Santorini, Crete & Athens | 12 Days – 11 Nights

Transfer from the airport to the hotel. Shore Excursion to Oia Duration: 3 hours This is your chance to visit the most photographed and picturesque Oia village in Santorini, Greece. During this private Oia shore excursion you will see why its world-renowned for its traditional, white-washed houses, blue-domed chapels, spectacular views of the volcano and caldera, and unforgettable sunsets. The tour starts and ends in the capital of Santorini, Fira. Here you can enjoy unique panoramic views from the comfort of a cable car or on the back of a donkey. Donkeys are the traditional means of transportation and they can take you from and to the old port. Return to your hotel. Snacks and drinks are included.

Duration: 3 hours South of Santorini offers a mixture of lovely villages, famous beaches and stunning views. The right Santorini private tour guide can introduce you to the inspiring history, photogenic places and magic stories. We start the tour at your hotel or other agreed location and then we continue and cover the following highlights of the island: Blue dome in Firostefani which is one of the most famous landmarks on the island. Pyrgos village with its traditional houses, blue domed churches and charming narrow paths with local shops and cafes village for a walk in a traditional settlement. A drive all along the southern coast with stops at the black sand beaches of Perissa &Perivolos. Return to your hotel.

Duration: 3 hours. Being or not a history enthusiast, this guided Tour at the Prehistoric city of Akrotiri is an experience surely not to be missed!A Bronze Age settlement, an archaeological site that encapsulates fascinating insights to life back in 2000 B. C. After the great volcano eruption, the place remained buried under a thick layer of volcanic material as a Greek Pompeii for almost 4000 years, until it was accidentally discovered. The excavations revealed one of the best-preserved ancient cities to this day with dense urban planning. In this guided tour walking around the 4000-year-old settlement, you will get an understanding of how the society was organized. See the paved streets, the remains of about 40 two-three stories high building complexes, kitchen and toilette facilities, a perfect plumping and drainage - sewage system, and astonishingly well-preserved decorations and murals. - Tour starts at the hotel  you  will meet your guide   and  after  drive around 20 minutes to the archeological site of Akrotiri.
Our private Santorini tour continues with the serene village of Megalochori where historical mansions and old traditional houses unfold through pirate hideaways next to wine canavas. We will visit impressive churches such as the church of Aghia (Saint) Paraskevi known for its unusual yellow bell tower and the picturesque little church of Aghia (Saint) Fotini the Samaritan, dug into the hard-volcanic rock.

- Transfer from the hotel in Santorini at the airport for Crete. - Arrival to Heraklion Crete, you will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. Check in at the hotel and free time for the rest of the day.

Breakfast at the hotel (Aegean or American style) and depart for a guided city tour The capital city of Heraklion is home to a well-known Archaeological Museum, the second biggest in Greece after the museum of Athens that you will visit on this walking tour with your professional guide. It houses Minoan civilization treasures and artefacts from Knossos dating back to the Bronze Age. The Heraklion Archaeological Museum is one of the best and complete collections of artefacts from this great civilization. You'll learn about the mythical labyrinth of Knossos, why Venetian and Ottoman monuments are found in Heraklion, and why ancient Knossos is one of the country’s most important archaeological sites. The tour continues with a walking tour by our Guide to explore the beautiful city of Heraklion and Wonder around its Venetian Harbor & lively streets in the Old Town explore the lively Heraklion city center walk the city streets and see a range of important sites and inner-city landmarks. Learn about the city’s classical and recent history from your guide, and hear the myths and legends told about Heraklion in ancient times.

