Greek Island Hopper

The ancient capital of Athens, then 2 of the magical Greek Isles: Mykonos & Santorini; travel independently with flights, hotel & ferry included. Optional Classical Greece extension.

Overview

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Style	Independent PackageThese un-escorted packages have no set schedule or guides, so you have the freedom and flexibility to explore on your own from your centrally-located hotel. More of these packages Freedom to explore at your own pace; unescorted
Departures
Activity Level	Easy
What to Expect	This leisurely-paced, independent tour requires minimal walking and is suitable for most levels of physical fitness. This tour does not include a tour guide or escort.
Already booked?	Find everything you need to know before you go, including information about passport & visa requirements, flights, luggage, and more.

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There is nothing quite like the magical Greek Isles. Explore two of the best on this unique vacation package to Greece. Unlike our ever-popular Greek cruises, when you travel to Greece on our "island hopper" getaway, you’ll spend several days on each island—a chance to really get to know and love them. This package is designed for the independent traveler, so you can choose to spend the days exploring the ancient secrets of the Greek islands, or just bask on the sun-splashed Mediterranean beaches. Spend the evenings dining, dancing and enjoying the famous nightlife.

After two nights in Athens, the birthplace of western civilization, sail off into the Greek world of sparkling blue waters, Mediterranean sunshine and ancient islands full of history, myth, and wonders. The first stop is beautiful Mykonos, with its white-washed houses and blue shutters studding the island, sparkling beaches and clear blue sea. Sail on to the legendary Santorini, with spectacular views of the sunken caldera and still-active volcano, black sand beaches, fabulous shopping alongside unspoiled villages. Enjoy the relaxing atmosphere of Greece and the Greek Isles, all at an incredible price.

Package includes

Flights
Transfers
Hotel
Meals

Round trip flights from New York (JFK) or Newark (EWR) via scheduled carriers, including taxes & fees, with other gateways available on request
9 nights in Deluxe and Superior First Class hotels
9 breakfasts
Athens City Tour
All transfers
Ferries between Athens, Mykonos and Santorini
Flight from Santorini to Athens

Optional add-ons

Cape Sounion Tour
Classical Greece Extension

Why you'll love it

Enjoy the highlights of ancient Athens, including the Acropolis and its many monuments, the Roman Temple of Olympian Zeus, the Panathinaikon Stadium, the Parliament House on Constitution Square and more.
Hop aboard a high-speed ferry to Mykonos and discover the beautiful beaches, upscale shops, and tasty restaurants.
Visit Delos, the nearby island where legend says Apollo and Artemis were born.
Explore Santorini and enjoy the breathtaking views of the rugged cliffs, pearly-white homes, and charming cafes.
Use your free time to explore the villages of Fira, Firostefani, Imerovigli and Oia.
Join an optional boat cruise to Nea Kameni to see the still-active volcano on the island.

Itinerary at a Glance

1 Depart USA
2 Athens
3 Athens
Optional Excursion: Cape Sounion, $55
4 Athens & Mykonos
5 Mykonos
6 Mykonos
7 Mykonos & Santorini
8 Santorini
9 Santorini
10 Santorini/Athens/USA

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 Depart USA

Check in for your overnight flight to Greece

Day 2 Athens

Arrive in Athens, where you'll be met and escorted to your hotel
Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure

Full Day Itinerary

Arrive today in Athens. You'll be met by our representative and then escorted to your hotel, centrally located near Constitution Square and the famous Plaka (Old Town). Athens, the birthplace of western civilization, once hailed as the Paris of the Mediterranean, is now a bustling modern city, a colorful tapestry of eastern and western influences, full of outdoor cafes, pedestrian streets, parks and gardens, street bazaars, dilapidated mansions and ancient ruins.

Day 3 Athens

Enjoy a half day of sightseeing in Athens
Spend the afternoon exploring the city independently, or join an optional excursion

Breakfast

Full Day Itinerary

The striking contrast between breathtaking monuments of a glorious past and modern elegant structures is what you will enjoy during your tour of Athens. Visit the Acropolis, the crowning beauty and glory of Ancient Athens, with its many monuments atop its rocky base, including the awesome Parthenon, the Propylea, the temple of Athena Nike and the Erechtheion, with its Porch of Maidens.

Drive to the Roman Temple of Olympic Zeus, the Panathinaikon Stadium (site of the first modern Olympic Games in 1896), and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in front of the Parliament House on Constitution Square. See views of government buildings and elegant structures of the 19th century. Drive along Panepistimiou Avenue and view the Catholic Cathedral, the Academy, the University, and the National Library. Conclude your tour with a visit to the new Acropolis Museum, a marvel of architecture with a full exhibition of the glory of Ancient Athens.

This afternoon, explore Athens on your own or join an optional excursion.

