Jewels of the Aegean: Discover the History of the Greek Islands

After arriving at the hotel, check-in and take some time to unpack and relax. Attend an orientation meeting. The Study Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the program theme, the up-to-date Daily Schedule and any changes, discuss safety guidelines, emergency procedures, roles and responsibilities, and answer any questions you may have. Indicated times are approximate. Program activities, schedules, and personnel may need to change due to local circumstances. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Unless otherwise noted, all lectures and field trips will be led by our Study Leader, a local expert.

At a local restaurant, get to know your fellow participants with a welcome meal.

Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.

At the hotel.

We will begin our exploration of Athens with a visit to the Byzantine museum, with its beautiful gardens located in the heart of the city centre. Led by our Study Leader, we will have the chance to explore the rich collection of religious artifacts dated from the Early Christian period all the way to post-Byzantine era and understand their significance to the entire Greek world. We will then reboard our coach for a short drive to visit the Kaisariani Monastery, with its beautiful frescoes.

At a local restaurant.

We will return to the hotel, you will have free time to relax or explore Athens on your own.

On your own.

At leisure.

At the hotel.

Check out of the hotel and transfer our luggage to the motorcoach before departing for our excursion. We will enjoy a scenic drive along the Athens Riviera on our way to Cape Sounion, the southernmost tip of the Attica peninsula. Upon arrival we will visit the Temple of Poseidon, who according to Greek mythology was the "master of the seas" and brother of Zeus. Learn about the significance and value of Poseidon to Athenians and enjoy the breathtaking views of the Aegean sea before making our way to Marina Zeas to embark our vessel.

At a local restaurant.

We will transfer to the Marina Zeas, on the eastern coast of the Piraeus peninsula, to embark our ship in the late afternoon for the cruise portion of our program. Once aboard, we will have a welcome drink to meet the ship's crew and staff, followed by a safety orientation before we depart. Please note that your departure is part of our Adventures Afloat programs. All routes and excursions are subject to change – weather and sea conditions may affect the itinerary. Sea conditions affect the progress of the ship, making it run late and sometimes miss ports because it is not safe to dock. Because of this, the cruise itinerary should always be regarded as provisional. The operators reserve the right to change the content of excursions without prior notice.

Aboard the ship, dinners will be eaten in the open seating dining room. Most will be buffets, with choices of salads, vegetarian and meat or seafood entrees, dessert, and coffee, tea, and water. The first and last dinners on board will include a glass of wine, with other beverages available for purchase.

At leisure. The ship is scheduled to leave Athens on our journey to Santorini.

Aboard ship.

Disembark by tender and board the motorcoach for a pleasant drive through the countryside passing the village of Pyrgos to the famous archaeological site of Akrotiri. If Santorini is known as the Greek Pompeii it is because of ancient Akrotiri. Excavations uncovered an ancient town frozen in time by ash from an eruption some 3.600 years ago. Remains of sophisticated buildings with great frescoes and other constructions are evidence of an elaborate lifestyle. Continue by motorcoach to the northern coast taking in amazing views to reach Oia, the most picturesque village of Santorini with its magical views over the Caldera. A short drive will bring us back to Fira where we will have a short guided walk and a visit of Fira museum.

At a local restaurant.

Free time to explore Santorini on your own.

Aboard ship.

At leisure. The ship is scheduled to leave Santorini on our journey to Crete.

Aboard ship.

After arriving at Crete’s lively port of Rethymno, we will set out via motorcoach for an exploration east to the ancient Minoan capital of Knossos, considered to be the oldest city in Europe. Knossos is the home to many well-known legends including King Minos, Theseus and the Minotaur, and Daedalus and Icarus. As we explore on foot, led by our Study Leader, we will view elaborate architecture and elegant wall frescoes that are reminiscent of the days when Knossos was among the strongest cities in the Mediterranean.

At a local restaurant in Knossos.

We will continue to explore Knossos, one of the UNESCO’s Minoan Palatial Centers. Late in the afternoon, we will return to Rethymno and embark our ship.

