Greece

The Best of Greece: Island Hopping in the Aegean

Program No. 20916RJ
Discover ancient relics, iconic architecture, inspired art and enduring traditions as you voyage throughout the timeless islands of Greece — a haven of antiquity.

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At a Glance

In the Cyclades Islands, discover where mild Aegean breezes refresh communities built among the remains of ancient civilizations and waves lap at the shores of fishing villages where traditional ways of life survive unchanged for centuries. From grand architecture to captivating archaeological sites, learn how the story of Greek civilization is the story of its islands.
Activity Level
Let's Go!
Walking uphill and downhill, up to two miles per day, on uneven terrain, cobblestone and marble streets that may be slippery. Steep stairs without railings and standing for four hours per day with breaks at museum/historic sites. Participants must carry their luggage on and off the ships.
Small Group
Small Group
Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 13 to 24 participants.

What You'll Learn

  • Climb the Acropolis in Athens to the Parthenon and explore the National Archaeological Museum.
  • Come ashore on the islands of Mykonos, Delos, Paros and Santorini to learn about their role in Greek civilization and conjure the ancient Minoan civilization on the island of Crete.
  • Participate in traditional music and dance and taste ouzo, a time-honored drink among Greeks.
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
Year
2024
  • 2024
  • 2025
Date
Oct 14 - Oct 28
  • May 12 - May 26
  • May 14 - May 28
  • May 19 - Jun 02
  • May 21 - Jun 04
  • May 27 - Jun 10
  • Jun 06 - Jun 20
  • Sep 01 - Sep 15
  • Sep 05 - Sep 19
  • Sep 09 - Sep 23
  • Sep 13 - Sep 27
  • Sep 16 - Sep 30
  • Sep 19 - Oct 03
  • Sep 22 - Oct 06
  • Sep 24 - Oct 08
  • Sep 27 - Oct 11
  • Oct 02 - Oct 16
  • Oct 03 - Oct 17
  • Oct 07 - Oct 21
  • Oct 10 - Oct 24
  • Oct 14 - Oct 28
Please Note: The program differs on certain dates.
Please Note: The program differs on certain dates.
Select trip year and date
2024
  • 2024
  • 2025
Oct 14 - Oct 28
  • May 12 - May 26
  • May 14 - May 28
  • May 19 - Jun 02
  • May 21 - Jun 04
  • May 27 - Jun 10
  • Jun 06 - Jun 20
  • Sep 01 - Sep 15
  • Sep 05 - Sep 19
  • Sep 09 - Sep 23
  • Sep 13 - Sep 27
  • Sep 16 - Sep 30
  • Sep 19 - Oct 03
  • Sep 22 - Oct 06
  • Sep 24 - Oct 08
  • Sep 27 - Oct 11
  • Oct 02 - Oct 16
  • Oct 03 - Oct 17
  • Oct 07 - Oct 21
  • Oct 10 - Oct 24
  • Oct 14 - Oct 28
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
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15 days
14 nights
30 meals
13 B 8 L 9 D
DAY
1
In Transit to Program
In Flight
DAY
2
Arrival, Check-in, Orientation, Welcome Dinner
Athens
D
Acropolis Select

Activity note: Check-in available from 2:00 PM.

Dinner: At the hotel restaurant, enjoy a festive Welcome Dinner. Unless otherwise noted, dinners on this program are typically a three-course set menu. Please note that water is included in the program cost at all meals.

Evening: At leisure.

DAY
3
Acropolis, Plaka, Acropolis Museum
Athens
B,L
Acropolis Select

Activity note: Walking about 2 miles including uphill along a winding trail with over 100 well-worn steps to reach the Acropolis, no handrails; uneven, slippery and rocky at the top; standing up to 2 hours. At the Acropolis Museum, walking and standing for more than an hour. Popular sites may be crowded at certain periods.

Breakfast: In the hotel dining room, our breakfast buffet offers a daily selection of breads, cheeses, cold-cuts, yogurt, fruit, cereals, juice, milk, coffee, tea and water.

Morning: Begin your exploration of Athens with a visit to its signature site – the Acropolis. Led by your Group Leader, climb the rocky summit to explore some of the most iconic monuments of ancient Athens. The Acropolis’ focal point is the Parthenon, built in honor of the city’s patroness Athena and completed in 432 B.C. Learn how ancient peoples transformed this site into a manifestation of Greek advancement in culture and the arts, and how this legacy lingers to the present. After our visit, we will descend from the Acropolis site and enjoy a lovely walk through the lively old quarter of Plaka on our way to lunch.

Lunch: At a local taverna.

