Greece and It's Islands
Snapshot
- 14 nights
- Guided Tour
- Athens return
- Multiple departures
From
$6,199*
per person, twin share
Overview
All About Collette
You're not just going on tour; you’re having a travel experience!
True adventures go beyond incredible destinations or inclusive packages. Collette delivers a sense of possibility across hundreds of destinations across the world.
Since 1918, we have been sharing our love of travel. Today our worldwide travel collection features comprehensive land tours, river cruises, rail journeys, small group tours, garden holidays and more. With Collette, wake each morning on tour with a new experience in front of you, and when your head hits the pillow, you will know it has been an amazing day. Best of all - we seamlessly handle the details. All you must do is enjoy the adventure!
Why choose Collette Tours?
- When Collette says guaranteed, we mean a guaranteed departure.
- Family owned Since 1918
- 24/7 Emergency Services
- Be immersed with fewer one-night stays and more 2 – 3 – 4 night stays.
- 5-Star Touring with 4-Star Plus Accommodation
- Includes both the must-sees and unique local experiences - not one or the other.
- Culinary Immersion dining at local restaurants unique to each region
- Location, Quality & Uniqueness of Accommodation staying in a grand castle, picturesque villa, glass igloo, private yacht, safari lodge, French chateau and more.
*Advertised price is based on per person twin share on 21 June 2024 departure, correct as of 1 May 2024
Inclusions
Your Tour Includes
- 8 Handpicked Accommodations
- 24 Meals
- 2 Choice on Tour Options
Must-See Inclusions:
- Explore Mykonos, the whitewashed jewel of the Cyclades Islands, at your leisure.
- Join a local expert to explore Athens and its famed sites.
- Explore the grandeur of Olympia, birthplace of the Olympic Games.
Cultural Experiences:
- Come to know two breathtaking Byzantine monasteries in Metéora, built over 600 years ago.
- Experience the Delphi Museum with its priceless collection of ancient artifacts.
- Broaden your knowledge of traditional Greek music with a delightful Greek dance class.
Culinary Inclusions:
- Taste olive oil and homemade jams at a local farm in the Peloponnese countryside.
- Partake in a Mediterranean cooking experience followed by a traditional Greek lunch.
- Sample the finest wines in Greece during a winery tour in Santorini.
Itinerary
Day 1: Athens, Greece - Tour Begins
- Dinner Crowne Plaza Athens City Center
Your tour begins in the capital city of Athens. This evening, join your fellow travellers for a welcome dinner featuring Greek specialities at a local restaurant in Athens.
Day 2: Athens
- Breakfast: Crowne Plaza Athens City Center
Enjoy a panoramic tour of the highlights in Athens showcasing the city's ancient and glorious monuments, such as the Temple of Zeus, the Parliament, and the Olympic Stadium. Next, ascend the steep hill of the Acropolis. Greek for “highest city,” the Acropolis was the religious centre of ancient Athens and is crowned by the Parthenon, considered the pinnacle of classical Greek architecture. This evening, perhaps you’ll choose to join an optional local food tour of Athens.
Day 3: Athens - Thermopylae - Metéora - Kalambaka
- Breakfast & Dinner: Grand Hotel Meteora
Travel north through central Greece to Thermopylae. Stop to see a monument dedicated to Leonidas who died defending the city against the Persians. Arrive in Metéora and visit two remote monasteries situated in a unique landscape of limestone rock “towers” that extend nearly 900 feet into the air. Over 600 years ago, Byzantine monks chose to build their monastic community perched atop these virtually inaccessible rocks. End your day at a family-owned taverna where you will savour a delicious meal with recipes passed down from generations.
Day 4: Kalambaka - Delphi - Arachova
- Breakfast & Dinner: Domotel Anemolia Resort & Conference
This morning, visit a local studio to see painters at work creating beautiful Byzantine icons. Continue to the ancient city of Delphi, one of Greece’s most important religious centers during Classical times. A local expert guides you on a visit to the Sanctuary of Apollo, the Doric Temple, the ancient theatre, and the Delphi Museum with its priceless collection of ancient artifacts. It was here that the famous Oracle was consulted to foretell the destiny of Man. Continue on to charming Arachova, a popular ski resort town with breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains and valleys.
