Unspoiled Greece: Off the Beaten Path | Yampu Tours

Custom Travel Experiences Since 1998

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Unspoiled Greece: Off the Beaten Path

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PRIVATE TOUR - 10 DAY SAMPLE ITINERARY

FROM £$ 5260

Private Tour Highlights

  • Take a closer look to the cultivation of olive trees and the production of olive oil with a visit to an olive press museum before learning how to use it with a local cooking class.
  • Witness the splendor and timeless beauty of the Parthenon as well as its other monuments and the magnificent panoramic view of Athens.
  • See the Pan-Athenian Stadium, the all-white marble stadium where history was made as the site of the first modern Olympic Games.
  • Hop between the iconic Greek islands and the mainland via speed boat, taking in the gorgeous Aegean views.
  • Discover the beautiful and famous island of Antiparos with a cruise through its turquoise waters.
  • Explore Naxos a Greek island in the South Aegean and the largest of the Cyclades island group.
Interested in this tour?   Let us build you a customized quote based on your budget.

Tour Overview

Greece is one of the world’s most sought out destinations, and for good reason with its delicious gastronomy, idyllic islands, and rich history. To truly capture the essence of the country, one must step out of the typical and into Unspoiled Greece: Off the Beaten Path while still experiencing the country’s key sites.

The tour begins in the Greek Captial, Athens. Visitors will be met by a local Yampu representative and transferred to the evening’s hotel to rest before a day of Greek history. Important sites that should not be missed are the Pan-Athenian Stadium, the temple of Zeus, and of course the Parthenon sitting high above the city atop the Acropolis ruins.

The next day, travelers will board a speed boat, taking to the island of Paros in the Aegean Sea to explore its beautiful natural landscape, verdant mountains and cliff-top villages. Before continuing on to the island of Naxos, visitors will explore Paros’ nearby islands with a full day cruise, making several stops to explore the beautiful landscape and a chance to swim in the stunning turquoise waters.

Once on the island of Naxos, the tour continues through the coastal villages, exploring ancient ruins and touring a local distillery that first made the-today-iconic liqueur “Kitron” and a traditional 19th-century olive press. A visit to Greece is not complete without tasting the local cuisine. While in Naxos, foodies will not only learn about the importance of olive oil in Greek dishes but how to create a Naxian dish from scratch with the help of a local host and teacher to cap off this unique greek experience.

Inclusions
Price includes domestic and regional flights within the itinerary; all hotel accommodations including daily continental or buffet breakfast and daily city tax; all transfers between airports and hotels with assistance and baggage handling; guided tours in English including entrance fees.
Exclusions

International airfare (unless specifically included), airport departure taxes that must be paid on-site, gratuities, meals not mentioned, soft drinks and alcoholic beverages with meals, early / late check-out, room service, visa fees/services, and other personal items or services not mentioned.

Best Time to Travel
JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN
JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Best Good Consult

Package Price: From £$ 5260

Prices shown above are per person. Hotel categories do not adhere strictly to international ratings; Yampu has evaluated the hotels according to destination and availability. Prices include local airfare (where applicable), hotel accommodation including daily breakfast; all transfers with baggage handling, all guided tours in English and all entrance fees.

Please note that prices are subject to change based on availability and seasonality, especially during the holiday season from December 20th through January 5th each year. Please contact a Yampu Travel Specialist for more information on best times to travel.

Trip Type:

All our trips are operated on a private basis unless specified otherwise. This is only a sample itinerary; your Yampu Tour Consultant will personalize this trip for you according to your available dates, interests and type of hotels. This is your trip and we will work on making it perfect!

Tour Itinerary

Day
1

International Flight to Greece

Overnight International Flight to Athens, Greece.

Overnight International Flight to Athens, Greece.

Day
2

Welcome to Athens

Upon arrival to Athens, you will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel.

Athens is the capital of Greece. It was also at the heart of Ancient Greece, a powerful civilization and empire. It had many fine buildings and was named after Athena, the goddess of wisdom and warfare.

Tonight, you will enjoy a delicious dinner at Kuzina located on the pedestrian street of Adrianou (approx. 10-minute walk from your hotel). Kuzina has a wonderful terrace with exceptional views to the enlightened Parthenon and Attalos arcade. Experience a Mediterranean cuisine with a modern touch.
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Day
3

Athens City Tour with Visit to Acropolis & the New Acropolis Museum

Begin your day with a drive past the neo-classical buildings of the Academy, the University, and the National Library, and on to Omonia Square before moving on to Syntagma or "Constitution Square" (the heart of central Athens). Opposite is the Parliament building where the National Guards (Evzones) in their colorful uniform skirts and pompom shoes guard the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

See the Pan-Athenian Stadium, the all-white marble stadium where history was made as the site of the first modern Olympic Games. Nearby, the Temple of Zeus is separated from modern Athens by the tall stone structure Hadrian's Arch. Also view the Pnyx (the meeting place for the Assembly of the ancient city of Athens), the Theseum and the Agora with the reconstructed Stoa of Attalos. Then, on to the Acropolis, at the base of which stand the ancient theatres of Dionysos, and the still used Odeon of Herodes Atticus. Opposite is Philopapos Hill offering a magnificent panoramic view of Athens. The highlight is the visit to the Acropolis.

