Mediterranean Odyssey: Greece, Cyprus & Israel

Tour begins: 6:00 PM, David Citadel. A transfer is included from Israel's Ben Gurion Airport outside Tel Aviv to the David Citadel Hotel in Jerusalem, overlooking the Old City. Your luxury hotel is ideally located, close to shops, cafes, and restaurants, and in walking distance of major sights, including the Western Wall. Settle in and join us this evening for a welcome reception followed by dinner at the hotel. Stay Three Nights: David Citadel (D)

Begin the day with a walking tour of the Old City, including the Citadel and the Muslim Quarter, which includes many medieval Christian landmarks and churches; walk the Via Dolorosa, known to pilgrims as the path Christ followed on his way to the Crucifixion, with its 14 Stations of the Cross; visit the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, built over the site where Christ's crucifixion, and burial are believed to have taken place. Travel to the Israel Museum in Nazareth to see the Dead Sea Scrolls. Then go on to Bethlehem for a tour of its famous sites, with local guides. Return to Jerusalem, where dinner is on your own tonight. (B/L)

Start the day with an early morning visit to the Temple Mount, including the Dome of the Rock, the golden-domed blue mosque which is Jerusalem's most recognizable landmark; built in 691, the mosque is a masterpiece of Islamic architecture housing the sacred stone from which, Muslims believe, Mohammed ascended to heaven on his night journey. For Jews, the Temple Mount is hallowed as the site of Solomon's Temple, destroyed in 587 BC, and again in 70 AD; its last remaining structure, known as the Western Wall, is the most sacred site in Judaism; the courtyard beside it is an open air synagogue where pilgrims gather to pray, recite psalms, and leave written messages to God between the stones.

Depart the quiet solemnity of the Western Wall Plaza for the boisterous Mahane Yehuda Market (The Shuk), where hundreds of vendors hawk everything from baked goods, specialty foods, fish, meat, cheeses and produce, to clothing and Judaica; enjoy free time to lunch on your own at one of the many cafes and restaurants. Then it's your choice of a visit to Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Museum, or a walking tour of an Ultra-Orthodox Jewish neighborhood and market. (B/D)

Drive from Jerusalem to Haifa, where your ship awaits. En route, visit a kibbutz for a look at communal farm life, and stop for lunch at a local winery. Pause for a photo op at the stunning Bahai Gardens on Mount Carmel, also known as the Hanging Gardens of Haifa, 19 terraces of glorious floral displays overlooking the city. Arrive at the harbor and settle in aboard your Wind Star luxury yacht, Star Legend. Dine aboard ship this evening. Stay Eight Nights: Star Legend (B/L/D)

Today you have a choice of excursions. Drive north to the medieval citadel at Akko (the Acre), a small strategic port that was once the gateway to the Kingdom of Jerusalem, and a stronghold of the Knights Templar until they were besieged and defeated at the Battle of Acre in 1291. Explore Akko's warren of winding streets, alleys, tunnels, and subterranean Gothic chambers. Visit the awe-inspiring El-Jezzar Mosque built during the Ottoman era, gracing the harbor with its Byzantine dome and minaret.

Proceed to Nazareth, where you'll meet Ghada, a local artisan who will give you a presentation on traditional handicrafts; you'll also visit the massive Church of the Annunciation, which houses a grotto said to be the place where Mary was visited by the angel Gabriel. Alternatively, you can drive from Haifa to the Sea of Galilee and visit sites where Jesus lived and preached, including Tabgha, on the northwest shore, where the miracle of the loaves and the fishes is said to have happened; and the Mount of Beatitudes, believed to be the site of the Sermon on the Mount. Dine aboard ship tonight. (B/L/D)

Dock in Ashdod and drive to cosmopolitan Tel Aviv, known as the Mediterranean Capital of Cool, with miles of beach resorts and hotels, and an exciting cultural scene. Experience the vibrant city life along Rothschild Boulevard, and its parade of modernist, Bauhaus architecture.

Visit the Museum of Jewish People; or tour the colorful, cobbled streets and alleys of Jaffa, the ancient port city; hunt for bargains in its small shops and flea market stalls; or discover culinary wonders at Sarona Market, Israel's largest gourmet emporium, with 91 shops, stalls, and restaurants under one roof. Return to the Star Legend for time at leisure, and begin your Greek island odyssey. (B/L/D)

Cyprus has been making wine from its rare indigenous grapes for at least 6,000 years; its strong, dark Mavro wine was famous throughout the Ancient World; and because Cyprus escaped the phylloxera epidemic that ravaged nearly all the vineyards of Europe in the 19th Century, its native rootstocks are original to this day. Get a taste of the island's legendary viniculture at a winery in the village of Omodos.

