Premium Greece Cyclades Islands
Experience Overview
Let the charm of the Cyclades wash over you on this 9-day Premium island adventure in Greece. Start off in the storied city of Athens, explore the villages of Paros, uncover ancient riches in Naxos and soak up the views in Santorini. Hike a caldera, tour wineries, sample local kitron and take a cooking class with organic ingredients. Travel with a passionate local leader who’s eager to share the magic of their country as you discover fascinating histories, incredible food and welcoming locals.
Highlights
- Taste a variety of Greek foods throughout the trip, including a visit to an olive oil press museum in Naxos, a cooking class complete with local kitron tasting and an afternoon of wine tasting in Santorini.
- Learn the tricks of the trade in Naxos during an in-depth cooking class with a local, using organic ingredients from her garden to create regional specialties which you’ll then enjoy for lunch.
- Hike along Santorini’s caldera, passing steep cliff faces and unbelievable views as you learn about the geological history of the island along the way.
- Explore Paros with an expert guide who will share insider knowledge of the island’s history and villages.
- Soak up the beauty of Santorini from your whitewashed Feature Stay hotel, offering spacious rooms, modern amenities, an expansive swimming pool and a prime location next to the Archaeological Museum of Thera.
Trip Details
Product Code: 3314
Tour Type: Small Group
Accommodation: Unknown
Transport: Ferry,Private vehicle,Taxi
Guide Language: English
Tour Operator:
Intrepid Travel
Supplier Code: ZVPI
Starts: Athens, Greece
Finishes: Santorini, Greece
Duration: 9 days
Departures: Guaranteed
Physical Rating:
Light
Includes
Meals: Breakfasts (8), Lunch (1), Dinner (3)Accommodation: Comfortable hotel (6 nights),Feature Stay (2 nights)
Price
Price per person: (Double Occupancy) CAD $6,365 ($707 /day)
Itinerary
Kalimera! Welcome to Greece. Your adventure begins in Athens, Greece’s capital. There’s a lot to experience in this ancient city, so arriving a few days early is highly recommended. When you arrive at the airport, you’ll be met by a local representative and transferred to your hotel, where you’ll have a welcome meeting at 6 pm. If you arrive early, you might like to visit Athens’ iconic Acropolis or walk around the National Garden. After your meeting, get a taste of Greece’s celebrated cuisine during dinner with your group at a local restaurant and perhaps toast the beginning of the adventure with a glass of ouzo.
Included Activities:
- Athens - Welcome Dinner at Local Restaurant
- Complimentary Arrival Transfer
Optional Activities:
- Athens - Acropolis Museum (20 EUR)
- Athens - National Gallery of Athens (10 EUR)
- Athens - Half day trip to Cape Sounio (55 EUR)
- Athens - Numismatic Museum (15 EUR)
- Athens - National Archaeological Museum (15 EUR)
- Athens - Acropolis Archeological site (tickets must be booked online) (30 EUR)
Accommodation:
- Athenaeum Luxury Hotel or similar (Number of Nights: 1)
This morning, you’ll be transported to Athens' port at Piraeus, where you’ll board a ferry to Paros – a beautiful and relaxed island with a layered history. Ferries are a great way to travel between the islands and are essential to many remote islands in Greece's archipelagos. In the afternoon, get to know Paros during an island tour with a local guide. Start off in Parikia, the island’s main town, where you’ll visit the Ekatontapiliani church, also known as the Church of a Hundred Doors. Drive through the island’s mainland, passing by ancient marble quarries, then stop off at the village of Lefkes. Take some time to explore the village surrounded by verdant hills, olive and pine trees, then call into a cultural centre in Marpissa to learn about island life from a group of local women. Carry on to Naoussa – a village known for its whitewashed alleys, Venetian castle and scenic port.
Included Activities:
- Paros - Highlights of Paros Half Day Island Tour with Local Guide
Accommodation:
- Hill Mill Paros Hotel or similar (Number of Nights: 1)
The day is yours to uncover more of Paros’ charms. There’s certainly no shortage of things to see and do on the island. You might like to take a guided morning hike along the coast – starting off at a fishing village and weaving through some of the island’s best beaches. In the afternoon, you’ll have the option to visit the nearby island of Antiparos – a favourite secret holiday spot for royals and celebrities. Or maybe you’d like to spend the day relaxing on one of Paros’ many beaches, cooling off with dips in Aegean Sea. Speak to your leader for more information about the activities on offer today and for tips on how to make the most of this island.
