Explore ancient cities and learn about their civilizations on this 11-day small ship cruise. Begin in Istanbul, Turkey, and make your way around the lesser-visited Greek Islands of Molyvos, Skopelos, Skiathos, and more, and end your journey in historical Athens. As you sail, admire the varied landscape and clear blue waters of the Aegean and Mediterranean Seas, and disembark daily to explore local markets, historical buildings, and charming squares.
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
Arrive in Istanbul and transfer to the SeaDream II. Settle in to your cabin and explore the ship, then attend a welcome dinner as you set sail for Greece.
Day 2: Molyvos, Greece
1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Molyvos (Mithymna), is famous for its unique beauty and traditional architecture. Explore the medieval castle on top of the hill, or remain in the harbor for water sports.
Day 3-4: Skopelos Island / Skiathos Island, Greece
1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Skopelos and Skiathos are part of the Sporades island group. Greener and less crowded than the Cyclades islands further south, the islands offer a serene glimpse of the Mediterranean.
Day 5: Kusadasi, Turkey
1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Arrive in Kusadasi, a resort town on Turkey's Aegean coast. Spend some time in the grand bazaar and practice your negotiating skills with the locals, or join a land excursion to Ephesus. This comprehensive Land Adventure includes a guided tour of the stunning ancient city, including the recently excavated Terrace Houses and the House of the Virgin Mary.
Day 6: Patmos, Greece
1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Patmos is recognized worldwide as The Jerusalem of the Aegean. Believed to be the place where Saint John wrote the Book of Revelations, the island is sacred. Designated the Holy Island by the Greek Parliament in 1981, Patmos is also an ideal destination for nature lovers thanks to its lace-like coastline, sheer cliffs, beautiful beaches and volcanic soil.
Day 7: Parikia, Greece
1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
With the popularity and sometimes overcrowding at Santorini and Mykonos, Paros offers a quieter, unspoiled option in the Aegean. Historically, Paros was once known for its fine white marble, which gave rise to the term "Parian" to describe marble or china of similar qualities. Most visitors make an effort to see the famous Church of Ekatontapyliani (Our lady of a Hundred Doors), which is the holy place of Paros and linked to the history and myths of Byzantium. Tradition and history state that the church began life in the reign of Constantine the Great (280 - 337 A.D.) or Justinian (527 - 565). After its restoration in 1959, the chuch became the third most important Christian building in Greece.
Day 8: Santorini, Greece
1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Santorini, also known as Thera, is a volcanic island located in the southern Aegean Sea. Santorini was formed by a large volcanic explosion that destroyed the earliest settlements on what was formerly a single island, and led to the creation of its current geological caldera.
Day 9: Nafplion, Greece
1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Nafplion was the capital of the First Hellenic Republic from the start of the Greek Revolution in 1821 until 1834, and is simply one of the most beautiful towns in the area of Argolis. In town, climb nearly 1000 steps to the fortress, or participate in wine tasting at a local vineyard.
Day 10: Hydra, Greece
1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
There is one main town on Hydra, known simply as "Hydra Port." Explore the steep stone streets which lead up and outwards from the harbor area. The charm of Hydra town lies in her rich history, beautiful port, and pristine waterfront, which is unspoiled by motorized vehicles. The island offers a rugged charm and some spectacular scenes, making it the perfect place for self-exploration.
Day 11: Athens
1 Breakfast
Arrive in Athens in the early morning and disembark after breakfast. Transfer into the city or to the airport for your continued independent journeys.
Dates & Prices
Per person starting at
Apologies for the inconvenience. Prices for not yet published. Below per person rate based on previous season. Contact us to confirm upcoming season pricing.
Prices for are estimated based on inflation. Contact us to confirm pricing and availability for your desired departure date.
Our guide and driver were very good with their knowledge and were very helpful with our questions. It was a very pleasant visit that would have been impossible to do on our own. Hotels and restaurants were fantastic. The special places we got to go to, like the kitchens, were great. Enjoyed the entire trip!
Meyer Smolen
TrustScore 4.8 | 176 reviews
TrustScore 4.8 of 5
Based on 176 reviews on
9 hours ago
Adventure Life is always an excellent choice when planning complicated, extreme, or exotic vacations or expeditions. They provide friendly professional services and advice and are enthusiastic and encouraging in helping us to prepare and thoroughly enjoy our trip. They handle all the details which greatly reduces the stress of planning a difficult trip. I'm very impressed with Adventure Life and definitely recommend them to friends and family.
Scott Trochim
2 days ago
The response from Adventure Life to my first inquiry was prompt and promising. I worked with Jamie Broeckel, Trip Planner, via text, email, and phone calls- always extremely responsive and thorough with information and explaining the process to arrange a private tour for me to Malaysia Borneo. Within about week, the booking was complete and I made decisions because of Jamie's great customer service , friendly manner, and overall competence on behalf of the company's travel expertise. Now I have an itinerary, additional Trip Planner Assistants, several links for vital information for traveling to Maylasia, etc. Still many details for Sept. trip, but now the heavy lifting is done and I can enjoy the rest of the anticipation and research!! Thanks Jamie- you are amazing!!!!
Susan Campo
4 days ago
The trip was not only memorable for the amount of animals we saw but also for the people and accommodations at the two camps where we stayed. Our first guide, BK, was a wealth of information about the animals, landscape and down to the plants and what they were used for. Everyday out was a learning experience with him. All the people at the camps were gracious and the food was excellent.
Our second camp in the Okavanga was just as good as the first as far as the staff, accommodations, food and animals. After our experience at the first camp we amazed that the high quality remained the same. Our guide, G, made sure we were able to enjoy every experience including a rush through the bush to witness a cheetah and an ensuing hunt that he heard over his radio.
In both camps there were enough guides out that if they saw something the other guides were informed which helped in seeing as much as possible. It was also nice that the concessions were large enough that we did not have vehicles following each other throughout the day.
Normally there is always something in a trip of this length that we think could be improved upon but this is the rare case where we cannot think of anything. From the time we left the States to when we returned it was one of the most hassle free vacations we took.
Perhaps emphasizing the use of the laundry facilities at the camps would be useful because of the luggage restrictions would be the only thing I can think of as an improvement to future clients.
Kenneth Dropek
5 days ago
Mary was so pleasant and professional. She made sure all of our questions were answered.
