Rajah Travel Corporation

Intra Tour Air

• Intra Tour Air Athens to Heraklion

Intra Tour Air Tax

• Intra Tour Air Tax Athens to Heraklion

Transfer Airport

• Arrival Transfer Athens Airport to Hotel

• ARR Chargeable Transfer Athens Airport to Hotel

• Departure Transfer Hotel to Chania Airport

Gold Seal Protection

• Gold Seal Protection

Dining Summary

• 6 Dinner (D)
• 14 Breakfast (B)
• 1 Lunch (L)

Choice Highlights

• Thessaloniki: Explore the historical city of Thessaloniki with your Local Expert.
• Thessaloniki: Explore Thessaloniki and its cuisine, perfect for local-food-lovers.

Additional Included Highlights

• Personal radio headsets give you the freedom to wander during visits to famous highlights, without missing any of your Local Expert's fascinating commentary.
• Hotel and restaurant tips are included - you'll never have to worry about how much to give, nor search for foreign currency. We also include all taxes and porterage charges at hotels.
• We carry your bags for you and promptly deliver them to your hotel door.
• From time to time, your Travel Director will delight you with an Insight Flourish, which is a local specialty representing the destination.
• Stay connected with friends and family with our complimentary coach and hotel Wi-Fi (where available).
• If your arrival and/or departure flights are as per the itinerary start and end dates, then transfers are available at scheduled times. If your flights are outside these times, or you have booked additional nights accommodation with Insight Vacations, you may purchase transfers or make your own way from/to the airport.

Authentic Dining

• Athens: Indulge in local specialities with your fellow travellers as you savour dinner in one of the city's historic neighbourhoods.
• Heraklion: Enjoy the famous Cretan hospitality this evening and join your fellow travellers at a local restaurant for a Cretan feast. Food is a social affair for the locals, to be savoured with good company, served in the middle of the table to taste, and share. An array of dishes such as the delectable dakos – a traditional Cretan recipe, with barley rusk, fresh tomato and Cretan cheese “mizithra” and the famous kaltsounia, a pastry dessert served with honey and cinnamon are carefully prepared for you this evening. Complete your Cretan experience this evening perhaps raising a toast with a glass of tsikoudia or raki, the national drink of the Cretans!
• Chania: Toast the culmination of your travels with dinner in true Greek style at a local restaurant.

Insight Choice

• Thessaloniki: Explore the historical city of Thessaloniki with your Local Expert.
• Thessaloniki: Explore Thessaloniki and its cuisine, perfect for local-food-lovers.

Insight Experiences

• Vergina: Visit the UNESCO-protected site of the ancient city of Aigai (modern name Vergina) and its new archaeological museum, see the monumental palace and the royal burial ground, home to over 300 tumuli.
• Nafplion: Meet an expert sommelier at a Nemea winery and learn about the evolution of Greek wine making, dating back to antiquity. After touring the winery, sample some of the delicious and elegant Greek wines, expertly paired with piquant local cheeses and tasty cured meats.
• Heraklion: While in Crete, enjoy your guided visit to the Palace of Minos at Knossos.

Make Travel Matter

Delphi: Meet Anthony and Sophia at their family’s organic beekeeping facility in Arcadia, where three generations have tended bees with care and curiosity. Put on a beekeeper’s suit and step into the hives to witness these remarkable pollinators in action, before enjoying a guided tasting and discovering why Greek honey is prized around the world for its purity and flavour. Your visit directly supports United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 15: Life on Land.

Tasting

Nafplion: Stop at a local olive oil grove to learn about the olive oil making process while tasting extra virgin olive oil, a staple of the Mediterranean diet.

