ITINERARY
ITINERARY
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Corfu Town, Corfu
Awash with colourful flowers, Corfu is big on beauty. It’s known as the Emerald Isle, and its golden beaches, lush green landscape and colourful villages will have you…
Departs: 23:00
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Piraeus (for Athens), Greece
Trip over reminders of the past in ancient Athens, where cultural treasures twinkle back at you at every turn. It’s a real gold medal winner of a city.
- Scale the…
Time in port: 07:00 - 17:00
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Athens & The Acropolis
Leave the port of Piraeus behind and head for the captivating city of Athens. You’ll pass by the main sights, like Constitution Square, or ‘Syntagma Square’ as it’s also known, the Houses of Parliament, the Neoclassical-style university buildings, the Royal Palace and the Old Olympic Stadium of Athens. The stadium’s built entirely of marble and offers up a great view of the Acropolis in the distance. The real highlight of this tour comes next, when you arrive at the foot of the magnificent Acropolis, one of the most famous and photographed ancient monuments in the world. Set off on a walking tour, split into several stages, and let your guide explain its history to you. Once you get to the top, you’ll get some free time to wander round, admiring the ancient temples of Athena Nike and the towering Parthenon. Don’t forget your cameras for the breathtaking views of the city below.
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Panoramic Athens & Plaka
Leave the port of Piraeus behind and head for the captivating city of Athens. You’ll pass by the main sights, like Constitution Square, or ‘Syntagma Square’ as it’s also known, the Houses of Parliament, the Neoclassical-style university buildings, the Presidential Palace and the Old Olympic Stadium of Athens. The stadium’s built entirely of marble and offers up a great view of the Acropolis in the distance. Afterwards, carry on to the traditional part of the city at the foot of the Acropolis, known as Plaka, where you’ll get some free time to explore. Soak up the atmosphere as you wander through the tangled maze of streets or pull up a chair in one of the pretty open-air cafes. It’s a great place to pick up some souvenirs as the shops in Plaka stay open all day.
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Athens On Your Own
Been to Athens and know your way around? Good with a map? Then take advantage of this coach transfer into the centre of Athens and explore the city at your own pace. A local escort will accompany you into Athens to a central drop-off point. They’ll also tell you the meeting point and time for your return journey. With around four hours free time, it’s ideal for anyone who wants to explore independently.
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Thira, Santorini
Prepare to fall head over heels for this sun-blushed beauty. Santorini is the very essence of Greek charm. Sugar-cube houses cling to the cliffs. Vivid blue church domes…
Time in port: 08:00 - 18:00 | Tender to shoreShow Top Things to Do
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Hidden Santorini - Megalochori & Pyrgos Village
Santorini charm is in no short supply on this trip. Your first stop is the hilltop village of Megalochori. A higgledy-piggledy mix of blue-domed churches, whitewashed houses and winding alleyways, it showcases some of Santorini’s most attractive architecture. We’ll continue onto the highest point on the island, Profitis Ilias, and neighbouring Pyrgos to soak up the views. You’ll get some time to explore Pyrgos’ churches and well-preserved castle. Here you’ll get to sample some of Santorini wine and some traditional Greek snacks. When you’ve had your fill, we’ll make one last stop at Thira where you can hop aboard a cable car back to the port.
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Volcano & Thermal Springs
See two of Santorini's biggest attractions on this great tour. You’ll take a boat ride to the volcanic island of Nea Kameni, where you’ll step out onto the Daphni lava flow, the oldest lava on the island. Climb to the top, over volcanic sand and lava fragments, and take in the sensational views of Santorini and its famous caldera. Following the same route in reverse, you’ll head back to the boat and set sail for the thermal springs of Palea Kameni. The boat will anchor in the deep green sulphur springs and you'll have chance to swim in the mineral-rich waters of the hot springs. On your return boat trip, you’ll be dropped off at the old port of Thira with plenty of time left to explore. Afterwards, return to the ship's tenders at your own leisure.
