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Trip Overview |
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Splendor in the sun of the Greek Isles An illustrated itinerary of one of our many gay travel adventures. This information supplements our Our holiday in the Greek Isles explores the beauty of Santorini and the delights of Mykonos. Starting with two nights in Athens, we’ll enjoy a welcome dinner and a city tour. Then we’re off to relax on the world-famous gay resort of Mykonos. Then we head to Santorini, the most beautiful of the islands, with its sheer cliffs and awe-inspiring sunsets.
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Our holiday in the Greek Isles explores Athens, the delights of Mykonos and the beauty of Santorini. During an optional pre-tour day, you can explore Athens, walking in the footsteps of the gods at the Acropolis, then join the full group to ride a cable car to the top of Lycabettus Hill for our welcome dinner at a restaurant overlooking the city. The next morning we board a ferry for a leisurely transtion from the hub-bub of Athens to the more relaxed pace of the islands. After brief stops at a couple of other islands, we arrive in Mykonos at mid-day. Our Mykonos hotel overlooks the picturesque harbor, and is just a short walk from the narrow alleys and whitewashed buildings that make this gay-friendly resort so appealing. During our stay there, we will enjoy an excursion to the windswept, historic isle of Delos, and also have time to relax at some of the most beautiful beaches in the Aegean Sea. Then we board a hydrofoil for our crossing to Santorini, often considered the most beautiful of all the islands. With its sheer cliffs and awe-inspiring sunsets, Santorini’s rugged and dramatic vistas are unforgettable.
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1: Let the Games Begin: Athens
Our tour begins in Athens, the perfect place to gather the group, delve into Greek history and kick off a pleasant and relaxing week. The official tour starts with our welcome dinner and one night in our Athens hotel on Day 1. However, if you haven't been to Athens before, we encourage you to arrive a day early and enjoy a city tour. Climbing up to the Acropolis to view the Parthenon and other ancient monuments, we will relive the history of Ancient Greece. We’ll also tour the famous Benaki Museum, with its collection of more than 30,000 items illustrating the character of the Greek world from antiquity to the present day, and have lunch at a traditional Greek restaurant in the Plaka district. In the evening, there will be time for some nightlife as we pass through the Kolonaki neighborhood on the way home from dinner, perhaps stopping at one of the local gay bars (although they tend to start VERY late!).
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2-4: Mykonos Delights
We take an early morning ferry from the port of Rafina to Mykonos, renowned for its white sand beaches and vibrant night life; it is also one of the most popular resorts for European gays. Despite its popularity, Mykonos retains its quiet island charm. It’s there in the whitewashed houses and narrow, clean streets, countless little churches, and thatched windmills with canvas sails. It’s visible in the pure Mediterranean sunlight: stark, glowing and vibrant. Our three night stay is planned to allow plenty of time to relax and enjoy all the island has to offer. Lie by the pool, take a stroll to trace the only road through the town with no steps (and no cars!), photograph the infinitely beautiful scenes such as the classic view of the four white windmills against a background of blue sky and sea, or relax with a cool drink under a bright umbrella at a harborside café. Our group activities include a day excursion by boat to Delos, a small islet located a few miles from Mykonos. A religious center as early as the 5th Century BC, it was one of the most important sanctuaries of Greece, as it was considered the birth place of Apollo and Artemis. The small island is now uninhabited, and we are guided through the ruins of ancient monuments and commercial buildings, some with delicate mosaic pavements. The most famous statues on Delos are of white lions. The originals were eroding so fast from the wind that they are now inside the museum, but full-size replicas now adorn the outdoor pedestals. There’s plenty to see and do on Mykonos, but one of the reasons to come to the island is to slow down and let the days take care of themselves. Those who wish to visit the beach can board a local bus for the drive over the hills to Piati Yialos, from where small boats ply all day along the coast to Super Paradise Beach, a secluded half-mile crescent of soft, white sand, with magnificent swimming. From May to October, Super Paradise and the even more secluded beach of Elias nearby, are filled with visitors from all over the world, many of whom sunbathe and swim nude, except when breaking for lunch at the pleasantly shaded restaurant on the beach. Those who prefer an alternative to the beach can enjoy a bus ride to the quiet village of Ano Mera in the center of the island. During our stay on Mykonos, breakfast will be available at our hotel each morning. Lunches are on your own, but dinner is included the first and second nights, with the first one at a seaside restaurant at sunset.
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5-7: Santorini: Island of the Gods
Our next island delight is Santorini, one of the most ruggedly beautiful and dramatic places on earth. The magical island is truly one of Greece's "must-sees", and after a hydrofoil ride from Mykonos, we will begin to discover the majesty of Santorini, also known as Thira. The southernmost of the Cyclades islands, Santorini is a crescent-shaped island, which is actually the rim of a volcanic crater, partially submerged in the sea. Sometimes associated with the mythical land of Atlantis due to the massive volcanic eruption many centuries ago, its sheer cliffs are 300 meters high, stunning with multi-colored strata of black, red, grey, and brown. Perched high atop the caldera are iconic scenes of Greece, such as startling white sugar cube houses and churches with brilliant blue domes set against the deeper blues of the sky and the Aegean Sea. During our first full day on Santorini, we will first visit an archeological site (if it is open) or a fine museum, then after lunch on your own, we go to Athinios port to board a boat for an unforgettable water-level tour of the volcano's caldera. There may also be an opportunity to climb the volcano and swim in the hot springs. After exploring the hot springs and lava slopes, we return to the main town of Thira for dinner. Our next day's tour will include a visit to Prophitis Elias, the highest peak of the island with a spectacular view of the caldera (cone) and vistas of the entire island. Visits to the Old Port and Pyrgos Village are also on the agenda. Most important will be the chance to pause and ponder the beauty of the cliffs, the history of the island, and the magic and myths that come alive on the island.
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8: Departure Day
Our tour ends with breakfast and a morning transfer from our hotel to the airport. The early morning flight to Athens connects with multiple international flights home. You may also prefer to take your time getting back to Athens, then spending one more night there before flying home. We hope our island escape has rejuvenated you and we look forward to seeing you again.
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