ATHENS, MYKONOS, EPHESUS, PATMOS, RHODES, CRETE, SANTORINI, DELPHI AND OLYMPIA
The Greeks have a word for a feeling that expresses joy, fun, passion and loving life: kefi. Our Greece land and island tour lets you fully embrace the spirit of this region, which gave birth to Western civilization, the Olympics and the healthful Mediterranean diet! You’ll experience all of the Greek classics—seeing the Acropolis and Parthenon, sailing the sparkling-blue Aegean Sea, and stopping at mythical islands like Mykonos, Crete, and Santorini. Along the way, you’ll soak up sun, breezes, and timeless vistas. Let’s raise a glass of ouzo to finding your kefi on this odyssey through spectacular Greece and the Greek Islands. 4.5/5 stars on Tripadvisor!
Extend Your Trip! Enjoy our Spectacular Greece with Island Cruise & Crete tour which includes three nights in Crete!
Did you know you can make this tour private? Find out about pricing and options
for groups of 15 or more travelers.
Itinerary at
a Glance
Tour Itinerary:
- 1 night in Athens
- 4-night Greek Island Cruise (including Mykonos, Crete, Santorini and more)
- 1 night in Delphi
- 1 night in Olympia
- 2 nights in Athens
Tour Highlights
- 4-night Greek Island Cruise
- Mykonos
- Ephesus
- House of Virgin Mary (Ephesus)
- Patmos
- Rhodes
- Crete
- Santorini
- Mycenae
- Olympia
- Parthenon (Athens)
- Acropolis (Athens)
Your Tour Includes
- Optional round-trip airfare from the New York area (varies by departure) including taxes, fees & fuel surcharges
- Intra-Greece ground transportation and transfers by air-conditioned motorcoach
- Accommodation at first-class and deluxe hotels
- 4-night Celestyal Cruise (includes unlimited non-alcoholic and alcoholic drinks on board*, gratuities for crew and port charges)
- 21 meals: 9 full American breakfasts, 4 lunches, and 8 dinners
- Comprehensive sightseeing tours in Athens, Olympia and Delphi
- Two included shore excursions and optional shore excursions available to purchase on board the cruise
- English-speaking guides (cruise escort and guide for land portion)
- Professional guides for included sightseeing tours
Max Group Size: 30 travelers
Activity Level: Advanced
Expect most included touring to require walking and standing periods of up to 4 hours at a time (up to 2 times per day). Included touring may feature hikes, stairs, and/or climbs which may be on hilly and/or uneven terrain at potentially high altitudes. Learn More
Pacing Level: Fast
Expect full-day tours most days with some limited free time at specific sites, for meals, and/or in the evenings. You can expect early mornings and/or long travel days by bus, and you may expect to stay in most accommodations for 1-3 nights. Learn More
No Additional Entry Requirements for U.S. Passport Holders
A valid passport is required for international tours. Currently, there are no additional entry requirements for U.S. passport holders, but this can change at any time. Before travel, both U.S. and non-U.S. passport holders should visit our Passports & Visas page to reconfirm entry requirements.
Most sites on the shore excursions and sightseeing include walking over uneven terrains and steps. It might not be best for those with walking difficulties. During the cruise, there are early wake-up calls as the touring starts as soon as the ship arrives at the port.
For more detailed information about this tour and destination, visit
our Before You Depart section.
Passengers who purchase flights will depart 1 day before the tour starts and return on the same day as the tour ends.
For flight details, see Before You Depart.
Arrive today in Athens, the capital of Greece, and continue to our conveniently located hotel. After some time at leisure, we’ll come together for a welcome dinner.
Accommodations: Electra Palace Hotel or Hotel Divani Palace Acropolis or similar
Meals: Dinner
Sailing is the best way to see the idyllic Greek Islands, and today we’ll embark on four sun-kissed days and starry nights with the award-winning Celestyal Cruises! Refreshed with a sumptuous breakfast, we’ll journey to the port of Piraeus to board our ship and settle into the cruising lifestyle. Our first port of call is Mykonos, where iconic windmills and whitewashed homes harmonize with stylish restaurants and trendy clubs. You’ll have time to stroll through the town, explore shops and winding streets, and watch the local scene from a seaside taverna or café before heading back to the ship.
