Print Full Itinerary
Itinerary: Subject to change due to local conditions, unforeseen events, or more interesting as yet unplanned awesome experiences that become available
Overview:
The peace and serenity of the Cycladic Islands set within the sparkling Aegean Sea is calling your name, so let’s listen! It’s here where you’ll find some of the most beautiful and famous islands in the world, where a dreamscape of dazzling light and crystal blue waters creates a paradise on Earth.
Let’s put aside the famous and go for the undiscovered, uncrowded, and unspoiled hidden gems of Amorgos and Folegandros, each filled with a rich history of over 3000 years and intriguing local folklore. These authentic islands have preserved their traditional charms and are a place where the locals welcome you with a smile and make you feel at home.
Here we’ll get lost in a dream of authentic villages with picturesque squares and winding alleys where whitewashed houses of traditional Cycladic architecture lie surrounded by colorful bougainvillea.
We’ll experience wild and dramatic nature along beautiful walking paths that provide panoramic vistas over the azure Aegean Sea and take in the spectacular scenery along drives through the beautifully barren landscapes dotted with picturesque, isolated chapels.
You’ll find a unique energy here, one that evokes a sense of peace, bliss, and fulfillment, and discover the traditional Greek customs that still exist in everyday life on our wanders. So why not step into serenity and the most spectacular sunsets around and join our dreamlike adventure into the undiscovered Greek Isles.
Day One: Overnight Flight
Get comfortable and after a few winks of sleep on our overnight flight we’ll find ourselves awake to a brand new day in Athens!
Day Two: Cultural Neighborhoods
Luckily our journey to the dreamy Greek Isles of Amorgos and Folegandros starts in ancient Athens where we’ll have time to delve in to all its history and explore away.
This major melting pot of ancient civilizations has been slowly evolving into a modern metropolis filled with diverse influences that are shaping its ever-changing culture. As you wander, you will find everything from ancient monuments and neoclassical buildings to modern art museums and graffiti street art creating an unusual mix of artistic culture that can be felt around every corner.
Each neighborhood in Athens has its own unique character and charm, so join our wanders into a few with a stop along the way for a rejuvenating coffee and snack.
Acropolis:
As later afternoon approaches, let’s keep moving or else pass out! Hopefully by now the crowds have diminished at the Acropolis making it the best time to explore.
It’s like stepping into an ancient dream filled with age-old statues, beautiful iconic columns, and ancient temples of worship.
Feel history beneath your feet as you wander through the age-old monuments of Parthenon and Temple of Athena Nike and take in the inspiring views that evoke contemplation of ancient wisdom and the nature of our reality.
Athens Hotel:
Once back at our comfy hotel, grab a light dinner if your eyes are still open or jump into bed for a great nights sleep.
Day Three: Meteora Monasteries
Today will be a magical, mystical dream when we travel to the Holy Meteora Monasteries suspended in the air upon towering sandstone rock pillars overlooking the most amazing scenic vistas.
Our tour will take us to all six byzantine monasteries and inside three that house priceless artifacts and paintings.
Experiencing these ancient monasteries will provide a unique perspective of nature’s brilliance together with history, architecture, and man’s everlasting desire to connect with something sacred.
Relax the Night Away:
It’s been a long day, so take some time to rest and relax your night away on our last night in Athens.
Find a great local spot for dinner and soak up all the Athenian atmosphere!
Day Four: to Amorgos
Sit back and relax on the scenic ferry ride across the deep, entrancing blue of the Aegean Sea to the undiscovered island of Amorgos where the sun smiles and the sea is whispering.
*if the ferry schedules are not working with our day, we’ll fly to Santorini and catch a short ferry ride to Amorgos.
Amorgos:
We’ll arrive the intimate port of Katapola, a small vibrant village lined with cafes and tavernas along the waterfront with fishing and sailing boats scenically displayed amongst the bay.
Charming Chora:
From here we’ll take our first scenic drive to where your dreams will come true in the enchanting Chora.
