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Greece/Turkey

The Greek Isles & Ephesus — A Small Ship Voyage

Program No. 25368RJ
Sail through history and culture on this Floating Campus voyage, exploring Athens, the Greek Isles and Ephesus while uncovering ancient wonders and hidden local gems.
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Small ShipAdventures Afloat Study CruiseNewFloating Campus
Length
11 days
Rating
New
Activity Level
Starts at
6,999
Special Offer
Flights start at
FREE

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Itinerary
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. Read More.
All itineraries and excursions are subject to change. Weather and water conditions may affect the progress of the ship, and we may miss ports if it is not safe to dock. The operators reserve the right to change the content and duration of excursions without prior notice and so the cruise itinerary should always be regarded as provisional. Whenever possible, Road Scholar’s published daily schedule will indicate port arrival and departure times. Prior to departure, if there is a major change, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
Duration
11 days
10 nights
What's Included
25 meals ( 9B, 8L, 8D )
6 expert-led lectures
8 expert-led field trips
An experienced Group Leader
9 nights of accommodations
Taxes and customary gratuity
Road Scholar Assurance Plan
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Activity Note
Check-in available from 3:00 PM.
Afternoon:
After arriving at the hotel, check-in and take some time to unpack and relax. Attend an orientation meeting. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the program theme, the up-to-date Daily Schedule and any changes, discuss safety guidelines, emergency procedures, roles and responsibilities, and answer any questions you may have. Indicated times are approximate. Program activities, schedules, and personnel may need to change due to local circumstances. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible.
Dinner:
At the hotel, get to know your fellow participants with a welcome meal.
Evening:
Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.
Activity Note
Walking about 3 miles including uphill along a winding trail with over 100 well-worn steps to reach the Acropolis, no handrails; uneven, slippery and rocky at the top; standing up to 2 hours. At the Acropolis Museum, walking and standing for more than an hour. Popular sites may be crowded at certain periods.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We will begin our exploration of Athens with a visit to its signature site, the Acropolis. Led by our Group Leader, we will climb the formidable Acropolis to explore the pinnacle of Greek Antiquity. Home to some of Ancient Athens’ most iconic monuments – the Parthenon, Erechtheon, and temple Athena Nike – the rocky summit was transformed into a manifestation of Greek advancement in culture and the arts. The Acropolis’s focal point is the Parthenon, built to honor the city’s patroness Athena, constructed under Pericles’ rule and completed in 432 BCE. We will also visit the renowned new Acropolis Museum.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
Free Time. Take this opportunity for personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most.
Dinner:
On your own to explore local cuisine.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Please pack your passport and any medications in your hand luggage today. All routes and excursions are subject to change – weather and sea conditions may affect the itinerary. Sea conditions affect the progress of the ship, making it run late and sometimes miss ports because it is not safe to dock. Because of this, the cruise itinerary should always be regarded as provisional. The operators reserve the right to change the content of excursions without prior notice.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
Check out of the hotel and transfer our luggage to the motorcoach before departing for our excursion. We will enjoy a discovery of Athens with our Group Leader.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
We will transfer to port to embark our ship in the late afternoon for the cruise portion of our program. Once aboard, we will have a welcome drink to meet the ship's crew and staff, followed by a safety orientation before we depart. Please note that your departure is part of our Floating Campus programs. All routes and excursions are subject to change – weather and sea conditions may affect the itinerary. Sea conditions affect the progress of the ship, making it run late and sometimes miss ports because it is not safe to dock. Because of this, the cruise itinerary should always be regarded as provisional. The operators reserve the right to change the content of excursions without prior notice.
Dinner:
Aboard the ship, dinners will be eaten in the open seating dining room. Most will be buffets, with choices of salads, vegetarian and meat or seafood entrees, dessert, and coffee, tea, and water. The first and last dinners on board will include a glass of wine, with other beverages available for purchase.
Evening:
At leisure. The ship is scheduled to leave Athens on our journey to Naxos.