This comprehensive visit will reveal to you the splendor and timeless beauty of the Parthenon as well as its other monuments including the Propylaea, the Temple of Wingless victory, and the Erectheum.

The tour then ends with a visit to the New Acropolis Museum which holds more than 4,000 ancient works, including some of the best surviving classical sculptures that once adorned the Acropolis. The new facility, 21,000 square meters (226,000 square feet) of glass and concrete, was designed by the New York-based architect Bernard Tschumi. The new Acropolis Museum is one of the largest in Europe and houses the archaeological findings related to the Acropolis hill and the Parthenon.
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Day
4

Speed Boat to Paros

At the appropriate time, you will be met at your hotel and transferred to Piraeus pier to board a speed boat to Paros (approx. 3.5 hours). Arrival to Paros, you will be transferred to your hotel in Naoussa area.

Paros is a Greek island in the Aegean Sea best known for its beaches and traditional villages. Paros Greece is one of the most popular Greek islands! Boasting a beautiful natural landscape and 120 km of coastline, it has endless blonde-sand beaches, verdant mountains and cliff-top villages galore. Being a short ferry ride away from Athens, Paros Greece is easily accessible from Piraeus port and Rafina Port.
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Day
5

Half Day Paros Highlights Tour

Escorted by an English-speaking guide you will discover the island of Paros, starting from Paroikia, capital of the island. Visit of Ekatontapiliani church. Walk in the market street of Parikia until the Kastro (Venetian fort).

Continue to Lefkes ancient capital of the island, located in the verdant and peaceful mountains of Paros. Stop in a traditional Kafenio to taste a Greek coffee and pastry. Then you will leave to Naousa, the cosmopolitan village of the island. At the end of the tour, transfer back to the hotel.

Escorted by an English-speaking guide you will discover the island of Paros, starting from Paroikia, capital of the island. Visit of Ekatontapiliani church. Walk in the market street of Parikia until the Kastro (Venetian fort).

Continue to Lefkes ancient capital of the island, located in the verdant and peaceful mountains of Paros. Stop in a traditional Kafenio to taste a Greek coffee and pastry. Then you will leave to Naousa, the cosmopolitan village of the island. At the end of the tour, transfer back to the hotel.

Day
6

Antiparos Island Cruise Tour

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Discover the beautiful and famous island of Antiparos. Our cruise begins at 10.00am from the port of Pounta.

The cruise offers a unique aspect of the return to the untamed beauty and life in nature. The below itinerary is indicative since the captain will choose the best spots for each cruise according to weather conditions so you can spend unique moments on board around Antiparos island.

• Discover Panteronissi: the turquoise waters will give you the feeling that you are in a huge swimming pool created by nature herself.

• The wild morphology of the southeast cost surrounded by cliffs the cave of Mastihari.

• Several stops for swimming in crystal blue waters.

During the excursion local wine and soft drinks are served and, in the afternoon, you can enjoy a barbecue prepared with love from the captain.

Return to the port of Pounta in the late afternoon and transfer to the hotel.
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Day
7

Speed Boat to Naxos

At the appropriate time, you will be met at your hotel and transferred to Paros pier to board a speed boat to Naxos (approx. 1/2 hours). Arrival to Naxos, you will be transferred to your hotel.

Naxos is a Greek island in the South Aegean, the largest of the Cyclades island group. Its fertile landscape spans mountain villages, ancient ruins and long stretches of beach. The island is famous as a source of emery, a rock rich in corundum, which until modern time was one of the best abrasives available.

At the appropriate time, you will be met at your hotel and transferred to Paros pier to board a speed boat to Naxos (approx. 1/2 hours). Arrival to Naxos, you will be transferred to your hotel.

Naxos is a Greek island in the South Aegean, the largest of the Cyclades island group. Its fertile landscape spans mountain villages, ancient ruins and long stretches of beach. The island is famous as a source of emery, a rock rich in corundum, which until modern time was one of the best abrasives available.

Day
8

Full Day Apollo Island Tour

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Starting from your hotel we head to the first site for the day. In the fertile plains of western Naxos, between reeds and neatly cultivated plots, lies a temple fittingly dedicated to the goddess of agriculture, Demeter. A century older than the Parthenon, this temple has managed to weather two and a half millennia with more than 50% of its original structure preserved carrying invaluable information on ancient architecture.

