Description

Full Itinerary

DAY 1:  ATHENS
On arrival at Athens airport, you will be met and transferred to your hotel.
Overnight:  Athens

DAY 2:  ATHENS
You will be collected at your hotel after breakfast, for a half-day city tour of Athens. The tour will give you an opportunity to observe the striking contrasts that make Athens such a fascinating city. Start the tour with a short stop at the Panthenaic Stadium where the first Olympic Games of the modern era were held in 1896. See the Prime Minister’s Residence (the former Royal Palace) guarded by Euzones in their colourful uniforms; see the Temple of Olympian Zeus, Hadrian’s Arch, the Parliament and the memorial to the Unknown Soldier. View the Academy, the University, National Library and Constitution Square (Syntagma Square). Visit the Acropolis and the architectural masterpieces of the Golden Age of Athens: the Propylaea, the Temple of Athena Nike, the Erechtheion, and “the harmony between material and spirit”, the monument that “puts order in the mind”, the world famous Parthenon. Walking down from the Acropolis, pass the Herodion and Dionysos Theatre. The final stop on this tour will be at the Acropolis Museum, one of the most important archaeological museums in Athens. The remainder of the day will then be at your leisure to further explore all that Athens has to offer.
Overnight:  Athens  (B)

DAY 3:  ATHENS – SANTORINI
You will be collected at your hotel and transferred to the port, for your ferry to Santorini. On arrival on Santorini, the volcanic paradise of the Cyclades island chain also known for amazing sunsets, you will be transferred to your hotel.
Overnight:  Santorini  (B)

DAY 4:  SANTORINI
Today will be entirely at your leisure to explore all that Santorini has to offer. Cousteau looked for the lost city of Atlantis on Santorini. The present-day shape of the island is a consequence of the activity of the volcano in prehistoric times feeding the myth of the lost Atlantis. Santorini is essentially what remains of an enormous volcanic explosion dating back 3,600 years and which created the current geological caldera and some of the surrounding islands. Crescent-shaped Santorini (or Thíra), the precious gem of the Aegean, is actually a group of islands consisting of Thíra, Thirassiá, Asproníssi, Palea and Nea Kaméni in the southernmost part of Cyclades. One could walk the busy streets of Fira, Santorini’s capital, or visit Pyrgos offering the best panoramic view of the island. Or discover what any of the numerous smaller settlements still has to offer as you wander their narrow cobblestone streets and admire the little white chapels, the cave white houses and the blue windows which have come to act as romantic symbols of the island. Make sure to end the day by taking the 286 steps, either on foot or by mule (at additional charge), leading up to Oia to enjoy the magnificent sunset.
Overnight:  Santorini  (B)

DAY 5:  SANTORINI – CRETE
You will be collected at your hotel and transferred to the port, for your ferry to Crete. On arrival on Crete you will be transferred to your hotel and have the remainder of the day at leisure.
Overnight:  Crete  (B)

DAY 6 – DAY 7:  CRETE
You will now have two days at leisure to immerse yourself in and thoroughly explore the beauty and history of Crete. The island is renowned for its natural beauty, diverse landscape, spectacular mountain ranges, dramatic gorges and exquisite 1000km coastline dotted with numerous coves, bays and sandy beaches. Its remarkable history is evident across the island from the ruins of the Minoan Palace of Knossos to the Venetian fortresses of Rethymno; from old mosques and Byzantine monasteries to the cave that is the legendary birthplace of Zeus. We suggest a a visit to the Palace of Knossos, the largest and most spectacular Minoan Palace in Crete. Nearby you will also find the village of Peza where you could visit a winery and see the wine-making process as well as how Cretan olive oil and soap are made. You should definitely also spend some time in the beautiful town of Heraklion itself which offers a vast array of shops and many delicious lunch opportunities.
Overnight:  Crete  (B)

DAY 8:  CRETE – ATHENS
You will be collected at your hotel and transferred to the airport for your flight to Athens. On arrival in Athens you will be transferred to your hotel in Athens and then you will have the rest of the day at leisure.
Overnight:  Athens  (B)

DAY 9:  ATHENS
After breakfast you will be transferred to Athens Airport.   (B)

Rates

All rates will be converted at time of final payment according to ITT’s bank selling rates.  Please double check the final ZAR amount with us on day of payment.  All services are subject to availability time of booking and subject to the General Terms and Conditions of ITT Inspirations Travel & Tours (PTY) LTD.

ITT Inspirations Travel & Tours
Email:  travel@itt.co.za  l 
Tel: +27 (0)31 266 0030
www.itt.co.za