Treasures of Greece & The Islands
From CAD $9,875
Guarantee
Group Tour
Easy
Rating
(10 reviews)
Experience Overview
Soak up the best of the Greek Isles on this 2-week guided tour that starts in Athens. See the Temple of Olympian Zeus and Arch of Hadrian before ascending to Athens’ most iconic landmark The Acropolis and its towering Parthenon, a temple built for the goddess Athena. Walk through the Lion Gate to the ruinous city of Mycenae, then meet the family of artisans behind a stunning pottery studio, who will show you their unique wares. Sail to Santorini for two sun-drenched days on the idyllic island, where you can unwind at clifftop restaurants or wander its cobblestone streets before settling in to watch one of the best sunsets on Earth. Get happily lost on the maze of walkways in white-washed Mykonos, and sun yourself on one of its dazzling beaches.
Highlights
Dining Summary
- 5 Dinner (D)
- 13 Breakfast (B)
Choice Highlights
- Athens:
- Athens: Stroll through the ancient streets of Plaka, known as the "Neighborhood of the Gods" under the guidance of your Travel Director. Nestled beneath the Acropolis, explore Plaka’s timeless charm, discovering the historical treasures and hidden corners, before enjoying time at leisure along Adrianou, a bustling pedestrian hub, brimming with vibrant shops and traditional cafés.
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 specialties with your fellow travelers as you savor dinner in one of the city's historic neighborhoods.
- Olympia: Taste unique Greek flavors and savor regional specialties over dinner.
Insight Choice
- Athens:
- Athens: Stroll through the ancient streets of Plaka, known as the "Neighborhood of the Gods" under the guidance of your Travel Director. Nestled beneath the Acropolis, explore Plaka’s timeless charm, discovering the historical treasures and hidden corners, before enjoying time at leisure along Adrianou, a bustling pedestrian hub, brimming with vibrant shops and traditional cafés.
Insight Experiences
- Olympia: Join a local chef who will share their passion for local ingredients and high-quality products. Learn how to make tzatziki and other regional dishes during a fun and immersive cooking demonstration.
Make Travel Matter
- Nafplio: Visit the atelier of Maria Gonidou, a celebrated artisan who brings Greece’s weaving heritage to life on an ancient loom. Alongside her daughter Nefeli, Maria shares the age-old techniques behind each handmade textile. Watch a live demonstration and explore a boutique filled with one-of-a-kind pieces. This MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience supports a family-run craft and helps safeguard traditional skills for future generations. Your visit supports United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities.
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 honor 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.
- Kalambaka: Your Travel Director will provide an orientation of this town situated at the base of the extraordinary Meteora rocks.
- Thermopylae: See the Leonidas Monument dedicated to the brave warrior and his 300 Spartans.
- Meteora: With a Local Expert, visit one of the remarkable centuries-old monasteries of Meteora, teetering on towers of rock and arguably the most spectacular place to visit in Greece.
- 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.
- Archaeological Site of Olympia: The stadium of Olympia hosted the ancient Olympic Games and the Heraia, the women's games in honor of Hera. See the Temple of Zeus, athlete's gymnasium and the stone marker where the sprint began.
- Archaeological Site of Mycenae: Walk through the Lion Gate past the royal beehive-tombs where Schliemann uncovered golden treasure, while hearing tales of Agamemnon.
- 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.
- Santorini: Marvel at the beauty of the Aegean Sea as you sail the waters to Santorini.
- Mykonos: Enjoy the ferry ride from Santorini to Mykonos with beautiful views of the surrounding islands.
- Athens: Soak in the last views of paradise as you ride the ferry back to Athens.
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.
Trip Details
Product Code: 19559
Tour Type: Group Tour
Accommodation: Deluxe
Transport: Private
Guide Language: English
Travel Styles:
Family, 55+, Luxury
Tour Operator:
Insight Vacations (CA)
Supplier Code: 168.983A
Starts: Athens, Greece
Finishes: Athens, Greece
Duration: 14 days
Departures: Guaranteed
Physical Rating:
Easy
Includes
Price
Price per person: (Double Occupancy) CAD $9,875 ($705 /day)
Itinerary
An Insight host will meet you at the airport and take you to the hotel, where there is time to settle in and relax. Join your Travel Director and get to know your fellow travelers over a delightful evening of dinner.
