The Best of Greece

Greece and the Peloponnese Peninsula are home to an extraordinary collection of archaeological sites, stunning mountainous scenery, beautiful beaches kissed with crystal blue waters, and charming villages. Here the traditional Greek way of life has remained unchanged for centuries. On our enriching tour, you visit the cosmopolitan city of Athens to trace 5,000 years of Greek history. Experience local culture and social life while exploring the country’s treasures. Walk in the footsteps of Socrates on the Acropolis and observe relics of Athens’ and the nation at the wonderful Acropolis Museum. Sail through the scenic Corinth canal and visit a family-run olive farm and crushing plant. Onwards view in ore the site of Delphi, and Olympia, home of the first Olympic games, and enjoy the insights of local guest speakers. Experience Santorini the most famous Greek island, immediately identifiable around the world due to its colorful cliffs soaring from the blue sea, topped by whitewashed villages precariously built on the clifftops. Join Quest Voyager on an intriguing tour of ancient Greece and Santorini.

Greece Highlights

Extended "cruise philosophy on land" stay in one location • rich cultural connections and Greek interactions • Ancient Athens – birthplace of Western civilization • World famous Acropolis & Parthenon • Acropolis Museum • Amazing archaeological sites • Corinth Canal • ouzo tasting • discussions with local expert speakers • beautiful countryside of Greece • bucolic villages • Ancient theater of Epidaurus • Archaeological site of Mycenae • Arched Tombs of Kings & Gigantic Lion’s Gate • Cyclopean Walls • Picturesque Venetian town of Nafplion • local olive farm plantation visit • Oracle & Museum of Delphi • Archeological site of Olympia • Temples of Hera and Zeus • Santorini, island of extreme beauty • Oia • Profitis • Pyrgos • Stunning sunsets and much more...

Main Program - Included Features

• ROUND TRIP AIR - Air transportation from New York
• FIRST-CLASS HOTELS - First Class hotel accommodations for 7 nights
• MEALS - 20 included meals consisting of 7 breakfasts, 6 lunches and 7 dinners.
• DRINKS- Local alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks served each night at the hotel bar
• THE PROGRAM - Sightseeing, including local guide and all entrance fees as follows: City tour of Athens including the Acropolis, Tour of the Acropolis Museum, Crossing Corinth Canal, Full day excursion to Ancient Sites & Mountainside Villages of the Peloponnese Peninsula including a visit to Mycenae, Epidaurus and Nafplion. Optional tours available
• VOYAGER DISCOVERY - Our program encompasses cultural connections, in-depth learning on the local economy and social systems, and interaction with locals such as a discussion presented by a local guest speaker, olive oil tasting at a local farm and sampling of the traditional Greek aperitif Ouzo
• QUEST VOYAGER TOUR DIRECTOR - Assistance of a professional tour director for the entire length of the tour upon arrival in Athens
• FIRST CLASS MOTORCOACHES - Touring by private first-class air-conditioned motorcoach
• BAGGAGE AND TRANSFERS - Baggage handling for one piece of checked luggage outside of the airport

Optional Santorini Extension - Included Features

• INTRA GREECE ROUND TRIP AIR - Round trip flight from Santorini to Athens
• FIRST-CLASS HOTEL- Hotel accommodations for 2 nights
• MEALS - 2 included meals consisting of 2 breakfasts
• THE PROGRAM - Sightseeing, including local guide and all entrance fees as follows: Tour of Santorini including wine tasting
• QUEST VOYAGER TOUR DIRECTOR - Assistance of a professional tour director for the entire length of the tour
• BAGGAGE AND TRANSFERS - Baggage handling for one piece of checked luggage outside of the airport

Day 1 Depart USA Depart from the United States on an overnight flight bound for Athens, Greece. Meals and refreshments are served on board.

Day 2 Arrive Athens, Greece - Kinetta Welcome to Athens, the birthplace of Western democracy! As you begin your journey, you'll arrive and make your way to the baggage claim area. Your tour director will be there to greet you. From the airport, you will be transferred to your Kinetta Beach Hotel. Ideally situated between Athens and the Corinth Peninsula, Kinetta offers stunning views of the magnificent Aegean Sea. Once you arrive, take the opportunity to check in to your hotel and settle into your surroundings. (D)

Day 3 Kinetta - City Tour of Athens - Kinetta Today, begin your day with breakfast followed by a discussion on Greece, its politics, and the European Union. After lunch, you depart for your tour of Athens. Here you see the Panathenaic Stadium, home of the first Olympic games of modern times, held in 1896. See the Temple of Olympian Zeus, Hadrian's Arch, the Memorial to the Unknown Soldier, the Academy, the Parliament, the National Library, and Constitution Square, the city's cultural hub. Onward to the Acropolis, you visit the Architectural Masterpieces of the Parthenon, built in the 5th century B.C. and dedicated to the goddess Athena. You return to the hotel late in the afternoon. (B,L,D)

Day 4 Kinetta - Mycenaean Sites - Mountainside Villages - Epidaurus - Nafplion - Kinetta Embarking on a full-day journey to the Peloponnese Peninsula, you'll be mesmerized by the picturesque views of Arcadia's mountains. Discover the thriving Mycenaean culture that thrived from 1600-1300 B.C. Mycenae, a prominent Bronze Age center, boasts the iconic Lion's Gate, the city's entrance, and the Cyclopean Walls, colossal stone fortifications named after the mythical Cyclops. These walls stand as a testament to the extraordinary engineering skills of the Mycenaean civilization. Explore the Royal "Beehive" Tombs, showcasing the civilization's advanced craftsmanship and engineering. Enjoy a delightful lunch at a local restaurant before heading to Epidaurus. Marvel at the magnificent Amphitheatre, its towering white limestone terraces soaring over 65 feet high, dating back to the 4th century B.C. Next, visit the captivating town of Nafplion, nestled on the Gulf of Argos, renowned for its neoclassical buildings, charming shops, and inviting cafes. On your way back to the hotel, experience an olive farm visit, where you'll indulge in tastings and engage with knowledgeable staff to learn about olive oil production. (B,L,D)

Day 5 Kinetta - Corinth Canal - Kinetta Begin your day as you join fellow travelers and an expert guest speaker to discuss Greek values and the social culture of Greece. After lunch at the hotel, drive along the scenic coast road to Corinth, and marvel at the magnificent Corinth Canal. The Corinth Canal is a marvel of engineering connecting the Gulf of Corinth with the Saronic Gulf in the Aegean Sea. The construction began in 1881 and was completed in 1893, marking a significant achievement in civil engineering. After your visit, you stop at a local tavern on the banks of the canal to sample the traditional Greek drink, Ouzo, served with local delicacies. (B,L,D)

Day 6 Kinetta Enjoy a day of R&R at the hotel or take an optional tour to Olympia. This full-day tour will take you to the site of Olympia, where the first Olympic Games took place some 2800 years ago. Today gain a glimpse into the grandeur of the ancient city. The most prominent structure is the Temple of Zeus, which housed one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, a colossal gold and ivory statue of Zeus. Also, see the Temple of Hera, where the Olympic torch was lit during the games, and the Treasury. Today, Olympia continues to hold significance as a symbol of the ancient Olympic ideals of sportsmanship, competition, and human achievement. In the early evening, you will return to your hotel. (B,L,D)

Day 7 Kinetta Today, enjoy a day at leisure and relax at the hotel, walk the beach, read a book, or take an optional tour of Delphi, Greece's most spectacular ancient site. In ancient times, Delphi was believed to be the dwelling place of Apollo, the Greek god of light, prophecy, and music. It was regarded as the most important religious and cultural center in ancient Greece. People from all over the Mediterranean would come to Delphi to seek advice and predictions from the Oracle of Delphi, a priestess believed to communicate with the god Apollo and provide divine insights. Perched on a mountain slope overlooking olive trees and the sea, you will be amazed at the site's magnificence. After the visit to the site, you arrive at the Delphi Museum, which houses a rich collection of artifacts discovered at the site, which are highlights of a visit to Delphi. (B,L,D)

Day 8 Kinetta - Acropolis Museum Tour - Kinetta This morning, you return to Athens to tour the Acropolis Museum. This world-class museum holds a collection of artifacts from excavations of the Acropolis. After lunch in a local restaurant, you will have free time to explore the Plaka, a historic neighborhood located just below the Acropolis Hill. It is known as the "Neighborhood of the Gods" due to its proximity to the ancient sites. Plaka is characterized by its charming narrow streets, neoclassical houses, and traditional tavernas, creating a nostalgic atmosphere. Here you have time to shop, explore independently, or pull up a chair and relax. Tonight, enjoy a farewell dinner at the hotel. (B,L,D)

Day 9 Kinetta - Athens - USA or extend your stay with an optional Santorini extension. After breakfast, you will be transferred to Athens airport for your return flight home. Happy travels! (B)

Optional Santorini Extension

Day 9 Kinetta - Athens - Santorini This morning, enjoy your breakfast at the hotel, then transfer to the airport for an inner Greece flight to the Island of Santorini, the number one visited destination for Americans in Greece. Upon arrival in Santorini, transfer to your hotel for check-in. Welcome to Santorini, a breathtakingly beautiful Greek island in the southern Aegean Sea. Part of the Cyclades archipelago it is renowned for its stunning sunsets, white-washed buildings, blue-domed churches, and dramatic cliffs overlooking the deep blue waters of the caldera. Rising proudly from the sea, the island guards the well-kept secrets of Atlantis. The remainder of your afternoon is leisurely to admire, relax and enjoy. (B)

Day 10 Santorini Island Tour Today the splendor of Santorini is at your fingertips. Begin your tour by visiting the Monastery of Profitis Ilias, the island's highest point at 1,856 feet. Here, you can see across the sea to far-off lands. On a clear day, the mountains of Crete are more than 60 miles away. Continuing to Pyrgos, a town with a rich history and was once the capital of Santorini until the early 19th century. The village was built on a hilltop to protect against pirate invasions. As a result, it features intact narrow labyrinthine streets, defensive walls, and a fortress-like character. Afterward, you will visit the wine museum. It is the only one of its kind in Greece and built in a cave. Here witness the history of wine and the life of vine growers in Santorini since the 1600s. Here you will taste some of the best wines the island produces today. Then you will visit Oia, a traditional village north of Santorini. The beauty of Oia is unparalleled. Oia features the iconic white-washed houses, blue-domed churches, and narrow cobblestone streets characteristic of Cycladic architecture. The traditional buildings create a postcard-perfect ambiance with their distinctive Aegean design. As you wander the village, you'll find charming alleys, hidden courtyards, and vibrant bougainvillea flowers adorning the buildings. (B)

Day 11 Santorini to the USA Today transfer to Santorini airport for your flight to Athens and connection to your flight home. (B)

Due to airline schedules and connection timing from Santorini, an additional night could be required in Athens before returning to the USA a day later.

Key: (B) – Breakfast, (L) – Lunch, (D) – Dinner

Hotel and Itinerary are subject to change.