Azamara®: Azamara Journey

Piraeus is the seaport for Athens, the capital of western civilization, which boasts a fantastic mix of classical ruins and vivacious modern life. Climb the hill of Acropolis to wonder at the Parthenon, join the lively Athenians in Constitution Square, and find a welcoming taverna for spirited bizouki music, plenty of ouzo to drink, and energetic Greek dancing. Piraeus is the largest harbor in the country. The white chapel of St. George at its summit has a theater bearing the same name. The hill of Nymphs is the site of a planetarium, which is located above magnificent Thesseio temple. Among all of these hills, Acropolis is the one that glorified Athens and the whole Greek world and became the symbol of the western civilization. Bays and small rocky or sandy coves dot the area and during the summer are filled with Athenians and foreigners enjoying their beauty.

Suggested Private Excursions

Piraeus: The Ancient City of Athens - 8 Hours

Piraeus: Cape Sounion - 5 hours

Santorini is everything that has made the Greek islands legendary. The world famous island of Santorini is the southern most island of the Cycladic group in the Aegean Sea, and is located north of Crete. Its population is distributed among thirteen villages and just exceeds nine thousand. The marvelous dry climate and unbroken sunshine create year around conditions which are perfect for observation, photographs and videos under an extraordinary variety of natural lights and colors.

Suggested Private Excursions

Santorini Island Tour - Half Day Tour approx 4 hours

Santorini: Santorini Highlights - 4 hours

Santorini's ancient Akrotiri excavation & Oia Tour approx 4 hours

Santorini cooking and wine tasting class approx. 4 hours

Megalochori village & the lost Atlantis Museum approx. 4 hours

Santorini Walking food tour approx. 4 hours

Santorini sunset cruise approx. 5 hours

Santorini caldera hiking trail OIa to Fira approx. 4 hours

Heraklion, the capital of Crete and its principal commercial port, is just three miles away from the fantastic ruins of the Palace of Knossos. Discovered in 1899 by Sir Arthur Evans and partially reconstructed, the elaborate Palace is believed to be the mythical Labyrinth of King Minos and the seat of ancient Minoan culture. The Archaeological Museum in Heraklion displays many of the treasures found during the excavations.

Suggested Private Excursions

Crete: Knossos - Archanes - Heraklion Museum -5 hours

Rhodes is one of Greece’s favored vacation centers and was an important cultural center with a well-known School of Rhetoric attended by such greats as Cicero and Caesar. Rhodes' most famous attractions originated with the Knights of St. John, who occupied parts of the island from 1310 to 1522 and left a medieval town, dominated by the Palace of the Grand Masters and Knights' Hospital, which houses an Archaeological Museum with interesting exhibits of national archaeological finds. Rhodes has inspired many artists. The Old Town offers shopping opportunities and lively nightlife. At Mount Filerimos a church has been built on the site of an ancient temple. A popular excursion is to the charming village of Lindos. Its premier attraction, the ancient acropolis, stands atop sheer cliffs. Walls of a 13th-century Crusader castle enclose the site. Today, the winding path up to the acropolis is lined by stalls, where locals sell lace tablecloths and souvenirs. Mandraki Harbor's entrance is flanked by stone columns topped by figures of a stag and a hind, the town's heraldic animals.

Suggested Private Excursions

Rhodes Town & Lindos - Full day tour approx 8 hours

Rhodes Medieval town & Lindos Tour approx 5 1/2 hours

Lindos half day tour 4 1/2 hours

Rhodes & Filermos half day tour approx. 4 1/2 hours

Despite the many tourists, Marmaris has managed to retain its charm. Marmaris is in the deep recesses of a pretty bay, framed by pine-clad mountains. The sheltered harbor provides ideal anchorage for boats, which are protected from the stiff breezes out at sea. Secluded coves around Marmaris offer nice beaches with hotels and resorts. Many visitors use Marmaris as a starting point for trips to Caunos, an important ancient city famed for its rock tombs. Attractions include the statue of Kemal Atatürk, founder of the Turkish Republic. Also interesting to see is Menzilhane, an Ottoman version of a pony express station, dating back to the days of Sultan Süleyman the Magnificent, who ordered the station built in 1545. Beyond that, one can spend a lazy day in the sun or join locals and fellow visitors in a waterfront taverna. It's fun to stroll along the palm-lined waterfront promenade. Approximately 10 minutes away are good, sandy beaches, backed by green mountains. The clear waters of the Aegean are ideal for swimming and watersports, including scuba diving offered at Hotel Mares.

The island of Kos, just off the coast of Turkey, was the birthplace of Hippocrates, father of modern medicine. Byzantine and Hellenistic ruins, glorious beaches and natural beauty make this island a favorite. There really is so much to see on the island, visitors will have trouble deciding which site to see if there is limited time. There is the Asklepeion Sanctuary, which was built in 357 BC and was to ancient Greeks what a spa is to us today. There are also temples of Aphrodite and Dionysus, the Palace of the Knights of Rhodes which is a quite impressive medieval structure with double walls and a moat and Casa Romana. Other attractions include a museum, Turkish mosques, the Roman Odeon and fountains and Roman baths. If time permits, also visit the ruined Byzantine fortress and 14th-century church in Palio Pili as well as the medieval castle at Antimahia.

A former capital of Greece and a popular port on the eastern Peloponnese coast, Nafplion impresses visitors with grand, medieval architecture erected by Venetians during the 15th century. The most dominant structure is Palamidi Fortress towering high above town. The port is a lively town with a scenic harbor, a picturesque center to explore on foot and pebble beaches. Several monuments remain from its Turkish past, including mosques and parliament building. Handicrafts and local costumes are on display at the Folk Art Museum. Palamidi Castle has an incomparable view from the fortress’ lofty position. Spend time strolling along the waterfront, exploring around main square and narrow streets of Old Town. Platia Sintagmator, the city’s main square, is fronted by a former mosque, now the meeting place of Greek Parliament. Here is also the Archaeological Museum, which features an outstanding collection of Mycenaean finds. The entrance to Akronafplia Citadel has a gate built of Roman bricks, a Byzantine gatehouse with frescoes dating from 1291, and Venetian bastions.


From the port, don't pass up a tour to Mycenae. There is evidence that the site has been inhabited since 4000 BC, but reached its peak of civilization during 1500 - 1000 BC. It was here that the mighty Agamemnon ruled and the site still contains massive structures which give visitors a glimpse of what this magnificent city once was.

Piraeus is the seaport for Athens, the capital of western civilization, which boasts a fantastic mix of classical ruins and vivacious modern life. Climb the hill of Acropolis to wonder at the Parthenon, join the lively Athenians in Constitution Square, and find a welcoming taverna for spirited bizouki music, plenty of ouzo to drink, and energetic Greek dancing. Piraeus is the largest harbor in the country. The white chapel of St. George at its summit has a theater bearing the same name. The hill of Nymphs is the site of a planetarium, which is located above magnificent Thesseio temple. Among all of these hills, Acropolis is the one that glorified Athens and the whole Greek world and became the symbol of the western civilization. Bays and small rocky or sandy coves dot the area and during the summer are filled with Athenians and foreigners enjoying their beauty.

Suggested Private Excursions

Piraeus: The Ancient City of Athens - 8 Hours

Piraeus: Cape Sounion - 5 hours