Athens, Santorini, and Crete Vacation for History Lovers

Our travel specialist was an exceptional travel planner. I have planned many trips and my experience with her was at the top. I actually investigated working with Zicasso because I was interested in leveraging the planning of my trip as a cultural exchange with someone in-country who could provide their personal perspectives and insider tips. She delivered!

Our travel specialist had dinner with us the first night and gave us all sorts of insights on Athens and her recommendations. She also gave us her cell number and was available 24/7 for any needs we had throughout the trip. I have never had service like this. She was truly incredible and helped us navigate last-minute changes or additions flawlessly and with no stress.

She found small, family-owned hotels with lots of character for us to stay in. She organized a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Santorini to participate in all of the many festivities surrounding Greek Orthodox Easter; so many traditions and so very different than our American Easter. It was authentic, joyful, and an incredible cultural exchange in that we were welcomed wholeheartedly by the people of Santorini.

The guides she provided were locals who had deep knowledge and high academic credentials, so traveling with them was like going back to school and learning in the most amazing fully immersive manner.

Our guide in Santorini mentioned we must not miss Akrotiri on Santorini, so we made time to fit in this unexpected tour; turns out it blew our mind: an ancient Minoan city... and some say it may have been the lost city of Atlantis. The story of the town and its demise is stunning. Then, a visit to Knossos in Heraklion, Crete, with our PhD guide, a cultural anthropologist and archaeologist. She was able to share the historical perspective on the Minoan Palace of Knossos, but also the contemporary study of the subject and how the work of "pre-history" civilizations is done with limited Minoan language and documentation.

Our travel specialist planned a flawless trip of a lifetime for us, but we also made a friend in Athens. We are so very grateful.

The itinerary is not the best for the price we paid and for a family with two children. We thought we could come back to Greece, but after this trip, we might not come back or even use Zicasso again. Here are the reasons: 1. The hotels are subpar for the price we paid for this tour. Our hotel in Athens felt like a 2-star. Our hotel in Santorini has a great view, but it's just a view, no pool, etc. nearby. Our hotel in Crete is not near a beach, a 20-minute walk. 2. Too much time was wasted on travel from one location to the next (Santorini to Crete and Crete to Athens). 3. Four nights in Santorini with two children is overkill since there is not much to do other than take photos, hike, and that's basically it. 4. Some of the tours are okay but nothing special, i.e., the hiking tour in Crete where they call the "little forest" is merely just for the name. It has nothing to do with the tour guides. All tour guides are great. However, we feel the tour company is crafting ordinary tours, labels it special, and calls it private. 5. In Delphi, we could have had more time to look around after the two hours. If any of the tours were great, it was the tours we had in Athens and Delphi. If we had known this type of tour we received, we could have done an all-inclusive resort in Greece and done our own without having to go through Zicasso and the tour company.

Zicasso's travel agent and the rest of the team were great! They were so easy to work with and listened to suggestions when we were planning our Greece honeymoon. They did an excellent job planning Athens, Crete, and Santorini.

It was a great, history-filled week, complete with walking tours, food tastings, and historic sites, as well as a spa trip for some relaxation and a unique cooking class where we met others from around the world to create a Greek meal, learn about history, and then enjoy our meal together. I would recommend this travel company for your travel needs!

If you're considering a trip to Greece, look no further than Zicasso. Our travel expert planned an unforgettable journey for our family; Athens, Mykonos, and Santorini, and every detail was executed with care, expertise, and passion. 

From the moment we arrived in Athens, we were immersed in the country’s warm hospitality. Our agent made sure we had the perfect balance of sightseeing and relaxation. The historical sites in Athens, like the Acropolis and the ancient Agora, were must-sees.

Mykonos is vibrant yet relaxed. The beaches were beautiful. Every meal on this trip was a highlight. Fresh seafood, local cheeses, olive oil, and delicious pastries—each bite told a story of Greece’s deep culinary heritage.

In Santorini, we were captivated by the island’s charm—whitewashed buildings, breathtaking sunsets, and the deep blue Aegean Sea. We visited traditional villages, giving us a glimpse into the rich cultural traditions that are still very much alive.

Throughout the trip, what stood out most—beyond the stunning landscapes and ancient history—was the friendliness of the Greek people. Their warmth and pride in their culture made every moment feel welcoming and genuine.

Our agent didn’t just plan a vacation—he created an experience rooted in history, tradition, and hospitality. I can’t recommend him and Zicasso highly enough.

Excellent! Everything was meticulously planned. All of our tours were very interesting and the drivers were courteous. We went to Athens, Naxos, and Santorini during our 11-day trip. Overall, I think our favorite place was Naxos, with Athens and the Acropolis being second, although the weather that morning was not the best. But our guide was excellent and kept us engaged while fighting rain and wind. As I mentioned, all the drivers and guides were excellent and I would highly recommend this trip. Santorini was beautiful too and the wine tour was extremely interesting. We highly recommend Zicasso.

Our trip to Greece was exceptional, thanks to the careful planning by our travel company! They had every detail planned out and made sure we were well taken care of.

I traveled with my husband (50s) and my parents (80s). We had a general idea of some places we wanted to see and told the travel planner our interests. She ran with it and planned us the perfect trip for the pace we wanted and the types of experiences we were looking for. She suggested places that weren't even on our radar and they fit perfectly with our interests.

Our trip was 12 days, broken up into four nights in Chania, Crete, three nights in Santorini, and four nights in Athens. This was the right amount of time in each place (though my husband said he could spend a week in Santorini just to relax).

The travel planner met us at the airport and gave us a burner phone for our use during the trip, as well as a packet with tickets and boarding passes that we would need. The phone was very helpful because it had an app with our itinerary for each day, as well as contact numbers for her, drivers, tour guides, etc. This was great because we had what we needed at our fingertips and didn't have to pay for an international plan on our cell phones.

Each location we went to offered very different experiences.

Chania, Crete, was fantastic and my personal favorite spot. Our travel planner recommended it and I'm so glad she did. It was rich with history and culture, without feeling like a tourist trap.

Santorini: When we first arrived, it was a bit of a jolt because all the buildings are white and boxy (only the churches have blue roofs), and I was missing the color and vibrance of Chania. We went into Fira while we waited for our rooms to be ready and it was a total tourist trap, with people swarming around and souvenir shops and fast food restaurants. I was wondering if it was a mistake to come to this island. However, once we were settled into our hotel and saw the spectacular views and experienced the calmness, I understood why people come here. The nature and beauty won me over (and I just avoided the cities).

Athens was amazing because of the history and hospitality of the people. Everyone was so welcoming and kind. The ruins do not disappoint and we marveled at how they were just everywhere in Old Town.

Delphi: We took a day trip from Athens to Delphi and toured the ruins and museum, and had a wonderful lunch overlooking the mountains and valleys.

We went on several incredible tours during our trip. Two food tours (Chania and Athens), three archaeology/ruin-focused tours (Santorini, Athens, and Delphi), one tour of the mountains in Chania, and one sunset catamaran boat ride in Santorini. Every one of them was unique and interesting.

Our travel planner arranged several lunches and dinners for us. Each place was outstanding and the views were spectacular. We would just tell them we were with the travel company and they gave us the best seats in the restaurants and outstanding service.

We could not have asked for a more perfectly planned out trip!