Current as of: April 16, 2019 - 14:21 Valid for departures: From January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2020

Walking on the Greek Islands Trip Notes

 Ways to Travel: Guided Group 8 Days Flight Inclusive Trip Code:  Destinations: Greece 8 Days Land only Leisurely  Programmes: Walking & Trekking TEJ Min age: 16

Trip Overview

The Greek islands have much more to offer than most would think: archaeological treasures, history, culture, dramatic landscapes overlooking an azure coloured sea and, of course, delicious food. Our week starts on the beautiful island of Naxos, before heading to Santorini and Paros. Exploring the irresistible island of Santorini on foot will certainly be the highlight of our week. Hopping from one wonderful island to the other, we enjoy a relaxed week of gentle walks through picturesque villages, lush valleys and sandy beaches.

At a Glance

 7 nights in 3-star hotels with en suite rooms  3 full days and 2 half days walking on 3 islands  Travel by public transport, boat/ferry and coach  Low altitude throughout

Trip Highlights

 Discover the three islands of Naxos, Santorini and Paros  Gentle walks amid idyllic scenery and remote villages  Enjoy delicious local Greek cuisine

Is This Trip for You? Grade: 1 (Leisurely)

This trip offers the chance to discover three wonderful islands and enjoy some gentle walks. Routes have been chosen to showcase the best of the natural and historical sites on each island. Terrain will include footpaths and mountain terrain, which can be rocky and loose in places with some sloped ascents and descents (walking poles can be useful). There are 3 day walks in our itinerary and 2 half days exploring on foot. Walking time is between 2 and 5 hours including lunch breaks, and an average level of fitness is required. All walks are optional.

Following a review of all our trips we have categorised this trip as generally not suitable for persons of reduced mobility. However if you are a regular traveller on such trips, please contact customer services to discuss the trip and your personal condition.

Adult min age: 16 Min group size: 4 Max group size: 16

Itinerary

Land Only Itinerary

Day 1 Start Athens; to Rafina and overnight The group usually arrives into Athens in the early evening and will be met and transferred to the start hotel in Rafina. Land Only clients should aim to arrive at the hotel this afternoon. In the evening our guide will hold a short meeting to discuss the plan for the following day, to give advice on the local area and to answer any questions.

Accommodation: Avra Hotel or similar Standard Hotel Day 2 Morning ferry to Naxos; afternoon explore the town and visit the Temple of Apollo. In the early morning, we catch the ferry to Naxos. The ferry will leave the port at 7.25am and takes about 5.5 hours. On board the ferry there is a selection of restaurants and cafes which will serve food and drinks throughout the journey. After checking in at our hotel, we will take a walk to explore the main town, Hora, a Venetian Castello town. The market area is a delight to wander through, with its craft shops, chapels and quaint restaurants. On the islet of Palatia stands the impressive Portara, ancient marble gateway, the entrance to the remains of the temple of Apollo.

Walk: Distance 2km Ascent 50m Descent 50m Time: 3 hours

Accommodation: Hotel Aeolis or similar Standard Hotel

Meals included: Breakfast

Distance covered: 2 km / 1 miles

Day 3 Walk through the Tragea Valley in the heart of the island, from Halki to Melanes, visiting the ancient statue of Kouros. Today we trek the lush valley of Tragea, famous for its ancient olive and citrus groves. It is a great opportunity to discover the most authentic part of Naxos, where picturesque villages and churches punctuate our walk. We will wander along the ancient path in the middle of the Naxian marble quarries until we reach Kouros, the gigantic statue from the 5th century B.C. which was damaged during transportation and then abandoned ever since, lying under trees in the Melanes Valley.

