Inspiration for your own tailor-made trip
Nafplio - Athens - Sporades Cruise
100% customisable for you
Your epic summertime adventure to Greece 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 to enjoy some nibbles and refreshments as you await the departure of your four-hour flight to Athens. You’ll have the opportunity to explore this vibrant historic city in a few days’ time, however your first destination isn’t Athens. On arrival, collect your hire car and travel to Nafplio, a charming coastal city a two-hour drive away. Your home for the next two nights is a small hotel located in the heart of the city, near Syntagma Square and the Archaeological Museum. Spend the rest of today settling into your new coastal surroundings. We recommend enjoying a refreshing dip in the ocean of the nearby beach before enjoying an aperitif (the anise-flavoured liqueur, Ouzo, alongside some olives is the go-to) or a meal out in one of the many inviting terraced restaurants on Syntagma Square.
Make sure to fuel up at breakfast this morning as today you’ll be heading out for a hike in the hills of the surrounding Argolis region in the company of an experienced local guide. Taking height makes it possible to enjoy breathtaking views across the Argolic Gulf and surrounding countryside. Along the way you’ll have the opportunity to admire ancient or medieval ruins, enjoy snacks under the shade of olive trees and learn more about the region and local life from your guide. This afternoon is yours to spend at leisure. If you still have some steam left in the tank after a hike, we recommend making the most of your time here to further explore the area. Culture-buffs can stroll through the narrow streets of the centre, admiring the Venetian influence of certain buildings before continuing on to the two fortresses that stand out against the pure blue of the sky: Acronauplia and Palamidi, built at the beginning of the 18th century by French engineers. If you’re keen to stick with the nature theme of the day, you could walk from Arvanitia to Kondili, a beautiful beach that is only accessible on foot. If hiking isn’t to your fancy, we could also arrange for you to spend the day visiting a honey farm and wine estate.
Today you’ll be swapping the quiet coast for the bustling city of Athens. After breakfast this morning, hop back into your hire car and travel two hours back to Athens. On arrival, settle in for two nights in a beautiful hotel at the foot of the Hill of the Muses, just southwest of the Acropolis. The rest of today is yours to spend at leisure. You could spend the afternoon touring the nearby National Archaeological Museum, strolling through the streets of the historic centre or simply kicking back and relaxing in your hotel ready for a day of sightseeing tomorrow. We could arrange for you to watch a performance at the Odeon of Herod Atticus, a beautiful ancient theatre that dates back to 160 AD.
The Acropolis, a fortress and military base during the Neolithic period, is one of the most important and fascinating archaeological sites in all of Greece. You’ll have tickets to the Acropolis waiting for you at the hotel, ready for an immersive day in magical ancient Greece. The citadel is dominated by the Parthenon, a surprisingly well-preserved temple dedicated to the goddess Athena that dates back to 438 BC. Other ancient buildings of immense historic significance include the Erechtheion temple, the Propylaia entrance and the temple of Athena Nike. Other sites worth visiting in the city include the Theatre of Dionysus, the Odeon of Herodes Atticus or the Propylaea.
Your Greek adventure continues today. After a delicious breakfast at your hotel in Athens this morning, you’ll be collected and privately transferred to the airport to catch a short flight to the starting point of your cruise in the Sporades Archipelago. Your home for the next week is a comfortable cabin on a schooner sailing boat. The boat features a lounge and dining area, a spacious deck and a lovely restaurant. 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. You’ll fall into a nice 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. Discovering the archipelago by boat is a great way to get away from the crowds and discover the undiscovered. Swim in tiny coves, stroll through fragrant countryside and anchor up in traditional ports full of charm.
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 snacks and nibbles before boarding a four-hour flight back to the UK. If, however, you’re not quite ready to bid Greece farewell, our team can arrange for you to extend your holiday with a few days in Pelion, a peninsula and mountain 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
