Visit the birthplace of drama, philosophy, and democracy in Athens, swim in the crystal clear blue Mediterranean waters of Milos (home to the Venus de Milos) , explore the breath-taking caldera views on Santorini, and wine and dine in trendy cafes in Mykonos as you watch the sun set right from your table. In Greece you will find the perfect mix of culture, history, and natural beauty everywhere you turn!
Day 1- Arrive in Athens- transfer to your centrally-located, air-conditioned hotel room, walking distance from the Acropolis, Sintagma Square and the famous dining and shopping area of Plaka. Use this evening to relax, rest, and recover from your flight !
Make sure you take an evening stroll around Plaka at night and enjoy seeing the Acropolis lit up at night ! !
Day 2- If you are feeling rested and motivated, today would be a great day to make it up to the Acropolis ! Enjoy the amazing beauty of this ancient architectural wonder as you walk amongst the same stone paths as Socrates and Aristotle.
Make sure you make a stop at the newly opened Acropolis Museum, an architectural wonder in its own right !
enjoy your afternoon doing some bargain shopping around Monastiraki...
and catch a lucky glimpse of the changing of the guards at Sintagma Square, all walking distance from your hotel !
This evening, it is recommended you take the funicular up Lycabettus Hill and enjoy a most awesome panoramic view of Athens by night.
Or if live theater and music is your passion, why not take in a spectacular evening production at the Herod Atticus Theater, at the very slopes of the Acropolis? This spectacular stone amphitheater was built was built in 161 AD and has since been graced with such popular Greek performers as Mikis Theodorakis, Maria Callas, Nana Mouskouri, and Yanni, who recorded his Live at the Acropolis album there in 1993.This was also the site for the Miss Universe Pageant in 1973.
Day 3 - Today would be a good day to take advantage of several options for day trips outside of the city. One recommended trip is to the beautiful ocean side temple of Sounion (Temple of Poseidon), the last temple the ancient Greek sailors would see before they went off to sea. Enjoy the coastal ride to this southern temple, approximately 30 miles south of Athens.
Another option for a day trip is to journey north to the archeological site of Delphi, home of the most important oracle in the classical Greek world, and a major site for the worship of the god Apollo. Delphi was also home of priestesses for thousands of year and their worshipping of the Earth goddess Gaia is still practiced all over the world today. Delphi is considered one of the most sacred historical sites in all of Greece.
Why not end your stay in Athens with a quiet dinner in the quaint streets of Plaka, just at the foot of the Acropolis? Enjoy a night of sight, sounds, and smells of all that surrounds you in this magical cliffside neighborhood.
Day 4 -Prepare for an early morning departure as we make our way to the port of Piraeus to board our high speed ferryboat to the island of Milos, home to the famed Venus de Milo and some of the most beautiful beaches Greece has to offer. Sit back and relax and enjoy being on the beloved Mediterranean Sea at last !
.jpg)
Day 5-6 Enjoy a couple of days of exploring this quiet island off the tourist-beaten track . I recommend hiring a moped and exploring some of the awe-inspiring beaches and coves around the island. You will see why Aphrodite decided to call this island home ! There are also wonderful boat rides that take you around this magnificent island. We can even hire a private yacht to do this for us as a group !
I also recommend you take a trip to the beautiful and quaint seaside village of Pollonia and enjoy a wonderful fresh seafood lunch while watching the local fishing and sailing boats pass by; it will be a true Greek moment you won't soon forget !
Day 7- Board our midday ferry to the island of Santorini, home of the legendary lost city of Atlantis. Enjoy your afternoon walking the sun-drenched streets and taking in the awe-inspiring panoramic views from every corner you turn.
Day 8-9 There is plenty to see and explore on this fascinating volcanic island. Today would be a good day to walk along the wonderfully winding white cobblestone streets from Fira to Imeroviglia and enjoy the breathtaking views from the many shops and cafes along the way.
or perhaps you might like to just linger by your hotel pool for a few hours and enjoy a few hours of relaxation taking in the beautiful views of white stucco buildings and blue skies everywhere you look !
another "must do" on Santorini is to watch the sunset from the wonderfully picturesque town of Oia. It will be a sunset you will not soon forget...
Finally, I would recommend hopping onboard one of the many local tour boats that circle the island and make stops at the caldera and the famous Santorini hot springs. You will get a true sense of how massive this volcanic island truly is !
Days 10-12- Enjoy another highspeed ferryboat ride to the famous island of Mykonos, home of golden sandy beaches, and a lively nightlife for all to enjoy ! Once you see those white windmills greet you upon entrance into its harbor, you will know you have arrived and are in for a true Mediterranean treat !
Mykonos will be the island for you all to kick back, relax on the beaches, "shop till your drop", dine at the many local Greek tavernas, hit the dance floor if you feel so inclined and just enjoy being part of this lively island culture for a few days. This is the time you should all be hearing and saying a lot of "Yassou's" as you make your way around this most friendly island.
