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GREECE & THE AEGEAN -
2010
16 days incl. air, or 15
days from Athens to Athens (CO-6660)
Return to
France, Spain, Portugal and Morocco Vacations & Tours
Vacation Overview
On this wondrous
vacation, see the best of Greece’s ancient and modern mainland, the
beautiful islands of the Aegean Sea, and Kusadasi, Turkey. Spend the
first two nights of your trip in Athens, Greece’s capital, with a guided
sightseeing tour that includes the Acropolis and its museum, as well as
some time at leisure. Cross the Corinth Canal and marvel at the perfect
acoustics of the Epidauros Theater, the open-air theater that can still
seat 14,000 spectators, and at the city fortress of Mycenae. Tour this
archaeological site cursed by the gods but rich in gold and warrior
kings. Visit Sparta and see the monument to its King, Leonidas. Then
travel to Olympia, the legendary home of the Olympic Games. An optional
sightseeing tour allows you to learn more about the history of the
Olympic Games. Cross the spectacular Rion-Antirion Bridge and spend time
in mythical Delphi. Marvel at the extraordinary Meteora monasteries built
on top of rock formations before returning to Athens.
After Athens, embark on your cruise ship and set sail for a 4-night
Aegean Sea cruise. Although there are plenty of activities on board to
keep you entertained on your cruise, you also enjoy stops along the way.
On the windmill-dotted island of Mykonos, you have time to wander through
the narrow paved streets lined with trendy boutiques and shady tavernas.
Stop in Kusadasi, Turkey, a bazaar town and seaside resort but best known
for the Ephesus archaeological site. In the tiny Greek island of Patmos,
stop by the 11th-century monastery. Stroll through the charming old
walled city and souvenir stalls in Rhodes; see Heraklion in Crete; and
marvel at awe-inspiring volcanic Santorini, the “Black Pearl of the
Aegean.” Return to Athens for some leisure time—the perfect conclusion to
your vacation. This tour of Greece, plus an Aegean Sea cruise, offers
relaxation, fun, historic ruins, beautiful scenery, and old-world charm.
Itinerary
Day
1 Fri. BOARD YOUR OVERNIGHT TRANSATLANTIC FLIGHT
Day
2 Sat. ARRIVAL IN ATHENS, GREECE
Check
into your hotel. The rest of the day is free for you to start exploring
the Greek capital. Later, meet your Tour Director and fellow travelers.
Day
3 Sun. ATHENS
A
day to do just as you please. You could also join an optional day cruise
to the islands of Aegina, Hydra, and Poros. 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.
(B)
Day
4 Mon. ATHENS-NAUPLIA
Join
the included sightseeing tour of Athens featuring the highlights of this
ancient capital and a visit to the Acropolis. Next, westward to the
Corinth Canal. Journey into the Argolis to make a stop in Epidaurus.
Visit the open-air theater, which can still seat 14,000 spectators, then
head for the coast and overnight in Nauplia. (B,D)
Day
5 Tue. NAUPLIA-MYCENAE-SPARTA
This
morning, enjoy the included excursion with a Local Guide to Mycenae, a
city fortress cursed by the gods but rich in gold and warrior kings.
Motor south in the afternoon deep into the Peloponnese to Sparta for an
overnight. (B,D)
Day
6 Wed. SPARTA-PYLOS
Your
morning highlight will be the included sightseeing of the medieval
Byzantine citadel of Mystra, at one time known as the “Florence of the
East.” In the afternoon, drive west to Pylos, located on a majestic bay
on the Messenian Gulf. (B,D)
Day
7 Thu. PYLOS-NESTOR’S PALACE-OLYMPIA Olympia
Drive
north this morning to Nestor’s Palace. Your included visit will help you
imagine the siege of Troy, where Nestor commanded a large fleet. A short
stop at Chora Museum will get you acquainted with the splendor of the
past. Later, travel northwest to Olympia, the legendary venue of the
Olympic Games, when every four years the city-states engaged in sport
instead of war. (B)
Day
8 Fri. OLYMPIA-PATRAS-DELPHI Delphi Ruins
Focus
on Olympia, where the athletes of antiquity performed in honor of the
King of Deities. Learn more about the history of the Olympic Games on the
optional sightseeing tour. In the afternoon, drive north towards Patras,
the capital of the Peloponnese and the west coast’s largest port. Then,
proceed through the picturesque fishing villages along the south coast of
the mainland to mythical Delphi, crossing the spectacular Rion-Antirion
Bridge. (B)
Day
9 Sat. DELPHI-KALAMBAKA
Optional
morning sightseeing of the archaeological site of Delphi. In the
afternoon, drive north by way of Lamia and on to Trikala in Thessaly for
an overnight in Kalambaka. (B,D)
Day
10 Sun. KALAMBAKA-METEORA-ATHENS
A
short drive to Meteora, which is a cluster of monastic buildings perched
in an unforgettable manner on a set of rising rock formations. Your
included visit is certainly the day’s highlight. Later, drive south via
Lamia to Athens for an overnight. (B)
Day
11 Mon. ATHENS-PIRAEUS (Embarkation)-MYKONOS The gorgeous coastline in Mykonos
Early
morning embarkation and an afternoon spent cruising in the Aegean.
Evening arrival in Mykonos, a granite island and the most typical of the
Cyclades. Its cubic houses, windmills, and chapels seem to make the
island’s light even more translucent. Spend some time visiting a taverna
or just wandering around the town enjoying its timeless beauty.
