Athens to Santorini tours
| country: | Greece |
| location: | Cyclades, Mainland Greece |
| departures: | 2010: 15 May, 5 Jun, 19 Jun, 3 Jul, 24 Jul, 21 Aug, 4 Sep, 18 Sep 2011: 4 Jun, 11 Jun, 18 Jun, 25 Jun |
| price: | From £875 (8 days) excluding flights. We can arrange flights from the UK. |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
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introduction to Athens to Santorini tours
Embark on a trip through the Aegean, taking local ferries past the Cyclades Islands. Indulge in a little island hopping and take the time to uncover remote ruins, gorgeous beaches and outstanding scenery. Journey from the ancient capital of Athens all the way to the spectacular natural wonders of Santorini on this wonderful Greek adventure.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Athens. Explore the Cyclades, some of the most famous of Greece's thousands of islands and islets. The starting point for this Greek odyssey is Athens, capital of ancient and modern Greece. Visit the iconic Parthenon, kick back over a glass of ouzo or sit in shady Syntagma Square before catching a ferry over the sparkling Aegean Sea. |
| Days 2-3: | Syros. Scenic Syros in the Aegean is made for walking. Discover abandoned windmills, ancient ruins and charming villages on the network of stone-paved tracks that crisscross the island. Cool off with a dip at one of the inviting beaches dotted around the coast. |
| Days 4-5: | Mykonos. Named in honour of Apollo's grandson, Mykonos is a classic Greek island with squat white houses brightly juxtaposed against the cerulean sea. Follow narrow flower-bordered paths past ancient churches and tiny restaurants to secluded sandy beaches, and spend the afternoon soaking up the rays and splashing in the clear waters. With free time, visit Delos - one of the most important archaeological sites in Greece. Enjoy plenty of free time to head to the beaches and mingle with Europe's holiday crowd. |
| Days 6-8: | Santorini. The journey ends in the southern archipelago of Santorini. Renowned for its spectacular natural beauty and its submerged caldera, the island is one of Europe's top tourist hotspots. Relax on a beach of black sand, see the ruins of ancient Thira and Akrotiri or hire a scooter to cruise the coastal roads. In the evening, rub shoulders with friendly locals in packed cafes and bars, while waiting to witness the magnificent Oia sunset. |
small group adventure holiday
This is a 'small group adventure' - on our group trips you'll be with a maximum of 11 like minded travellers and you'll have a group leader with you. Whether you are travelling alone or with friends it's good value, and a great way to meet new people! While itineraries are pre-planned there is some flexibility and you'll have plenty of privacy. This trip will appeal to travellers of all ages who enjoy meeting people from other parts of the world as well as seeing new places! (more) Because of our small group size, we're able to guarantee departures for all of our trips. Once you have booked and paid your deposit, your trip is guaranteed to go!
highly commended
This tourism business was Highly Commended in our 2007 Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards - the largest awards of their kind in the world, and organised by responsibletravel.com in association with The Times, World Travel Market and Geographical Magazine, of the Royal Geographical Society.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.
award winner
This tourism business won an Award in our 2006 First Choice Responsible Tourism Awards - organised by responsibletravel.com in association with The Times, World Travel Market and Geographical Magazine, of the Royal Geographical Society. The central tenet of the Awards, in which winners are nominated by tourists, is that all types of tourism – from niche to mainstream – can and should be operated in a way that respects and benefits destinations and local people.
how this holiday makes a difference
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Wherever we go in the world, we take a responsible attitude with us. That means travelling in a way which both respects and benefits local people, their culture and the environment. We travel with an averge group size of just 10 people and mostly take public transport, stay and eat in small-scale locally-owned establishments.
This tour offers a chance to indulge and explore Greek culture at its best. Through out the trip we use locally owned hotels and even get to stay in apartments and experience life like the locals when we are in Mykonos. During this trip you stay in 2-3* local hotels all with a central location allows easy exploration. By using locally owned accommodation we are providing direct employment within the hotel, but it also percolates money beyond into small businesses that supply the hotel and in this way money is spread throughout the region This is a great chance for you to meet the locals and learn some of the Greek language. From Mykonos we also take a day trip to Delos, which is almost an entire archaeological site. This trip is a perfect way to travel a part of Greece like the locals do as we rely on local transport such trains and ferries to get us around. Travelling by local boats, buses and trains, the trip provides many opportunities to learn local customs from the people you will meet during the trip. We encourage you to visit local markets, try the local cuisine including fresh fish and the Greek speciality drink, Ouzo, in order to get a taste of the local culture as well as supporting the local community. Every day our local guides will provide a remarkable history lesson and our entrance fees will contribute to the maintenance and restoration of these ancient ruins and monuments we visit. In Tinos there is an opportunity for you to explore many of the sights along stone paved tracks and footpaths. In Tinos there is the chance to try local products such as louza which is a type of smoked pork. By trying the local produce you are getting to experience a part of Greek culture as well as helping support the locals who run the restaurants and bars. Every year we evaluate each trip to ensure its compliance with our Responsible Travel Code of Conduct. Taking these small steps, we're able to make a big difference. And that goes for the whole trip experience too. Our travellers get the chance to meet local people and really get to know their culture first hand. You'll contribute directly to local economies and help develop cross-cultural understanding. In others words, enjoy a real life experience. |
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. |
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