Step back in time on your guided visits to many of Greece's historic sites. In addition to the Athens Acropolis, visit the read more archaeological site of Mycenae, dating back to 1350 to 1200 BC; the amazingly well-preserved, 2,300-year-old open-air theatre in Epidaurus, which still seats 14,000 spectators; and the medieval Byzantine Citadel of Mystra, a castle founded in 1249. You’ll also visit the spectacular mountain landscape of Meteora with its 24 rock-top monasteries set in almost inaccessible sandstone peaks.
Continue your Greece vacation on a 4-night cruise on the Aegean Sea, cruising to some of the world’s most beautiful islands. Visit Mykonos, Greece's most famous and cosmopolitan island, with its seafront village, sandy beaches, and whitewashed houses. Explore Kusadasi, Turkey, and visit Patmos, where St. John the Divine wrote the Revelation. Call at the island of Rhodes, home to one of Europe's largest medieval towns with ramparts and palaces built during the Crusades.
Discover Crete, the largest of the Greek Islands featuring towns nestled picturesquely between two mountain ranges; and explore Santorini (weather permitting), a dormant volcano offering one of the world's most breathtaking panoramas. Picturesque fishing villages, sparkling blue waters, and ancient sites offer the perfect mix for the vacation of a lifetime. Your spectacular Greek tour and cruise is truly an affordable dream vacation!
Itinerary
Check into your hotel. The rest of the day is free for you to start exploring the Greek capital with the help of your CosmosGO app. Later, meet your Local Host.
A day to relax and discover Athens at leisure. In the evening, free time to enjoy the lively atmosphere of the tavernas and nightclubs in the old Plaka district with its narrow streets and sound of bouzouki music.
Join the included guided tour of Athens, featuring the highlights of this ancient capital and a visit to the Acropolis. Cross the Corinth canal, a project conceived in ancient Greece but only completed in 1893, then head for the coast to the picturesque seaside town of Nauplia. Today's Distance: 90 mi/ 145 km
This morning, stop in Epidaurus, located in the hilly countryside dotted with pine trees and oleanders. In this magnificent setting, visit the ancient open-air theatre, which can still seat 14,000 spectators.
Later, enjoy the included guided excursion to the archaeological site and museum of Mycenae, with the imposing ruins of the great city that dominated the eastern Mediterranean world from the 15th to the 12th century B.C. It played a vital role in the development of classical Greek culture and is linked to the Homeric epics, the Iliad and the Odyssey. Travel into the Peloponnese to Sparta, where history hangs between reality and legend. Today's Distance: 126 mi/ 202 km
Enjoy the included sightseeing of the medieval Byzantine citadel of Mystra, at one time known as the “Florence of the East.” Before arriving in Olympia, stop to visit an olive oil museum. Today's Distance: 99 mi/ 160 km
Explore Olympia, where the athletes of antiquity performed as a tribute to the king of deities, Zeus. Spend free time in this pretty town or score a perfect 10 with an optional guided tour of the birthplace of the Olympic Games. Later, drive north to Patras, the capital of the Peloponnese and the west coast's largest port. Continue by crossing the spectacular Rion-Antirion bridge, through the picturesque fishing villages along the south coast of the mainland to legendary Delphi. Today's Distance: 134 mi/ 215 km
Enjoy free time in town or feel the good fortune of an optional morning sightseeing tour of the archaeological site of Delphi, where the oracle of Apollo spoke at the site of the omphalos, the 'navel of the world.' Blending harmoniously with the superb landscape and charged with sacred meaning, Delphi in the 6th century B.C. was indeed the religious hub and symbol of unity of the ancient Greek world. On to Kalambaka. Today's Distance: 143 mi/ 230 km
Discover Meteora, a cluster of Christian-Orthodox monasteries perched in an unforgettable manner on a set of rising rock formations. They were originally built by hermit monks living in caves carved into the rocks. Your included visit is certainly the day's highlight. Continue south to Athens. Today's Distance: 224 mi/ 360 km
Spend a full day at leisure exploring the unseen parts of the city or visiting a museum. Tonight, it's all Greek with an optional dinner of local specialties, served with the rhythmic dance steps of the Sirtaki keeping time with the sounds of the bouzouki lute.
Morning embarkation and afternoon cruising in the Aegean. Arrive this evening in Mykonos, a granite island and the most typical of the Cyclades. Its white and blue houses, windmills, and chapels make the island's light even more translucent. Spend some time visiting a taverna or just wandering around the town, enjoying its timeless beauty.
