Greece Tours
Historical Greece with Santorini Tour
A 10-day journey through Greece's rich history, cultural heritage, and natural beauty – Athens, the Peloponnese, Meteora, Crete and Santorini.
Tour Overview
Experience the essence of Greece with Our Local Tour's Historical Greece with Santorini Tour. This incredible 10-day journey will take you on an unforgettable adventure through Greece's rich history, cultural heritage, and natural beauty.
Join this authentic 10 day tour in Greece. Explore the best of Greece as we travel to Athens, the Peloponnese, Meteora, Crete and Santorini. We will be travelling on trains and ferries as we delve deep into the Greek culture. Meanwhile, we meet local people and discover traditional ways of living. The tour begins in Athens, the birthplace of Western civilisation. Here you'll be able to explore the iconic Acropolis and its ancient ruins. You'll also witness firsthand the intricate architecture and artistry that the Greeks were famous for. In addition, you'll learn about the history and mythology behind these stunning landmarks.
The highlight of this tour is the beautiful island of Santorini. Here you'll be able to bask in the warm Mediterranean sun and soak up the island's stunning views. In short, with its charming villages, crystal-clear waters, and black sand beaches, Santorini is a true paradise.
Throughout the tour, experienced guides will accompany you and provide detailed information about each location. As a result, you can fully appreciate the history and culture of Greece. So come and join us on this incredible journey through Historical Greece with Santorini Tour. Above all, experience the best that Greece has to offer!
Day By Day
Your Itinerary
DAY 1
Arrival in Athens
Welcome to Greece! Our assistant will meet you in the arrival hall at Athens International Airport Eleftherios Venizelos. The assistant then escorts you to your vehicle for the drive to your centrally located Athens hotel. Enjoy a cooling beverage and a tour orientation with the assistant. Later, this evening, you will head to a local Acropolis-view restaurant. This is the first dinner of this exploratory tour of Greece!
Overnight in Acropolian Spirit 4*, Athens · Meals included: Dinner
DAY 2
Explore Athens
Enjoy your breakfast at the hotel and then meet your private English-speaking guide in the hotel reception. Today we are taking a walking tour to the Acropolis and the Parthenon. After that, we visit the Acropolis Museum. Your tour continues through Plaka, an area beneath the Acropolis with a village-like feel. Then comes Anafiotika, a neighbourhood famous for its small white and blue houses. They seem to hang from the Acropolis rock. You also see Socrates' Jail. Finally, we finish the day at a traditional Greek tavern with live music. Afterwards, the rest of the afternoon is free for you to continue to explore or to rest and relax.
Overnight in Acropolian Spirit 4*, Athens · Meals included: Breakfast
DAY 3
Discover the Peloponnese
The bus will meet us outside the hotel this morning for the journey to the Peloponnese. The region is known for its world-famous olives, wide beaches and passionate locals. It is also scattered with Venetian fortresses, Mycenaean palaces and Byzantine cities. Our road trip takes us through the famous Corinth canal and along the coast. Then we reach the small village of Diakopto. Here we will travel on the historic Diakopto-Kalavryta rack railway through the Vouraikos Gorge. This once-in-a-lifetime experience takes about 1½ hours. After that, there is a short walking tour of Kalavryta village before lunch at the famous Steakhouse of Varvitsiotis. Finally, we return to Athens in the late afternoon, where your time is free.
Overnight in Acropolian Spirit 4*, Athens · Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
DAY 4
Greek Rail Journey to Meteora
We head to the main train station of Athens for the roughly 4-hour rail trip to Kalambaka. Your driver and assistant will be waiting there. Enjoy a tour around the Meteora rocks and a guided tour of one of the monasteries. The Meteora is a rock formation with six monasteries built on immense natural pillars. In fact, it contains one of the largest and most precipitously built complexes of Eastern Orthodox monasteries. It is second in importance only to Mount Athos. Our tour then continues to a nearby winery, where we meet the owners and wander their unique stone-built wine cellar. After that, there is a tasting and lunch at the winery or a local tavern. Finally, we take the train journey back to Athens.
Overnight in Acropolian Spirit 4*, Athens · Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
DAY 5
Athens to Crete on the ferry
Your day is free to do some final exploring in Athens. You will need to check out of the hotel by midday, but you can leave your luggage securely. Later this afternoon, your driver and assistant will meet you and transfer you to the port. There you board the overnight ferry to Crete. It's a 12-hour trip. On a warm clear night, sat on the top deck under the stars, you may never want it to end.
Overnight in Overnight ferry with a cabin · Meals included: Breakfast
DAY 6
Welcome to Crete
The ferry arrives in Crete at around 6am. We will then transfer to the hotel to check in and have breakfast. After some time to relax, we will meet our driver to start a tour of Heraklion and Knossos Palace. Knossos was the capital of King Minos and centre of Minoan civilisation, located 5km from Heraklion town. It is also the largest Bronze Age archaeological site on Crete and sometimes called Europe's oldest city. Then visit the archaeological museum and walk around the city. Here you see Venetian buildings and castle, the impressive Cathedral, the fountains and the open street market.
Overnight in Capsis Astoria 4*, Crete · Meals included: Breakfast
DAY 7
Discover the Cretan Way of Living
Have breakfast at the hotel before we meet our driver and assistant. We then embark on a drive north-west to the region of Rethymno. Our tour today takes in all the best of Cretan nature and culture, because this is authentic Crete. During the day you will discover the local way of living. For example, you encounter a shepherd's house and traditional tirokeli (Greek farm) and learn about farming traditions. Inside the shepherd's house, you also experience Cretan hospitality with local products and, of course, raki. Finally, we will have lunch at the local in-farm restaurant before transferring back to the hotel.