Top Rated Highlights

• Athens: Ascend the Acropolis with a Local Expert to admire the Parthenon, built in 5th century B.C. Steps away you'll see the Temple of Athena Nike, also known as the Temple of the Wingless Victory, and the six stone-carved caryatids that make up the Porch of the Maidens on the Erechtheion.
• Athens: See the Arch of Hadrian, erected in honour of the Roman Emperor and used as a divider between the ancient city and the new Roman district, along with the remaining columns of the Temple of Olympian Zeus.
• Thermopylae: See the Leonidas Monument, dedicated to the brave warrior and his 300 Spartans.
• Metsovo: Visit Metsovo, the authentic traditional village on the picturesque mountainside.
• Ioannina: Cruise to the island of Ioannina, nestled in the tranquil waters of lake Pamvotida. Walk around the old town, see the Ali Pasha and Revolutionary Period Museum, located at the very site where Ali Pasha was killed and decapitated by the sultan's troops in 1822. Marvel at the museum's rich collection of historical artefacts. See the Monastery of Saint Nicholas of Philanthropinoi, an important site on the island, which is home to Greece's third-largest monastic community.
• Nafpaktos: Discover the site of the great naval Battle of Lepanto, where history and scenery converge in the Venetian town of Nafpaktos. Once a strategic military harbour, Nafpaktos Port is now home to elegant private yachts. Admire the serene waterfront, the historic lighthouse, and two statues commemorating Greek national hero Anemogiannis and the Spanish writer Miguel de Cervantes.
• Delphi: With your Local Expert, walk to The Sacred Way once lined with offertory temples. See the reconstructed Athenian Treasury and pass the superb Polygonal Wall to reach the Temple of Apollo, where the people would seek divine wisdom from the mysterious Oracle.
• Nafplio: Join your Travel Director in an orientation of this beautiful seaport town and see why it is named one of Greece's prettiest spots.
• Archaeological Site of Mycenae: Walk through the Lion Gate, where Schliemann uncovered golden treasures and hear tales of Agamemnon.
• Heraklion: Take an internal flight to Crete, your home for the next four nights
• Corinth Canal: Cross the amazing rock-cut channel dividing the Peloponnese from mainland Greece.
• Heraklion: Join your Travel Director in an orientation of the urban capital of the island of Crete - Heraklion, a port city with millennia of history.
• Heraklion: Further your discovery of the Crete island and its past on a visit to the Archaeological Museum of Heraklion with a Local Expert for an insightful background to the history and culture of Crete. You’ll see treasures from the Palace of Knossos, astounded by the incredible details in pieces from thousands of years ago. 
• Rethymno: Take a walking tour past the Venetian buildings as well as Ottoman domes and minarets built by the Turks. View the 16th-century Venetian fortress built on Paleokastro hill overlooking Rethymno town to protect it from Turkish invaders.
• Chania: A fusion of Venetian and Ottoman archaeology, delve into the history of the town of Chania with your Local Expert. Visit the most important monuments of the old town and the Ottoman district of Splantzia.

Well-being

• Enjoy the comfort of Insight's luxurious, air-conditioned, 40-seat coach with double the standard legroom and onboard washroom. Our customized luxury coaches are sanitized before the start of your tour and are maintained to very high standards. Physical distancing measures have been implemented on our customized luxury coaches.
• Hand sanitizer is freely available on board for you to use throughout the day.

• Divani Palace Acropolis, New, Athens, Athens Marriott
• MonAsty, Thessaloniki
• Du Lac, Ioannina
• Amalia Hotel Delphi.
• Ippoliti, Nafplio, 3Sixty, Nafplio, Castellano, Nafplio
• Megaron, Heraklion
• Samaria, Chania

Ancient civilizations dating back to 2700 BC, Greece has lured the most curious of travellers for centuries. Your Insight host meets you at the airport and transfers you to your hotel where you have time to settle in. Begin your time on Greece Undiscovered joining your Travel Director and fellow travellers over a delightful evening of Greek favourites and wine.

Duration: 1 Day

Accommodation: Divani Palace Acropolis, New, Athens, Athens Marriott

Sites so iconic they will leave you spellbound, starting with the Acropolis, one of the most important ancient sites in the Western world. Crowning the top is the Parthenon, visible from almost everywhere in the city. View the Panathenaic Stadium where the first modern Olympic Games were held, Hadrian’s Arch, Temple of Zeus, Parliament building, the tomb of the unknown soldier and the trilogy of Athens. This evening, choose to join an optional dinner experience in lively Psiri.

Duration: 1 Day

Accommodation: Divani Palace Acropolis, New, Athens, Athens Marriott

Embark north from Athens to the mountain pass and battle site of Thermopylae. Learn how at this very spot King Leonidas led his Spartan army, along with fellow Greek soldiers, into battle against the Persians in 480 B.C. See the memorial dedicated to Leonidas and his Spartans as you pay homage. Your next stop is the archaeological park of Ancient Dion, located at the foot of Mount Olympus, the mythical home of the 12 Greek Gods illuminated by your Local Expert. Hear the insightful stories and myths of this fascinating site also known as the city of Zeus. This afternoon’s destination is Thessaloniki, Greece's second largest city. After settling in, enjoy dinner in a local restaurant with northern Greek cuisine.