Afternoon: Enjoy a visit to the Acropolis Museum. This museum holds the exquisite finds from the archeological site of the Acropolis, and lies over ruins of Roman and early Byzantine Athens. Your Group Leader will provide commentary on some of the most notable pieces of the museum, before providing you with some time to explore the exhibitions on your own. After our visit, we will return to the hotel, where you will have some time to freshen up and relax in your rooms. We will then gather once again before dinner, where we will take part in a lecture by a university professor from Athens.

Dinner: On your own. This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to independently explore local fare. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions and give directions.

Evening: At leisure.

DAY
4
Ferry Ride to Mykonos, Mykonos Town
Mykonos
B,L,D
Myconian K Hotels

Activity note: Ferry ride from Piraeus to Mykonos is approximately 5 hours and 45 minutes. Today’s activities will include up to 2 hours of walking. Due to ferry scheduling there may be slight changes to the itinerary. Please note that you will have to carry your luggage onto the ferry, and masks are required onboard all indoor passenger areas.

Breakfast: In the hotel dining room.

Morning: We will check out of the hotel and transfer to the port of Piraeus to board a ferry to Mykonos. On the way to Mykonos, enjoy a fantastic view at a distance of the 5th century B.C. Temple of Poseidon which continues to guard all maritime routes from Athens to the islands of the Aegean. Shortly after, you will enter the world of the Cyclades, where islands such as Kea, Kythnos and Tinos will emerge from the blue waters of the Aegean Sea. Approach the stunning port of Syros, and then continue onto cosmopolitan Mykonos.

Lunch: At a local taverna.

Afternoon: Begin your exploration of the Cyclades with a lecture titled “The Cyclades in the Aegean World”. This presentation will focus on the history and architecture of the region, with some time focused on depicting what modern daily life looks like. After, we will take a wonderful walk through the picturesque white washed alleys of Mykonos Town. Awe in the many private chapels of the town, monuments to the local people’s strong Orthodox faith, before ending our walk on one of the most magnificent religious architectural ensembles of the island, Paraportiani Church.

Dinner: At a local restaurant.

Evening: At leisure.

DAY
5
Ferry Ride to Delos, Free Time
Mykonos
B,L
Myconian K Hotels

Activity note: Ferry ride from Mykonos to Delos is approximately 30 minutes each way. Today's activities will include up to 3 hours of walking on uneven terrain. Due to ferry scheduling there may be slight changes to the itinerary. Please note that you will have to carry your luggage onto the ferry, and masks are required onboard all indoor passenger areas.

Breakfast: In the hotel dining room.

Morning: Depart by boat in the morning towards sacred Delos. This small island located in the center of the Aegean is one of the most important mythological, historical and archeological sites in all of Greece. Considered the birth place of Apollo and Artemis, it was a holy sanctuary and cult center during ancient times. This, in addition to its key position in the Aegean Sea, made Delos a perfect reprieve for sailors, and attracted many rich merchants interested in building their villas near the sanctuaries of their gods. During an expert-led excursion, explore the ruins of ancient Delos and learn more about this important commercial and religious crossroad in the Eastern Mediterranean. After, we will board a ferry once again and return to Mykonos.

Lunch: At a local taverna.

Afternoon: Free Time. Take this opportunity for personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most in Mykonos. Your Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions and give directions.

Dinner: On your own.

Evening: At leisure.

DAY
6
Ferry Ride to Paros, Parikia
Paros
B,L,D
Hotel Aegeon

Activity note: Ferry ride from Mykonos to Paros is approximately 45 minutes. Today’s activities will include up to 2 hours of walking and some stairs. Due to ferry scheduling there may be slight changes to the itinerary. Please note that you will have to carry your luggage onto the ferry, and masks are required onboard all indoor passenger areas.

Breakfast: In the hotel dining room.

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

Lunch: At a local taverna.

Afternoon: We will continue our Cycladic experience with a pleasant walk through Parikia, the capital of Paros and one of the most attractive towns in the Cyclades. During this walk we will visit the church of Panagia Ekatontapiliani, an important pilgrimage site in the Orthodox world that was founded in the 4th century A.D. by the mother of Constantine the Great, Saint Helen. Our stroll will take us through narrow streets decorated with beautiful bougainvilleas until we reach a typical island taverna, where we will be greeted with a sip of ouzo – a dry, anise-flavored aperitif that is a symbol of Greek culture.

Dinner: At a local restaurant.

Evening: At leisure.