Wandering here will bring you face to face with traditional whitewashed houses wearing colorful shutters, narrow alleys embellished with flowers, beautiful domed blue churches and sweet, little tavernas.
Once we make ourselves at home in our dreamy hotel, get out there and wander the night away!
Day Five: Tower of Gavras
After a morning filled with fabulous Greek coffee, let’s explore the local archeological museum housed in the Tower of Gavras, a building of Venetian architecture dating back to the 16th century.
It’s here where we’ll find interesting discoveries from excavations of three ancient cities in Amorgos including the intriguing Minoan civilization that existed more than 4000 years ago.
Take a walk through ancient history as you browse the marble torso statues, artifacts, sculptures, and ceramics dating from 3000 BC to 3rd A.D. century.
Agia Anna:
The perfectly pebbly secluded beach, Agai Anna claims to have the most brilliant blue water human eyes have ever seen, so let’s find out!
On our trek down to the beach, we’ll pass a dreamy whitewashed chapel set in a picture perfect spot above the sea.
Take in all the serene scenery, explore the rocky paths, or take a dip in the deep turquoise blue.
Venetian Castle of Chora:
After our beach delight, we’ll head back to the Chora for some lunch and refreshment and if you’re legs are up for it, meet in the late afternoon for an uphill walk to the 13th century Venetian Castle perched on a massive rock high above the Chora.
The views from the top of this fortress are beyond spectacular so have your camera ready!
Hozoviotissa Monastery:
Give your legs a rest before we wander our way up to the Hozoviotissa Monastery that is literally hanging off the side of a cliff 1000 feet above the sea.
It may be an uphill climb but completely worth the effort to explore inside this astonishing historical masterpiece amid the smell of incense and monks giving gifts of honey, raki liqueur, and loukoumi.
Dinner & Sunset:
Catch a spectacular sunset for a fabulous finale to the day as you enjoy dinner at one of the local tavernas.
Pleasant dreams!
Day Six: Path of Fotodotis
One of the best ways to explore all the secret nooks and crannies of Amorgos is to follow an ancient footpath, so let’s get walking!
An easy walk along the path of Fotodotis will take us from the Chora to the port of Katapola through a dreamlike landscape alongside a deep ravine cutting across areas of lush vegetation and among a scenic olive grove.
Katapola Lunch:
Take a restful break at one of the cafes along the waterfront area lined with picturesque fishing boats for a tasty lunch.
Agia Paraskevi:
Now sit back and relax as we discover the rest of the south part of the island with a stop at the blue domed beauty, Agia Paraskevi and its scenic views.
A peek inside will reveal an interior filled with icons and wall paintings in gilded detail along with an impressive gold plated chandelier.
Mouros Beach:
An amazing pebble beach with perfectly crystal clear waters cannot be missed so let’s take a short walk down to Mouros Beach.
Take in all the sight of endless blue, take a swim, or explore for treasures within the rocks.
Once back in the Chora, have a dreamy night!
Day Seven: Aegiali
Enjoy a leisurely morning as you please and have a slow start to a bright new sunny day.
Our afternoon adventure begins along the wonderfully scenic road leading to the picturesque port village of Aegiali, a place that has maintained its authentic traditional atmosphere.
Wander the charming streets in search of a tasty lunch among the classic Greek cafes.
Langada:
There’s much to explore in the fascinating mountain village of Langada set on the edge of the canyon of Araklos.
Wandering through the narrow alleys will bring you face to face with genuine everyday Greek life, a perfect place to soak up the atmosphere.
Scenic Stroll:
If you’re up for a stroll, we’ll follow a footpath surrounded by nature with vistas of windmills and an occasional donkey to the picturesque Panagia Epanochoriani church and through the ancient abandoned village of Stroumbos with its 12 houses and 13 ovens and incredible view of the bay of Aegiali.
Agia Triada Chapel:
There’s one more dreamlike sight to see, so let’s continue strolling to the Agia Triada Chapel hanging over a cliff with more spectacular views of the valleys and sparkling blue bay.
