This amazing tour through the cradle of Western Civilization brings the distant past and vibrant present into sharp focus. Between the must-see historical sights of Athens and Delphi, the rugged plateaus of the fabled Samariá Gorge, personal encounters in isolated Cretan villages, and the breezy sway of Santorini at sundown, you won’t have a moment to waste. Witness Greece – in all her timeless glory – with other educators on this exciting GEEO program.
Please click here to go to our general FAQ, which has essential information that applies to all of our programs.
Visit our recommended reading page to see the list of books GEEO recommends reading before your program (this is not required reading). We also have lesson plans and Pinterest boards that may be useful for you as you learn about your destination and prepare to bring lessons back to your classroom.
It is very important for you to visit our Terms and Conditions page before signing up for this program.
All cancellations must be submitted to GEEO in written form by emailing your request for cancellation to travel@geeo.org. If you do not receive a confirmation that we have received your written cancellation request, please call us at 1-877-600-0105. Verbal cancellation requests will not be honored.
All GEEO/G Adventures group trips are accompanied by one of G Adventure’s group leaders, which they refer to as Chief Experience Officers (CEO). The aim of the group leader is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. They will provide information on the places you are traveling through, offer suggestions for things to do and see, recommend great local eating venues, and introduce you to our local friends. Our itineraries often have plenty of free time to explore on your own.
While not being guides in the traditional sense, you can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the countries visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious and social aspects. We also use local guides where we think more specific knowledge will add to the enjoyment of the places we are visiting – we think it’s the best of both worlds.
This trip includes light walking and hiking that is suitable for most fitness levels. In the cities, you can split apart from the group to go your own pace. It is very hot in Greece during the summer, so make sure you stay hydrated.
Half of the people that travel with GEEO are traveling by themselves, so please don’t worry if you have no one who can join you on your trip. Our pricing is based on double occupancy or, in other words, two people to a room. You never have to pay for a single room unless you want one. GEEO can find you a roommate of the same gender. Most of our trips have a “My Own Room” option, also known as a “Single Supplement,” which is an extra fee that will allow you to have a room to yourself. If you want to room alone, please email travel@geeo.org. To see the price for the “My Own Room” option, please click here where you can look up your trip in the extra services spreadsheet.
Day 1 is an arrival day and no activities have been planned. Upon arrival to the city on Day 1, or earlier if you have booked pre-accommodation with us, please make your way to the joining hotel. Check-in time will be in the afternoon. Once you arrive at the hotel, look for a note at reception from your tour leader. This note will give the details of your Welcome Meeting on Day 1, usually between 6:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., at which you will get a chance to meet your tour leader and other travelers, as well as learn more about how the tour will run. If you don’t see a note, please ask reception for details!
If you miss the Welcome Meeting, your tour leader will leave a note at reception for you with any information you may need and with instructions for the next morning.
When you arrive at the airport, you can either take a taxi or use public transportation.
A taxi from the airport to the hotel will cost around €30-€40 EUR.
It is easy to get into the city from Athens International Airport by Metro. You will receive your trip vouchers about 30 days before departure, once you have completed your Good To Go check-in. Your vouchers will have the name of our start hotel. You can look up public transport directions on Google Maps.
Should you need to contact G Adventures during a situation of dire need, it is best to first call their local G Adventures office. If for any reason you do not receive an immediate answer, please leave a detailed message and contact information, so they may return your call and assist you as soon as possible.
EMERGENCY CONTACT NUMBERS
G Adventures UK office (manned UK 8:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m.)
+44 (0) 2072439878
If you are unable for any reason to contact the local office, please call the numbers listed below, which will connect you directly with the 24-hour Sales team, who will happily assist you.
Toll-free, from calls within North America only: 1 888 800 4100
Calls from within UK: 0844 272 0000
Outside North America and the UK: +1 416 260 0999
For absolute emergencies after office hours please contact +44 7817 262559
If for any reason you do not receive an immediate answer, please leave a detailed message and contact information, and your call will be returned as soon as possible.
Please read this article on GEEO’s blog for our staff’s suggestions on the best gear to pack for your upcoming travels. You must be prepared to carry your own bags and be comfortable carrying them up and down stairs, on and off transportation, and to hotels. As a rule, we try not to have to walk more than 15-20 minutes with your bags, which is why we recommend keeping the weight of your bags between 22-30 lb. Most travelers carry a backpack or rolling bag of small to medium size. No XXL bags please! A daypack is also essential for carrying everyday items. Space is limited on transportation, so there is a limit of one main piece of luggage per person plus a daypack per person.
Laundry facilities are sometimes offered by the hotels. You can also use a local laundromat if need be.
All GEEO trips require that the participant have a valid passport. Please see our general FAQ for information on obtaining a passport. As with all of our trips, we try to provide the most accurate information we can, but governments sometimes change visa rules. It is your responsibility to double check the information we provide below by searching here.
