Greece

Slip into a slower pace of things in Greece

For fresh seafood, pine forests, and sun-bleached coves
greece

Slip into a slower pace in Greece

Greece is dreamlike. That’s if – like ours – your dreams are colored by zigzags of blue-white houses, fragrant olive groves, pretty fishing villages, and visions of a balmy Aegean Sea.

Happily, this trip weaves these things together at a blissfully gentle pace. We’ll take you through some of the country’s lesser-traveled corners; moving gradually south from quirky Thessaloniki to the Halkidiki peninsula and around the Sporades Islands, with a sublime finale on Sifnos. Equal parts slow and sweet, this one’s a recipe for contentment. Tried and tested, of course.

When

May-October

Price

From £21,500pp excl. flights
(based on 2 ppl sharing)

How long

Ideal length
11 nights
Days 1-2

Thessaloniki

Thessaloniki often slips under the radar. But Greece’s second-largest city entirely holds its own as Athens’ eccentric, characterful younger sister. There’s a patchwork of 20th Century and Byzantine architecture, candlelit wine bars, galleries, graffiti, vibey nightlife, and a thriving food scene.

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Day 1
Make yourself at home
Upon arrival in Thessaloniki, you’ll have plenty of time to settle into the On Residence hotel – in all its Gatsby-era glamor. Have a drink beneath the art deco chandeliers and step out to stretch your legs along the city’s sunny, strollable waterfront. We’re all for taking it easy on day one.
Amalfi Coast Landscape
Web Machu Picchu 1 E1540464031334
Day 2
Make yourself at home
Upon arrival in Thessaloniki, you’ll have plenty of time to settle into the On Residence hotel – in all its Gatsby-era glamor. Have a drink beneath the art deco chandeliers and step out to stretch your legs along the city’s sunny, strollable waterfront. We’re all for taking it easy on day one.
Parthenon Athens
Days 3-4

Sifnos

Having earned a reputation as the culinary capital of the Greek Islands, partly thanks to the legendary local chef Nikos Tselementes, Sifnos is a delight for all the senses. Wild Cycladic hills scented with sage and oregano, the liquorice bite of ouzo at the seafront tavernas of Vathi, and the crackle of sizzling chickpea fritters served in the clear-water bays of the Aegean. Take your pick.

Sifnos Greek Cuisine
Sifnos Greece
Day 3
A taste of tradition
Settling into island life from your base at Elies Resort, we’ll arrange for you to have a taste of Greek cuisine with a cooking lesson in a traditional Sifnian home. Preparing, cooking, and (of course) tasting, you’ll learn the secrets behind traditional dishes and Greek sweets like kaparosalata (wild caper salad) and melopita (honey and cheese pie). Later, you’ll weave your way through the streets of Vathi, watching the sunset at one of the tiny tavernas serving up sizzling calamari and glasses of ouzo.
Amalfi Coast Landscape
Beach Sifnos
Day 2
Make yourself at home
Upon arrival in Thessaloniki, you’ll have plenty of time to settle into the On Residence hotel – in all its Gatsby-era glamor. Have a drink beneath the art deco chandeliers and step out to stretch your legs along the city’s sunny, strollable waterfront. We’re all for taking it easy on day one.
Sifnos Waters
Days 5-6

Paros

Forming part of the Cyclades – a group of Greek islands where white-washed buildings look out across the glittering waters of the Aegean – Paros is known for its quarries of marble from which an estimated 80% of Greek antiquities were sculpted. For Greek historian Epiphoros, it was “the most prosperous and greatest of the Cyclades”. The Venetian castle of Kastro, the stalactite forests of Antiparos Cave, the bougainvillea-filled streets of mountainous Lefkes. We’ll show you them all.

Paros Fishing Boats
Beach Avant Mar
Day 5
Fifty shades of blue
Swapping one island for another, you’ll head to the enchanting blue-white Paros. Here, on Piperi Beach, you’ll find Avant Mar – a Cycladic haven situated a stone’s throw from the charming cobblestone streets of Naoussa. This boutique seafront hotel is the perfect place from which to explore. Over the next few days, you’ll do just that.
Kastro Castle Paros
Antiparos Caves
Day 6
Into the depths
Hopping aboard the ferry from Pounta port to Antiparos Island, you’ll arrive at the smaller island’s harbour. Wandering through Chora, the main town of Antiparos, you’ll explore the Venetian castle of Kastro before delving beneath the island’s surface. Hidden at 160 metres deep, you’ll descend into Antiparos Cave, weaving your way through forests of cream-coloured stalactites and stalagmites and a vast 216-metre chamber.
Paros Coastline
Days 7-10

Santorini

Equal parts iconic and breathtaking, the crescent-shaped island of Santorini provides a dazzling panorama of the Aegean Sea and the volcanic caldera that frames it. In this haven of relaxation, you’ll breathe in the views from every angle. Whether you’re soaking up the sun on your private veranda, exploring the Minoan site of Akrotiri, or strolling between the blue-domed churches of Fira.

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Day 7
Of caves and clifftops
Waving goodbye to Paros, you’ll hop aboard the ferry to the mesmerising tiered cliffs of Santorini. Arriving at the northern tip of Oia, you’ll head to Andronis Luxury Suites, where you’ll rest your head for the next three nights. You’ll spend your first day and night settling in. Dining at Lycabettus Restaurant on a clifftop balcony, taking a dip in your own private “cave pool”, and relaxing with a hot stone or bamboo massage at Mare Sanus Spa.
Santorini Vineyard
Kastro Castle Paros
Antiparos Caves
Day 8
To the vineyards
Today, we’ll arrange for you to visit three local wineries. Learning the secrets of the island’s grape varieties and viniculture, you’ll sample aromatic whites and reds between the vines. From red Mavrotragano with its black (“mavro”) and crisp (“tragano”) berries to dry white Aidani.
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Day 9
Sailing at sunset
On your penultimate day, we’ll arrange for a sailing excursion across the Aegean Sea. From the Red Beach to the White Beach, to Indian Rock and the marina of Ammoudi, this experience can be anything you wish it to be. A snorkelling adventure, an indulgent soak in natural hot springs. Or both. We’ll also arrange for an on-board feast of local delicacies as you watch the sun sink beneath the horizon. The perfect end to your own Greek Odyssey.
Santorini Rooftops Flowers
Day 10
An epic ending
Leaving is never easy. But, as you make your way to Santorini Airport, passing blue-domed churches and black volcanic islets, we can’t help but think there’ll be more Greek tales to come.
Paros Coastline

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