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Home , Epidaurus, Peloponnese, Santorini, Thira (regional unit)

Exclusive ISU departure – September 5-18, 2021

Ancient with and 14 days from $5,692 total price from New York ($5,195 air & land inclusive plus $497 airline taxes and fees) Unearth the grandeur of the ancient world on this singular journey combining premier archaeological sites with the beauty and lore of the Aegean and her isles. As the ancient world comes alive in and the , Crete and Santorini, we celebrate the glory that was Greece – and still is today.

GREECE Athens Kantia Peloponnese

Santorini

Destination Air Motorcoach High Speed Ferry Crete Entry/Departure

Avg. High (°F) Sep Oct On Day 4, we tour the ruins of , believed by the ancients to be the “navel [center] of the world.” Athens 84 74 Santorini 78 73 Heraklion 80 74 Day 1: Depart U.S. for Athens, Greece Day 5: Athens//Peloponnese This morning we visit the National Archaeological Museum, home Day 2: Athens After our arrival in the Greek , to the world’s most significant collections of Greek there’s time to relax at our hotel. As guests’ arrival artifacts. We then depart by coach to the Peloponnesian Your Small Group Tour Highlights times may vary greatly, we have no group activities Peninsula, Greece’s southernmost separated or meals planned for today. from the mainland by the . En route Athens sightseeing, including and • Excursion to ancient Delphi • Tour of National Archaeological we visit the ruins and museum of , Museum, Athens • Visits to archaeological sites of Corinth, Day 3: Athens On this morning’s tour we visit the one of the country’s largest cities in antiquity that was th , and • Half-day excursion to • city’s most important sites, including the 5 -century demolished by the Romans (146 bce), who then rebuilt Heraklion’s Minoan Palace of and Archaeological Acropolis and Parthenon, and the renowned Acropolis it a century later. Today, only low stone walls, foun- Museum • Private cruise to • Tour and tasting Museum. We also take a walking tour of dations, and several Corinthian remain as at oil farm • Two-night stay on island of Santorini • Street and the Plaka district. Then the afternoon is testimony to the mighty city that once flourished here. Winery tour and tasting • Archaeological site of Akrotiri at leisure for independent exploration; ancient sights, The site boasts a strong connection to : monuments, and museums abound. Tonight we Paul wrote his two letters, First and Second Corin- Day Itinerary Hotel Rating enjoy a welcome dinner at a local restaurant. B,D thians, here; and we see the altar where he preached. 1 Depart U.S. for Athens This afternoon we reach our resort hotel on the Today’s excursion takes us to central Peloponnesian coast and dine there tonight. B,L,D 2-4 Athens Elia Ermou Deluxe Day 4: Delphi Athens Hotel Greece to explore Delphi, one of the most beautiful 5-7 Kantia Kandia’s Castle Sup. First and celebrated ancient sites. Nestled between twin Day 6: Epidaurus/Mycenae/Nafplion Among the (Peloponnese) Resort & Thalasso Class cliffs on a slope of Mount Parnassus and spilling out highlights of this morning’s visit to the vast archaeo- 8-10 Heraklion Aquila Hotel First Class (Crete) onto the Sacred Plain, Delphi is where the logical site and museum of Epidaurus: the 2,300-year- representing the revered god presided over the old theater, a masterpiece of Greek architecture known 11-12 Santorini Palace Hotel First Class (Santorini) ancient world. We see the ruins of the Sanctuary of for its perfect acoustics and still in use today. Long 13 Athens Elia Ermou Deluxe Apollo; walk the marble Sacred Way; and climb to the associated with healing and medicine, Epidaurus com- Athens Hotel 4th-century bce theater still in use today. We also visit prises one of the most complete sanctuaries remaining 14 Depart Athens for U.S. Delphi’s museum that houses the bronze “Charioteer,” from antiquity. This afternoon we tour the imposing Ratings are based on the Hotel & Travel Index, the travel one of antiquity’s greatest statues. After lunch in a local ruins at Mycenae, a UNESCO site that represented industry standard reference. restaurant, we return to Athens late afternoon. B,L the pinnacle of civilization from the 15th to the 12th