Accommodations: Celestyal Cruises
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
This morning, we dock in Kusadasi, Türkiye, a short drive from Ephesus. Considered the world’s best-preserved classical city and famous for its Temple of Artemis, Ephesus is one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world. We’ll return in time for lunch on the ship as we sail to scenic Patmos, a significant Christian pilgrimage destination and UNESCO World Heritage Site. See optional tours for information about an excursion to St. John’s Monastery and the Grotto of the Apocalypse. Dinner is on the ship.
Accommodations: Celestyal Cruises
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today’s port of call is beautiful Rhodes, home to a large medieval city that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a fascinating web of Byzantine, Turkish and Latin ruins. We’ll visit picturesque Lindos, where whitewashed houses are clustered beneath a clifftop acropolis dedicated to the goddess Athena. Here we’ll see the powerful fortifications that still stand today, including the Citadel of the Knights, a rare combination of Greek setting and Gothic architecture! We’ll continue sailing later today.
Accommodations: Celestyal Cruises
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Awaken to Crete, an island rich with history and culture. We’ll come ashore in the bustling capital Heraklion, where you can stroll the charming Lion’s Square, sample a bougatsa (local pastry) at a café or join an optional excursion to see the ruins of the Palace of Knossos.
Return to the ship in time for lunch, as we continue sailing to romantic and utterly breathtaking Santorini, set on a volcanic crater immersed in the sea. Santorini is actually a group of islands, and we’ll stop in Thira. You’ll fall in love with the whitewashed houses, narrow streets and outdoor cafes that line the steep cliffs, accessible by foot, cable car or mule. Consider an optional tour of the photogenic Oia Village. Return to the ship for a final night at sea.
Accommodations: Celestyal Cruises
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
We bid farewell to the wonderful crew of our Celestyal ship near Athens and take off for a three-day road trip to the classical cities of mainland Greece. We’ll pass through several ancient towns, including Thebes (home of King Oedipus), on our way to Delphi, set majestically on the slopes of Mt. Parnassus, for a guided excursion. We’ll marvel at the ruins of Sanctuary of Apollo, walk the marble Sacred Way and admire the fourth-century BC theater still in use today, as well as see the glorious “Charioteer of Delphi,” one of the best known and preserved examples of classical bronze statues. This evening, our group enjoys an included dinner. B/D Amalia Hotel (or similar)
Accommodations: Amalia Hotel Delphi or similar
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Today we pass through the beautiful medieval town of Nafpaktos on our way to Olympia, the birthplace of the Olympic Games. We’ll join a local expert to tour the archaeological site and museum at Olympia, where the games were conceived as a tribute to Hercules, son of Zeus. As an enduring link between the ancient games and today’s Olympics, the Olympic flame is still lit here in Olympia. We’ll view the impressive remains of the Gymnasium and the Temples of Hera and Zeus, as well as see the magnificent Hermes of Praxiteles, the most famous statue in the Olympia Museum. Later, our group will gather for an included dinner.
Accommodations: Hotel Europa Ancient Olympia or Olympion Asty Hotel or similar
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
On our way to Athens, we’ll visit the wonderfully preserved 2,300-year-old theater of Epidaurus. Our travels continue to ancient Mycenae, founded by Perseus and built with the help of the mythological Cyclops, or at least that’s what the poets say! We’ll see excavations that reveal the splendors vividly described by Homer. Sites include the Beehive Tombs, Treasury of Atreus, Lion Gate (Europe’s oldest known monument), remains of Agamemnon’s Royal Palace and the impressive fortifications of the Citadel. We’ll check-in at our city-center hotel later today.
