This tour of Greece starts with your arrival in Athens, followed by an evening orientation and dinner. Day 3 offers a tour of the historic city, featuring iconic sites such as the Acropolis and the Panathenian Stadium. Next, the journey continues to Olympia, stopping at notable sites like the Corinth Canal and Mycenae.

Explore the archaeological treasures of Olympia and Delphi before visiting Kalambaka and the Meteora monasteries. After returning to Athens, sail to the stunning islands of Mykonos and Santorini. Enjoy guided tours, local cuisine, and breathtaking scenery before ending the tour with a farewell dinner.

The short itinerary

Day 1 : DEPART FOR GREECE FROM NEW YORK
Day 2 : ARRIVE IN ATHENS
Day 3 : ATHENS CITY TOUR
Day 4 : SIGHTSEEING EN ROUTE TO OLYMPIA
Day 5 : TOUR OLYMPIA ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE
Day 6 : ARCHAEOLOGICAL TOUR OF DELPHI, TRAVEL TO KALAMBAKA
Day 7 : METEORA SIGHTSEEING, RETURN TO ATHENS
Day 8 : FERRY TO MYKONOS
Day 9 : DELOS MORNING TOUR
Day 10 : FULL DAY IN MYKONOS
Day 11 : FERRY TO SANTORINI
Day 12 : MORNING TOUR OF SANTORINI
Day 13 : FULL DAY IN SANTORINI
Day 14 : DEPART GREECE

AVAILABILITY OPTIONS

Tuesday Departure

Athens : Athenian Callirhoe Hotel
Athens : Athens Zafolia Hotel
Olympia : Europa Hotel
Olympia : Olympia Amalia Hotel Olympia
Olympia : Olympic Village Hotel & Spa
Delphi : V Hotel Delphi
Arachova : Domotel Anemolia Mountain Resort
Delphi : Hotel Apollonia
Kalambaka : Grand Hotel Meteora
Kalambaka : Amalia Hotel
Mykonos : San Antonio Summerland Hotel
Santorini : Rosebay Hotel
Santorini : Kamari Beach Hotel
Santorini : Scorpios Beach Hotel

Friday Departure

Athens : Athenian Callirhoe Hotel
Athens : Athens Zafolia Hotel
Olympia : Amalia Hotel Olympia
Olympia : Olympic Village Hotel & Spa
Delphi : Amalia Hotel
Arachova : Domotel Anemolia Mountain Resort
Kalambaka : Amalia Hotel
Kalambaka : Grand Hotel Meteora
Mykonos : San Antonio Summerland Hotel
Santorini : Rosebay Hotel
Santorini : Kamari Beach Hotel
Santorini : Scorpios Beach Hotel

Is This Trip Right for You?

Pace: Expect 3-4 hours of walking every touring day, as well as considerable time standing. Due to specific drop off and pick up points, additional walking to and from the sights may be necessary.

Terrain: On this tour, you may need to walk on uneven and challenging terrain, navigate steep steps or slopes, and encounter cobblestone streets.

Transportation: Modes of travel will include ferries with one day having a 4-6-hour ferry ride.

Things to Consider: The ferry service is weather dependent. Due to strict regulations at ferry ports, porterage cannot be provided, and passengers will be required to carry their luggage on and off the ferry.

Mykonos Island Tour

Embark on a tour of Mykonos, considered one of the most cosmopolitan islands in Greece. Discover the island with its picture-perfect beaches and stunning scenery. View fishermen with their kaikis (traditional fishing boats), small churches and stone houses built in typical Cycladic style. Explore the charming village of Ano Mera and visit the 16th century Monastery of Panagia Tourliani. Afterward, free time for a stroll around the central square, where you will find many tavernas and pastry shops. Continue around the coastline and make a stop on one of the famous beaches of Mykonos.

Know Before You Go

Although most of the planning and preparation is taken care of for you, there are still a few things you should know and some details you should take care of to ensure your comfort, safety and peace of mind. Please review the following information before your departure to ensure that any surprises along the way will only be pleasant ones.

Getting Ready to Go

Passports and Visas

It is each traveler’s responsibility to have a passport valid for at least 6 months beyond the dates of travel and a visa if required. Please check the information at www.gate1travel.com/visas.aspx for the specific country/region you are visiting for more details. IMPORTANT: Passengers who are not U.S. citizens must check with the respective consulate or a visa agency to determine what personal identification is required. Passengers who enter, leave and then re-enter the same country on their itinerary should check if they require a double-entry visa. Passport applications are available at most U.S. Post Offices, as well as at regional Passport Agencies. Passengers requiring visas, whether obtained in advance or locally upon arrival, should ensure that their passport has blank pages.

Traveling with Friends or Family?

If you are traveling with friends or family who are booked on another reservation, please make sure that we are aware. On occasion, we may operate more than one vehicle on your tour departure in which case we will ensure that guests will be assigned together. Once you arrive in your destination, it may not be possible to make assignment changes.

