BEST OF GREECE & SANTORINI in 12 days
My Best of Greece & Santorini tour visits my favorite Greek mainland and island destinations. We begin in the countryside at Delphi, home of the ancient Oracle and her temples. After crossing the Bay of Corinth, we’ll spend several days on the Pelopenes Peninsula, visiting ancient temples, worship sites, historic cities, and theatres. Hopping on a ferry, enjoy a short ride to traffic-free Hydra Island for two days of relaxation. Then it is off to Athens, where we’ll dedicate the better part of two days to exploring this capital city. Finally, we will hop on a short flight to Santorini, home of white-washed villages on an ancient volcano caldera. My Best of Greece & Santorini tour provides the perfect mix of sightseeing, education, and relaxation.
Your Adventure Starts Here!
| PRICE FROM | DATES | |
|---|---|---|
| $5089 + air | Apr 14-25, 2026 |  |
| $5089 + air | Jun 15-26, 2026 | |
| $5089 + air | Sep 14-25, 2026 | |
Delphi – 1 night
Olympia – 1 night
Nafplio – 2 nights
Hydra Island – 2 night
Athens – 2 nights
Santorini Island – 3 nights
——————
Single Room Additional Cost ~$850
ITINERARY
DAY 1: Welcome to Greece! –Leaving Athens for later, we will head north to the barren slopes of Mount Parnassus. Here we find Delphi, the 2500-year-old home of fortune-telling oracles, temples of worship, and Olympic-like stadiums and theatres. Enjoy dinner together and overnight in peaceful Delphi town. Sleep for 1 night near Delphi. Walking: light. Driving: 4 hours. Dinner.
DAY 2: The Gulf of Corinth and Peloponnese – It is a beautiful drive through the mountains and across the gulf to the Peloponnese Peninsula. This afternoon, after the tourist crowds dissipate, we will visit Olympia, the site of the first Olympic games more than 2700 years ago. We will set up tonight near Mount Olympia. Sleep for 1 night near Olympia. Walking: strenuous. Driving: 5 hours. Dinner.
DAY 3: Ancient Corinth and Nafplio – We will do a bit of driving today across the Peloponnese to Ancient Corinth, a stop on the Apostle Paul’s missionary journey in the 1st century. Then, it’s onward to Nafplio for a relaxing two days. Sleep for 2 nights in Nafplio. Walking: light. Driving: 4 hours. Dinner.
DAY 4: Mycenae and Nafplio – Today, we will take a walk through this ancient, fortified city, seeing the Lion’s Gate, “cyclopean” walls, and buried tombs. Returning to Nafplio, you’ll have the remainder of the day to poke around town, hike to the hilltop fortress, or relax at a beach or hotel pool. Walking: moderate. Driving: 1.5 hours.
DAY 5: Epidavros and Hydra – This morning, we will drive to nearby Epidavros to look at Greece’s most well-preserved theater, seating 15,000 spectators. Then we will head south across arid mountains and valleys loaded with century-old olive trees. After a ferry ride across the gulf, we will step onto traffic-free Hydra. Enjoy the afternoon and evening getting to know the little town. We’ll pick out a taverna for dinner to enjoy together tonight. Sleep for 2 nights on Hydra. Walking: light. Driving: 2.5 hours. Dinner.
DAY 6: Hydra –No group plans for today. So, enjoy shopping in the village, sitting at the harbor with a drink and “people-watching,” taking a donkey ride, hiring a boat, or basking in the sun at one of the many beaches. Walking: your choice.
DAY 7: Athens – This morning, we’ll hop on a ferry and, within about two hours, arrive at your Athens city-center hotel. Then, join a local guide for an informative and scenic tour of the ancient Acropolis and Agora. The remainder of the day and evening are event-free to explore more of Athens on your own. Sleep for 2 nights in Athens. Walking: strenuous. Boat or Drive: 2 hours.
DAY 8: Athens – Visit Athens at your leisure. There are no group plans today, so Explore the Forum, medieval streets of the Plaka, and more on your own. Later, we will meet for dinner at a local restaurant for dinner. Walking: your choice. Dinner.
DAY 9: Santorini – This morning, we will transfer to Athens Airport and take a short flight to the island of Santorini. Once in Santorini, we will set up in a seaside village. Nothing to do here but bask in the sun, swim at the beach, and enjoy the views. Sleep for 3 nights at a traditional Santorini resort hotel. Flying: 1 hour. Driving: 1 hour.
