Family holiday in Greece, Island hopping
| country: | Greece |
| departures: | 2009: 25 Jul, 8 Aug, 22 Aug |
| price: | From £949 - £979 (15 days) per adult, from £879 - £909 per child (under 11 yrs) including flights from UK, from £719 - £769 excluding flights |
the amazing things you'll be doing
Legend has it that Poseidon, the sea-god, thrust his trident into the mountains with such force that he drove them into the sea. Here they took root and formed the Cyclades Islands. Birthplace of Apollo, this rocky archipelago is rich in history. And with their whitewashed villages, translucent coves and seductive beaches, these are the loveliest of all the Greek islands.
Coastal trails of Syros and beaches of Paros
After enjoying some time in Athens - visiting the Acropolis, or perhaps wandering around the old clustered shops and tavernas of Plaka - we board the ferry for Syros - capital of the Cyclades.
The port of Syros is a bustling centre of commerce between the islands (exporting, amongst other goods, the tastiest loukoumia delights in Greece!); but it's easy to leave the beaten track and there are some great coastal trails too, particularly along the south. Paros, dominated by the peak of Prophitas Ilias (750m), is famous for its white marble. The beaches are great fun for beach hikers and swimmers, and there's also a chance to catch a boat to Antiparos to visit the stalactite caves.
Volcanic Santorini and 'Lost Atlantis'
Sailing via tiny Ios (Homer's resting ground), we make landfall at the island of Santorini (ancient Thira). Its craggy lagoon, which includes a cluster of volcanically active islets, is all that remains of the legendary home of the Atlanteans. A savage cataclysm around 1600 BC let loose a tidal wave that destroyed the whole civilisation. We can walk to the ghostly town of Oia, which clings to the volcano rim, and also explore the mountain-top capital at Thira: a landscape rich in archaeology as well as picturesque images of whitewashed houses and blue-domed churches.
Naxos: Jewel in the Cycladic Crown
The largest and probably most beautiful of the Cycladic islands is a great spot for local excursions. We'll explore its mountainous interior and hidden villages, perhaps climbing to the top of Mount Zeus. Naxos has endured the rule of many a seafarer, from the Venetians to the Turks - even Barbarossa the Pirate! - all of whom have left their mark. Another famous Naxian was Dionysus, god of the vine, and his descendants certainly take their viticulture seriously! There'll be time to relax, sample local wines and delicacies and to enjoy the beaches, before our voyage back to Athens.
Coastal trails of Syros and beaches of Paros
After enjoying some time in Athens - visiting the Acropolis, or perhaps wandering around the old clustered shops and tavernas of Plaka - we board the ferry for Syros - capital of the Cyclades.
The port of Syros is a bustling centre of commerce between the islands (exporting, amongst other goods, the tastiest loukoumia delights in Greece!); but it's easy to leave the beaten track and there are some great coastal trails too, particularly along the south. Paros, dominated by the peak of Prophitas Ilias (750m), is famous for its white marble. The beaches are great fun for beach hikers and swimmers, and there's also a chance to catch a boat to Antiparos to visit the stalactite caves.
Volcanic Santorini and 'Lost Atlantis'
Sailing via tiny Ios (Homer's resting ground), we make landfall at the island of Santorini (ancient Thira). Its craggy lagoon, which includes a cluster of volcanically active islets, is all that remains of the legendary home of the Atlanteans. A savage cataclysm around 1600 BC let loose a tidal wave that destroyed the whole civilisation. We can walk to the ghostly town of Oia, which clings to the volcano rim, and also explore the mountain-top capital at Thira: a landscape rich in archaeology as well as picturesque images of whitewashed houses and blue-domed churches.
Naxos: Jewel in the Cycladic Crown
The largest and probably most beautiful of the Cycladic islands is a great spot for local excursions. We'll explore its mountainous interior and hidden villages, perhaps climbing to the top of Mount Zeus. Naxos has endured the rule of many a seafarer, from the Venetians to the Turks - even Barbarossa the Pirate! - all of whom have left their mark. Another famous Naxian was Dionysus, god of the vine, and his descendants certainly take their viticulture seriously! There'll be time to relax, sample local wines and delicacies and to enjoy the beaches, before our voyage back to Athens.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Fly London/Athens. |
| Day 2: | In Athens; orientation tour. |
| Day 3: | Sail to Syros. |
| Day 4: | On Syros; optional walks/excursions. |
| Day 5: | Sail to Paros. |
| Day 6-7: | On Paros; walks or optional excursions. |
| Day 8: | To Santorini. |
| Day 9-10: | On Santorini, walks to Oia and ancient Thira; optional visit to historic Akrotiri and caldera boat trip. |
| Day 11: | Sail to Naxos. |
| Day 12-13: | On Naxos, optional Mount Zeus; optional bike ride or boat trip to Delos and Mykonos. |
| Day 14: | Ferry to Athens. |
| Day 15: | Fly London. |
small group family holiday
This is a 'small group family adventure' - typically you will join several other families and travel in a group of approx. 16 people. The trips are great value and a great way for you and your children to meet new people! While itineraries are pre-planned there is some flexibility and you'll have plenty of time to yourselves. Most adventure kids tend to be aged between 7 and 15, but some are younger (minimum age is usually 5) and some older (perhaps travelling as part of a larger family group). Please check with the operator to confirm the minimum age for this trip award winner
This tourism business won an Award in our 2008 Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards - organised by responsibletravel.com in association with The Daily Telegraph, World Travel Market, Geographical Magazine, of the Royal Geographical Society and BBC World News.Since 2004, the Awards has recognised individuals, companies and organisations in travel making a big commitment to the culture and economies of local communities and helping to conserve biodiversity.
how this holiday makes a difference
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Using local ferries we explore in small groups, thus ensuring the impact our group makes is kept to a minimum. Staying in small villages or towns, often in family run guesthouses and eating in local tavernas not only means we support small businesses but also ensures our clients see much more of real island life.
This gives children and young adults who are travelling with us an opportunity to experience different cultures in a safe and enjoyable environment. Their immersion into these unique island cultures can help in building an understanding for the variety of lifestyles within Europe and appreciation of the wildlife and beauty on their doorstep. By using the now almost forgotten donkey trails to travel from village to village we help to preserve these ancient pathways, which may otherwise be left to erode. Our Tour Leaders are all trained by us in the importance of responsible tourism with guidance given on how they can make a difference. This then percolates down through those they deal with. As well as the above, we support a variety of charities and projects worldwide which support vulnerable communities and habitats including Friends of Conservation, Hope Worldwide and Send A Cow. We are also actively engaged with UK travel industry bodies which promote best practice in responsible tourism, such as Tourism Concern, The Travel Foundation and AITO. Our commitment to responsible tourism is not limited to our overseas operation and we have measures to ensure our UK office operates according to our responsible tourism policy. Carbon offsets for all flights booked with us are included in the tour cost. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |