Crete and Northern Greece
Duration
9 Days
Physical rate
Moderate
Start city
Athens
Available
April 2024 / March 2025
Cities to visit: Athens; Ferry Athens Heraclion; Heraklion; Santorini; Kamena Vourla; Kalambaca; Delphi
Detailed day by day description
Introduction
Dear Traveler: thank you for choosing us to perform this Tour! We hope you enjoy your trip.
Here we give you a guidance on their tour with the information that we believe may be of your interest. The information is indicative, may exist variations on designated hours.
TRANSFER from the airport, if you have it included or purchasing. Our transfer will be waiting for you with a poster on behalf of Europamundo or its name to the output of the custom (after collecting your luggage)..
Remember to inform us by phone if you lost your connection flight or expected delay of their arrival, in your VOUCHER figure the phone of the transfer.
IMPORTANT: If you had additional nights upon arrival the hotel will have your reservation, but his travel guide normally will not be until the night before the start of the tour.
Day
Welcome to your tour with Europamundo! Upon your arrival, we´ll transfer you to the hotel and you can enjoy some free time. You will receive the necessary information for the start of the trip in the afternoon; alternatively, this information will be available on the information panels in the hotel reception area.
IMPORTANT:
-Remember that hotel check-in time is usually at 02:00 p.m. If you require earlier room availability, consider booking an additional night at the beginning of your trip.
-If you requested additional nights, your room will be ready upon your arrival at the hotel. However, your trip guide will not contact you until the beginning of the included activities. At reception, you will find an information sign with the contact number and assistance hours of our staff. Your time before this is free, and the hotel staff will be happy to assist you with any information you need.
Note: The schedules provided in this itinerary are indicative. The guide may adjust them
as needed to enhance the trip experience.
IMPORTANT:
-Remember that hotel check-in time is usually at 02:00 p.m. If you require earlier room availability, consider booking an additional night at the beginning of your trip.
-If you requested additional nights, your room will be ready upon your arrival at the hotel. However, your trip guide will not contact you until the beginning of the included activities. At reception, you will find an information sign with the contact number and assistance hours of our staff. Your time before this is free, and the hotel staff will be happy to assist you with any information you need.
Note: The schedules provided in this itinerary are indicative. The guide may adjust them
as needed to enhance the trip experience.
Notes:
-Overnight on board. For your comfort, we recommend packing a small bag with essentials, as you can leave your larger suitcase in the ferry´s hold. Please bring your passport, as it may be required when boarding.
-Depending on the number of passengers, your guide may not accompany you on board. If that´s the case, a new guide will meet you upon arrival on the island.
In the morning, we’ll enjoy a panoramic tour of Athens, visiting the Presidential Mansion, the Panathenaic Stadium—site of the first modern Olympic Games—the National Library, and the bustling downtown squares. The tour will end near the Acropolis. While admission to the Acropolis is not included, our guide will inform you of anything you’d wish to know. You’ll have free time afterward.
In the afternoon, we will head to the Port of Piraeus to board the overnight ferry, equipped with amenities similar to those found on cruise ships. Accommodation will be in a double cabin with a private bathroom. You will spend the night on board.
The ferry typically departs from Piraeus at 9:00 p.m. for Heraklion. We recommend enjoying the ship´s deck during, dining in the onboard restaurant, and relaxing during the journey. Please note that breakfast on board is not included.
-Overnight on board. For your comfort, we recommend packing a small bag with essentials, as you can leave your larger suitcase in the ferry´s hold. Please bring your passport, as it may be required when boarding.
-Depending on the number of passengers, your guide may not accompany you on board. If that´s the case, a new guide will meet you upon arrival on the island.
In the morning, we’ll enjoy a panoramic tour of Athens, visiting the Presidential Mansion, the Panathenaic Stadium—site of the first modern Olympic Games—the National Library, and the bustling downtown squares. The tour will end near the Acropolis. While admission to the Acropolis is not included, our guide will inform you of anything you’d wish to know. You’ll have free time afterward.
In the afternoon, we will head to the Port of Piraeus to board the overnight ferry, equipped with amenities similar to those found on cruise ships. Accommodation will be in a double cabin with a private bathroom. You will spend the night on board.
The ferry typically departs from Piraeus at 9:00 p.m. for Heraklion. We recommend enjoying the ship´s deck during, dining in the onboard restaurant, and relaxing during the journey. Please note that breakfast on board is not included.
Total distance covered: 145 km.
Scenery: Beautiful Mediterranean landscapes featuring both mountains and the sea.
