Code 6073
Type Land Only
Greece
12 days
10 nights
Departure Date Friday, October 2nd, 2020
Return Date Tuesday, October 13th, 2020
From $5,975
Deposit $1,000
Final Payment Date
Friday, July 31st, 2020
Departure from the US for the Island of Crete. Overnight flight to Athens with a connection to Heraklion, Crete. Airfare is not included but Celestial Voyagers can provide service to get the best airfare and schedule.
Arrival in the Island of Crete
Continue with your flight to Heraklion airport in the island of Crete.
Assistance and transfer to the village of Axos (30 miles, approximately 1h 1/4 drive).
On arrival check in for 3 nights in the traditional village of ENAGRON, located at an altitude of approximately 1600 feet, near gorges and caves and just above the springs of Mylopotamos, the river that gave its name to the region. Accommodation is this eco-hotel is in a series of apartments beautifully set in a natural environment, each with a veranda with a view towards the mountains and gorges of the area.
Free time for lunch. In the afternoon, join a short guided hike across the vegetation of Enagron, walking through a network of botanic paths all linked to the economy, mythology, religions and medicine from ancient times till today.
You will see, touch, smell and even taste different species of plants that surround Enagron.
Meet your travel companions at a welcome dinner and drink at Enagron’s restaurant.
Discover the Cretan gastronomy:
11h00-13h00: After breakfast we will participate in a Cretan culinary workshop with an introduction to seasonal cooking and local gastronomy. Through simple practical techniques, we will learn how to prepare several dishes of the traditional Cretan diet, one of the world’s best known examples of healthy nutritional models.
Lunch will be served during the workshop
After lunch we continue with the visit around the farm, the gardens, the vineyard, the orchard, the stable at Enagron where they cultivate olives, grapes, fruits and vegetables without the use of any pesticides or fertilizers resulting in the authentic flavor and ultimate quality of the products. The same applies to milk and eggs produced in the farm.
17h00-18h00: In the afternoon, you will learn how to make traditional bread and cheese:
Enagron’s cook, Stavroula, will take us on a journey into the past when every woman used to make the daily family bread in her home. First, she will show us how to knead and shape the bread and then how to bake our homemade bread in the wood oven with its inimitable flavor. Then, when the farm shepherd’s sheep produce fresh milk, Stavroula will shows us how to make our own local cheese, unique in that it can be enjoyed while hot and fresh .
Dinner at Enagron will be created from the dishes cooked in the workshop and the wood-oven fired bread.
Bucolic excursion to the Shepherd’s House
09h 00: Departure for an excursion in the wild nature of Cretan mountains. We hike up (1h ½ easy walk) on a path which leads up to the mountain into beautiful scenery, where Panousis, the Shepherd, keeps his herd next to the mitato (bucolic haze stone building). We will enjoy a view of the mountains and the coast of Rethymnon in the midst of this magnificent landscape.
13h30: Back at the mitato, we will enjoy a simple lunch prepared by the shepherd’s wife, Aphrodite cooked in the fireplace and relax until we set out to hike back to Axos.
In the afternoon we visit the city of Rethymno (30 miles, 1h00’) with a guided visit in this seductive city, which has a great charm and beautifully-preserved historic districts. Venetian and Turkish architecture can be recognized in the minarets and mansions of the old city.
Dinner at a local taverna in Rethymno and return to the hotel.
Minoan civilization
Departure towards Heraklion and Cnossos to visit the palace.
Cnossos was the capital of Crete in the Minoan era and housed the famed Palace of King Minos, which has been the most important royal construction ever since its discovery in 1878. Today, Gnossos is the largest archeological site known to humanity, remarkable among the civilizations of archaic Europe.
Next is a visit to the village of Archanes (7 miles, 15’) where we will prepare our own lunch at Anabellos tavern working with a local chef.
After lunch, we visit the Archeological Museum of Heraklion where almost all of the discoveries made in Crete related to the Minoan civilization are housed. We continue with a walking guided visit through the city of Heraklion followed by free time to explore the town on your own.
Dinner at PESKESI (www.peskesi crete.gr), a restaurant specializing in local cuisine in Heraklion.
Return to your hotel by foot (15’ min walk)
Overnight in Heraklion, Crete at CASTELLO CITY HOTEL 4* (www.castellocity.com) or similar.
Ferry Crete to Santorini Akrotiri, Pyrgos & Oia
Transfer from your hotel to the port of Heraklion for departure by ferry boat to the island of Santorini.
08h40: Departure of the ferry (schedule subject to change)
10h25: Arrival in Santorini
On arrival, visit the archeological site of Akrotiri, to explore the ruins of the site and the Prehistoric Museum of the island (3 hours).You will have the opportunity to experience some of the amazing discoveries of the ancient city, before the Minoan eruption of the Santorini volcano, about 3,600 years ago where we find houses, frescoes and even pottery.
