Welcome to Greece. A country with rich history, the oldest continuously used language in the world and the birthplace of theatre and the Olympic Games. With over 2000 islands off the mainland of Greece, Santorini and Paros are sure to excite any type of traveler. Enjoy wine tasting in Venetsanos while taking in the panoramic views of the caldera. While in Paros, spend the afternoon mingling with the locals during a cooking class. From the ancient ruins, authentic cuisine and breathtaking sunsets, Greece will be a place you never cross off your bucket list.
Hotels:
- Hotel Amalia, Athens
- Saint Andrea Seaside Resort, Paros
- Hotel Splendour Resort, Santorini
Included:
Meals:
- 8 Breakfasts
- 1 Lunches
- 2 Dinners
Activities:
- Sea kayaking in Santorini
- City tour of Athens including the Parthenon and Acropolis
- Visit the Varvakios Market on a food tour in Athens
- Wine tasting in Venetsanos
- Cooking class in Paros
Other Services:
- One round-trip group airport transfer privately in an air-conditioned vehicle
- Transportation privately in an air-conditioned vehicle during the tours mentioned on the program
- Professional guide service during the Athens city tour, food tour and to dinner in Athens
- Entrance fees, Road tolls, Taxes, VAT
- Domestic ferry rides, ferry taxes and fees
Not Included:
- Tips for porters, guide and driver- the value of the tip is up to the client
- All other services not mentioned as included
- Personal expenses
- International airfare throughout the program
- International airport taxes, airport porter and extra baggage
- Hotel early check-in and late check-out
- Drinks or personal expenses or entrance fees for any extra sightseeing or optional activities
- Travel insurance
- Supplemental Option (quoted separately)
Note:
- International flights should arrive into Athens International Airport and depart from Santorini International Airport
Day
1
Arrival in Athens
Welcome to Greece! Upon arrival at the airport, transfer to the hotel for check-in. Relax and unpack before meeting up with the rest of the group. In the evening, you will be transferred to Strofi restaurant in the shadow of the holy rock of Acropolis for your welcome dinner.
Meals: Dinner
Accommodation: Amalia Hotel
Day
2
Athens – Acropolis - Varvakios
Start your day with an optional morning yoga session. Afterwards, you will meet your guide in Syntagma Square to sample the best of what the city's street food stalls have to offer. You'll learn about the Mediterranean diet and its potential benefits while strolling the city streets in neighborhoods you may not have discovered yet and explore bustling open-air markets.
Say good morning with Greek coffee at one of the city's landmark coffee houses, then pick up some street snacks to sample on the go. Venture into the aromatic Varvakios Market, the largest and most popular fish, meat, and vegetable market in the city, and explore the city's main spice street. Sample olive oils, honey, cheeses from around the country, cured meats, olives, and more. Everything from baklava to souvlaki is available to appeal to even the pickiest eaters.
After the food tour, enjoy a city walking tour of Athens' most iconic sites, including the ruins, Parthenon, and other must-see areas. Return to the hotel to freshen up before enjoying the rest of the evening at leisure.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Amalia Hotel
Day
3
Athens – Paros
After an early breakfast, you will be transferred to Piraeus port to catch the ferry to Paros. You'll start your tour of the Cyclades on route to Paros, one of the larger islands in the Aegean Islands. Once you arrive in Paros, you will start a half-day tour of the island. During your tour, visit Parikia and Lefkes. Lefkes was the first capital of Paros. The village is located under a pinewood on the hill and a walk around its beautiful narrow streets will be sure to impress you. You will see the old washhouses that are still used by certain housewives and the House of Literature, a street with taverns and other stores with sea views in the background.
After the tour, check into the resort where the rest of the day is at leisure. In the evening, transfer to Naoussa for free time and dinner on your own.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Saint Andrea Seaside Resort
Day
4
Cooking Class
Start your morning with a wellness activity and breakfast at the hotel.