Accommodations: Electra Palace Hotel or Hotel Divani Palace Acropolis or similar
Meals: Breakfast
Our guided morning tour takes you to the famed Acropolis, a must-see UNESCO World Heritage site described as the “most striking and complete ancient Greek monumental complex still existing in our times.” We’ll see the stunning Parthenon, dedicated to Athena, the Erechtheum with its graceful Porch of Caryatids, and the ruins of the Temple of Zeus before descending the Acropolis for a panoramic drive past the Royal Palace, government buildings and elegant homes of modern Athens. Enjoy the afternoon at leisure to explore Athens on your own. Our hotel is located within easy walking distance of Plaka, Athen’s lively old town. This evening, enjoy a farewell dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Our tour comes to an end after breakfast today. Travelers who purchased our air-inclusive package will transfer to the airport for our return flight, and will touchdown in the U.S. later today.
Meals: Breakfast
Book by Jun. 2, 2023 to get the best price.
Prices listed as “with flights” below include
round-trip airfare from one or more airports
in the USA.
Travelers may choose to purchase the tour only,
and arrange their own arrival in destination.
Please note this may change your tour start date.
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From
$3,699
$3,199
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Book Tour Only |
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$3,649
$3,149
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Book Tour Only Only 1 spot left |
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$3,799
$3,299
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Book Tour Only Only 1 spot left |
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$3,749
$3,249
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Sold Out Join Waitlist |
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$3,599
$3,099
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Sold Out Join Waitlist |
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$3,649
$3,149
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$3,484
$2,984
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* Departures designated as "Guaranteed" may be canceled or rescheduled only
under Extraordinary Circumstances, for example in situations deemed to be unsafe
or nonviable due to local conditions. See Terms
& Conditions for full details.
Rates are per person based on double occupancy.
Single supplement applies when not sharing a room. Select a
date above to see the rates for that specific departure.
For more information on this tour, please
contact us here
or call us during business hours (Monday-Friday from 9:00 am - 7:00 pm Eastern)
at 1.800.337.7773.
Reservations and Payments
Reservations can be made online or by phone
(1.800.337.7773)
and will be confirmed upon receipt of your non-refundable,
non-transferable deposit, which must be received at the
time of reservation.
Deposits are $300 per person.
Full payment is due 90 days prior to departure.
Space and prices subject to availability.
Please see the
smarTours Terms and Conditions for complete
booking information.
Optional Tours
Customize your trip with these optional tours.
Enhance your trip with our recommended optional tours.
Indicated optional tours are available to pre-book
when you reserve your trip and can be added to your
reservation up to final payment. This is the best option
to guarantee your spot on your preferred optional tour!
Optional tours require a minimum number of participants.
Optional tours are non-refundable unless they do not operate.
Some optional tours can be purchased in-destination and
may cost extra. The payment methods and currency
information to purchase tours in-destination will be
provided on final documentation.
Tour the fortified Orthodox Monastery of St. John, which holds a beautiful chapel with 12th-century frescos. Halfway up the path to the monastery is the sacred grotto (cave), believed to be where St. John received his visions from Christ recorded in the Book of Revelation.
AVAILABLE TO PRE-BOOK!
Heraklion is the birthplace of the Minoan civilization, and this optional tour takes you to the colossal palace of Knossos. Its maze of 1,500 rooms is linked to King Minos and mythic characters such as the Minotaur and Labyrinth.
AVAILABLE TO PRE-BOOK!
On this optional tour, we'll see one of the greatest spectacles—Oia village perched on the rim of a caldera, the remains of a volcanic eruption. First, we'll head to Megalohori, one of the most authentic and unspoiled villages on the island. Megalohori has retained its distinctive architecture, character, and charm. We'll continue eastward through a number of small, traditional communities like Firostefani and Imerovigli until we arrive in Oia. Here, we'll have plenty of time to explore, stroll the marble-paved alleys, and visit adorable shops. During our visit, we can admire the traditional buildings carved into the rocks and unusual captain's manors, and the settlement of Ammoudi at the foot of the caldera.
AVAILABLE TO PRE-BOOK!
Featured Accommodations
18- 20, N. Nikodimou Str.,
10557 Athens, Greece
Website
19-25 Parthenonos str. 11742 Athens, Greece
Website
Celestyal Cruises organizes a variety of cruises in the Mediterranean with older and renovated ships offering comfortable and modest accommodations. Celestyal prides itself as being a Greek company made up of local experts, offering travelers wonderful experiences on their shore excursions.