Once your at the door it will be clear why this is the perfect place to evade pirates and hide among the mountainside.
Tholaria:
We can’t miss the neighboring enchanting mountain village of Tholaria where we can continue to follow the Greek traditional way of life among perfectly preserved Cycladic architecture set along more whitewashed narrow winding streets that lead to the most astounding scenic views.
Take time to wander and explore and don’t miss the local Greek Orthodox church with a unique look.
Potomos:
Our day ends in the last picture perfect village of Potomos where we’ll wander our way to the lovely Kamara for an included dinner and spectacular sunset from right out of a dream.
Day Eight: Ancient Arkesini
Soak in all the amazing Amorgos atmosphere this morning doing whatever speaks to you and we’ll meet after lunch for our last island exploration.
Now that we’re all well rested and ready for an adventure, it’s the perfect time to step into the ancient city of Arkesini founded in the 900th century BC and eventually abandoned due to the threat of pirates. Bad for them but lucky for us because this means it’s close to the sea and offers dreamy panoramic views from the top.
To get here, we’ll follow the path from the village of Vroutsi that actually descends towards the sea and the ancient city. Go as far as you feel comfortable since the walk back will be uphill. If you make the entire walk, explore away!
Agios Georgios Valsamitis:
Let’s take a peek at the Byzantine style monastery Agios Georgios Valsamitis built on the site of an ancient temple dedicated to the god Apollo.
Instant serenity will be felt among its ancient walls and from its sweet smelling roses on the terraces.
For our last night, let’s enjoy an included dinner together in a dreamy setting by the sea.
Seaside Dinner:
For our last night, let’s enjoy an included dinner together in a dreamy setting by the sea.
Day Nine: Ferry to Folegandros
As we wave a fond farewell to Amorgos, a scenic ferry ride will whisk us away to our new dreamlike adventures on the fabulously authentic and serene Cycladic Island of Folegandros.
Folegandros will steal your heart with its genuine nature that allows you to soak in the essence of Greek Island life due to its less touristic atmosphere, leaving only tranquility and a sense of peace.
This is the perfect island to slow down even more to bask in all these feelings that are unique to Folegandros.
Charming Chora:
We arrive in the panoramic port of Kararvostasis where there will be time to stroll the sleepy village and get our first feel of the island’s chill vibe.
Now let’s make our way to the blissfully mellow Chora, a small charming village clinging to a steep cliff overlooking the azure blue of the sea.
As we make our way to our new home for the next three nights, you’ll find the unique contrast of vividly colored doors and windows against the bright white walls of authentic houses and dreamy cafes where you can have a taste of homemade traditional cuisine.
Sunset at Panagia:
When sunset is approaching, let’s take a walk up the stone zig zag path to the church of Panagia, perched high above the Chora, for some awe-inspiring views.
As we wait for the colorful explosion of the sky, explore the whitewashed Cycladic church thought to be made with ruins of an ancient temple. Search for the inscriptions dedicated to the Light-bearer Artemis and her brother Apollo Protector etched in the marble along with bases of statues in the interior and courtyard of the church.
After a brilliant sunset dreamscape and zig zagging your way back down, the night is yours to enjoy among the romantic Chora.
Day Ten: Enjoy the Morning!
Take the morning to experience the slow, serene pace of the Greek Isles and if you can tear yourself away, let’s explore the island this afternoon.
Ano Meria:
Our scenic drive through a dreamlike windswept landscape will take us through the authentic island village of Ano Meria, perfectly described as “the village itself is curious: it almost seems like a giant picked up a bunch of houses and just threw them there at random”.
In its curiousness, Ano Meria is a refreshingly natural village with only 350 residents, all of whom have preserved their age-old traditions, heritage, and simplistic lifestyle. The curious homes here, called themonies, are actually small autonomous agricultural units that sustain the village’s closed farming economy.
Let’s stop for a in included lunch break here in one of the local cafes to take in the atmosphere.
Chrysopigi:
Now we continue our drive to the far end of the island where the small, quiet church Chrysopigi sits peacefully on a cliffside high above the endless blue sea.
