Abercrombie & Kent
OFFER ID 1515890
Tailor Made Greece: Mythic Cities & Enchanting Isles
Travel with your private party on this Luxury Tailor Made Journey, departing when you choose and with expert local guides leading the way; you can even customize the itinerary to your interests.
Explore the mythical and modern highlights of Athens, from the Parthenon to the Turkish Quarter of Plaka, before venturing off the beaten path to the lesser-visited Greek Isles Paros and Naxos — picturesque retreats still untouched by crowds. Experience their unique blend of local history, culture and cuisine, visiting ancient towns, listening to expert storytellers and tasting superb food and wine.
9 nights from $18,890 per person
Abercrombie & Kent: Tailor Made Greece: Mythic Cities & Enchanting Isles
Day 1 Athens, Greece
Arrive in Athens, the capital of Greece and cradle of Western civilization, where you are met by your Guardian Angel and privately transferred to your hotel. Enjoy the rest of your day at leisure.
Set out today on a guided excursion through Athens that brings mythical Greece to life through storytelling and tastings of local food and wine. In the heart of Plaka, the city’s oldest district, hear the tale of Zeus’s rise to power. Discover the story of Dionysus, god of wine, en route to the Acropolis. Head up Mars Hill to learn why the city was named for the goddess Athena. Accompanied by live music, each unfolding performance is a feast for the senses. Also visit the Acropolis, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and archaeological treasure trove, and view the stunning Parthenon up close. This ancient temple, dedicated to the goddess Athena, dates from 447 BC.
Journey outside Athens for a private off-the beaten-track experience, riding specially designed pedal-powered railroad carts along an old railway line that once connected Athens with the Peloponnese. Take in gorgeous vistas along the way, including a unique view of the Saronic Gulf, and learn the region’s history and myths, from antiquity to the present day. Afterward, visit one of ancient Greece's most important cities, Corinth, where you explore the Doric Temple of Apollo, constructed in 550 BC, as well as remnants of Roman Corinth. Return to Athens via the Corinth Canal, a waterway begun by Emperor Nero in AD 67 that continues to be a valuable shipping route between the Ionian and Aegean seas. Subject to availability, you may also wish to visit a nearby winery for a tasting experience.
Fly to Naxos, where you are met and transferred to your hotel. Check in and enjoy the remainder of your day at leisure.
Experience the authentic culture of Naxos on a food and culture tour around Naxos Town. Begin at the Temple of Apollo's Portara Gate with a guided visit to the Excavation Museum, and then climb to the top of the Venetian Castle to view pre-historic Cycladic figurines. Explore the old town's food market and indulge in the local delicacies, such as cheese and wine, before heading to a local taverna to enjoy traditional meze dishes (small plates of bite-sized foods, similar to tapas) and samples of raki and kitron, two locally popular distilled Greek spirits. Afterward, return to your hotel.
Start your day with a visit to the Kouros of Flerio, an unfinished monumental statue carved in the sixth century BC. Next, visit a family farm that dates to the 16th century and was once featured on Anthony Bourdain’s series Parts Unknown. Choose from four traditional Greek recipes and prepare your own lunch with the help of the farm’s owner, cooking over a wood fire. After savoring what you’ve created, return to your hotel.
Board a ferry to the island of Paros, where you are met and privately transferred to your hotel.
Today, breeze through beautiful Paros Island, starting in Paroikia, the island’s capital. View the well-preserved 13th-century Venetian castle, standing proud on top of a hill in the center of the village, and visit Panayia Ekatontapyliani church, a famous landmark on the island dating back to the sixth century. Head to the island’s ancient capital, Lefkes, located at the heart of Paros, and then stop in at a local café to sip traditional Greek coffee and a pastry. Leave the verdant olive and pine tree-clad hill behind for Naoussa, a chic, colorful fishing town considered one of the most picturesque villages in the Cyclades. Snap photos of its sugar-cube-like houses, wander through its labyrinth of streets and soak up the vibrant atmosphere before returning to your hotel, with the balance of your day at leisure.
Enjoy the last full day of your personal Greek odyssey at leisure, perhaps indulging in your hotel's spa and other amenities or basking beside the vivid blue Aegean.
After breakfast, privately transfer to the airport for your departing flight.
Paros is a pristine escape among the Cyclades, with terraced hills inland accented by windmills and a coastline rich with relaxed, comfortable and traditional Greek towns, of which Paroikia is the central port. This island capital is a labyrinth of white houses clustered around the extraordinary Ekatontapyliani - the Church of a Hundred Doors. Legend says there are 99 doors already discovered and upon finding the hundredth, Constantinople will be reunited with Greece. From antiquity, Paros has been known for its famed, translucent marble; such famous statues as the Venus de Milo was made from it. Also visit the Venetian castle, built on the site of an acropolis and steps away from the sea. From Paroikia you can also go to Naoussa, the Monastery of St John and Prodromos.
