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10 Day Athens, Santorini, Crete & Rhodes
Highlights: Athens, Santorini, Rethymno, Rhodes
Trip start: Athens
Trip end: Rhodes
Trip Available:
From 15-Apr-2012 to 15-Oct-2012
Price Range from £1,451 to £1,768 *
* GBP per person based on 2-4 people, double occupancy. Custom designed personal tour. Prices subject to change.

National Geographic Adventure Best Adventure Travel Companies on Earth '98.33 Client Satisfaction Rating'

Winner National Geographic 'Best Adventure Travel Companies on Earth'
2008 & 2009

Trip Summary
Map of Itinerary
Expand [+]

Start your tour in bustling Athens and explore the city with a private Acropolis Tour, where your expert guide will provide insight into the most iconic sights of the city. Then travel south by plane or ferry to postcard-perfect Santorini, with its famed sugar-cube homes and volcano views. Next, carry on to the largest of all the Greek islands - Crete. With a distinct culture and feel all its own, Crete boasts some of the nicest beaches in Greece combined with lush gorges and charming, small villages such as Rethymno. Enjoy an optional tour of imposing Knossos - a landmark that salutes Crete's Minoan roots. Finish off your tour in historic Rhodes with a tour of the attractive and interesting "Old Town" or opt for longer more detailed tours of the entire island. Travel confidently with our local office staff providing 24/7 support. Customize, combine, or change this tour to meet your exact vacation needs.

Day Activities Hotel
Day 1
Athens
  • Athens: Transfer - Private - Airport - Vehicle/Driver
  • Welcome Package
  • Lunch (not included)
  • Self-Guided - Afternoon at leisure
  • Dinner (not included)
Plaka (3*) (B)
Day 2
Athens
  • Private - 1/2 d City Tour with Acropolis (AM) - Vehicle/Guide/Driver
  • Lunch (not included)
  • Dinner (not included)
Plaka (3*) (B)
Day 3
Santorini
  • Transfer - Private - Port - Vehicle/Driver
  • Ferry - Piraeus - Thira [4 hrs] - Highspeed - Economy
  • Lunch (not included)
  • Santorini: Transfer - Private - Port - Vehicle/Driver
  • Dinner (not included)
El Greco (4*) (B)
Day 4
Santorini
  • Shared - Volcano, Hot Springs & Thirassia (6 hrs) - Boat/Coach/Guide
  • Lunch (not included)
  • Dinner (not included)
El Greco (4*) (B)
Day 5
Rethymno
  • Transfer - Private - Port - Vehicle/Driver
  • Ferry - Thira - Heraklion [1.5 hrs] - Highspeed - Economy
  • Transfer - Private - Heraklion - Rethymno [Port, 1.5 hrs] - Vehicle/Driver
Veneto Suites (4*) (B)
Day 6
Rethymno
  • At Leisure
  • Lunch (not included)
  • Dinner (not included)
Veneto Suites (4*) (B)
Day 7
Rhodes
  • Transfer - Private - Rethymno - Heraklion [Airport, 1.5 hrs] - Vehicle/Driver
  • Flight (Not Included)
  • Rhodes: Transfer - Private - Airport - Vehicle/Driver
  • Lunch (not included)
  • Self-Guided - Afternoon at leisure
  • Dinner (not included)
Electra Palace (4*) (AI)
Day 8
Rhodes
  • Private - 1/2 d Filerimos Old Town City Tour (4.5 hrs) - Vehicle/Guide/Driver
  • Lunch (not included)
  • Dinner (not included)
Electra Palace (4*) (AI)
Day 9
Rhodes
  • Self-Guided - Day at leisure
  • Lunch (not included)
  • Dinner (not included)
Electra Palace (4*) (AI)
Day 10
Rhodes
  • Transfer - Private - Airport - Vehicle/Driver
Depart (Int`l Airport) 
B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner, 1/2d = Half Day, Al = All Inclusive

Trip Options
All of our itineraries may be customized as you wish, add extra days, change a hotel, see different sights. Contact one of our expert consultants for your free, no-obligation vacation plan.

Itinerary

Day 1 Athens

Athens, the capital of Greece is named after Athena, the goddess of wisdom, who, according to legend, won the city after defeating Poseidon in a duel. The goddess' victory was celebrated by the construction of a temple on the Acropolis, the site of the city's earliest settlement in Attica. As a city state, the coastal capital of Athens reached its heyday in the fifth century BC as a centre for the arts, learning and philosophy, home of Plato’s Academy and Aristotle's Lyceum. Athens is also the birthplace of Socrates, Pericles, Sophocles and its many other prominent philosophers, writers and politicians of the ancient world. Nowadays, the city retains a vast variety of Roman and Byzantine monuments, as well as a smaller number of remaining Ottoman monuments projecting the city's long history across the centuries.

