• Experience a guided tour of historical Athens
• Enjoy the lovely ferry rides between the islands
• Stroll along the picturesque waterfront in Mykonos
• Opt for visits to the ancient archaeological sites of Delos, Sounion, and Akrotiri 
• Savor a guided tour of the Panagia Ekatontapiliani – one of the oldest churches in Greece
• Witness the famous blue domes of Santorini
• Take part in an excursion to the gravesite of Homer on the island of Ios

• 11 nights of accommodations in twin/double or triple share rooms at centrally located hotels
• Ferry rides between all listed destinations
• Taxi rides between hotels and ferry ports
• Guided tours of historical Athens and the Panagia Ekatontapiliani church in Paros by  Local Experts
• Guided excursions to the town of Oia in Santorini and the grave of Homer in Ios
• Optional excursions to the archaeological sites of Sounion (Athens), Delos (Mykonos) and Akrotiri (Santorini)
• An on-site Tour Leader to handle all logistical aspects of the tour,  guide your group from start to finish, and offer valuable information

Day 1:  ATHENS

Meet in the lobby of the hotel at 6 p.m. with your Tour Leader where there will be a brief orientation.  Afterwards, you will have the option of joining your Tour Leader for dinner at a hand-picked restaurant with panoramic views of Athens.

ACCOMMODATION:  Hotel – To Be Determined

Day 2:  TOUR OF HISTORICAL ATHENS, FREE TIME

Your group will meet with a local expert in the hotel lobby at 9 a.m. and proceed on foot to historical sections of Athens, including Hadrian’s Arch, the Temple of Olympian Zeus, and Syntagma Square.  In the late afternoon, you will have the option of embarking on an excursion to see the ancient Temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounion to watch the sunset.  Bonus points to the person who can spot the “world’s first graffiti.”

ACCOMMODATION:  Hotel – To Be Determined

Day 3:  FREE DAY IN ATHENS

There’s a wealth of things to do in Athens and the great thing is that your hotel is right in th middle of everything!  Perhaps check out the impressive remains of the Temple of Hephaestus and the Ancient Agora of Athens.   Or view the treasury of ancient art and artifacts at the National Archaeological Museum of Athens.  Or just wander around the city and experience its unique atmosphere and excellent cuisine.

In the afternoon,  you will have the option to enjoy a guided tour of the Acropolis at a discounted rate.

ACCOMMODATION:  Hotel – To Be Determined      

Day 4:  FERRY TO SANTORINI

You’ll catch your morning ferry to Santorini, arriving mid-afternoon.  After hotel check-in and free time, your Tour Leader will guide you to the northern tip of the island for incredible sunset views.

ACCOMMODATION:  Hotel – To Be Determined

Day 5:  FREE TIME OR EXCURSION TO AKROTIRI

Continue to explore Santorini on your own or join the Tour Leader on a southward trip to see the ancient ruins at Akrotiri.  Following the guided tour of the local ruins, you may want to take part in a boat tour around some of Santorini’s most beautiful rock formations!  

ACCOMMODATION:  Hotel – To Be Determined

Day 6:  FREE DAY IN SANTORINI

In the morning, you’ll have the option to join the Tour Leader on a voyage to the striking village of Emporio with its 15th century Venetian castle and old winding alleyways.  The rest of the day would be yours to relax and unwind. 

ACCOMMODATION:   Hotel – To Be Determined

Day 7:  FERRY TO IOS

In the morning, the group sets of to the beautiful island of Ios, which was once nicknamed “Little Malta” due to its history of pirate activity.   Following hotel check-in and relaxation, you will pay homage to the grave of Homer, author of the Iliad and the Odyssey.

After the sun sets, your group will enjoy a nice farewell dinner in the main town of Fira.

ACCOMMODATION:  Hotel – To Be Determined   

Day 8:  FREE DAY ON IOS ISLAND

Take the day at leisure on one of Greece’s most relaxing islands.  If visiting ancient archaeological venues is what interests you, the Skarkos Archaeological Site, which dates to 2,800 BC, is worth a look.  For a wonderful beach experience, head over to Mylopotas Beach, which is only five minutes from our hotel via taxi.  Or just wander around the chora, which has more than enough worthwhile shops and restaurants to try.  

ACCOMMODATION:  Hotel – To Be Determined

Day 9:  FERRY TO PAROS, TOUR OF PANAGIA EKATONTAPILIANI

Nicknamed the “Church of 100 Doors,” the monumental Panagia Ekatontapiliani was believed to have been founded by Saint Helen, mother of Emperor Constantine, in 326 AD.  This is significant for two reasons:  first, because it predates the adoption of Christianity by the Roman Empire, and second, because it is the second oldest extant Christian church in Greece.  

ACCOMMODATION:  Hotel – To Be Determined

Day 10:  FERRY TO MYKONOS, OPTIONAL EXCURSION TO DELOS

In the late morning, you’ll journey to wonderful Mykonos, where your hotel will be just a short walk from the main town.  In the late afternoon, you will have the option of joining the Tour Leader for a fully guided exploration of the archaeological ruins of nearby Delos Island, which date to the 3rd millennium BC.  Interestingly, among the ruins sits the oldest synagogue in the Diaspora, which dates to 150 BC.

