ITALY AND GREECE / 2016 SAMPLE TOUR SCHEDULE

Day 1: Overnight flight to Europe

Depart North America on an overnight flight to Europe.
Day 2: Arrive in Rome
Upon arrival at the airport the group should be prepared to wait up to 2 hours for consolidated groups to arrive.
Transfer from the airport to the hotel (1-2 hrs) and have dinner after storing luggage in the rooms.
Day 3: Vatican Sightseeing | Optional Catacombs
**Please note that the Trevi Fountain is under construction through 2016**
Morning: Depart from the hotel and pick up the local guide for the sightseeing tour of the Vatican. The tour will include a walk

through the Vatican Museums to reach the Sistine Chapel at the end; and a visit to St. Peters Basilica. Free time is given
afterwards for lunch and to explore Vatican City (4hrs30mins).
Afternoon: Free time after lunch for those not participating in the optional excursion.

Add this in-depth excursion: Catacombs

This optional will last around 3 hours and its all walking. You will visit the Catacombs for 40 minutes. From there you will
walk 1 hour on the Appian Way to the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls. Must wear good walking shoes! And
remember that the Catacombs are underground and could be experienced as claustrophobic. [Those not participating in
the optional will have free time].

Evening: Dinner at the hotel.

Day 4: Rome Sightseeing

Morning: Depart hotel and pick up local guide on the transfer to the Colosseum. Visit Colosseum with guide and then free

time to explore after guide is finished (2hrs). Continue with the local guide and visit the Roman Forum (1hr). Free time for
lunch.
Afternoon: The Tour Director will offer the group the opportunity to take a self-guided walking tour from the Spanish Steps or

the Trevi Fountain to the Piazza Navona via the Pantheon (90mins). Free time for the afternoon (3hrs).
Evening: Arrive at the hotel and enjoy free time before dinner.

Day 5: Transfer to Naples and visit Capri on the way to the Sorrento Region
Morning: Depart the hotel and transfer to Naples (3hrs). Take ferry to Capri (55mins) where the group will take a boat tour

with guided commentary (1hr30mins). There are plenty of opportunities to take scenic photographs of the island. Guide leads
group up into Capri Town via funicular (5mins) and will give a short walking tour (15mins) across the island to the "Garden of
Augustus" where there are great views down on the Faraglioni Rocks.
Afternoon: After this the group will have free time for lunch and shopping (2hrs). Return to the marina and take ferry back to

Sorrento (45mins).
Evening: Stop in Sorrento (1hr) on way to the hotel for dinner.

Day 6: Stop for a guided visit of Pompeii on way to Bari/Brindisi | Night ferry to Greece
Morning: Depart the hotel to transfer to Pompeii (1hr). Meet the local guide for walking tour of the ruins (1h30min-2hrs).

After the tour the group has some free time to wander the ruins and buy souvenirs (45mins). Depart Pompeii before noon and
transfer to Bari/Brindisi (5-6hrs) with a stop at a motorway service station for lunch.

Afternoon: The group needs to be at the ferry port 3 hours prior to the scheduled departure time. The participants will be
assigned 3-4 per cabin (this may apply to adult participants as well), and the cabins have minimal amenities like bathroom
and a telephone. Please make sure to pack a small bag that can be used overnight while your suitcase is stored underneath.
Evening: Dinner is served buffet-style on board the night ferry.

Day 7: Arrive in Patras and transfer to Delphi

Morning: Have breakfast on board the ferry before disembarking in Patras, Greece. Board bus for transfer to Delphi

(4hrs30mins).
Afternoon: Stop for lunch along the way from Patras to Delphi.

Evening: Dinner at the hotel.

Day 8: Sightseeing of Delphi | Transfer to Athens | Optional Greek Evening

Morning: Depart hotel and have a guided walking tour of site at Delphi (2hrs). Groups have some free time afterwards to

explore on their own (30mins). [Please note that there is a steep uphill walk and uneven grounds at Delphi].
Afternoon:
Depart Delphi and transfer to Athens (4hrs) and stop along the way for lunch (1hr) at a local restaurant (not

included).
Evening: Check-in at the hotel (if group is more than 30 minutes from the city center than they will not see Athens today).

