In Transit: Depart US/Canada on international overnight flight.

Afternoon: Arrive in historic Athens, Greece's capital and social and economic center, which is named after the goddess Athena. Transfer to the hotel where the rest of the afternoon is at leisure to rest. Gather at 6:00 PM for a welcome drink and orientation.

Dinner: Enjoy a festive Welcome Dinner at a "taverna," a traditional, casual restaurant.

Lodging: Parthenon Hotel

Meals Included: Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel.

Morning: Climb to the top of Athens' Acropolis, home to a number of temples, the most famous of which is the Parthenon. The Parthenon was built to honor the city's patroness, Athena. See the grand sun-bleached structure built by Pericles in the 5th century BC to celebrate the city's victory at Marathon, and visit the nearby Acropolis Museum holding exquisite finds from the site. Then enjoy a walk through the lively old quarter of Plaka, a neighborhood with many Byzantine churches and endless shops.

Lunch: Lunch at a local taverna.

Afternoon: This afternoon take part in a lecture: "Greece: One of the Oldest Civilizations in the World." We will focus on the impact of geography and the role of the sea in the development of local culture, and we will delve into the influence of the arts.

Dinner: Dinner at the hotel.

Evening: Enjoy a screening of a performance of ancient Greek theater.

Lodging: Parthenon Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel.

Morning: Check out of the hotel and transfer to Piraeus, the port of Athens, to board a ferry to Mykonos. On the way to Mykonos, sail as ancient sailors did by Cape Sounion and view from a distance the 5th century B.C. Temple of Poseidon, which guards even today the maritime routes from Athens to the Aegean Islands. Shortly after, enter the world of the Cyclades where islands such as Kea, Kythnos and Tinos emerge from the blue waters of the Aegean. Approach the stunning port of Syros, and then continue on to cosmopolitan Mykonos.

Lunch: Lunch at a local taverna in Mykonos.

Afternoon: Attend an enriching lecture: "The Cyclades in the Aegean World." There is no better place than Mykonos to hear our first lecture about the Cyclades - these unique little floating worlds where Apollo the sun-god was born and with him a new era of human civilization! The presentation of history, architecture and also modern life will be followed by a wonderful walk through the picturesque white-washed alleys of the town. Walk past many private chapels, monuments of the people's strong Orthodox faith. Continue to the famous windmills, and finally reach one of the most magnificent religious architectural ensembles of the island, the Paraportiani church. A few steps farther and we experience the vibrant port of Mykonos!

Dinner: Dinner at a popular local restaurant with views of the windmills and the sea.

Lodging: Mykonos Town Hotels

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel.

Morning: Depart by boat from the port town of Mykonos and approach sacred Delos! This unique island was the birth place of Apollo, the god of the sun, music and arts. Located in the center of the Aegean Sea, Delos offered shelter to the ships of the early sailors, attracted rich merchants to build their villas close to the sanctuary of their god, and soon became an important commercial crossroad in the eastern Mediterranean.

Lunch: Lunch is served at a local taverna and includes a Greek cooking class.

Afternoon: Relax on the cosmopolitan island of Mykonos. Wander its busy, narrow streets, discover its elegant shops, or enjoy a cocktail in one of the trendy bars. You will also have the opportunity to rejuvenate at the thalassotherapy spa at the hotel. The thalassotherapy program offers the curative effects of mineral enriched seawater and takes you through three pools, each with a different temperature and salinity content.

Dinner: Explore local fare on your own. You may wish to complete your day with a gourmet dinner in one of Mykonos' many fine restaurants, or opt for a simple evening at a quiet hidden tavern in town.

Evening: Catch one of Mykonos' magical sunsets, either from the Venetia neighborhood or from the terrace of your hotel.

Lodging: Mykonos Town Hotels

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel.

Morning: Check out of the hotel and transfer to the port of Mykonos to board a ferry to Paros.

Lunch: Lunch at a restaurant on the island of Paros.

Afternoon: Our Cycladic experience continues with a pleasant walk through Paroikia, the main port of town of the island and one of the most attractive towns in the Cyclades. Visit the Ekatontapyliani Church, an important pilgrimage site of the Orthodox world. According to tradition, the church was founded by St. Helen, the mother of the Byzantine emperor Constantine the Great, in the 4th century A.D. We continue our stroll through the narrow streets where beautiful blooming bougainvilleas decorate every single corner until we reach a typical island tavern where a sip of Ouzo introduces a traditional dinner.

Dinner: Dinner at a local restaurant.

Evening: Enjoy a tasting of Ouzo, the anise-flavored aperitif that is a symbol of Greek culture.

Lodging: Hotel Aegeon

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Paros / Marble Quarry / Ancient Traditions of Food and Wine in the Aegean

Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel.

Morning: Today we drive to the well-known village of Lefkes with its narrow streets and medieval architecture. Along the way we stop to visit the marble quarry, the source of the island's wealth and inspiration for many important sculptural masterpieces. We end our field trip in the quaint fishing village of Naoussa.

Lunch: Lunch at a local taverna.

Afternoon: Lecture on the ancient traditions of food and wine in the Aegean.

Dinner: Explore local fare on your own.

Lodging: Hotel Aegeon

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel.

