Mortality is a greatest gift to mankind that propels one to live life in the moment and make most out of it than wasted in oblivion of life’s transience which leads to endless endeavor of earning a living! On that thought with all gathered wisdom and whimsy if there is that one trip that is worth to invest in a luxurious escapade yet a liberating experience let it be in the grandeur of Greece.
Believably Greece shall far beat anyone’s expectations of how enriching the experience would be here. Don’t be surprised if you would feel as if you had died and resurrected in Greece to live a life of lustrous luxury fully alive to each moment experiencing life for what it could be!
Here is a 2 week DIY guide put together that traverses through the best of what Greece has to offer!
Best time to visit: Throughout the year though April to October has a lot of Sun to bask in the blue and white signature lands.
Navigation: It is useful to buy a prepaid SIM card for local calling and navigation while walking around in Greece to visit various highlights. This could be easily bought in Athens Syntagma Square.
Route Map:
Transportation options is listed in the day-to-day guide below.
Food: It is a treat for food lovers here for Vegetarians, Vegans and Non-Vegetarians. Do not miss the traditional Hummus made of Fava beans, Tomato balls, Tzatziki and a gourmet of Greek salads. Also highly recommend to try out Bagels of every kind which is not to be missed.
Stay: Someday Nomadic’s typical recommendations are home stays or rentals from Airbnb. That is still the recommendation, however here are some luxury hotels/suites as a alternate recommendation given the context of “THAT ONE LUXURIOUS INDULGENCE IN TRAVEL”.
Athens: Hilton Athens Hotel
Meteroa: Divani Meteora
Santorini: Astra Suites ( has that infinity pool with breathtaking views of Caldera and Sunset)
Mykonos: Mykonos Grand Hotel (right on Shirley Valentine beach)
Day-1: Land in Athens and head to catch Sunset at Areopagus Hill
Transportation for the day: Taxi from airport to Hotel. After some rest, walk up to Areopagus Hill passing through the highlights of Athens like the Syntagma Square, Anafiotika and the Areopagas Hill(just behind Acropolis). Anafiotika has beautiful alleys that is host to Greek Street fashion and chic restaurants.
Dinner Recommendation: Anafiotika cafe
Note: In this itinerary in most places on most days, the recommended mode of transport is to explore Greece by walk. Trust this as a lot will be missed moving around in Taxis or Cars. Greece has that character in every corner and to maximize the experience, it is best explored by walk. In case of health challenges, taxi is always an option and is easily available. Just ask at the hotel/or your host in homestay and they will call a taxi or share guidance on cheapest means of local travel(like ATV or cycles).
Day-2: Acropolis, Temple of Zeus, Lycabettus
Athens is a perfect retreat into art, architecture, heritage , culture and most importantly the genesis of astronomy and contemporary philosophy. Explore these by walk and below is the day plan
Pre-Lunch:
- Olympic Stadium
- Acropolis
- Acropolis Museum
Have lunch around restaurants in Plaka. Acropolis Museum too serves Gourmet food and very tasty though there is a wait time to be seated during peak season. Suit as per your dietary and taste needs. Every possible cuisine is available but go relish the local delicacies. One of the recommendation with fantastic views, food and service is: Electra Roof Garden Restaurant here: https://goo.gl/maps/XWdtp3m5qim
Post lunch:
- Walk around Plaka
- Visit Temple of Zeus. Take the epic shot in Temple of Zeus with Acropolis in the back drop
- Walk through Botanical gardens and trek up to the Lycabettus hill for Sunset view. It gives the panoramic view of Athens and seeing the sun go down kissing the Athens city and painting it ochre with its golden rays is a sight that will linger a longtime.
- Get dinner at Orizontes Lycabettus with views to die for. Almost a Michelin Star!
Day-3: Delphi
Transportation and Tour booking: Prebook your 2 day tour from Athens to Delphi and Meteora from Key Tours and read about their itinerary in the hyperlink of Key Tours. The tour starts from Athens with a pick up available from Hilton Hotel and on first day visit Delphi and head to Kalampaka for night stay. Kalampaka itself has some great views of Meteora from the Divani Hotel. Take a walk around on the Kalampaka street and shop for your souvenirs. Though it s a group tour, it is very well organized for a great experience.
Note: You can carry a backpack that is enough for a 2 day-1 night trip to Delhi and Meteora and rest of luggage can be stored in Hilton and collect it back on your return for the rest of the stay in Athens.
Day-4: Meteora
The day starts early. Post breakfast the trip continues with a visit to monasteries in Meteora. Here whether we ask for it or not we are soul-filled with ample spiritual touch and inspiration needed during travel that works its wonders all through your life as wisdom that is a consequence of your worthy investment in Travel. The awe-inspiring views of Meteora cannot even be put to words and it is not unusual to experience an inner calm amidst these mystical monolithic majestic boulders. The day ends with a return to Athens and go back to check-in at Hilton Hotel. Go for a refreshing swim at the hotel.
Day-5: Athens-Santorini Cruise and Sunset from Skaros
Transportation:
Prebook your cruise on Blue Star Delos from Athens to Santorini. The cruise stars from Piraeus port of Athens and its a 5 hour cruise to reach Santorini port.
Use Taxi to reach from Hilton Hotel to Athens port and from Santorini port to Astra Suites.
