
Itinerary : Greece-Classic-17 days
Day 1:
MONTREAL
- Departure from Montreal airport (P.E. Trudeau) on a flight to Athens.
Note: Arrival at the airport at least 3 hours before departure.
Day 2:
ATHENS
❖ Accommodation: 3* hotel / Transport: air-conditioned vehicle.
- Arrival in Athens. Welcome and transfer to hotel for check-in.
Day 3:
ATHENS
❖ Meals included : Breakfast / Accommodation : 3* Hotel.
AM : Walking tour of the Acropolis and Acropolis Museumaccompanied by an experienced French-speaking guide. Among other discoveries :
- Theater of Dionysusthe cradle of ancient theater.
- The ruins of the Parthenonthe greatest architectural masterpiece of ancient Greece and a major monument in world history.
- The magnificent sculpted Caryatids of the Erechtheion temple.
- Visit the Acropolis Museum where exhibits offer an in-depth understanding of ancient Greek culture.
- Breathtaking view of the city!
PM: Rest of the day free for shopping, exploring the capital’s lively districts and discovering Greek cuisine and soul.
Day 4:
ATHENS-DELPHES-KALAMBAKA (399 km)
❖ Meals included : Breakfast / Accommodation : 3* Hotel / Transport : Air-conditioned vehicle.
Departure for a 2-day tour of mainland Greece:
- Drive through fertile valleys and majestic mountains towards Delphi, stopping en route at Arachova, a traditional village perched on the slopes of Mount Parnassus.
- Arrival at Delphi and guided tour of this UNESCO World Heritage site, considered one of the most sacred in ancient Greece, with its monumental remains (the sanctuary of Apollo, the ancient Theatre, the Athenian treasury and the Stadium, where the Pythian games were held).
- Visit to the Delphi Museum featuring masterpieces of sculpture that bring this important ancient religious site back to life.
- Continuation to Kalambaka, a small town nestling at the foot of the impressive rock formations of the Meteora region.
Day 5:
KALAMBAKA (MÉTÉORES)-ATHÈNES (340 km)
❖ Meals included : Breakfast / Accommodation : 3* Hotel / Transport : Air-conditioned vehicle.
A day exploring Meteora:
- Visit the region’s breathtaking scenery and stop off at 2 Byzantine monasteries, still active today and already inhabited in the 14th century by monks in search of isolation and serenity, which bear witness to the spiritual and architectural history of the period. Frescoes, icons, libraries and breathtaking landscapes lend the area a mystical atmosphere found nowhere else.
- Return trip to Athens.
N.B. For interior visits to the 2 monasteries, please allow 5 euros/person/monastery in cash.
Day 6:
ATHENS
❖ Meals included : Breakfast / Accommodation : 3* Hotel.
- Free day to wander around Athens at your own pace and let your interests guide you. Nearby is the city center, including Plaka, the historic district at the foot of the Acropolis, home to countless boutiques, small restaurants and Greek cafés.
Day 7:
ATHENS-NAXOS by ferry
❖ Meals included: Breakfast / 4* accommodation / Transport: Air-conditioned vehicle and ferry.
- Sailing on the Aegean Sea to Naxos, a paradise island in the Cyclades. The most Mediterranean of seaside and agricultural settings, with sea and blue sky everywhere in sight.
- Arrive and transfer to your hotel to settle in with a professional English-speaking driver.
- The rest of the day is free to soak up the island’s serene atmosphere, with direct access to the typical Chora district with its charming maze of narrow streets, whitewashed houses and lively cafés. You can also relax on the island’s magnificent sandy beaches, washed by the turquoise waters of the Aegean Sea.
Day 8:
NAXOS
❖ Meals included : Breakfast / Accommodation : 4* Hotel.
- Free day to relax on the beach or explore Chora and the surrounding area at your own pace.
- Optional: “Flavors and aromas of Naxos”: a 6-hour excursion rich in a variety of experiences, including a visit to a citron distillery, an olive oil mill and a goat cheese factory, a traditional meal and the discovery of authentic villages such as Filoti and Apeiranthos, a mountain village renowned for its marble-paved streets and picturesque squares.
Day 9:
NAXOS
❖ Meals included: Breakfast / 4* accommodation.
- 2nd day free to relax on the beach or explore Chora and the surrounding area at your own pace: explore the medieval castle, visit the Venetian Museum with its Byzantine collection recounting the island’s spiritual and defensive history, and the Venetian Museum, recounting the island’s Venetian period.
Day 10:
NAXOS-SANTORIN by ferry
❖ Meals included: Breakfast / Accommodation: 3* hotel / Transportation: Air-conditioned vehicle and ferry.
- AM: ferry trip on the Aegean through the Cyclades islands.
- Arrive in Santorini and transfer to hotel for check-in.
- The rest of the day is free to relax and soak up the atmosphere of this enchanted island, with its whitewashed houses, blue-domed churches, charming alleyways, spectacular views of the caldera and a memorable sunset.
Day 11:
SANTORIN
❖ Meals included: Breakfast and dinner / Accommodation: 3* hotel.
