Classic Greece with Aegean Cruise Tour

Upon landing at Athens International Airport or Piraeus Port, a representative will meet and transfer you to the hotel, for check-in. At around 3pm, you will be picked up from hotel to participate on the tour that gives you the opportunity to observe the striking contrasts that make Athens such a fascinating city. Our expert guides will take you to see the centre of the city, the Constitution Square (Syntagma), the House of Parliament, the Monument of the Unknown Soldier, the Academy, the University and the National Library. On the way to the Acropolis, you will make a short stop at the Panathenaic Stadium where the first modern Olympic Games were held in 1896, you will see the temple of Olympian Zeus and the Hadrian's Arch. At the Acropolis, you will visit the architectural masterpieces of the Golden Age of Athens: the Propylaea, the Temple of Athena Nike, the Erectheion and finally “the harmony between material and spirit”, the monument that “puts the order in the mind”, the Parthenon. You will be back at the hotel at around 6:30pm. Overnight in Athens in bed and breakfast basis. 

After breakfast, leave for Delphi via Thebes, Levadia and the picturesque village of Arachova, on the slopes of Mount Parnassus, arrive in Delphi and visit the Archaeological Site. After the visit depart for Kalambaka, passing through picturesque villages and towns of Central Greece. Proceed to Kalambaka for dinner and overnight. Overnight in Kalambaka area in bed and breakfast basis. Dinner included.

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast at the hotel. Visit Meteora and enjoy a unique and most impressive scenery with ageless Monasteries, containing priceless historical and religious treasures, standing between earth and sky atop huge rocks. Meteora is considered among the most beautiful areas of mainland Greece and belongs to UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Monuments. Return to Athens via Trikala, Lamia, Thermopylae (short stop to see across the road the Leonida's Monument), arrive in Athens early in the evening. Overnight in Athens in bed and breakfast basis. 

Wake up to a luscious breakfast at your hotel and get ready for your morning transfer at 8:30am to the port of Piraeus, where you embark on your cruise ship - Celestyal Olympia. At 11:30am you will be leaving Port Piraeus and heading towards to a beautiful island Mykonos in the Cyclades at around 6:30pm. The island, according to Greek mythology, was formed by the bodies of giants slain by Hercules. The most recognizable site of Mykonos is the row of immaculate picture postcard white windmills overlooking the water. Every visitor takes that picture. Free time at the Old Town, which has many delightful cafes and taverns along its winding alleys and time will pass very quickly in these lovely, relaxing surroundings. You will be departing from Mykonos at 11:30pm. Dinner is served on board. Cruise timetable: Depart: 11:30am from Piraeus / Arrival Mykonos: 06:00 pm / Depart Mykonos: 11pm. Overnight on board in bed and breakfast basis. Lunch and dinner included. 

Enjoy your tasty breakfast on board and get ready for your following adventure. Vibrant and colourful, Kusadasi in Turkey is the gateway to the Hellenistic ruins of Ephesus, famed for the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Your cruise will arrive at Kusadasi at 7:30am and you will have a whole morning for exploring this biblical port. Join our tour to Ancient Ephesus (included), which will introduce you to the secrets of the Temple of Artemis. The tour takes approx. 3 hours, during which you find Immortal relics of the Hellenistic, Roman and Early Christian era. At the archaeological site, you will be given a guided tour among the Agora, the Odeon, the Library of Celsus, the marble-paved main Street of Kouretes, the Baths of Scholastica, Trajan’s Fountain, the Public Latrines, the Residences of the Patricians, the Prytaneum and the Temple of Hadrian. At 1pm you will be departing from Kusadasi, and you will continue sailing to Patmos, a small and charming island a little over 20 square kilometres in size which lies in the Dodecanese. Biblical legend has it as the supposed location of the vision to John the Baptist in the Book of Revelations and the inspiration this book. You will arrive at Patmos at 5pm and you will have 4 hours to discover this sacred island. Perhaps the visit of the monastery of St. John could be a good idea to get an insight into the island´s legends. At 9:30pm the cruise will be leaving this sacred island and will head toward the following destination, Rhodes. Dinner is served on board. Cruise timetable: Arrival Kusadasi: 7:30am / Depart Kusadasi: 1pm - Arrival Patmos: 5pm / Depart Patmos: 9:30pm. Overnight on board in bed and breakfast basis. Lunch and dinner included.

Enjoy your early morning breakfast on board and get ready for your new adventure. You will be arriving to Rhodes at 7:30am in the morning. The Colossus of Rhodes once bestrode the harbour gives us another link to the Seven Wonders. Lose yourself in the maze of atmospheric cobbled streets of the Old Town (a World Heritage Site) in that will transport you back to the Byzantine Empire and be sure to wander through the Knights Quarter and the Palace of the Grand Master. Indeed Rhodes is also known as the Island of the Knights. Our trip allows us to spend a whole day A/C VEHICLEhere, and gives us plenty opportunities to discover the clear waters, wonderful beaches and lush wooden valleys. Our 5 hours guided excursion will take you to Acropolis of Lindos and the Citadel of the Knights and then to the Old Town of Rhodes for a walking tour. After the full-day experience you will be departing from Rhodes at 06:00 pm. Dinner will be served on board. Cruise timetable: Arrival Rhodes: 07:30 am / Depart Rhodes: 6pm. Overnight on board in bed and breakfast basis. Lunch and dinner included. 

After a delightful breakfast on board, you will be arriving at the largest island of Greece, Crete. At 7:30am you will disembark in Heraklion, a vibrant small metropolis, which hides mythological stories and legends of the ancient world. It is Crete's biggest city (among Chania, Rethymno, Agios Nikolaos, Sitia, Ierapetra), whose emblem is the Venetian fortress of Koules and it harmoniously combines a multilingual past as Byzantine churches standing next to the Venetian mansions and Turkish fountains and a thriving present with many restaurants, coffee shops and bars that cater to every taste. You will be departing from Heraklion at 12pm, heading to another beautiful Greek island, Santorini, where you may get the chance to see the blue-domed church at Oia. There will also be time for a wonderful, traditional meal at one of the many Cliffside restaurants. After the arrival to Santorini at 4:30 pm, you will have a whole afternoon (until 9:30pm) to enjoy its natural gems and cultural heritage. Dinner will be served on board. Cruise timetable: Arrival Crete, Heraklion: 7am / Depart Crete, Heraklion: 12pm - Arrival Santorini: 04:30pm / Depart Santorini: 9:30pm. Overnight on board in bed and breakfast basis. Lunch and dinner included.

Begin your last day with a tasty breakfast on board and enjoy the last chilled moments on the cruise, before you reach Athens approx. at 7:00 am. We hope this voyage was a real “Wonder” for you. At approx. 8am, there will be a driver waiting for you to take you by the shared transfer from the port to the Athens airport/ Piraeus port where you will catch your onward flight/ ferry to your following destination. If you wish to spend more time in Athens, we invite you to book pre- or post-night in Athens we are offering as an optional extra. Cruise timetable: Arrival Piraeus/Athens: 07:00 am.