GREEK ISLAND ODYSSEY

Touch down at Athens International Airport (ATH) and make your way to the hotel in the city centre, where you’ll meet our Local Insider, who will accompany the group throughout the trip. You’re free to explore the lively, nearby districts of Psirri and Monastiraki, to stroll down the labyrinthine streets of Plaka, or to wander over to Syntagma Square and the National Gardens. Back at the hotel, join your fellow travellers for a welcome meeting at 6pm, followed by dinner together at a local tavern. If you fancy, why not continue the night with a few more drinks?

Start your day with a walking tour of the Acropolis – one of the most important ancient Greek archaeological complexes. You’ll get there early to beat the crowds. Built on a hill overlooking Athens, it contains the remnants of numerous Pentelic marble temples and monuments, including the Parthenon, dating back to the fifth century BCE. In the afternoon, continue exploring the city at leisure or return to the hotel to kick back with a cold beer by the rooftop pool. Later on, you’ll head out to the trendy, but often overlooked, Keramikos neighbourhood, home to plenty of vibrant bars and restaurants serving local cuisine.

Leave the mainland behind as you board the ferry from the Port of Piraeus to Milos. This southwesternmost island in the Cyclades archipelago is the first stop of your island-hopping adventure. Relatively underexplored in comparison to many other Greek islands, it has idyllic, white-sand beaches, multicoloured volcanic landscapes and charming villages with narrow, cobblestone streets. After settling into your hotel and embarking on a stroll around Plaka – the main town on the island – with our Local Insider, you’ll have time to soak up the laid-back ambience and head to one of the nearby beaches, such as Lagada, Papikinou or Sarakiniko, which is renowned for its chalky white, lunar-like rock formations.

Embark on a cruise around the coastline of Milos, passing by the fishing villages of Skinopi, Klima and Areti, characterised by their brightly painted, Cycladic-style houses. You’ll continue to Cape Vani, at the northwestern tip of Milos, for a swim in calm, clear waters, before visiting the Sikia Cave – arguably the most impressive natural feature on the island. Finally, you’ll sail past tunnels, caves and cliffs, through the old pirates hideout of Kleftiko, en route to Gerakas Beach, on the southern coast. From there, you’ll be driven back across the island to the hotel.

Wave goodbye to Milos as you cross the Aegean Sea to reach the island of Naxos. After checking into your accommodation we’ll go on a walking tour of the Old Town, or Chora, known for its atmospheric winding alleyways, craft shops, and plentiful bars and restaurants. The rest of the day can be spent at your leisure. You could head just north of the town, to the small islet of Palatia, to discover a marble archway of an unfinished temple from 530BCE – known as Portara (Great Door) – or, alternatively, make the most of the weather, catching rays on Saint George Beach or Plaka Beach.

This morning you’ll have some free time, during which you can also embark on an optional half day boat trip, or simply explore the island yourself, before we head inland to the village of Kaloxylos, found among rolling hills, olive groves and oak trees. After a late-afternoon walk around the village, you’ll be taught the secrets of traditional Greek cuisine in a cooking masterclass within a family home. The class will feature homemade recipes passed down through many generations. The dishes vary by season, but are always based around fresh, organic and locally sourced ingredients, such as Naxian potatoes, sweet tomatoes and arseniko cheese. Tuck into the fruits of your labour and savour the sumptuous flavour combinations you’ve put together in the Greek countryside.

Begin your final full day by taking the ferry to Santorini – one of the most popular Greek islands. You’ll arrive in the early afternoon, giving you the rest of the day to explore at your own pace. In Fira, the cliff-top capital, take in the whitewashed buildings with blue-domed roofs that are synonymous with Santorini, plus superb views overlooking the island’s volcano and the Aegean Sea. You’ll stay for the sunset panoramas, considered among the most spectacular in Greece, and enjoy a farewell group dinner.

It’s time to bid farewell to your new friends after breakfast, as your Greek island-hopping adventure comes to an end. Check out of the hotel and make your way to Santorini Airport (JTR) to catch your flight home – or choose to extend your stay and explore what else Greece has to offer.