2021 & 2022 Globus Guided Tours - Globus® Vacation Packages

Greek Escape plus 2 nights in Crete (KGOX)

9 days from Athens to Athens

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You've seen photos of the ancient Acropolis in Athens, dating back to the 5th century BC—now’s your chance to see it in person on this escorted Greek vacation. You've watched the Olympics on TV—now’s your chance to walk among the ruins in Olympia, where the Olympics began in 776 BC. You've eaten at Greek restaurants—now's your chance to enjoy an authentic Greek cooking demonstration, where you'll learn how to make traditional Greek tzatziki. All this and more awaits you on this Greek Escape.

History comes alive on your guided visits to many of Greece's ancient sites. In addition to the Acropolis and Olympia, you'll also visit the ruins in Mycenae, dating from 1,350 to 1,200 BC and described in Homer’s epic poem, “The Iliad.” Also see the amazingly well-preserved, 2,300-year-old open-air theatre in Epidaurus. In ancient Greece, people journeyed to Delphi to seek the wisdom of the Oracle. Learn about the Oracle, tour the excavations, and visit the Archaeological Museum. To add to your Greek experience, enjoy a sirtaki dance lesson and try a glass of Ouzo. Plus, you'll be accompanied by an expert Tour Director who will bring this country to life by sharing its history, stories, and insider secrets.

Continue your Greek Escape with two fantastic nights in Crete with guided sightseeing in Heraklion as well as the free time to discover on your own or with an optional excursion. From the picturesque fishing villages to ancient historic sights, this Greek Escape has it all!

Special Features Included in this Tour:
• Guided sightseeing in Athens includes an orientation drive to see the main landmarks, plus a visit to the Acropolis
• Photo opportunity at the Corinth Canal
• Guided visit to the excavations and museum in Mycenae
• Guided visit to the open-air auditorium in Epidaurus
• Guided visit to Olympia’s archaeological site
• Tzatziki cooking demonstration
• Visit to the excavations and Archaeological Museum of Delphi
• Sirtaki dance lesson with complimentary glass of ouzo
• Guided walking tour of Heraklion plus a complimentary Kolouri pastry
• Return flight between Athens and Crete

BLACK FRIDAY SPECIAL: Save 20% on select 2026 & 2027 Globus Escapes Europe Tours*
Greek Escape plus 2 nights in Crete map
Escapes by Globus

 Photo Highlights

 Meals

 Meals & Itinerary

8 Breakfasts, 3 Dinners


Notes:

This tour requires walking on uneven terrain, especially at archaeological sites, which may pose a challenge to guests with physical limitations or reliant on mobility devices such as wheelchairs.
Services of the Tour Director end on day 6. Island portion includes services of a local expert.

 Itinerary

Day 1 ARRIVE IN ATHENS, GREECE

Welcome to Athens! At 6 pm, meet your Tour Director and travel companions for a welcome drink.

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Day 2 ATHENS

Marvels & Myths Wake-up in Athens for the start of your Greek Odyssey! Guided sightseeing is composed of an orientation drive to see Athen’s main landmarks, including Syntagma Square, the Temple of Zeus, and the Panathenaic Stadium, plus a visit to the iconic Acropolis. Enjoy free time this afternoon and evening to explore more.

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
HISTORIC SPOT Explore the heart of Ancient Greece, in the historic empire where 5th-century BC landmarks, including the Acropolis, never fail to amaze! See the Panathenaic Stadium, one of the venues of the first modern Olympic Games.


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Breakfast Breakfast

Day 3 ATHENS–CORINTH–MYCENAE–EPIDAURUS–NAUPLIA

Greek History & Heroes Leave Athens and drive to Corinth to take photos of the world’s deepest canal, and one of the most famous, the Corinth Canal. Continue to Mycenae, where according to legend, the city walls were built by Cyclopes! Enjoy a guided tour of the excavations and museum, plus some free time for lunch. Reach Epidaurus for a guided visit to see the 2,300-year-old open-air auditorium. This evening, arrive at the seaside town of Nauplia.
132 mi / 212 km

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
CULTURAL GEM The outdoor auditorium of Epidaurus combines perfect mathematic proportion with excellent acoustics. This fascinating archaeological treasure was used for the healing of patients from all over Greece and was dedicated to Asklepios, the god of healing.


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Breakfast Breakfast
DinnerDinner

Day 4 NAUPLIA–OLYMPIA

Ruins & Recipes Take a scenic drive across the Arkadian Mountains of the Peloponnese peninsula to reach Olympia, dedicated to Zeus, and birthplace of the Olympic Games. Join a guided walking tour of the archaeological site and visit the museum. This evening, Globus Local FavoriteGlobus Local Favorite attend a cooking demonstration to learn how to make traditional Greek tzatziki.
112 mi / 181 km

LOCAL FAVORITE
LOCAL TASTES Dip into the delicious tradition of Greek tzatziki – a mix of yogurt, cucumbers, garlic, salt, olive oil, vinegar, lemon juice, and herbs such as dill, mint, parsley, and thyme. Learn how to make this quintessential recipe loved the world over.