8hrs tour The famous palace of Knossos will be your first stop. The palace is one of the most significant archaeological sites in the world, a cradle of European culture and the center of the Minoan civilization. Follow your guide on a 2-hour tour through the fascinating story of the Minoan period and learn about the Minotaur and Ariadne. See the throne of King Minos, the beautiful dolphin apartment of Queen Pasiphae and The road taken by Theseus upon arrival to Crete from Ancient Athens. You have the opportunity to touch, feel, see the Legends and Myths of Ancient Greece and Minoan Crete. After Knossos, this excursion continues with a visit of , Archanes village a breath away from Knossos. . one of the most picturesque villages on the island and only Wander around the beautiful little streets and admire the traditional, well-preserved houses. Close your eyes and smell the flowers found in the neatly whitewashed courtyards. Try a Greek coffee in one of the modest local ‘kafenia’ (cafes)The large village is also a significant agricultural center and has been restored with the help of European Union funds, as well as private initiative. A remarkable job has been done, giving you the chance to enjoy the local atmosphere. It is definitely a model for such projects to preserve the local architecture. Archanes has won European awards – 2nd best restored village in Europe and 1st in long term development prospects. Streets have been recently paved with local stone; a walk around the back streets is a relaxing experience.

Breakfast at the hotel and depart for a guided. Υοur day will start with a visit of the second biggest Minoan Palace of Crete, the Minoan Palace of Phaistos, the residence of the mythical brother of Minos, Radamanthis The Palace of Phaistos is situated on a hill overlooking the fertile valley of Kato Messara, bounded by Mt Psiloritis (the tallest mountain in Crete) and Mt Asterousia. According to mythology, the dynasty of Rhadamanthus, son of Zeus and brother of King Minos, ruled here. Indeed, Phaistos was one of the most important centers of the Minoan civilization and the richest and most powerful in southern Crete. Phaistos began to flourish at the beginning of the Bronze Age, in the mid-3rd millennium BC. the whole complex covered some 18,000m2, just a little bit smaller than the Palace of Knossos. After a great earthquake around 1700 BC destroyed both palaces, a new and even more imposing palace was raised in its place and most of the reconstructed buildings you’ll see belong to this second palace. Excavations have revealed sections of the first palace as well as a temple to the Great Mother Rhea from the early Archaic Period. Your tour continues with a visit to Matala, another gem in Crete’s Heraklion prefecture, with its famous carved caves and lovely beach. Here, you’ll find the afterglow of the sixties when hippies put this once tiny fishing village on the map and gave it a place in modern cultural history.

- Transfer from the hotel to the airport - Transfer from the airport to the hotel - Evening Athens half day City tour with new Acropolis Museum Athens H/D evening City Tour with New Acropolis Museum This tour gives you an opportunity to observe the striking contrasts that make Athens such a fascinating city. Our expert guides take you to see the center of the city, Constitution Square (Syntagma), the House of Parliament, the Memorial to the Unknown Soldier and the National Library. Driving down Herod Atticus Street, you will see the Evzones in their authentic uniform and the Presidential Palace. On your way to the Acropolis you will see the Hadrian’s Arch, visit the Temple of Olympian Zeus and you will make a short stop at the Panathenaic Stadium where the first Olympic Games of the modern era were held in 1896. You will admire the architectural masterpieces of the Golden Age of Athens: the Propylaea, the Temple of Athena Nike, the Erechtheion, and finally “the harmony between material and spirit”, the monument that “puts order in the mind”, the Parthenon. You complete the visit with the Acropolis Museum.

Sounio Approx 8 hours tour After a quick welcome, you will board your private ride and head towards the southern-most tip of the Attica peninsula, Cape Sounion. Located approximately 65 kilometers outside of the center of Athens, it is a relaxing seaside drive along the western coastline with a view to the Aegean Sea. On the way, will pass through the scenic The Athenian Riviera , made up of several of Athens’ wealthier municipalities and best beaches. The cosmopolitan town centers of Glyfada, Voula and Vouliagmeni are all buzzing with bars, cafes and seaside restaurants that attract people from all over Athens. It is also home to Vouliagmeni Lake, a must-see geological phenomenon made up of thermal springs and underwater caves leading out to the sea. The majestic Temple of Poseidon is an important landmark and holds significant historical and cultural value for Athenians with some of the earliest archaeological remains dating back to 700 BC. The temple was dedicated to the God of the sea, Poseidon, and was considered a sacred place of worship. Perched on the highest point of the rocky promontory and surrounded by 3 seas, it was an important maritime navigational point as well as a sign of hope for sailors returning to Athens after many days at sea.

Free day for shopping.

Transfer from the hotel at the airport for your departure.