Paros: Hiking the Byzantium Road - 4 hours
Explore Paros’ historic Byzantium Road which meanders along hillsides, through cool valleys and across verdant meadows between the pretty hillside village of Lefkes and the old, fortified Cycladic settlement of Prodromos. The grey marble flagstone that makes up this road was placed approximately a thousand years ago and was once part of the main thoroughfare across the island from Paroikia to Piso Livadi, from a time when the Aegean sea was infested with pirates! Your walk across the island’s lovely interior today covers 3.5 kilometres (2.5 miles) is only a mildly strenuous amble that will take approximately one to one and a half hours. There is time to explore the charming village of Lefkes before setting out on the walk. Upon arrival into Prodromos relax at a traditional taverna and enjoy a glass of wine while nibbling on a selection of mezze dishes. Afterwards, you are transferred back to your hotel. (4 hours, driver and trekking guide)
Naxos: Family Friendly Naxos Island - 5 hours
Spend a fun and culturally immersive day exploring the myths and magic of Naxos island. Drive into the countryside, stopping to visit the temple of Demetra, ancient goddess of agriculture and fertility. This is the ideal setting to hear tales of mythology that surrounds the island’s rich agricultural landscape. Next, visit the island’s largest expanse of olive groves, which is home to several farm animals, including a donkey which is eager to meet you. Continue your morning with a nature walk through the olive groves towards Chalki, the most picturesque village on the island. In the village you can see a local beekeeper for honey tasting before enjoying lunch at a traditional restaurant where your guide explains local dishes and galaktoboureko (local custard pastry). End your day with a visit to the local distillery, which is over 100 years old, to try citron (local liqueur). Afterwards, return to your hotel (up to 5 hours, driver and guide).
Naxos: Rural Naxos Highlights - 4 hours
visit a small Naxian village where time appears to stand still as you move away from the hustle and bustle of the tourist towns. As you arrive in the village your guide takes you to a traditional coffee shop, where you can taste honey and teas from local herbs. Stroll through unspoiled fields set among natural springs and running waters and visit a young farmer’s olive grove to taste olive oil and local products. Your guide provides an insight into the nutritional benefits of a variety of Greek olive oils, which Naxian’s fondly call their liquid gold. Discover the history of olive trees on the island and the techniques used to harvest them during this memorable gastronomical experience (4 hours driver and guide).
Argolis – Mycenean & Epidavros Adventure w/lunch - 9 hours
Guests will be met by our English speaking guide to commence the tour. Upon completion of the tour, transfer will be provided back to the ship.
We begin this exiting tour with a scenic drive along the Saronic Gulf to the Corinth Canal, which connects the Aegean Sea to the Ionian Sea After a short stop we drive on to Mycenae, the Homeric city of the Atreides. Visit the Lions Gate, the Cyclopean Walls and the famous Royal Tombs of King Agamemnon. Continue to Nafplion through the fertile plain of Argolis. The picturesque town nestling at the foot of a cliff crowned by the mighty ramparts of the Palamidi Fortress was the first capital of Greece. After lunch in Mycenae, leave for in the hinterland of Epidavros to visit the sanctuary of Asklepios, the most brilliant centre of healing in the ancient world and the 4th century theatre is one of the most perfect and the best preserved of the ancient Greek theatres.
Duration: approx: 9 hours
Notes:
• Sun protection is recommended
• Comfortable non-slip shoes for uneven cobble or marble streets/steps is recommended
• Bottle of water - recommended
Guests will be met by our English speaking guide to commence the tour. Upon completion of the tour, transfer will be provided back to the ship.
Take a short drive to Athens, the cradle of European civilization. For twenty-five centuries, the panorama of this city is dominated by the rock of the Acropolis. Leave your vehicle at the foot of the rock and follow your guide uphill to visit the Acropolis and see the principal buildings: the Propylaia, the Temple of Athena Nike, the Erechtheion and the Parthenon Temple.
During your visit, you will also have some free time to enjoy the magnificent view and take some photos. Continue on with a panoramic tour of the city where you will view the Olympieion (the Temple of Olympian Zeus) from the 6th Century BC, one of the largest Corinthian style temples in Greek history and Hadrian's Arch (2nd Century AD) which divided the Greek city from Hadrian's new Roman city. Arriving at Syntagma Square, see the Royal Palace, built for Otto I of Bavaria and the present-day Parliament.
