Active Holidays in Greece |
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Sea Kayak - MTB Great Adventures, Family Holidays Skydive Crete in cooperation with Skydivecrete.gr Trekking Day Trips 8 days Santorini
SANTORINI
Santorini is the most extraordinary island in the Aegean. You sail into a strange, enclosed sea, shut off by the Burnt Islands. The volcanic cliffs of Santorini are red, brown or greenish, surmounted by a string of white villages. Coming out from the deep blue sea its volcanic sheer cliffs topped with gleaming white village homes and churches, resemble snowcapped mountains. The thunderous fury of nature left its mark on the island, the home of Greece's last active volcano which still smolders today. Layer upon layer of red volcanic rock interspersed with white buildings and specks of greenery form a visual demonstration found nowhere else. The entire center of the circular island sank into the sea during the tremendous volcanic explosion of 3.500 years ago. The eruption caused tidal waves which virtually wiped out the advanced Minoan civilization of Crete 70 miles to the south. Some scholars believe that the island is part of the legendary lost continent of Atlantis which supposedly slipped underwater during the disaster. What remains today of Santorini is a large cresent-shaped island enclosing a vast bay, the largest caldera on earth (7X14 miles). There are also four much smaller islands called Thirassia, Nea Kameni, Palia Kameni and Aspronisi. Day 1: Chania Arrival at the Chania airport where you meet with your guide and are then are transferred to the hotel. Day 2: Heraklion-Perissa Early in the morning right after breakfast we will be transfered to the Heraklion port, from there we will take the ferry to Santorini(2 ½ hour crossing), the most beautiful of the Greek islands, a volcano surrounded by the Aegean Sea. We are driven to the south-east of the island to the village of Perissa and settle in our hotel where we will be spending the next five nights. We visit the town and walk by the beach. Day 3: Akrotiri We walk towards the extreme south point of the island and the village of Akrotiri. Crossing vineyards and white washed chapels we reach the Red Beach, an impressive, extraordinary site. (2 ½ hr walk) Day 4: Ancient Thira-Profitis Ilias- Pyrgos-Emborio We leave Perissa on foot following an old mule trail and climb up towards the Ancient Thira site. We continue our climb towards the Profitis Ilias peak and the monastery located at the highest point of the island (560m). We take the paved trail downhill through the fields towards the village of Pyrgos with its charming fortified quarters. We then start a descent through cultivated terraces and reach the medieval alleyways of the picturesque Emborio village. We continue on the path that leads to Perissa and our hotel. (6 1/2 hr walk) Day 5: Palia kameni-Nea Kameni-Thirasia Today we explore the volcano of Nea Kameni, we enjoy the view of what once originated the legend of Atlantis, swim at the hot springs and visit the island of Thirasia. In the morning we are transfered to the port from where we take the boat to Nea Kameni. The walk is appx. 30 minutes to the top of the volcano (200m). After a full day of exploring we will be back in the afternoon. Transfer to Perissa Day 6: Fira-Oia Transfer to Fira, the capital of the island; we will initially walk through the small-whitewashed houses on the narrow winding alleys, to Imerovigli. We will continue on a path till Oia having on our left-hand side a splendid view of the island of Nea Kameni with the volcano in the middle, the island of Palea Kameni and the island of Thirasia. (3-4 hrs walk) Day 7: Ancient Thira-Kamari Depending on the boat time schedule we walk up to the ruins of Ancient Thira, a very important archaeological site of the Hellenistic and Roman period we visit the site founded by the Dorians in the 9th c BC on the summit of the Mesavouno cliff (369m) and then walk downhill to the other side towards the village of Kamari. We return to Perissa by boat. Early afternoon we will go to the port to take the ferry to Heraklion. Arrival in Heraklion, transfer to Chania. (Overnight in Chania) (4hr walk) Day 8: Transfer to the airport for the flight home. TRIP DETAILS Price Includes : All accommodations, all meals from dinner on day 1 through breakfast on day 8, all picnic lunches, group transfers from and to the airport, all transportations throughout the trip, luggage transportations, services of the tour leader - guide, all taxes and VAT. Not Included : Air fare to and from Crete, personal travel-health insurance, alcoholic beverages and soft drinks, personal expenses, entrance fees in Museums, and other sites of interest that are not included in the program. Insurance : Participants should be covered by their own personal travel-health insurance and prior to the trip. The personal insurance must at least cover medical expenses as well as air rescue and the cost of repatriation. Alpine Travel is not responsible for any accidents or mishaps directly or indirectly related to the tour. (See Terms & Conditions) Period : From April to October 2010. Transportation : All transfers during the trip are included. Accommodation : Hotels in the cities, village pensions throughout the trip (all with private facilities). Food : Every morning we have breakfast in the hotels, picnic lunch en route and a dinner at local tavern. (Vegetarians are welcome on the trips) Group Size : 4-16 participants. Difficulty Level : (1) Equipment : Daypack (approx. 15-20 l) Trekking shoes Water bottle Hat Sun cream Sun glasses Swimming suit Check for Prices
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See also : 8 days Crete | 8 days Santorini | 8 days Alonissos |
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