Trip Preparation

A little pre-planning can make your trip go a lot smoother. Several weeks before your trip, make a list of what you will need to take with you. Make sure your personal documents (passports, visas, driver’s license) are in order. Make sure also that you have enough prescription medications to last through the trip and carry them with you in case your luggage is delayed. Bring a change of clothes in your carry-on bag in the event that your luggage is delayed or lost. Lost luggage is common. We strongly urge you to consider carry-ons instead of checked bags when possible, and when checking a bag is necessary, choose a bag color and identification that stands out. We suggest that you make photocopies of passports, visas, personal ID and any other important travel documents and pack them separately from the originals. You may also make a digital copy of your passport to keep a clear picture with the important details in your cell phone or digital camera photos. If you lose the originals while traveling, you’ll have copies for easier reporting and replacement. Pack a list of medications including dosage and generic names. You may consider bringing a small supply of over the counter medications for headaches and/or anti-diarrhea pills (especially when traveling outside of the USA and Western Europe). We recommend that you pack a portable alarm clock. Due to security reasons, many museums have restrictions on the size of bags that can be taken inside and backpacks, carry-on bags or large purses may not be permitted. It is recommended to bring a small shoulder bag or purse to use in these situations instead. Avoid placing valuables such as cameras in your checked luggage. Airplane pressure can cause similar pressure in your body, most notably in ears, as well as liquid tubes and bottles. Your physician can suggest medication for decongestion. We suggest that you place liquid containers into Ziploc bags to catch any leaks.

Greek Islands – Do not overpack. The Greek Islands are very casual, and the tour requires only that you be comfortable. There will be no occasions for business, cocktail or formal attire. Porterage is not included and most hotels do not have elevators, so travel light. You will enjoy your trip more with less luggage to carry. Bring rubber soled walking shoes for visits to archaeological sites and clothes that can be layered. Avoid packing valuable items such as jewelry.

Travel Safety Advice: The safety of our guests is Lumle’s #1 concern. Before making the decision to reserve your vacation, we want you to be aware of potential situations which may impact your holiday. While most of the time our programs run precisely according to plans, on rare occasion force majeure events including weather, transportation mechanical issues, or uninhabitable accommodation, civil unrest and even criminal or terrorist activities will present themselves unexpectedly and with little or no notice. Lumle will make the decision to cancel a tour only after receiving verifiable government issued information. We are otherwise obliged to comply with contractual airline and vendor agreements and carry out the tour until or unless we are advised otherwise. In the event of such an occurrence anytime after your date of departure, Lumle and the local destination ground staff, in coordination with government advisories, airlines, hotels, cruise ships and other vendors, will make decisions with regard to your safety first. We strongly recommend that tour participants review the destination country’s specific information at https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/alertswarnings.html.

Mobile Phones

Mobile networks differ from country to country. We recommend you check with your provider to see if your wireless plan will work in the destination(s) you are visiting. To avoid possible roaming charges, you may want to consider purchasing an international plan. With most major phone companies, for a modest fee, you will be able to use your domestic plan’s talk, text, and data allowances just like you do at home. If you can access the internet while you travel, you can also take advantage of services such as WhatsApp or Skype.

Making Telephone Calls from One Country to Another

When dialing a number from one country to another, you should proceed as follows: dial your country’s Exit Code (often indicated with a “+” sign), then the destination Country Code, then the Phone Number. For most countries, the exit code is 00. Exceptions include the USA and Canada (011), Hong Kong and Cambodia (001), Australia (0011), and Russia (8 Pause 10*). For Brazil, please consult with the local telephone company. If you are dialing from a mobile phone, you can enter a “+” instead of the international Exit Code (011, 001, 0011 or 00) by pressing and holding the 0 key. For most countries in Africa, Asia, Europe, South America and South Pacific, if you are calling from a local phone to a number within the same country, you should drop both the exit and country codes and then add a leading 0 (zero). Exceptions include Spain, Italy, Hungary and Malta (no additional zero needed to dial locally).

Example:

To dial the following number in Germany (as listed on your voucher): +(49) 0555-555

From USA or your US cell phone: 011-49-555-555

From another country in Europe: 00-49-555-555

From a German phone within Germany: 0555-555

WiFi Access

WiFi is available in most airports, hotels, and cruise lines, as well as on some flights, trains, and buses. There may be a fee for access and service quality and speed may vary greatly especially while on moving vehicles. Availability on cruises is also dependent upon its location while sailing through multiple countries. Please note that WiFi can be extremely slow, unreliable, and sometimes nonexistent in developing countries.

Staying Healthy While Traveling

Please consult with your healthcare provider for up-to-date requirements. You may also check the Centers for Disease Control (www.cdc.gov) and/or the World Health Organization (http://www.who.int/en/) for their recommendations. Any required inoculations must be documented by clients’ healthcare provider on a valid vaccination certificate, which must be carried as proof where necessary. Individuals with heart disease, chronic illness, physical handicap, advanced pregnancy, or mental illness should not participate in these rigorous travel programs.

