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Greece

Jewels of the Aegean: Discover the History of the Greek Islands

Program No. 24908RJ
Board a small ship for an inspiring voyage through the Greek islands, stopping to learn about the history of Santorini, Crete, Karpathos, Delos and more.

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At a Glance

The Aegean Sea sparkles with historical and cultural gems — from its more famous islands of Santorini and Crete to the lesser-known Karpathos and Tinos, experience it all on this small ship adventure! Board your vessel in Athens after several days of exploration, including visits to the Byzantine museum and the Temple of Poseidon, and prepare yourself for a voyage through time. Discover the Bronze Age architecture of Knossos (the oldest city in Europe), the Medieval Old Town of Rhodes and the whitewashed stone villages along the rim of Santorini. Throughout your journey, hear the stories of each island from local experts who will paint the full picture of the history that you experience firsthand.
Activity Level
Keep the Pace
Walking up to three miles per day; uneven and inclined terrain including hills, stairs without railings and cobblestone streets. Getting on/off motorcoach and climbing in/out of tender.

Best of all, you’ll…

  • Spend two nights in Athens, where you’ll visit the Byzantine and Christian Museum and the Temple of Poseidon in Sounion, and enjoy a free afternoon to explore independently.
  • Visit the St. John Monastery and Grotto on Patmos, the place where St. John received visions that were recorded in the Book of Revelation.
  • Stop at the island of Delos, the mythological birthplace of Apollo and Artemis and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Featured Expert
All trip experts
Profile Image
Maria Argyraki
Maria Argyraki, an experienced member of the Association of Greek Licensed Tourist Guides, joined the Road Scholar Group Leader team in 2011. Born and raised in Athens to a family of Ottoman Greek refugees, she has studied, traveled, and worked in the U.S.A, the U.K, France, Turkey, and Japan. Dedicated to sharing her knowledge of history and culture and hosting travelers in a most personable manner, Maria is also an awarded literary translator. She is currently working on two historical novels of her own.

Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.

Profile Image of Maria Argyraki
Maria Argyraki View biography
Maria Argyraki, an experienced member of the Association of Greek Licensed Tourist Guides, joined the Road Scholar Group Leader team in 2011. Born and raised in Athens to a family of Ottoman Greek refugees, she has studied, traveled, and worked in the U.S.A, the U.K, France, Turkey, and Japan. Dedicated to sharing her knowledge of history and culture and hosting travelers in a most personable manner, Maria is also an awarded literary translator. She is currently working on two historical novels of her own.
Profile Image of Nikos Mastroxristos
Nikos Mastroxristos View biography
Nikos Mastroxristos was born and raised in Rhodes, Greece. He studied in Athens in the History and Archaeology Department of the Faculty of Philosophy. He has a bachelor's degree, a master's, and a Ph.D. in Byzantine archaeology. Nikos worked as an archeologist for about 10 years and has been leading groups in Greece since 2014.
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.





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