Glamorous 12-Day Getaway to Athens, Naxos, Milos, and Santorini

We recently returned from an incredible two-week Coral Anniversary trip to Greece and it exceeded every expectation. From the ancient wonders of Athens to the whitewashed villages of Mykonos, the dramatic cliffs of Santorini, and the authentic traditions of Crete, every stop offered something unique and unforgettable. Most importantly, the people we met along the way transformed a beautiful vacation into a truly special experience. The journey took us through Athens, Mykonos, Santorini, and Crete.

Outstanding Planning and Service

Every transfer, hotel, tour, ferry, flight, restaurant reservation, and activity was flawlessly coordinated by Zicasso's travel partner. The itinerary struck a perfect balance between guided experiences and personal exploration, allowing us to enjoy Greece without ever worrying about logistics.

Athens – History, Culture, and Exceptional Hospitality

Our stay at our hotel in Athens gave us incredible Acropolis views and a perfect base for exploring the city. Walking through the Acropolis with our guide and standing before the Parthenon was breathtaking. The Acropolis Museum and city highlights tour helped bring thousands of years of history to life.

One of the highlights of our anniversary celebration was dinner at a restaurant atop Lycabettus Hill. Watching the sun set behind the Acropolis while enjoying excellent Greek cuisine and wine was a magical experience and one we'll never forget.

We would especially like to recognize our driver in Athens. He was professional, knowledgeable, and genuinely invested in making our trip memorable. During our day exploring the Argolis region, Epidaurus, Mycenae, and the Nemea wine country, he provided insights that helped us better appreciate the history and culture of Greece.

What truly distinguished our driver was his attention to detail. While we were traveling along the Athenian Riviera toward Cape Sounion and the Temple of Poseidon, he realized we were hoping for a true seaside lunch experience. Without being asked, he contacted the travel company and coordinated everything to make a last-minute adjustment so we could enjoy lunch by the sea. That thoughtful gesture perfectly reflects the level of service he provided throughout our stay. It turned a wonderful day into one of our favorite memories of Athens.

Mykonos – Relaxation and the Beauty of the Aegean

Mykonos provided the perfect contrast to the historical focus of Athens. Staying at our hotel in Mykonos overlooking the Aegean Sea allowed us to fully appreciate the island's beauty.

We spent time exploring the charming streets of Mykonos Town, admiring the famous windmills, and enjoying the relaxed island atmosphere. A major highlight was our private catamaran cruise to Delos and Rhenia. Sailing through the crystal-clear waters of the Aegean while visiting the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Delos gave us a fascinating glimpse into one of the ancient world's most important religious centers. The secluded waters around Rhenia were stunning and provided some of the most beautiful scenery of our trip.

Santorini – Spectacular Views and Unforgettable Sunsets

Santorini is every bit as beautiful as the photographs suggest and somehow even more impressive in person. Our stay in Oia overlooking the caldera was breathtaking. Whether enjoying breakfast with panoramic views or simply walking through the village, every moment felt special.

The wine-tasting experiences at a winery were outstanding. Sampling the island's distinctive Assyrtiko wines while learning about Santorini's unique volcanic terroir gave us a new appreciation for Greek winemaking. The carefully paired food-and-wine experiences were among the culinary highlights of the entire trip.

Our private sunset catamaran cruise around the caldera, White Beach, Red Beach, Black Beach, hot springs, and the volcano was another unforgettable experience. Watching the sunset from the water while enjoying dinner and local wine created one of the most memorable evenings of our anniversary trip.

Crete – The Heart of Greece

As amazing as Athens, Mykonos, and Santorini were, Crete became our favorite part of the journey.

Our quick stop at Knossos Palace and the historic city of Rethymnon allowed us to learn about the Minoan civilization and experience the rich blend of Venetian and Ottoman influences that define the island. The old Venetian harbor in Chania was equally impressive and provided a spectacular setting for our stay.

Samaria Gorge

One of the most rewarding experiences of our entire trip was hiking the Samaria Gorge. Covering 11 miles through one of Europe's most spectacular natural settings was challenging and incredibly rewarding. The dramatic cliffs, pristine landscape, and sheer scale of the gorge were unlike anything we had experienced before.

A tremendous part of that experience was our guide. Our guide brought expertise, enthusiasm, and a genuine passion for Crete that elevated the hike far beyond a typical excursion. His knowledge of the region, local culture, and natural environment made every step more meaningful.

Kissamos Villages and Cooking Class

Our final full day in Crete may have been the most authentic and memorable day of the entire trip.

The tour of the traditional villages of Kissamos provided a fascinating look at everyday Cretan life. Learning about olive oil production, tasting regional products, and experiencing rural villages gave us a perspective on Crete that most visitors never see.

The cooking class that followed was exceptional. Our host created an atmosphere that felt less like a tour and more like spending a day with friends. Together with his mother, he shared not only recipes, but the stories, traditions, and values that make Cretan culture so special.

For anyone traveling to Crete, we cannot recommend this tour company highly enough. Their commitment to authentic local experiences is truly outstanding.

This trip exceeded our expectations in every possible way. We experienced world-famous historical sites, breathtaking landscapes, incredible food and wine, beautiful hotels, and unforgettable adventures. Yet what we will remember most are the people who made the experience so special.

We returned home with wonderful memories, a deeper appreciation for Greek culture, and gratitude for everyone who helped make our anniversary celebration the trip of a lifetime.

