Athens and the Aegean

This itinerary is the starting point for your tour, but it’s not set in stone. If there are days you would like to change, or specific places you’d like to go, we can work with you to create a personalized program that fits the needs of you and your students.

Day 1: Overnight Flight

Depart from the USA.

Day 2: Athens

Arrive in Athens, meet your ACIS Tour Manager and begin to explore this enchanting, ancient city. Perhaps stop for a plate of honey-soaked, cinnamon-spiced loukoumades while you stroll through the winding streets of this cradle of civilization.

Day 3: Cruise

Board your cruise ship in the morning and settle into your outside cabin. After a late-morning sailing from Piraeus, drop anchor in the afternoon on Mykonos, the dazzling white island with a jet-set atmosphere. View windmills, whitewashed houses and the rugged shoreline of coves and grottoes. Spend an enjoyable evening ashore.

Day 4: Cruise

Dock today at the Turkish port and resort town of Kusadasi and travel inland to Ephesus to tour a complete ancient city. Walk down the marble road still grooved by chariot wheels and see the intact façade of the Library of Celsus and great Temple of Serapis, as well as the stadium, theater, baths and more. Sail again in the afternoon and dock at tiny, sparkling white town of Patmos. Visit the sprawling castle-like Monastery of St. John and the Cave of the Apocalypse before returning to the ship.

Day 5: Cruise

Sail to Rhodes and enjoy a full day ashore the island Romans called the Bride of the Sun with your local guide. From the dock, travel first across the island to Lindos to tour the impressive Acropolis that sits high above the town, including its Doric Temple of Athena. Wander past picturesque old captain's mansions as you explore the village before returning to the city of Rhodes. A walking tour of the walled Knights’ Quarter, a UNESCO World Heritage Centre, immerses you in the island’s medieval history as you see highlights such as the Gate d’Amboise and the Palace of the Grand Master of the Knights of Rhodes. You'll have time to soak up more of the island's culture at your own pace before an early evening sailing.

Day 6: Cruise

Dock at Heraklion, the capital of Crete and take a guided tour of the 5,000 year-old Minoan Palace of Knossos. Then continue to stunning Santorini and enjoy a ride on the cable car from the old port up to the white-washed village of Fira perched on the rim of an ancient volcano. Many believe this is part of the fabled lost continent of Atlantis. You'll enjoy time to explore the island's capital at your own pace before returning to the ship.

Day 7: Athens

Arrive back in Piraeus to disembark from your cruise ship and enjoy a guided morning sightseeing tour that reveals the glory of Greece. Ascend the Acropolis for a visit to the Parthenon see the Agora and stroll through the Acropolis Museum, a modern architectural jewel. Then the afternoon is free to take snapshots from atop Mount Lycabettus. Tonight you'll be thoroughly entertained by a Greek cultural evening in a traditional village setting. Taste freshly pressed olive oil, dine on authentic taverna cuisine and feast your eyes and ears on professional dancers moving to the traditional music. An expert also teaches you the steps of traditional Greek dances so that you can join in the fun!

Day 8: Athens

A scenic drive through vineyards and olive groves brings you to Delphi, the center of the universe for ancient Greeks. A local guide shows you the ancient site where ancient Greeks asked for counsel from its fabled oracle. Visit the Temple of Apollo and the Delphi Archaeological Museum, featuring artifacts unearthed during local excavations, before you return to Athens for your final evening abroad.

Day 9: Departure

Depart for the USA.

Note regarding departure date: Saturday departures are required.



Optional Extensions and Extra Nights:

Discover the wonders of the Greek Isles on a two-night extension in Santorini during your tour, including sightseeing and a private caldera cruise. Disembark from your cruise on day six upon arrival in Santorini, enjoy two additional nights here on the main island, and then return to Athens to resume the final two nights of your original itinerary.