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Abercrombie & Kent
OFFER ID 1721548
After uncovering Athens’ timeless tales of myth and legend, immerse yourself in authentic Greek culture with a luxurious getaway to the Cyclades islands, where centuries of tradition thrive in the shimmering Aegean Sea. For travellers wishing to take the path less travelled, this is the perfect Greek epic. On this tailor-made adventure, A&K’s experts have curated a series of authentic experiences that reveal a different side to Greece and its islands: embark on off-piste adventures along historic trading routes, join a local family for a delicious lunch and explore hidden coves in beautiful, underexplored Naxos and Paros.
9 nights | Call for pricing
1 Athens, Greece
The seed of Western civilization is a tangle of busy streets and bougainvillea-fringed squares, a romantic litany of ruins and relics. It is no stranger to reinvention: factories are now chic hotels, historic sites a showcase for high-end fashion. But Athens is always poised to offer an education in the classics: turn the corner and she might just present you with a time-worn temple or amphitheater, set beneath the peerless gaze of the Parthenon.
The myths of the ancient Greeks’ gods and heroes come to life on a guided tour that mixes storytelling with local food and wine tastings, from the city’s old Plaka district to the Acropolis and up Mars Hill, each site illuminated through its ties to the epic tales of Zeus, Dionysus and Athena.
Situated on the isthmus between the mainland and the Peloponnese, Corinth’s location on this valuable trade route helped it grow from a Neolithic settlement to a major commercial center in the ancient world. Visit the Doric Temple of Apollo, constructed during the height of the city’s prosperity, along with the remnants of the city’s later Roman period. You may also wish to view some of the many artifacts on display at the Archaeological Museum. Later, visit a family olive farm near Corinth for an introduction to this venerable Mediterranean staple, followed by a with food pairings, led by an olive oil sommelier.
Myth holds that Zeus grew up on the shores of Naxos, and he apparently blessed his home with ageless beauty: the largest of the Cyclades is a rhapsody of blues, greens and marble whites, sweeping beaches with ouzo-clear waters, mountain villages lost in rustling juniper. Scattered, too, across the island are grand fortresses and old mansions: the decadent remnants of centuries of Venetian rule.
Experience the food and culture of Naxos Town as you visit the Temple of Apollo's Portara Gate, the Excavation Museum and the Venetian Castle. Explore the old town's market and taverna, pausing to sample local cheeses, wines and small plates.
Visit a family farm that dates to the 16th century, once featured on chef Anthony Bourdain’s series Parts Unknown, for a traditional Greek lunch, cooked with the help of the farm’s owner over a crackling wood fire.
Pretty Paros, coveted by Cretans, Romans, Byzantines and many others, wears its years well. Ancient ruins speckle the landscape, scattered amongst pristine, whitewashed villages that tumble down hillsides and meet waters as blue as the sky. Vineyards, hidden coves, scenic hikes into church-dotted mountains: Paros has all the ingredients for an extraordinary island escape.
Today, breeze through beautiful Paros Island, starting in Paroikia, the island’s capital. View the well-preserved 13th-century Venetian castle, standing proud on top of a hill in the center of the village, and visit Panayia Ekatontapyliani church, a famous landmark on the island dating back to the sixth century.
While away your last day in Paros’s charming, laid-back towns as you stop for coffee and cake beneath the blossom in Lefkes, or idle along Naoussa’s picture-perfect waterfront, arguably one of the prettiest in the Cyclades.
All fares are quoted in US Dollars.
2121 Sage Road Suite 111
Houston, TX 77056
USA
(713) 627-0111