Walk: Distance 8km Ascent 200m Descent 200m Time: 5 hours

Accommodation: Hotel Aeolis or similar Standard Hotel

Meals included: Breakfast

Distance covered: 8 km / 4 miles

Day 4 Afternoon ferry to Santorini; afternoon explore Fira. Today there is a free morning to explore Naxos. In the early afternoon, we take the ferry to Santorini (approximately 2.5 hrs). Santorini (locally known as Thira) is one of the most famous islands in the world. Known mainly for its beautiful beaches, it is a remnant of a volcanic cone whose top was blown off. A huge eruption (estimated 1650 BC) gave it its crescent shape and many speculate that it was the location of the legendary lost Atlantis. This beautiful island has a lot to offer to walkers, including magnificent views of the Mediterranean. In the late afternoon, we will have a walk around the town of Fira to enjoy the stunning views of the caldera.

Walk: Distance 2 km Ascent 100m Descent 100m Time: 2 hours

Accommodation: Hotel Sunrise or similar Standard Hotel

Meals included: Breakfast

Distance covered: 2 km / 1 miles Day 5 Walk along the caldera from Fira to Oia. The Six mile "Cliff Trail" is a spectacular walk 400 m high above the Volcanic Caldera, a photographer's delight and not too challenging. Views out over the Aegean as far as the eye can see are virtually ever present as we wind gently up and down to the pretty village of Oia, home to many artists, galleries, boutiques and cafes. There is time to explore, relax and soak up the culture before we transfer back to Fira.

Walk: Distance 10km Ascent 300m Descent 300m Max Time: 5 hours

Accommodation: Hotel Sunrise or similar Standard Hotel

Meals included: Breakfast

Distance covered: 10 km / 6 miles

Day 6 Free time in Santorini. Afternoon ferry to Paros This morning have free time in Santorini. Optional extras include a visit by bus to the buried city of Acrotiri, time at the famous black beaches of Kamari and/or a visit to the prehistoric museum of Thero in town. Leaving Santorini in the afternoon, we board the ferry to Paros, the journey is approximately 3 hours.

Accommodation: Hotel Pandrossos or similar

Standard Hotel

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 7 Walk the ancient paths in the heart of Paros, from Lefkes to Prodromos and the coastal villages of Marpissa and Pisso Livadhi. In the morning we visit the cathedral of Paros, built in the 4th century A.D., a masterpiece of Byzantine architecture and a relic of early Christianity. We take a bus to reach the heart of the island and the village of Lefkes, where we join the Old Byzantine path that runs all the way to the east coast of Paros. The route is believed to be about 1000 years old and used to traverse the entire island. Today’s route will pass through beautiful Cycladic villages as well as mediaeval villages. In the afternoon we take a bus back to Parikia.

Walk: Distance 7km Ascent 100m Descent 350m Time: 4 hours

Accommodation: Hotel Pandrossos or similar Standard Hotel

Meals included: Breakfast

Distance covered: 9 km / 5 miles Day 8 Ferry transfer to Piraeus; end Athens. We take the ferry back to Piraeus or Rafina (approx.5hrs) and transfer to Athens airport where the trip ends. Those on the group flights will be transferred to the airport for the return flight to London.

Please note: the ferry port can change depending on the season and you might return to Rafina.

Meals included: Breakfast

All ascents, descents and distances listed above have been measured by our local partners or tour leaders. Please note that different GPS measuring devices can give differing results dependent on the barometric pressures at the time. Measurements stated throughout these trips notes are given to help you understand the types of terrain and distances you will encounter.

Accommodation Hotels

7 nights in 3* hotels with en suite rooms. On the islands, we use family-run hotels, thus ensuring that our visit benefits the local communities. The rooms are comfortable, clean and tidy, and have private facilities, however the bathrooms can sometimes be a little small and old fashioned. All of the hotels have a swimming pool (open May to October).

We also have one night in a standard hotel in Rafina.

Single Accommodation is available for a supplement.

Where a single supplement is available, paying for a single only guarantees a room for single use. It does not always mean a twin or double room will be provided for sole occupancy.

Single supplement from $372.00 USD

Food & Transport

Eating & Drinking

All breakfasts included.

