Visit Marathi and its marble quarries, the source of the famous Parian marble in the old times. Ancient sculptors praised Parian marble (also known as “lichnitis” because of the lamps the workers used to find it) for its translucency and fine, soft texture, appropriate for sculptures and other constructions. Take a walk through the mountain village of Lefkes, the capital of Paros in the medieval times and one of the most beautiful island villages. Follow the Byzantine pathways (walking tour of medium difficulty; 3 ½ hours, 350 m) and you will reach the famous Golden Beach, where you will take a refreshing break in the clear blue waters. In the afternoon you will visit the most beautiful side of Parikia: white narrow streets and the church of Katapoliani. Finally, take a walk through the village of Naoussa and satisfy your hunger and senses at a traditional fishing tavern at the port.
Visit the gems of Cyclades. Firstly Delos, the sacred island of the ancient Greeks with its unique archaeological monuments and one of the most important archaeological museums in Greece.
In the morning you have free time for sleeping, relaxation or swimming. Later on you will take the ferry to Naxos, the next beautiful Cycladic island of your tour. This island has really so many things to offer: wonderful landscapes, mountain villages, golden beaches, typical picturesque bays and of course delicious local wine. In the afternoon you will take a walk through the narrow streets of the island, admire the view along the seaside promenade and visit the famous “Portara” (The Great Door), the landmark of the island. Hotel stay for 5 nights in Naxos. Dinner at a local tavern and overnight stay.
Today you will learn all about the everyday life and history of Naxos. Naxos is an island depending mainly on agriculture and that is obvious as the island is famous for its wine, citrus fruits, olives and figs. Drive to the village of Apiranthos. This is known as the “marble village” and boasts about its three museums: the archeological, the geological and the folk museum. Take a walk through the narrow streets of the village and enjoy the fresh breeze of the altitude. Your walking tour today will begin from the village of Komiaki through the idyllic landscape down to the village of Apollonas (walking tour of medium difficulty; 2 ½ to 3 hours, 550 m), where you will visit the ancient marble quarries of the island. The evening is free for you to enjoy the lively rhythm of the island.
In the morning you will visit the Venetian fortress, the archaeological museum and the Catholic cathedral of the island. You will taste citrus liquor in one of the local distilleries in Chalki and later on there will be a trekking tour of about 2 hours (walking tour of medium difficulty; 300 m.) to the marble statue in Melanes and from there on to Potamia. After enjoying your picnic, the bus can take you if you want to the site of Plaka with the endless sand dune beach. After your return to the hotel, you can take a relaxing walk along the coast. Dinner in the evening at a traditional fish tavern.If you still have energy during the day, you can rent a bike to explore the green sites of the island and find your own personal paradise at the small isolated beaches.
In the morning you will discover the Temple of Demeter in Sangri and visit the museum of the site. Afterwards, you will take an easy walking tour (walking tour of low difficulty; 3 hours, 250 m) to the sand dune beach of Kastraki and then you can relax in the refreshing, crystal clear waters of the sea. You are free to spend your evening the way you like; the wide variety of taverns gives you the chance to choose the one which fits better to your taste.
It is time to visit the real highlight of the island. Palea Kameni and Nea Kameni (known as "the volcano" among the locals) are the two small islands formed in the middle of Caldera, due to the eruption of Santorini’s volcano. The first stop of the boat will be in Palea Kameni with the hot springs. As you approach the little island of Palea Kameni, the water turns red and hot. Next stop is Nea Kameni, where you will have the opportunity to approach the craters of the volcano and feel the high temperatures on the ground (walking tour easy to medium; 1 ½ hour, 200 m) The feelings of such an experience are unique! Therasia is the next destination of the boat excursion. After 1 hour (walking tour of medium difficulty; 300 m) and some stairs, you will reach the site of Manolas. There you will have free time to enjoy the landscape as you wish. Dinner at a traditional tavern. If you are not in the mood for a boat excursion and trekking tour, then you can just take the local bus to Fira and stroll through the streets, buy souvenirs, have a coffee and become for a little bit part of the island’s everyday life.
Highlight wandering to Oia, a small town covering the whole island of Therasia and the northwestern biggest part of Santorini (walking tour of medium difficulty; 3 ½ to 4 hours, 600 m). Oia is the most famous and one of the most picturesque villages of the island. A visitor of Oia should not miss for any reason its magnificent view at the sunset time and a walk through its narrow streets with the white, little houses. The village also has a Maritime Museum and many art galleries of artists who came once in Santorini and fell in love with its beauty. You will have the chance to visit the Santo Winery and also taste some of the finest Santorini wines, widely famous all over the world http://www.santowines.gr/. Afterwards, visit to Fira, one of the most famous and beautiful sites in Santorini.