Day 5: Arachova - Olympia
- Breakfast & Lunch & Dinner Europa Hotel Olympia
Travel along the Gulf of Corinth, crossing into the Peloponnese to the historic city of Olympia, a testament to the grandeur of ancient Greek civilization. Visit a local farm in the countryside and meet with the owners to learn about everyday life in rural Peloponnese. Following the tour, enjoy a light lunch including a tasting of local wines, olive oil, homemade jams, marmalades and sweets. This evening, broaden your knowledge of traditional Greek musical instruments and folkloric dances with a delightful Greek dance class.
Day 6: Olympia
- Breakfast & Lunch & Dinner Europa Hotel Olympia
Your guided visit to ancient Olympia includes a tour of the sanctuary of Zeus, the Olympic Stadium – where the first Olympic Games were held in 776 B.C. – and the museum. Next, learn how to cook some of the region’s best dishes as you partake in a Mediterranean cooking experience followed by a traditional Greek lunch.
Day 7: Olympia - Nafplio
- Breakfast Nafplia Hotel Palace and Villas - **
Enjoy spectacular scenery as you cross the Arkadian Mountains on your way to the picturesque seaside resort of Nafplio. En route, stop at a family-owned ouzo distillery producing Greece’s signature anise-flavored aperitif since 1869.
Day 8: Nafplio
- Breakfast Nafplia Hotel Palace and Villas - **
Today, it’s your choice! Journey to ancient Mycenae, once ruled by mythological King Agamemnon, commander-in-chief of the Greeks during the Trojan War. Explore the excavations during a guided visit featuring the Beehive Tombs and the Lion Gate -OR- linger in Nafplio, and join a walking tour of Greece’s first capital city. Nafplio’s mix of Venetian and Neo-classical architectural influences make it Greece’s most elegant city.
Day 9: Nafplio - Athens - Mykonos - Chora
- Breakfast & Dinner: San Marco Hotel
Early this morning, transfer to the port of Athens for the high-speed ferry* ride to Mykonos, the whitewashed jewel of the Cyclades Islands. Enjoy magnificent views as you cruise across the brilliant Aegean Sea to this island paradise. Spend time in Chora (Mykonos Old Town), where mazes of narrow streets link the whitewashed buildings and traditional life continues amidst the bustling activity.
Day 10: Mykonos
- Breakfast: San Marco Hotel
Enjoy a relaxing day to independently explore the charms of Mykonos. Or join an optional excursion to the nearby island of Delos,** the fabled birthplace of Apollo and Artemis.
Day 11: Mykonos - Santorini - Oia
- Breakfast & Dinner: Aegean Plaza
Cruise to the most spectacular destination in the Mediterranean, the fabled island of Santorini. Next, travel through a fascinating landscape of vineyards, whitewashed chapels, and volcanic cliffs to the spectacular town of Oia, where the best views of the crater are found.
Day 12: Santorini - Akrotiri - Wine Tasting
- Breakfast: Aegean Plaza
Begin your day with a visit to the excavation site of ancient Akrotiri, the most important prehistoric settlement found anywhere in the Eastern Mediterranean. Known as the "Minoan Pompeii," the flourishing town was at once destroyed and preserved by a volcanic eruption around 1450 B.C. End your morning with a visit to a local winery that produces the unique and famous wines of Santorini.
Day 13: Santorini
- Breakfast Aegean Plaza
Your day is at leisure to relax or independently explore Santorini, considered one of the most stunning landscapes in the world. Shop in Thira’s charming town centre, take in the breathtaking scenery, visit a local museum or simply enjoy the amenities of your hotel. Perhaps you’ll join an afternoon optional tour of Megalochori, one of the most picturesque villages on the island, followed by a dinner of flavorful regional cuisine.
Day 14: Santorini - Athens
- Breakfast & Dinner Crowne Plaza Athens City Center
Bid farewell to the Greek Islands and fly back to Athens for your overnight stay. Celebrate the end of a memorable trip to Greece with a delightful farewell dinner.
Day 15: Athens - Tour Ends
- Breakfast
Your tour ends today.
* Term and conditions apply:
All pricing subject to change and availability.
Advertised prices are per person twin share unless stated otherwise.
Offers may be withdrawn at any time. Itineraries are subject to change.
Booking Conditions and Phil Hoffmann Travel Schedule of Professionalism* applies.
Please speak to your Phil Hoffmann Travel Consultant for more information.