Greek Islands Discovery

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boat in blue green Greek waters Imagine postcard perfect white washed villages carved into rugged island coastlines. Magnificent beaches, taverna-lined harbours and ancient ruins of times gone past. All this is waiting to be explored as you discover the Greek Islands. On this trip you will explore the Cyclades and Crete regions of Greece where the ancient world meets the modern. Enjoy the fantastic scenery of this area while visiting ancient ruins bursting with mythology and history, not to mention the magnificent beaches and breathtaking views.

14 days — Athens, Chania, Samaria Gorge, Agia Roumeli, Loutro, Heraklion, Knossos, Santorini, Naxos, Mykonos.

TRIP PRICE

$1,795 plus 200EUR local payment. International flights are not included.

HIGHLIGHTS

Parthenon Guided Tours to Delos and Samaria Gorge. A visit to the Knossos ruins and a tour of Santorini at sunset.

See the Greek Islands Discovery itinerary to review the day-to-day activities.

Greek Islands Discovery Tour Map

ACCOMMODATIONS

Simple hotels (12 nights), ferry (seats) (1 night).

MEALS

11 Breakfasts, 3 dinners. Please budget EUR350 for meals not included on trip. Eating is a big part of traveling. On any BrilliantTrip you will experience the vast array of wonderful food that is available in the world. Generally, meals are not included in the trip price when there is a choice of eating options, in order to give you the maximum flexibility in deciding where, what and with whom to eat. It also gives you more budgeting flexibility, though generally food is cheap. The groups tend to eat together to enable you to taste a larger variety of dishes and enjoy each other's company. There is no obligation to do this though. Your group leader will be able to suggest favorite restaurants during your trip.

TRANSPORT

Ferry, public bus, taxis, private van, and walking.

GROUP SIZE

10 on Average / 15 Maximum

BrilliantTips

This BrilliantTrip includes moderate hiking, biking, rafting, kayaking and other activities that require only an average/moderate level of fitness to enjoy. Culturally, you should expect a generally low stress trip, but there may be the occasional remote lodging, market meal or language barrier.

VISAS

All countries require a valid passport (with minimum 6 months validity). The visa requirements for your trip vary depending on where you are from; citizens of the U.S. can visit www.travel.state.gov/visa. It is important that you check for yourself. Also see our FAQs and Travel Info. IT'S YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO HAVE THE CORRECT TRAVEL DOCUMENTATION.

IMPORTANT NOTES

1. Due to weather conditions there is a chance that ferries may be delayed or cancelled, which could modify the itinerary. Any such amendments will be done on the ground by the group leader, and will be communicated directly to the group.

2. On Day 2, you have an overnight ferry from Athens to Chania (Crete). Please note that accommodations are in the SEATING AREA of the boat. If you wish to upgrade to a cabin, please advise your Tour Leader and he/she will do his/her best to help you out ONCE ON BOARD. This is at your own cost and depends on availability.

TOUR LEADERSHIP

Group Leader. All G.A.P Adventures group trips are accompanied by one of our group leaders, a G.A.P Adventures representative, or an expedition team. The aim of the group leader is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. They will provide information on the places you are traveling through, offer suggestions for things to do and see, recommend great local eating venues and introduce you to local friends. While not being guides in the traditional sense, you can expect them to have a broad knowledge of the countries visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious and social aspects. Group leaders use local guides where they think more specific knowledge will add to the enjoyment of the places you are visiting. It's the best of both worlds.

JOINING INSTRUCTIONS

Typical taxi fare from the airport to the hotel is 30-40 EUR. Alternatively, the metro is 6EUR. Take the metro direct from the airport to Monastiraki station, leave the station and walk 200m up Athinas St. to the hotel. Metro runs 06:00-23:30 and takes approx. 45-50mins. An airport bus runs 24hrs costs 4EUR and takes approx. 1h-1.5h, stopping in Syntagma Square which is 700m from hotel.

Please note that Day 1 is an arrival day and no activities have been planned, so you may arrive at any time. Similarly, the last day is a departure day during which no activities are planned. Your Group Leader will organize a short meeting soon after arrival, during which you will meet other tour participants and receive information about general and specific aspects of the trip. The Group Leader will contact you at the hotel on Day 1 and make sure you are settled comfortably. If you arrive late, s/he will leave you a message detailing what time and where you should meet the next morning.

JOINING HOTEL:

HOTEL CECIL
Athinas Street, 39
Athens 10554
Greece
Phone: +30 210 321 7079
Fax: +30 210 321 8005

LOCAL PAYMENT

EUR200. This trip requires a Local Payment that is paid to the Group Leader in cash on day 1 of your tour. This Local Payment is put towards local expenses, such as internal transport, entrance fees and guide fees. Local Payments also reduce the need to wire or transfer funds which can become very expensive. This lowers operational costs so the savings can be passed on to you. The local payment is in addition to, and is not included in, the base tour price.

OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES

Paid Locally.

Athens

MONEY EXCHANGE

Credit cards and debit cards are very useful for cash advances. Visa cards are the most widely accepted cards. While ATMs are commonly available, there are no guarantees that your credit or debit cards will actually work in Greece. Check with your bank. You should be aware when purchasing products or services on a credit card, that a fee usually applies. Do not rely on credit or debit cards as your only source of money. A combination of Euros, traveler's checks and cards is best. Always take more rather than less, as you don't want to spoil the trip by constantly feeling short of funds.

HEALTH & MEDICAL

On this specific trip you will mostly use ferries as a mean of transportation. If you are sensitive to sea sickness, you may want to bring tablets with you.

You should consult your doctor for up-to-date medical travel information well before departure. It is recommended that you carry a First Aid kit as well as any personal medical requirements. Please be aware that sometimes you are in remote areas and away from medical facilities and, for legal reasons, group leaders are prohibited from administering any type of drug, including headache tablets, antibiotics, etc. When selecting your trip, please carefully read the brochure and itinerary and assess your ability to cope with this style of travel.

FINE PRINT

While the intention is to adhere to the route described above, there is a certain amount of flexibility built into the itinerary and, on occasion, it may be necessary or desirable to make alterations. The itinerary is brief, as you never know exactly where your journey will take you. Due to the style of travel and the regions you visit, travel can be unpredictable. The itinerary is a general guide to the tour and region and any mention of specific destinations or wildlife is by no means a guarantee that they will be visited or encountered.