Day 1: Departure from U.S. gateway for transatlantic trip to Athens, Greece

Day 2: ATHENS. Arrival and greeting at Athens Eleutherios Venizelos Airport. Orientation meeting and welcome drink in our First Class hotel, near the Acropolis.

Day 3: ATHENS. Guided visits to the Acropolis, and National Museum, with exceptional art from the Cyclades islands.

Day 4: MYKONOS (Catamaran 3 hours ride/Steamer 5 hours ). Walking tour of the small town of Mykonos including visit of the harbor, little Venice, several windmills and greeting Peter, the Pelican. Greek four course dinner in selected restaurant.

Day 5: MYKONOS. Visit to the historic island houses. DELOS (1 hour boat trip from Mykonos), the Pompeii of Greece, with exquisite ruins and history. Afternoon in Mykonos at leisure.

Day 6: PAROS (2 1/2 hour ferry ride). Arrival in PAROIKIA, drive to NAOUSA, the most picturesque fishing village of the island. Evening folk dance performance with colorful costumes and local music exclusively for our group. Overnight in traditional hotel in Naoussa.

Day 7: PAROS. Educational tour of the island via motor-coach, including visit to the famous island Cathedral, a small, private mansion (traditional island style), a Byzantine chapel, a tour of the mountainous villages and beaches, and the Valley of the Butterflies.

Day 8: NAXOS (1 hour ferry ride). Upon arrival, personal exploration of the beauty of the most fertile island of the Cyclades, Naxos.

Day 9: NAXOS. Tour of the island, including the village Museum of Folk Art, the Kouros statue in lush scenery in a green orchard. Optional visit to private mansion in the Venetian Castle.

Day 10: SANTORINI (3 hour ferry ride), the volcano island, thought to be the lost Atlantis. Tour of the island, featuring the archeological finds of Akrotiri, a special winery visit.Traditional, scenic dinner in specialty taverna with beautiful views.

Day 11: SANTORINI. Day at leisure. Optional trip to the Black Island, visiting the volcano crater and swimming at the unique red sand beach.

Day 12: CRETE (3 hours hydrofoil, or 45 minutes airplane ride). Upon arrival in Heraklion, archeological visit to the Knossos Palace of King Minos and the Archeological Museum of Heraklion, full of Minoan treasures.

Day 13: CRETE, Heraklion: Excursion to the INSTAB Institute of Cretan Studies at Pachi Ammos. Lecture on site by the excavators themselves (when available).

Day 14: CRETE. Excursion to the typical Cretan village of Anogia, famous for its handicrafts. Cretan meal in special taverna, accompanied by Cretan dances and music. Stop at Axos for famous «raki» and filled with the Cretan spirit return to Athens (overnight ferry ride).

Day 15: ATHENS. Early arrival in Piraeus port. After breakfast, transfers to the International Airport for return flight to the U.S (or extend your stay in Greece with optional tours/cruises)

RATE: $3,250 per person (25 pax and 1 complimentary)
$3,425 per person (20 pax and 1 complimentary)

Includes:

• Accommodations in double occupancy in Superior Tourist Class Hotels (Athens, Mykonos, Paros, Crete, Naxos and Santorini), in rooms with private facilities, air-conditioning (except for Naxos) and scenic views (depending on availability), including all taxes
• Daily buffet breakfast
• All dinners (14) in selected restaurants or «tavernas» in Santorini, Mykonos, and in the hotel's restaurants in Paros and Naxos.
• Island transportation by air-conditioned motor coach for educational excursions and visits
• Knowledgeable, guide/lecturer experienced in Arts, History, Natural History and Classical History, accompanying the group
• On site lecture at Kavoussi excavations by the American Classical School archeologist (when available – during summer months)
• Boat ticket from Santorini to Heraklion.
• Ferry boat tickets as per itinerary, Piraeus-Mykonos-Delos-Naxos-Paros-Santorini
• First class cabin accommodations with private facilities in ferry passage Heraklion-Piraeus
• Authentic folkdance performances in the island of Paros & Crete (or replaced by performances in the island of Naxos or Athens)
• All transfers on all the islands visited
• Admission fees for entrance to archeological sites and museums
• All luggage handling/portage in the hotels
• Assistance 24 hours from our offices in Athens and on all islands visited

- Please note that the itinerary can be changed or revised due to boat schedules

* Single supplement, additional $595

(Please note that the mentioned rate applies for the months of April, May, June and September 15th-October 31st)

*Rates for 2008 / 2009 are based on the current exchange rate of the Euro to the Dollar (1 Euro = $1.40) and are subject to change due to currency fluctuations