Aboard ship.

At leisure. The ship is scheduled to leave Crete on our journey to Karpathos.

Aboard ship.

Boarding our motorcoach from Diafani port, we will drive into the mountainous area of Northern Karpathos where we will reach Olympos village. It is one of the most famous villages of the Aegean Sea often described as a living Greek folklore museum. The village itself, built on the slopes of a mountain was isolated from the Southern part of the island and not accessible by asphalt road until the last few years. It is for this reason that its residents preserved their ancient traditions, old customs and their local dialect; traditions which originated from the ancient Doric people.

Aboard ship.

The ship is scheduled to depart Karpathos at 1:00 p.m. This afternoon will be spent onboard at leisure as we sail to Rhodes for an evening arrival.

Aboard ship.

At leisure. The ship is scheduled to arrive in Rhodes this evening.

Aboard ship.

The ancient city-state of Lindos was for many centuries the most important on the island. It reached its heyday in the 6th century BCE. Modern Lindos is situated 40 miles from the city of Rhodes and bears above it the Acropolis of Lindos with the ancient Temple of Athena, built in 300 BCE. Here and there, we will come across mansions of captains built between the 16th and 18th centuries CE. We will then walk to the Acropolis of Lindos. Here stands the Doric temple of Athena, erected atop an older monument.

At a local restaurant.

We will continue our Field Trip and explore the Old City of Rhodes, one of the rare survivors of the medieval world in Europe. It stands unscathed, in all its vibrant beauty. We will walk through the old town where the Order of the Knights of Saint John of Jerusalem, the Hospitallers, left an indelible mark. We will visit the Palace of the Grand Master, one of the greatest monuments erected in the Middle Ages. It was the administrative center, the residence of the leader of the Knights of St John of Rhodes, and the seat of the established ruling class. Moving on, we will walk along the street of the Knights, one of the highlights of the medieval town, where seven imposing inns were constructed in the early 16th century, representing the seven countries from which the Knights of the Order of St John originated. We will return to the ship.

Aboard ship.

At leisure. The ship is scheduled to leave Rhodes on our journey to Patmos.

Aboard ship.

Depart the picturesque harbor of Skala for a short drive to the Grotto of the Apocalypse and the imposing Monastery of St. John, built 900 years ago. Its thick, high walls are crowned all around with battlements and eight chapels. Visit the Treasury museum in the Monastery with its jeweled chalices, crowns, vestments and old manuscripts dating back to 1073. We will then continue for an exploration in Chora lead by our Study Leader. Chora is of unique charm not only because of the dominating Castle and Monastery but for the Byzantine residences said to be the strongest ones built in the Aegean. Enjoy some time at leisure before returning to our ship.

Aboard ship.

Free time to explore Patmos on your own.

Aboard ship.

At leisure. The ship is scheduled to leave Patmos on our journey to Delos.

Aboard ship.

After disembarking by tender this morning, we will explore the island of Delos, antiquity’s most sacred island and the birth place of Apollo and Artemis. We will set out by foot with our Study Leader and visit the island’s main archaeological sites. This is a walking Field Trip as the island is uninhabited, there are no vehicles on the island.

Aboard ship.

The ship is scheduled to depart Delos at 1:00 p.m., arriving in Tinos at 2:30 p.m. Upon arrival in Tinos, we will board our motorcoach and drive to Pyrgos, the biggest village of the island. Known as a premier art centre, we will be visiting the renowned Marble Museum to learn more about this craft from mining to artwork. We will then have some free time to wander around the narrow streets and admire the architecture or enjoy a coffee in the picturesque coffee shops, before making our way back to the ship.

Aboard ship.

At leisure. The ship is scheduled to leave Tinos on our journey to Athens.

Aboard ship.

Disembarkation at the Marina Zeas in Athens will follow after breakfast, timing based upon cabin location and flight schedule. All participants must be off the ship by 9 AM. This concludes our program. If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Please join our Facebook page and share photos of your program. Visit us at www.facebook.com/rsadventures. Best wishes for all your journeys!