Two ports of call await today. First, Kusadasi on the Turkish coast. Consider joininig an optional morning shore excursion to the fascinating Greek, Roman, and Byzantine excavations of Ephesus. Next, discover the tiny Greek island of Patmos, where St. John the Divine wrote Revelation. The 11th-century monastery with its valuable manuscript collection is well worth a visit.
Dock in Rhodes, largest of the Dodecanese Islands and site of the legendary Colossus of Rhodes, a 105-foot statue destroyed by an earthquake in 224 BC. Why not join the optional shore excursion to Lindos and the Citadel of the Knights? Later, why not explore the historic Old City with its ramparts and palaces built by the Knights of St. John during the Crusades. If sightseeing is not your preference, Rhodes' sun-drenched beaches and vibrant shopping districts are within easy walking distance of the port.
Spend the morning in Heraklion on the island of Crete. A few miles away is Knossos, the hub of the 3000-BC Minoan civilization, calling you to join an optional shore excursion to explore the ancient sites. Next port of call (weather permitting) is Santorini, the “Black Pearl of the Aegean.” Breathtaking beauty is a sure thing on an optional shore excursion up to the cliff-top village of Oia for one of the world's most breathtaking panoramas.
Early morning docking at Athens' port; disembark and drive to Athens. Enjoy a free day to explore more of this amazing city.
Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.
Trip Inclusions
- Guided sightseeing in Athens, including a visit to the Acropolis
- Corinth Canal crossing
- Visit to the Epidaurus archaeological theatre
- Guided walking tour of Mycenae
- Orientation tour of Mystras, featuring the Byzantine citadel
- Visit to an olive oil museum en route to Olympia
- Orientation tour of Delphi
- Orientation tour of Meteora
- 4-night Iconic Aegean Cruise on the Celestyal Discovery including visits to Mykonos, Patmos, Rhodes, Crete, and Santorini.
- Visit to Kusudasi
- The world is within reach with everything you need for perfectly affordable touring. Cosmos includes hand-selected accommodations, guided sightseeing, and seamless transportation between destinations—with value-minded travel lovers in mind. Explore with expert Cosmos Tour Directors, Cruise Hosts, and Local Guides, complimentary headsets on tour and on shore excursions, and private, first-class, air-conditioned motorcoach with free Wi-Fi.
- Buffet breakfasts daily; 4 lunches; 7 dinners
- Athens: Gallery Central Hotel (First-Class)
- Nauplia: Rex (First-Class)
- Sparta: Maniatis (Superior Tourist-Class)
- Olympia: Olympia Palace (First-Class)
- Delphi: Apollonia (Superior Tourist-Class)
- Kalambaka: Antoniadis (Superior Tourist-Class)
- Athens: Novotel Athenes (First-Class)
- Athens: Acropolis Select (First-Class)
- Airport transfers at your arrival and departure destination are not included in the price of the tour.
- Itinerary and inclusions subject to change.
- Price is for land, cruise and specified internal flights. International flights not included.
- Please ask your Travel Consultant for cruise ship details. The ship scheduled to depart for the cruise portion of your vacation is the Celestyal Discovery, operated by Celestyal Cruises.
- This tour requires walking on uneven terrain, especially at archaeological sites, which may pose a challenge to guests with physical limitations or reliant on mobility devices such as wheelchairs.
- The Greek Government has introduced a Sustainable Tourism Development Fee to all cruise tourists. This tax is applicable when a guest disembarks at a Greek island or mainland port. With your consent, Celestyal will facilitate the collection of these fees through your onboard account.
- Cruise Details: Prices are based on Inside cabin (Category IB) - All air-conditioned cabins with private shower and toilet. Upgrades available. Rotation of ports of call may vary for congestion reasons at certain ports with or without prior notice. Full entertainment program on board. Included soft drinks with meals, and unlimited filter coffee, tea, water, and juice throughout the day. Cosmos Host service throughout the cruise.
Enjoy inside visits to Europe's the must-see sites with a great mix of included excursions, free time and affordable value. Read more
Cosmos build free time into every one of their holidays, so you can eat, shop, and explore the way you want. Read more
Cosmos' easy going, fun-filled and multilingual Tour Directors and Local Guides love exploring as much as you do. Read more
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A definite departure means minimum numbers have been reached for this departure to operate. Your Global Journeys Travel Advisor will check the availability of your departure date when you Enquire. Additional savings may apply. T&C’s apply.
Tour & cruises prices are per person. Prices shown have savings applied, are subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time without notice. Pricing and trip details are correct at this point in time, however are subject to confirmation at the time of booking and are subject to change by Cosmos. For cruise itineraries, cabin images are sourced from the cruise-line and should be treated as indicative only. Cabin inclusions, upholsteries and room layout may differ to the image(s) shown depending on the ship selected and your sailing dates.