Overnight in Capsis Astoria 4*, Crete · Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
DAY 8
Santorini
An early start as we catch the speedboat to cross over to the dream island of Santorini. The boat trip takes about two hours, and on arrival our local expert will meet us. As this is a 'real' tour of Greece, we don't do the obvious tourism sights to begin with. Instead, our first stop is a visit to a local tomato factory and museum. After that comes a local wine museum, with a tour and tasting over lunch. Here we learn about the ground fertility that gives wine from Santorini its unique taste. Finally, in the afternoon, we arrive at our hotel.
Overnight in Santorini Palace 4*, Santorini · Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
DAY 9
A Free day to explore Santorini
Today is free to relax or explore as you wish. Then, just before sunset, we will drive to a local area for a unique picnic with stunning views. This experience will leave you with unforgettable memories of Santorini.
Overnight in Santorini Palace 4*, Santorini · Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and a picnic
DAY 10
The end of our Greek Tour
At a suitable time, we will check out of the hotel. We then transfer to the airport to meet your international flight.
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Know Before You Go
Included & Excluded
What’s Included
Arrival and departure transfers
Transportation as described with A/C and driver
All accommodation as shown or of a similar quality
Daily breakfast, plus lunch and dinner as shown in the itinerary
Services of a local expert English speaking guide
Private walking guided tour in Athens
Private guided tours to Kalambaka and Meteora monastery
Wine tasting at a local winery in Kalambaka
Ferry tickets on a double/twin inside cabin from Piraeus to Heraklion
Ferry tickets economy class on speedboat Heraklion to Santorini
Train tickets economy class from Athens to Kalambaka return
Train tickets from Diakofto to Kalavryta one way on the rack railway
Tour to tomato factory and winery in Santorini with English speaking assistant
Winery tour and wine tasting of a Santorinian winery
What’s Not Included
International travel to the start and end point – contact us for information and flight options
Any airport taxes
Travel insurance
Any visa requirements
Drinks
Items of a personal nature
Tips for drivers and guides
Tour Map
Book With Confidence
Price & Availability
Available as a private tour – contact us for further details.
From £2,845 per person
Based on two people travelling and sharing a room.
Good to Know
Travel Information
Safety, Passport, Visa and Health Information
We strongly recommend that you check your government's travel advisory for up-to-date information and advice about your destination. For example, it covers safety and security, entry requirements, health, local laws and customs. For UK citizens, check the latest Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office advice.
You must follow the Schengen area passport requirements when travelling to Greece or another EU country (except Ireland). The same applies to Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Andorra, Monaco, San Marino or Vatican City. Your passport must be issued less than 10 years before the date you enter the country. It must also be valid for at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave. Therefore, check your passport meets these requirements before you travel. If it was issued before 1 October 2018, extra months may have been added to its expiry date.
Visas and Length of Stay
You can travel to Schengen area countries for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa. Make sure your whole visit to Greece and any other Schengen countries stays within the 90-day limit. In other words, visits within the previous 180 days count towards it. To stay longer, or to work or study, you will need to meet the Greek government's entry requirements. Therefore, check with the Greek Embassy what type of visa or work permit you may need.
Check your passport is stamped when you enter or exit the Schengen area through Greece. This matters because border guards use passport stamps to check compliance with the 90-day visa-free limit. Consequently, if relevant stamps are missing, they will presume you've overstayed. You may also need to show a return or onward ticket and evidence of enough money for your stay.
Travelling with Medicines
According to Greek law, a visitor can bring up to 5 different prescribed medicines for personal use. However, there is a maximum of 2 boxes of each. Greece also considers some prescribed and over-the-counter UK medicines, including those containing codeine, to be controlled substances. Therefore, these require a doctor's prescription detailing your details, the medicine, and the condition treated. For more information on controlled medicines, contact the Greek National Organisation of Medicines. Call them on 0030 213 2040 285/307/225, Monday to Friday, 12pm-3pm Greece time.
What to Bring
Lightweight clothing which can be layered is advisable. Also bring a warmer jumper for cooler evenings and a light rain coat. There is a laundry available in most hotels. Lightweight comfortable shoes/trainers and sandals are fine day to day. However, we recommend waterproof footwear.
Please allow yourself one main piece of luggage and a day-sack. You're expected to carry your own baggage, so don't overload yourself. For example, a soft wheely bag may be easier to manage than a suitcase. We also recommend a sunhat, sunscreen, a torch, insect repellent and a water bottle. In addition, we suggest a solar charger for your phone and other electronics.
While You're There
Greece is a member of the European Union and uses the Euro. Banks clearly display currency exchange rates. They are typically open 8am-2.30pm Monday to Thursday and 8am-1.30pm on Fridays, but closed on public holidays. Electric power is 230V/50Hz with type F plugs. As a consumer, Greek legislation also protects you throughout your transactions. In addition, you can reach the Tourist Police on 1571 (24/7).
Greece has a Mediterranean climate with long sunshine, mild temperatures and limited rainfall. However, this varies with the country's geography. Summers are dry and hot, although seasonal "etesian" winds cool them. Meanwhile, winters are mild in the plains, but snow usually covers the mountains. Greece is on Eastern European Time (UTC+2, or UTC+3 in summer). Internet access is unrestricted and widely available in business centres, hotels and internet cafés.
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