Lunch at a local tavern to sample the local cuisine and flavors.
The next stop is the village of PYRGOS for a 30 minute tour of the famous Venetian castle. The last stop will be in the traditional village of OIA, where we will stroll the streets of the village and gaze upon the world’s most famous sunset.
After the sunset transfer to your hotel. Arrival at HOTEL EL GRECO 4*. Check in for 2 nights.
Dinner on your own at the hotel or at a nearby local restaurant.
Wine tasting & cooking class tour of Santorini
Departure from you hotel for a unique experience, a 6-hour tour to explore the “real” Santorini,a magical and authentic feeling of the island.
The first stop is the traditional village of Megalochori where you can experience Santorini’s past. A walk the narrow streets of the village will bring you back in time.
Next stop, a winery, will be your first encounter with the unique local wine of the island at a family canava (winery). Afterwards, learn about seasonal products in the field, and have the exceptional experience of cooking local dishes in the kitchen of Mrs. Maria, eating the dishes you have created along with a wine tasting while enjoying the splendid colors of the countryside.
Sample menu for the cooking class
• Tzatziki (yoghurt, cucumber, garlic and herbs)
• Santorini Fava (beans boiled with onion)
• Santorini tomato balls (fried batter with tomato pieces, onion and herbs).
• Santorinian salad (tomatini, Santorini cucumber, chili, Santorini cheese, Santorini capers, onion, olives)
• Santorini aubergine stuffed with feta cheese, garlic and basil,.or kleftiko (meat with seasoned vegetables, wrapped in grape leaves and baked).
• Dessert of local yoghurt with spoon sweets
At the end of the class, receive your certificate of attendance along with the recipes so you can recreate the marvelous flavors of Santorini back home.
Return to the hotel. Evening and dinner on your own.
Thirassia island & volcano in the morning
After breakfast transfer to Athinios Port and embarkation on a ‘Caique’ (wooden boat) for a cruise to the volcano, walk to the crater and visit of Thirassia Island escorted by your guide.
Free time for lunch on your own before returning on the ferry.
Ferry to Naxos in the afternoon
15h30-17h30: Ferry Santorini – Naxos (itinerary 2019 – schedule subject to change)
Arrival in the port of Naxos and transfer to your hotel
Check in at 3-star HOTEL XENIA for 2 nights in this hotel which is nicely located in the town center.
Remainder of the day at leisure to discover the area and the capital of Naxos.
Naxos culinary experience
Departure from your hotel for a full-day tour with a delicious and leisurely lunch at a traditional mountain village tavern, featuring local specialties prepared with ingredients from their own garden, flocks (milk and meat), and bakery. This innovative gastronomy tour incorporates Naxian history, culture and cuisine. You will experience the joy and richness of all Naxos has to offer. Taught by local chefs, the cooking class will be a unique and unforgettable experience.
Lunch will be served during the cooking class.
After lunch, we will have a guided walking tour of the island so you can get to know all its charm, sights, flavors and its warm and hospitable inhabitants.
Return at your hotel in Naxos city center, where you will have the opportunity to discover and find great taverns or restaurants for dinner on your own.
Departure to the port of Naxos to take the Ferry for Athens
09h30 -15h00: Naxos – Piraeus (itinerary 2019)
Lunch on your own, on board the ferry
15h00: Arrival in the port of Piraeus and transfer to your hotel.
En route, panoramic tour of Athens: passing by the Temple of Olympian Zeus, Hadrian’s Arch, the National Garden, the Parliament, the Presidential Palace with its Evzones and the tomb of the Unknown Soldier, we arrive at the Panathenaic Stadium where the 1st modern Olympic Games took place (15’ stop). Then we proceed, passing the Academy, the University, the National Library, Omonia Square, the Place of Constitution.
This tour offers an insightful resume into the multiple cultural flavors of Athens, through a variety of attractions that range from classical ancient monuments, such as the Acropolis, to Byzantine structures and Modern Greek Monuments.
Check in for 2 nights at PALLAS ATHENA GRECOTEL, a 4 star boutique hotel (or similar) (www.grecotel pallas athena.com)
Dinner at a local tavern in the city center TO AVGO TOU KOKORA. Van transfer is included.
Departure by bus, accompanied by your local guide for the Acropolis and its Museum.Before reaching the Acropolis we will walk to the flea market in the center of the city (2’ min walk from the hotel) to discover the traditional Greek spices and herbs that are a main ingredient in the local gastronomy. Also the Varvakeion agora with its endless choices of fish and meat, enriching your culinary experience
Then we depart by bus for the visit of the Propylaea, the Temple of Athena ‘the victorious’, Parthenon and Erechtheon.
