Island Hop Through History: Unique Greek Island Hopping Itinerary

What to expect on this itinerary
During this luxurious 9-day excursion to Delos, Tinos, and Nea Kameni have been arranged for you to uncover the beauty, history, and culture of the remarkable Greek Islands. This vacation immerses you in the history and culture of each destination. Explore the iconic sites of the Acropolis, traverse the ruins of Akrotiri, venture to the charming island of Tinos, and uncover the diverse ancient history of Greece.
Customizable Itinerary
Athens – Tour the Acropolis
Your exclusively crafted trip, which has been designed with history and culture in mind, will begin when you land at Athens International Airport. Your private transfer will be waiting to escort you to your luxurious hotel. After you have had time to check-in and become acquainted with your new surroundings, your expert guide will arrive to begin your private tour of the Acropolis. Some of the first impressive sights that you will witness include the Theatre of Dionysus, the Parthenon, and the Erechtheion. Afterward, you will be transferred to the Acropolis Museum, which contains thousands of pieces of history that have been collected from the area surrounding the Acropolis.
What's Included:
Mykonos – Exclusive Tour of Mykonos
Mykonos – Immersion into Delos’ Culture
Mykonos – Discover the Church of Tinos
Santorini – Initial Impressions of Santorini
Santorini – Nea Kameni’s Volcano and Hot Springs
Crete – Tour Knossos Palace
Crete – Explore the Heraklion Archaeological Museum
Crete – Depart for Home
Trip Highlights
- Explore the iconic sites of the ancient Acropolis, including the unparalleled Parthenon
- Indulge in a visit to the intriguing Monastery of Panagia Tourliani, which dates back to the 16th century
- Discover the ancient island of Delos, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, during an exciting day-trip to the island
- Traverse the charming island of Tinos, which is considered the holiest Greek Island, during an exclusive excursion
- Uncover the ruins of Akrotiri, which is an archaeological site on Santorini
- Swim in the idyllic hot springs of Nea Kameni, which is a volcanic island near Santorini
- Marvel at the preserved frescoes of Knossos Palace, which is an ancient palace of Crete
- Delight in a private tour of the Heraklion Archaeological Museum, which is considered to be one of the premier museums in all of Greece
Detailed Description
A tour of the stunning islands of Greece can be considered a trip back in time because each island is full of history and intrigue. This luxurious, 9-day journey to discover the history and culture of the islands will begin the moment you land at Athens International Airport. One afternoon to discover the history of Greece’s capital city will be the perfect way to begin your trip. After checking in at your luxurious hotel, your afternoon will feature an exciting tour of the Acropolis. Your expert private guide will lead you around the fascinating ruins from the Theatre of Dionysus to the Parthenon. After you are left in awe of the ruins and temples that are still standing after centuries, your tour will continue to the renowned Acropolis Museum. Here, you will uncover more pieces of history as you witness a plethora of rare artifacts. After your tour nears its end, you will enjoy an evening in Athens at your leisure.
The following day, your immersive discovery of the Greek Islands will begin when you depart Athens via speed boat and venture to the island of Mykonos. You will be traveling in pure luxury as you cruise over the Aegean Sea and admire your gorgeous surroundings. The next three nights on Mykonos will lead you to the best parts of the island in addition to intriguing day trips to the nearby islands of Delos and Tinos. Historical attractions can be found around every corner alongside the island’s many wonderful shops and delicious restaurants. From the age-old windmills of Mykonos to the archaic ruins of Delos, you will discover nearly all that this idyllic destination has to offer. On day five, your journey will continue to the beautiful island of Santorini. Two nights on this island will allow you to engage in its lifestyle and culture. An exclusive tour of the island and an exciting day trip to the volcanic island of Nea Kameni will highlight your visit. The fascinating ruins of Akrotiri will be an archeological marvel, and to climb the crater of Nea Kameni’s volcano will be an unforgettable experience.
The final island destination of your luxurious, island-hopping adventure will be the ancient island of Crete. Crete is Greece’s largest island and is filled with an intriguing history that spans thousands of years. After you check-in to your opulent hotel in Heraklion, your first afternoon on the island will feature a visit to Knossos Palace. Your expert guide will lead you around the remains of the palace, and you will marvel at the details and design of the impressive structure. The following day, your discovery of Crete will continue with a guided tour of the Heraklion Archaeological Museum. The museum is considered to be one of the best in the world for Minoan art, and you will learn more about this ancient civilization as you view countless pieces of art and artifacts. Each room of the museum will fascinate and immerse you deeper into the culture of the island. On the morning of day nine, a brief flight will carry you back to Athens International Airport, where you will board your connecting flight home. You will leave Greece enriched and captivated by its history, culture, and beauty.
Every aspect of this luxurious, island-hopping adventure is customizable, so you will be able to adjust anything and everything about this itinerary to further accommodate your moods and desires once you are in Greece.
Starting Price
$3,100 per person (excluding international flights)
Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.
What's Included
The starting price is based on travel during the low season for a minimum of two travelers staying in shared 3-star accommodations. Please inquire for a custom trip quote based on your travel preferences and travel dates.
Verified Traveler Reviews
Based on 3174 reviews
We had a wonderful experience with our Zicasso travel specialist while planning our vacation in Greece. We had a group that consisted of two families; in total, eight people. Our travel specialist gave us recommendations based on the types of activities we wanted to do and the types of islands we were hoping to experience.
We stayed two nights in Athens, three nights on Naxos, and three nights in Santorini. The accommodations were fantastic! Every tour guide and driver was helpful and so kind.
When we wanted to add a stop in Naxos for an impromptu lunch, our guide was happy to detour and bring us to a place with the best gyros that the locals really enjoy! Everyone made us feel at home. Thank you for a beautiful trip and all the lovely memories!
