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Abercrombie & Kent
OFFER ID 1515890
Tailor Made Greece: Mythic Cities & Enchanting Isles
Travel with your private party on this Luxury Tailor Made Journey, departing when you choose and with expert local guides leading the way; you can even customize the itinerary to your interests.
Explore the mythical and modern highlights of Athens, from the Parthenon to the Turkish Quarter of Plaka, before venturing off the beaten path to the lesser-visited Greek Isles Paros and Naxos — picturesque retreats still untouched by crowds. Experience their unique blend of local history, culture and cuisine, visiting ancient towns, listening to expert storytellers and tasting superb food and wine.
9 nights from $18,890 per person
Abercrombie & Kent: Tailor Made Greece: Mythic Cities & Enchanting Isles
Day 1 Athens, Greece
Arrive in Athens, the capital of Greece and cradle of Western civilization, where you are met by your Guardian Angel and privately transferred to your hotel. Enjoy the rest of your day at leisure.
Set out today on a guided excursion through Athens that brings mythical Greece to life through storytelling and tastings of local food and wine. In the heart of Plaka, the city’s oldest district, hear the tale of Zeus’s rise to power. Discover the story of Dionysus, god of wine, en route to the Acropolis. Head up Mars Hill to learn why the city was named for the goddess Athena. Accompanied by live music, each unfolding performance is a feast for the senses. Also visit the Acropolis, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and archaeological treasure trove, and view the stunning Parthenon up close. This ancient temple, dedicated to the goddess Athena, dates from 447 BC.
Journey outside Athens for a private off-the beaten-track experience, riding specially designed pedal-powered railroad carts along an old railway line that once connected Athens with the Peloponnese. Take in gorgeous vistas along the way, including a unique view of the Saronic Gulf, and learn the region’s history and myths, from antiquity to the present day. Afterward, visit one of ancient Greece's most important cities, Corinth, where you explore the Doric Temple of Apollo, constructed in 550 BC, as well as remnants of Roman Corinth. Return to Athens via the Corinth Canal, a waterway begun by Emperor Nero in AD 67 that continues to be a valuable shipping route between the Ionian and Aegean seas. Subject to availability, you may also wish to visit a nearby winery for a tasting experience.
Fly to Naxos, where you are met and transferred to your hotel. Check in and enjoy the remainder of your day at leisure.
Experience the authentic culture of Naxos on a food and culture tour around Naxos Town. Begin at the Temple of Apollo's Portara Gate with a guided visit to the Excavation Museum, and then climb to the top of the Venetian Castle to view pre-historic Cycladic figurines. Explore the old town's food market and indulge in the local delicacies, such as cheese and wine, before heading to a local taverna to enjoy traditional meze dishes (small plates of bite-sized foods, similar to tapas) and samples of raki and kitron, two locally popular distilled Greek spirits. Afterward, return to your hotel.
Start your day with a visit to the Kouros of Flerio, an unfinished monumental statue carved in the sixth century BC. Next, visit a family farm that dates to the 16th century and was once featured on Anthony Bourdain’s series Parts Unknown. Choose from four traditional Greek recipes and prepare your own lunch with the help of the farm’s owner, cooking over a wood fire. After savoring what you’ve created, return to your hotel.
Board a ferry to the island of Paros, where you are met and privately transferred to your hotel.
Today, breeze through beautiful Paros Island, starting in Paroikia, the island’s capital. View the well-preserved 13th-century Venetian castle, standing proud on top of a hill in the center of the village, and visit Panayia Ekatontapyliani church, a famous landmark on the island dating back to the sixth century. Head to the island’s ancient capital, Lefkes, located at the heart of Paros, and then stop in at a local café to sip traditional Greek coffee and a pastry. Leave the verdant olive and pine tree-clad hill behind for Naoussa, a chic, colorful fishing town considered one of the most picturesque villages in the Cyclades. Snap photos of its sugar-cube-like houses, wander through its labyrinth of streets and soak up the vibrant atmosphere before returning to your hotel, with the balance of your day at leisure.
Enjoy the last full day of your personal Greek odyssey at leisure, perhaps indulging in your hotel's spa and other amenities or basking beside the vivid blue Aegean.
After breakfast, privately transfer to the airport for your departing flight.
All fares are quoted in US Dollars.
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