Later in the morning, you will be transferred to a local taverna in the village of Ambelos only 3 km from the hotel. Enjoy a hands-on cooking lesson with Stella, the most trusted gastronomic specialist on the Island, who will introduce you to authentic and local Greek cuisine.
Spend a fun morning and afternoon in the kitchen for a hands-on Greek cooking class concentrating on the traditional foods and wines of this beautiful island - see, smell & taste real Greek cuisine with the locals who make the island so special!
Discover step by step how to prepare a satisfying full Greek meal ranging from appetizers to desserts, including the art of making phyllo for spanakopita or moussaka. Learn how to make your favorite Greek dish, such as lamb in the oven, beef onion stew, fish soup, marinated octopus, stuffed tomatoes, dolmadakia or roasted pork in a lemon rosemary sauce, fried zucchinis balls, tomato balls, tzatziki or loukoumades & baklava.
There will be hands-on instructions given throughout the day where you will get the Parian recipes, enjoy specialties accompanied with local wine and enough knowledge to take with you as you impress your friends back home!
NOTES
- Recipes vary according to the seasons and we use only the freshest ingredients available in the market, the majority of which come from the vegetable garden of different farmers bringing you closer to the authentic Greek experience!
- The sequence of activities might change, subject to weather and to the availability of certain ingredients. There might be some changes in the menu according to the cook's choice.
- Vegan or vegetarian menu or menus with dietary restrictions are available upon request
Return to the hotel for the remainder of your evening at leisure.
Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Accommodation: Saint Andrea Seaside Resort
Day
5
Free day in Paros
Start your day off with an optional wellness activity and breakfast at the hotel. Today is at leisure to explore the island, visit local shops, walk to nearby beaches or enjoy the amenities on property.
In the evening, transfer to Parikia for free time and dinner.
The most famous monument in Parikia is the church of Panagia Ekatontapiliani, whose name means 'the Church of 100 doors'. The church is one of the most important and best-preserved Christian churches of Greece.
Later in the evening, return from Parikia for the remaining of the evening at leisure.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Saint Andrea Seaside Resort
Day
6
Ferry from Paros to Santorini – Venetsanos Winery
After an early breakfast in Paros, you'll be transferred to the Paros port to catch the ferry to Santorini. Your bus will be waiting to transfer you to Venetsanos Winery for a wine-tasting tour. After tasting the volcanic wines and enjoying the panoramic view of Santonri, you will head to your hotel to check in. The remainder of the day and evening is at leisure.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Splendour Resort
Day
7
Free Day in Fira
Enjoy optional morning yoga, followed by a leisurely morning breakfast with time to stroll through town and scope out the small shops and boutiques. Head over to Fira, the capital of the island, which offers plenty to explore. History buffs will be delighted by the proximity to the Archaeological Museum of Santorini, the Museum of Prehistoric Thera, the Folklore Museum of Emmanuel Lignos, and the church of Hypapante.
Optional Supplement Tour: As the late afternoon unfolds, you'll head toward Vlychada Port to board your semi-private catamaran cruise around the island. Your first stop will be at the Red Beach to swim and sun, followed by a second stop at the White Beach to take in all the distinctive-coloured sands of Santorini.
Barbecue will be served on board while you sail past landmarks at Aspronisi, the Ancient Lighthouse, Indian Rock, and the prehistoric city at Akrotiri, hidden away at the southern tip of Santorini. These ruins are the site of some of the Bronze Age’s most advanced settlements, which prospered for centuries before being destroyed by a great volcanic eruption in the mid-second millennium BC. Top it off with a jump into the hot springs at Nea Kameni, where the mineral-rich volcanic waters are believed to have therapeutic properties.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Splendour Resort
Day
8
Sea Kayaking
After breakfast, head to the beach for a sea kayaking tour on the lesser-known south side of the island. Get a new perspective on the shores while you paddle past the Red and White beaches, named for their distinctly colored sands, with plenty of time to stop for swimming and snorkeling in the Aegean's clear water.
