10 days/ 9 nights program, Athens-Santorini-Heraklion
2 nights in Athens on BB basis
3 nights in Santorini on BB basis
4 nights in Heraklion, Crete on BB basis
Upon arrival in Athen’s transfer to your hotel. Time at your leisure. Overnight in Athens.
Breakfast and get ready for your Athens sightseeing guided tour! Afterwards, transfer to your hotel. Time to relax. Overnight in Athens.
Athens, Piraeus – Santorini breakfast and transfer to Piraeus port to embark to ferry for Santorini. Arrival at Santorini Island and transfer to your hotel. Overnight in Santorini.
Santorini, Akrotiri guided visit. Breakfast. We begin our first full day on the lovely island of Santorini at the Prehistoric Museum in Fira, which houses the wall-paintings from the Minoan mansion at Akrotiri. Having set the scene, we continue to the site of Akrotiri. Destroyed by a catastrophic volcanic eruption in 1500BC, the city is reminiscent of Pompeii, with houses preserved up to three storeys high. Overnight in Santorini.
Santorini optional tours. Overnight in Santorini. By night in Fira-optional.
Santorini- Crete- Heraklion. Breakfast and transfer to Thera port to catch the catamaran to Heraklion. Arrival to Heraklion and transfer to your hotel. Overnight in Heraklion.
Admire the Venetian Walls and have a great view of the City of Heraklion, discover all the monuments of the largest town in Crete. During this walking tour, we will discover all the monuments of the largest town in Crete, Venetian Walls, Venetian fountain of Morosini, Venetian harbor, Venetian arsenals, St. Minas Cathedral, Church of St. Titus (Vizier’s mosque), Church of St. Mark, Loggia and many more. A 2-hour walking tour in the largest town of Crete, Venetian & Ottoman Heraklion or Iraklion, to discover its history, finest hidden gems. Heraklion has a history of 3000 years and in the past was known as Rabd Al-Handak (Arab period), Khandax (2nd Byzantine period), Candia (Venetian period), and Kandiye (Ottoman period). The locals often called it simply Megalo Kastro (the Big Castle). Afterwards, depart for the visit the Bronze Age palace site of Knossos, one of the pivotal sites of Bronze Age Greece. Excavations here have been overseen by the British School at Athens and the Greek authorities for many years. Enjoy a privileged introduction to the Palace. We continue to the Minoan house at Vathypetro with elaborate shrine and a wellpreserved wine press. We return to Heraklion and the Heraklion Museum, with its exquisite jewelry and brightly-colored wall paintings. Overnight in Heraklion.
Breakfast. We enjoy the morning at the important Greco – Roman site of Gortys. The site is best known for its collection of 5th century stone blocks, inscribed with the law codes of classical Greece, which provide fascinating insights into property division, adoption, slavery and adultery. We return to the Minoan era at the elegant ‘palace’ at Phaistos, which dominates the fertile plain of the Mesara. Famous finds include the terracotta ‘Phaistos Disc’, stamped with a series of pictographic symbols; and thousands of documents, some inscribed with the earliest known occurrence of the (still undeciphered) writing of the Minoans – Linear A script. We continue to Aghia Triadha, a grand but ruinous Bronze Age villa. Lavish finds include a cache of copper ingots, bronze figurines and three elaborately-carved stone vessels. Overnight in Heraklion.
Breakfast and depart for tour with a visit to impressive Minoan Palace of Malia. This is the third-largest Minoan palace in Crete, built in a wonderful setting near the sea, on the road linking eastern and central Crete. This palace – the seat, according to myth, of Minos’ brother Sarpedon – was first constructed circa 1900 BC. The already large settlement, some parts of which are preserved around the palace, thus became a palace-city. This first palace was destroyed circa 1700 BC and rebuilt circa 1650 BC, on the same site and with the same layout. Finally, the new palace was destroyed circa 1450 BC and not reoccupied. During the Mycenean period a small building, probably a sanctuary, was constructed in the ruins. At Malia we can actually walk around the actual palace, just as it was uncovered by archaeological excavations. Most of the ruins visible today belong to the Neo palatial complex – the second palace – whose rooms are set around three courts: the Central Court, the North Court and the Tower Court. The majestic size, complex plan and multiple details of the palace make it a fascinating place to visit.
Life here was much the same as in the other palaces. Let’s try to imagine Minoan daily life, the ceremonies and festivities held in the great court…
Agios Nikolaos was settled in the late Bronze Age by Dorian occupants of Lato, at a time when the security of the Lato hillfort became a lesser concern and easy access to the harbor at Agios Nikolaos became more important
Spread across three hills overlooking the crescent-shaped Mirabello Bay, Agios Nikolaos is a picturesque and cosmopolitan seaside resort. By day, visitors flock to the beaches, while at night, patrons fill chic waterfront restaurants and bars in the harbor and Voulismeni Lake— connected to the harbor via a narrow channel. Agios Nikolaos’ lively yet low-key atmosphere appeals to many visitors that use the town as a base while in Crete. During the day, most vacationers head off on foot to one of the town’s beaches. The small stretches of Ammos and Kytroplatia are conveniently located in town. Overnight in Heraklion.
Breakfast and transfer to port of Heraklion to embark to ferry Piraeus. Upon arrival transfer to Athens airport to catch your flight back home.
Guided Athens sightseeing tour
Ferry tickets Piraeus- Santorini- Heraklion- Piraeus
Akrotiri guided visit, Heraklion City tour with Archaeological Museum and Knossos palace, -Gortyn -Phaistos Palace, Malia Minoan Palace-Agios Nikolaos City tour
This program operates for groups.
Rates upon request.
Duration: 10 days/9 nights
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