Greece and Portugal Explorer

Go back in time almost 4,000 years where Western civilization was born, and the then-new ideas about philosophy, government, and democracy thrived. We will start off our travels with a picnic lunch in the gardens, strolling through some of the best neighborhoods in Athens, and visiting some of the most iconic sights in the city!  Stand atop the magnificent Acropolis and imagine ancient Greek life as you marvel at the architectural wonder of the Parthenon. Go off the beaten path to the charming Plaka district, beautifully lit up at night and lined with adorable cafes and restaurants for a delicious Greek feast to celebrate our first night!

Leaving Athens, we will travel the way the Greeks do–cruising by ferry over the turquoise Mediterranean waters. Our next destination is Paros, an island famous in ancient times for its immaculate white marble and for having sided in battle with the Persians against the Greeks! We’ll get a tour of the island, where we’ll learn about traditional island life, past and present, with our afternoon saved for sun, sea. There will be plenty of fun activities on offer including beach volleyball and swimming in the crystal blue waters.

Next stop is an island of dramatic black sand beaches, whitewashed homes and cobblestone alleyways–this is one of the world’s premier luxury travel destinations and the most spectacular of all the Greek islands. You’ll recognize the postcard-perfect town of Oia, famous for its blue domes and whitewashed houses, and even have the option of taking a scuba-diving class! We will wander the island’s quaint streets, soak up the sun, enjoy the laidback island lifestyle, eat fresh local cuisine, and experience what makes Greece a truly unique summer destination.

We’ll return to Athens for one last goodbye to Greece, and catch some sights we may have missed the first time around. Visit the Ancient Agora which was the first central square in Athens, the birth of government and democracy in ancient times. Pick up a pair of custom made leather sandals from a famous sandal maker, get in any last minute shopping and savor your last Greek gyro! To finish our incredible Greek journey, we’ll capture the sunset from the Pnyx and enjoy a fancy final dinner at a traditional Greek taverna overlooking the Acropolis lit up at night.

Pack your bags and say goodbye to Greece and hello to our next destination, Portugal!

Our journey in Portugal begins in Lisbon, the country’s vibrant capital city. Here we’ll visit the San Jorge Castle, from which you can see all of Lisbon; eat famous Portuguese pastries in the bakery that invented them (the recipe is still a secret); and explore the best shopping areas and nightlife of the city. We’ll listen to traditional Portuguese fado music as we dine on local specialties that include codfish, potatoes, and chicken. We will also visit the nearby mountain estate town of Sintra, where we will climb the Castle of the Moors and the Pena Palace for phenomenal views of the landscape and Atlantic ocean, and explore the gardens of a mansion that includes a spiral staircase leading into tunnels and lagoons.

Our next stop is the fun resort town of Lagos in Portugal’s famed Algarve region. Here we’ll spend an afternoon soaking up the sun on the pristine beaches, as well as take a sea kayaking tour of the grottoes and caves of its stunning coastal cliffs. You can even hike up to the lighthouse!

We’ll finish off our trip where we started, back in Lisbon! We’ll spend our last day hitting up any spots we missed in the city, shopping for souvenirs, and enjoying the Portuguese summer before having one last fancy dinner together to celebrate the end of an incredible trip!