Return to the hotel to freshen up, before heading out to a local restaurant in Fira to cheer the end of this magical trip!
Meals: Breakfast & Dinner
Accommodation: Splendour Resort
Day
9
Depart Santorini
It's time to say farewell to Greece! Today, you'll savor one more breakfast and wellness activity in Santorini before your transfer to the airport for your flight home.
Meals: Breakfast
The activity Level for this tour is:
Average - Some tours may include hiking or potential higher elevation hiking, biking, SUP, rafting, or kayaking in addition to walking on uneven surfaces or for longer periods of time.
Itinerary
Day
1
Arrival in Athens
Welcome to Greece! Upon arrival at the airport, transfer to the hotel for check-in. Relax and unpack before meeting up with the rest of the group. In the evening, you will be transferred to Strofi restaurant in the shadow of the holy rock of Acropolis for your welcome dinner.
Meals: Dinner
Accommodation: Amalia Hotel
Day
2
Athens – Acropolis - Varvakios
Start your day with an optional morning yoga session. Afterwards, you will meet your guide in Syntagma Square to sample the best of what the city's street food stalls have to offer. You'll learn about the Mediterranean diet and its potential benefits while strolling the city streets in neighborhoods you may not have discovered yet and explore bustling open-air markets.
Say good morning with Greek coffee at one of the city's landmark coffee houses, then pick up some street snacks to sample on the go. Venture into the aromatic Varvakios Market, the largest and most popular fish, meat, and vegetable market in the city, and explore the city's main spice street. Sample olive oils, honey, cheeses from around the country, cured meats, olives, and more. Everything from baklava to souvlaki is available to appeal to even the pickiest eaters.
After the food tour, enjoy a city walking tour of Athens' most iconic sites, including the ruins, Parthenon, and other must-see areas. Return to the hotel to freshen up before enjoying the rest of the evening at leisure.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Amalia Hotel
Day
3
Athens – Paros
After an early breakfast, you will be transferred to Piraeus port to catch the ferry to Paros. You'll start your tour of the Cyclades on route to Paros, one of the larger islands in the Aegean Islands. Once you arrive in Paros, you will start a half-day tour of the island. During your tour, visit Parikia and Lefkes. Lefkes was the first capital of Paros. The village is located under a pinewood on the hill and a walk around its beautiful narrow streets will be sure to impress you. You will see the old washhouses that are still used by certain housewives and the House of Literature, a street with taverns and other stores with sea views in the background.
After the tour, check into the resort where the rest of the day is at leisure. In the evening, transfer to Naoussa for free time and dinner on your own.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Saint Andrea Seaside Resort
Day
4
Cooking Class
Start your morning with a wellness activity and breakfast at the hotel.
Later in the morning, you will be transferred to a local taverna in the village of Ambelos only 3 km from the hotel. Enjoy a hands-on cooking lesson with Stella, the most trusted gastronomic specialist on the Island, who will introduce you to authentic and local Greek cuisine.
Spend a fun morning and afternoon in the kitchen for a hands-on Greek cooking class concentrating on the traditional foods and wines of this beautiful island - see, smell & taste real Greek cuisine with the locals who make the island so special!
Discover step by step how to prepare a satisfying full Greek meal ranging from appetizers to desserts, including the art of making phyllo for spanakopita or moussaka. Learn how to make your favorite Greek dish, such as lamb in the oven, beef onion stew, fish soup, marinated octopus, stuffed tomatoes, dolmadakia or roasted pork in a lemon rosemary sauce, fried zucchinis balls, tomato balls, tzatziki or loukoumades & baklava.
There will be hands-on instructions given throughout the day where you will get the Parian recipes, enjoy specialties accompanied with local wine and enough knowledge to take with you as you impress your friends back home!
