A Perfect Greece Vacation Package: Mykonos, Santorini, and More

Athens is a dynamic city that offers a glimpse of the ancient world alongside the constant movement of contemporary life. From marble pillars that date back to the 5th century to 19th-century Neoclassical architecture and from cobbled lanes that wind between ancient homes to charming cafes that overflow with the sounds of lively conversation, Athens captures the true spirit of Greece and has remained unchanged throughout the ages. Your private transfer will meet you at Athens Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport and escort you to your luxurious accommodation in the heart of the city. The remainder of the day will be at your leisure to enjoy the comforts of your accommodation and the alluring ambiance of Athens.

The center of the city retains its remarkable history, which rises from beneath the layers of the modern city to crown the summit of the Acropolis with famous structures like the Parthenon. You can also walk along the edges of the Roman Agora, where restaurants and cafes typically fill the air with the aromas of walnuts and honey. The lingering scents may lead you to the image of Hadrian’s Library, which is visible from the street and whose foundations date back to the 2nd century AD.

The antiquity of Athens permeates every corner of the ancient city center, and your guide will meet you at your hotel after breakfast to escort you through the layers of history and to reveal the culture, legends, and heritage of Greece. Your private tour of Athens will combine many of the city's modern and classical sites, such as Syntagma Square and the House of Parliament, where you will find the Presidential Guards as they stand proud and still at the Memorial to the Unknown Soldier. During the changing of the guard, the sentries mirror each other’s movements, using the cleats on their shoes to communicate each step.

You will continue to the majesty of the Acropolis, where you can view the architectural masterpieces that date back to the Golden Age of Athens in the 5th century BC. Your guide will introduce you to the collection of temples that adorns the summit with the Parthenon embodying the most iconic image of Athens. The marble structure was dedicated to Athena, the goddess of wisdom, and features 136 Doric columns that were designed to portray a sense of harmony.

In the morning, your private transfer will meet you in the lobby of your hotel and lead you to the airport for a brief flight to the cosmopolitan island of Mykonos. Upon your arrival, you will be able to relax in the comforts of your luxurious resort with views that overlook the azure waters and soft sands for which the island is famous. The scent of the sea breeze will drift through the streets and linger along the shoreline, brushing against the traditional Cycladic architecture that features the iconic whitewashed walls.

You will then venture into the captivating ambiance of Mykonos Town, where labyrinthine streets once protected the settlement from raids. You can even wander along the cobbled lanes at your preferred pace to enjoy the opulent window displays of boutique shops and the succulent aromas of grilled prawns and lemon juice. The Church of Panagia Paraportiani in town has a craggy exterior that has been draped in a pristine white hue, and the archeological museum showcases exceptional artifacts, including a 2nd-century BC marble statue of Hercules.

At breakfast, the dining room of your accommodation will fill with the enticing aroma of Greek coffee, and you will have the day to enjoy the golden sun and azure waters of Mykonos when lounging on the marvelous beaches that have made the island famous throughout the decades. You can begin your discovery of Mykonos’s at the shores at Elia, where craggy cliffs frame a stretch of golden sand that leads to the turquoise water. The waterfront is often bursting with activity, which derives from the waterfront restaurants that fill the air with the alluring aromas of sizzling seafood, such as parrot fish fried fish with vinegar, rosemary, and currants.

You can also bask in the relaxing breeze and golden shoreline of Agios Sostis. Few visitors explore the sands along the Southern coast of Mykonos, providing a more serene and charming experience. A small taverna or restaurant near the coastline can provide you with a comfortable escape from the sun and access to a sheltered cove. The distinctive setting will create the perfect ambiance for you to capture the essence of Mykonos and its famous coastline.

After breakfast, your guide will meet you at the hotel and lead you to the marina for your transfer to the neighboring island of Delos. As you arrive on the island, you will find the remarkable remains of a city-state that date back to the 9thcentury and that once brought pilgrims from around the Greek world. Your guide will lead you along the paved path that connects the Doric embellishments along the waterway to the 2nd-century gateway that acts as the entrance to the sacred district of the island.