DAY
7
Lefkes, Naoussa, Free Time
Paros
B,L
Hotel Aegeon

Activity note: Walking for 2 hours on uneven terrain on sloping and inclined paths. Several ascends and descends.

Breakfast: In the hotel dining room.

Morning: We will drive to the traditional mountain village of Lefkes, the capital of Paros during the Middle Ages. This beautiful town is decorated in whitewash houses and windmills, traditional Venetian architecture, as well as charming cafés and tavernas along narrow cobblestone streets. On our way to Lefkes, we will stop at Paros’ marble quarry, a major source of the island’s wealth and an inspiration for many sculptural masterpieces. After our visit to Lefkes, we will depart by coach to the quaint fishing village of Naoussa.

Lunch: At a local taverna. This meal will include a cooking demonstration.

Afternoon: We will return to our hotel, where we will enjoy a lecture on the ancient traditions of food and wine in the Aegean. The rest of the afternoon will be at leisure for you to explore independently.

Dinner: On your own.

Evening: At leisure.

DAY
8
Ferry Ride to Santorini, Fira, Oia
Santorini
B,L,D
Daedalus Hotel

Activity note: Ferry ride from Paros to Santorini is approximately 3 hours and 30 minutes. Today’s activities will include up to 2 hours of walking and some stairs. Due to ferry scheduling there may be slight changes to the itinerary. Please note that you will have to carry your luggage onto the ferry, and masks are required onboard all indoor passenger areas.

Breakfast: In the hotel dining room.

Morning: We will check out of our hotel and board a ferry to the island of Santorini. Also known as “Thera”, this quintessential Greek isle received its distinctive crescent shape after an ancient volcanic explosion.

Lunch: Depending on ferry schedules, lunch will be a boxed lunch or take place onboard the ferry.

Afternoon: Set out on a walking field trip of Fira, the island’s vivid capital. We will then take a scenic drive north to the most picturesque village of Santorini, Oia. Known worldwide for its iconic blue dome houses, Oia offers unique architectural complexes, elegant art galleries, fashion shops, cozy cafes, and gourmet restaurants.

Dinner: At a local restaurant.

Evening: At leisure.

DAY
9
Akrotiri, Wine Tasting, Greek Music and Dancing
Santorini
B,D
Daedalus Hotel

Activity note: Walking for 3 hours, some stairs.

Breakfast: In the hotel dining room.

Morning: We will begin our day with a field trip to the excavations of Akrotiri. Sometimes called the “Pompeii of the Aegean”, this Minoan city was destroyed and buried in ash during a volcanic eruption sometime in the 16th century B.C. Today’s remains are surprisingly well preserved, and include a series of three and four story buildings, houses supplied with a fresh water and drainage system, and many wonderful frescoes. After our visit to the archeological site, we will continue onto the Prehistoric Museum of Thera to view some of the most important finds from Akrotiri.

Lunch: On your own.

Afternoon: We will make our way to the cliffs of Santorini, where one of the best-known wineries of the island is located. Wine has been produced in this region since ancient times, and became renown during the Middle Ages as a result of Venetian influence and trade in the island. Enjoy an opportunity to taste some of the finest types of Santorini wine, followed by some local meze (appetizers).

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

Evening: At leisure.

DAY
10
Pyrgos, Kamari, Ferry Ride to Heraklion
Heraklion
B,D
Lato Boutique Hotel

Activity note: Ferry ride from Santorini to Heraklion/Crete: 1 hour, 35 minutes. 1 hour, 15 minutes of steep walking on uneven terrain, and many stairs with no handrails. Due to ferry scheduling there may be slight changes to the itinerary. Please note that you will have to carry your luggage onto the ferry, and masks are required onboard all indoor passenger areas.

Breakfast: In the hotel dining room.

Morning: We will begin our day with a field trip to the traditional village of Pyrgos. Led by your Group Leader, take a walking excursion of the town while discussing the issues surrounding vanishing village life in the Greek islands. After some time to explore on your own, we will transfer to Kamari in the southeast side of Santorini, where we will enjoy the beachside and have an opportunity to swim in the pristine waters.

Lunch: On your own.

Afternoon: We will depart by coach to Athinios port, where we will board our ferry for Heraklion, Crete. Upon arrival, we will transfer to our new hotel and take some time to relax and settle into our rooms. Before dinner, we will meet at the panoramic rooftop of the hotel, where your Group Leader will give an interesting lecture about history and traditions in Crete. Be introduced to the incredible and fragrant world of the herbs of Crete.

Dinner: At the hotel.

Evening: At leisure.

DAY
11
Knossos, Free Time, Cooking Show
Heraklion
B,L
Lato Boutique Hotel

Activity note: Walking and standing for 2 hours, some stairs without railings.

