Greek Islands Family Adventure
7 days from Greek Islands to Saronic Gulf
From $ 4199
Duration7 days
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Share seven days of quality family time in a land with charming culture and magnificent historical riches. Home to postcard-perfect coastlines and fascinating archaeological wonders, Greece is the perfect destination for an island-hopping, adventure-packed family vacation. We leave the hurry of our daily lives behind as we hike, walk and sea kayak our way through the breathtaking scenery of this unforgettable country. Beginning in Athens, we climb in ancient footsteps to the ruins of the Acropolis. Speeding off by ferry to the island of Mykonos, we hike by the amazing UNESCO world heritage site of Delos, said to be the birthplace of Apollo and Artemis. On Santorini, world famous for its dramatic crater and connection to the lost city of Atlantis, we kayak, swim and play. Try the life of a Grecian native on for size, making famous local specialties like tzatziki sauce, crafting our own Greek worry bead bracelets and learning about the country’s culture from our excellent, local guides. We return home with a bit of the Grecian love for life with us forever. Kids get an REI day pack — Kids traveling on our Family Adventures will receive an REI day pack for their adventure! Kids age 8-17 will receive the REI Flash 18 Pack (while quantities last, colors may vary). Learn more about REI Family Adventures. Not traveling with kids under age 18? Check out our Greek Island Hopper trip or inquire about a private departure of this itinerary.

This tour is operated by

  • Duration: 7 days
    Service level: Standard
  • Starts in: Greek Islands
    Physical Grading: Light
  • Ends in: Saronic Gulf
    Ages: 18+
Greek Islands Family Adventure - Tour Map

Itinerary

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Day 1: Walking tour of Athen's historic Plaka and dinner at a Greek taverna.

