Let's visit Greece and the Greek Islands...

September 2015 Tour of Greece:

DELUXE PACKAGE TO GREECE &  GREEK ISLANDS

INCLUDED ARE ALL R/T DOMESTIC FLIGHTS, HYDRO'S -- ALL PRIVATE TRANSFERS, A COMPLIMENTARY VOLCANO & HOT SPRINGS BOAT TRIP ( value $99-pp ) --

KING SIZE BEDS & all hotel  amenities. 

ATHENS OFFICE TOUR MANAGER WILL MEET & GREET YOU PERSONALLY 

*International Airfare is NOT included with tour, but may be added.

SEPTEMBER 25, 2015- Depart on your overnight flight to Athens.

SEPTEMBER 26, 2015  Welcome to Athens!  You will be met at the airport and transferred by private vehicle to your hotel, the 5* Metropolitan HOTEL (www.chandris.gr)  Stay for 2 nights with breakfast daily.

7:00 pm - COMPLIMENTARY DRINK  & ORIENTATION MEETING AT HOTEL, BY MRS. MAGDALENE, ATHENS OFFICE MANAGER.

SEPTEMBER 27, 2015 -   Athens   In the morning, you will be met at your hotel at approx. 8 a.m.to take the Half-Day Athens City Tour, to the Acropolis with R/T transfers to the hotel.  This tour will introduce you to the most important sights of the city.  You will see the temple of the Olympian Zeus, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the Pan Athenaeum stadium.

OPTIONAL TOUR TO CAPE SOUNION IN THE AFTERNOON ( $75pp) (approx. 2:00 - 7:00 p.m.)

Driving along the coastal road past the wonderful beaches of GLYFADA, VOULIAGMENI, VARKIZA and countless coves, one has a splendid view of the Saronic Gulf. A crowning feature of the tour Cape Sounion, dominated by the spectacular Temple of POSEIDON overlooking the Aegean sea.

In the evening at 8:00 p.m. or later- Have dinner in a traditional restaurant in Plaka

Includes a traditional dinner with wine and folkloric dances.  Relax with a Greek dinner show at a typical taverna in the renowned Plaka district. It's the perfect way to spend a night out on the town in Athens!  

SEPTEMBER 28, 2015 - Athens–Piraeus (Embarkation)–Mykonos

You will be met at your hotel and transferred to the port for your highspeed sea transportation to Mykonos (3 hr. 45 min.)

You will be met at the port and transferred to your hotel, the 4 star Manoulas Beach. Stay for 3 nights with breakfast daily.

In the evening, have dinner at a local restaurant. You can sample local specialties, like louza loukaniko (sausage) and kopanisti (peppery goat cheese), then mingle with the locals at a quaint taverna or take a bus to the main square of Manto Mavrogenous. (B,D)

SEPTEMBER 29, 2015- Take a Half Day City and Island Tour of Mykonos (approx. 9:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.)

Starting the City-and Island tour by walking the small and narrow streets, we have many possibilities to take nice photographs in the early morning, quiet city.

We get orientation and information in the labyrinth of the old town as well as impressions of the small port and the churches in town. Of course we will see the famous wind-mills and find Petros The Pelecan, the mascot of Mykonos.

After this we are exploring the island with a bus, visiting some of the most famous beaches and the inner land- scape. We see fishermen and kaikis, small private chapels and houses built in typical cycladic style.

In the second main village of Mykonos, Ano Mera, an idyllic place 6km from town, where the guests have enough free time for a stroll around the traditional square and they can visit the monk monastery Panagia Tourliani built in the 16th century.

Next stop is Kalafatis beach were there is time to relax a little and have a coffee or a refreshment (not included in the tour price), before going back to town and to reach a place with a fantastic view all over the town and neighbour islands.

SEPTEMBER 30, 2015- Take a Tour to Delos. Departs at 10:00 a.m. and returns at 2:30 p.m.

Only a 45 minute boat ride away from Mykonos Delos was the centre of the Cyclades of the ancient world, the island of light, birthplace of Apollon and Artemis, home to the first multicultural civilization and trade.

There is a lot to see: having been inhabited between 2500 and 69 b.C. Delos boasts of many treasures remaining from these times like the ancient market place Agora, the famous terrace of the Naxos lions, the holy lake, the ancients living quarters and theatre that give you a lively vision of the daily life then; especially the houses of Dionysos, Kleopatra, the Trident, the Masks, the Dolphins with their mosaics are a fantastic experience of art not to be missed.

Furthermore there are the Temple of Isis, the Egyptian goddess, the Roman water system and cisterns and the wonderful museum with plenty of breathtaking mosaics, statues and many more objects found during the excavations.

On our guided tour you depart at 10pm from the old pier in Mykonos Town and you return at 2.30 pm. If you wish to remain a little bit longer you can also take the last boat back at 3 pm in order to have some time at leisure or maybe climb on Mount Kynthos to enjoy the view over all the surrounding Cycladic islands.