Our ferry from Athens will arrive in Heraklion at 07:00 a.m. We’ll disembark and have time to take a walk and enjoy a coffee before continuing our journey.
09:30 a.m. – Departure from Heraklion. We’ll follow a coastal route to the west of the island, enjoying beautiful seascapes along the way. The drive to Rethymno is 90 km (approximately one hour and 20 minutes).
11:00 a.m. - Rethymno. A beautiful coastal city with Venetian heritage, known for its impressive medieval castle. You’ll have a couple of hours to explore and have lunch.
02:30 p.m. – Departure from Rethymno. We’ll continue our journey, with just over 60 km (approximately one hour) to reach Chania.
03:30 p.m. - Chania. A captivating city with an impressive fortress and stately mansions; contested by Romans, Byzantines, Venetians, Genoese, Turks, Egyptians, and Greeks throughout its history. The guide will inform you about the most beautiful spots to visit, and you’ll have free time to explore the city.
07:00 p.m. – Departure from Chania and return to Heraklion.
Scenery: Beautiful Mediterranean landscapes featuring both mountains and the sea.
Our ferry from Athens will arrive in Heraklion at 07:00 a.m. We’ll disembark and have time to take a walk and enjoy a coffee before continuing our journey.
09:30 a.m. – Departure from Heraklion. We’ll follow a coastal route to the west of the island, enjoying beautiful seascapes along the way. The drive to Rethymno is 90 km (approximately one hour and 20 minutes).
11:00 a.m. - Rethymno. A beautiful coastal city with Venetian heritage, known for its impressive medieval castle. You’ll have a couple of hours to explore and have lunch.
02:30 p.m. – Departure from Rethymno. We’ll continue our journey, with just over 60 km (approximately one hour) to reach Chania.
03:30 p.m. - Chania. A captivating city with an impressive fortress and stately mansions; contested by Romans, Byzantines, Venetians, Genoese, Turks, Egyptians, and Greeks throughout its history. The guide will inform you about the most beautiful spots to visit, and you’ll have free time to explore the city.
07:00 p.m. – Departure from Chania and return to Heraklion.
Total distance covered: 180 km.
09:00 a.m. – Departure from Heraklion.
09:30 a.m. - Knossos. Our visit includes a guided tour of the Palace of Knossos, offering insights into the Minoan culture that gave rise to Greek civilization four thousand years ago.
11:45 a.m. - Departure from Knossos. We’ll travel through the island´s tall mountains, heading south towards the Libyan Sea.
01:30 p.m. - Agia Galini, a picturesque town with labyrinthine alleys, a charming fishing port, and bustling taverns. Enjoy free time to explore, have lunch, and perhaps take a swim in the sea.
06:30 p.m. - Departure from Agia Galini. Return journey to the capital of Crete.
08:00 p.m. - Heraklion. We recommend strolling through its lively historic center, brimming with activity and small restaurants.
Note: From November to April, due to the end of the summer season and business closures, we´ll visit the picturesque town of Matala instead of Agia Galini. Matala is renowned for its beautiful beach and unique landscapes of cliffs with carved caves.
09:00 a.m. – Departure from Heraklion.
09:30 a.m. - Knossos. Our visit includes a guided tour of the Palace of Knossos, offering insights into the Minoan culture that gave rise to Greek civilization four thousand years ago.
11:45 a.m. - Departure from Knossos. We’ll travel through the island´s tall mountains, heading south towards the Libyan Sea.
01:30 p.m. - Agia Galini, a picturesque town with labyrinthine alleys, a charming fishing port, and bustling taverns. Enjoy free time to explore, have lunch, and perhaps take a swim in the sea.
06:30 p.m. - Departure from Agia Galini. Return journey to the capital of Crete.
08:00 p.m. - Heraklion. We recommend strolling through its lively historic center, brimming with activity and small restaurants.
Note: From November to April, due to the end of the summer season and business closures, we´ll visit the picturesque town of Matala instead of Agia Galini. Matala is renowned for its beautiful beach and unique landscapes of cliffs with carved caves.
Total distance covered: 180 km.
09:30 a.m. - Departure from Heraklion. We’ll journey to the east of the island, passing through coastal and mountainous landscapes.
11:00 a.m. - Panagia Kera. Located in a small village amidst a rich agricultural plain, we’ll visit the 13th-century church renowned for some of the best frescoes in Crete (admission included).
12:00 p.m. - Departure from Panagia Kera.