Accommodation: Divani Palace Acropolis, New, Athens, Athens Marriott
Meals: Dinner
Begin your journey into ancient Greece today, where the history of this remarkable civilization comes to life. Explore Athens with an Insight Choice experience. Choose to visit the city's renowned ancient sites with a Local Expert, or venture into the dynamic Plaka neighborhood, guided by your Travel Director. Next, venture to Thermopylae, the mountain pass where King Leonidas and his Spartan warriors made their legendary stand against the Persians in 480 B.C. Pay tribute at the memorial honoring their courage before continuing to your hotel in Kalambaka for a delicious dinner crafted from fresh, seasonal ingredients.
Accommodation: Divani Meteora, Kalambaka, Grand Meteora, Kalambaka
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
With your Local Expert, visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Meteora, meaning 'in the air.' The massive pinnacles of smooth rock are ancient, yet could also be the setting for a science fiction tale. Visit one of the monasteries, that adds to the strange and beautiful landscape and enjoy stunning views over the Peneios Valley. The rest of the day is at your leisure. Why not explore with a relaxed walk on the nature trails? Alternatively, you may wish to visit the Natural History Museum.
Accommodation: Divani Meteora, Kalambaka, Grand Meteora, Kalambaka
Meals: Breakfast
Travel south, stopping at the foothills of Mount Parnassus. Ascend the Sacred Way of Delphi with your Local Expert. Pass the Parian marble Treasury of the Athenians and Polygonal Wall, with its interlocking stones still perfectly intact after thousands of years. You'll approach the Temple of Apollo, where for 14 centuries the mysterious Oracle of Delphi breathed her enigmatic ‘words,' rumored to have successfully predicted events related to the Argonauts expedition and the Trojan War. Your travels continue to Olympia, where dinner is served in your hotel.
Accommodation: Amalia Olympia, Arty Grand Hotel, Olympia.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
It's all in the name. Ancient Olympia is the site where the Ancient Olympic Games began in 776 B.C., in dedication to Zeus. See the ruined Temple of Zeus that was built to honor the ruler of the gods. Continue your exploration through time to the athletes gymnasium and the Ancient Stadium of Olympia with its characteristic arch. The start and finish points for the sprint track are still marked by stones and there is time to capture your own memory, with a photo at the starting line. In the evening, join a local chef for an entertaining cooking demonstration, showcasing classic Greek cuisine. Experience authentic Greek flavors, as you savor dishes prepared for your dinner.
Accommodation: Amalia Olympia, Olympion Asty
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Visit the ruined city of Mycenae with a Local Expert. Walk through the Lion Gate, visit the royal beehive-tombs and see the giant Cyclopean stones used to build the city walls. Travel to the elegant town of Nafplio, known for its beautiful architecture, colorful shops and cafes. Join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience as you meet Maria and her daughter to learn about the ancient techniques of hand weaving. Your journey continues, following the shores of the Saronic Gulf to pass the Corinth Canal, dividing the Peloponnesse and mainland Greece, and arriving in Athens. In the evening, enjoy a hearty dinner in true Greek style, complete with wine and good cheer.
Accommodation: Divani Palace Acropolis, New, Athens, Athens Marriott
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
An early departure takes you to the port of Piraeus where your high-speed ferry awaits to whisk you over to the truly beautiful island of Santorini. On arrival, you are transferred to your hotel.
Accommodation: NOŪS Santorini, Orama, Santorini, The Majestic, Santorini
Meals: Breakfast
With two more sun-drenched days on one of the most romantic islands on earth, you won't ever want to leave. Relax in clifftop restaurants, laze on the sun-soaked beaches or observe history unearthed at the site of Akrotiri. In the evening, you'll witness the first of the golden sunsets for which the island is famous.