Optional Activities:
- Paros - Catamaran Day Trip to Antiparos and Despotiko with Lunch (95 EUR)
- Paros - Farm Visit Tour and Tastings (45 EUR)
- Paros - Public Ferry from Paros to Antiparos ( Summer months RTN ticket) (8 EUR)
Accommodation:
- Hill Mill Paros Hotel or similar (Number of Nights: 1)
Say goodbye to Paros this morning and catch a short ferry to Naxos. The largest of the Cyclades islands, Naxos has something for everyone – from beaches to an Old Town and hundreds of years of Venetian history. Take some time to settle in, then regroup in the late afternoon to learn about the town. Visit the Portara with a local guide – the giant marble doorway is the only remaining part of an unfinished temple of Apollo from 530 BC. Naxos is unique in the fact that it is the Cyclades’ only self-sufficient island, meaning all produce is grown and available on the island without imports. Because of this, the cuisine is hyperlocal and differs to the rest of the country. Try it for yourself this evening during a group dinner, where you will learn all about the regional specialties.
Included Activities:
- Naxos - Old Town Walk & Portara Guided Tour
Accommodation:
- Naxos Princess or similar (Number of Nights: 1)
Drive to Kaloxylos in the heart of the island’s biggest olive grove and one of the oldest in the world. Here, tour an olive oil press museum to learn about the importance of olive oil to Greek culture and traditional extraction methods. After your visit, you’ll put your new knowledge to good use as you travel to the nearby village of Galini for a hands-on cooking class. Meet with a local who will share her culinary knowledge with the group, leaving you with recipes you can cook up at home. First, collect fresh ingredients from your host’s organic garden and learn about cultivation and farming on Naxos. Then put the ingredients together to create a Naxian dish from scratch, enjoying the fruits of your labour for lunch. Pair your lunch with a tasting of local kitron. This citron liqueur, with a history stretching back to the 19th century and produced exclusively on Naxos, offers a taste of the island’s culture.
Included Activities:
- Naxos - Cooking Class at a Local Farm
- Naxos - Kaloxylos Olive Oil Press
Accommodation:
- Naxos Princess or similar (Number of Nights: 1)
Today is free to explore more of Naxos as you wish. You may like to head to one of the island’s beaches or discover more of its history at a local museum. The Archaeological Museum of Naxos in Chora Naxos dates back to the 17th century and houses artefacts from the Neolithic to the early Christian periods, and the Geological Museum of Apeiranthos digs up the natural history of the island. If you’re after a sweet treat, walnut cake flavoured with local kitron is an excellent regional specialty. Your leader will be on hand to help tailor a day that suits your interests.
Optional Activities:
- Naxos - Koufonissia & Rina Cave Cruise (90 EUR)
- Naxos - Mykonos and Delos One Day Cruise from Naxos (75 EUR)
- Naxos - Highlights Bus Tour with Free Time for Lunch at Apeiranthos (35 EUR)
Accommodation:
- Naxos Princess or similar (Number of Nights: 1)
Depart Naxos in the morning and catch a ferry to Santorini. When you arrive in Santorini's capital, Fira, you’ll be met and transferred to your Feature Stay hotel – a whitewashed building in traditional Cycladic style, El Greco Resort wraps around the year-round swimming pool. Featuring modern, spacious rooms, this hotel also sits in a prime location for exploring Santorini. It’s only a short walk from the Archaeological Museum of Thera, so perhaps head there to learn about how previous civilisations lived on the island. Tonight, make sure you catch Santorini's world-famous sunset.
Optional Activities:
- Santorini - Akrotiri Archaeological site (20 EUR)
- Santorini - Thira Prehistoric Museum (10 EUR)
Accommodation:
- El Greco Resort Hotel (Feature Stay) or similar (Number of Nights: 1)
In the morning, embark on a hike along Santorini’s legendary caldera. The island you see today is what remains from a huge volcanic explosion that destroyed the early settlements and created a geographical caldera. The natural beauty of this caldera is what makes Santorini such a special place. Your walk will take you along the north-western rim of the caldera, passing steep cliff faces and amazing views along the way. The walk ends in the town of Oia, built on a steep slope inside Santorini’s volcanic caldera. Famous not only for its scenery, Santorini’s microclimate and volcanic soil make it a top spot for wine production. Sip your way around the island with two special stops – the Symposium Cultural Centre, where you’ll learn about Greek wine and try it in traditional cups, and a family-run winery, where you’ll discover more about the history of wine production and taste the different varieties yourself.
