Why visit just one glorious Greek island when you could play join-the-dots with two, three or more? Greece experts Olympic Holidays make it easy to plan your perfect itinerary.
Scattered across the azure Med, Greece’s 6,000 islands and islets are the stuff of travel daydreams. From talcum-soft coves washed by translucent seas to vertiginous villages perched high upon dramatic outcrops, each island has a unique flavour. Awash with history and ancient mythology, there are sun-bleached temples and age-old monasteries to explore, while island cuisine ranges from authentic Greek dishes at tiny waterfront tavernas to fusion cooking at sophisticated restaurants. The islands themselves vary enormously in size, from big-hitters such as magnificent Rhodes and Lesbos to pocket-sized delights like Paxos and Skiathos. Some have lively nightlife and thrumming bars, such as Mykonos and Santorini, while other are sleepy and low-key, such as unspoiled Tinos with its white-washed hamlets linked by ancient hiking trails.
By far the best way to get a taste of some of these wonderfully varied and entrancing specks is to plan a bespoke island-hopping trip. This is where booking with a specialist really comes into its own. Olympic Holidays are insider experts, with invaluable local knowledge and a passion for the Greek Islands. No need to worry about ferry times, accommodation, and flights – Olympic can design a tailormade hassle-free itinerary combining several islands, leaving you free to enjoy your trip. Their suggested itineraries are just a starting point, with each journey curated around clients’ interests, budget and time. Here are three spectacular island-hopping breaks to ignite your imagination.
Aegean Adventure
Combining the intoxicating buzz of Greece’s history-steeped capital city with the quiet beauty of serene Andros, followed by a dose of flamboyant nightlife in chic Mykonos, this three-island itinerary delivers a wonderfully varied taste of the Greek Islands. You’ll start in Athens with its extraordinary array of must-see ancient sights. Marvel at the Acropolis, Parthenon and myriad museums and monuments, then soak up the vibrant restaurant scene, nightlife and culture. Next, step aboard a two-hour ferry to Andros and settle into a different pace of life. The second largest of the Cyclades chain, this tranquil island remains blissfully off the tourist trail. Unusually lush and green, it has freshwater springs bubbling from hilltop villages, waterfalls cascading into deep ravines and wildflower-sprinkled hiking trails. Down on the coast, azure seas gently lap over seventy beaches, while the elegant Neoclassical mansions of traffic-free Chora hint at the island’s prosperous shipbuilding heritage. Your final stop is glamourous Mykonos with its iconic bone-white cube houses, blue-domed churches and 16th-century windmills. Lanes are lined with hip hotels, chic boutiques and bars and restaurants which come alive after sunset. It’s the perfect place to finish your island-hopping adventure in style.
Aegean Adventure – Athens-Andros-Mykonos Olympic Holidays is offering a 9 night holiday from £1499 per person based on 2 people travelling. The package includes a 3 night stay at the 4 Novus City Hotel, Athens on a Bed & Breakfast basis, a 3 night stay at the 3 Andros Holiday Hotel, Andros on a Bed & Breakfast basis and a 3 night stay at the 4 Mr & Mrs White Mykonos, Mykonos on a Bed & Breakfast basis. The package includes return flights to London Gatwick airport, baggage & all connecting transfers. Departures are available on 03rd May 2024.
The Emerald Gems
The Sporades archipelago had their Hollywood moment as the breath-taking backdrop for smash hit movie Mamma Mia, but it’s their pristine natural beauty that will leave you starry-eyed. This itinerary takes in a trio of stunning islands, starting in Skiathos, which despite its small size boasts over 60 pristine beaches, from tiny coves reached only by pine-scented footpaths to wide sandy bays such as idyllic Koukounaries. Skiathos Town is a treat, with cobbled lanes and lively tavernas spilling along the waterfront. Next stop, sleepy Skopelos, cloaked in almond and fruit orchards, with a picturesque horseshoe-shaped harbour and plenty of dreamy beaches to discover. Finally, there’s get-away-from-it-all Alonissos, a tranquil escape encircled by Europe’s largest marine reserve, its turquoise waters home to endangered Mediterranean monk seals, turtles and three species of dolphin. Don’t miss a visit to the rescue centre for baby seals.
Emerald Gems – Skiathos-Skopelos-Alonissos-Skiathos Olympic Holidays is offering a 10 night holiday from £1302 per person based on 2 people travelling. The package includes a 3 night stay at the 2 Alekos Studios, Skiathos on a Self Catering basis, a 3 night stay at the 3 Rigas Hotel Skopelos, Skopelos on a Bed & Breakfast basis, a 3 night stay at the 2+ Elena Studios, Alonissos on a Self Catering basis and a 1 night stay at the 2+ Yalis Apartments, Skiathoson a Self Catering basis. The package includes return flights to London Gatwick airport, baggage & all connecting transfers. Departures are available on 03rd May 2024.
Rhodes and Symi
A perfect pairing, Rhodes and Symi are linked by a 90-minute ferry ride. Each has a distinct feel, not least as Rhodes is the largest of the Dodecanese islands and 25 times bigger than Symi. You’ll start your trip on Rhodes, with ample time to take in its dreamy beaches (over 30 with Blue Flag status) washed by startlingly-clear seas, before threading your way through the lanes of cobbled Old Rhodes Town with its boutiques, bars and eateries. It’s a fascinating layer cake of history, with the Street of Knights a highlight. Laidback Symi may be smaller but still packs a punch, with its postcard-pretty harbour, Yialos, framed by pastel-hued Neoclassical mansions which rise in tiers up the slopes. It’s a charming spot to potter amid cafes, bars and artisanal shops, with a medieval castle at the summit and a clutch of gorgeous coves reachable by water taxi.
Symi – Rhodes Olympic Holidays is offering a 7 night holiday from £899 per person based on 2 people travelling. The package includes a 3 night stay at the 4 Sevasti Symi Studios, Symi on a Self Catering basis and a 4 night stay at the 3 Eleni Apartments, Rhodes on a Self Catering basis. The package includes return flights to London Gatwick airport, baggage & all connecting transfers. Departures are available on 01st May 2024.
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