(B,L,D)
Day
12 Tue. KUSADASI, TURKEY & PATMOS, GREECE
Two
ports of call today. First, Kusadasi on the Turkish coast. An optional
morning excursion takes you to the fascinating Greek, Roman, and
Byzantine excavations of Ephesus. Next, discover the tiny Greek island of
Patmos, where St. John the Divine wrote the Revelation. The
11th-century monastery with its valuable manuscript collection is well
worth a visit. (B,L,D)
Day
13 Wed. RHODES
Dock
in Rhodes, largest of the Dodecanese Islands and site of the Colossus
of Rhodes, a 105-foot statue destroyed by an earthquake in 224 BC. All
day is dedicated to the island of Rhodes. Explore the sights in the
historic Old City with its ramparts and palaces built by the Knights of
St. John during the Crusades. Another possibility: join an optional
excursion to Lindos and the fabulous Temple of Athena. And if sightseeing
is not your thing, Rhodes’ sun-drenched beaches and colorful shopping
districts are within easy walking distance of the port. Sail from Rhodes
around dinner time. (B,L,D)
Day
14 Thu. CRETE AND SANTORINI Experience the beautiful views Greece has to
offer
Morning
at Heraklion on the island of Crete. A few miles away is Knossos, the
center of the 3000 BC Minoan civilization, and an optional excursion can
be booked. Next port of call (weather permitting) is Santorini, the
“Black Pearl of the Aegean.” The optional shore excursion here takes you
up to the cliff-top village of Oia for one of the world’s most
breathtaking panoramas. (B,L,D)
Day
15 Fri. PIRAEUS (Disembarkation)-ATHENS
Early
morning arrival in Piraeus; drive to Athens. More time to explore the
unseen parts of the city or do some last-minute shopping. (B)
Day
16 Sat. YOUR HOMEBOUND FLIGHT ARRIVES THE SAME DAY
(B)
AIRPORT
TRANSFERS
Airport transfers
may be included when you make your international flights arrangements.
Dates
and Prices
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Departure
Details
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Departure
Date
|
Tour
Start Date
|
Return
Date
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Land/Cruise
Price Only
|
Status
|
|
3/26/2010
|
3/27/2010
|
4/10/2010
|
$1,999.00
|
Available
|
|
Popular
Departure
|
4/2/2010
|
4/3/2010
|
4/17/2010
|
$1,999.00
|
Available
|
|
4/9/2010
|
4/10/2010
|
4/24/2010
|
$1,999.00
|
Available
|
|
4/16/2010
|
4/17/2010
|
5/1/2010
|
$1,999.00
|
Available
|
|
Popular
Departure
|
4/23/2010
|
4/24/2010
|
5/8/2010
|
$2,079.00
|
Available
|
|
4/30/2010
|
5/1/2010
|
5/15/2010
|
$2,079.00
|
Available
|
|
Popular
Departure
|
5/7/2010
|
5/8/2010
|
5/22/2010
|
$2,079.00
|
Available
|
|
5/14/2010
|
5/15/2010
|
5/29/2010
|
$2,115.00
|
Available
|
|
Popular
Departure
|
5/21/2010
|
5/22/2010
|
6/5/2010
|
$2,115.00
|
Available
|
|
5/28/2010
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5/29/2010
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6/12/2010
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$2,115.00
|
Available
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6/4/2010
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6/5/2010
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6/19/2010
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$2,115.00
|
Available
|
|
6/11/2010
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6/12/2010
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6/26/2010
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$2,115.00
|
Available
|
|
6/18/2010
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6/19/2010
|
7/3/2010
|
$2,115.00
|
Available
|
|
Popular
Departure
|
6/25/2010
|
6/26/2010
|
7/10/2010
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$2,039.00
|
Available
|
|
7/2/2010
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7/3/2010
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7/17/2010
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$2,039.00
|
Available
|
|
7/9/2010
|
7/10/2010
|
7/24/2010
|
$2,039.00
|
Available
|
|
7/16/2010
|
7/17/2010
|
7/31/2010
|
$2,039.00
|
Available
|
|
7/23/2010
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7/24/2010
|
8/7/2010
|
$1,965.00
|
Available
|
|
7/30/2010
|
7/31/2010
|
8/14/2010
|
$1,965.00
|
Available
|
|
Popular
Departure
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8/6/2010
|
8/7/2010
|
8/21/2010
|
$1,965.00
|
Available
|
|
8/13/2010
|
8/14/2010
|
8/28/2010
|
$1,965.00
|
Available
|
|
8/20/2010
|
8/21/2010
|
9/4/2010
|
$1,965.00
|
Available
|
|
Popular
Departure
|
8/27/2010
|
8/28/2010
|
9/11/2010
|
$1,965.00
|
Available
|
|
9/3/2010
|
9/4/2010
|
9/18/2010
|
$2,145.00
|
Available
|
|
9/10/2010
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9/11/2010
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9/25/2010
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$2,145.00
|
Available
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|
9/17/2010
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9/18/2010
|
10/2/2010
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$2,145.00
|
Available
|
|
9/24/2010
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9/25/2010
|
10/9/2010
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$2,145.00
|
Available
|
|
10/1/2010
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10/2/2010
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10/16/2010
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$2,115.00
|
Available
|
|
10/8/2010
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10/9/2010
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10/23/2010
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$2,115.00
|
Available
|
|
Popular
Departure
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10/15/2010
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10/16/2010
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10/30/2010
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$2,069.00
|
Available
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Popular
Departure - due to itinerary and time of year, this departure
historically sells out quickly. Early booking is encouraged.
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