NOTES
- Recipes vary according to the seasons and we use only the freshest ingredients available in the market, the majority of which come from the vegetable garden of different farmers bringing you closer to the authentic Greek experience!
- The sequence of activities might change, subject to weather and to the availability of certain ingredients. There might be some changes in the menu according to the cook's choice.
- Vegan or vegetarian menu or menus with dietary restrictions are available upon request
Return to the hotel for the remainder of your evening at leisure.
Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Accommodation: Saint Andrea Seaside Resort
Day
5
Free day in Paros
Start your day off with an optional wellness activity and breakfast at the hotel. Today is at leisure to explore the island, visit local shops, walk to nearby beaches or enjoy the amenities on property.
In the evening, transfer to Parikia for free time and dinner.
The most famous monument in Parikia is the church of Panagia Ekatontapiliani, whose name means 'the Church of 100 doors'. The church is one of the most important and best-preserved Christian churches of Greece.
Later in the evening, return from Parikia for the remaining of the evening at leisure.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Saint Andrea Seaside Resort
Day
6
Ferry from Paros to Santorini – Venetsanos Winery
After an early breakfast in Paros, you'll be transferred to the Paros port to catch the ferry to Santorini. Your bus will be waiting to transfer you to Venetsanos Winery for a wine-tasting tour. After tasting the volcanic wines and enjoying the panoramic view of Santonri, you will head to your hotel to check in. The remainder of the day and evening is at leisure.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Splendour Resort
Day
7
Free Day in Fira
Enjoy optional morning yoga, followed by a leisurely morning breakfast with time to stroll through town and scope out the small shops and boutiques. Head over to Fira, the capital of the island, which offers plenty to explore. History buffs will be delighted by the proximity to the Archaeological Museum of Santorini, the Museum of Prehistoric Thera, the Folklore Museum of Emmanuel Lignos, and the church of Hypapante.
Optional Supplement Tour: As the late afternoon unfolds, you'll head toward Vlychada Port to board your semi-private catamaran cruise around the island. Your first stop will be at the Red Beach to swim and sun, followed by a second stop at the White Beach to take in all the distinctive-coloured sands of Santorini.
Barbecue will be served on board while you sail past landmarks at Aspronisi, the Ancient Lighthouse, Indian Rock, and the prehistoric city at Akrotiri, hidden away at the southern tip of Santorini. These ruins are the site of some of the Bronze Age’s most advanced settlements, which prospered for centuries before being destroyed by a great volcanic eruption in the mid-second millennium BC. Top it off with a jump into the hot springs at Nea Kameni, where the mineral-rich volcanic waters are believed to have therapeutic properties.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Splendour Resort
Day
8
Sea Kayaking
After breakfast, head to the beach for a sea kayaking tour on the lesser-known south side of the island. Get a new perspective on the shores while you paddle past the Red and White beaches, named for their distinctly colored sands, with plenty of time to stop for swimming and snorkeling in the Aegean's clear water.
Return to the hotel to freshen up, before heading out to a local restaurant in Fira to cheer the end of this magical trip!
Meals: Breakfast & Dinner
Accommodation: Splendour Resort
Day
9
Depart Santorini
It's time to say farewell to Greece! Today, you'll savor one more breakfast and wellness activity in Santorini before your transfer to the airport for your flight home.
Meals: Breakfast
The activity Level for this tour is:
Average - Some tours may include hiking or potential higher elevation hiking, biking, SUP, rafting, or kayaking in addition to walking on uneven surfaces or for longer periods of time.
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Terms, conditions and restrictions apply; pricing, availability, and other details subject to change and/ or apply to US or Canadian residents. Accommodation names are subject to availability. Should accommodation mentioned on specific itinerary not be available, a similar or higher rated accommodation will be substituted. Single room allotments are subject to availability and booked on a FCFS basis. Fit4Travel will work with each vendor or supplier to secure as many single rooms as possible to accommodate each traveler.