Sit back and enjoy the cruise on Mediterranean sea and let the blue sea sink in deep into your experience bringing out the inner voice of your soul that unwraps the mystery of life. The sight that will give you goosebumps is when the cruise is nearly arriving onto Santorini Island to dock. It would give you answers to why people travel all the way to get married here – the mother of all destination weddings. If marriages are made in heaven, weddings are made in Santorini Island. Whatever be the reason you are here, you have died and come to the heaven! So live every moment you are in this heaven!
Astra Suites is perfection personified in every way – location, service and food. It is in Imerovigli and strategically located that is away from the touristy Oia and Fira but yet equally beautiful and quaint.
After a warm welcome at Astra, hike up to Skaros for a sunset view. Enjoy your swim in the hot infinity pool at the suite sipping colorful mocktails served from the bar.
Day-6: Akrotiri, Black beach and Wine tasting
Pre-book a day trip to Akrotiri Excavation with a visit to tranquil Megalohori village, beguiling Black beach of Perivolos and Wine tasting at Santo Wines from Kamari Tours.
The pick up is from Fira and take a taxi from Astra suites to reach the pick up point.
On return late evening, rejuvenate with a swim in infinity pool. Order in the dinner from Astra suites menu to be served in your villa.
Day-7: Caldera Volcanic Tour
Pre-book a day trip to Caldera Volcanic tour with Kamari Tours that takes you through :
- Visit to volcanic islands of Palea and Nea Kameni
- Opportunity to swim in the green mineral rich waters around the caldera
- Thirassia Island
- Sunset view at Oia
The pick up is from Fira and take a taxi from Astra suites to reach the pick up point.
After a busy day, just order in the dinner from Astra suites menu to be served in your villa.
Day-8: Oia
Transportation:
Rent a car from Jimmy’s Car Rental just off Astra Suites. Go for that Cabriolet you have always wanted to drive. The price for hiring a Cabriolet is 60 to 70 Euros per day depending on the season of travel.
Other options is to walk all way to Oia exploring the island more and take a taxi on the way back to Imerovigli.
Spend the day in Oia exploring the most beautiful part of Santorini Island. Visit and shop in Chic boutiques especially for handmade jewelry from previous stones(high recommend Rea Sea Coral) extracted from the Mediterranean sea, pamper yourself with a Fish spa, get all the epic shots that has been the source of inspiration to plan a trip to Santorini.
Have lunch at the Amoudi Bay with great views. Just walk into the restaurant you like by its look as all of these on the bay are equally good.
Optional visit to: Domaine Sigalas for wine tasting.
Choose to have dinner in Oia and return or to Astra suites. Try out dinner at La Maison Restaurant which is walkable from Astra suites.
Day-9: Fira
Spend the day in Fira. Walk from Imerovigli exploring the Island as you walk upto Fira. Great sights for photography all along the route. Once again a great place to shot for Greek hand made arts and crafts. Here even volanic remnants become fine art and jewelry. Take the cable car in Fira to up the fun experience.
Astra Suites is hard to leave and make the most of your last night here and you cannot leave this place without a promise to come back.
Day-10: Santorini to Mykonos Ferry, Evening at Shirley Valentine beach
Prebook your ferry from Santorini to Mykonos with Hellenic Seaways. Its a 2.5 hour ferry that starts at 11am and reaches Mykonos by 1-30pm. Very likely the Hotel will arrange a pick up. Ask for it with Mykonos Grand. Else take a taxi to the hotel/homestay. Mykonos Grand is a epitome of luxury in every way. Spend rest of the day in hotel’s private Shirley Valentine beach.
For a exquisite candle lit dinner walk down to Ornos beach – Buddha Bar Beach
Day-11: Mykonos Alleys and Little Venice
Spend the day in the picturesque alleys of Mykonos that you have seen listed in numero uno in every list of top alleys in the world. Visit the Windmills, Old church and head out to Little Venice around sunset. The Pictures says it all!
Note: Mykonos Grand hotel has shuttles operating for drop to and pick up from Mykonos Town
Day-12: Mykonos Beaches – Elia, Kalo Livadi
Hire a car for this day and next which can be booked at Hotel’s reception in advance. The car shall be made available at the hotel in specified time and can be dropped back at hotel handing the keys at reception. Visit the most scenic turquoise beaches of Mykonos. Don’t even be surprised if blue and white are your new favorite colors. Sight will leave you captivated. The touch of soft sands on Kalo Livadi is the best pedicure you would ever get and experience how magically it relaxes you. Also take a customary massage on the Elia beach.
Day-13: Mykonos Party Beaches: Paradise and Super Paradise Beaches
Start the morning with sumptuous breakfast a swim in exotic swimming pool of Mykonos Grand. Pamper yourself in Jaccuzi and Sun bathe.
Use the hired car to drive up the party beaches. All that you have heard about Mykonos as the quintessential party destination, today is the day to witness it for real. Paradise and Super Paradise are indeed true to its name. Give expression to the party animal in you.
Day-14: Return home with a promise to come back
Through this trip we have heard tales from travelers how they opened up to life…opened up to new possibilities…got in touch with their roots…experienced a world without gadgets and just lived in the cradle of nature. Greece get one to experience the infinitude of life and celebrate the morality of one’s embodiment.