Perfect One-Week Greece Itinerary for Seniors: Athens, Santorini & Crete

As you exit the terminal, your private driver will be awaiting your arrival with a large sign and a larger smile. When you arrive at your luxurious accommodation, your gracious hosts will quickly check you in and carry your baggage to your rooms. You can relax in your room, order room service, or head downstairs for a traditional Greek dinner with a view of the Acropolis in the distance. After a long day of travels, you will most likely drift off to sleep with dreams of Zeus and Socrates.

For today’s adventure, you will want to dress in comfortable walking attire because you will be touring a number of Athens' famous museums and historical sites. When you are ready, your guide will lead you on a tour of the National Archaeology Museum and the Acropolis. Your first stop will be the National Archaeology Museum. After a tour through the ages of Greece, it will be time to begin your ascent to the legendary Acropolis. The Acropolis Museum is a highly modernized and interactive museum that serves as an excellent entry point because it offers visually spectacular renditions of what the ancient temples actually looked like thousands of years ago. The highlight of your tour will be the Parthenon. Few structures in human history match this Parthenon’s cultural significance and architectural accomplishments.

Today, you will have a sunrise transfer to Santorini. When you are ready to depart, your private driver will escort you to the local airport. You will arrive in Santorini around 9 am, and we will have arranged a personal driver to transfer you to your hotel. On your privately guided kayaking tour, you will glide over underwater calderas, pass coastal cliff sides, and soar past the stunning beaches of Santorini. In the afternoon, you will indulge in the culinary experience of a lifetime. You will learn to cook a traditional Santorini meal of Greek salad, lamb, and pistachio baklava with a master chef.

This morning, when you are ready to depart for Oia, your driver will meet you in the lobby. Today, you will have the opportunity to discover the vibrant city of Oia. Oia is a picturesque village that was built into the steep slopes of the caldera. It is also the home to the infamous white-washed, blue-domed churches and Cycladic houses. After a charming time of uncovering Oia, your private driver will escort you back to your opulent accommodation, where you will be able to change, eat lunch, and prepare for your guided wine tour with a sommelier.  During your tour, you will travel in grace and comfort as you are escorted from vineyard to vineyard, where you will sample some of the best wine in the world.

This morning, you will arrive at the harbor just as the sun starts to rise over the horizon, illuminating the sea, your private catamaran, and the gracious crew that will be waiting for you to board. The voyage to Crete is roughly 6 hours, and the ship will be fully crewed with your own personal captain, deckhands, and chef. When you arrive in Crete, your private driver will lead you to your luxurious accommodation, where your gracious host will check you in. Once you have your reservation, your guide can escort you to the Palace of Knossos. This Palace is the source of a large amount of scholarly debate as to whether it truly is Europe's first city, whether it was ever destroyed and rebuilt, and what its true purpose is.

After breakfast, your driver will escort you to the town of Chania. This will be your day to explore an unknown city in Greece and to fully embrace the myths and magic of this vibrant country. You will be able to customize the day to your liking, and there is so much to do and see in this remarkable city. For example, you can explore a spectacular exhibit at the Archeological Museum, stroll through the Venetian harbor, embark on an underwater excursion in the form of a submarine tour, or relax in the sunshine at the beach. In the evening, your driver will return to your hotel, where you will enjoy a meal that will bid you farewell.

In the morning, you may wake up early enough to catch a final glimpse of the sun as it rises over the brightening Aegean Sea. Tidbits of philosophy, mythology, and Greek landscape will float around in your mind, and the sweet and savory flavors of lamb, feta, and olives will linger in your thoughts. You can indulge in a final breakfast in Greece before meeting your private transfer in the lobby. When you are ready, you will make your way to the Heraklion International Airport for your flight home.