Morning: Check out of the hotel and board a ferry to Santorini. Also known as Thera, this quintessential Greek island formed its distinctive crescent shape in an ancient volcanic explosion that created its "caldera" or crater.

Lunch: Lunch on board the ferry, or at the hotel (depending on ferry schedules).

Afternoon: Enjoy an orientation walk around Fira, the island's vivid capital. Then take a scenic drive north to the most picturesque village of Santorini, Oia. Oia offers unique architectural complexes, elegant art galleries, fashion shops, cozy cafes, gourmet restaurants, as well as its famed sunsets - considered by some to be the most beautiful in the world.

Dinner: After admiring the sunset, end the day with dinner at a local taverna in Oia.

Lodging: Daedalus Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel.

Morning: We’ll start our island exploration from the excavations of Akrotiri! The archaeological excavations brought to light the remains of a city destroyed during the eruption of the volcano in 1630 B.C. Today we have the opportunity to see the remains of three and four storey buildings, houses supplied with fresh running water and a drainage system and decorated with wonderful frescoes; it is regarded as one of the most fascinating sites of prehistoric Greece. We continue on to the Prehistoric Museum of Thera to view some of the most important finds from Akrotiri and then to Nomicos Museum to further experience the unique frescoes of Akrotiri.

Lunch: Explore local fare on your own.

Afternoon: There is no way to describe the wild volcanic beauty of this island with the gorgeous views and the amazing cliffs dropping straight down to the dark blue waters of the caldera. Therefore, we take you to the edge of the cliffs, where one of the best known wineries of the island is located, to taste some of the finest types of Santorini wine, followed by local meze (appetizers).

Dinner: Celebrations in Greece center around food, song and family. Enjoy a lively evening with dinner, local music, and folk dancing.

Lodging: Daedalus Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel.

Morning: Explore the traditional village of Pyrgos and discuss the issues surrounding vanishing village life in the Greek Islands. Later, transfer to Kamari on the Santorini's southeast side where we can enjoy the beach resort before boarding the ferry to Crete.

Lunch: Explore local fare on your own.

Afternoon: Free time aboard the ferry to relax. Arrive in Crete and transfer to the hotel.

Dinner: During our first evening in Crete and just before dinner, we meet at the panoramic roof top of our hotel where our guide will give an interesting talk about the history and traditions of the island, and will also introduce us to the incredible and fragrant world of the herbs of Crete!

Lodging: Lato Boutique Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Knossos / Pottery Traditions of the Ancient Minoans / Cooking Demonstration

Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel.

Morning: We begin the day by discovering Crete's best-known archaeological site, Knossos. Knossos is the legendary home of King Minos and the famed beast Minotaur. Continue to the Museum of Heraklion, and end the morning with a visit to a local ceramicist to watch him at his craft. He will also discuss pottery traditions of the ancient Minoans.

Lunch: Gain a contemporary vision of traditional island life during an excursion to the typical village of Myrtia. Here we enjoy a delicious lunch at a family-run taverna where all the produce is grown in the family's garden.

Afternoon: Free time to explore the city of Heraklion. Stroll through the herbs market or relax at a local cafe with a cup of local herbal tea “Diktamo."

Dinner: Dinner at the hotel where the owners will show us how to prepare some traditional Cretan dishes.

Lodging: Lato Boutique Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel.

Morning: A field trip takes us to the archaeological site at Phaistos, one of the richest and most important centers of the Minoan culture. On our way to Phaistos we stop to visit ancient Gortyna, one of the most important cities in Crete with a history that goes back 6,000 years. This is where the famous "Gortyn Code" was founded, which is both the oldest and most complete known example of a code of the ancient Greek law.

Lunch: Lunch at a taverna in picturesque Matala.

Afternoon: Investigate the Vori Ethnological Museum with exhibitions celebrating daily life on the island. These exhibits explore food, architecture, weaving, and the customs and traditions of the island. Enjoy a walk through Vori and encounter the remains of the Venetian houses.

Dinner: Dinner at the hotel.

Lodging: Lato Boutique Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel.

Morning: Begin the morning with a visit to Rethymnon, the only Renaissance town in Greece, where one can still see well-preserved Venetian buildings! Then continue on to Chania, a picturesque port on Crete's western coast. Enjoy a walking excursion to explore Chania's oldest neighborhood with its 16th-century Venetian church, market, the Naval Museum, and ending at the charming old ship harbor with its beautiful lighthouse.

Lunch: Explore local fare on your own at one of the quaint cafes or restaurants.

Afternoon: This afternoon enjoy some free time in Chania before boarding the ferry to Piraeus, Athens.

Dinner: Dinner on board the ferry.

Lodging: F/B Elyros or F/B Lato

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast onboard the ferry or at the hotel.

Morning: Transfer from Piraeus to our hotel in Athens. We complete our experience with a visit to the National Archaeological Museum, the city's most important collection and home to impressive artifacts highlighting every era of ancient Greek history.

Lunch: Explore local fare on your own.

Afternoon: Free time to explore Athens on your own.

Dinner: Experience Greek hospitality and savor local dishes at a home hosted Farewell Dinner.

Lodging: Parthenon Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel.

Morning: Transfer to the airport for departing flights.

Meals Included: Breakfast