Breakfast: In the hotel dining room.

Morning: Discover Crete’s best-known archeological site, Knossos. The palace of Knossos was once the ceremonial and political center of the Minoan civilization, but was abandoned in the Late Bronze Age (1,380 – 1,100 B.C.) for unknown reasons. Its location and confusing architectural design have made many believe this is the legendary home of King Minos and the site of the famed labyrinth in which he placed his son, the Minotaur. After our visit, we will gain a contemporary vision of traditional island life with an excursion to the village of Myrtia.

Lunch: Enjoy a delicious lunch at a family-run taverna, where all produce is grown in the family’s local garden. This meal will include a cooking demonstration of several recipes.

Afternoon: We will return to Heraklion, where you will have free time to explore independently. Your Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. After returning to the hotel and before dinner, we will meet up once again to listen to a presentation by a local expert on the flora and fauna of the island of Crete.

Dinner: On your own.

Evening: At leisure.

DAY
12
Gortyna, Phaistos, Vori
Heraklion
B,L,D
Lato Boutique Hotel

Activity note: Walking and standing for 3 hours on uneven terrain, many stairs without railings.

Breakfast: In the hotel dining room.

Morning: This morning we will board a motorcoach and set out to explore the remains of two ancient Minoan cities. We will first visit the ancient city of Gortyna, once one of the most important cities in Crete, which holds a history of more than 6,000 years. This site is believed to be the birthplace of European civilization, as legend holds that it is where Zeus’ kidnapped and had an affair with princess Europa – the namesake of the continent. From this affair, Europa would give birth to the three Minoan kings of Crete: Minos, Rhadamathys, and Sarpedon. Besides its link to mythology, Gortyna is also famous for its “Gortyn Code”, discovered in the 19th century, which is the oldest and most complete example of ancient Greek law. After this visit, we will make our way to the archeological site of Phaistos, the second largest city of Minoan Crete. Built high atop a hill, this city provides a fantastic view of the Lasithi mountains in the east of the island and the small villages of the south. Just as Knossos is believed to be the home of legendary King Minos, Phaistos is believed to be the home of ancient King Rhadamathys.

Lunch: We will hop on a motorcoach to the picturesque town of Matala, where we will have lunch at a local taverna.

Afternoon: We will make our way to Vori and explore the Vori Ethnological Museum. This museum perfectly weaves the customs and traditions of the island of Crete, celebrating daily life on the island through exhibits that showcase food, architecture, and art. After, led by your Group Leader, enjoy a walk through the town of Vori and encounter the remains of old Venetian houses. There may be an opportunity to swim this afternoon, so be sure to bring your bathing suits.

Dinner: In the hotel dining room.

Evening: At leisure.

DAY
13
Rethymnon, Chania, Ferry Ride to Piraeus-Athens
At Sea
B,D
FB Elyros

Activity note: Ferry ride from Heraklion/Crete to Piraeus is approximately 9 hours (overnight ferry). Today’s activities will include up to 3 hours of walking. Due to ferry scheduling there may be slight changes to the itinerary. Please note that you will have to carry your luggage onto the ferry, and masks are required onboard all indoor passenger areas.

Breakfast: In the hotel dining room.

Morning: Begin your day with a visit to the old town of Rethymnon, one of the few preserved Renaissance cities in all of Greece. See the stunning architecture of this area, which bears a strong Venetian and Ottoman influence and style.

Lunch: On your own.

Afternoon: We will then head towards Chania, a charming port on Crete’s western coast. Enjoy a walking excursion of Chania’s old neighborhood, including a 16th century Venetian church, the local market, and the old ship harbor with a beautiful lighthouse. Before dinner, enjoy some time to explore Chania independently.

Dinner: At a local restaurant.

Evening: We will head to the port and board the overnight ferry that will take us to Piraeus-Athens.

DAY
14
National Archeological Museum, Free Time
Athens
B,D
Acropolis Select

Activity note: Walking and standing for 2 hours, some stairs without railings.

Breakfast: In the hotel dining room.

Morning: We will transfer from the Piraeus port to the National Archeological Museum. This museum holds the richest collection of artifacts from Greek antiquity in the world, showcasing over 20,000 pieces from multiple archeological sites in the country.

Lunch: On your own.

Afternoon: Free time. Take this opportunity for personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions and give directions.

Dinner: At a local restaurant, enjoy a Farewell Dinner.

Evening: At leisure.

DAY
15
Program Concludes
In Flight
B

Breakfast: In the hotel dining room.






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