Enjoy your private airport transfer today.

A welcome package with your vouchers, a city map, ferry tickets (if relevant) and any other touristic information that you may find useful will be waiting for you upon your arrival at your first hotel on your trip.

Enjoy an afternoon at leisure as you relax at your hotel or enjoy the city sites.

Offering comfortable accommodation and convenient facilities, the Plaka Hotel (3*) Athens is an excellent choice for a demanding client, in a terrific location. Situated in the heart of Athens, the Plaka Hotel is located close to the Syntagma square, Acropolis, museums, Parliament, shopping area of Plaka and Cathedral. The hotel has cozy guestrooms that are well furnished and equipped with a host of modern amenities. For dining pleasure there is a small restaurant onsite, which is attractively furnished and offers a variety of cuisine. Conference facilities are available for people travelling on business purposes. The minimalist decoration, the friendliness of the staff and the cleanliness of the hotel are promising an unforgettable stay in Athens.

Overnight at Plaka (3*).


Athens
Athens
Plaka Hotel
Plaka Hotel
Day 2 Athens

This tour gives you an opportunity to observe the striking contrasts that make Athens such a fascinating city. Our expert guides take you to see the center of the city, Constitution Square(Syntagma), the House of Parliament, the Memorial to the Unknown Soldier and the NationalLibrary .Driving down Herod Atticus street, you will see the Evzones in their picturesque uniform and the Presidential Palace .On your way to the Acropolis you will see the Hadrian's Arch , visit the Temple of Olympian Zeus and you will make a short stop at the Panathenaic Stadium where the first Olympic Games of the modern era were held in 1896. On the Acropolis visit the architectural masterpieces of the Golden Age of Athens: the Propylaea , the Temple of Athena Nike, the Erechtheion and finally ' the harmony between material and spirit ', the monument that 'puts order in mind', the Parthenon.

Overnight at Plaka (3*).


The main landmarks of Athens
The main landmarks of Athens
Day 3 Santorini

Santorini is made up of three close-knit islands, the most southerly of the Cyclades group. The islands have dramatic scenery created by a now inactive volcano situated in the centre of the main island Thira. On the west, white houses perch on cliffs that plunge dramatically to the sea; on the east there are long, beautiful beaches of black volcanic sand.

Enjoy a private port transfer in Athens with private vehicle and driver.

Enjoy a transfer by High speed ferry to Thira.

Enjoy a private port transfer with vehicle and driver in Santorini.

The El Greco Hotel (4*) is located minutes away from the centre of the magnificent Fira town, the capital of the unique and beautiful Santorini. The traditional and colourful architecture found here enhances the spacious surroundings and add to the overall environment of leisure. Guests of El Greco are welcome by hospitable and personable staff that will cater to the need of all guests. El Greco is a well balanced establishment equally suitable for families due to its location and facilities and for couples due to its colourful reflection of charm. The nearest beach is 7km Monolithos, the black sandy beach of Kamari is 12km, and 14km from Perissa - the largest beach of Santorini island.

Overnight at El Greco (4*).


Santorini
Santorini
El Greco Hotel
El Greco Hotel
Day 4 Santorini

Enjoy a shared tour to the Islands Volcano, the Hot Springs and Thirassia. Start your tour with a drive to Athinios for a boat cruise. The first stop is to the isle of Nea Kameni where you have the opportunity to climb to the crater top which will take around one hour and a half.  Your next stop will be to the famous Hot Springs, considered to have healing powers. Continue your tour with Thirassia Island, where you have a few hours at your leisure. Finally, the boat sails along the coast and ends its journey at the port of Athinios, where buses are waiting to take you back to your hotel.

Overnight at El Greco (4*).


Santorini
Santorini
Day 5 Rethymno

Rethymno is a city of approximately 40,000 people in Greece, in the island of Crete.

Enjoy a private port transfer with vehicle and driver in Santorini.

Enjoy a transfer by ferry to Heraklion. High speed ferry takes approx 1.5 hrs. 

Enjoy a private transfer with vehicle and driver from Heraklion Port to Rethymno.

The Veneto Hotel (4*) is an old Venetian 14th century manor house, located in the heart of the Old Town of Rethymno. It has been restored to maintain the original character and architecture to take you to the charm of yesterday with the comforts of today. Dine in one of the most beautiful and famous restaurants on the island, open most of the year and find the stone-built winecellar containing carefully selected wines from the Cretan, Greek and national vineries. Relax in this unique 700-year old hotel, where simple things are usually the most beautiful ones.