Activity Note
Walking up to 3 miles on varied terrain, standing up to 2 hours. All routes and excursions are subject to change – weather and sea conditions may affect the itinerary.
Breakfast:
Aboard ship.
Morning:
Disembark the ship and follow your Group Leader into a walking tour exploration of Chora, the capital town of Naxos. Rich in history, being the largest island of the Cyclades, Naxos has been inhabited from the Middle Paleolithic Era and has been influenced from many different civilizations and empires over the centuries. We will start by visiting the impressive Portara, or the Great Door, one of Naxos’ jewels that proudly stands at the islet of Palatia, just a short walk away from our ship. Details about the temple’s original purposes remains unknown and from time to time it has been connected to many different deities, such as Apollo, Dionysus & Athena. From there we will ascend to the Venetian Castle, the only round shaped castle in Naxos, that played a crucial role in the fortification of the town, as well as the advancement of politics, religion and education during the Venetian period. Take in the amazing views before walking down through the narrow streets and visit a family owned shop where we will have the chance to taste a shot of Kitron, a locally made liquor, and learn the history of the family distillery that goes back to the early 1900s. You then have time to walk around the town and have lunch on your own or walk back to the ship with your Group Leader.
Lunch:
Aboard ship or independently in Naxos.
Afternoon:
Free time in Naxos. Later in the afternoon enjoy a lecture on topics relevant to our program.
Dinner:
Aboard ship.
Evening:
At leisure. The ship is scheduled to leave Naxos on our journey to Kusadasi.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach with 4-5 steps up/down. Walking up to 3 miles on varied terrain, standing up to 2 hours. All routes and excursions are subject to change – weather and sea conditions may affect the itinerary.
Breakfast:
Aboard ship.
Morning:
We will step off the ship, then board a motorcoach to take us to the House of the Virgin Mary. This catholic pilgrimage site is believed to be where the mother of Jesus spent the last years of her life. Our next stop will be to another UNESCO World Heritage Site, ancient Ephesus, where a local expert will lead our exploration. From the UNESCO inscription: “Located within what was once the estuary of the River Kaystros, Ephesus comprises successive Hellenistic and Roman settlements founded on new locations, which followed the coastline as it retreated westward. Excavations have revealed grand monuments of the Roman Imperial period including the Library of Celsus and the Great Theatre. Little remains of the famous Temple of Artemis, one of the ‘Seven Wonders of the World,’ which drew pilgrims from all around the Mediterranean.” Unlike her Greek counterpart, this Artemis was primarily a fertility goddess. We will also see ruins of what have been called the Terrace Houses, residential structures once inhabited by wealthy Ephesians.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
Free time in Kusadasi. Later in the afternoon enjoy a lecture on topics relevant to our program.
Dinner:
Aboard ship.
Evening:
At leisure. The ship is scheduled to leave Kusadasi on our journey to Kos.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach with 4-5 steps up/down. Walking up to 3 miles on varied terrain, standing up to 2 hours. All routes and excursions are subject to change – weather and sea conditions may affect the itinerary.
Breakfast:
Aboard ship.
Morning:
Kos was the birthplace of Hippocrates, regarded as the father of modern medicine. We will board a motorcoach for an expert-led field trip to the Asclepeion, a shrine dedicated to the god of healing and a renowned infirmary in antiquity. Among the ruins, we can discern part of the Doric temple of Asclepius, the altar, and the Stoa that housed the famous Hippocrates Medical School. Returning to town, we will visit the recently renovated Kos Archaeological Museum that holds a splendid collection representing the ancient past. One of the most fascinating items is a mosaic from the house of Asclepius featuring an image of Hippocrates. We'll then stroll around the town and be able to view the Tree of Hippocrates (Platanus Orientalis). Though the tree we see today is only about 500 years old, it is thought to be a descendant of the original tree from Hippocrates’ time — 2,400 years ago.
Lunch:
Aboard ship or independently in Kos.