Accommodation: NOŪS Santorini, Orama, Santorini, The Majestic, Santorini
Meals: Breakfast
Another day to relax and unwind on Santorini’s black, red, and white beaches, or take a caique (traditional Greek fishing boat) to the volcanic islands for a swim in the hot springs. Alternatively, explore the prehistoric site of Akrotiri on an Optional Experience, where a Bronze Age settlement remains remarkably preserved in volcanic ash. The island's delicious cuisine, whitewashed houses that gleam in the bright Aegean sun, narrow cobblestone streets and world-renowned sunsets all combine to make Santorini a truly unique holiday experience.
Accommodation: NOŪS Santorini, Orama, Santorini, The Majestic, Santorini
Meals: Breakfast
Board the high-speed ferry bound for the island of Mykonos, playground of the rich and famous. You are met at the port and transferred to your hotel.
Accommodation: Despotiko, Mykonos, Dorion, Mykonos, Porto Mykonos
Meals: Breakfast
This day is the first of two glorious days at leisure. Explore the town with its winding maze of walkways, white-washed houses, magnificent windmills and uninhibited nightlife. Perhaps watch the sunset at Shirley Valentine Beach or take a short boat ride to Delos?
Accommodation: Despotiko, Mykonos, Dorion, Mykonos, Porto Mykonos
Meals: Breakfast
Another day to explore or relax as you wish. Perhaps swim the endless array of dazzling beaches that surround the island? Or maybe enjoy a cocktail on the waterfront at Little Venice?
Accommodation: Despotiko, Mykonos, Dorion, Mykonos, Porto Mykonos
Meals: Breakfast
In the morning, grab your final glimpse over the lustrous Aegean. You are transferred to the port for your return ferry to Athens.
Accommodation: Divani Palace Acropolis, New, Athens, Athens Marriott
Meals: Breakfast
Bid farewell to Athens. Your journey ends with a transfer to the airport.
Meals: Breakfast
Similar Tours
Tour Operator
Insight Vacations (CA)
Part of The Travel Company (TTC) family of brands, Insight Vacations began operations in 1978 and is based in Cypress, CA. Journeys are featured to destinations, such as the U.S. and Canada, Europe, Latin America, North Africa, Asia, the UK and Ireland. The company offers are a variety of tours under the classifications of Regional Journeys, Country Roads, Discovery Journeys, Easy Pace trips, and Special Interest tours. Insight is the ideal name for the tour operator, as the journeys provided by Insight Vacations allow travelers to gain further insight into whatever destination they wish to explore. For example, Discovery Journeys are the ideal choice for first-time visitors to Europe. Itineraries include Dine-at-Home or Farm-to-Table experiences so travelers can learn more about how locals live and dine. Regional Journeys allow trip-goers to see a specific location in Europe that they have always wanted to see – Poland, Switzerland, Italy, etc. The carefully planned trips enable customers to immerse themselves in one specific region or country and to become acquainted with its culture, traditions, and people. For anyone seeking travel off the beaten track, Insight Vacations offers Country Roads – trips that lead travelers off the well-tread tourist trail to explore hidden gems where visitors can savor the local produce with Farm-to-Table dining. Some trips are offered under the Easy Pace travel style – the ideal trip choice for trip-goers who wish to slow their pace during their vacation. During these tours, vacationers stay at least 3 nights at each destination, giving them some additional time to explore a place and enjoy it. Regardless of the travel style, many of the vacations offered by Insight Vacations begin with Relaxed Starts – giving travelers time to sleep in a little, spend more time at breakfast, or explore an area on their own. The tour company prides itself on providing business class tours that features luxury coaches with 40 seats. While most coach touring operators provide vehicles with 53 seats, Insight Vacations has re-configured its motor coaches to hold up to 40 guests. This gives passengers extra leg room while traveling and offers them more space and privacy.