In front of the Palace stands the Monument of the Unknown Soldier where two soldiers (Evzoni) stand guard continuously. Finally visit the Stadium, which stands on the site of the Ancient Stadium, laid out under Lycurgus in the 4th Century BC and rebuilt in 1896 on its original plan for the modern Olympic Games.
Notes:
Athens - Enlightening Classical Athens Tour w/ lunch - 6 hours
Guests will be met by our English speaking guide to commence the tour. Upon completion of the tour, transfer will be provided back to the ship.
We begin our exciting tour with a visit to the glamorous Acropolis, where we admire one of the world's masterpieces, the eternal Parthenon. The marble monuments and temples built in the classical times remind us that the Acropolis is more than the living history of Greece: it is the western world's prototype of aesthetics.
Continue with the highlights of historical and modern Athens. Enjoy the most famous historical spots in Athens including the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, guarded by the colourful Evzones, the ex-Royal Palace and the Panathenaikon Stadium, where the first Olympic Games of modern times were held, and admire the unique perspective of the Temple of Olympian Zeus and the Hadrian's' Arch. Enjoy lunch at a restaurant in Plaka (old part of Athens).
In the afternoon (or even before lunch), continue with a visit to one of the following of your choice:
Notes:
Duration: Approx. 6 hours
Athens - Enchanting Cape Sounion at Sunset with dinner - 6 hours
Guests will be met by our English speaking guide to commence the tour. Upon completion of the tour, transfer will be provided back to the ship.
Scenic drive (70km/43miles) along the coastal road known as "the Riviera of Attica" to Cape Sounion. Enjoy the splendid view of the Saronic Gulf. Here stands the ruins of the Temple of Poseidon, built near the edge of the cliff, one of the most beautiful monuments of the classical times to have survived to the present day. According to Mythology, Poseidon had his palace in the depths of the sea and his temple on a windswept rock rising above the Aegean Sea.
Enjoy the most enchanting at sunset before your transfer to the Ithaki Restaurant located on the waterfront of Vouliagmeni.
Enjoy a lovely dinner at the waterfront restaurant, Ithaki overlooking Vouliagmeni Bay and the sparkling Saronic Gulf, Ithaki is probably the best outdoor sea viewpoint of Attica. A typical Greek fishing boat at the entrance, full of crushed ice, fresh fish and lobsters of all sizes give you a hint that you are not here for steaks, although they are available. The elegant, exclusive seaside restaurant is built amphitheatrically on varying levels in a way to secure privacy and a magnificent view of the bay. The Ithaki cuisine is based mainly on traditional Greek recipes and gives priority to seafood delicacies and fresh fish. Soft piano music and songs are entertaining the guests during the whole evening. Greek hospitality and excellent service are priority at the Ithaki, ensuring clients' satisfaction!
Notes:
Duration: Approx. 6 1/2 hours
Athens - The Athenian Riviera & the Temple of Poseidon - 4 hours
Guests will be met by our English speaking guide to commence the tour. Upon completion of the tour, transfer will be provided back to the ship.
Scenic drive (70km/43miles) along the coastal road known as "the Riviera of Attica", which affords a splendid view of the Saronic Gulf, to Cape Sounion the southern-most point of the entire peninsula of Aemos (Balkans). Here stand the ruins of the Temple of Poseidon, built near the edge of the cliff, one of the most beautiful monuments of the classical times to have survived to the present day. According to Mythology, Poseidon had his palace in the depths of the sea and his temple on a windswept rock rising above the Aegean Sea.
This tour is most enchanting at sunset!
Notes:
Duration: Approx. 4 hours
Delphi – History & the Oracle w/lunch - Full Day Tour
In the morning, you will be met by your English-speaking guide upon disembarkation from the cruise ship to commence the tour. Upon completion of the tour, you will be transferred back to the ship.
Enjoy a scenic drive to Delphi via the National Highway passing through the spectacular sites of Boetia, Thebes and Levadia.
Delphi is by common consent the most spectacularly beautiful ancient site in Greece and the one, which, even to the uninitiated, most vividly evokes the Classical Past. In antiquity Delphi was regarded as the centre of the world (omphalos of the earth) and to this, and its oracle, the place owed its prestige, which extended far beyond the Greek world.
Our visit to Delphi is divided into three parts: the Sanctuary of Apollo with the Stadion; the Castalian spring and the Sanctuary of Athena at Marmaria (from above as it is a steep ragged climb to access it); and the Museum.
Enjoy lunch at a traditional local restaurant. En route to Athens, there will be a short stop at the picturesque mountain village of Arachova. The village is famous for its attractive hand-woven carpets and rugs as well as for its wine and cheese.
