, or a return visit to Oia or Fira. Tonight, enjoy a grand farewell dinner at a beachfront restaurant. Walking: your choice. Dinner.
DAY 12: Heading Home – We will catch an early morning flight back to Athens. Your tour ends at the Athens Airport in plenty of time to connect with flights bound for the USA. Flying: 1 hour.
This itinerary is subject to change.
Round-trip transportation by coach, minibus, and boat from the airport in Athens and return.
Round-trip flight to Santorini.
11 nights’ accommodation in well-appointed hotels. All rooms have private en-suite baths.
All tips and gratuities to guides and drivers.
Strictly Small Group consisting of 6-18 travelers.
All breakfasts and six group dinners.
Traditional dining experiences at some of David's favorite restaurants. Eating well is a priority, and you’ll enjoy fine regional fare featuring the best the locale has to offer.
Water is included with all group meals. Sodas, wine, beer, and other drinks are your responsibility.
All tours and admissions at no extra cost: Athens Plaka walking tour ▪ Acropolis tour ▪ Ancient Agora entrance ▪ Delphi tour ▪ Ancient Olympia tour ▪ Mycenae tour ▪ Epidavros entry ▪ Nafplio orientation ▪ Hydra orientation ▪ boat transfers to and from Hydra ▪ and more.
A full-time Exploring Europe guide and local experts dedicated to bringing to life the art, history, and culture of the tour destinations.
David’s tour handouts are delivered electronically and detail each day’s historical and cultural experiences.
Free luggage tags and David’s custom-designed drawstring backpacks.
Our Unconditional Tour Price Guarantee, once locked in, will never change.
$50 Tour Alumni discount for each David McGuffin tour you’ve taken prior to this travel year.
Anything not listed above in the "inclusions" area is not included in the cost of your tour.
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You may download a tour application and send it to us with payment.
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Walking and Physical Activity: We have planned this trip to provide maximum tour experiences. The basic nature of Europe does require some degree of physical activity to get out and see the sights, especially in the big cities. To help you plan, we’ve included a daily projection of physical activity. Here is the key for our walking activity ratings:
Light – Walking done on level surfaces with some hills and elevation gains. Two miles or less of required walking during the day.
Moderate – Walking done on paved and gravel paths and cobbled city sidewalks. To enjoy the full tour experience, some uphill and downhill walking is expected, as is standing while viewing sights or museums. Four to six miles of walking per day.
Strenuous – Walking done on rugged and rocky paths and city-cobbled sidewalks. There will be steps and stairs. Up to three hours standing in museums or experience sites. Up to eight miles of walking per day.
Your Choice – No matter what your walking ability, we will help you find alternative ways to enjoy and experience all Europe has to offer. To get the most out of our tours, you should be able to operate at the light level every day with spurts of moderate and strenuous.
Now that you've decided to join this tour, we are sure you'll have some questions. Don't worry. We are here to help you through each aspect of your tour from start to finish.
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