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ITINERARY - NOTE: The 17th September trip will go to Mykonos first, then Naxos.
Day 1:Arrival in Athens. Afternoon flight to Naxos staying in a beach front hotel.
Day 2: Explore the picturesque old town of Naxos with its maze of
little streets and tiny shops with your guide. Spend a free afternoon relaxing at
the pool or the sandy beach in front of your hotel. (B)
Days 3 & 4: Bus to the centre of this fertile island, and enjoy a pleasant
walk down to the little fishing village of Apollonas, on the northern
coast, where you’ll see a 6th century B.C. Kouros (statue of a young
man). Time for a swim before returning to Naxos town. The next day’s
walk takes us along the river through the Engares valley. Lunch at a
little taverna (not included) before returning to our hotel. (2B)
Days 5 & 6: Board a ferry for the trip to Mykonos and transfer to our beachfront hotel. Explore the maze of little streets with your guide before wandering on your own. Keep an eye out for Petros the pelican! Enjoy a free day to relax, shop or take a ferry to the sacred island of Delos, a vast outdoor museum(2B)
Days 7 & 8: Board a ferry for the trip to Crete. Watch the hustle and bustle and chaos as the ferry stops at other islands along the way. Arrive at Heraklion and transfer to the charming town of Chania. The next day we bus to Polyrinnia and walk around the village and the hill. Hellenistic and Roman remains and in the spring this is a fantastic place for wild flowers. Good views of the mountains and the bay of Kissamos. After lunch drive to Falasarna where you’ll visit the ancient Hellenistic / Roman harbour. Time for a swim at this great beach before returning to Chania. (2B)
Days 9 & 10: Bus to Omalos and walk through the Samaria gorge. Overnight at the tiny village of Agia Roumeli on the remote south coast. There is no road access here – your luggage is transferred by boat to Agia Roumeli. Then a free day with option of some walks around Agia Roumeli. We spend another night in this peaceful village. (2B,2L,2D)
Day 11 & 12: Coastal walk to Marmara via Agios Pavlos then a chartered boat from Marmara to Hora Sfakion where we stay for two nights. On day 12 we take a public bus to Imbros and walk down the Imbros gorge following the escape route of the Allied soldiers in 1941. Return to Hora Sfakion and free afternoon. (2B,2L,2D)
Day 13: Return to the north Coast where you will stay in Herlaklion tonight. (B)
Days 14 to 16: Early transfer to Heraklion harbour to catch our ferry to Santorini - surely one of the world's most spectacular islands. The view from our cliff top hotel is breathtaking! Enjoy amazing views on our walk to the main town this afternoon. Join your guide on an optional walk along the rim of the crater to the little town of Oia, a photographer’s delight, before returning to the hotel to relax by the pool and enjoy the amazing caldera view. Another free day to enjoy as you please. Then wander with your guide along the cliff top path to the main town of Fira, walk down the steps to the little port and ride a donkey or gondola back up. (3B)
Day 17: Morning flight back to Athens where your Greek Islands adventure ends. (B)
What's included:
- 16 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 4 dinners
- All transport as per itinerary
- Ferries Naxos - Mykonos - Crete - Santorini
- Domestic flights Athens – Naxos & Santorini - Athens
- Escorted from Athens by Karen Platzer
What's not included:
- International flights
- Airport & security taxes
- Travel insurance
- Drinks
- Meals other than those listed above
- Optional activities
Difficulty of the walks:
- You must be able to comfortably walk 8 - 16 kms/day (3 - 7 hours).
- The walks are easy to moderate on stony paths and donkey trails.
- Light boots or sneakers with good tread are essential.
- A walking pole is recommended but not essential.
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