Or venture to the southwest coast to tour the hilltop ruins at Kourion; destroyed by an earthquake in 365 AD, the city's architecture spans the ages from Hellenistic to Roman to early Christian, and includes the remains of temples, private villas rich with mosaics, bath houses, stone streets, courtyards, sanctuaries, a stadium, a Christian basilica, and a restored amphitheater with breathtaking views of the sea. Or take a guided walking tour of medieval and Ottoman architecture in the Old Port at Limassol, which includes an imposing harborside fortress. (B/L/D)

Spend the day at leisure as you sail for Rhodes. Amenities aboard Star Legend include an elevated pool, two dining venues, a fitness area, beauty salon, spa, library, casino, cocktail lounge, and computer center. Or, just enjoy the sea views. (B/L/D)

Rhodes was a maritime superpower and a center of fabulous wealth and culture before an earthquake in 226 BC toppled its Colossus and shook the city-state to its core. It remained in decline until the Middle Ages, when Knights of St. John, driven out of the Holy Land, captured Rhodes and rebuilt the capital. The walled medieval town they built is unchanged, a place out of time, and an enchanting maze of stone streets, residences, shops, and alleys, with beguiling architecture and beauty around every corner.

Its centerpiece is the massive Palace of the Grand Master, a treasure-house of artifacts and mosaics. Take a guided walking tour of the Old Town, or explore the ruined city of Kamiros on the island's northwest shore; or visit the medieval monastery atop Fillerimos Hill, with panoramic views.

Later, enjoy a special evening of Greek food and entertainment at a lavish venue, exclusively for Tauck guests. (B/L/D)

Long before the Greeks arrived, Crete was settled by Bronze-age Minoans who established the first advanced civilization in Europe. Crete was the island hub of the Ancient World, and Heraklion, its capital city, is steeped in 5,000 years of history, culture, and mystery; experience its tapestry of architectural influences – Minoan, Hellenistic, Roman, Arabic, Byzantine, Venetian, and Ottoman ––on a guided walking tour of the Old Town. Or visit the Palace of Knossos, a Minoan masterpiece painted with vibrant colors and frescoes; Knossos, which once housed 1300 rooms, was the labyrinth of King Minos in Greek mythology, where Thesseus battled the Minotaur; bulls feature prominently in its wall art.

Visit the city's Archaeological Museum, one of the most important museums in Europe for ancient Greek history, and the best in the world for Minoan art and artifacts. But apart from its history, Crete is a dreamy island of strikingly beautiful and diverse landscapes ––colorful seaside villages and cities, rocky lagoons, turquoise waters and golden beaches, snow-capped mountains, olive tree farms, palm forests, vineyards, castles, and monasteries –– graced by intoxicating Mediterranean breezes.

Author Nikos Kanzantzakis (Zorba the Greek), who was born here, once wrote: "whoever sets foot on this island senses a mysterious force coursing warmly and beneficently through their veins,...their soul beginning to grow." Experience the island's famous cuisine and warm hospitality at a family winery, where the owners will give you a tour and talk about winemaking over a lunch of local specialties (B/L/D)

Arrive at Mykonos, Island of Winds, known for its resorts, beaches, fishing boats, and (naturally) windmills, many of them built by Venetians in the 18th Century. Take a ferry ride to the tiny island of Delos, mythological birthplace of Artemis and Apollo. Once the most sacred island in ancient Greece, it is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its unique archaeological significance. In its glory, Delos was "Europe's cradle," a compact powerhouse of commerce and culture whose religious, artistic, and architectural influences spread to all corners of the Continent.

Today the entire island is an archaeological site teeming with ruins from the third millennium BC to the paleoChristian era, and a tour of its excavations is a mesmerizing walk back in time. Alternatively, discover the eclectic charms of Mykonos on a tour of the Old Port's cobbled streets. Visit a family farm for a taste of traditional rural life, as well as homemade bread and tzaziki. Lunch aboard the Star Legend, and spend time exploring Mykonos on your own.

This evening, at a special event aboard ship, enjoy olive oil tastings with a master sommelier. (B/L/D)

In Athens, bid farewell to Star Legend, and set out on your choice of excursions. Enjoy a guided tour of the Acropolis, the citadel of temple ruins on a promontory high above the city; view the iconic Parthenon, the Erechtheon, the Propylaea, and the temple of Athena Nike; peruse the staggering wealth of archaeological treasures at the Acropolis Museum; then follow your guide down to Plaka, also known as the Neighborhood of the Gods, the city's oldest historic district; with narrow, pedestrian-friendly streets, tavernas, sidewalk cafes, jewelry shops, galleries, and pockets of ancient ruins, Plaka is an idyllic, colorful village made for strolling, dreaming, and time at leisure.

Or begin the day with a motorcoach tour of city sights, including the Academy (founded by Plato), and the National Gardens and Panathenaic Stadium – site of the first modern Olympic games; climb the steps to the Acropolis for the breathtaking views, visit the museum, and relax in the picturesque charm of the Plaka. Settle in at the luxurious Hotel Grand Bretagne in the heart of the city and join us for a farewell reception and dinner this evening in the hotel's rooftop garden restaurant, with unforgettable views of the city and its illuminated landmarks at night. Stay: Hotel Grande Bretagne (B/D)

Tour ends: Athens. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from the Grand Hotel Bretagne to Athens International Airport. Allow at least three hours for flight check-in. (B)