Ancient Sights & White-Washed Delights

Fly from the UK to Mykonos.

On arrival, take your private transfer to the five-star Mykonos Amnos Hotel for a four-night stay (B&B).

Take your private transfer to the airport for your flight to Athens.

On arrival, take your privatw transfer to the five-star NJV Plaza for a one-night stay (B&B).

Take your private transfer to the port and embark EXPLORA I for your eight-night Greece and Turkey cruise. Depart Athens.

Volos deals a perfect blend of architectural gems, scented archaic landscapes and beach-fringed salty bays. Discover treasures in the mythical home of Jason and the Argonauts before bearing off to Pelion, homeland of the mythical Centaurs. Zig zag through a network of old cobbled donkey tracks linking villages and wander a botanist’s dream of eucalyptus, fruit trees and thyme-scented woodland. Dip in blissfully quiet Pagasitic waters, bring history to life on gorge and bridge crossing Moutzouris and paddle past secluded coves into eerie sea caves and the Secret School. Visit Damouchari for a riot of bougainvillea and silvery olive trees, Tsagarada for the oldest plane tree in Greece and Milies for murals and absurd acoustics. This playground of the gods remains a quiet memory of Greek gone by – the Centaurs have protected it well.

Breeze into a beguiling mix of vintage and modern, awash with a thriving art, culture and history scene. Crowded with museums dedicated to the past plus an extraordinary 15 UNESCO sites – there’s much to learn. Admire ramparts built to last; the impressive Galerius Palace, the beautiful domed multi-serving Rotunda, a bevy of Byzantine churches and the curious 15th century White Tower. Dig deeper into the past to trace pre-historic times at the Archaeological Museum. Rove around Ladadika narrow streets and charming squares that emit a Parisian air, absorb Greek produce in the Market’s holy halls and soak up modern art on the lively waterfront. Raise hairs at Heptapyrgion, take coffee in Aristotelous Square or head out of town to peer at Alexander the Great’s birthplace in Pella and Vergina’s royal tombs. Perfectly poised on the placid Thermaic Gulf, Thessaloniki brings past and present together in remarkable harmony.

Wind into lively alleys once known as the mecca of tobacco. Climb cobbled streets to Kavala’s old town and the Byzantine walled fortress. Wander the scenic walls to the whitewashed lighthouse for a chance to spot Mount Athos. Watch the amphitheatre put on a show at the top of Panagia, then descend into the Imaret complex of domes. Amble the taverna and bar-filled pedestrianised streets around Agios Nikolaos church and visit the atmospheric old hammam and mosaic memorial before routing to the ancient UNESCO city of Philippi. Refresh in waterfalls at the foot of Mount Pangaion, stroll to village watermills, neo-classical mansions, a celebrated winery and stockpile home-made honey. Float to leafy Thasos for coveted snow-white mined marble, archaeological sites and quaint old stone houses in Kastro. Then relax for Turkish coffee with a side of Greek schnapps in this quietly forgotten corner of Greece.

Embark on a European and Asian adventure packed with a wealth of charm and cultural diversity. Roam the ‘blue’ mosque of Sultan Ahmet, the Grand Bazaar, opulent Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia or sink into a serene Turkish Bath experience. Embrace the city’s vine-shaded homely district where ladies shop for butter-soaked baklava and freshly picked olives. Explore further to haggle for gold jewellery, linen and oriental antiques. Dine in the atmospheric old city or take a ferry to Asia for street-served food. Feast over rich platters of meze, moist grilled bluefish and succulent kebabs. Heighten your senses even further in the spice bazaar with enticing aromas and vibrant, colourful displays. After such a sensorial feast, indulge in a restorative raki, whichever continent you’re in. By night parties don’t start until late, but expect to dance till dawn. Join the late crowd spilling into the streets overlooking the Bosphorus. Sway at European rooftop bars, shimmer by ferry over to the Asian suburbs or remain ensconced in old-fashioned folk venues. An eclectic fusion of east and west, this city is conservative at heart with a truly modern soul.

Embark on a European and Asian adventure packed with a wealth of charm and cultural diversity. Roam the ‘blue’ mosque of Sultan Ahmet, the Grand Bazaar, opulent Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia or sink into a serene Turkish Bath experience. Embrace the city’s vine-shaded homely district where ladies shop for butter-soaked baklava and freshly picked olives. Explore further to haggle for gold jewellery, linen and oriental antiques. Dine in the atmospheric old city or take a ferry to Asia for street-served food. Feast over rich platters of meze, moist grilled bluefish and succulent kebabs. Heighten your senses even further in the spice bazaar with enticing aromas and vibrant, colourful displays. After such a sensorial feast, indulge in a restorative raki, whichever continent you’re in. By night parties don’t start until late, but expect to dance till dawn. Join the late crowd spilling into the streets overlooking the Bosphorus. Sway at European rooftop bars, shimmer by ferry over to the Asian suburbs or remain ensconced in old-fashioned folk venues. An eclectic fusion of east and west, this city is conservative at heart with a truly modern soul.

Disembark in Athens and take your private transfer to the airport for your return flight to the UK.