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Marmaris, Turkey
Turkey's biggest beach resort, Marmaris has a definite 'Riviera' feel to it. An elegant, palm-lined promenade weaves its way around the shoreline, while the marina plays…
Time in port: 09:00 - 17:00Show Top Things to Do
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Dalyan River & Turtle Beach
Start your day with a drive to Dalyan, an area of outstanding natural beauty, full of flora and fauna such as the Loggerhead Turtles which return to the area each year to lay their eggs. After driving through the tiny town of Dalyan and passing en route the famous monumental statue of the legendery turtles, you’ll arrive at the waters edge ready to take a scenic boat ride along the Dalyan River. Stopping in amongst the reeds to view the main attraction in the area, have your cameras ready as the ancient Tombs of Kings carved into the cliff face dating back to 4th Century B.C. appear before your eyes. Our experienced and knowledgeable guide will transport you back in time as he relays the fascinating history behind this magnificent spectacle. Next it’s on to Turtle Beach which with over 7 kms of golden sand was voted best beach in the world in 1995. Have your cameras at the ready as you might just catch a glimpse at some of the turtles nearby. There’ll be free time to relax on the beach or swim in the crystal clear sea before making our passage back to Dalyan to rejoin the coach.
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Turkish Bath
If you've never been to a hammam, or Turkish bath, before, this is definitely one for you. Leaving Marmaris behind, you’ll head for one in the Armutalan area. These places have existed in Turkey since Medieval times and they’ve normally got separate baths for men and women. Leave your clothes in a cubicle and head, wrapped in a towel, to the gobektasi, a large heated stone, where you’ll be treated to a body scrub. Once you’ve had chance to cool down, you’ll return to the ship positively glowing, with plenty of time left to explore Marmaris.
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Historic Marmaris
You’ll get to see the best of Marmaris on this tour, starting with a short coach ride along the Mediterranean Coast to neighbouring Icmeler. Here, you can haggle your way around the mid-week market. There’s everything from spices to shoes on sale, and once you’ve finished shopping, you’ll make the return journey to Marmaris – stopping on the way to snap a few pictures of the Turkish Riviera. The rest of the tour’s a dot-to-dot of the port town’s most eye-catching landmarks. You’ll start at Marmaris Castle, a stone fortress that’s perched at the northern end of the bay. You can nose around the archaeological museum that’s hidden away inside, before heading to the historic Caravanserai. This centuries-old roadside inn’s now home to souvenir shops and cafés, so you can grab a snack before visiting one of the city’s grandest mosques. Just so you know, you’ll have to take your shoes off before entering the mosque, and women are asked to cover their head and shoulders.
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Souda (for Chania), Crete
Souda sits just 15 minutes’ drive from Chania – one of Crete’s most charming cities. Most snap-happy tourists pin the old harbour on their maps, with its lighthouse,pastel-painted…
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Argostoli, Kefalonia
It’s no wonder the makers of Hollywood blockbuster Captain Corelli’s Mandolin chose Kefalonia as one of the film’s backdrops. The island is all tree-studded hills, which…
Time in port: 12:00 - 19:00Show Top Things to Do
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Melissani Lake & Drogarati Cave
Like the old saying goes, ‘beauty comes from within’. Today, you’ll find out why, as you explore some of Kefalonia’s most famous caves. Researchers believe Drogarati Cave is around 150-million-years-old, but it was only discovered 300 years ago. You’ll find orange and yellow-tinted stalactites and stalagmites inside. It’s also got a 900-square-metre great hall, which regularly holds musical events, thanks to the excellent acoustics. Opera singer Maria Callas was one of the famous names that sung in the chamber. Next, you’ll visit the subterranean Melissani Lake, where you'll hop on a rowing boat across its bright blue waters. Here, you can see the sun’s rays hit the lake, giving the whole cave a blue-coloured glow. Look up and you’ll see trees ringing the cave’s opening, over 100 feet up. On your way back to port, keep your eyes peeled for sheer white cliffs and crescent-shaped beaches.
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Kefalonia Highlights
It’s often hailed as Captain Corelli’s Kefalonia. And you’ll get to visit one of the blockbuster’s most memorable locations, the world-famous Myrtos Beach. You’ll start with a trip to underground Melissani Lake. It was only discovered in 1951, but artefacts from the 3rd-century BC have been recovered here, from animal horns to tiles and slates. The 1953 earthquake caused the cave’s roof to fall in, so you’ll get an impressive light display as the sun reflects off the turquoise waters. You can take a boat out onto the lake, to get a closer look at the cave’s stalactites. Next, it’s time for a photo stop at Myrtos Beach. This mile-and-a-half-long curve of white pebbles is the setting for several scenes of Captain Corelli’s Mandolin. Your final stop is in Fiskardo village, where you’ll stroll past brightly-coloured Venetian buildings and waterfront tavernas, before heading back to port.
Corfu Town, Corfu
Awash with colourful flowers, Corfu is big on beauty. It’s known as the Emerald Isle, and its golden beaches, lush green landscape and colourful villages will have you…
Arrives: 07:30