Overnight at Veneto Suites (4*).


Veneto Hotel
Veneto Hotel
Day 6 Rethymno

Enjoy time at leisure to explore at your own pace, or relax at your hotel.

Overnight at Veneto Suites (4*).


Day 7 Rhodes

Rhodes is a Greek island approximately 18 kilometres (11 mi) southwest of Turkey in eastern Aegean Sea. It is the largest of the Dodecanese islands in terms of both land area and population. Historically, Rhodes was famous worldwide for the Colossus of Rhodes, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. The medieval Old Town of the City of Rhodes has been declared a World Heritage Site and continues to draw flocks of tourists. The Palace of the Grand Master is impressive, and the shopping is diverse. There are a wide variety of good restaurants.

Enjoy a private transfer from Rethymno to Heraklion airport.

Flight is required, currently not included in the quote.

Enjoy a private airport transfer with private vehicle and driver.

Enjoy the afternoon at leisure in Rhodes. Explore the sites and enjoy the stunning views.

The Electra Palace(4*) is located on the sea front of Trianta beach in the municipality of Ialysos, one of the ancient towns of Rhodes Island. It is 6,5 km from the Diagoras airport and 10 km from the town centre of Rhodes and the port. Variety of shops and some night life is only one kilometer away. The Electra Palace Hotel, situated on the western coast of Rhodes, consists of two buildings, twenty meters away from the sea front and very near the village of Trianta. Constructed on 1974 and renovated to a high standard in 2006, The Electra Palace Hotel in Rhodes is decorated in Art Deco style and it portrays loyally the sophistication of the Italian flair of the island.

Overnight at Electra Palace (4*).


Rhodes
Rhodes
Electra Palace Hotel
Electra Palace Hotel
Day 8 Rhodes

Meet your guide and enjoy your tour today! The first stop will be Mandraki Harbor with the Italian buildings in the centre of Rhodes town. After passing the aquarium, you will be driven up Monte Smith, where you will see the ancient stadium of Diagoras – Acropolis of Rhodes. Take in the beautiful panoramic view of Rhodes here. The next stop will be Filerimos, a hilltop monastery, where you can visit the ruins and foundations of the Temple of Zeus Polieus of 4th century BC. You will also see the historical Doric fountain, and the "Way of Cross", with its many steps and striking scenes of passion. As you turn back to Rhodes, you will see the Amboise gate, an entrance to the medieval town of Rhodes. Here, you will walk down and visit the Grand Master Palace and the popular archaeological Museum.

Overnight at Electra Palace (4*).


Temple Of Zeus
Temple Of Zeus
Day 9 Rhodes

Enjoy a full day at leisure today. Explore on your own and enjoy the sites or speak to your local representative about booking an optional excursion for the day.

Overnight at Electra Palace (4*).


Day 10 Rhodes

Enjoy a private airport transfer with private vehicle and driver.

Depart from International Airport. End of itinerary.

Overnight at Depart (Int`l Airport).



Trip Includes
Guaranteed departure - Accommodation, Activities, Transfers, Meals, Fees where indicated as per the itinerary - Local and international traveler assistance during your tour - Specialised and personalised services

Trip Excludes
Tips - Laundry - Soft drinks and alcoholic beverages unless explicitly noted - Optional activities/extras – Visas (unless noted) - Vacation insurance

Trip Terms & Conditions

  • Your deposit is due immediately on booking (30% of program price, minimum $250). The balance is due 90 days prior to departure. We accept payment via credit card, certified check, wire transfer or money order.
  • Tour quotes do not include airfare to/from the trip start point unless noted on the itinerary
  • Cost increases in currency exchange, government fees, taxes, surcharges or hotel/lodge tariff increases between quote date and start date are payable by the client.
  • Availability cannot be guaranteed until booked. We will exercise best efforts to book hotels per the itinerary, however, in busy seasons and with client bookings made within 90 days of tour date we may be forced to offer substitutes.
  • Cancellations of confirmed bookings 90 days or more prior to departure will receive full refund minus a $350 (per person) administrative fee and any non-refundable paid fees (e.g. non-refundable airfare, cruise or hotel deposits). 60-89 days will be subject to loss of deposit. 30-59 days will be subject to loss of 50% of program price. 29 days or less will be subject to 100% of program price.
  • Payment of the program price constitutes your acceptance of the terms and conditions set out at www.kensingtontours.com/terms-and-conditions
  • Living Standards and practices at destination may differ from those in North America with respect to provisions of utilities, services and accommodation.