We loved our Greece trip and had so much fun with our activities. Of the referred travel companies from Zicasso, we gravitated to this travel company because of its personal attention to detail regarding our vacation wishes. Our travel specialist took the time to listen and tailored an itinerary that captured our interests. It did not disappoint. This was our second trip through Zicasso and, as with the first, the guides, drivers, and support were on point.

The travel company lined up excursions with the nicest and most engaging people. From our arrival at the airport, they made us feel welcomed and special. We went to the head of the line again and again, and avoided much wasted time. The guides and drivers were genuinely glad we were there and our enjoyment was of the utmost importance. They always seemed to go above and beyond expectations with the knowledge they imparted and the amount of personal attention they provided.

In general, we found the people of Greece to be so nice and that really made the difference on this trip. Need a restaurant suggestion, just text our guide, as he was always right. Need a reservation, just text the travel company through WhatsApp and it was made. We are still texting a couple of the guides for additional information and recommendations for friends traveling to Greece.

Traveling by boat was one of the best decisions we made. The overnight ferry from Athens to Crete was an unexpected pleasure, and we would recommend it over air travel anytime, as it was very relaxed. Chania was engaging, Santorini was beautiful, and Paros was the ultimate place to chill out before traveling home.

We can't stop talking about how much fun we had in Greece. Thank you, the travel company, our travel specialist, and Zicasso. We will be in touch about our next adventure!

Our trip to Greece was exceptional, thanks to the careful planning by our travel company! They had every detail planned out and made sure we were well taken care of.

I traveled with my husband (50s) and my parents (80s). We had a general idea of some places we wanted to see and told the travel planner our interests. She ran with it and planned us the perfect trip for the pace we wanted and the types of experiences we were looking for. She suggested places that weren't even on our radar and they fit perfectly with our interests.

Our trip was 12 days, broken up into four nights in Chania, Crete, three nights in Santorini, and four nights in Athens. This was the right amount of time in each place (though my husband said he could spend a week in Santorini just to relax).

The travel planner met us at the airport and gave us a burner phone for our use during the trip, as well as a packet with tickets and boarding passes that we would need. The phone was very helpful because it had an app with our itinerary for each day, as well as contact numbers for her, drivers, tour guides, etc. This was great because we had what we needed at our fingertips and didn't have to pay for an international plan on our cell phones.

Each location we went to offered very different experiences.

Chania, Crete, was fantastic and my personal favorite spot. Our travel planner recommended it and I'm so glad she did. It was rich with history and culture, without feeling like a tourist trap.

Santorini: When we first arrived, it was a bit of a jolt because all the buildings are white and boxy (only the churches have blue roofs), and I was missing the color and vibrance of Chania. We went into Fira while we waited for our rooms to be ready and it was a total tourist trap, with people swarming around and souvenir shops and fast food restaurants. I was wondering if it was a mistake to come to this island. However, once we were settled into our hotel and saw the spectacular views and experienced the calmness, I understood why people come here. The nature and beauty won me over (and I just avoided the cities).

Athens was amazing because of the history and hospitality of the people. Everyone was so welcoming and kind. The ruins do not disappoint and we marveled at how they were just everywhere in Old Town.

Delphi: We took a day trip from Athens to Delphi and toured the ruins and museum, and had a wonderful lunch overlooking the mountains and valleys.

We went on several incredible tours during our trip. Two food tours (Chania and Athens), three archaeology/ruin-focused tours (Santorini, Athens, and Delphi), one tour of the mountains in Chania, and one sunset catamaran boat ride in Santorini. Every one of them was unique and interesting.

Our travel planner arranged several lunches and dinners for us. Each place was outstanding and the views were spectacular. We would just tell them we were with the travel company and they gave us the best seats in the restaurants and outstanding service.

We could not have asked for a more perfectly planned out trip!

Zicasso’s travel agency was incredible. Our agent put together an incredible two-week trip to Greece for us. Everything was planned perfectly, in such detail, and there wasn't a blip during the entire trip.  

As soon as we got to Athens from the US, we met our agent and received a folder with some tickets, boarding passes, etc., and a phone that we could use throughout to easily reach her, and vice versa. It was like she was by our side the entire time, checking in to see if things were going well or if we had any questions. We had no idea how well cared for we would be. 

We were in Athens, Naxos, Rhodes, Santorini, and Crete. Many meals were included. Two that stood out were a dinner in Naxos at a taverna run by the brother of one of our agent’s friends and the last night's dinner in Chania at a taverna run by her cousin. Those meals were complementary and we were treated like royalty.  

Other highlights were hiking in Naxos, a sunset cruise in Chania, and incredible hotels in Rhodes, Arachnes, Naxos, and Chania. I wholeheartedly recommend our travel company and agent. She was truly a special person. I have probably forgotten to include some highlights, but mostly wanted to note that our agent was awesome – detailed, thorough, thoughtful, and truly kind. We miss her!

I should also note that while traveling, before we got to Greece, I lost my wallet and requested her help with contacting the hotel in Athens about receiving a package for me, likely prior to my arrival, with my replacement credit card in it. Our agent and the hotel really helped me. 

I can't say enough.

Absolutely Unforgettable: Our Greek Adventure!

Wow, you seriously outdid yourselves! We just had the trip of a lifetime and we truly believe it can't be topped. From start to finish, you nailed every single detail, making our journey through Athens, Santorini, Milos, and Crete absolutely seamless and packed with incredible experiences.

Every transfer, every stay, every activity was perfectly handled. You really listened to what we wanted and delivered a trip that felt perfectly tailored to us. Thank you for crafting such an unforgettable adventure. We're already dreaming of our next Greek escape and we know exactly who we'll be calling!