Island Hopping

Athens – Amorgos – Naxos

Duration: 10 days.

Departures: every Monday & Wednesday.

1^st Day: Arrival at Athens International airport and transfer to your central located hotel. The rest of the day is free to relax or to discover the beauties of the historic city of Athens.

2^nd Day: Breakfast at your hotel and about 08.30 in the morning departure for the Athens Sightseeing tour. We’ll see the Parliament, the tomb of unknown soldier at Syntagma square, the Panathinaikon stadium where the first Olympic games took place in 1896, the Temple of Olympian Zeus, the Catholic Cathedral, the University of Athens, the Academy of Athens, the National Library and the Acropolis of Athens, where we’ll visit the Propylae, the Temple of Athena Nike, the Erechtheion and the Parthenon. By the end of the tour transfer to your hotel. The rest of the day is free. You can discover the traditional neighbourhood  of Plaka with the old houses, the souvenir shops and the Greek restaurants with the delicious Greek dishes.

3^rd Day: Early in the morning, transfer to Piraeus port to catch the boat to Amorgos island. Arrival at Amorgos and transfer to your hotel. Amorgos is one of the most beautiful Greek islands with minimal Cycladic architecture, fabulous beaches, caves, traditional whitewashed houses, narrow alleys with flowers, medieval castles, beautiful churches, taverns serving the delicious local dishes.

The island is accessible only by ferryboat and being untouched by mass tourism, remains the ideal summer dream of every traveller. Swimming at the long, sandy beach of Aegiali with the crystal waters and the tall pine trees around, providing good shade to the visitors.

4^th Day: Breakfast at your hotel. Today you can visit the capital of Amorgos island Chora, which is a charming medieval town, one of the most picturesque villages in Cyclades. On the top of the rock called Kastro, there is the 13^th century Venetian castle, built in 1290 by Ieremias Gizis for the protection of the island. The castle offers a magnificient view of the village. Chora is surrounded by windmills and full of Byzantine and early Christian churches. You can admire the traditional whitewashed houses with bougainvillea trees, the Lillputian alleys, the narrow streets with the cosy bars and tavernas. In Chora, you’ll see the Gavras tower, a remarkable Venetian building of 16^th century, which now houses the Archaeological museum of Amorgos, with findings from the Minoan period (4000 years ago) the Cycladic, Hellenistic, Roman and EarlyChristian period. You can swim at Levressos beach, a secluded sandy beach with crystal clear waters which is accessible by foot from Aegiali.

 5^th Day: After breakfast at your hotel, you can visit the island’s top attraction, the 10^th century cliffside monastery of Panagia Hozoviotissa.

The monastery, according to the tradition was founded by the Byzantine Emperor Alexios Komnenos in 1088, when the icon of Virgin Mary was sent by a woman, from Hozovo of Palestine and miraculously made its way to Amorgos. The monastery has eight floors connected by narrow stone staircases carved in to the rock. 350 steps lead you to the monastery. The interior of the monastery is like a labyrinth. On 21^st November every year, there is a celebration, with the procession of the Holy icon of Virgin Mary. The Monastery is visible only from the sea and it is an example of human triumph over nature, a wonder that will leave you awestruck. Steps away from the monastery there is the small rocky beach of Agia Anna with the spectacular beauty. While you are swimming, you can enjoy the view of the Monastery carved to the steepest rock of Mount Prophet Elias. The crystal clear waters of Agia Anna beach, were captured, 20 years ago by Luc Besson in the film : The Big Blue.

6^th Day: Breakfast at your hotel and free time for swimming or shopping of the local products like the famous liquors Rakomelo and Psimeni. In the evening, transfer to the port to catch the boat to Naxos island  . Arrival and transfer to your hotel. Naxos is the greenest island of the Cyclades. It has high mountains, fertile valleys, traditional villages, beautiful old churches, archaeological monuments and museums, well preserved medieval towers and Venetian castles, gorgeous beaches and quality local cuisine. You can eat at a tavern in Chora and enjoy a delicious dinner with local wine.

7^th Day: Breakfast at your hotel. We suggest you the Naxos Bus Tour around the island with multilingual guide, to see the most important villages in Naxos, the Temple of goddess Demeter, the tiny Byzantine church with the frescoes of 6^th century Panagia Drossiani, the traditional mountain village of Apeiranthos, the ancient huge unfinished marble statue of Kouros, the pottery workshop and olive press at Damalas, the Citrus distillery at Halki.

Swimming at Agios Prokopios, the long beach with the golden sand and the crystal waters, which is considered as one of the most beautiful beaches in Europe.

8^th Day: After breakfast at your hotel, our proposal is a day cruise to the hidden paradise of  Small Cyclades, which includes a visit to the tiny island of Iraklia for swimming and a visit to the tranquil island of Koufonissi with the white houses and the blue windows, the traditional fish taverns and the most beautiful beaches in Greece.

If you prefer to stay in Naxos, you can explore the capital of the island Chora, where is located the castle, called Kastro, which is the most well preserved castle built by the Venetians in Cyclades. Entering the castle through its old enourmous wooden door, you’ll find whiteswashed churches, Catholic Monasteries and schools, the Archaeological museum of Naxos, antique shops, beautiful cafes, many restaurants, taverns, bars and shops. Do not forget to visit Portara, the most well known landmark of the island, consisted of a huge, ancient marble door standing on a small islet. Swimming at the Aliko beach. A wonderful beach with soft white sand and crystalline waters. Above the beach, there is a unique cedar forest with marvellous sand dunes. This forest is a protected natural area and creates an exotic atmosphere.

9^th Day: Breakfast at your hotel, and transfer to the port to catch the boat to Piraeus. Arrival and transfer to your central hotel in Athens. Free time to visit the old town of Athens at Thisseion, where the ancient Doric temple of Hephaestus ( 446-442 B.C.), the stoa Attalou museum at ancient Agora, the Monastiraki square with the Flea Market, the Horologion of Andronikos Kyrrhestes which is the first meteorological station of the ancient times, the Roman Agora, the famous Plaka area at the northern slopes of Acropolis with the small shops of souvenirs where you can enjoy your dinner at a traditional Greek tavern.

10^th Day: After breakfast at your hotel, transfer to Athens International airport to catch your flight.

The above package includes :

•     Transfer from Athens airport to hotel in Athens.
•     3 overnights in Athens at good 3* central hotel with breakfast.
•     Athens half day organized sightseeing tour with English speaking guide.
•     Transfer from hotel in Athens to Piraeus port.
•     Boat ticket from Piraeus to Amorgos island ( economy fare ).
•     Transfer from Amorgos port to hotel in Amorgos.
•     3 overnights in Amorgos at good 3 keys central hotel with breakfast.
•     Transfer from hotel in Amorgos to Amorgos port.
•     Boat ticket from Amorgos to Naxos island ( economy fare ).
•     Transfer from Naxos port to hotel in Naxos..
•     3 overnights in Naxos at good 3* central hotel with breakfast.
•     Transfer from Naxos hotel to the port.
•     Boat ticket from Naxos to Piraeus ( economy fare ).
•     Transfer from Piraeus port to hotel in Athens.
•     Transfer from hotel in Athens to Athens airport.

Notes :

•     The local residence tax, 1,5 € per room , per night is not included and must be paid directly from the clients to the hotels.
•     The child price is valid for children under 10 years old, sharing a room with 2 adults.
•     The optional tours are not included :

1.     Naxos bus tour around the island : 35 €.
2.     Naxos island full day cruise to Ano Koufonissi : 50 €.
3.     Amorgos full day bus tour : 80 €.

•     The above rates are valid upon availability.