Afternoon:
Free time in Kos. Later in the afternoon enjoy a lecture on topics relevant to our program.
Dinner:
Aboard ship.
Evening:
At leisure. The ship is scheduled to leave Kos on our journey to Santorini.
Activity Note
Going ashore in Santorini may require the use of a tender, requiring climbing in/out of it; assistance provided as needed. All routes and excursions are subject to change – weather and sea conditions may affect the itinerary. NOTE: Santorini is a very popular cruise ship stop, be prepared for several cruise ships in port and crowds on the island.
Breakfast:
Aboard ship.
Morning:
We will set out to explore Santorini's picturesque villages and archaeological sites. Classically known as Thera, the island of Santorini is the largest of an archipelago surrounding the underwater caldera from the Minoan Eruption during the mid 2nd millennium BCE. Santorini is home to archaeological sites from the Minoan period and whitewashed stone villages along the rim of the caldera, which we will explore on foot. The island is very crowded, and we do not recommend donkey rides up the mountain.
Lunch:
Aboard ship.
Afternoon:
The ship is scheduled to leave Santorini on our journey to Milos. Later in the afternoon enjoy a lecture on topics relevant to our program.
Dinner:
Aboard ship.
Evening:
At leisure. The ship is scheduled to remain in port overnight in Milos.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach with 4-5 steps up/down. Walking up to 3 miles on varied terrain, standing up to 2 hours. All routes and excursions are subject to change – weather and sea conditions may affect the itinerary.
Breakfast:
Aboard ship.
Morning:
Being one of the many volcanic islands of the Aegean Sea, this geological activity has given Milos an unreal variety of landscapes. But perhaps it is most known for the Venus de Milo statue, that was found in the island and is now exhibited in the Louvre Museum in Paris. We will start our day with a short coach ride to the Ancient Theatre, a marble marvel, that was recently re-opened after long preservation works and is now again ready to host theater plays and cultural events. From there we will drive to the village of Tripiti to visit the Catacombs, one of the most important archaeological findings of Milos. This underground system of interconnected tunnels were discovered in 1844 and were used as Christian cemeteries during Roman times. Continue on a panoramic drive to the west part of the Island, where we will learn about the rich mining history and enjoy the breathtaking landscapes of Milos, before returning to the port.
Lunch:
Aboard ship.
Afternoon:
The ship is scheduled to leave Milos on our journey to Syros. Later in the afternoon enjoy a lecture on topics relevant to our program.
Dinner:
Aboard ship.
Evening:
At leisure. The ship is scheduled to remain in port overnight in Syros.
Activity Note
Walking up to 3 miles on varied terrain, standing up to 2 hours. All routes and excursions are subject to change – weather and sea conditions may affect the itinerary.
Breakfast:
Aboard ship.
Morning:
Setting off the ship with our Group Leader, we’ll take off on foot to explore Ermoupoli, the principal port where architecture is characterized by classical design of two storied houses with stone plastered walls, red tiled roofs and wooden cornices, balconies, open terraces and courtyards. Syros stands out for its impressive architectural culture where great architects from Greece, Italy and Germany devised the Neoclassical Architecture of Syros which became a symbol of the status of the island. We will discover numerous little squares displaying statues of various commemorations, proudly and grabbing everyone’s attention at first sight. Late morning, we will return to port.
Lunch:
Aboard ship or independently in Syros.
Afternoon:
Enjoy a lecture on topics relevant to our program. Later in the afternoon the ship is scheduled to leave Syros on our journey to Athens.
Dinner:
Aboard ship.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Disembarkation by 9:00 AM.
Breakfast:
Aboard ship.
Morning:
Disembarkation at the Marina Zeas in Athens will follow after breakfast, timing based upon cabin location and flight schedule. All participants must be off the ship by 9 AM. This concludes our program. If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Please join our Facebook page and share photos of your program. Visit us at www.facebook.com/rsadventures. Best wishes for all your journeys!





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