We continue with a visit to the New Acropolis Museum which houses objects from monuments and excavations on the Acropolis: bas-reliefs, statues and ceramics from prehistory to late antiquity.
Free time for lunch in the area of Plaka, the old district of Athens. After lunch we will continue with a walk in the historical city center passing by the ancient Agora, the Stoa of Attalos, the temple of Hephaestus, the flea market of Monastiraki and the picturesque district of Plaka. Guided walk at Plaka, the old quarter of the city with the famous narrow tangled streets, low houses, Byzantine churches, taverns, steep terraces and many popular galleries.
Leisure time in the afternoon and return to the hotel.
Departure in the evening to the south of Athens and the small port of Mikrolimano.
Dinner at VAROULKO (www.varoulko.gr) and subject to his schedule, meet and greet with Chef Lazarou (chef & owner of the restaurant) for many years. Return to your hotel in the city center.
Breakfast at your hotel and check out. Transfer to Athens International airport for your departure flight back to the US.
Itinerary is subject to possible changes or adjustments due to weather and traffic conditions or other unpredictable events.
Due to Covid 19 pandemic, the proposed hotels may not be the one we will be confirmed in October but any replacements will be of equal or superior quality. Greece is opening to tourism as of July 1 under strict hygiene rules determined by the government. Your safety and comfort are among our top priorities and final confirmation of hotels will depend on a very careful selection related to the appropriate safety regulations.
AXOS
3 overnights at ENAGRON, Axos/Crete, or similar. 3* hotel
The Farm at Enagron will give you the most authentic experience of the Cretan way of life and their gastronomy. Rooms with beamed ceilings, stone walls and fireplaces are rustic, simple and comfortable. The restaurant serves dishes prepared with farm-foraged ingredients. They offer cooking classes and cheese-making workshops. The surrounding mountains, the scenery, the local people are all fascinating as they share their stories, their myths and leir legends
HERAKLION
1 overnight at CASTELLO CITY, a 4* hotel in Heraklion – or similar.
Situated by the ancient Pantokrator Gate, Castello City Hotel is just a short walk from Heraklion beach. It offers views of the sea, the old city, and the Venetian walls, and accommodation in elegant rooms with free WiFi. Castello City Hotel’s air-conditioned rooms are spacious with soundproofed windows, TV, mini fridge and safe. Greek buffet-style breakfast is served daily. For those who arrive early in the morning, a complimentary breakfast is served. At night, you can enjoy your drinks, the first one for free, at the Fifth Floor, lounge cafe bar and a la carte restaurant, while enjoying the views of the sea, the Venetian walls and the old city. Castello City Hotel is located close to the town center.
SANTORINI
2 overnights at EL GRECO HOTEL, a 4* hotel in Santorini – or similar.
El Greco Resort is located within only 10 minutes walking distance from the center, right on the main road that leads to Fira Town, the Capital of the Island. Nearby attractions are The Greek Orthodox Cathedral, The Catholic Cathedral, the cable car and the old port, the Archeological Museum, the Prehistoric Museum, shops, restaurants and nightclubs.
The common areas with several different pools are stylish and elegant. The rooms with flat screen TV and A/C are spacious. Some rooms have a glimpse of the caldera. The spa has a private indoor pool, a fitness room and a juice bar. Free wifi and internet access are available in the lobby.
NAXOS
2 overnights at HOTEL XENIA, a 3* hotel in Naxos, or similar.
Centrally located in Naxos Town, Hotel Xenia is just steps away from shops and restaurants. It boasts free Wi-Fi and tastefully decorated rooms with a balcony. The beach is 350 meters away. All of Xenia’s guestrooms are air conditioned and offer a 26-inch, flat-screen TV with satellite and pay-per-views channels. Each has a fridge and wardrobe. Free toiletries and a hairdryer are included in the bathroom. A buffet breakfast is served daily and can be enjoyed in the privacy of your room. Refreshing drinks and light meals are provided by the snack bar. Naxos Port is 500 metres from Hotel Xenia, which opened in July 2012. The golden beach of Agios Prokopios is at a distance of 6 km.
ATHENS
2 overnights at ATHENA PALLAS GRECOTEL BOUTIQUE, a 4* hotel in Athens, or similar.
The new avant‐garde boutique hotel in downtown ATHENS is full of art, glamour & genuine hospitality. Located in the very heart of Athens, Grecotel Pallas Athena is the place where luxury and hospitality interweave to create a new experience: an art boutique hotel for luxurious city living. This luxury hotel is ideally located in the historical center, next to Athens Town Hall, just a short walk from the Acropolis and the New Acropolis museum, the old city (Plaka) and most of Athens sights and attractions. It is the ideal base for exploring the beautiful capital while enjoying top‐notch accommodation: a truly one of a kind experience.