Duration: 1 Day

Accommodation: MonAsty, Thessaloniki

From ancient archaeological sites to contemporary art exhibitions, the port city of Thessaloniki is yours to discover today with Insight Choice. Explore with a Local Expert, walking the quaint narrow streets of the old town or “Ano Poli” to take in views of the city below. Spot the landmark White Tower, the Rotunda Monument and the beautiful church of Saint Demetrius. Alternatively, indulge your foodie side with your Travel Director, sampling local delicacies along the way. On your walking tour of the city’s markets, taste treats such sesame rings, fragrant cheeses, cured meats and the famous bougatsa - a creamy custard and filo pastry dessert. Conclude your excursion with the stroll along the harbour, enveloped in a sea breeze and views of the White Tower.

Duration: 1 Day

Accommodation: MonAsty, Thessaloniki

Full of curiosities, the UNESCO World Heritage site of Vergina – historically known as Aigai – is a treasure trove of important remains including a monumental palace and burial ground with more than 300 tumuli. Your Local Expert reveals the excavations and the tomb where Alexander the Great’s father Philippos is believed to be buried. Continue your discovery at the Polycentric Museum of Aigai, where you can peruse artefacts of the life, culture and history of the Kingdom of Macedonia. Culinary delights await as you visit the traditional mountain town of Metsovo, famous for its cheese and grilled meats as well as stone architecture. Stroll at your leisure and perhaps sample some of the local fare before arriving at your hotel in the lakeside town of Ioannina for dinner.

Duration: 1 Day

Accommodation: Du Lac, Ioannina

The town of Ioannina will inspire the mind of any curious traveller. Delve into its history as you walk within the castle walls of the old fortified city, the Kastro, punctuated with ancient towers. From striking architecture to natural beauty, admire the stunning Lake Pamvotis before hopping on a local boat to cruise to the Island of Ioannina. This car-free escape invites you to stroll along quiet streets, visit the Ali Pasha Museum, and explore the Monastery of Saint Nicholas of Philanthropinoi. Savour the good life and perhaps treat yourself to freshly made baklava.

Duration: 1 Day

Accommodation: Du Lac, Ioannina

The Winter version of this tour will overnight in Delphi. The site of the Great Sea battle of Lepanto, scenery and history are revealed on your visit to the Venetian town of Nafpaktos. Begin your discovery exploring the sights and insights where the 1571 Battle of Lepanto in the bay of Nafpaktou marked the victory of the Spanish Empire and their European allies against the Ottoman Empire. The Spanish writer Miguel de Cervantes even played a role in the battle and lost his left hand. Nafpaktos Port, once used to defend the city, is now home to gorgeous private yachts. Admire the yachts, an old lighthouse and two statues depicting the Greek national hero Anemogiannis and Cervantes. Continue your travels to Galaxidi en route Delphi, your home for the next two nights on your Greece tour, where you’ll unwind sampling local dishes at a restaurant.

Duration: 1 Day

Accommodation: Amalia Hotel Delphi.

No visit to Greece is complete without a trip to Delphi. Ascend the Sacred Way of Delphi, once lined with offertory temples, with your Local Expert. Pass the Parian marble Treasury of the Athenians and Polygonal Wall, with its interlocking stones still intact after thousands of years. Approach the Temple of Apollo where for 14 centuries the mysterious Oracle of Delphi breathed her ‘words,' rumoured to have predicted events related to the Argonauts expedition and the Trojan War.

Duration: 1 Day

Accommodation: Amalia Hotel Delphi.

With the impressive Rio–Antirio bridge—one of the longest in Europe—guiding your journey, travel into the heart of the Peloponnese. In Nemea, enjoy a light lunch and sample the region’s renowned wines during a guided tasting. Continue to a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience at an organic beekeeping facility, where you’ll meet a local family dedicated to pollinator conservation and sustainable honey production. Arrive in Nafplio, the first capital of modern Greece, where your Travel Director introduces you to the elegant charm of the Old Town. Stroll past neoclassical facades draped in bougainvillea, through lively squares and narrow laneways, before catching sight of the hilltop Palamidi fortress, bathed in golden light as day turns to dusk.

