Aegean Journey: Athens, Santorini and Crete

Our team meets you at Athens International Airport for the 45-minute transfer to your hotel. The rest of the day is yours. Athens is one of the oldest cities in the world, yet it feels young and alive: outdoor cafés spill onto pedestrian streets, ancient ruins appear between modern buildings, and the Acropolis watches over everything from its rock.Overnight: Athens Meals included: Welcome Dinner

The day begins on the Acropolis, where our expert guide reveals the story of the Parthenon and the role Athens played in the ancient world. We continue past the Temple of Olympian Zeus and Hadrian’s Arch to the Kallimarmaro Stadium, built entirely of marble and home to the first modern Olympic Games in 1896.At the Acropolis Museum, opened in 2009, we see the finest treasures recovered from the sacred rock, including 36 panels of the Parthenon’s famous frieze.In the afternoon, we trade ancient Athens for modern Athens on a food walking tour, winding through narrow streets with stops at an old bakery, a traditional café and a souvlaki stall to sample local specialities and aperitifs.As evening falls, a walk through Athens by night shows a different side of the city, from the lit-up Plaka to rooftop bars with views of the illuminated Acropolis.Overnight: Athens Meals included: Breakfast, Light lunch on the tastes tour

We sail south from the port of Piraeus across the Aegean. Few arrivals in the world compare with this one: sheer cliffs rise from a turquoise sea, and you realise you are sailing inside the crater of a volcano.On arrival, a private four-hour island tour takes us to Oia, the village of white houses carved into the cliffside, with free time for lunch. The tour ends at our hotel, with the evening free to relax by the pool or explore the island.Overnight: Santorini Meals included: Breakfast

The morning is free to enjoy the island at your own pace.Optional: a visit to Akrotiri, the prehistoric town buried by the eruption of around 1600 BC. Often called the Pompeii of Greece, it is one of the best-preserved Bronze Age settlements in the Mediterranean.In the afternoon, we board a catamaran for a small-group cruise around the caldera. The captain anchors at a spectacular spot for swimming in the crystal-clear water, and the crew prepares dinner on board. There are nets on the bow for lying in the sun and a shaded cabin when you need it. The day ends with one of the most famous sunsets in the world.Overnight: Santorini Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner on board the catamaran

A final morning on Santorini, free to explore, swim or simply relax before our late-afternoon transfer to the port. A fast ferry carries us about two hours south to Heraklion, the capital of Crete, and we continue by road to Rethymnon, a historic harbour town on the island’s north coast.Overnight: Rethymnon, Crete Meals included: Breakfast

Rethymnon is a town of many layers. Venetian palazzos stand beside Ottoman houses with wooden balconies, a massive Venetian fortress guards the sea, and a domed mosque rises above the old quarter. In the evening, the horseshoe-shaped harbour glows with the lights of its waterside tavernas.On a private walking tour, our guide explains how Venetians, Ottomans and Cretans each shaped the town, while we taste local delicacies along the way. By the end, Cretan life and cuisine will feel familiar.Overnight: Rethymnon, Crete Meals included: Breakfast, Light lunch on the tour

Today we cross Crete from north to south on a full-day Land Rover safari. Remote mountain roads take us past Prasses Gorge and Potamon Dam and through traditional villages where country life carries on as it has for generations.On the south coast, we stop to swim in the Libyan Sea before reaching Preveli Beach, where the Kourtaliotis River flows through a palm forest into the sea, creating a lagoon of blue-green water and soft sand. It is one of the most beautiful places on the island. Lunch is served at a local village restaurant.Overnight: Rethymnon, Crete Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch on safari

A day to enjoy Crete on your own terms. Wander the old town of Rethymnon, stroll the palm-lined promenade, or spend the day on one of the island’s beautiful beaches. After a week in Greece, you will see it all with new eyes.Overnight: Rethymnon, Crete Meals included: Breakfast

The journey ends, but the memories remain. After breakfast, the day is at leisure until your transfer to Heraklion or Chania airport for a short flight to Athens and your connection home.Meals included: Breakfast