History comes alive on this 11-day voyage of discovery to Greece, Italy, and Turkey aboard the Arethusa. Rich in history, activity, and culture, this itinerary is sure to delight.
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 the historical city of Athens. Transfer to Piraeus and embark on the Arethusa.
Day 2: Piraweus / Athens
1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Spend the day in Athens, an incomparably dramatic and influential city. Explore the Arcopolis, perhaps the most important ancient monument in the Western world, where the concept of democracy was born over 2,500 years ago. Disembark and transfer to your deluxe hotel and enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure.
Day 3: Kusadasi / Ephesus
1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Sail to the port city of Kusadasi, then travel to Ephesus. Renowned as the center of worship of the goddess Artemis; it was also the site where St. Paul addressed the Ephesians. Excavations continue as archaeologists are restoring the Terrace Houses, which offer a glimpse of daily Ehpesian life. See the facade of the Library of Celsus, Temple of Hadrian, and the Great Amphitheater.
Day 4: Santorini
1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
In the second millennium B.C, volcanoc eruptions shrouded Santorini in pumice and ash, which caused the island to collapse into a fractured caldera. This ultimately produced Santorini's wild beauty and sent the Minoan civilization into irreversible decline. Visit Phira's Archaeological Museum then ascent to its volcano by traditional donkey. Reunite for lunch and spend some free time in Phira Town.
Day 5: Rethymnon / Knossos or Imbros Gorge
1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Arrive in Crete, home of Europe's earliest developed civilization. From Rethymnon, travel to Knossos and its fabled Minoan Palace, a maze of frescoed corridoors and chambers showing life as it was 4,000 years ago. Spend some free time exploring and take a swim at a nearby beach. Alternatively, walk part of the rugged, scenic Imbros Gorge and end at the coast hear the 14th century Venetian caste of Frangokastello for a swim. In the afternoon, sail along Crete's northwest coast.
Day 6: Kyparissia / Olympia
1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Sail to Olympia, an ancient sanctuary dedicated to Zeus and one of four sites where the Pan-Hellenic games were once held. Enjoy an afternoon of staged Olympic games before spending the afternoon at sea.
Day 7: Ithaca
1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Ithaca, the legendary home of Odysseus from Homer's Odyssey, is a stunning island of pristine beaches and forest. Visit the Bay of Dexia and admire the Cyclopean Walls, a ruins site known locally as Odysseus' Castle. Here stand atop the Plateau of Marathia. In the afternoon, sail along the Corinth Canal.
Day 8: Crotone
1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Ancient Crotone was one of the most prominent cities of Magna Graecia and home to Pythagoras, the Greek philosopher. Visit the impressive Archaeological museum and drive to the small town of Santa Severina, dramatically located on an isolated crop of sheer rock.
Day 9: Messina / Taormina
1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Taormina, a picturesque village on the east coast of Sicily, offers stunning views of the sea, the island, and the cone of Mount Etna - the largest active volcano in Europe. Visit the Greek theater here and amble along Taormina's quaint streets and gardens. In the evening, sail between the legendary location of the six-headed monster Scylla and the treacherous whirlpool Charybdis, today the easily traversed Strait of Messina.
Day 10: Sorrento / Pompeii
1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
In the morning, visit Pompeii, the Roman city destroyed and preserved by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in A.D. 79. No other location so completely captures the life of the ancient Roman empire as this lost - and then found - city does. Visit the Forum, Temples of Apollo and Jupiter, and the Stabian Baths, the best-preserved and most complete in Pompeii.
Day 11: Rome / Disembark
1 Breakfast
In the morning, transfer from your hotel to the airport for your independent flights onward.
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.
We are so glad that we chose Adventure Life. The service is top-notch. Everything is well taken care of and we just have to print the documents and go. Franny even gave us timely updates on possible airport strike.
KC Chan
TrustScore 4.8 | 175 reviews
TrustScore 4.8 of 5
Based on 175 reviews on
7 hours 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
2 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
3 days ago
Mary was so pleasant and professional. She made sure all of our questions were answered.