Tour the Greek Isles: Crete & Santorini

Itinerary at a glance

We meet on Crete in Chania (3 nights), an easy hop from Athens where you first land in Greece. Our island vacation begins with a light walk and a chance to browse the covered market. From Chora Sfakion, we take a boat ride along the coast to Agia Roumeli, where we meet local fishermen and then walk a breathtaking stretch of the Samaria Gorge. Near Arkadi, we walk through flocks of sheep, rolling hills and olive groves to the excavations of ancient Eleftherna. With water bottles filled from a mountain spring, we follow a scenic valley trail past the ruins of ancient watermills to a private tasting of handmade baklava.

Heraklion (1 night) is a beautifully preserved village, studded with Venetian and Ottoman architecture. From here, we make a memorable visit to the Minoan Palace of Knossos. Crossing the sea to Santorini, we travel to Oia (2 nights) and our adventure takes us through ancient streets to explore and shop, visit artisans and craftmakers, or just linger poolside at our hotel. Next day, a morning walk on the slopes of the famous volcano precedes an invitation to a local vineyard for a tour and tasting with views of the sunset over the crater.