Overview:
Visit 3 countries with our all inclusive vacation package. Explore Rome, discover Athens, cruise the Aegean and visit the Greek islands and Turkey, and relax in the most romantic island of Santorini. A truly great experience!
Departures: Wednesdays (from mid March to October)
PACKAGE INCLUDES:
- 3 nights hotel accommodation in Rome
- 2 nights hotel accommodation in Athens
- 4 day/3 nights cruise to the Greek islands and Turkey (all meals included) with disembarkation in Santorini with M/V Celestyal Olympia (cabin accommodation, full board, All inclusive Classic drink Package, Gala evening and shows, Entertainment on board, port and service charges & on board gratuities, 2shore excursions, shuttle bus to Mykonos old town)
- 3 nights hotel accommodation in Santorini
- Half day walking tour of Rome
- Air tickets Rome to Athens
- Air tickets Santorini to Athens
- Half day Athens sightseeing tour
- Entrance fees, during guided sightseeing tours
- 24 hour assistance phone number
- Daily breakfast
- All transfers as mentioned
- Taxes
PACKAGE EXCLUDES:
- Travel insurance
- International flights
- Personal expenses
- Gratuities
Itinerary
WEDNESDAY: ARRIVE ROME ITALY
Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Balance of day at leisure.
THURSDAY: ANCIENT ROME & COLOSSEUM HALF DAY AFTERNOON WALKING TOUR
After pick up at your hotel (in selected hotels in central Rome), you will reach the Archaeological Area with no stress, ready to get the most complete tour of the Colosseum , Roman Forum and Palatine Hill. Access the Palatine hill with no line and discover the hill where Rome was founded at the beginning. Then reach the Colosseum and be amazed by this monument that is the symbol of Rome in the world. The Amphitheater created to entertain ancient Roman citizens with bloody show s of gladiators, animals and cruel games, is now one of the most fascinating landmark of the City. Then, walk on the original path of ancient Rome along the Via Sacra and see the Temples of Vesta, Antonino and Faustina, the ancient Basilica Julia and Aemilia and dream about the glorious past of the Roman Empire. Unforgettable! DURATION OF THE TOUR: approx. 3 hours.
Pick-up, from centrally located hotels only, starts at 1:45pm with a 20 minute grace period. If you miss it, make your way to board the coach at the office located in Via Vittorio Emanuele Orlando, 95. The appointment is at 2.00pm. Tour departs at 2:30 pm.
FRIDAY: ROME
Day at leisure to enjoy Rome.
An epic, monumental city, Rome gets under your skin fast.
Even on a short break, you’ll be smitten by its artistic masterpieces and iconic monuments, operatic piazzas and haunting ruins. Life is lived to the full here, and the city teems with trattorias and designer restaurants, street-side bars and glam fashion boutiques.
SATURDAY: ROME / ATHENS
At the indicated time you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Athens. Upon arrival in Athens you will be transferred to your hotel.
SUNDAY: MORNING ATHENS GUIDED CITY TOUR
Morning sightseeing tour of Athens. The striking contrast between breathtaking monuments of a glorious past and modern elegant structures is what you will enjoy during your tour of Athens. Visit the Acropolis,the crowning beauty and glory of Ancient Athens, with its many monuments atop its rocky base, including the awesome Parthenon, the Propylea, the temple of Athena Nike and the Erechtheion, with its Porch of Maidens. Drive to the Roman Temple of Olympic Zeus, the Panathinaikon Stadium(site of the first modern Olympic Games in 1896), the Tomb of the unknown Soldier in front of the Parliament House on Constitution Square. See views of government buildings and elegant structures of the 19th century. Drive along Panepistimiou Avenue and view the Catholic Cathedral, the Academy, University, National Library. In contrast, conclude your tour with a visit to the new Acropolis museum, a marvel of architecture with a full exhibition of the glory of Ancient Athens. Afternoon at leisure.
MONDAY: ATHENS / CRUISE / MYKONOS
Morning transfer to Lavrio port to embark the cruise ship for your 4 day cruise to the Greek islands & Turkey. Cruise to Mykonos and enjoy the evening on this lively island.
TUESDAY: MORNING IN KUSADASI (TURKEY)/ EVENING IN PATMOS ISLAND (GREECE)
The cruise ship will arrive in Kusadasi (Turkey) for visit and the shore excursion. Depart for Patmos island 13:00pm.