12:15 p.m. - Arrival in Agios Nikolaos, a picturesque town with a natural port. You´ll have time for a walk and lunch.
02:30 p.m. - Departure from Agios Nikolaos.
03:00 p.m. - Arrival in Elounda, once a city-state and now a beautiful tourist enclave. Enjoy some leisure time for a stroll. Here, we’ll include a boat trip (either from Elounda or nearby port of Plaka) and admission to the Fortress of Spinalonga. This ancient Venetian fortress later served as a leprosarium for many years. The boat trip takes about 15 minutes each way, with time to explore the fortress before returning by boat. Afterwards, we´ll visit the picturesque coastal town of Plaka for coffee and a stroll.
06:00 p.m. - Departure from Plaka.
07:30 p.m. - Heraklion.
09:30 a.m. - Departure from Heraklion. We’ll journey to the east of the island, passing through coastal and mountainous landscapes.
11:00 a.m. - Panagia Kera. Located in a small village amidst a rich agricultural plain, we’ll visit the 13th-century church renowned for some of the best frescoes in Crete (admission included).
12:00 p.m. - Departure from Panagia Kera.
12:15 p.m. - Arrival in Agios Nikolaos, a picturesque town with a natural port. You´ll have time for a walk and lunch.
02:30 p.m. - Departure from Agios Nikolaos.
03:00 p.m. - Arrival in Elounda, once a city-state and now a beautiful tourist enclave. Enjoy some leisure time for a stroll. Here, we’ll include a boat trip (either from Elounda or nearby port of Plaka) and admission to the Fortress of Spinalonga. This ancient Venetian fortress later served as a leprosarium for many years. The boat trip takes about 15 minutes each way, with time to explore the fortress before returning by boat. Afterwards, we´ll visit the picturesque coastal town of Plaka for coffee and a stroll.
06:00 p.m. - Departure from Plaka.
07:30 p.m. - Heraklion.
Total distance covered: 50 km.
Note: The schedules and frequencies of the ferries for this day’s program will vary depending on the time of year. Sometimes, the journey from Santorini to Athens may be by plane.
Early in the morning, we´ll transfer to the port. Our ferry usually departs around 07:00 or 08:00 a.m. We travel on modern, high-speed ferries, so we should reach the island of Santorini in less than two hours.
Arrival in Santorini is scheduled for 08:50 a.m. (if the ferry leaves at 07:00) or 09:50 a.m. (if it leaves at 08:00). From there, we´ll travel by bus through breathtaking landscapes to Oia, unquestionably the most spectacular town on the island: lively white streets, breathtaking views of cliffs, remnants of a castle, and windmills. You´ll have time to explore and enjoy lunch.
Next, we´ll visit Fira, the island´s capital. Those interested can descend to the port either by cable car or by donkey and admire the cruise ships.
Later, we´ll proceed to the ferry port to board another high-speed ferry departing around 03:30 p.m. We should arrive in Athens just before midnight.
Important note: From November to mid-April, we won’t visit Santorini due to the suspension of the high-speed ferry service from Heraklion. During this period, we’ll travel from Heraklion to Athens by plane.
Note: The schedules and frequencies of the ferries for this day’s program will vary depending on the time of year. Sometimes, the journey from Santorini to Athens may be by plane.
Early in the morning, we´ll transfer to the port. Our ferry usually departs around 07:00 or 08:00 a.m. We travel on modern, high-speed ferries, so we should reach the island of Santorini in less than two hours.
Arrival in Santorini is scheduled for 08:50 a.m. (if the ferry leaves at 07:00) or 09:50 a.m. (if it leaves at 08:00). From there, we´ll travel by bus through breathtaking landscapes to Oia, unquestionably the most spectacular town on the island: lively white streets, breathtaking views of cliffs, remnants of a castle, and windmills. You´ll have time to explore and enjoy lunch.
Next, we´ll visit Fira, the island´s capital. Those interested can descend to the port either by cable car or by donkey and admire the cruise ships.
Later, we´ll proceed to the ferry port to board another high-speed ferry departing around 03:30 p.m. We should arrive in Athens just before midnight.
Important note: From November to mid-April, we won’t visit Santorini due to the suspension of the high-speed ferry service from Heraklion. During this period, we’ll travel from Heraklion to Athens by plane.
Total distance covered: 410 km.
Scenery: Sea views and fantastic landscapes of the Meteora and Orthodox monasteries.
Note: Wear appropriate clothing (women will be provided with skirts upon arrival at the monastery). Also, wear comfortable footwear as you will need to climb many steps!