OCTOBER 1, 2015- Mykonos–Santorini

You will be met at your hotel and transferred to the port for your high speed sea transportation to Santorini ( 2 hr. 15 min.). Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to your hotel, the 5* Suites of the Gods. Stay for 3 nts. with breakfast daily.  In the evening, have dinner at a local restaurant.

2 FREE CATERGORY ROOM UPGRADE TO SUPERIOR/ MASTER SUITE - With your stay you will enjoy the following services we have arranged complimentary on your behalf:

***COMPLIMENTARY WELCOME DRINK UPON ARRIVAL

***COMPLIMENTARY CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST DAILY.                                                            

***COMPLIMENTARY 50 MIN. USE OF SPA FACILITIES

***COMPLIMENTARY WINE & FRUIT BASKET UPON  ARRIVAL.

I had a chance to visit it earlier this year and it is an absolute haven.  It offers the best position on the caldera and allows for the most spectacular views of the islands whitewashed villages perched on the cliff-side (and that is no exaggeration). 

It is just outside of the main town of Fira, which allows for privacy and intimacy - yet it is still very convenient to the restaurants, nightlife and shops in Fira.  And the facilities are superb!  It was once an old winery and parts of the original structure have been preserved and converted into the largest spa in Santorini.  Other facilities include a wine tasting cave, open-air restaurant and pool area perched on the cliffs.  All that if you can tear yourself away from your room, a suite with Jacuzzi, private terrace or balcony and great views of the Aegean Sea, Volcano and Caldera cliffside.

OCTOBER 2, 2015 - Take the 3 hr. Volcano & Hot Springs Tour.

Tour begins from the Old Port of Fira at 2 p.m. (hotel pick ups will commence prior to this time)

Don’t forget to wear a bathing suit, comfortable walking shoes and bring a towel! Also needed is cash for the cable car to get to and from the old port (unless you want to brave 580 steps on the same path as the donkeys!). The current cost is 10 euro r/t.

OCTOBER 3, 2015- Take the Archaeological Bus Tour Including Winery

Hotel pick up at approx. 10:30 a.m/Return at approx. 5:30 p.m.  We will first visit the highest point of the island (565 meters high), Profitis Ilias mountain (where the homonymous monastery of the 18th century is located). That point offers panoramic views of Santorini. You will be able to see also the close-by islands Anafi, Ios, Sikinos, Folegandros and in some days with good visibility levels, you might be able to see even further, Milos, Amorgos and Naxos. 

After visiting Profitis Ilias, we will move on to Megalochori village. That’s a fine example of a 18th century hillside settlement. Small, narrow streets, excavated dwellings, old canavas (buildings used for wine making and storage) and lot of churches of various architectural patterns offer a nice walk within that village. 

We continue to Akrotiri Archaeological site, which is one of the most important prehistoric settlements of Mediterranean. Along with a professional guide, you will learn the secrets of this town, which was initially inhabited during the late Neolithic time in the 4th millennium BC. While at his peak of development in Minoan Bronze Age, it was destroyed by the Great Theran Eruption (17th century BC) and buried under tons volcanic ash, the layers of which preserved the famous frescoes (wall paintings) of Akrotiri, artworks and objects of everyday life. It is believed that Akrotiri might be the inspiration of Plato’s story about lost Atlantis city. 

Our next stop is at Perivolos black sandy beach, where we have a free time for swimming into the crystal-blue waters, have a nice sunbath on the hot black volcanic sand or enjoy lunch in one of the waterside little restaurants. Perivolos is located just next to Perissa beach, just below to the mountain Profitis Helias.

Our last stop is at “Santo Wines” winery in Pyrgos, where you can have a tour to learn the secrets of wine making and taste different kinds of Santorinian wines. Founded at 1947, Santo Wines produces Appellation of Origin Santorini of High Quality wines made of the indigenous varieties of Assyrtiko, Athiri, Aidani, Mandilaria, Mavrotragano and Voudomato. Wine making as key element of Santorini’s development is also a nowadays challenge for many locals pursuing a natural way of living. The anhydrous land of Santorini, mineral elements, layers of volcanic ash and porcelain combined with the traditional techniques and state-of-the-art machinery result in excellent wines with distinctive characteristics. There, you may find also local products as the tomataki (small cherry tomato), caper and fava. 

OCTOBER 4, 2015- You will be met at your hotel and transferred to the airport for your flight to Athens. Upon arrival to Athens, you will be met and transferred by private car back to your hotel, the 5* Metropolitan. Stay for 1 night with  breakfast.

OCTOBER 5, 2015- You will be met at your hotel and transferred by private car to the Athens airport. End of tour.

All of this for less than you are imagining! A truly fantastic 10 day tour of a lifetime.

For additional information please contact info@texasmusiccruises.com or call 419-492-4368