In the early evening return to Athens.
Notes:
• Sun protection indispensable
• Comfortable non-slip shoes for uneven cobble or marble streets/steps
• Bottle of water recommended
Athens - Ancient Corinth Tour - 4.5 hours
In the morning, you will be met by your English-speaking guide upon disembarkation from the cruise ship to commence the tour. Upon completion of the tour, you will be transferred back to the ship.
Departure for the excursion to Corinth and Cenchreae, from the where St. Paul left for Ephesus. Stop to view the Corinth Canal connecting the Aegean with the Ionian Sea. Ancient Corinth is sited inland at the foot of Mount Acrocorinth. The City’s ‘Long Wall’ began from the summit of the mountain, encompassed the city and ended at the port of Lechaio, which was the artificial harbor built on the shore of the Gulf of Corinth.
In the area of the city itself, the ruins are those of its Agora (Forum) as it was in the days of the Romans in the 1st century AD. On the northern side of the agora, seven of the thirty-eight columns of the Ancient Temple of Apollo (6th century BC) still stand. To the northeast of the Agora are the remains of the Theater and the Roman Odeon. Among the ruins of the Roman Forum, the Bema can be seen single structure from where St. Paul preached to the Corinthians. Corinth was the city where St. Paul created one of the biggest Christian communities in Europe. A visit to the Museum is also included as well as a stop at the small port of Lechaio, where Paul disembarked.
Duration: Approximately 4½ hours
Notes:
• Sun protection is recommended
• Comfortable non-slip shoes for uneven cobble or marble streets/steps is recommended
• Bottle of water - recommended
Athens - Jewish History Tour - Half Day Tour approx 4 hours
Guests will be met by our English speaking guide to commence the tour. Upon completion of the tour, transfer will be provided back to the ship.
Take a short drive to the city of Athens, the cradle of the European civilization. For twenty-five centuries, the panorama of this city is dominated by the rock of the Acropolis. Leave your vehicle at the foot of the rock and follow your guide uphill to visit the Acropolis and see the principal buildings: the Propylaia, the Temple of Athena Nike, the Erechtheion and the Parthenon Temple. During your visit, you will also have some free time to enjoy the magnificent view and take some photos.
Continue on with a panoramic tour of the city where you will view the Olympieion (the Temple of Olympian Zeus) from the 6th Century BC, one of the largest Corinthian style temples in Greek history and Hadrian’s Arch (2nd Century AD) which divided the Greek city from Hadrian’s new Roman city. Arriving at Syntagma Square, see the Royal Palace, built for Otto I of Bavaria and the present-day Parliament. In front of the Palace stands the Monument of the Unknown Soldier where two soldiers (Evzoni) stand guard continuously. Finally visit the Stadium, which stands on the site of the Ancient Stadium, laid out under Lycurgus in the 4th Century BC and rebuilt in 1896 on its original plan for the modern Olympic Games.
We continue onward with a visit to the Jewish Museum of Athens. The Museum was founded in 1977 in order to collect, conserve, research and exhibit the material evidence of 2300 years of Jewish life in Greece. Its collection, which is continuously enriched, consists of seven and a half thousand original artifacts, photographs, documents and archives, and includes diverse material pertaining to the domestic and religious life, as well as the historical course of the Greek Jews.
The permanent exhibition illustrates subject areas such as the synagogue, the Jewish Holidays, traditional costumes, the Holocaust, the cycle of life and more.
It is recommended that guests wear flat, comfortable walking shoes.
Opening hours of the Jewish Museum: Daily 09:30-14:30
Sunday 10:00-14:00
Saturday: closed
Athens - The Acropolis & a walking tour of the Plaka w/lunch - Full Day tour
Guests will be met by our English speaking guide to commence the tour. Upon completion of the tour, transfer will be provided back to the ship.
Take a short drive to Athens, the cradle of the European civilization. For twenty-five centuries, the panorama of this city is dominated by the rock of the Acropolis. Leave your vehicle at the foot of the rock and follow your guide uphill to visit the Acropolis and see the principal buildings: the Propylaia, the Temple of Athena Nike, the Erechtheion and the Parthenon Temple. During your visit, you will also have some free time to enjoy the magnificent view and take some photos.
Enjoy a walking tour the wonderful alleys of the Plaka area. Following the Ermou Street, the most famous shopping street which begins in the Syntagma square, and going down south, you will arrive in the neighbourhood of Plaka.