DAY 10: Santorini – This morning, we will have a local guide show us around the island of Santorini. We’ll visit several towns, see the volcanic caldera, and get an overview of the island’s history. Later, board our private catamaran for a 5-hour sunset cruise on the caldera. Enjoy dinner and drinks on the boat and plenty of time to jump in and take a swim. Walking: moderate. Driving: 2 hours. BBQ Dinner on our catamaran.
DAY 11: Santorini –There are no scheduled plans for today. Enjoy the beach, local shopping, a hike through the mountains, or a return visit to Oia or Fira. Tonight, enjoy a grand farewell dinner at a beachfront restaurant. Walking: your choice. Dinner.
DAY 12: Heading Home – We will catch an early morning flight back to Athens. Your tour ends at the Athens Airport in plenty of time to connect with flights bound for the USA. Flying: 1 hour.
Itinerary specifics are subject to change.
INCLUSIONS
Round-trip transportation by coach, minibus, and boat from the airport in Athens and return.
Round-trip flight to Santorini.
11 nights’ accommodation in well-appointed hotels. All rooms have private en-suite baths.
All tips and gratuities to guides and drivers.
Strictly Small Group consisting of 6-18 travelers.
All breakfasts and six group dinners.
Traditional dining experiences at some of David’s favorite restaurants. Eating well is a priority, and you’ll enjoy fine regional fare featuring the best the locale has to offer.
Water is included with all group meals. Sodas, wine, beer, and other drinks are your responsibility.
All tours and admissions at no extra cost: Athens Plaka walking tour ▪ Acropolis tour ▪ Ancient Agora entrance ▪ Delphi tour ▪ Ancient Olympia tour ▪ Mycenae tour ▪ Epidavros entry ▪ Nafplio orientation ▪ Hydra orientation ▪ ferry transfers to and from Hydra ▪ Santorini bus and walking tour ▪ A four-hour Catamaran Sunset Cruise with dinner and swimming on the Caldera ▪ and more.
A full-time Exploring Europe guide and local experts dedicated to bringing to life the art, history, and culture of the tour destinations.
David’s tour handouts are delivered electronically and detail each day’s historical and cultural experiences.
Free luggage tags and David’s custom-designed drawstring backpacks.
Our Unconditional Tour Price Guarantee, once locked in, will never change.
$50 Tour Alumni discount for each David McGuffin tour you’ve taken prior to this travel year.
EXCLUSIONS
Comprehensive Trip insurance. We strongly recommend comprehensive insurance for tour.
Fee for passports.
Beer, wine, spirits, and soda during the tour.
Laundry, phone, internet, and personal items
Extras and optional activities.
Anything not mentioned in the itinerary.
TERMS & CONDITIONS
CANCELLATION POLICY
CANCELLATIONS AND REFUNDS:
Deposits- Deposits for tours are fully refundable for 30 days from your initial application and deposit date, unless otherwise noted. If you book a tour less than 90 days before its departure date, full payment is due immediately, and the entire tour cost becomes non-refundable after seven days. After these dates, deposits are not refundable and will be forfeited if you cancel your tour reservation.
Payments- Tour payments are due in full 90 days before your tour departure date. If you find you must cancel between 90-0 days before your tour departure, please contact us immediately. We will work with you to transfer your payments to another tour departing within 18 months. We strongly recommend that everyone purchase comprehensive travel insurance that covers tour cancellations, emergency medical, and other unexpected events.
Cancellations will be effective when the written notification is received at David McGuffin›s Exploring Europe by mail, e-mail, or fax.
SIGN UP BY EMAIL OR POST
If you do not want to sign up online:
You may download a tour application and send it to us with payment.
-OR-
You may return it by:
- FAX 1-800-570-1351
- Email – info@davidmcguffin.com
- email – take a photo of the form with your smartphone and attach it to an email
- TXT – take a photo with your smartphone and TXT to 904-612-8149
KEY TO WALKING & ACTIVITY
Walking and Physical Activity: We have planned this trip to provide maximum tour experiences. The basic nature of Europe does require some degree of physical activity to get out and see the sights, especially in the big cities. To help you plan, we’ve included a daily projection of physical activity. Here is the key for our walking activity ratings:
Light – Walking done on level surfaces with some hills and elevation gains. Two miles or less of required walking during the day.
Moderate – Walking done on paved and gravel paths and cobbled city sidewalks. To enjoy the full tour experience, some uphill and downhill walking is expected, as is standing while viewing sights or museums. Four to six miles of walking per day.
