Our journey through sun and sea will continue today with a visit to two of the most iconic islands of the Aegean. your first stop will be to the island of Delos. Considered the birthplace of Apollo, the god of knowledge and the arts, this has been a sacred place since ancient times. It is this island that gives meaning to the Cycladic Islands—around “cyclic”, κυκλάς or those that form a circle around it.

After your guided tour of Delos we’ll continue to the whitewashed and windswept island of Mykonos where you’ll stop for lunch and independent explorations before returning to Naxos in time for dinner.  

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Walking: moderate

This morning your journey will show the agricultural and traditional side of Naxian life. As the birthplace of Dionysius, the god of wine, and home to the Temple of Demeter, the goddess of agriculture, Naxos has always been a place of farming and shepherds. It's one of the few self-sufficient Cycladic islands. Today will be dedicated to experiencing those traditions. You’ll spend time hiking with experts in plants and herbology, tour a local farm, and have a cooking lesson and lunch in the home of a local shepherd.

In the late afternoon, we will return to our hotel for a free evening, in time for a quick swim or dinner by the sea.

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Walking: strenuous

Mid-morning you’ll depart for Santorini. Famous for its beauty even in ancient times, the Phoenecians who settled here in the thirteenth century B.C. called the island Kallisti, ‘the most beautiful’. Created by the volcanic craters that gave way to its existence, the Caldera of Santorini is unique in the Aegean.

And after checking into your hotel mid-afternoon, your guide will take you on a brief orientation walk to Oia. This afternoon and evening you’ll be free lounge by the pool, enjoying the view, or stroll through Oia while exploring the local shops.

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Walking: moderate

After breakfast in our hotel, we'll be free this morning to hike the path towards Fira or to grab a light lunch enjoying the classic views of Oia.

We will regroup in the early afternoon and head to the port to embark on a spectacular sailboat cruise from the tip of the island into the caldera. Weather permitting, you’ll have a chance to swim inside the crater of the volcano before returning onboard to have dinner on board while observing the sunset and sea of the Greek mariners.

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Walking: easy

After checking out of your hotel, your local guide will lead you through the archeological site of Akrotiri. Like a Greek Pompeii, this city was destroyed when the volcano erupted in the sixteenth century B.C. and is a window in time to observe the daily lives of bronze-age Greeks

For lunch this afternoon you’ll enjoy a tasting of its world-famous wines paired with a light Greek lunch that create a sommelier’s journey through the ages in one of the world’s most beautiful settings, overlooking the caldera.

After lunch you’ll embark towards the last island on your journey: Crete, the largest and most independent of the islands. Plan to arrive in Heraklion during the late afternoon or early evening, check-into your hotel, and have a brief orientation before dinner on your own.

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Walking: moderate

Your morning will begin with a tour of Heraklion, named after the first Herakles and creator of the Olympic games, you’ll begin to see how bronze age Crete influenced the development of Greece. About mid-way between Greece and Egypt, Crete was a gateway between earlier eastern cultures and the later western ones. This bronze age civilization holds the key to the Greek language and the foundations to many of their myths. 

After your walking tour through town you will visit the Archeological Museum for a glimpse into the daily life of a Minoan three to four thousand years ago. You’ll see some of Europe’s most beautiful frescoes and art that reflects the matrilineal culture with celebrations of dance, bull-jumping, and community feasts. 

After breakfast in your hotel, your guide will lead you through the archeological palace of Knossos. Once the center of Minoan royalty, this palace tells the story of a bronze age civilization with running water, plumbing, and a complex system of trade. It was here, according to legend, that Theseus defeated the minotaur with the help of Ariadne. In this respect, your tour will come full circle as the Greek islands tell the story of the development of Greece. 

You will return to Heraklion after your morning tour for a free afternoon. Take time to chat with local artisans and explore town or enjoy a glass of local wine overlooking the sea before regrouping for tonight’s farewell dinner.

Breakfast is included this day but there are no planned activities. Catch a boat or flight to Athens, or consider spending a few more days discovering the incredible hikes, beaches, food, farms, and local cuisine that Crete offers. Whether you stay or return home your Alithea guide will be available to help with travel plans throughout breakfast.