Mykonos is also the island where the movie Shirley Valentine was filmed and I have direct access to the hotel she stayed if any of you choose to visit the location or want to stay there yourself ! You will see why she never wanted to leave :-)
The views from your hotel pool may even be enough to keep your deck-side for at least a few hours of your stay here ! Enjoy the peace and tranquility as you take in maginificent views of the main harbor of Mykonos directly in full view ...
A trip to Delos is also a must while on Mykonos. Delos is one of the most important mythological, historical and archaeological sites in Greece. The excavations in the island are among the most extensive in the Mediterranean. Delos is a lovely 45 minute boat ride from Mykonos and the tour includes the expertise of a local archeological guide- a not to be missed experience !
A great way to enjoy your last day on the island is to take a full day sailboat trip on a traditional Greek sailing vessel around the beautiful south coast of Mykonos. Here you will get to see some of the most beautiful beaches of the island as well as explore hidden caves and snorkeling coves only accessible by water. A traditional Greek lunch is included.
Day 13/14- We will board our last ferry boat this morning and make our way back to Athens. We will arrive mid-afternoon and be transferred back to our Athens hotel via taxis. Enjoy your last day of shopping, sightseeing, and dining in the many surrounding tavernas before you board your plane for home.
Until we meet again.....
TOUR COST-
For 2 week trip (August 19-Sept 1) $ 2195 (double occupancy) $2895.00(single room)*
Price includes 13 nights accommodations in 3 star-hotels, all ferryboat rides, island hotel transfers, breakfasts, and services of your local Live Laugh Love guide.
International round trip flights from the US currently range from about $1200 (New York), $1300 (San Francisco), and $1600 (Honolulu), We can arrange flights from any departure city around the world in order for you to get the most up-to-date discounted rate !
* Tour Price is based on current rates from ferries and hotels and may be subject to slight changes due to seasonal and currency fluxes.
GOOD NEWS ! we also accept credit card payments via Pay Pal....easy to do, with just one click ! leave the rest to me :-)
for more information about our company and other tours, please go to: www.livelaughlovetours.com or email us at livelaughlovetours@yahoo.com
We look forward to seeing you all come join us for this getaway of a lifetime !
ABOUT YOUR HOST
Melina Lillios has been conducting tours throughout the world since 1985. She directed educational bus tours throughout England and Southern Europe for 5 years as well as worked as a tour director for Contiki Tours which took her all over the United States, Canada, the Bahamas, Australia, and New Zealand. She first came to Hawaii to open up a worldwide office for Contiki in1989 and then later went on to become operations manager for the world-wide travel companies Globus Gateway and Cosmos Tours.
Melina has been traveling around the world for the past 35 years and now lives in Southeast Asia for 3 months of every year. She is also of Greek and Brazilian ancestry and has spent the last 30 years exploring not only these two rich and diverse cultures but also most of Europe, Australia, and much of South America. Aside from traveling the globe conducting tours, Melina is a professor of intercultural communications at Hawaii Pacific University and music-directs theater productions in Honolulu.
She is thrilled to have this opportunity to share with you her most beloved Greece. OPA !!
some testimonials from past Live Laugh Love customers :
“I could not be happier with my decision to Live, Laugh and Love with Melina’s tour. From the moment I cut my check, I didn’t worry about a thing as the communication was clear and thorough and every detail – from accommodations to activities to food to everything else – was well thought through and perfectly balanced, enabling us participants to sit back and just drink it all in. We all returned extraordinarily relaxed and enriched as a result. Melina is tops and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend her to anyone wanting a seamless, truly restful vacation.” Diane B., San Francisco
" I feel like I've just had a big dose of that beautiful 'One' energy. Thank you for that, Melina- you created the space for us, (strangers but now brothers and sisters) to do just that. It was an unforgettable tour. The Epic Thailand/Bali Adventure leaves me changed... and charmed. I am still lost in Ubud, and have never been more in love with life." Sandra B., New Zealand
"Melina is the tour organizer and guide you want to set things up for you! She knows and LOVES the places she visits, has lots of insider experience and information, knows how to pace a trip. We covered a tremendous amount of world in a relatively short time, yet I never felt rushed. And There were plenty of activities to include myself in—or not. I loved the ‘of you choose’ aspect of the trip. Plenty to do and plenty of not-doing time and space as well. I would recommend this trip—or any LLL tour—to my friends and colleagues based on this one, extremely memorable, enjoyable journey! Thank you for everything Melina! We WILL travel together again!"
Rea Fox,Honolulu
"Melina took such good care of me and my daughter on our recent trip to Greece. She made wonderful reservations at some amazing hotels and basically planned the trip for us including suggestions for independent tours. We loved Greece especially enjoyed the Athens Gate Hotel which is absolutely charming and centrally located. The other favorite is the island of Santorini and our hotel stay there. Overall the trip was such a pleasant experience. Thanks Melina!" Frances H., Honolulu
"I can’t wait to do another tour with Live, Laugh, Love. The experiences I had while on the Thailand-Bali tour are truly highlights of my life that I will be talking about and cherishing for years to come!" Justin K., Seattle
"You gave such a meaningful gift to us all. You worked your magic and it all happened. Powerful wonderful sister you is."
Tony L., San Francisco
