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Crete and the Dodecanese
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Fly into: Athens
Fly out of: Athens
Total Duration: 13 days
The southern islands of Crete and the Dodecanese are full of superlative experiences: a lost civilization, deep gorges, Crusader's castles, and isolated beaches. This itinerary will take you through all of them, beginning and ending in Athens.
- Natural Beauty
- Food and Wine
- Archaeology
- History
This Trip's Top Experiences:
Days 1-2
Pierdelune/Shutterstock
1 Athens
A Classical Act
- Explore the Acropolis, the great emblem of classical Greece that looms over the city
- Follow in the footsteps of Socrates and Plato with a stroll through the ancient Agora
- Visit Greece's oldest private museum, the Benaki Museum, which showcases everything from ancient sculpture to pistols owned by Lord Byron
Days 3-4
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2 Crete: Heraklion & Knossos
Greatest Minoan Treasures
- Visit Heraklion, Crete's bustling capital, to see its renowned Archaeological Museum
- See the Palace at Knossos, the most spectacular of the Minoan palaces and Crete's most popular attraction
- Surround yourself in luxury at the Elounda peninsula, and take a boat ride to the mysterious island of Spinalonga
Days 5-6
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3 Crete: Matala & Phaistos
More Minoan Treasures
- In Phaistos you'll find one of the greatest Minoan palaces. Its copious ruins are richly evocative
- Do like the Cretans do; make a pilgrimage to Arkadi Monastery, a shrine to heroes in the fight for independence from Turkey
- Visit the charming Venetian quarter of Rethymnon, which is dominated by Fortressa Castle
Days 7-8
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4 Crete: Hania & Samaria Gorge
Gorges and Beaches
- Explore the Venetian quarter of Hania and visit some of its best museums
- A trek through the Samaria Gorge, which splits through cliffs, is unforgettable
- Spend a day at the nearby beaches; those on the west coast are the finest and least crowded
Days 9-11
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5 Rhodes
Monuments and Butterflies
- Explore the well-preserved, walled Old Town, which has monuments built by the Knights of St. John
- Take a 15 minute donkey ride up to the Acropolis of Lindos for sweeping views
- The magical Valley of Butterflies lives up to its name; you'll see thousands of the creatures
Days 12-13
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6 Symi
Unspoiled Beauty
- See the lovely Monastery of Taxiarchis Michael Panormitis, dedicated to Symi's patron saint
- Visit one of Symi's pristine beaches; you'll have to take a boat as practically none are accessible by car
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