Inspiration for your own tailor-made trip
Nafplio - Athens - Sporades Cruise
100% customisable for you
Your epic Greek summertime adventure starts today. With your swimwear, sun cream and summer outfits carefully packed, head to the airport. After whizzing through security, settle into the airport lounge as you await your flight to Athens – if you’re flying from London, the journey time is just under four hours.
You’ll be exploring this vibrant historic city in a few days’ time, so on arrival, collect your hire car and travel to Nafplio, a charming coastal city a two-hour drive away. Your hotel for the next two nights is in the heart of the city, near Syntagma Square and the Archaeological Museum. Spend the rest of today settling into your new coastal surroundings. Enjoy a refreshing dip in the ocean before sipping an aperitif (the anise-flavoured liqueur, ouzo, alongside olives is the go-to) and dining out at one of the square’s inviting terraced restaurants.
Fuel up with breakfast ready for this morning’s guided hike in the hills of the surrounding Argolis region. Enjoy breathtaking views of the Argolic Gulf and rolling countryside, admiring ancient and Medieval ruins along the way. Savour snacks under the shade of olive trees and learn more about the region and local life from your expert guide.
This afternoon is yours to spend at leisure. Culture buffs can stroll through the narrow streets of Nafplio’s centre, admiring the Venetian influence on its buildings before continuing to the early 18th-century fortresses of Acronauplia and Palamidi. If you fancy sticking with the nature theme of the day, walk from Arvanitia to Kondili, a beautiful beach only accessible on foot. We can also arrange for you to spend the day visiting a honey farm and wine estate.
Today, swap the quiet coast for the bustling city of Athens. After breakfast, hop back into your hire car and travel two hours back to the capital. On arrival, settle in for two nights at a beautiful hotel not far from the famed Acropolis.
The rest of the day is yours to play with. Spend the afternoon touring the nearby National Archaeological Museum, stroll through the streets of the historic centre or simply kick back and relax at your hotel ready for a day of sightseeing tomorrow. We can also arrange for you to watch a performance at the Odeon of Herod Atticus, a beautiful ancient theatre dating back to 160 AD.
The Acropolis, a fortress and military base during the Neolithic period, is one of the country’s most important and fascinating archaeological sites. Today, step back in time to ancient Greece with entrance tickets to the incredible site. The citadel is dominated by the Parthenon, a surprisingly well-preserved temple dedicated to the goddess, Athena, dating back to 438 BC. Other ancient buildings of immense historic significance include the Erechtheion temple, the Propylaia entrance and the temple of Athena Nike. Eager for more ancient history? There are plenty of other must-visit sites in the city, including the Theatre of Dionysus, the Odeon of Herodes Atticus and the Propylaea.
After a delicious breakfast at your hotel, you’ll be privately transferred to the airport for a short flight to the starting point of your cruise. Home for the next week is a cosy cabin on a schooner sailing boat in the Sporades Archipelago.
Your week on the water begins by rounding the historic Cape Artemision, where the Battle of Thermopylae took place in 480 BC. You’ll then enter the Sporades in the northwest Aegean Sea, making stops along the way at Skopelos, Alonissos (where you can observe seals, dolphins and sometimes whales), Skiathos and finally Mount Pelion. Slip into an easy routine on board the boat: mornings navigating the seas, a late-morning swim in the ocean, a delicious lunch and an afternoon discovering the port town you’ve pulled into for the day.
Sadly, the time has come to step back onto dry land and embark on the journey home. The boat will dock in the port of Athens where you’ll be met by a private driver and transferred to the airport. After whizzing through security, settle into the airport lounge to enjoy some nibbles before boarding a flight back to the UK, which takes just under four hours if you’re flying to London.
If you’re not quite ready to bid Greece farewell (we don’t blame you), our team can arrange for you to extend your holiday with a few days in Pelion, a mountainous peninsula in the southeast of Thessaly, full of scenic and cultural delights.
Everything in this itinerary is entirely customisable, down to the smallest details. Here are some more suggestions of what could be included
Each of our trips is entirely tailor-made with originality, quality and cultural immersion in mind. Our team of destination specialists will craft itineraries based on your tastes, using their first-hand knowledge and the help of our in-country team of Concierges and guides. All trips are accompanied by a wide range of additional services, including a 24-hour helpline, the Original Travel app, fast-track airport services and much more.
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Our team of destination experts will get to know you and your unique requirements for your holiday
We work with you to build an ultra-personalised holiday itinerary with your choice of accommodation, experiences and activities
All of our holidays include little extras designed to make a big difference to your trip, from fast-tracking you through airport check-in and security to our network of local Concierges