Simple buffet style Greek breakfast consists of bread/toast, butter, jam, fresh juice, milk, local yoghurt, eggs and honey, and coffee/tea. For lunch and dinner, we will generally go to different local tavernas and restaurants (at times picnic lunches using locally sourced food will be suggested for lunch instead), where we can sample some typical Greek meze dishes, olives, fresh fish, vegetables and much more.

Transportation We will be using a mixture of public transport, bus, ferry and local taxis. Occasionally the ferry schedules in the Cyclades are changed at the last minute and this can affect your itinerary. Whenever this happens, we will try our best to limit the impact this has and find the most suitable alternative.

Weather & Seasonality

When to go

The Cyclades enjoy a typical Mediterranean weather with mild winters and hot dry summers. Weather Information

The Cyclades enjoy a typical Mediterranean weather with mild winters and hot dry summers.

March and November: cooler daytime temperatures 10-15º night time 5-8º, a chance of some rain.

April, May and October: pleasant daytime temperatures 12-22º night time 5-13º, a chance of some rain.

June and September: daytime temperatures 20-35º, night time 15-20º; very dry.

In July and August the temperature can get hot (normally 35-36º) but there is always a sea breeze.

Weather Charts Athens

Joining Instructions

Traveling land only: 8 days starting and ending in Athens Your trip normally starts at our accommodation in Athens in the afternoon of Day 1 of the itinerary. Details of how to reach the start point are provided in the Final Joining Instructions - sent approximately two weeks before departure.

Full joining instructions including local emergency numbers will be sent to you as part of our Final Joining Instructions. If you do not receive these at least a week before departure, or require them earlier please contact our office or your travel agent.

Transfers Details

Airport transfers are included for those joining the group transfers (at designated times). Please note that transfers are not included for clients arriving at other times, even if Breakaway has booked it.

If you require airport transfers, you may (by prior arrangement only) be able to join the group transfer. Transfers are arranged to coincide with the group timings.

Location start: Athens Location end: Athens

What to Take Essential Equipment 2/3 Seasons jacket for April and May departures Light waterproof jacket (just in case) Sunhat Water bottle Lightweight but sturdy boots with ankle support Rucksack (20-30L capacity) Swimwear Sandals or old trainers for swimming Comfortable shoes or trainers for sightseeing outside of the day walks

Walking poles The temperatures can sometimes be very high during the day in the summer (June to September); comfortable light clothing, sunhats, sunglasses and a high factor sun cream are highly recommended at this time of the year.

At time of writing the standard weight limit for hold baggage on the recommended international carrier for this trip is 20kg. We recommend packing only one piece of checked baggage.

As advice about luggage allowances for both hand and hold luggage is subject to change, we suggest you check the airline's website for the latest information prior to your departure. Practical Information Passport Greece

All nationalities require a full passport that must be valid beyond the intended length of stay. It is your responsibility to have the correct personal documents and to obtain your own visa, if one is necessary, in accordance with the regulations of the country you are to visit. The information offered below is to help you with that process. We are not responsible for the actions of local immigration and customs officials, whether at points of entry or otherwise, and any subsequent effects.

Certain European nationalities may be able to travel within Europe on their national identity card. Check carefully with the relevant authorities if you intend to do this.

Visa

USA and Canadian passport holders do not need a visa to visit Greece.

Visa regulations can change without notice: please check the current regulations in good time to obtain a visa if one is required.

There are no specific health risks on this trip.

Vaccination Greece

There are no specific health risks.

Travel health can often be something people forget about before going away, but a little preparation and knowledge can go a long way to help you stay fit and healthy while abroad.

The above information can change at short notice; as we are not qualified to answer all your questions about travel health we strongly recommend you contact your Medical Professional or a Travel Health Clinic at least 8 weeks prior to departure for up-to-date information. Please note: vaccinations that are routinely recommended to residents of the UK, North America or Australasia are not considered to form part of the travel health advice, and you should ensure these are kept up to date where necessary. Insurance - are you adequately covered?

