Treasures of Greece: A Cultural and Culinary Journey

Duration:
11 Days, April 28 - May 8, 2025

Price:
$6,980 from Athens, Greece

Tour Operator:
Thalassa Journeys

RESERVE YOUR SPACE

Join us in spring 2025 for a visit to Naxos, Santorini, and Crete—three of the most picturesque islands in the Aegean Sea—on a journey exploring amazing archaeological sites and monuments that speak to Greece’s enduring influence on Western culture. We will immerse ourselves in the discovery of another Greek gift to the world—the cuisine that forms the basis of the celebrated Mediterranean diet.

We will begin in Athens, where we will combine tours of the iconic Parthenon and ancient Agora with visits to the city’s main food markets and meals in award-winning restaurants serving traditional Greek fare. We will sail on to Naxos to explore the island’s Venetian heritage, impressive Byzantine churches, and quaint villages. We will stop to enjoy the fruits of Naxos’s flourishing agricultural economy at restaurants dedicated to locally sourced organic produce, and we will visit an artisanal dairy farm that produces famous Naxian cheeses. On Santorini, we will focus our attention on the remarkable Bronze Age site of Akrotiri, preserved in volcanic ash and pumice nearly 4,000 years ago. Our group will also spend time in the village of Fira with its iconic whitewashed cubic houses.

The island of Crete, which gave birth to Europe’s first civilization—the Minoan—is also one of the world’s great garden spots, home to an abundance of fresh fruits, vegetables, and herbs. Here we will combine traditional touring with activities that focus on healthful cuisine. We’ll explore the Minoan palaces of Knossos and the excellent Heraklion Museum, stopping frequently to enjoy meals in authentic restaurants, visit markets and artisanal food workshops, and meet with local people engaged in preserving centuries-old culinary traditions.

This unique journey takes place in the spring when Greece is carpeted with a profusion of wildflowers and aromatic herbs. This tour was specially crafted for Washington and Lee travelers. We hope you will join us!