View Cabin Options and Deck Plans
Located at the foot of Mount Parnassus, this 180-room hotel features panoramic views to the sea from room balconies and public areas.
1, Apollonos Street, Delphi, 33054, Greece
Website
1 Drouva Ancient, Archea Olimpia 270 65, Greece
Website
Drouva Hill, PC 27065, Ancient Olympia, Greece
Website
Ann S
Good first experience. Will look at other trips you offer. Would like a nice booklet(s) from you of other tours you offer
David B
We have used Smartours exclusively since 2018. They have a wide selection of excellent tours very reasonably priced. You could not put together one of their tours yourself for less. They are customer friendly and seem very ethical. We recommend them to everyone that asks. We try to go on two of their tours each year.
Nancy K
This tour of islands and land was superb. We were well cared for on both the boat and land tour. Every place we stopped from beginning to end exhibited magnificent scenery and rich ancient history. The food was healthy and beyond delicious in every region on land and every island. All the hotels were 4-star plus and service exceptional. Highly recommend this tour.
Sheilah P
The Spectacular Greece tour for me is like winning The Big Showcase on The Price Is Right! I enjoyed it even better than my tour to Dubai! Spectacular Greece was more than I expected, far more! I got plenty & more for the amount I paid. Hotel & cruise accommodations were awesome including meals. I have recommended it to everyone I meet. I am thankful!
Michelle G
Smartours, Spectacular Greece, is a fantastic value for your hard earned dollars. From day one to the day eight, every aspect of transportation, lodging, cruise, and food was spot on. The sightseeing was a splendid mix of historical, archaeological, and local sites with very informed guides. I loved the pace of the tour and appreciated the variety of activities.
I highly recommend!
Maggie A
The land portion of the tour was excellent. The hotel in Athens was amazing; great location. The view at the terrace restaurant overlooking the Acropolis was enchanting. Marina, land tour director, was excellent. She was very knowledgeable and her delivery brought to life Greek history/sites. The hotel in Olympia was amazing, perched on top of the hill with 360 views and the food was phenomenal. Delphi and Olympia were very enjoyable. The cruise ship portion of the tour can use some rethinking for the early fall season. The ship was dated. The visit to Mykonos, Santorini, and Patmos was extemely short (rushed), by the time we arrived, we only had a few minutes of daylight. Not enough time to get good pictures or to explore. The visit to Crete island was also very rushed. The island of Rhodes was our favorite island; it was like being in fairytale. The morning tour in Lindos with tour guide, Stefanos, was excellent; since we got to spend the whole day in the island of Rhodes, it made the visit memorable and enjoyable.
Terri L
Spectacular Greece was fabulous and a great value for all that SmarTours includes in their package. Land tour director, Marena was wonderful! Knowledgeable, easy to understand, good communicator. She brought the history/civilization, temples/ruins, culture/mythology & statues to life for us. Hotels all exceeded expectations, Athens Electra Palace (3 nights) was walking distance to shops, museums, Parliament Square, Royal gardens, restaurants. Local guides used are all excellent. 80% of country is mountains, many winding roads/hills, great views. Very physical, should be adventurer level. Cruise portion was somewhat disappointing. Ship, Olympia is dated, but clean and it does get you a few hours at many islands. Staff is pleasant, entertainment is good, food ordinary to bland, drink package doesn't include whiskey or bourbon.
Kimberly S
Very wonderful trip
Ernest C
The tour over all was excellent and was a pleasure. This was our fourth tour with Smartours and will do another one in the near future. The tour guides were very knowledgeable and supportive. The problem I had was my luggage was broken and I would like to know how I am going to be compensated.
Cheryl D
The combination of cruise & land gave an amazing full look at so much of Greece. It is a jam-packed trip but you get to see so many different things and places. With their weakened economy and the Euro being equal to our dollar, Greece is now very affordable. The knowledge & quality of both the tour directors and the local guides were above and beyond. It's called Spectacular Greece for all the right reasons - a fabulous destination!
Nadege S
I had a great time
Karla
Great tour that includes so many places, tour guides are knowledgeable and energetic, So much fun, definitely will book with Smartours again.
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