The neighborhood is an historic center, full of beautiful buildings, Byzantine churches, little touristy shops, cafe, bars and taverns (Greek restaurants). One will surely enjoy walking around in the small streets of Plaka Monastiraki - As you near the point where Adrianou and Ayiou Philippou Streets meet, you will have the impression that you are entering a melting pot of sound; all kinds of music can be heard simultaneously from the loud-speakers of record shops and street-vendors selling second-hand records. Shopping or simply walking around in Monastiraki is an experience not to be missed. You will be amazed by the variety and the quality of the things sold in this busy market.
Notes:
It is recommended that guests wear flat, comfortable walking shoes.
Highlights/Description:
• Explore the streets of Athens and visit some of the best food stores
• Sample a selection of sweet and savory local delicacies
• Enjoy a cup of Greek coffee
• Visit the city's central food market
• Learn about the local food culture and gastronomy
• Private and possible to customize on the way
Tantalize your taste buds and gain insights into Greek gastronomy with this delicious private tour. Learn all about the tastes Athenians cherish and sample appetizing local treats. Discover small shops, explore the city's central food market and find out for yourself what the local food culture is really like.
Tour Duration: 4-5 Hours
Tour can operate: Morning or Afternoon
Wheelchair Accessible: No
Physical Activity Level: Moderate
Inclusions:
Jewish Tour in Athens - 5 hours
Highlights/Description:
Discover the long history of Greece together with its Jewish community’s history and visit the most important Jewish sites on this private tour.
Your tour begins with a visit the Athens Jewish Museum to enjoy a guided tour of the museum's collections.
Continuing we will descend to the Ancient Agora, where an ancient Synagogue is thought to date from the 3rd century CE. On the way you will enjoy a stop at the the Cathedral at the statue of Archbishop Damaskinos.
We will continue walking into the heart of the city visiting the flea market at Avissinias Square which is also called "Yousouroum" after an influential Greek Jew.
We will continue our visit to the New Holocaust monument and the Beth Shalom Synagogue in the Thission area.
You may choose to end your tour with lunch at Gostijo, the only Kosher restaurant in Athens.
Tour Duration: 5 Hours
Tour can operate: Morning
Wheelchair Accessible: No
Physical Activity Level: Light
Inclusions:
Athens the Acropolis and the New Acropolis Museum approx 4 hours
Join us on this tour of Athens and learn the history of one of the greatest cities of the ancient world and most vibrant cities of Europe If this is your first time visiting Athens this is the ideal way experiencing as city rich in history and culture. Our enthusiastic licensed guides will narrate the significance of all the landmarks and sites and bridge the past with present, while you enjoy your leisurely panoramic drive through the city of Athens.
The next stop on the tour is the Acropolis the most important ancient site in the Western world. Crowned by the Parthenon positioned high above and visible from almost every part of the city. You will feel uplifted high above the city as you marvel and stand amongst this everlasting achievements of ancient Greece: The Parthenon, the Propylaia, the Temple of Apteros Nike (Wingless Victory) and the Erechtheum, with its classical stone draped maidens, the Caryatids.
The Acropolis is the prelude to the final visit on the tour the Acropolis museum, where the final chapter of the tour will be told and your short odyssey will end. The monuments of the Acropolis have withstood the ravages of past centuries, both of ancient times and throughout the middle ages. These circumstances cultivated the need and conception of the Acropolis museum. One museum that would house and conserve the invaluable Greek artifacts, where eventually the Parthenon sculptures will be reunited.
Bits & Bites Athens street food walking tour approx 3 hours
Start on a walking tour of the local markets: The senses of taste and smell are so powerful that Greece will intoxicate you and create a mystical experience. Take a look, sniff, and taste the vegetable, meat, and fish markets of Athens. Try the traditional Greek tastes: Greek sweets, koulouri, sausages, olive oil, olives, cheeses, rusks, Greek alcohol (wine, ouzo), and spices and herbs.
-Ariston (for tyropitta)
-Zisis, traditional small fish bites in a paper cone
-Bairaktaris Souvlaki
-Varvakios central food and spice market, then visit Ouzeri for ouzo-meze
-Traditional honey dough bites in Lukumades
-Brettos, for a shot glass of masticha,
-Time permitting, go for a Greek coffee at Café Melina in Plaka
The program and shops visited are indicative and may differ on the day depending on opening hours
Available May to October, morning to mid-afternoon*
Inclusions: Licensed English-speaking guide, Metro Tickets, Taxes
Exclusions: Gratuities, Personal expenses, anything not mentioned above, Snacks or meals
Tips: Wear flat, comfortable walking shoes a hat & plenty of sunscreen. Don’t eat before the tour!
Acropolis & Plaka walking tour approx 3 hours
Athens Scavenger Hunt - 4 hours
Highlights/Description:
All fares are quoted in US Dollars.