Optional Excursion: Cape Sounion, $55

Drive along the coastal road past countless coves and the beautiful beaches of Glyfada, Vouliagmeni, and Varkiza to Cape Sounion. Dominated by the spectacular Temple of Poseidon, the sanctuary at Sounion is one of the most important archaeological sites in Attica. Although evidence suggests that the site dates back to the prehistoric period, the sanctuary is first mentioned in Homer's Odyssey, as the place where Menelaos stopped during his return from Troy to bury his helmsman, Phrontes Onetorides. Learn about the rich history of this area as you take in stunning views of the Aegean on this fascinating optional excursion.

Day 4 Athens & Mykonos

Transfer via high speed ferry to Mykonos
Remainder of the day at leisure to explore Mykonos

Semeli Hotel, Royal Myconian Resort & Thalasso Spa Center or similar Breakfast

Full Day Itinerary

This morning, you'll be transferred to the port of Piraeus to board your ferry to the gorgeous island of Mykonos, where chic crowds flock to the beautiful beaches by day and to the trendy restaurants and discos each night. You'll be met and transferred to your hotel. The balance of the day is at leisure.

Day 5 Mykonos

Full day at leisure to enjoy Mykonos

Semeli Hotel, Royal Myconian Resort & Thalasso Spa Center or similar Breakfast

Full Day Itinerary

You'll have two days to independently enjoy the island of Mykonos. Stroll through the town with its labyrinth of winding alleyways and whitewashed buildings, upscale shops and cafes. Grab a seaside table and unwind, sipping ouzo and watching the sunset while listening to traditional Greek music.

While on Mykonos, you may want to visit the nearby island of Delos, once the religious center of the Aegean and Cyclades. According to myth, on this island Latonna gave birth to Apollo, the Greek sun god, and Artemis, the huntress and goddess of marriage and fertility.

Day 6 Mykonos

Another full day to explore Mykonos at your own pace

Semeli Hotel, Royal Myconian Resort & Thalasso Spa Center or similar Breakfast

Day 7 Mykonos & Santorini

Transfer via high speed ferry to Santorini
Balance of the day to explore Santorini at leisure

El Greco Resort & Spa, Hotel Aressena Spa & Suites or similar Breakfast

Full Day Itinerary

This morning, you'll be transferred to the port of Mykonos for your ferry to the island of Santorini. Upon arrival at the port of Thira, you will be met and transferred to your hotel on the cliff-side of Santorini, facing the famous Caldera. The balance of the day is at leisure. This striking island is a volcanic crater immersed in the sea. The island is famous for its breathtaking and rugged landscapes, whitewashed houses, open-air cafes and glittering boutiques which cling to steep cliffs, accessible by foot, cable car or mule. Your hotel is built into the cliff with steps to reach rooms and public areas.

Day 8 Santorini

Full day at leisure to enjoy Santorini

El Greco Resort & Spa, Hotel Aressena Spa & Suites or similar Breakfast

Full Day Itinerary

You will have two days to enjoy the island of Santorini on your own. Visit the bustling town of Fira, or even the smaller villages of Firostefani, Imerovigli and Oia. Or, take an optional boat cruise to Nea Kameni and visit the still active volcano. Wherever you go, enjoy the spectacular views as the sun sets behind the caldera.

Day 9 Santorini

Another full day to explore Santorini at your own pace

El Greco Resort & Spa, Hotel Aressena Spa & Suites or similar Breakfast

Day 10 Santorini/Athens/USA

This morning, bid farewell to Greece as you board your flight home via Athens
Arrive in the USA later today

Breakfast

Full Day Itinerary

Today, transfer to the airport on Santorini to board your flight back to Athens, and connect to your return flight to the USA.

Classical Greece Optional Extension

Why not take advantage of your already-included international airfare and visit the classical cities of Corinth, Mycenae, Olympia, and Delphi? Your extension includes superior hotels, most meals and guided touring of the most fascinating sites, including entrance fees to places visited.

Day 10 Santorini & Athens

Fly from Santorini back to Athens
Upon arrival, you'll be escorted to your centrally located hotel

Breakfast

Day 11 Athens, Mycenae & Olympia

Drive across the Corinth Canal to Olympia
Visit the famous theater of Epidaurus
Evening at leisure in Olympia

Amalia Hotel Olympia or similar Breakfast & dinner

Full Day Itinerary

After breakfast this morning, board your touring coach and begin a tour of the classical cities of Greece. Drive across the Corinth Canal, which connects the Ionian Sea with the Aegean, to the Peloponnesian Peninsula, where 4,000 years of history are more fully and comprehensibly illustrated than anywhere else in Europe.

Here you'll visit the famous theater of Epidaurus, the best preserved in Greece, which reached the height of its fame in the 5th & 4th centuries B.C. The acoustics are so perfect that even from the last of the 55 tiers, every word can be heard.

Continue to ancient Mycenae, which, according to the poets, was founded by Perseus and built with the aid of the mythological Cyclops. Drive on to Olympia, birthplace of the Olympic Games, for dinner and overnight.