A thoughtful restoration has unveiled an elegant and refined hotel with noble lines and a look of an aristocratic home, yet at the same time it is welcoming and comfortable. There are impressive pieces of artwork and designer furnishings throughout the common areas and suites. With its unique exhibits, each room becomes a small private gallery, yours for a few days. Prepare to experience delicious menus in the elegant dining‐room and lounge bar on the 1st floor.
• 10 nights accommodation, double occupancy
• Breakfasts daily at the hotels according to the program.
• Welcome dinner (drinks not included) at ENAGRON’s restaurant on arrival.
• 5 Dinners (drinks not included) at local restaurants
• 5 Lunches (drinks not included) during the culinary activities
• 2 lunches (drinks not included) at local taverns on day 1 and 5.
• A Professional English speaking local Guide for the visits according to this program.
• Expert commentary, culinary advice and background by Chef Aliza Green
• Culinary activities and excursions according to this program.
• Wine tasting and cooking classes according to the program.
• English speaking hostess for assistance on arrival, and departure, on the transfers from and to the ports and airports.
• Entrance fees to museums and archeological sites according to this itinerary
• All ferry boat tickets according to the program
• Funicular and the caïque boat ticket for the visit at the Santorini volcano.
• Luxury, private coach for the transfers and excursions
• Daily city tax at the hotels
• VAT and Local taxes, as per tax system valid in 2019, subject to modification
• Single room supplement + $995
• International flights between Greece and the US
• Arrival flight from Athens to Heraklion
• Beverages during the lunches and dinners.
• Meals which are not mentioned in the program
• Gratuities to guides and drivers
• Optional trip cancellation and travel insurance
• Passport and visa fees: If you are not a US citizen a visa may be necessary ; a green card is compulsory. All passports must expire after April 13, 2021
Price $5975 per person, sharing a double room
Single supplement + $995
This trip is offered by Aliza Green Cultural & Culinary tours https://alizagreen.com/three-greek-islands-athens-october-2-to-13-2020/ This trip is a land only program. You can book your airline ticket just a few weeks prior to travel. Celestial Voyagers is an IATA licensed tour operator. We will be able to advise the best schedule, the best routing and best value for your ticket to Greece. Please contact us before booking your flights. Should you choose to purchase your ticket with Celestial Voyagers, we will waive your ticketing fee. Should you choose to purchase your airline ticket on your own provide us with a copy of your schedule. You may have to book additional private transfer between airport and hotel. |
CelestialVoyagers Terms and Conditions relate to specific contracts with various suppliers.
The policies and regulations below must be strictly enforced.
Celestial Voyagers Terms & Conditions relate to specific contracts with their Greek partners. The policies below are special and unique due to the situation with the recent pandemic.
Aliza Cultural & Culinary Tours, Celestial Voyagers and all their partners in Greece will surpass your. expectations and deliver a trip of superior quality similar to those they offered prior to the pandemic.
As the situation develops, we may make adjustments to the program but we will commit to creating the best possible program for guests with safety, comfort, and ease our top priorities.
Aliza Greene Cultural & Culinary Tours and Celestial Voyagers are offering this departure planned for October 2020, a full three months after the scheduled re-opening of Greece to tourism in July.
It will be a small group limited to just a few participants for those who are interested in traveling after the confinement is over and travel outside the US has returned to some normality.
Should you be interested and due to unique circumstances the payment schedule will be as follows:
Should the trip cancel due to the evolution of the pandemic all payments will be refunded up to September 15,
After September 15 2020, suppliers in Greece will be paid in full and refund to participants will be subject to whatever refund will be allowed from the suppliers.
At this stage, a cancellation can be replaced with a new participant and name change fees will be waived.
We highly recommend that you protect yourself with trip cancellation insurance including medical insurance.
All changes and cancellations must be provided in writing via email or postal service.
We advise all travelers to purchase travel insurance in case of any unforeseen circumstances and if you are no longer able to travel. We offer the following insurance policies through Allianz Travel Insurance: Basic, Classic, and Classic with cancel anytime. Prices vary with age and amount insured.
Click on the link below for more details:
https://celestialvoyagers.com/leisure/leisure-insurance-passports-visas/
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Most countries require that a passport be valid for six months beyond the completion of a trip. If your passport expires sooner than that, you must apply to renew your passport. Please check with the respective consulate or a visa agency for the latest requirements.
Francoise is the president and founder of CelestialVoyagers. She graduated with a tourism degree at Nice University in France and has worked as a tour director and operation manager in France, Australia and Mexico. Returning to New York City, she founded CelestialVoyagers with the aim of creating uniquely curated group travel for Universities, Schools and other communities having special interests.