***** Excursions in Kusadasi (Turkey) is: Ancient Ephesus through the Ages - Hellenistic/Roman (Approx. 3 hours)
KUS-02: Ancient Ephesus through the Ages -Hellenistic /Roman
This is a wonderful journey through some of the most important and formative periods of history and we hope you will be enthralled by the stories of the Hellenes, Romans and of Christianity in our fascinating exploration of Ephesus. This marvellous city, sitting on the hills outside Kusadasi is a fabulous open air archaeological wonder founded by the Greeks around 2000 BC. It was one of the most important cities of the region and was dedicated to the goddess Artemis. The Temple built in her honour was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. It had more than 100 marble pillars each standing 56 feet tall and it earned the city the name ‘Servant of the Goddess.’ A single pillar remains standing on the site, found during an excavation in the 1870s. We will be able to see the Agora, Odeon, the Library of Celsus, the marvel-paved Main Street of Curetes, the Baths of Scholastica, Trajan’s Fountain, the Temple of Hadrian and the Houses of Koressus, where the wealthy families of Ancient Ephesus lived. Only 13 per cent of Ephesus has so far been uncovered. The finds from the excavations made so far are housed in the Archaeological Museum of Ephesus in the city of Selcuk.
We have time for shopping for carpets, jewellery, leather and other souvenirs at the end of our tour.
Arrive in Patmos at 17:45 and spend the evening at leisure in Patmos (Greece). Depart around 21:30 and sail to Rhodes this evening.
WEDNESDAY: FULL DAY IN RHODES
Enjoy a full day on the island of Rhodes (Greece), the largest island of the Dodecanese archipelago. Explore the island`s medieval Old Town, preserved in and around the walls of a Venetian castle, built by the 14th-century Knights of St. John. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Citadel of Rhodes is located at the far northern end of the island and is considered one of the best preserved medieval towns in the Mediterranean.
***** Excursion in Rhodes (Greece) : Acropolis of Lindos Rhodes
RHO-01: Rhodes – Medieval tour - Acropolis of Lindos and the Citadel of the Knights (Half Day)
Let’s begin in unusual fashion, with what you won’t see in Rhodes. One of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World once proudly stood here. He was the Colossus of Rhodes and is of course long departed, probably destroyed by an earthquake. Nevertheless as you arrive on this wonderful, historic island, you may just be able to imagine this statue of the Greek sun-god Helios in 280BC, standing 100 feet tall in celebration of Rhodes’ victory over Cyprus. The largest of the Dodecanese islands, Rhodes has a compelling back story and there are still remnants of its occupation by the Knights of St John during the Crusades. So while the Colossus may not be there, you will be wowed by the many historical sites. We travel fi rst to Lindos, about 55km from Rhodes Town and high above the village sits the impressive Acropolis of Lindos with the Doric Temple of Athena, built in 300 BC. Captains’ mansions constructed between the 16th and 18th centuries are dotted here and there and in the heart of Lindos is the Church of the Virgin Mary with lovely frescoes from the 15th Century. Back in Rhodes is where we are really immersed in the history of the island in the Knights’ Quarter.
We stroll through Gate d’Amboise to walk along the Street of the Knights and see where they lived, separated according to Order, their crests still visible today. We will also see (outside) the imposing Palace of the Grand Master of the Knights of Rhodes, a medieval castle also known as the Kastello. It’s one of the few examples of Gothic architecture in Greece. The Byzantine citadel was built in the 7th Century, the palace itself in the fourteenth. Where the palace sits today could well have been the spot where once stood the Colossus according to recent studies. Either way, this tour takes us into the heart of the fascinating history of Rhodes.
THURSDAY: MORNING IN CRETE / AFTERNOON DISEMBARK IN SANTORINI
Arrive early this morning in Heraklion (Crete, Greece), one of the four prefectures that constitute the island of Crete. Enjoy a half day at leisure to explore the island on your own. At noon, cruise to Santorini. Upon arrival in Santorini disembark and transfer to your hotel in Santorini.