- Free day to stroll through this exceptionally beautiful setting.
Optional:
– 7-hour cruise in the heart of Santorini’s caldera. Discover the volcanic islets, take a leisurely walk to the volcano crater and visit the hot springs heated by volcanic activity. Stopover in Thirasia for 2 hours to enjoy the beaches and the village of Manolas, with its winding staircases and traditional houses. On the way back, sail off Oia for some great photos.
– A 4-hour dinner cruise at the end of the day, to admire various photogenic panoramas of the volcano and enjoy the ambience of a traditional Greek buffet dinner served on board, under the glow of the setting sun.
Day 12:
SANTORIIN-HÉRAKLION by ferry
❖ Meals included: Breakfast and dinner / Lodging: 5* hotel / Transportation: Air-conditioned vehicle and ferry.
- Sailing on the Aegean Sea to Crete and its capital, Heraklion.
- Arrive in Heraklion and transfer to your hotel to settle in with a professional English-speaking driver.
- Rest of the day free to enjoy the hotel’s surroundings and facilities.
Day 13:
HÉRAKLION
❖ Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner ( + drinks and spirits, bar open all day) / Accommodation: 5* hotel.
- Free day to stroll around and make first contact with the Cretans.
Optional: Visit to Knossos Palace / Heraklion: a 6 to 7-hour excursion to the ruins of Knossos Palace, the most important Minoan palace on Crete to have been excavated. During the golden age of Minoan civilization, which stretched from around 3000 to 1500 BC and reached as far as Santorini and other Aegean islands, Knossos was the political and cultural center of Crete’s most important city-state. The tour will be followed by free time in Heraklion, where your guide will point you in the right direction for shopping, coffee or a typical dinner.
14
HÉRAKLION
❖ Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner ( + drinks and spirits, bar open all day) / Accommodation: 5* hotel.
- Free day to enjoy the area at your own pace.
Optional: “Authentic Crete”, a 7-8 hour summer excursion including a visit to a Minoan bee farm and winery with some wine tasting, a visit to one of the largest Cretan monasteries and, finally, a stopover in a charming mountain village, where you’ll have time to enjoy a traditional Cretan dinner at your leisure. (meal costs not included).
15
HÉRAKLION
❖ Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner ( + drinks and spirits, bar open all day) / Accommodation: 5* hotel.
- Last day free to enjoy the atmosphere of this charming island.
Optional: Boat trip with BBQ to discover the crystal-clear waters of Kolokytha Bay and enjoy a barbecue on board, with a stopover on the island of Spinalonga for swimming and superb photos. Return to the port of Elounda, followed by a bus ride to visit an olive oil estate. Continue to the charming town of Agios Nikolaos for some free time in the old town. Return to Heraklion.
16
HÉRAKLION-ATHÈNES internal flights
❖ Meals included: Breakfast / Accommodation: 3* hotel/ Transport: Air-conditioned vehicle and plane.
- Departure to the airport for an internal flight to Athens.
- Arrival in Athens and transfer to hotel for check-in
- Last evening to enjoy the Greek capital.
17
ATHENS-MONTREAL international flight
❖ Meals included: Breakfast / Transportation: Air-conditioned vehicle and plane.
To Athens airport and international flight to Montreal.
List of accommodations by city :
Athens: Hotel Blue Sea 3* (or equivalent) 5 nights
Kalambaka: Hotel Edelweiss 3* (or equivalent) 1 night
Naxos: Hotel Argo Boutique 4* (or equivalent 3* or 4*) 3 nights
Santorini: Hotel Atlantis Beach Villa 3* (or equivalent) 2 nights
Heraklion: Hotel Hersonissos Palace 5* (or equivalent 4* or 5*) 4 nights
Included in the package:
International flights
Internal flights Heraklion-Athens (up to 23 kg of baggage)
Airport shuttles
Transportation in air-conditioned vehicle with professional driver (except during free time)
Ferries
All accommodations (3, 4 and 5 stars)
All breakfasts + 3 days all-inclusive in Heraklion (meals + alcohol)
All activities and admissions to sites shown in red on the program
Visit the historic sites of the Acropolis and Delphi
Visit the Acropolis and Delphi museums
Tour of the Meteora region with stops at 2 monasteries
The services of a local certified English-speaking guide for visits to the Acropolis and Delphi
Seaside break 3 days/4 nights
All taxes
24/7 support
Organization from A to Z
Not included in the package:
- Entrance fee for the 2 monasteries: 5 euros/person/monastery (no guided tour)
- Visa (if required)
- Some meals
- Beverages
- Tips
- Personal expenses
Optional activities :
- Flavors and aromas of Naxos
- Cruise to the heart of the Santorini volcano
- Dinner cruise to Santorini
- Palace of Knossos and Heraklion (Crete)
- Authentic Crete
- Boat trip with BBQ (Crete)
Important information:
- Please note that the itinerary may change at any time for logistical reasons, but that the list of activities and visits on the program is always respected. Please also note that the version of the program appearing on our website takes precedence over any printed version.