6 Visit us at www.isualum.org/travel B – Breakfast; L – Lunch; D – Dinner Tour membership limited to 24 ISU alumni and friends centuries bce. A key influence on the development Much have I travelled of classic Greek culture (and hence Western civiliza- in the realms of gold ...” tion), Mycenae also is linked to ’s epics, Iliad and The . We see the Tomb of , – John Keats with what was the world’s highest and widest dome for more than a thousand years; and the Lion’s Gate, the only known monumental sculpture to Spinalonga, a former Venetian island fortress later in Greece. Then we visit nearby Nafplion, a gem of occupied by the Ottomans then used as a leper a Venetian/Byzantine town with picturesque narrow from 1903 to 1957. From here we travel to the colorful streets, fortifications, and a bounty of waterfront harborside town of , with its galleries, cafés – and where we enjoy an afternoon at leisure. shops, cafés, tavernas, and tiny Lake Voulismeni, where, Tonight we dine together at a local taverna. B,L,D legend has it, the goddess once bathed. Next: a visit to a Cretan olive oil farm to learn about the Day 7: Peloponnese/Hydra This morning we travel history of olive oil production – Greece consumes to the port of Mehoti, where we board a private boat more olive oil than any other country – and to enjoy for the ride to Hydra, the car-free Saronic island where a tour and tasting. B donkeys provide the transportation. After lunch to- gether at a local taverna, we have free time to enjoy Day 11: Crete/Santorini We depart this morning by this picturesque island as we wish. Late afternoon high-speed ferry for Santorini, southernmost of the we return to our resort for an evening at leisure. B,L Cycladic . Once believed to have been the leg- endary lost island of Atlantis, Santorini today attracts Day 8: Pelopon- both and visitors alike with its stupendous nese/Heraklion, setting of cubiform whitewashed houses sitting atop Crete En route the jagged cliffs of a crescent-shaped . Upon to Athens this arrival we visit a local winery for a tour and tasting morning we stop then have free time in the town of Firostefani for to see the Corinth lunch and to explore on our own. B,D Canal, cutting at sea level through Day 12: Santorini Today we tour Santorini’s archaeo- We spend two nights in idyllic Santorini. the narrow Isthmus logical site of Akrotiri, a Bronze Age Minoan location th of Corinth to the that was abandoned in the 17 century bce following a Tour Departs: September 5, 2021 in volcanic eruption – whose ash also preserved the exca- Prices include international airfare and all taxes, surcharges, and fees the Aegean. We vations that we now see. Late this afternoon we head New York $5,692 continue on to the to the town of Oia, known for its iconic whitewashed Athens airport for architecture and stunning views. B,D Boston, Philadelphia $5,892 the 50-minute Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago, flight to Crete, Day 13: Santorini/Athens After a late morning Cincinnati, Cleveland, Detroit, $5,992 arriving mid- flight to Athens, we check in at our hotel then have Miami, Orlando, Tampa, Local village scene afternoon in free time for lunch on our own and an afternoon Washington, DC Heraklion, the at leisure, perhaps to visit the Plaka for last-minute Dallas, Denver, Houston, Cretan capital. After checking in at our hotel, we shopping or to stroll the broad plaza of lively Syn- Los Angeles, Minneapolis, $6,092 enjoy an afternoon at leisure; this evening we take a tagma Square. Tonight we enjoy a farewell dinner , Portland (OR), overlooking the Acropolis at the rooftop restaurant walking tour of the Venetian/Ottoman-influenced San Francisco, Seattle town center prior to dinner at a local restaurant. B,D of our hotel. B,D Cedar Rapids, Des Moines $6,192 Day 9: Heraklion/Knossos This morning we tour Day 14: Depart for U.S. We transfer to Athens’ inter- Land Only (transfers not included) $4,795 the ruins of the palace of Knossos, once the political national airport this morning, where we connect with Please call if your city is not listed. Prices are per person center of and legendary home our return flight home. B based on double occupancy and include airline taxes, of King Minos, the Labyrinth, and the . surcharges, and fees of $497, which are subject to change Considered ’s “oldest city,” Knossos is the until final payment is made. largest Bronze Age archaeological site on Crete. Single travelers please add $1,195. Your $500 deposit is After lunch, we visit one of the greatest museums in fully refundable up to 95 days before departure. All 2021 all of Greece: Heraklion’s Archaeological Museum Your Tour Price Includes tour prices above (excluding airlines taxes, surcharges, housing artifacts from 5,500 years of Cretan his- and fees) are guaranteed. tory, from the period to Roman times. • Round-trip air transportation from listed cities; all flights The museum is especially renowned for its Minoan within itinerary Airline upgrades on round-trip Trans-Atlantic flight: collection, much of which was excavated from the • 12 nights’ accommodations in Deluxe, Superior First Class, Business Class – $3,795 per person; Premium Economy palace of Knossos. Then we return to our hotel, and First Class hotels – $1,495 per person (upgrades are subject to availability where the rest of the day is at leisure, with dinner • 24 meals: 12 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 7 dinners and pricing is subject to change). Upgrade costs are in on our own. B,L • Extensive sightseeing as described, including all entrance fees addition to the costs above. • Services of an Odysseys Unlimited Tour Director Please note: This trip involves considerable walking on Day 10: Heraklion/Spinalonga/Agios Nikolaos • Private motorcoach transportation throughout your trip uneven or cobblestone streets and at sites of ancient After an hour’s drive this morning, we board a pri- • Luggage handling for one bag per person ruins. You should be in good physical condition to vate boat for a cruise through the Bay of Elounda • Gratuities for local guides, dining room servers, airport and enjoy the tour to the fullest. hotel porters, and all drivers

For reservations, call the ISU Alumni Association at (515) 294-9310 or fax (515) 294-9402 7