ACCOMMODATION:  Hotel – To Be Determined

Day 11:  FREE DAY ON MYKONOS ISLAND

There’s so much to see on Mykonos and the nice thing is that it’s a small island with a good public bus system.  Super Paradise Beach is busy but lovely.  Elia Beach is beautiful and expansive.  Psarou Beach is luxurious and trendy.   And of course, in the main chora, you have Little Venice, the Panagia Paraportiani, and the famous windmills of Mykonos, not to mention the Archaeological Museum of Mykonos.  But please don’t overlook Cine Manto, an all-day outdoor cafe set in a botanical garden. 

ACCOMMODATION:  Hotel – To Be Determined

Day 12:  END OF TOUR OR CRETE EXTENSION

The main tour ends today and your ferry ride to Athens is the only item on the agenda for today.  Or, if you still have the energy, feel free to join the Tour Leader for a three day stay in Heraklion, Crete.  Included are walking tours of the main town and also the nearby Knossos Archaeological Site, along with three nights of accommodation and transporation from Mykonos to Crete, and from Crete back to Athens.   (Price of three day extension: $410 per person)

May 28 – June 8, 2027  (Fri – Tues)        $1,150    

In General, we accept payments via personal check, Venmo, or Zelle.  Please reach out to us via cell on 818-291-3774 or via email at blueonyxtravel@gmail.com to go over payment options

THE WEATHER
Like most Mediterranean places, Greece tends to have a moderate springtime.  Daytimes are warm and sunny, with occasional rainfall.  Evenings are mild. 

BUGS AND PESTS
Depending on who you talk to, you’ll hear very different versions of the mosquito situation in Greece.  Based on our own experiences in Greece, we can tell you two things that we believe: 1. Mosquitoes tend to be more of a problem on the mainland than on the islands.  2. The mosquito problem begins in June, peaking in July or August, and abating in September.

Some hotels in Greece have insect repellent plug-ins that look like air fresheners.  Be sure to ask the front desk of your hotel to see if they can supply you with a plug-in.  You may want to bring some insect repellent with you. We also recommend that you keep your hotel room windows closed at night and leave the air conditioning on.  Mosquitoes don’t like air conditioning.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY OF TOUR
On a scale of 1 to 10, the level of physical activity of this tour is 7, which is high.  Several days will incur a great deal of walking, and there will be some steep stairs to ascend, such as on the slopes of the Acropolis and other places.  The nice thing, though, is that the physical demands of the trip diminish toward the end, allowing for some honest relaxation in Santorini.

IMPORTANT SUGGESTIONS
We urge our guests to use common sense on our tours.  Be wary of strangers offering you something or trying to sell you something.  Keep guard of your important belongings, such as purse, wallet, keys, and cell phone.  Pickpocketing is a problem in Athens, and pickpockets there are wily.  A common scam that occurs is where one person will walk up to you, pretending to ask directions, while his or her partner in crime will slip past you from another direction entirely, casually taking your wallet or cell phone.  Be aware of your belongings at all times.

We also urge our guests to use extra caution while crossing the street in Athens.  Walk defensively and look in every direction before crossing. Don’t walk distracted.

WHAT TO BRING
We urge our guests to pack light.  But because ferries will be our primary mode of travel, everyone is allowed two pieces of luggage, whatever the size may be.  We strongly recommend bringing travel size toiletries. We recommend bringing sunscreen and possibly insect repellent.

JOURNEYS BETWEEN DESTINATIONS
Some of journeys between destinations on this trip tend to be longer than on other trips.  The ferry ride from Athens to Santorini is over six hours. The ferry ride from Mykonos to Athens runs about 4 hours.   The other ferry rides are much shorter.

OUR HOTELS
We always book hotels that are centrally located, highly rated, and close to major attractions.  Having said that, there are a couple of things that one should understand about hotels in Europe, especially if one is from the United States.  More often than not, hotel rooms in Europe are smaller than hotel rooms in the United States. Additionally, hotel rooms in Europe may not have the same amenities that our American guests may be used to seeing.  For example, some hotels in Europe do not have an elevator.  

CURRENCY EXCHANGE AND CREDIT CARD USAGE
The Tour Leader will be able to tell you where to exchange currency and there will usually be a place to do so within walking distance of your hotel.  Most major banks will be able to exchange any currency that you have brought with you, for a small fee.

In most European countries (Greece included), the best exchange rate can be obtained by simply withdrawing money from a standard bank ATM using your debit card (not to be confused with your credit card).  For instance, let’s say it’s your second day in Athens and you need withdraw some euros. Just go to a local bank which has an ATM machine (often in a small, enclosed lobby-style room) and withdraw the amount of money you want.  Nearly all standard ATM machines worldwide have the capacity to issue instructions in English, so English speakers should have no problem at all understanding how to use them.

When we tell you to seek out standard bank ATM machines, we mean it.  Avoid the omnipresent stand-alone ATMs which are not part of a bank. Euronet, Moneybox, Travelex, and Cashzone are examples of independent ATM machines which have very unfavorable exchange rates.  If you have any questions at all while on tour, just ask your Tour Leader to point you the direction of a standard bank ATM. Now it’s true that your home-based bank, such as Wells Fargo, will charge a small fee ($5) for this transaction, but the European bank will not.

Nowadays, it’s probably cheaper to just use your credit card for most payments.  European banks have jumped on the price-gouging bandwagon and you’ll save money in the long run by simply using your credit card.  If given the option, make sure you pay in Euros and not US Dollars.

THE TOUR LEADER
The Tour Leader is there to handle not only the ups and downs of a tour group situation, but also the disparate personalities that they might encounter.  The Tour Leader should be able to answer most if not all of the questions you’ll have on the tour.