Start place: Greek Islands

Arrive in Athens, Greece by 4:00 p.m. We provide one group transfer from the airport to our hotel near the Plaka. Early this evening we meet in the hotel lobby for a group orientation followed by a short walking tour of the Plaka, the shopping district located in the oldest part of Athens. Our guide will give each child a booklet for keeping souvenirs from their Greek adventure, as well as recording Greek words or phrases they'll practice throughout the trip with their guide. Learning about Greek language, the historic alphabet and culture will be part of every day's schedule. Dinner tonight is at a Greek taverna serving delicious family-style meals, where we can listen to traditional music and get to know our fellow family adventurers. Note: Consider arriving into Athens a day or two early to allow for more time to explore this fascinating city prior to leaving for the islands. All meals included.
Walking: 1+ hour.
Meals: B, L, D
Day 2: Explore the magnificent Acropolis; high-speed ferry to Mykonos Island.
Enjoy a hearty breakfast before heading out to visit the Acropolis and the New Acropolis Museum. Climb the steps to this majestic site with its spectacular views over the city below. At the top we enjoy hearing some of the stories about these glorious monuments which will bring ancient Greece to life. With our guide we will explore some of the key sites such as the Parthenon and Erechtheion. In the museum, we'll get to see the real items that were used in the everyday lives of Athenians. Seeing the museum after our visit of the Acropolis really helps bring meaning to the place where the people of ancient Greece could retreat to when under invasion. After lunch by the port of Rafina, an area that specializes in delicious, fresh seafood, we travel by high-speed catamaran to the island of Mykonos. First stop, the beautiful Tinos Island and then on to Mykonos. This famous island is known for its striking Cycladic capital full of whitewashed houses and blue domed churches, along with its beautiful sandy beaches and famous snow-white windmills. After arriving on Mykonos, we transfer to our hotel with views of the crystal blue sea. Time for a refreshing dip in the pool before meeting up with our guide around 6:30 p.m. and walking to a local restaurant for dinner. All meals included.
Transfers: 1 hour; Catamaran: 2 hours; Walking: 3-4 hours.
Meals: B, L, D
Day 3: Hike at Delos, mythical birthplace of Apollo; swim in the Aegean Sea.
From the old port of Mykonos we take a ferry to the island of Delos, the mythological birthplace of Apollo and Artemis and home to one of the most remarkable archeological excavations in Greece. Our tour of this UNESCO World Heritage site includes the famous Lion Avenue, the ancient theatre, and the temple of Apollo. We will also visit the island's museum to view the excavated statues, mosaics and frescos. We return to Mykonos by boat and then transfer to a nearby beach for lunch and free time to swim in the Aegean. Dinner is on your own tonight. Breakfast and lunch included.
Transfers: 45 minute; Ferry: 40 minutes each way; Walking: 2-3 hours; Swimming/beach time: 2-3 hours.
Meals: B, L
Day 4: Kayak past Santorini's towering cliffs; make tzatziki and other favorites.
For early risers there is the chance to enjoy a refreshing swim in the pool or sea before breakfast! Transfer by catamaran from Mykonos Island to Santorini. Santorini, made famous by Jules Verne and speculation of its ties to the mythical lost city of Atlantis, differs from the other islands due to its unusual geological history. Around 1600 B.C. an eruption submerged the central part of the island, and the thriving civilization was destroyed. A huge underwater crater, called a caldera, was left behind carving the island into its famous crescent shape. Arriving on Santorini in early afternoon, we proceed to our hotel which is just 100 feet from the stunning black sands of Kamari Beach, and close to a marvelous coast line full of restaurants, cafes and all kind of shops. We'll walk with our guide to one of the local seaside tavernas for another delicious Greek lunch. Later in the afternoon we board our sea kayaks to explore the world famous Red and White beaches of Santorini. Our guides give us an introduction to our equipment, a safety briefing and tips on the basics of sea kayaking. Once on the water be ready for stunning rock formations, towering cliffs and tranquil beaches. Keep your eyes open for sea turtles, kestrels and falcons! After our sea kayak tour, we enjoy a Greek barbeque dinner on the beach. Everyone gets involved in the dinner preparation, which will focus on the local products and traditional Greek recipes. We will learn how to make the famous "tzatziki" sauce, Greek salad, and a Greek dessert. All meals included.
Transfers: 1 hour; Catamaran: 2.5 hours; Sea kayaking: 2 hours.
Meals: B, L, D
Day 5: Hike from Imerovigli to Oia and take to the sea to explore the coastline.
We transfer to Imerovigli and begin a stunning hike to Oia. The trail is set high above the sea and follows the edge of the caldera, rewarding us with extraordinary views. There is free time in Oia to sightsee or shop, and lunch is on your own schedule. Later this afternoon we board a private boat at Ammoudi Bay to explore the beauty of the island from the sea. We follow the steep coastline of the caldera past Aermini Bay and the church of Efra Paides, stopping along the way to swim in the crystal clear waters. A warm-water swim at the volcanic hot springs of Palaia Kammeni is followed by a freshly prepared barbeque dinner at one of the sheltered beaches on Nea Kammeni. We continue our cruise as daylight begins to fade to watch the colorful, dramatic sunset. After docking at the Vlyhada marina we return to our hotel. Breakfast and dinner included, lunch on your own.
Transfers: 20 minutes; Hiking: 4.8 miles, 3.5 hours, elev. gain 700'/ loss 1,300'; Boat tour: 5 hours with stops.
Meals: D
Day 6: Hike to Ancient Thira or spend the morning swimming in the warm Aegean.
We enjoy our last morning in the enchanting Cyclades and linger over breakfast and the best yogurt in the world. This morning there is time to swim in the pool or learn to make a "Begleri" or Greek bracelet. Following lunch, there is an optional visit to Ancient Thira with our guide; we'll transfer to the site and explore the ruins before hiking back to our hotel. The intriguing ruins of Ancient Thira are located on a high rocky headland called Mesa Vouno, from which there are spectacular views down to the sea. Mid-afternoon, we transfer to the Santorini airport to catch our flight back to Athens. Please note flight schedules are subject to change, and therefore some optional activities may not be available. Upon arrival, we check into our hotel and then head into the Plaka for a farewell dinner celebrating our wonderful adventure and newfound friends in the beautiful Greek Isles. All meals included.
Transfers: 45 minutes; Optional hike: 1.5 miles, 45 minutes, elev. loss 1,075'; Flight to Athens: 45 minutes.​
Meals: B, L, D
Day 7: Say our farewell to Athens and depart for home.
The trip concludes after breakfast. One group transfer is provided to the airport, or continue your stay to explore more of Greece. Breakfast included.

End place: Saronic Gulf

Meals: B

Inclusions

Included

  • Accommodations at hotels for 6 nights
  • meals as noted in the daily itinerary
  • wine with included dinners
  • one group arrival and one group departure airport transfer
  • transfers on the islands by private bus or taxi
  • half-day sightseeing tour of Athens with entrance fees and a professional guide
  • skilled bilingual trip leader
  • high speed boat and ferry tickets

  • Accommodation

    Hotels, 6 nights

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