Day 12 Olympia, Nafpaktos & Delphi

Morning tour of the archaeological site and museum at Olympia
Afternoon drive via Patras to Rion, Antirion and picturesque Nafpaktos
Evening at leisure in Delphi

Amalia Hotel Delphi or similar Breakfast & dinner

Full Day Itinerary

This morning you'll tour the archaeological site and museum at Olympia, where the Olympic Games were conceived as a tribute to Hercules, son of Zeus. These games were the most important international event in the Hellenic world from 776 B.C. to 393 A.D. and continue today, with the lighting of the Olympic flame that is carried by runners throughout the world. Visit the Sanctuary of the Olympian Zeus and the Museum.

This afternoon, you'll drive via Patras to Rion, Antirion and picturesque Nafpaktos, where according to mythology, Hercules slew the Erymanthine boar, and where you'll view the lovely circular Venetian harbor. Continue our drive to Delphi for dinner and overnight.

Day 13 Delphi & Kalambaka

Morning tour of Delphi
Evening at leisure in Kalambaka

Amalia Hotel Kalambaka or similar Breakfast & dinner

Full Day Itinerary

After breakfast you'll explore the ancient site of Delphi, located on the slopes of the breathtaking Mount Parnassus, in a landscape of unparalleled beauty and majesty. Here lie the ruins of the Sanctuary of Apollo Pythios, the Treasury of the Athenians, the Temple of Apollo and the museum, which contains masterpieces of ancient Greek sculpture including the famous bronze Charioteer. The site had been sacred since at least the Bronze Age. According to legend, the shrine was originally guarded by the she-dragon Pytho. She was killed by Apollo who then took over the oracle. In antiquity, Delphi was regarded as the center of the world.

Later, you'll depart for the small town of Kalambaka, built at the foot of the majestic gray rocks, at the point where the river Pinios leaves the Pindos Mountain.

Day 14 Meteora & Athens

Morning tour of Meteora monasteries
Afternoon drive back to Athens via Thermopylae
Evening at leisure in Athens

Breakfast

Full Day Itinerary

This morning you'll visit the spectacular Meteora monasteries, perched upon the summits of some precipitous and isolated rocky pinnacles, which rise above the almost flat valley of the Pinios River, 5.5 miles beyond Kalambaka. The monastic history of Meteora goes back to the 11th century A.D., when the monks constructed inaccessible eagle's nests in the crannies of these rocks and today, four are still occupied.

Later this afternoon you'll drive back to Athens, via Thermopylae, famous battleground from the Persian wars. Arrive in Athens and check into your hotel.

Day 15 Athens/USA

Bid farewell to Greece as you're escorted to the airport to board your flight home
Arrive in the USA later today

Breakfast

Hotels

Semeli Hotel

Deluxe

Located among the distinct white Aegean style houses in Mykonos Town, Semeli Hotel offers luxury accommodation with outstanding services and facilities. Its incredible architecture pays homage to the authenticity of Mykonos and will leave you enchanted. You will also be within walking distance of local shops, restaurants, and the beach.

More information

Royal Myconian Resort & Thalasso Spa Center

First Class

Located just above famed Elia beach, the Royal Myconian Resort & Thalasso Spa Center is an exclusive luxury hotel in cosmopolitan Mykonos that strikes a perfect balance between Cycladic authenticity and contemporary design.

More information

El Greco Resort & Spa

First Class

Located on the main road that leads into Fira, the capital of Santorini, El Greco Resort & Spa boasts a privileged location facing the Caldera.

More information

Hotel Aressena Spa & Suites

More information

Amalia Hotel Olympia

More information

Amalia Hotel Delphi

First Class

Superbly located on a mountain slope at the foot of Mount Parnassus, the Amalia Hotel Delphi enjoys a breathtaking view of the green valley below stretching all the way down to the sea and the picturesque ports of Itea and Galaxidi. The Amalia Hotel is also conveniently located near the museum and archaeological sites of Delphi, considered by the ancient Greeks to be the center of the world.

More information

Amalia Hotel Kalambaka

First Class

Located on a 14-acre property just a few minutes away from the town of Kalambaka, the Amalia Hotel Kalambaka boasts extensive gardens and beautiful views of the Meteora Rocks.

More information

In the unlikely event that a particular hotel is not available, a similar or better hotel may be substituted.

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Trip Details

What should I know before I go? We've compiled a comprehensive checklist, including information on how to pay your balance due, flights & transfers, packing & luggage, and more.
Do I need a visa or other documents? Are there any entry requirements? Please review the visa & entry requirements.
Can I make changes to my trip? Want to upgrade your seats? Depart from another city? Stay a few extra days? Something else? Just ask!
Can I bring my kids? Are there any age restrictions? To book this package, you must be 18 or older. Your traveling companions must be 8 or older at time of travel.
Should I purchase travel insurance? Yes! We recommend you purchase travel insurance to help protect you and your travel investment against the unexpected. For your convenience, we offer a plan provided by Travelex Insurance Services.
What's the fine print? Review the terms & conditions for this package.
What should I know about Greece? Check out our guide for practical travel tips, the best time to go, videos, and more.