Greece Through the Ages

Begin your Greece Through the Ages adventure with arrival at Athens International Airport. Our driver will welcome you and provide a private transfer to your hotel. A boutique property, it’s located in Plaka, a historic neighborhood with 3,500 years of history. You’ll have a room with a view of the Acropolis and once you’re settled in you can enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure. We recommend a relaxed stroll, with lots to see right out your door, including ancient ruins. There are many shops for picking up necessities, souvenirs, or gifts along with enticing sidewalk cafes for unwinding with a glass of Greek wine.

• Preferred hotel Zillers Boutique Hotel

Immerse yourself in the heart of ancient Greece on a four-hour tour that starts by exploring Acropolis hill with your own private guide who will bring the 5th-century BC monuments to life through expert insight. That includes the crown jewel, the world-famous Parthenon, along with Propylaea, Erectheion, the Temple of Athena Nike, and others. Afterward, visit one of the top museums in the country which displays countless finds from the hill, the New Acropolis Museum nestled at its base. One of the highlights allows you to witness the excavation site beneath a glass floor, with layers of history revealed in the ruins.

• Preferred hotel Zillers Boutique Hotel

It’s time to jet off to the islands, with our driver picking you up for a private transfer back to the airport. Catch your flight to Rhodes airport with a driver there to meet you upon arrival, providing a private transfer to your hotel. Located in Old Town Rhodes, you’ll have plenty to take advantage of right outside your door. After settling in, feel free to relax and enjoy the rest of the day on your own. If you want a preview, we suggest visiting the Palace of the Grand Masters. It’s just five minutes away on foot with more than 150 rooms open to visitors.

• Preferred hotel 10GR Boutique Hotel & Wine Bar

An exclusive half-day tour brings you to discover the Old Town sites with our local guide. You’ll take a walk along the cobblestone streets to marvel at the landmarks while enjoying the stories behind them. In the Acropolis of Rhodes, witness the ancient theater, stadium, and Temple of Apollo. Mandraki harbor is on the agenda too, before embarking on a drive to Lindos on the southeastern side of the island. Upon arrival, you’ll have an hour to explore the unique traditional settlement and its renowned clifftop acropolis. Just a few of the ruins that await include a temple and a 20-columned Hellenistic stoa.

• Preferred hotel 10GR Boutique Hotel & Wine Bar

A semi-private group tour brings you to discover some of the hidden treasures in Northern Rhodes as you travel both on- and off-road paths. The remote, mountainous area is limited in tourist development but jam-packed with panoramic vistas that you’ll be able to enjoy without having to be behind the wheel. Your driver/guide will reveal multiple charming villages, monasteries, and chapels, making a stop for lunch in the ancient traditional village of Kameiro. While you’re here, you’ll take in one of the most awe-inspiring views of the island’s west side. The return to Rhodes’ historic center travels a paved road with plenty of scenic vistas.

• Preferred hotel 10GR Boutique Hotel & Wine Bar

Leaving Rhodes today, you’ll take a private transfer back to the island’s airport to catch a flight to Heraklion in Crete. Upon arrival, another driver will bring you to Rethymno, about an hour’s drive away following the northern coast. After checking into your hotel, enjoy the rest of the day on your own. Two museums can be reached within a five-minute walk, the Archaeological Museum of Heraklion and the Museum of Contemporary Art of Crete, offering plenty to explore. Or take advantage of your hotel facilities with a Turkish bath and Jacuzzi to relax in along with pools to lounge around and pampering spa treatments.

• Preferred hotel Rimondi Hotels Rethymnon

Enjoy a two-part private guided tour, starting with sightseeing in Rethymno, taking in all of the top spots. The second part explores the city through the eyes of a local, with five stops following what nearly all residents do in their daily lives. Visit a traditional bakery for samples of fresh-baked bread and other tasty baked goods as well as a small grocery store to see Cretan fruits and vegetables. Take a walk through the public fish market and visit a specialty shop that specializes in dairy products for a tasting of various Cretan cheeses, concluding at a traditional pastry workshop for a baklava tasting.

• Preferred hotel Rimondi Hotels Rethymnon

Today’s tour will take you back in time to the ancient hilltop Palace of Knossos. The former capital of Minoan Crete, it was built around 2000 BC, making it the oldest city in Europe. Your guide will tell you all about its incredible history as you explore the archaeological site and then you’ll head to the city of Heraklion for a visit to the Archaeological Museum of Heraklion which helps bring what you just saw to life. It includes many artifacts from all of the Minoan palaces and sites excavated to date, spanning thousands of years of history, with highlights like the famous Phaistos Disk.

• Preferred hotel Rimondi Hotels Rethymnon

It’s time to head to your next island, starting with a private transfer to Heraklion port where you’ll catch your ferry to Santorini. Our driver will meet you upon arrival for a private transfer to your hotel with time to settle in before embarking on a five-hour tour that includes many fabulous photo-ops. You’ll visit one of the most fascinating sites in Greece, Akrotiri which provides a look at life back in 1646 BC when the island was blanketed under ash during a massive volcanic eruption. A drainage system, homes, frescoes, and more are all visible. A tasting at a wine estate concludes your tour.

• Preferred hotel Charisma Suites

Today is all yours to do what interests you most, whether you want to relax at your hotel, head to one of the colorful beaches, hike the famous caldera route between Fira and Oia, or something else. If you’re interested, there’s an optional sunset sailing tour available this afternoon that offers one of the best ways to watch the island’s famously stunning sunsets, from the water. It includes a stop to soak in naturally warm volcanic hot springs, swim or snorkel in secluded areas and enjoy views of multiple landmarks. A BBQ dinner will be served on board with the glorious sunset, a grand finale.

• Preferred hotel Charisma Suites

After 10 nights of fascinating history, mouthwatering foods, and incredible scenery your Greece Through the Ages trip concludes with one final breakfast in Santorini. Your driver will meet you at your hotel to provide a private transfer to the airport where you’ll catch your flight to Athens International Airport. If you’d like to extend your time here, perhaps explore more of Greece or elsewhere, we’ll be happy to help. Otherwise, we hope you’ve enjoyed a trip of a lifetime with many memories and photos to take home with you.