Add this in-depth excursion: Greek Evening

Depart hotel for the 2-hour Greek dinner and traditional show (4hrs). [Those not participating in the optional will have
dinner at the hotel.]
Day 9: Sightseeing Athens | Walking tour Athens
Morning: Depart hotel with local guide on bus for guided tour of Athens (3hrs30mins). Includes photo stop at 1896 Olympic

Stadium and drive by major sites. Final hour is on foot at the Acropolis hill to visit the Parthenon. The ticket includes entrance
into the Acropolis Museum as well. The tour ends either at the Parthenon or in the Plaka.
Afternoon: Free time for lunch (1hr). Tour Director will lead walking tour (1hr) followed by time to further explore, admire the

views or taken in the ambience of a local caf.

Evening: Return to the hotel for dinner.

Day 10: Transfer to Athens airport

The Athens airport is 1 hour from hotel.

3-DAY EXTENSION
Day 10: 3-Day Greek Island Cruise | First Port of Call: Mykonos
**Please make sure to ask your Tour Consultant for a detailed Cruise Info Sheet**
**There are two different shore excursion optional packages to choose from for this 3-day cruise. Package 1 contains Ephesus
through the Ages and Minoan Palace of Knossos, and Package 2 contains the first two plus Oia Village**
Morning: Depart hotel for Pireaus port (30mins). The group has to be at the port at least 2 hours prior for embarkation

procedures. All participants will board the ship and open their individual shipboard accounts upon embarkation (the cards
they receive also function as their cabin keys). There will be a brief mandatory fire drill as the ship gets ready to depart from
Piraeus (20mins).
Afternoon: Arrive in Mykonos in the late afternoon have free time (3hrs).

Evening: Return to the cruise ship for dinner.

Day 11: Ports of call: Kusadasi and Patmos | Optional Ancient Ephesus through the Ages (Shore Excursions Packages 1 & 2)
Morning: Arrive in Kusadasi in the early morning with time for various shore excursions or free time (6hrs).

*DISCLAIMER: The above is an example of how this tour may run. All times and durations are subject to change, and the
order of activities may be switched or substituted as needed based on availability.

Add this shore excursion: Ancient Ephesus through the Ages

Drive through the colorful town of Kusadasi to Ephesus, where youll marvel at the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven
Wonders of the Ancient World, the iconic Library of Celsus and the Great Theatre.

Afternoon: Arrive in Patmos in the late afternoon with time for shore excursions or free time (5hrs).
Evening: Return to the cruise ship for dinner.

Day 12: Ports of call: Crete and Santorini | Optional Minoan Palace of Knossos (Shore Excursions Packages 1 & 2) and Oia
Village (Shore Excursion Package 2)
Morning: Arrive in Crete in the early morning with time for various shore excursions or free time (4hrs30mins).

Add this shore excursion: Minoan Palace of Knossos

Visit one of the Bronze Ages most impressive archaeological sites in the world, Knossos Palace. Also known as the
Labyrinth, the palace appears as a maze of workrooms, living spaces, and store rooms close to a central square. Sir
Arthur Evans archaeological excavations and restorations from 1900 suggest that this was the site of the ancient
Minoan Kingdom. See the Palaces Hall of the Royal Guard, the Hall of the Double Axes, the Kings Chamber with its
alabaster throne, the Queens Apartment, as well as its beautiful courtyards and shrines. During your visit, view detailed
images of Cretan life in the late Bronze Age on the palace walls.

Afternoon: Arrive in Santorini in the late afternoon with time for shore excursions or free time (4hrs30mins).
Add this shore excursion: Oia Village
Admire the panoramic view of the Aegean Sea and the neighboring islands on your way to Oia Village. First you will
head up to the monastery of Prophet Ilias for a breathtaking view before continuing north. You will see various layers of
lava fixed on the face of the rock, each being another phase of the activity of the volcano. You will pass through Fira, as
well as the traditional villages of Firostefani and Imerovigli before arriving in Oia. Built on the Caldera rim, Oia Village is
an excellent example of Cycladic architecture. Walk along the cobblestone streets and explore the village, known for its
white-washed houses with blue shutters. You will have free time to walk along the marble-paved alleys and poke around
in the cute shops.

Evening: Return to the cruise ship for dinner.

Day 13: Return from Greek Cruise and transfer to Athens airport
The Athens airport is 1 hour from Piraeus port in Athens.

TIPPING
Tour Director: 9 days * $6/day = $54/traveler (add $18 for extension)
Bus Driver: 9 days * $3/day = $27/traveler (add $0 for extension)
Local Guides: 6 guides * $2/guide = $12/traveler (add $0 for extension)
Total per traveler = $93 ($18 for extension)
*Suggested tipping does not include any optional excursions.

*DISCLAIMER: The above is an example of how this tour may run. All times and durations are subject to change, and the
order of activities may be switched or substituted as needed based on availability.