Greek Isles Private Expedition

Journey to Greece for an inspiring 9-day private expedition with National Geographic. Unearth forgotten myths, explore temple ruins and visit ancient landmarks that remain a symbol of a bygone era. Enjoy the insights of a private guide as you journey from Athens to Crete, Agios Nikolaos to Santorini. Spend an afternoon on a sailboat, take an optional cooking class, and enjoy free time to wander through galleries or watch the harbour from a waterfront café, concluding your journey with 3-nights in the stunning, whitewashed islands of Santorini.

Trip highlights

Explore ancient Athenian ruins and Cape Soúnio’s Temple of Poseidon with private guides.

Stay in stunning cave dwellings at Kapari Natural Resortperched high above Santorini’s caldera.

Alongside a private guide, visit the Palace of Knossos, the ancient capital of Minoan Crete.

Itinerary - 9 Days

Days 1-2 Athens, Greece/Cape Soúnion

Arrive in Athens and take a private city tour, including stops at the Temple of Zeus and the Panathenaic Stadium. Climb to the Acropolis complex to discover the legendary Parthenon, then spend the rest of the day at the New Acropolis Museum, home to nearly 4,000 ancient works. After a morning at leisure, take a private excursion to Cape Soúnio—home to the Temple of Poseidon— and explore these ancient seaside ruins with your guide.
Electra Palace Hotel Athens (Day 2: B)

3-5 Crete

Fly to Crete and set out with a private guide to discover the Palace of Knossos. Next, take a private walking tour through the coastal capital of Heraklion, stopping at the Archaeological Museum to admire the world’s most impressive collection of Minoan art. Continue to your seaside resort and enjoy a day at leisure, or take part in an optional private cooking class. Then travel to Pláka and take a traditional fishing vessel to Spinalonga for a private tour of this tiny isle. A fortified stronghold of the Venetians and later of the Ottomans, the island served as a leper colony well into the 20th century. St.
Nicolas Bay Resort Hotel & Villas (B Daily)

6-9 Santorini

Board a ferry to Santorini and settle into Kapari Natural Resort perched high atop the island’s volcanic ridgeline. The next day, trace the clifftop of Santorini on a guided tour. See one of Greece’s oldest lighthouses in Akrotiri, wander a labyrinth of narrow corridors and tunnels in Pyrgos, and savour lunch with a view in enchanting Oia. On your final day in Santorini, join a sailing excursion on the Aegean, stopping to swim and snorkel. Dine on deck as you watch one of the island’s famous sunsets.
Kapari Natural Resort (Days 6 and 9: B; Day 7: B/L; Day 8: B/D)