A short walk will bring us to dreamy vivid views that only Folegandros can provide.
Folklore Museum:
As we make our way back, we must stop at the Ano Meria Folklore Museum which will take us inside one of the village themonies representing rural life of past centuries.
Here, you’ll walk in the footsteps of authentic Greek life among the earthen floor and stone walls built with mud instead of plaster. Wandering will reveal an old threshing floor, remains of an olive press, and primitive wine press along with daily life utensils, dress, and more secrets of rural life.
Once back at home in the Chora, enjoy another dreamy sunset evening.
Day Eleven: Agali
It’s our last day to live in a dream filled with Folegandros serenity so let’s soak it up!
Relax your morning away as you please, and this afternoon find yourself in the tiny village of Agali set among the picturesque Vathi Bay.
Agios Nikolaos Beach:
From here we’ll follow the footpath with gorgeous views among the cliffs and sparkling sea until we walk into the dazzling dream world of Agios Nikolaos Beach.
After our adventurous walk, lunch would be a great idea and luckily there’s a wonderful taverna right here on the beach where we can enjoy lunch together.
After, take in all the serenity of the beach, jump in for a dip where you’ll see your toes as clear as day in the crystal water, or explore the sandy pebbly beach.
Last Sunset Night:
A short boat ride or return walk on the footpath will lead us to Agali, then the Chora for our last night among Folegandro’s magical spell.
Day Twelve: Breakfast & Flight Home
We won’t say goodbye, only adieu to our serene Greek Island home as we make our way back to Athens for our flight back home filled with memories of our perfect Greek dream.
Pricing & Departures:
This will be a Special, Intimate Small Group tour with a max of 7.
*This tour involves the ability to walk approx. 2000-2500 steps (1.5 miles) during the course of a day, including all the charming towns and sights. All other walking is optional but recommended to immerse in the Greek landscapes. Please call to discuss if you are concerned about the amount of activity.
Air transportation is provided by United Airlines. A surcharge will apply if United Airlines increases the price of its airfare. One piece of luggage per person (baggage fee by United is included) and one small carry-on are permitted. A valid, government-issued picture ID is required to board the plane.
September: Flight # departs Newark at PM and arrives in Athens at AM
September: Flight # departs Athens at PM and arrives in Newark at PM
Price per person is $ Twin & $ Single. No reservations accepted without a deposit of $500 per person. Make checks payable to “Group Tours & Travel”, and mail to our address above. Final payment is due February 10, 2026. There are no refunds if cancellation occurs after February 10, 2026. Group Tours is not responsible for any delays, cancellations, injuries or circumstances beyond its control and reserves the right to change the itinerary. All trip components are subject to change in accordance with Government, State and Local guidelines and/or mandates. Travel protection/cancellation coverage is available and highly recommended, but not included. This tour will run rain or shine.
*Due to the changes in airline booking policies, airfare will need to be booked before the cancellation date, Once flights are booked, we cannot refund that portion of the tour unless you’d like to pay an additional cost for refundable tickets.
Upon submitting final payment you are agreeing to our new policy.
Wet Blanket Policy:
Wet blanket
– a person who makes it difficult for other people to enjoy themselves by complaining, acting negatively, creating drama, etc.
– one that quenches or dampens enthusiasm or pleasure
- Our philosophy of travel involves getting out of the ordinary to experience other cultures and places with an open minded attitude and flexibility. Since as in daily life, anything can and will happen, let’s embrace these situations with acceptance and understanding because they will either lead to an unexpected, amazing experience or positive learning experience.
- If anyone brings along excess baggage such as incessant complaining, under the breath rude comments, outward negativity or other such behaviors that infect the entire group or individuals, we have the exclusive right to remove them from the tour at their own cost with no refunds. (yes, this means you)
- If any major concerns arise during a tour, please just come talk to us and we’ll work it out!
The Educated Wanderer
Group Tours & Travel
PO Box 35 Henryville, PA 18332
973-513-9001