While traveling, illnesses can sometimes be unavoidable. If a traveler arrives feeling ill or becomes sick during the tour, they will be separated from the group and directed to either a local or virtual medical facility for diagnosis. This precaution is necessary to ensure the well-being of all travelers. The traveler may only rejoin the group after receiving written clearance from an accredited medical facility confirming they are fit to continue. All costs associated with medical treatment and related expenses such as additional hotel nights or transportation not included in the original itinerary will be the responsibility of the passenger. Those with persistent cough or sneezing, including allergies, which does not imply illness and is not contagious are advised to carry medical documentation. Travel protection plans will only consider coverage with service receipts provided by legally qualified health care facilities, and in accordance with policy terms.

There are several easy steps you can take to stay healthy while traveling which may help prevent contracting an illness while away from home.

Watch what you eat. Try new foods in modest quantities, and depending upon your destination, you may want to avoid street foods, salad bars, raw vegetables and fruits, unless they have thick peels like bananas or grapefruit.

Stay hydrated. Drink bottled water and avoid consuming ice cubes made with tap water.

If you have allergies to foods, medications or insect bites, or have any other unique medical issues, consider a medical alert bracelet and/or a physician’s note detailing required treatment should you become ill.

Wash your hands regularly and carry hand sanitizer.

Where appropriate, pack sunscreen and insect repellent (for both active and warm destinations).

You may also want to bring a small first-aid kit with bandaids, antibiotic cream, pain killers, bug bite cream, digestive aids like antidiarrheal or anti-bloat medications, antacids, and cold medicine. This is in addition to any prescription medications which should be adequate for the entire trip.

Notice on Aircraft Cabin Insecticide Treatment – Please note that some countries may require aircraft cabin insecticide treatment for in-bound foreign flights. A list of such countries is available at: http://www.dot.gov/office-policy/aviation-policy/aircraft-disinsection-requirements.

Consideration for Tour Participants (Escorted Tours)

For the benefit of all tour participants, we ask tour members to be considerate of their fellow travelers in the following ways:

Refrain from wearing colognes, perfumes and/or personal products containing excessive fragrance in respect for other guests who may be allergic

Avoid smoking cigarettes, e-cigarettes or cigars in the vicinity of other tour members, including in outdoor areas where smoking may be permitted but may still affect other tour participants

No Smoking of any kind (medical or recreational) is allowed on any transportation that is exclusively provided by Lumle. This includes e-cigarettes, e-cigars or any other smoking device. Furthermore, some countries heavily regulate the public use and possession of cigarettes (including e-cigarettes and vape pens) which could include their complete ban. Please check the regulation for the destinations you plan on traveling to prior to departure.

Avoid attire with political or religious messages that may offend other travelers

Respect your fellow passengers. Guests come from all walks of life and varied lifestyles. Please refrain from topics of conversation which might cause offense, such as religion and politics

Refrain from conversation or talking on mobile phones while commentary is in progress

Respect the mandatory seat rotation policy on the coach

Make use of the available hand sanitizer on the coach to support a healthy environment

Seek approval before taking photographs of other tour participants

Respect tour departures times to avoid delay and loss of sightseeing opportunities

Climate & Clothing

Greece – Spring: 60°F-80°F; Summer: 85°F-95°F; Autumn: 60°F-80°F; Winter: 40°F-50°F Bring comfortable walking shoes, a sweater, clothes you can layer, and an all-weather coat. Some religious sites may require modest dress code to enter (no shorts, short skirts, or sleeveless tops). Long pants are required for men, a long skirt covering the knees is required for women, and shoulders are required to be covered.

On cruises, daytime dress code is casual (shorts and t-shirts for example), however swimsuits are not allowed in public areas or restaurants, except for the lunch buffet on deck. The majority of evenings on board are country club casual. There will be one formal evening on the 4 day, 5 day, and 7 day cruise, which will be indicated on the daily program. A suit and tie are suggested for gentlemen, and a cocktail dress or pantsuit suggested for women.

About Drones

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) or “drone” technology has quickly become affordable and is increasingly popular with recreational users. While some countries have clear, established drone laws, others do not, or existing regulations are undergoing review and change. Travelers who wish to bring a drone on their trip are responsible to research and abide by the laws and regulations of the countries they are visiting, as well as to check with their airline(s) regarding their rules for transporting drones. Please note that tours are unable to extend the length of scheduled visits and stops to accommodate use of drones.

Book & Film Recommendations

Many of our guests enjoy reading about their destination – either in advance of their trip or while traveling – as a way of adding context to their visit. Whether reading a traditional guide book, learning about the history and culture, or simply enjoying a fictional novel set in the destination, a good book can add greatly to your experience. Similarly, a good movie set in your destination helps set the mood before you travel. We asked our Tour Managers and staff to recommend books and films which past guests may have enjoyed. The following does not constitute an endorsement of any authors, books or films listed, it is merely a collection of guests’ recommendations.

GREECE: Books

Colossus of Maroussi by Henry Miller

The Island by Victoria Hislop

The Odyssey by Homer

The Summer of my Greek Taverna by Tom Stone

Eleni by Nicholas Gage

It’s All Greek to Me by John Mole

Corelli’s Mandolin by Louis de Bernieres

GREECE: Films

Mamma Mia! The Movie (2008)

Boy on a Dolphin (1957)

Shirley Valentine (1989)

Zorba the Greek (1964)

Moonspinners (1964)

Photos