FRIDAY / SATURDAY: SANTORINI
Days at leisure to enjoy the sun, the unforgettable view and the most romantic sunset in the world. Santorini is the essence of a Greek island, where sea meets weather-beaten rock and colors are bold and elemental. Blue-domed chapels stand on hilltops; houses are simple white cubes, sunsets flamboyant orange. The half-moon island, with its rearing cliffs and dramatic outlooks, is all that remains of a huge volcanic explosion. Inland, fertile soils provide a softer landscape of silvery olive trees, fields of tomatoes and neatly pegged vineyards that produce sweet amber-colored wine.
SUNDAY : SANTORINI / ATHENS
At the indicated time you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Athens. End of our services.
Optional Tours
Cape Sounion (Athens)
HALF-DAY (Afternoon)
From Nov 1 to Mar 31 - Every Mon-Wed-Fri & Sat
From Apr 1st to Oct 31st - Daily
Dep.: 3:00pm – Ret.: 7:00pm
HALF-DAY (Afternoon)
From Nov 1 to Mar 31 - Every Mon-Wed-Fri & Sat
From Apr 1st to Oct 31st - Daily
Dep.: 3:00pm – Ret.: 7:00pm
Driving along the coastal road past the wonderful beaches of GLYFADA, VOULIAGMENI, VARKIZA and countless coves, one has a splendid view of the Saronic Gulf. A crowning feature of the tour Cape SOUNION, dominated by the spectacular Temple of POSSEIDON overlooking the Aegean sea.(Oct 1 to Mar 31 - ½ hour earlier)
Athens by Night
NIGHT LIFE
From Nov 1st to Mar 31st - Every Thu & Sat
From Apr 1st to Oct 31st - Daily
Dep.: 8:30pm - Ret.: around midnight
NIGHT LIFE
From Nov 1st to Mar 31st - Every Thu & Sat
From Apr 1st to Oct 31st - Daily
Dep.: 8:30pm - Ret.: around midnight
Starting our evening tour with a pleasant panoramic drive through illuminated city center and we will approach the slope of the sacred hill to admire the illuminated Acropolis.
Then we will visit the museum of Ancient Greek musical instruments and discover the music history of Greece. Explore the greatest and only collection with 60 reconstructed Ancient Greek Musical instruments.
Next we will walk through the narrow pedestrian street of Plaka, the old city of Athens, to dine in a Greek typical restaurant with floor folklore show with live music, ballet with dancers in traditional costumes
N.B. Drinks at the taverna are not included.
Then we will visit the museum of Ancient Greek musical instruments and discover the music history of Greece. Explore the greatest and only collection with 60 reconstructed Ancient Greek Musical instruments.
Next we will walk through the narrow pedestrian street of Plaka, the old city of Athens, to dine in a Greek typical restaurant with floor folklore show with live music, ballet with dancers in traditional costumes
N.B. Drinks at the taverna are not included.
Ancient Rome Walking Tour - Duration approx. 3 hrs.
Take a complete walking tour of the Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine hill, lead by professional and expert guides. Clients will have a privileged priority entrance to the archaelogical area, headsets to better hear your guide. Get ready to enter into he legend! The tour ends in the Fori Imperiali Area Colosseum.
Clients need to go to Via di San Gregorio in front of the Palatine ticket office, opposite side of the street, 15 minutes before the departure time. Meet you assistant there.
Includes:
Entrance ticket (no line)
Professional Guide
Headset to better hear the guide
Half day Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapels and St. Peter Basilica
The purpose of this tour is to visit the Vatican Museums and a large part of the Vatican City, one of the European microstates, situated on the Vatican Hill in the west – central part of Rome. Its borders closely follow the city wall constructed to protect the Pope from outside attack. Leaving the Piazza San Bernando, adorned by Moses’ Fountain the itinerary will continue passing by Via Bissolati, Via Veneto and the Villa Borghese. After this ample panoramic view, you will visit the Vatican Museum and the Vatican Galleries (lines possible at the entrance). There you will admire the modern entrance built for the Jubilee 2000, the Galleries of the Chandeliers, of the Tapestries and of the Geographical Maps, the Sobiesky Hall and the immaculate Conception Hall. You will then stop to admire the Sistine Chapel, seat of the Conclave, with the famous frescoes of Michelangelo. Passing inside the Vatican Museum you will arrive into the Basilica of Saint Peter, commonly called Saint Peter’s Basilica, is one of four major basilicas of Rome. It is the most prominent building inside the Vatican City and built on the ruins of Old Saint Peter’s Basilica. On Wednesday due to the Papal Audience, the church of St. Peter will be visited only from the outside.
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