Sparkling azure seas, miles of sandy beaches, ancient olive groves, sleepy villages of tumbling white washed houses and endless sunshine – these images are synonymous with mainland Greece and her 6,000 islands. Alone they would be reason enough to make it an ideal destination for escape and exploration but these attractions are only part of the picture.
Greece is a nation steeped in history, ancient culture, myth and legend. Everywhere one finds evidence of the many cultures and nations which have ruled and inhabited these lands, beginning with Neolithic man and progressing through Roman, Venetian and Ottoman periods among others. This colorful and varied history, influenced by so many different cultures, has left each island a little world unto itself - each has its own legends, traditions and something which marks it as unique.
A Greece vacation typically combines a mix of beaches, culture and history and, depending on the cruise length, may visit one, two or even more island groups along with certain mainland ports.
Athens and Piraeus
Greece cruise itineraries will often begin or end with a visit to the Greek capital city of Athens, accessed via the port area of Piraeus. It is almost impossible to wander around Greek's capital city without stumbling across some evidence of its ancient culture and colorful history, which dates back more than 3,000 years.
As the central seat of Greece's ancient and classical culture for arts, philosophy and learning, it would be impossible to list all that there is to see and do in Athens, suffice it to say that one trip will certainly leave you wanting to explore more!
The most famous of all Greece's ancient landmarks is the Parthenon within the Acropolis, while other notable tourist destinations are the National Archaeological Museum which houses the largest collection of Greek antiquities in the world, the Agora market, the stone theatre known as the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, and the Stoa of Attalos (the ruins of an ancient covered portico).
Adventures in Athens!
The Cyclades
Greece cruise itineraries vary widely, although many of the more popular ones focus on a specific group of islands such as the Cyclades. This large, central Aegean island group is typified by quintessentially Greek villages and towns with low, white washed and flat roofed houses.
Among the most famous ports of call are:
Cosmopolitan and vibrant Mykonos - the haunt of celebrities, interwoven with tiny alleys and, according to Greek mythology, the site of the battle between Zeus and the Titans.
The tiny neighboring island of Delos - This uninhabited island is home to an archaeological site of enormous historical significance. Ancient market squares, temples and ceremonial avenues of great carved lions await eager explorers.
Santorini- Formed when an ancient volcano exploded in the Late Bronze Age, creating what is believed to be one of the largest eruptions ever to occur on earth. Whitewashed villages give the appearance of being impossibly perched on cliff edges.
Kynthos, which boasts more than 70 beaches, is another popular port in the Cyclades. Many of the tiny winding streets are too small for vehicles, so locals on donkeys are a common sight. The Katafiki Cave here is one of Greece's largest and the island is also home to natural thermal springs with healing properties.
Folegandros, with its towering cliffs, large cave and architectural and cultural influences colored by a history of Athenian, Venetian and Ottoman occupation, is another common stop on a Greek cruise of the Cyclades.
A romantic view from the cliffs of Santorini The Dodecanese Islands
Between Crete and Turkey, the Dodecanese offer a different take on Aegean cruises of Greece. The most popular port in the Dodecanese is on the island of Patmos, where the Bible references the visions of St. John the Theologian in the Cave of the Apocalypse. Tourists and Christian pilgrims alike come to this site along with the Monastery of St. John, founded in 1088.
The Saronic Islands
These are the closest islands to the Greek capital, Athens, making the ports here common ports of call for both Greek cruises and day-trips.
The tranquil island of Aegina produces cotton, almonds, olives and figs but is most famous for its pistachios. It is also home to the ruined columns of the Temple of Aphaea, dating back to around 500 BC
The lone town on the island of Hydra offers a bustling mix of shops, open air restaurants and cafes, markets and galleries
The holiday of a lifetime. The company is Alaksa-owned and thhat makes a big difference to the experineces you get i.e. meet genuine First Nations tribes people. The amount of wildlife was beyond my expectation, and seeing everything on sucha small, intimate boat made it even more spoecial and unique.
Liz O
2 days ago
Adventure Life covered all the details in planning our trip to Ireland. Any questions we had were answered immediately. Any trip glitches, which always happen when traveling, were resolved immediately. There were no worries, just fun!
Kathleen Weller
2 days ago
It was an outstanding, up-close, educational vacation of nature, culture, history, animals and geology! It was everything they promised! Binoculars were plentiful on the boat, but I'm glad I brought my own. Food was excellent. Rooms had black-out shades. Pack/wear multiple layers of clothing (I carried a small backpack when off the ship). Crew were delightful and very accommodating! Remember to jump FEET FIRST first when taking the optional polar plunge! Spend as much time outdoors as you are able and ENJOY!!!
Janet Dutton
1 week ago
Excellent travel advice and service
This is my second experience working with Adventure Life. I’m sold. Jess Heuermann is an experienced traveler and provides a lot of useful information when planning a trip. These are the questions I like to ask at the outset - What’s it like to go here, there, what would you suggest, what do people report, can we add any additional side trips? Jess took the time to answer my questions and seek additional information to share with me. Petchie Colina is outstanding in helping with travel logistics and final preparations. Adventure Life has excellent guides and offers private guides and small group adventures. We enjoyed the opportunity to talk with the guides and drivers to learn more about their countries, cultures and histories. A highlight was having the guides pick local restaurants where we could share meals together. Highly recommend.
Claire Cordon
1 week ago
Our six-day tour in Iceland went smoothly with one exception. We had asked for two rooms each night. Somehow we were booked with one room with three beds. It could not be fixed at the first hotel in Reykjavik because the hotel was fully booked. Once informed of the problem, however, Adventure Life rebooked for two rooms for the remainder of the trip. As an 85-year-old traveler, I appreciated that one could participate at different physical levels at many of the stops. Iceland is a great place to visit but on the expensive side.