In Business Since 1978
Reviews
Anonymous - Traveled, May 2025
Service is very good.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 05/18/2025
Terrie - Traveled, April 2025
Lisa our guide did above and beyond when any questions or issues came up. For this type of trip, I would not do without Insight. Wonderful trip with our guide Lisa. The itinerary was good, but many long bus rides-which is necessary to cover mainland Greece and get in as much as we did in 7 full days. Would have loved to have an overnight stay in Nafplio. Enjoyed staying in hotels within walking distance to the towns-made it really easy to just go during free times. The dinner buffets at the hotels were not my favorite but understand why since a couple nights we were getting into the hotels late due to traveling. Kalabaka and Meteora were a highlight for me. The Olive Farm and Cooking night were wonderful. Both the Santorini and Mykonos stays were wonderful. The optional catamaran excursion on Santorini was great.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 05/03/2025
Rhonda - Traveled, October 2024
Our travel director was amazing. He shared so much information about the history and culture, plus added personal stories about himself and his family. He was well organized, kept us all on track, and was great at keeping everyone safe and calm. The hotel accommodations were wonderful and each hotel was unique. The coach bus was comfortable and the drivers were superheroes navigating the traffic, mountains, cliffs, city streets, etc. The length of the trip was just right (14 days). It was nice doing the busier portion of Athens, Kalambaka, Olympia the first week and the slower pace of the islands the second week. I really enjoyed Day 5 Ancient Olympia with a visit to the Olympic museum and stadium followed by a farm-to-table experience at a local olive farm. Several optional experiences that were well worth it include Lively Trikala Town and Dinner (wine and dancing!), Santorini Island Tour with Visit to Akrotiri (the preserved city referred to as Prehistoric Pompei was amazing), and Mykonos Island Tour (swimming in the beautiful blue-flag awarded Aegean Sea was awesome).
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 10/21/2024
Anonymous - Traveled, October 2024
Our Tour Director was excellent, knowledgeable, generous with her time and caring. She made all the difference.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 10/21/2024
Anonymous - Traveled, October 2024
The tour director was fabulous. She exceeded our expectations. The optional experiences were very enjoyable. The land and sea portion of the trip was fantastic.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 10/21/2024
Bruce - Traveled, October 2024
Professional Caring knowledgeable and one of the best Tour Director we have ever had made our trip the most memorable of our lifetime Thank You we Love ?? you and we miss you. ?? Make sure you get as your tour director and you will have the trip of a lifetime guaranteed.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 10/21/2024
Travis - Traveled, September 2024
The experience with insights was outstanding! Our guide when above and beyond to make the experience one we will never forget. She was always two steps ahead, very relatable, and super passionate/ knowledgeable. She made the experience one we would recommend to everyone. Specifically she constantly taught us about the countries history, culture, and economy. She made the stories fun and relatable. She also got to know our family and worked to cater special experiences that aligned with our interests. This was especially the case in the islands. We had a blast on hikes, sunset picnics, great dinners, fun spots for a sweet treat, and time on the water with a chartered fishing boat. All of these experiences were meaningful and unexpected! We cannot say thank you enough to and what she did for our family. The tours and experiences definitely exceeded our expectations. The balance of time between the mainland and the islands was just right. The only three things that would have made the itinerary better would have been a full day in Nafplio, an alternative island other than Mykonos that has more culture and less party scene / craziness, and a better hotel experience in Olympia.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 09/21/2024
Anonymous - Traveled, November 2024
Even giving recommendations on interests of individuals on the tour. Our coach driver managed all situations perfectly. Taxi and shuttle to airport excellent.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/21/2024
Anonymous - Traveled, November 2024
Insight responded to all of our questions and concerns! was also very helpful answering our questions and concerns! We love the Insight buses that have extra leg room! Tour guide was very knowledgeable and informative! Local experts also added a great deal of information as well! The history and beauty of Santorini and Mykonos also added to a pleasant trip!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/21/2024
Robert - Traveled, November 2024
When the ferries for Santorini and Mykonos suddenly went on strike, Insight quickly and seamlessly arranged air transportation for us at no additional cost. The sites were interesting and enjoyable, but too far apart on the mainland, which meant long drives and late arrivals at the destinations. Obviously you cannot make them closer and shortening the drives would result in one night at hotels instead of two. Can't have my cake and eat it too. The tour director is a very good guide and a wonderful human being.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/21/2024
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