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Discover the magic of the Peloponnese and ancient Greece on this amazing limited collection hiking cruise available for one week in March and one week in October, 2023.
This boutique cruise will be on board the splendid motorsailer Galileo, which can accommodate up to 49 guests in 24 cabins and is served by a highly professional crew of 16-18 members.
George Vavoudakis and Iro Valavani will be your hiking guides, while Evgenia Alexiou, with a degree in archeology and art history from the School of Philosophy in Athens, experience excavating historical sites, and a licence for guided tours in Greece, Evgenia is the perfect – incredibly knowledgeable – complement to our cruise.
Friday, Athens – Athens
Hosted by Eugenia Alexious (archeologist)
& George Vavoudakis & Iro Valavaki (hikers)
| 2023 Sailing Dates from Marina Zeas |
|---|
| March 31, 2023 October 27, 2023 |
Day 1
Embarkation between 2 and 3 pm.
Day 2
Early morning arrival in Itea, ready for a day of exploration. Our hike today is rich in history and – along with our optional excursion to Delphi, revered for hosting the most important oracle in the classical world – will help you understand the historical significance of the area. The Kirra trail starts inside the town of Delphi, passes numerous small churches, the village of Chrisso with its Virgin Mary church and the fabulous Focis olive groves, to end at the port of Itea.
Day 3
Keen hikers (oh, that’s all of you!), listen up. Today’s optional excursion is to Olympia, the birthplace of the Olympic Games and a special place for anyone interested in sports, health, and fitness. Here you’ll visit the site of the Temple of Zeus – one of the seven wonders of the ancient world – but also get the chance to run in the very spot the first Olympic athletes did, over 2000 years ago. Today’s hike is in the oak forest of Foloi. It’s an easy walk that we’ll take slowly, allowing us to take in the stunning flora and fauna of the area.
Day 4
Morning arrival into Pylos port – the site of many famous naval battles, the last of which led to Greek independence. Our today’s trail begins at the Cazarma village and ends at the beautiful Polylimnio area with its fairyland waterfalls (if you wish, you can go ahead and jump right in). Tonight we sail to Gythion with dinner on board.
Day 5
Gythion was the ancient naval base of the Spartans and our hiking trail today explores an area said to be home to modern descendants of them – the Mani Peninsula. We’ll hike one of the most beautiful areas of it, Cape Tenaron, beginning in Kokkinogia and ending at the Tenaro lighthouse. The latter is the southernmost point of continental Europe. Our route will take about two hours and, despite several rocky sections, is a relatively easy trek with many fascinating pathways. We’ll highlight the areas of historical significance as we walk but expect to see a stunning a Roman floor mosaic, the necromancy grotto of Poseidon which ancient Greeks believed led to the Gate of Hades and stunning views of the open sea.
Day 6
Monemvasia, a mediaeval Byzantine town, is a sight to behold from the sea. Yet the special vantage point from sea is met with an equal measure of character when explored on foot. Nicknamed the Gibraltar of the East, explore the preserved Byzantine and Venetian architecture of the town that was the birthplace of one of the most important Greek poets, Giannis Ritsos. We’ll take a guided walk inside – delving into its winding paths and traditional churches, as well as around its castle. Lunch on board with an afternoon sail to Nafplion, arriving just in time for dinner. Overnight in Nafplion.
Day 7
Nafplion is the first capital of modern Greece, and the main port of the Eastern Peloponnese. As such, it’s well-connected and a great location to begin our optional tours from. In the morning we’ll visit Ancient Epidaurus and start along the trail of the Asclepius Temple. We climb circling the Temple of Apollo, passing the St. Anne church, the ruins of the temple of Aphrodite and the ancient cistern. Passing through eons-old olive tree groves we end up walking down to the famous ancient theater. A picnic in the countryside close to the Epidaurus area will follow after our hiking tour. Lunch on board and optional tour to the stunning Argolis countryside to another major centre of Greek civilization: Mycenae. This ancient city is home to the Lion’s Gate, Cyclopean Walls, the Agamemnon Tomb, and more.
Day 8
We arrive back to Athens to enjoy one last breakfast together before swapping contact details with new friends, disembarking, and setting off on onward journeys.
If you haven`t already, now is the time to explore some of the special sites in Athens, including the Parthenon / Acropolis, Acropolis museum, as well as the popular shopping disctricts of Plaka and Monastiraki.
The 48 meter “Galileo” is a classic steel Motor Sailer, with spacious and well appointed interiors renovated in 2020. At the main deck, a lounge area with an American bar leads into a warm and elegant dining room finished with wood and leather. Guests on the Galileo enjoy the most a shaded outdoor deck area with an outdoor bar and the ship`s sun deck. The M/S Galileo, built with the most stringent safety regulations, was launched in 1992.
Imagine your floating home on board the sleek, classic design Mega Yacht as she spreads her white sails through the seas under the name GALILEO, waving her Greek flag through the wind. Discover the world by sea at 11 knots per hour, in her un-rushed pace, one island or seashore at a time. Galileo loves to seduce her select 49 guests with her classic lines and wood paneled lounges redefining what yachting was meant to be. A spacious lounge with ample space, dining areas decorated with warm colors, rich library and two decks for sunbathing, shaded areas and outdoor bar and loungers are just some of the elements that define her essence. 360° views of unobstructed ocean are your eyes’ canvas painted with ocean blue and deep green mountains.
| CABIN CATEGORIES | Cabin | Euro rates | USD rates |
|---|---|---|---|
| CAT C Lower deck | Twin or Double bed cabins | €2150.00 | $2550.00 |
| CAT B Lower deck | Flexible bed cabins | €2790.00 | $3290.00 |
| CAT A Upper deck | Double, Twin or Triple bed cabins | €3300.00 | $3890.00 |
| Single supplement | + 50% | ||
| 3rd person discount | Valid for CAT A | – 30% | |
| Port charges | per person | €310.00 | $370.00 |
USD prices for USA, JAPAN AND MEXICO countries. Euro prices for rest of the world.
Children policy/Family offer
Conditions & Restrictions for the Family offers:
Cruise fares are per person and week and include
Not included:
Notes:
The Variety Cruises passion remains unchanged since 1968: an alchemy that blends enriching oneself educationally and exploring the true identity of a destination, while enjoying the comforts and unique benefits of a small ship sailing the seas.
We look forward to welcoming you aboard one of our ships soon and discover the world the Variety Cruises way.
OVERVIEW
Variety Cruises is one of the leading yacht cruise lines worldwide, operating a fleet of 11 fully owned vessels offering travelers the ultimate Boutique Yacht Cruise experience. With capacities ranging from 5 to 36 cabins, Variety Cruises’ upscale yachts and experiential cruise itineraries embrace each destination by visiting much-loved and unfrequented ports of call in a private, intimate and relaxed environment.
THE VARIETY CRUISES DIFFERENCE
AWARDS & ACCOLADES:
Some of Variety Cruises’ industry nomination highlights:
With more than 400 bed capacity on board 11 vessels, Variety Cruises is the largest Mega Yachts operator in the Mediterranean and one of the top 3 worldwide in the Small Ship market.
