Voyage from the birthplace of Western civilization to the heart of the Byzantine Empire on this extraordinary Mediterranean voyage. Along the way, enjoy one of the most coveted itineraries on Earth: a cruise of the Greek isles. Touch the shores of the sacred island of Delos … Mykonos, beloved by jetsetters and celebrities … picturesque Santorini … historic Rhodes, renowned for its sunny climate … and Patmos, where St. John the Divine is said to have written the Book of Revelations. Then, continue your cruise to Turkey, where Kusadasi — the leading Mediterranean resort in the country — and Canakkale, site of an important World War I battle, await. It is an epic European journey whose memories will surely linger throughout your own personal history.
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
Day 1: Embark the Tere Moana in Athens (Piraeus), Greece
The birthplace of Western civilization and modern capital of Greece, Athens is dominated by the spectacular Acropolis, where the ruins of the magnificent Parthenon still stand. You will embark the Tere Moana in Piraeus, the port for this illustrious city, and enjoy time to settle into your stateroom before the ship sets sail this evening for your Mediterranean cruise.
Day 2: Delos/Mykonos, Greece
A cruise of the Greek isles is one of the most coveted itineraries in travel. Your first port of call on this idyllic voyage is Delos, a stark, nearly treeless island whose pristine character is painstakingly preserved. One of the Cycladic Isles of the Aegean Sea, it is a treasure trove of history, boasting more than 5,000 years of civilization. The birthplace of Apollo and Artemis, according to Greek mythology, Delos is also considered a sacred island, as you’ll discover.
Day 3: Santorini, Greece
This stunningly beautiful island in the southern Aegean Sea was created by a volcanic explosion in 1600 BC. Today, it is renowned for its whitewashed villages and black-sand beaches. During today’s port call, you might venture to the rim of the now-dormant volcano, which is accessible by funicular or donkey.
Day 4: Rhodes, Greece
The largest of the Dodecanese islands, located in the Aegean between Crete and the near East, Rhodes boasts more sunny days than other cities in Europe and is known as the “Sun Island” for its subtropical climate. Its location on the crossroads of East and West explains the rich, 3,000-year, multicultural history that is yours to explore here. Or focus on the island’s ample shopping, dining, and glittering nightlife.
Day 5: Patmos, Greece
One of the Dodecanese Greek islands in the Aegean Sea, Patmos is important in both mythology and Christianity. It was named a Sacred Island by the Greek government in 1981 and a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1999, and has long been a popular pilgrimage site. Boasting an enchantingly beautiful landscape, Patmos was the place of exile for St. John the Divine, one of Jesus’ disciples, who is believed to have written the Book of Revelations here. A monastery dedicated to him is visible almost everywhere throughout the island, as you’ll see.
Day 6: Kusadasi, Turkey
Turkey’s premier resort on the Mediterranean coast is a dazzling modern city of gracious, palm-lined boulevards, beaches, and parks. Its history, however, dates to prehistoric times, and may be seen in the 13th-century Yivli Minaret—the symbol of the city—and Kaleiçi, the old town of narrow cobbled alleys lined with Ottoman-era structures. The city also features a fine Archaeological Museum, two water parks, and Ataturk and Karalioglu parks, where exotic blooms are cultivated. Or perhaps you’ll explore nearby Ephesus, whose astonishing Greco-Roman ruins are one of the world’s great archaeological sites.
Day 7: Canakkale, Turkey
Straddling the Dardanelles—the narrow strait that links the Aegean Sea and the Sea of Marmara—the city of Canakkale, like Istanbul, lies on two continents: Europe and Asia. History buffs will remember Canakkale as the site of the World War I Battle of Çanakkale between the U.K., France, and the Ottoman Empire. You may delve further into the region’s history at the Çanakkale Museum, the Naval Museum in Çimenlik Fortress, and Korfmann Library here.
Day 8: Disembark in Istanbul, Turkey
Your Mediterranean idyll ends where it began, in exotic Istanbul. Enjoy breakfast aboard before disembarking for your return flight home.
Dates & Prices
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The trip might have been the absolute best of our lifetime (thus far). We particularly want to commend our guide Peter in the Guilin area-he was so incredibly attentive, energetic, enthusiastic-and absolutely dedicated to ensuring that our meals were 100% vegetarian.
Jack Charney
TrustScore 4.8 | 254 reviews
TrustScore 4.8 of 5
Based on 254 reviews on
6 hours ago
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
7 hours 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
22 hours 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
5 days 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
6 days 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.