Moving on we arrive at Halki, a village situated in a fertile plateau, adorned with beautiful neoclassical mansions and home to the second site on our journey; the distillery that first made the-today-iconic liqueur "Kitron", Vallindas Distillery. We get to know everything about the production (tree, fruit distillation methods) and the consumption (taste tasting) of one of the three PDO liqueurs in the country.

The next location we visit is the picturesque mountain village of Apiranthos. The marble-paved alleys, the majestic view, the distinct traditions and the rich culture are only a few of the charms that will make you fall in love with this jewel of a village.

Crossing the mountains of the north-east we end up in Apollonas, the northernmost village of the island. Just a small fishing village today, Apollonas was one of the most important Naxian ports in antiquity as that is where the famed local marble was exported from. The restaurants around the bay are full of delicacies waiting to be tasted. Just a few minutes away, on a hill overlooking Apollonas, in an ancient marble quarry lies the unfinished statue of Kouros (5th-4th century BC), an imposing 11-meter colossus that invokes images of ancient art, worship and trade.

Making our way back south our final stop for the day is in yet another part of the island blessed with fertile soil, Eggares. There, we visit the village's traditional 19th century olive press and gain precious insight into practices and a way of life that now belongs to the past, now long gone.
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Day
9

Naxian Cooking Experience Tour

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Starting from your hotel we first head to the village of Eggares. Lying on a fertile plain traversed by two rivers, Eggares is the island's main supplier of produce and a truly blessed place. Of course, agriculture in Greece is tied to the cultivation of olive trees and the production of olive oil and that is exactly what we are going to take a closer look at through a visit to the village's olive press museum. This traditional olive press dates back to 1884, however some locals will claim it has been around since the beginning of the 19th century. You will get to see the tools that were used at the time and learn about the process of manual olive oil extraction that has been in use for millennia, and now belongs to the past. Having learnt everything about olive oil it is now time to use it!

Situated on the same plain as Eggares is the nearby village of Galini (meaning "serenity") where we will set out on a gastronomic quest with the help of our host and teacher, Mrs Voula (a local woman who is happy to share her cooking knowledge). The first step to making a great dish is picking out the ingredients and what ingredients would be better than the home-grown fruits, vegetables and herbs found in our host's own authentic organic farm. You have the chance to see where organic products grow and have a real taste of cultivation and farming. Having assembled everything, we are going to create a traditional Naxian dish from scratch! Enjoy!
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Day
10

Naxos - Athens - Home

At the appropriate time, you will be met at your hotel and transferred to Naxos airport for your flight to Athens.

At the appropriate time, you will be met at your hotel and transferred to Naxos airport for your flight to Athens.

Athens, Greece

Paros, Greece

Naxos, Greece

Places You'll See

  • Athens

    Serving as the capital of Greece today, the ancient city was once the heart of the ancient Greece Empire and the birthplace of western civilization. Today, the city is still largely dominated by classical Greek landmarks dating as far back as the 5th century BC. This includes the hilltop citadel of Acropolis that hosts ancient buildings and temples such as the Parthenon, devoted to the goddess of wisdom and patron of the city, Athena.  Aside from the fascinating historic landmarks, visitors will also enjoy the local cafes, museums and the nearby beaches of Attica.

  • Paros

    The third most popular island in Greece, after Mykonos and Santororini, Paros’ pristine beaches and charming villages is what draws visitors to its shores. After walking through the traditional towns and enjoying the fine sand beaches, be sure to explore the nearby caves such as Antiparos and take in the beauty of the surrounding monasteries.

  • Naxos

    The agriculturally rich Island of Naxos is the largest in the Cyclades islands. Like the other Greek islands, Naxos hosts numerous pristine beaches perfect for lounging and water sports such as kite surfing, diving, and snorkeling. For the history buffs, the Temple of Demeter and the Apollo Temple ruins provide a glimpse into the island’s ancient past.

Hotel Options

4 Star Properties

Athens : Herodion Hotel

Paros : Contaratos Beach Hotel

Naxos : Aegean Land

5 Star Properties

Athens : Electra Metropolis Athens

Paros : Summer Senses

Naxos : Nissaki Beach Hotel

Testimonials

Tom

Traveled July, 2005

everything went great, without a hitch

We’re back from our trip to Peru and Chile. everything went great, without a hitch. This was certainly a trip that we’ll always remember. Regards,

Traveled To


Gary W.

Traveled June 2018

a great curation of activities

They chose amazing hotels, energetic enthusiastic tour guides, and a great curation of activities in Peru

Traveled To

R

Traveled May, 2014

Everything you arranged was perfect to the last detail

Everything you arranged was perfect to the last detail. The hotels were all nice. My favorite was probably Remota, in Puerto Natales, Chile. Their food was excellent, tour guides and drivers are all professionals. I learned a lot.

Traveled To


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