Strenuous – Walking done on rugged and rocky paths and city-cobbled sidewalks. There will be steps and stairs. Up to three hours standing in museums or experience sites. Up to eight miles of walking per day.
Your Choice – No matter what your walking ability, we will help you find alternative ways to enjoy and experience all Europe has to offer. To get the most out of our tours, you should be able to operate at the light level every day with spurts of moderate and strenuous.
PRE-TOUR RESOURCES
Now that you’ve decided to join this tour, we are sure you’ll have some questions. Don’t worry. We are here to help you through each aspect of your tour from start to finish.
DAVID’S 60 SECONDS DESTINATION VIDEOS
Join David as he shares impromptu moments from his travels in the United Kingdom. Watching these short 60-second segments are a great way to experience David’s travel style and adventures. Watch David’s Explore Greece.
David’s TRAVEL TALK TUESDAY almost-weekly broadcast and Video Series Blog.
Every week, when David is not traveling in Europe, he presents a LIVE broadcast on Zoom and Facebook. Check it out on Tuesdays at 7:30 PM Eastern Time.
Each Travel Talk Tuesday session is recorded. Watch them here.
DAVID’S BLOG ARTICLES
David and his team have answered many travel-related questions, and they are all tucked away on his blog. But, no need to go there. Just type in a keyword in the search box at the top or bottom of this page (it’s the gray rectangle with a small magnifying glass icon), and you will get results for your query.
PLEASE SEND US AN EMAIL OR GIVE US A CALL.
We are happy to answer your travel questions and give advice and suggestions. tours@davidmcguffin.com or 800-570-1351.
Testimonials & Reviews of our EUROPE Tours
The Sicily tour was incredible! After touring with David, I felt that I had truly seen all that this special island has to offer: terrific historical sights, vibrant cities, incredible museums, majestic land and seascapes, as well as a delectable cuisine. Throughout the tour David was informative, hospitable and open to suggestions and adjustments. He has a very pleasant and accommodating persona and we were fortunate to have him as our escort. The guides he hires are excellent and really enhanced our experience. The only recommendation I have is to have a guide for EVERY excursion! Our driver, Paolo, was exceptional.
I have longed to go on safari since I was a teenager! When I learned about David's explorations BEYOND Europe, I couldn't wait to secure my spot! The Serengeti Safari was the first trip on my retirement agenda! I had high expectations, and this trip EXCEEDED every one of them. David has a network of skilled professionals at every bend in the road. I highly recommend this trip for anyone hoping to experience the beauty of Tanzania, its abundant wildlife, its rich cultural heritage, and its beautiful people!
This trip truly was a trip of a lifetime. The ability to see all of the animals in their natural habitat was really something so hard to describe in words. In so many ways it seemed surreal. I have visited over 50 of our US National Parks, so being able to visit and stay inside the Serengeti National Park made the trip even more special to me. Our guides were simply outstanding. They were knowledgeable and always made sure we had the best experience possible. Our accommodations were top of the line- even our safari tents were exceptional. If going on an African Safari is on your bucket list I highly recommend traveling with David!
This was our first of what I hope are many tours with David McGuffin’s Exploring Europe. We chose The Best of Scotland and Wales in 11 Days tour from 9/24/25 - 10/4/25. Our tour guide, David Gray, made this tour very special. He is very knowledgeable about the destinations on the tour but was also very personable……which made for a very relaxing tour experience. He’s just a nice man! Our driver, Ian, has a beautiful coach and really made us comfortable. He and David make a good team. We were able to go to places that I never thought I’d see because of them. The drive through The Highlands was breathtaking and something we will never forget. All of our hotels were very comfortable and close to the town centers they were in. We really liked our travel mates which also made for a very positive experience. This tour is very well thought out and planned. There was ample free time as well. My husband and I had a very memorable trip and we highly recommend David McGuffin’s Exploring Europe.
I have traveled with David for over a quarter of a century on 22 trips soon to be 23. I’ve traveled with as few as 3 total people and as many as an entire high school marching band. No matter where the destination or the adventure David has researched it and will have all the details taken care of before you ever get there. I often joke that on his trips all I ever worry about is getting to the airport on time- he takes care of all of the rest! I highly recommend David McGuffin’s Exploring Europe— I trust him explicitly and would never consider traveling abroad with anyone else. Knowing David and his wife Charlotte is a blessing in my life and traveling with them is always a pleasure.
Submit your review | |