It is a condition of joining any of our holidays that you must be fully insured against medical and personal accident risks (to include repatriation costs and air ambulance or helicopter rescue services where appropriate). On arrival in destination for your trip, you will be asked to present details to your leader or local representative of your policy.

If you are resident in the USA we recommend Travelex travel insurance policy, this is specifically designed to cover all activities on your trip. If arranging your own policy please ensure that you are covered for all activities that are part of the trip, optional activities that you intend to take part in and/or on high altitude itineraries, that you are covered up to the maximum altitude of the trip. Local Time

Greece's Timezone: Europe/Athens EEST (GMT +03:00)

Electricity

Greece's Electricity: 230 Volts. Plug types C & F; establishments take European, two round pin, plugs.

Money Greece's Currency

The national currency of Greece is the Euro (EUR), with an exchange rate at the time of publication (September 2017) of approximately 1.1 to the GBP, 0.8 to the USD, 0.7 to the CAD, 0.7 to the AUD and 0.6 to the NZD.

ATM Availability

There are some ATM machines that can take Visa/MasterCard or Switch with your normal PIN number, but it is still recommended to travel with some cash. Major credit cards are accepted in most places.

Extra Expenses & Spending Money

We suggest you allow approximately €250-300 for food and drink throughout the week.

Tipping

Our local staff are paid well and fairly for their work, however most of our clients wish to give a tip to their guides and in appreciation of their help and friendliness. This, of course, is in no way compulsory and depends on the service received. If you feel you would like to leave a tip, as a guide we would suggest a total of approximately €20 per person for the leader. You may wish to leave a couple of euros in your room for hotel staff at the end of your stay in each hotel. Important Information

On all guided trips Although our leaders are well trained to deal with different capabilities, if they have any concerns about someone’s ability to safely partake in an activity, or their impact on other people’s enjoyment, we authorize them to take necessary action which, in some circumstances, may involve asking someone to miss that activity.

Although rarely enforced, by booking this trip you agree to section 5 of our Booking Conditions which clearly states that our leaders have the authority to do this. In these circumstances we will ensure anyone sitting out is safely provided for and offered alternative options where possible. Refunds will not be provided for activities missed and customers may be liable for additional costs incurred.

On all trips In booking this trip you should be confident in your ability to participate in all activities described in these Trip Notes. If you have any doubt about your suitability you should call the Breakaway office and ask to speak to one of the experts on this itinerary.

In an emergency, please contact our 24 hour out of hours service on +44 (0) 844 326 7041.

Every time that you travel abroad you should take the time to read the warnings in the essential information in the brochure. Full joining instructions including local emergency numbers, and details of how to reach the start point, will be sent to you approximately 2 to 3 weeks prior to departure. If you do not receive these at least a week before departure, or require them earlier please contact our office or your travel agent.

The information in these Trip Notes is given in good faith. Where differences exist between the Trip Notes and our current brochure or website, the Trip Notes supersede the brochure and website. All holidays can be subject to unexpected changes; in order to enjoy them you should be prepared to be flexible where necessary. Occasionally, as stated in our brochure, it may not be possible to follow the itinerary as planned. This may be for a variety of reasons - climatic, political, physical or other. In these circumstances we will make the best possible alternative arrangements that maintain the integrity of the original itinerary.

TRAVEL AWARE –STAY SAFE & HEALTHY ABROAD The U.S. State Department has up-to-date advice on staying safe and healthy abroad. For more on security, local laws, plus passport and visa information, see https://www.state.gov/travelers/ Keep informed of current travel health news by visiting Centers for Disease Control C.D.C at https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel

Advice can change so check regularly for updates.

For all latest travel information about your holiday, please visit our Travel Safety Advice page.

How to Book

Ready to book? Please contact Breakaway Adventures on Tel: 1-800-567-6286;

International Tel: +1-843-856-9771. Version 1 https://www.breakaway-adventures.com