Americans do not need a visa for travel in Greece. Non-American participants should check with their government to find out if they need a visa.
Greece is in the Eurozone and the unit of the currency is the Euro (EUR). As currency exchange rates fluctuate, we ask that you refer to the following website for daily exchange rates: www.xe.com. ATMs are also widely available that distribute the local currency, and this is what we recommend as your primary source of cash while traveling. Please make sure you bring at least $200 USD in cash as emergency money just in case you have trouble with the ATMs or lose your bank card. Major credit cards are accepted in most shops but they may charge a 2-4% transaction fee. Visa and MasterCard are useful for cash advances in an emergency situation. Please note that, if you are carrying U.S. Dollars, they should be in good condition (i.e., not torn, wrinkled, or marked on in any way) and printed recently.
It is customary in Europe to leave a small tip for service providers, such as waiters, if you are pleased with the service (€1-2 EUR for snacks or 10% of a meal bill). Tipping is an expected – though not compulsory – component of your tour program and an expression of satisfaction with the persons who have assisted you on your tour. Although it may not be customary to you, it is of considerable significance to the people who will take care of you during your travels.
Also, at the end of each trip, if you felt your G Adventures Tour Leader did an outstanding job, tipping is appreciated. The amount is entirely a personal preference. As a budgeting guideline, $35-$45 USD per person per week can be used.
You do not need any vaccinations to travel on this program.
We often find the best prices for purchasing flights is 60 days before departure, but of course this varies greatly from route to route and year to year. You must wait until this trip is confirmed with the minimum number of required participants before you book your flights. Typically, we reach the minimum number needed at least 90 days before departure. GEEO and G Adventures bear no responsibility for any flights purchased before the trip is confirmed. You can find out whether this trip has been confirmed here.
Your trip begins in Athens and ends in Santorini. Please double check our itinerary for the date by which you must arrive in Athens. You can arrive at any time of the day you choose, but you may want to arrive in Athens several days early if you have never been before, as there is a lot to see. You can depart from Santorini any time on the final day of the trip.
This itinerary only includes a day in Athens. We recommend arriving a day or two early to see the major sights of Athens. We include one and a half days in Santorini, which is enough time to see the major sights. It is one of the most beautiful places in the world, so if you want to relax, spend some time on the beach, and explore more of the Island, staying an extra day or two would be worthwhile.
There are two components to provide external power to your device: adapters and transformers. The adapter is the plug, adapting the prongs on a standard U.S. two to three-pronged power cord to match the prongs required by the local outlets. The transformer changes the local voltage to that required by your device.
Greece uses a European-style two circular prong plug. Their voltage is 220-240 Volts. U.S. outlets are 120V. Most new devices (phones and laptops) can handle the different voltage rates, but some devices only work on the U.S. standard of 120V. Check your device to see what voltage range it handles. Most transformer blocks will have an “Input” line that defines its voltage capacity. For example, “Input: 100-240V” means that it will work on voltages from 100V to 240V. If your transformer can’t handle the different voltage, you’ll need to purchase a voltage converter. You can find world regional voltage converters power packs at various vendors.
Before you decide on traveling with GEEO, it is important that you read all of the information about the program you are considering. Remember, our programs are quite adventurous.
Hopefully this is the kind of adventure you are interested in!
While it is our intention to adhere to the routes described on our website, there is a certain amount of flexibility built into the itinerary and on occasion it may be necessary, or desirable, to make alterations. The itinerary is brief, as we never know exactly where our journey will take us. Due to our style of travel and the regions we visit, travel can be unpredictable. The information on our website is a general guide to the tour and region, and any mention of specific destinations or wildlife is by no means a guarantee that they will be visited or encountered. Additionally, any travel times listed are approximations only and subject to vary due to local circumstances.
“Take hiking poles…they were useful in Meteora, Delphi, the gorge hike, the Loutro to Lykos hike, and the Santorini hike to the ruins of Thira.”
“If you ask for water at a meal in Greece or Crete, ask for tap water. Otherwise you pay for a bottle. Not a big deal, but we were initially surprised.”
“There is a dress code for monasteries. If women take a big scarf, they can use it as a wrap.”
“Nothing other than that it was very hot most of the trip (90+ F). Sunscreen and a hat were a must. And it didn’t cool down much in the evenings.”
“Money was easy to get at ATMs. I felt safe. Food was good. It is a hot and dry climate. People need to drink plenty of water.”
“Do not flush toilet paper. Instead throw it out in the little garbage can they have in each bathroom.”