Included Activities:
- Santorini - Caldera Hike
- Santorini - Winery visit
- Santorini - Mythology and Wine experience
Accommodation:
- El Greco Resort Hotel (Feature Stay) or similar (Number of Nights: 1)
Your adventure comes to an end after breakfast this morning. If you want to spend some more time in Santorini, just speak to your booking agent to organise additional accommodation.
Similar Tours
Tour Operator
Intrepid Travel
Intrepid Travel is a global adventure travel company, dedicated to providing sustainable, experience-rich travel opportunities. They’ve been the leader in ethical, small-group travel since 1989 - taking people around the world for more than 30 years. They’re the world’s largest travel B Corporation - dedicated to being the best travel company for the world. In 2002, they established The Intrepid Foundation so their travellers could make a lasting impact on the communities they had visited. Although Intrepid Travel absorbs all administrative costs of The Intrepid Foundation, they are separate legal entities, allowing The Intrepid Foundation to grow independently. Intrepid Travel is made up of a collection of tour operator brands and 28 destination management companies all united by one vision: To change the way we all see the world.
In Business Since 1989
Reviews
Narelle - Traveled, June 2023
Overall, trip was awesome! Only downside was that given we paid premium, I felt a few more meals and activities could have been included.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 07/10/2023
Jenny - Traveled, June 2023
Great itinerary but would question what is premium about this premium tour. Still have to line up to get on and off ferries like everyone else but enjoyed nice ferry seating. Hotels situated out of town which involved walking to the action sometimes along busy roads with little in the way of safe footpaths.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 07/11/2023
Barbara - Traveled, October 2023
Greece is beautiful. The Intrepid hotels were great. Maria, our guide, was energetic and helpful. Read the itinerary carefully: if you are not a beach person or a shopper, there is a lot of down time.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 09/12/2023
Lynette - Traveled, September 2023
The Premium Greece Cyclades Island Tour was fabulous. I highly recommend this tour.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 10/09/2023
Amy - Traveled, September 2023
Highly recommend using this agency. They did a great job planning and executing our trip. We will be back! Loved our tour guide, Estel.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 10/12/2023
Jennifer - Traveled, September 2023
Highly recommend this trip. All 3 islands are quite different but exciting to explore and experience. Intrepid’s tour leader provides a comprehensive personalised small group tour.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 09/13/2023
Joy - Traveled, May 2023
This was a well-curated intro to Greece and the Cyclades. There was a good mix of activities, both optional & included. Our leader, Eleni, was super-enthusiastic about her home country, approachable, & responsive to varying interests & questions. There was a good level of active & relaxed days.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 06/15/2023
Jennifer - Traveled, September 2023
Highly recommend this trip. All 3 islands are quite different but exciting to explore and experience. Intrepid’s tour leader provides a comprehensive personalised small group tour.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 09/13/2023
Jennifer - Traveled, September 2023
Highly recommend this trip. All 3 islands are quite different but exciting to explore and experience. Intrepid’s tour leader provides a comprehensive personalised small group tour.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 09/13/2023
Jennifer - Traveled, September 2023
Highly recommend this trip. All 3 islands are quite different but exciting to explore and experience. Intrepid’s tour leader provides a comprehensive personalised small group tour.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 09/13/2023
Laurie - Traveled, September 2023
This was a most memorable trip from the onset. Maria, our tour leader, was enthusiastic, approachable and caring. We knew immediately that she was an advocate in all ways, giving us peace of mind that everything was going to run smoothly with no worries at all. The tour offered everything we could have imagined. We especially loved the balance of group activities with time on our own to do our own exploring at our own pace. I will surely recommend Intrepid to others and hope to have a future experience with them sometime in the future.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 09/14/2023
Narelle - Traveled, June 2023
Overall, trip was awesome! Only downside was that given we paid premium, I felt a few more meals and activities could have been included.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 07/11/2023
Jenny - Traveled, June 2023
Great itinerary but would question what is premium about this premium tour. Still have to line up to get on and off ferries like everyone else but enjoyed nice ferry seating. Hotels situated out of town which involved walking to the action sometimes along busy roads with little in the way of safe footpaths.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 07/12/2023
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