A Journey Through Mythical Isles & Captivating Shores Cruise

Day 1 - Athens

Arrive: Mon 10 May 2027 / Depart: Mon 10 May 2027 at 20:00

Day 2 - Nafplion

Arrive: Tue 11 May 2027 at 08:00 / Depart: Tue 11 May 2027 at 20:00

Day 3 - Paros, Greece

Arrive: Wed 12 May 2027 at 09:00 / Depart: Wed 12 May 2027 at 21:00

Unveil picturesque Paros' unadorned charms from ancient remains to traditional tavernas and sweet villages and blue-domed churches to a bounty of blonde-sand beaches. Head out to Parikia to find the awe-inspiring AD326 Byzantine monastery or take a ferry across to explore caves in the rugged natural beauty of Antiparos. Walk through the island's ancient archaeological history at the tiny museum and lose yourself in the labyrinth of lanes at the old Venetian port of Náoussa. Banish any tension on a sunlounger, then breeze through home-cooked mezze feasts in white-washed tavernas. Windsurf, kite-surf, dive, swim au naturel and enjoy a network of walking trails. Somehow Páros has managed to preserve more of the soft spirit than some of her Cyclade cousins.

Day 4 - Skiathos, Greece

Arrive: Thu 13 May 2027 at 09:00 / Depart: Thu 13 May 2027 at 18:00

Day 5 - Volos

Arrive: Fri 14 May 2027 at 07:00 / Depart: Fri 14 May 2027 at 19:00

Volos deals a perfect blend of architectural gems, scented archaic landscapes and beach-fringed salty bays. Discover treasures in the mythical home of Jason and the Argonauts before bearing off to Pelion, homeland of the mythical Centaurs. Zig zag through a network of old cobbled donkey tracks linking villages and wander a botanist’s dream of eucalyptus, fruit trees and thyme-scented woodland. Dip in blissfully quiet Pagasitic waters, bring history to life on gorge and bridge crossing Moutzouris and paddle past secluded coves into eerie sea caves and the Secret School. Visit Damouchari for a riot of bougainvillea and silvery olive trees, Tsagarada for the oldest plane tree in Greece and Milies for murals and absurd acoustics. This playground of the gods remains a quiet memory of Greek gone by - the Centaurs have protected it well.

Day 6 - Kusadasi

Arrive: Sat 15 May 2027 at 09:00 / Depart: Sat 15 May 2027 at 21:00

Walk in Cleopatra’s steps as you journey through fields bursting with cotton, olives and peaches until the hills broaden, to reveal the magnificent Roman ruins of Ephesus. Dedicated to Artemis, visit monuments, shrines, columns and ruins, where Popes pray and pilgrims drink holy water. Immerse yourself totally in this ancient place of worship; wish for good health and meditate in the sacred thermal pools of Pamukkale. Travel out to Orthodox villages combining Turkish-Greek culture and feast on organic filo, feta and spinach. Study Turkish weavings, natural dyes and textiles; see looms in action, knotting carpets and kilims. Steeped in history and with terrain as diverse as the culture, it won’t just be the traditional Turkish coffee that makes you sit up straight.

Day 7 - At Sea

Day 8 - Istanbul

Arrive: Mon 17 May 2027 at 08:00 / Depart: Mon 17 May 2027

Embark on a European and Asian adventure packed with a wealth of charm and cultural diversity. Roam the ‘blue’ mosque of Sultan Ahmet, the Grand Bazaar, opulent Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia or sink into a serene Turkish Bath experience. Embrace the city’s vine-shaded homely district where ladies shop for butter-soaked baklava and freshly picked olives. Explore further to haggle for gold jewellery, linen and oriental antiques. Dine in the atmospheric old city or take a ferry to Asia for street-served food. Feast over rich platters of meze, moist grilled bluefish and succulent kebabs. Heighten your senses even further in the spice bazaar with enticing aromas and vibrant, colourful displays. After such a sensorial feast, indulge in a restorative raki, whichever continent you’re in. By night parties don’t start until late, but expect to dance till dawn. Join the late crowd spilling into the streets overlooking the Bosphorus. Sway at European rooftop bars, shimmer by ferry over to the Asian suburbs or remain ensconced in old-fashioned folk venues. An eclectic fusion of east and west, this city is conservative at heart with a truly modern soul.