This itinerary is ideal for painting instructors to take their pupils to the island of Hydra - the only island in Greece without private cars - Santorini - the unique volcano island of Greece, and Athens - the city of the eternal monuments.
Itineraries such as those have been very successful with painter instructors and artists like Karlyn Holman and Rose EDIN. Other itineraries have included sites in the islands of Crete, Rhodes and Symi - a small island near Rhodes.
In fact Greece is full of islands ideal for such leisurely trips where the stress is on painting combined with some local guided visits. Limnos, Andros, Lesvos, Chios, Kefalonia and Ithaca just to mention a few. We can work out similar itineraries for any combination of islands at very similar rates.
Day 1: Departure from US
Day 2: Arrival Athens. Meeting and transfer to the port of Piraeus for the island of Hydra to catch the late afternoon or evening hydrofoil 21/2 hours ride appr.
Hydra Website: http://www.hydra.com.gr/en/axiotheata/index.htm
You can take text and slides from the webpage of the island of Hydras webpage.
Dinner in Athens or in Hydra.
Day 2,3,4,5,6,7. Hydra - Hotel Hydroussa can be booked as well as dinners in the tavernas for 5 or 6 nights on HYDRA.
The hotel HYDROUSSA is a converted mansion, only 2 minutes walking from the small port with a lovely garden, which can be used also for your painting. Rooms are spacious and furnished in a traditional style with private shower/WC, fully airconditioned. Daily breakfast buffet is provided in the breakfast room adjoining the garden. The hotel has 40 rooms and is very centrally located without climbing.
Hotel website: www.hydradirect.com/hotels/YdroussaHotel/HydroussaDetails.htm
Possibility to visit the nearby island of Spetses . The best connection would be the hydrofoil around 9.30 am with return at 5 pm departing from Spetses. The appr cost would be around 20 -25 euro /person.
WEBSITE of Spetses: http://www.greeka.com/saronic/spetses/spetses.htm
4 dinners are included.
Day 8: Travel day via Piraeus.to Santorini
- Take morning boat or hydrofoil- from Hydra to Piraues around 10-11 am. Arrive after 1 1/2hours. Our bus meets us and possibility for lunch at the seaside and the drive to air port for a one hour flight in the late afternoon ( present schedule at 5 pm ) Dinner in Santorini.
Departure times are subject to boat schedule.
Hotel website: http://www.santorinipalacehotel.gr/profile.htm
Day 9, 10, 11, 12, 13: Santorini. Late afternoon arrival in Santorini. Transfer to the hotel by bus and assistance. Hotel SANTORINI PALACE or EL GRECO.
Day 9: Tour of the island by bus and guide with visit to Akrotiri, the urban settlement of the 17th c. B.C. Visit the Prehistoric Museum in Fira with finds from Akrotiri. Lunch break and swimming possibility at the beach Perissa or Kamari and wine tasting. Late afternoon back to the hotel. Visit of a traditional mansion. Archontiki Argyriou, Messara - rest of the afternoon free. Watch the sunset and dinner in Fira.
Day 10: Morning bus to OIA- the previous capital with beautiful vistas. Free time for painting. Return by bus early afternoon back to the hotel. Dinner near the hotel.
Day 11: Walk to Fira. Catch the cable car to the old port for painting. Return by cable car. Dinner in a taverna.
Day 12: Morning bus to OIA. Time for painting. Return by bus early afternoon, dinner.
Day 13: Free day. Possibility for a boat trip from 7:45 am to 1:30 pm to the Kammeni island where the crater, visit and swimming and then cruise on to the Theressia island for lunch, visit and swimming at the additional cost of appr 27-30 euro per person.
Website for the boat trip : http://www.thesaurus.gr/tour_jtr_multi.asp
In the evening ART SHOW in the Hotel Santorini Palace.or GRECO Hotel. Dinner in the hotel or nearby taverna.
Day 14: Santorini-Athens. Morning free for individual painting. Late afternoon flight to Athens. Transfer to the airport, upon arrival transfer to the hotel in Athens. Hotel Philippos (Superior B-class) or similar near the Acropolis and Plaka. Dinner in the Plaka.
Day 15: ATHENS .
Sightseeing tour with a visit of the Acropolis and a walking tour through the Plaka by bus and guide from 8.30-12.30/1p.m. Rest of the day free for shopping etc. Farewell dinner on a rooftop of a restaurant with view of the Acropolis. (15'-20' walk to the restaurant on a pedestrian road)
Day 16: Athens- USA Transfer to Athens airport. Early morning departure for the US.
The estimated price is $ 3,095 ( based on min 25 paying plus 3 free )
Supplement for flight ticket Athens/Santorini incl taxes $ 115. Total price: $ 3,210
Supplement for airline ticket with NW/KLM Minneapolis / Amsterdam / Athens and return
$ 850 + $ 110 airport taxes (subject to changes ) $ 960 per person. (April May) For other months and other gateways on request.
Individual deviations and stopovers extended stays in Greece will charged as individual tickets.
(No free air tickets for instructors)
Single supplement $ 795
(The price is based on the exchange rate of Euro 1= $ 1.32 .If there is a decrease in the value of the US $ there might be a currency surcharge ) If the euro at the time of the final settlement is less there would be a refund or the equivalent refund in form of extra meals or services like optional tours on the islands'
Arrangement includes:
- Accommodation in selected superior tourist class hotels in Athens and Hydra as above , and in First class hotel Santorini Palace inThira ( or similar) in rooms for double occupancy ( separate beds) with TV, private shower/WC, air conditioning.
- Daily breakfast buffet .
- Local guide in Athens accompanying you also in Hydra for one day, Santorini and Athens also for 6 days totally and her expenses.
- Coach transportation with fully air conditioning in Athens , Santorini and Piraeus as per itinerary.
- Boat or/and hydrofoil tickets Pireaus/Hydra roundtrip and ferry tickets to Santorini incl taxes.
- Flight ticket Santorini / Athens incl airport/security taxes. Roundtrip
- 13 dinners in all incl. welcome dinner and farewell dinners. All dinners with 4 dishes eg first dish or Greek appetizers, , main dish, salad, dessert or fruit.
- All admission fees to arch.sites and museums included in the itinerary!
- Assistance by our reps in Athens and Santorini.
Not included: Lunches and one dinner, drinks of personal nature, gratuities to porters and to guide and driver. Suggested gratuties to guide $ 2 per/ person and day, and the same to the driver. Porters are not available on the ferry boats to and from the islands. In the hotels we can arrange porter assistance to your rooms at no extra cost to you.
Flight schedule: Seats to be secured upon request subject to space available and at additional supplement due to late booking.
Payment Schedule.
Deposit of $ 350 per person to be paid by personal check in the name of Educational Tours and Cruises
Second prepayment of $ 950 per person
The balance to be paid to us
The air tickets will be mailed to you by our US ticket contractor in Boston .
*Rates for 2007/08 are based on the current exchange rate of the Euro to the Dollar (1 Euro = $1.35) and are subject to change due to currency fluctuations