Best of Greece (Idyllic, With 7 Days Cruise, 16 Days)

Begin your journey in the vibrant capital of Athens. After being transferred to your hotel, spend the evening getting to know your Travel Director and fellow travelers over a light meal.

Join a local specialist for a guided tour of Athens, the 'Cradle of Western Civilisation'. Visit the Acropolis and its treasures, including the Parthenon, the Royal Palace, the Temple of Zeus, and the Agora. Explore the Acropolis Museum and see Hadrian's Arch and the stadium where the first modern Olympics took place. Spend the rest of the day at your leisure, perhaps strolling through the Plaka or sampling the city's best souvlaki.

Depart Athens and cross the Corinth Canal to the Peloponnesian Peninsula. Explore the ancient city of Corinth and the mighty kingdom of Mycenae with a local specialist. Visit the Beehive Tombs, the Lion Gate, and the remains of Agamemnon's Royal Palace. Continue to Epidaurus to visit the ancient theatre and view the Sanctuary of Asclepius. Arrive in the Venetian town of Nafplion and enjoy dinner at your hotel.

Travel through the Mountains of Arcadia to ancient Olympia, the site of the first Olympic Games. In the evening, connect with locals by joining the Karambellas family for dinner on their olive and wine farm. Enjoy traditional dancing and experience Greek philoxenia.

Join a local specialist for a tour of the ancient Olympic site, the museum, and the ruins of the Temples of Zeus and Hera. Leave Olympia and travel north to Patras, crossing the Gulf of Corinth to mainland Greece. Continue to Delphi, where you may wish to participate in an interactive cooking lesson.

Visit the sanctuary of Delphi, the most important oracle in the classical world, and walk the Sacred Way to the 4th-century Temple of Apollo. View the statues of the athletes who competed in the Pythian Games. Visit a family-run honey farm and taste the rich thyme honey. Travel to Thermopylae, famous for the heroic defence by Leonidas and his Spartans against the Persians. Cross the Thessaly region and travel over the Pourmaraki Pass to Kalambaka.

Visit the UNESCO World Heritage monasteries of Meteora with a local specialist. These six Eastern Orthodox monasteries are perched impressively on immense, rounded rock towers overlooking the town. Return to Athens and enjoy a farewell dinner with your travel companions.

Spend the day at your leisure, exploring the ancient sites of Athens on your own.

Spend the morning exploring Athens before boarding your cruise ship for a seven-night journey through the Aegean Sea.

Arrive in Thessaloniki, Greece's second largest city. Explore the waterfront and enjoy the cafes along Aristotelous Square. See ancient monuments such as the Arch of Galerius.

Arrive in Kusadasi, your gateway to the ancient city of Ephesus. Join an included sightseeing tour of this UNESCO-listed site, where you'll stroll along its marble colonnades and admire the facades of the Library of Celsus and the Temple of Artemis.

Start your morning on Crete, Greece's largest island and the fifth largest in the Mediterranean. You may choose to embark on a tour to the capital city of Heraklion and visit King Minos' Palace in Knossos, or drive deep into the beautiful countryside and experience the true flavour of Cretan lifestyle.

Wake up in sunny Santorini, the Cycladic Island with sheer cliffs and dazzling panoramas. Explore the capital of Thira, with its clifftop restaurants and cafes, breath-taking views, and amazing sunsets. You may choose an optional Shore Experience this afternoon, passing villages and vineyards bound for Oia with its white buildings and blue-domed churches. Spend the evening exploring Santorini's buzzing nightlife.

Enjoy a full free day to explore the narrow streets of Chora, strolling past white-washed cottages and tumbling cerise bougainvillea. Find a quiet spot overlooking the Old Port for a refreshing drink. You may choose an optional visit to the Sacred Island of Delos, the birthplace of Apollo, where an archaeological treasure trove awaits.

Dock in the former home of the famous Venus de Milo. Explore the 'Island of Colours' on an Optional Experience, or trek to the heart and soul of Milos sampling the best of local cuisine. Depart this evening for Athens, celebrating a final evening on board with new friends.

This morning, disembark from your cruise ship and transfer to the airport for your departure.