“I had emailed GEEO before the trip to ask the best way to exchange money, and got the response that I could just use my debit card in any ATM (airport, etc), and it would automatically withdraw as euros. True. But what I didn’t know, that would have saved me significant money, is that the ATM will ask you if you want to accept its exchange rate, and make it seem like you have no choice, and the exchange rate is awful. But you can actually click NO, it will not exit you out of the machine, it will just say that your bank will later determine the exchange rate. THAT’S WHAT YOU WANT. DO NOT ACCEPT THE REALLY BAD EXCHANGE RATES FROM THE ATM MACHINE!”
Greece is hot and dry in the summer, with temperatures typically in the 80’s and 90’s F.
Please keep in mind that this trip offers some free time to pursue activities that interest you. Make sure you look over all of the optional activities and note these additional costs when deciding whether you can afford this program. The prices below are in U.S. Dollars and are rough estimates for budgeting your trip.
See our price in the top right corner
$150-$300 USD
Roughly $1,000-$1,700 USD
If you require assistance in booking your international airfare, we would be happy to help you.
$25-$200 USD
Please note: It is mandatory for all of our travelers to have Emergency Medical insurance that covers both emergency evacuation and repatriation to the sum of $200,000 USD. We also strongly recommend purchasing cancellation insurance as well.
We recommend $70-$80 USD for your G Adventures tour leader. Budget another $30 for tipping local guides and drivers.
$560-$730 USD
Make sure you budget for these types of expenses
$10 for metro or $50 for taxi. The Metro in Athens is very nice and easy to handle.
Variable. At your personal discretion.
$100 USD (Suggested donation)
This is only for non-educator guests traveling with an educator on a GEEO trip. Educators and retired educators should not make this donation.
Most optional activities are booked and paid for locally in the local currency. You do not have to decide in advance for which activities you would like to sign up. The prices listed are based on the latest information we have received from our participants and G Adventures. They are not guaranteed to be accurate. Please feel free to use them as a guide for budgeting your trip.
Acropolis and Parthenon: 20 EUR per person
Discover the most famous of Athens’ eight hills: the Acropolis, the ultimate architectural and artistic expression of the ancient Athenian spirit. Visit the Parthenon, built for the Goddess Athena in 447 BC. This Greek temple, despite the gradual state of ruin and damage sustained over time, still symbolizes the key ideals of harmony and balance that defined the Classical style of Greek architecture.
Roman Agora: 2 EUR per person
Take a stroll through the former marketplace for old Athens. The Roman Agora was built in the first century BC.
National Archaeological Museum: 10 EUR per person
Take a tour of the National Archaeological Museum, home to some of the most important artifacts from ancient Greece. In the collection are various sculptures, vases, as well as metal works. The museum is considered one of the most impressive museums in the world.
Syntagma (Constitution) Square: Free
Most of Athens important sights and interesting neighborhoods border this central square. The square was built in the early 19th century in front of the Old Royal Palace of King Otto of Greece. Walk around to admire the architecture, stop at a café and people watch, or watch the ceremonial changing of the guards called Evzones.
Acropolis Museum: 5 EUR per person
Visit the Acropolis Museum to see some of the artifacts and artworks discovered during excavations of the Acropolis. With over 25,000 square meters (82,020 ft), the museum is as interesting architecturally as the collection is historically. The museum is built over an archaeological dig site, and there is an impressive view of the Acropolis from the third floor.
Sunset bus tour, with pick up from Megalo Meteora and including a local guide: 25 EUR per person
Roussanou Convent: 3 EUR
Walk to Hidden Monasteries: 10 EUR
Byzantine Church: 3 EUR
Guided hiking through Meteora Hills: 35 EUR
Bus tour, including a local tour guide, a visit to 3 monasteries, and exploring a Paleolithic cave: 25 EUR per person; 3 EUR each per monastery and Paleolithic cave
Hike to Korkyrian Cave on Mount Parnassos: 30 EUR per cab to hike start point; 4-hr hike back to Delphi
Visit to Itea: 2 EUR each way
Visit to historic Galaxidhi: 6 EUR each way
Boat to Bourtzi (castle in sea): 5 EUR return ticket
War Museum: 3 EUR per person
Archaeology Museum: 3 EUR per person
Folklore Museum: 3 EUR per person
Guided tour of the Kolomboloi (Worry Bead) Museum: Free for teachers and students; 2 EUR per person for all others
Bus to Mycenae site: 4 EUR each way
Maritime Museum: 3 EUR per person
Architecture Museum: 3 EUR per person
Glass bottom boat tour: 10 EUR per person for a 2-hr trip
Boat trip with snorkeling over a sunken WWII German plane: 20 EUR per person for a 3-hr trip
Traditional Hammam experience: from 19 EUR; prices vary depending on which treatment
Sea kayaking: 20-30 EUR per day or 5-10 EUR per hour
Powerboat hire: 70 EUR per day
Trip to Akrotiri, the “Pompei of Greece”: 6 EUR per person plus taxi
Caldera boat trips: 15 EUR per person
Jet ski safari: 180 EUR per jet ski; 90 mins