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Breakfast Breakfast
DinnerDinner

Day 5 OLYMPIA–ARACHOVA–DELPHI

Traditional Steps Depart Olympia, drive by the busy seaport of Patras and cross the spectacular Rion-Antirion bridge. Journey along the coast before heading inland to visit the picturesque mountain town of Arachova. Enjoy some free time to browse before continuing to Delphi. This evening, step into the culture when you Globus Local FavoriteGlobus Local Favorite learn how to dance the sirtaki while sipping a glass of ouzo, the traditional Greek spirit closely associated with friendship and laughter.
149mi/239km

LOCAL FAVORITE
CULTURE & TRADITION Dance in the steps of Zorba the Greek to learn the sirtaki. This passionate and dramatic dance goes very well with a glass of ouzo, the anice-infused drink the locals love.


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Breakfast Breakfast
DinnerDinner

Day 6 DELPHI–ATHENS–HERAKLION, CRETE

Mountains & Islands This morning, enjoy a guided walking tour of Delphi’s excavations and Archaeological Museum. Discover more about the location once considered by ancient Greeks to be the center of the world, and where the oracles of Apollo predicted the fate of many a man. Continue to Athens and take a flight to Heraklion, Crete.

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
NATURAL WONDERS The largest island in Greece, Crete captures all the wonder you have imagined a Greek island to be – a brilliant landscape of ancient ruins, lively sidewalks, and stunning beaches.


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Breakfast Breakfast

Day 7 HERAKLION

Cultural capital Start your Cretan discovery with a guided walking tour of its capital city – Heraklion. Learn about its importance dating back to the Minoan civilization and admire views of its impressive landmarks such as the Venetian Walls, St. Minas Cathedral, and the Church of St. Titus. Globus Local FavoriteGlobus Local Favorite Taste a traditional kolouri pastry. The afternoon and evening are at leisure to explore more of the island.

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
SIGHTS & BITES The bustling capital of Crete boasts over 3000 years of history and multicultural influences. While walking along its narrow streets see the most famous historic and cultural sites. Join the locals and taste a Koulouri one of the most popular Greek street foods.


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Breakfast Breakfast

Day 8 HERAKLION–ATHENS, GREECE

Myths & Legends Enjoy a free day to explore more; perhaps visit the Minoan Palace of Knossos, or stroll the charming streets, browse the shops, and try local specialties. Later, take a flight back to Athens.

ENHANCED FREE TIME
EXPLORE MORE of Heraklion, a place of myths and legends; known as the birthplace of Zeus. Marvel at the architecture of the Palace of Knossos in Crete’s city of Heraklion. Here, you’ll envision epic tales of Greek mythology- the Labyrinth, the Minotaur half-man/half-beast, and the legends of Daedalus and Icarus.


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Breakfast Breakfast

Day 9 ATHENS

Safe Travels Until We Meet Again! Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.

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Breakfast Breakfast

 Accommodations

 Optional Excursions

No matter what you’re into: food, wine, history, art, music or anything else, we give you the freedom to personalize your vacation with optional excursions that speak to your interests.

When you book your excursions with us, you can be assured that every optional excursion that we offer coordinates with the free time that you'll have in your destination, so you'll never have conflicts between included and optional activities. Our team of travel experts carefully selects each optional excursion that we offer to ensure that you receive the highest quality at a great value. Our tried-and-true partners have a finger on the pulse of the city in which they operate so they deliver the very best experiences. We offer experiences you cannot create on your own and because you’re booking with us, we coordinate all your transportation and timing needs.

The following optional excursions are examples only for this vacation. These may or may not be offered, and availability is subject to days of operation and seasonality. Please select a departure date to view optional excursions and pricing for a specific date (due to currency fluctuation, pricing shown is subject to change until purchased). Optional excursions are available for purchase on our MyGlobus site 90 days prior to the tour start date.

Price Ranges

$ ($50 CAD and under)
$$ ($51 - $100 CAD)
$$$ ($101 - $150 CAD)
$$$$ (Over $150)


Athens
Crete

Athens

Dinner and Folklore

Dinner and Folklore

Head to Athens for a delectable 4-course dinner featuring Greek specialties and authentic Greek entertainment!

Price Range: $$$

Crete

Palace Treasures of Knossos

Palace Treasures of Knossos

Discover a monumental symbol of Minoan civilization and culture with a visit to the extraordinary Palace of Knossos.

Price Range: $$$$

 Private Touring

Private Touring: Globus European Private Touring enables you to experience all of the attractions, sights and highlights of your selected Globus tour as a private experience - delivered just for you and your traveling party. With Private Touring, you'll have your own dedicated Tour Director, your own private transportation and driver, and your own professional local guides. All with greater flexibility in pace and your experience.

For your selected tour, there will be additional per-person cost for the size of your party - from 1 to 24. This additional supplement is reduced with each traveler you add to your party.

Here's a sample of the additional cost:

6 guests in a party: $1,061*
18 guests in a party: $277*

Contact Globus or your preferred travel agent for pricing for your specific party size as well as any other information on Globus Private Touring.

* Supplement pricing is per person (CA) and will be added to the standard published price for your given departure date and is based on availability. Supplement price is valid for 2020 and 2021 travel years. Occasionally some included and optional activities & excursions may be operated with other guests. Additional restrictions may apply. Not applicable for custom groups. No Group allowances or promotions are available on Private Touring. Published itineraries only. Note that blackout dates may exist where the Private Touring option is not available.



The “Starting at” or listed price is based on the lowest price available to book. Price is per person based on twin occupancy and any applicable port charges, non-commissionable taxes and fees and intra-vacation flight are included in the price shown. Any included overnight stay in Canada, applicable GST/HST is also included in the price shown. International airfare, however, is not included. If price is crossed out, the new price shown includes a limited time promotional offer(s). Please review current promotions or deals for additional information.