08:00 a.m. Departure from Athens. We’ll head north and travel through pleasant Mediterranean landscapes.
10:15 a.m. Kamena Vourla. This charming seaside tourist center offers magnificent scenery. You´ll have time for a stroll and a coffee.
11:15 a.m. Departure from Kamena Vourla. Continuing through the Greek hinterland, we’ll make a brief stop at the mountain pass where the Battle of Thermopylae took place.
01:45 p.m. Kastraki. We´ll stop for lunch in this picturesque town at the foot of the Meteora, where the views are magnificent! After lunch, we´ll visit the Meteora, an impressive UNESCO World Heritage site with monasteries that seem to "hang" from the rocks. We´ll stop to visit one of the monasteries (admission included) and see the remaining ones perched atop immense rock formations.
Accommodation will be in Kalabaka, a small town in the center of the Meteora region. Dinner will be included.
Scenery: Sea views and fantastic landscapes of the Meteora and Orthodox monasteries.
Note: Wear appropriate clothing (women will be provided with skirts upon arrival at the monastery). Also, wear comfortable footwear as you will need to climb many steps!
08:00 a.m. Departure from Athens. We’ll head north and travel through pleasant Mediterranean landscapes.
10:15 a.m. Kamena Vourla. This charming seaside tourist center offers magnificent scenery. You´ll have time for a stroll and a coffee.
11:15 a.m. Departure from Kamena Vourla. Continuing through the Greek hinterland, we’ll make a brief stop at the mountain pass where the Battle of Thermopylae took place.
01:45 p.m. Kastraki. We´ll stop for lunch in this picturesque town at the foot of the Meteora, where the views are magnificent! After lunch, we´ll visit the Meteora, an impressive UNESCO World Heritage site with monasteries that seem to "hang" from the rocks. We´ll stop to visit one of the monasteries (admission included) and see the remaining ones perched atop immense rock formations.
Accommodation will be in Kalabaka, a small town in the center of the Meteora region. Dinner will be included.
Total distance covered: 435 km.
Scenery: Stunning landscapes of the Mediterranean and Delphi.
Note: The order of the day’s program may vary; we may visit the Hosios Loukas Monastery before Delphi.
08:00 a.m. – Departure from Kalabaka. We’ll travel through Thessaly towards Central Greece, enjoying spectacular sea views, before reaching Delphi.
11:30 a.m. - Delphi. Admission included to the beautiful archaeological complex overlooking the Gulf of Corinth, a magical place. There will be time for lunch.
02:30 p.m. – Departure from Delphi. We’ll continue our journey amidst mountains with Mount Parnassus dominating the landscape.
03:15 p.m. - Hosios Loukas Monastery. Arrival at one of the most beautiful Byzantine monasteries in Greece, a World Heritage Site, with breathtaking 11th-century mosaics.
04:30 p.m. – Departure from Hosios Loukas.
07:15 p.m. – Athens.
Scenery: Stunning landscapes of the Mediterranean and Delphi.
Note: The order of the day’s program may vary; we may visit the Hosios Loukas Monastery before Delphi.
08:00 a.m. – Departure from Kalabaka. We’ll travel through Thessaly towards Central Greece, enjoying spectacular sea views, before reaching Delphi.
11:30 a.m. - Delphi. Admission included to the beautiful archaeological complex overlooking the Gulf of Corinth, a magical place. There will be time for lunch.
02:30 p.m. – Departure from Delphi. We’ll continue our journey amidst mountains with Mount Parnassus dominating the landscape.
03:15 p.m. - Hosios Loukas Monastery. Arrival at one of the most beautiful Byzantine monasteries in Greece, a World Heritage Site, with breathtaking 11th-century mosaics.
04:30 p.m. – Departure from Hosios Loukas.
07:15 p.m. – Athens.
After breakfast, our journey will come to an end, leaving you with wonderful lasting memories.
Note: Please be aware that the hotel check-out time is usually 10:00 a.m. You can leave your luggage in reception upon check-out, allowing you to explore the city without carrying your bags. You can retrieve your luggage at your convenience later in the day. If you require additional time to use your room, we recommend booking an extra night at the end of your tour.
Note: Please be aware that the hotel check-out time is usually 10:00 a.m. You can leave your luggage in reception upon check-out, allowing you to explore the city without carrying your bags. You can retrieve your luggage at your convenience later in the day. If you require additional time to use your room, we recommend booking an extra night at the end of your tour.
From
USD 1,828.00