Duration: 1 Day

Accommodation: Ippoliti, Nafplio, 3Sixty, Nafplio, Castellano, Nafplio

Classical Greek culture is revealed on your visit to the ruined city of Mycenae with a Local Expert. Gain insight into these ruins of the two of the greatest cities of the Mycenaean civilisation, which helped shape classical Greek culture and are closely linked to Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey. Walk through the Lion Gate, visit the royal beehive tombs and see the giant Cyclopean stones used to build the city walls. Continue your exploration of the ancient world visiting the Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus, one of the best-preserved amphitheatres in Greece. Built in the 4th century BC, the Sanctuary of Asclepius at Epidaurus was once a sacred healing centre, attracting visitors seeking treatment from resident priests. Today, the theatre is best known for its excellent acoustics due to the steps’ “acoustic traps” and is still in use for live performances. Before returning to Nafplion, stop at a local olive oil grove to learn about the olive oil-making process and enjoy a tasting of extra virgin olive oil, a staple of the Mediterranean diet.

Duration: 1 Day

Accommodation: Ippoliti, Nafplio, 3Sixty, Nafplio, Castellano, Nafplio

Rich in history and natural beauty, Crete lives up to its name, “the island of the gods.” Travel to Athens crossing the mighty engineering feat, the Corinth Canal, for your flight to Crete, your home for the next four nights. In Heraklion, enjoy an orientation walking tour viewing sites such as the ‘Koules’ fortress, Venetian Loggia, Morosini Fountain, Basilica of St Mark, Churcof Agios Titus, the medieval Monastery of St Catherine and the Cathedral of Agios Minas. You’ve surely worked up an appetite and Cretan cuisine is traditionally considered some of the best in Greece. This evening, sample local dishes accompanied by the “fiery” local drink, raki.

Duration: 1 Day

Accommodation: Megaron, Heraklion

Ancient ruins, sea, sand and sun, the island of Crete has lured historians and travellers just like you. Get up close and personal exploring the Minoan Palace of Knossos, the largest of the surviving Minoan palaces. Cited as the birthplace of the first civilisation of Europe - the Minoans - you’ll uncover ancient treasures including the Central Court, Throne Room, Grand Staircase and fresco of the ‘Prince of the Lilies.’ Perhaps imagine the Cretan legend of the Minotaur who lived in the Labyrinth and was slain by Theseus. Further your discovery of Crete's rich history with a visit to the Archaeological Museum of Heraklion, accompanied by a Local Expert. Gain deeper insight into the island’s culture and heritage as you view remarkable artifacts from Knossos, astounded by the intricate details preserved for thousands of years.

Duration: 1 Day

Accommodation: Megaron, Heraklion

One of the best-preserved medieval towns in Greece and one of the most beautiful towns in Crete, Rethymno will enchant even the most curious of travellers. Take a walking tour of the city. Follow a cobbled alleyway lined with bougainvillea to a charming cafe and step through a stone arch to a courtyard dotted with olive trees. View the 16th-century Venetian fortress overlooking the town. While the fort was penetrated on the 22nd day of the Turkish siege, you can still admire the bastions, ramparts and underground munitions vaults. Conclude your visit with a look at the quaint lighthouse before arriving in Chania for the night.

Duration: 1 Day

Accommodation: Samaria, Chania

A fusion of Venetian and Ottoman archaeology, delve into the history of the town of Chania with your Local Expert. Visit the most important monuments of the old town and the Ottoman district of Splantzia. Stroll through bustling Splantzia Square with a bohemian vibe evident in the local cafes and shops and view the Church of Agios Nikolaos in the current Plateia 1821. Then explore the Jewish district, home to the famous Etz Hayyim synagogue, the only surviving and functioning in Crete. Stroll along the beautiful harbour and perhaps stop at the one of the many cafes on the quayside for a well-earned rest. This afternoon, you have the option for a dramatic finish to your tour with a cruise along the Cretan coast (summer departures only). This evening, join your fellow travellers for dinner in a traditional Cretan restaurant.

Duration: 1 Day

Accommodation: Samaria, Chania

Sadly, all good things must come to an end. After breakfast, you'll be transferred to the Chania airport for your onward flight.

Duration: 1 Day