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Zicasso's travel expert was very professional. She answered all my questions promptly and made sure to book the tours and hotels that fit our needs. Highly recommend.
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Our 11-day honeymoon in Greece was nothing short of magical—and we owe so much of that to our Zicasso travel specialist and the entire team at her company. From the very start, they worked within our budget and offered a flexible payment plan that made planning feel manageable and stress-free.
As our trip approached, we had a thorough planning call with our specialist. She walked us through every detail of our itinerary, which completely put us at ease. That level of preparation meant we could focus on enjoying the moment instead of worrying about logistics.
Once we landed in Athens, the travel company was just a WhatsApp message away. Anytime we had a question—no matter how small—they responded within minutes. That kind of real-time support made us feel cared for the entire time.
The accommodations they booked were absolutely out of this world. Each hotel felt handpicked just for us—luxurious, romantic, and incredibly welcoming. It was clear the company has strong relationships with local vendors because we were treated like royalty everywhere we went.
As a gay couple, we also appreciated how safe, inclusive, and celebrated we felt throughout the trip. Every detail was thoughtfully planned with us in mind.
We’d recommend our travel company 1,000 times out of 10. If you're planning a gay honeymoon—or any trip to Greece—look no further. This was truly the trip of a lifetime.
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Zicasso's travel specialist and her company did an amazing job of planning the most incredible and memorable trip for my family of five.
Every detail was meticulously thought out and perfectly executed. Every transfer was spacious and, thankfully, air conditioned. Each boutique hotel booked was unique and beautiful, with stunning views and amenities offered. Every excursion with English-speaking guides was incredible. The guides were knowledgeable and super-friendly.
We can't thank our travel specialist and her team enough for this amazing trip. We have memories for a lifetime!! I highly recommend using her for your next trip to Greece or Europe.
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It was our family's first time visiting Greece. We've always wanted to see the country and there were so many good things we'd heard about Greece.
There were a couple of things that made this trip very special. First, our youngest daughter's request for her 16th birthday was to go as a family and celebrate it in Greece. Second, none of us had ever been to Greece (on our previous trips, either my husband and/or I had been there or it was our family's second time there), so experiencing it together for the first time was really special.
Zicasso gave us two very good Greek travel companies. Both presented interesting itineraries to us. It was a year of planning and I'd gone back and forth with both travel companies with revisions of itineraries and, of course, the cost.
What made us choose this travel company was that the specialist was very honest, upfront, and very accommodating. He gave his honest opinion when I asked him about certain excursion activities or even restaurants (social media makes it really look good, especially for people who have not been there), and he did not pressure or force us into doing activities that did not interest us. He wanted to make sure we got to experience the best, but he was also very mindful of the costs. I had many back and forth conversations with him via texts, emails, or phone calls. He wanted to get to know our family. When I told him about our daughter's 16th birthday requests, he made sure he got every detail of what would make her birthday special. He also asked me about the interests of our eldest daughter because he wanted to surprise her with something special from Greece. That says a lot about the travel specialist and his company; they are personal and it's not just pure business for them.
A few days before we left the US, he called us so we could reschedule our flights (Santorini to Athens) to an earlier time going back home because he was concerned we may miss our connecting flights. Who does that? This just shows he checks every detail and wanted to make sure that even before we left the US, up to the time we arrived back home, everything was taken care of.
We had the best vacation in Greece. We did not worry about anything the entire time. The travel company was in constant communication with us. They created a WhatsApp group chat which made it so much easier. They gave us daily reminders and they arranged everything for us. We felt that the entire trip was customized for our family. The "Mamma Mia" island tour and birthday celebration for our daughter was perfect. The restaurant in Kolios was a great recommendation, and when I asked him to reserve the specific table and have a little birthday decoration for my daughter, it was accomplished.
Chania was amazing; both me and my husband loved this place. The view from our hotel room on Zampeliou Street, overlooking the old harbour and the Cretan Sea with the lighthouse, was breathtaking. We enjoyed walking through the streets of the Old Town of Chania.
We thought Santorini would be overcrowded, but we had a great tour guide who knew where to take us first to avoid crowds, and he gave us really helpful advice to go around the island. He took us to the little hidden alleys and showed how locals live. We ended up really loving the island.
We enjoyed every activity planned for us. We enjoyed our stay at our hotels. Mine and my husband's favorite were the hotel in Kalamata and the one in Chania. We really liked the view of the Acropolis from our rooms at the hotel in Athina, and that hotel was very convenient. We also enjoyed their breakfast there. The girls enjoyed the hotel in Skiathos because of how close it was to the beach, and they loved the "Mamma Mia" boat tour.
We each have our own favorite activities/tour/tour guides, but overall, our family had an amazing time in Greece – the way the travel agent and the entire team did a phenomenal job. The way the itinerary was put together and the timing for each place/island was just perfect for us. They exceeded our expectations. We fell in love with Greece, the culture, and the people, who were all so kind, nice, and very hospitable (not once did we have a bad encounter). We will definitely go back; there is so much more to explore and we'll definitely be working with this travel company in the future.
We only have good things to say about our Greece vacation and we highly recommend this travel agency. We've been to other countries and worked with other travel companies. In our opinion, this one was the best travel company we've ever worked with.
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Zicasso's travel agent took great care of my family, planning an excellent trip, with revisions based on our interests, and was quick to respond to my emails. He took care of the necessary arrangements when the ferry was unexpectedly cancelled.
We stayed in beautiful hotels and enjoyed our tours with knowledgeable guides and drivers. Our trip to Delphi and Meteora was a highlight of our trip. We had a great driver there.
Highly recommend!
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