At the Sacred Lake, you will uncover remnants of the body of water that, according to Greek Mythology, once birthed the god Apollo. The terrace hosts replicas of the five remaining marble lions that are forever frozen in their crouching positions. The original sculptures date back to the 7th century BC and were originally crafted on the island of Naxos. Inside the National Archeological Museum, you will find displays of the island’s religious history in the form of unique artifacts, such as the marble tripod base that is adorned with a ram’s head and images of Gorgons.

At breakfast, the aroma of almond sweets will drift through your hotel’s dining room. When you are ready, your private transfer will meet you in the lobby and escort you to the harbor, where you will board a high-speed hydrofoil bound for the island of Santorini. The caldera walls that soar above the Aegean Sea reach upwards of about 980 feet above sea level and will present themselves upon your arrival. The craggy surface of the island will fade beneath the welcoming vision of the villages, which is where you can find the archetypal whitewashed homes of Greece with blue borders.

You will then venture to your opulent accommodation in the serene village of Oia with your private guide, who will then escort you away from the harbor and toward the northwest edge of the caldera. Your hotel will provide an incredible panorama: a sweeping image of the caldera. If you are feeling a bit more adventurous, you can meander along the marbled lanes of Oia at your preferred pace to discover boutique hotels that glisten with infinity pools and a steep path that winds down the cliff to seafront restaurants.

With the morning at your leisure, you can bask in the beauty of the island as seen from your hotel or venture to the main town of Fira to explore the winding walkways, small plazas, and blue-domed churches that overlook the cliffs of the caldera. The breeze will carry the subtle scent of the briny water before fading beneath the caramel notes of freshly brewed Greek coffee. In the afternoon, you will meet your private transfer at your hotel for a scenic ride to the marina, where you will board a luxury catamaran.

Your captain will set sail while you enjoy a gorgeous sunset cruise along the caldera. Eventually, the boat will weigh anchor near the shores of the Red Beach, providing you with a beautiful view of the famous cliffs that glow from the pulverized volcanic rock. You will always remember the contrast between the rusty hues of the soil against the crystal-clear turquoise sea, and after visiting the volcanic hot springs and enjoying a gourmet dinner aboard the boat, you will sail back to the marina and watch the burning sun fade below the horizon.

With the day at your leisure to enjoy the charms of Santorini, you can spend time relaxing on the dark sands of the volcanic shores of Black Beach or indulging in the unique and historical flavors of wine that are cultivated on the island with a private wine tour. For insight into the unique heritage of Santorini and the surrounding Greek Islands, you can partake in a privately guided tour of Akrotiri. The archeological site was once a thriving Minoan settlement that dates back to the 16th century BC and is often referred to as the Greek Pompeii because a volcanic eruption preserved this city in ash and pumice as well.

Your guide will lead you through the remains of the city’s multi-level structures, pottery, and frescoes to reveal the prosperity of the island. In the image of a Saffron Gatherer, you will witness how the colors once illuminated the characters of the frescoes with vibrant reds and blues that may catch your eye amid the realistic depiction.

Should you want to appreciate all that you can before you leave, you can enjoy an early stroll around the marbled lanes of Oia. The beauty of the island will continue to captivate you long after you return home, and your private transfer will meet you at your hotel to escort you to the Santorini Airport for your return flight to Athens, where you will connect with your international flight home. If you choose to extend your idyllic Greece tour to Crete, your private transfer will meet you at the hotel after breakfast and escort you to the harbor, where you will board a high-speed hydrofoil bound for Heraklion. Upon arriving at Crete’s capital city, your private transfer will lead you along the coast to the enchanting town of Chania, where you will easily settle into the beauty of the labyrinthine lanes and charming natural harbor.

Optional Extension to Crete:

We recommend a five-day extension to your Greek vacation to indulge in the island of Crete.  Over these several days, you can savor the charm of Chania and indulge in a food safari to explore wine and olive oil, as well as a cooking class.  Move next to Heraklion to discover the Palace of Knossos and the Koules Fortress, as well as the Heraklion Archeological Museum, and savor some down time before your return home.   On your final morning in Greece, you will find the scent of cheese-stuffed pancakes at breakfast before your private transfer meets you at the hotel. When you are ready, you will transfer to the airport for an easy flight to Athens, where you will have plenty of time to catch your connecting flight home.