9-night A Journey To Minoan Marvels And Harbours Of The Adriatic

Sightseeing of Rovinj

This day begins with style, a sightseeing tour of incomparably beautiful Rovinj. This small coastal gem is the most beautiful city in Istria. Its charming old town is filled with only A-class restaurants, galleries and shops. The best of Croatia can be found in Rovinj. Not only this town has an exceptionally interesting past, and cultural heritage but it later evolved into the most sophisticated coastal oasis in Istria. Situated on the shores facing Rovinj archipelago, this town is a gem that offers variety of fine services, food, events, natural beauties and much more. You will stroll through its old town, encounter many dreamy places, treat yourself with fresh seafood and enjoy in one of the most spectacular sunset you have ever seen.
Highlights:

• Old Town of Rovinj
• Personal guide

• Private guide

• Food and drinks
• Tickets
• Gratuities and items purchased for personal use

Bari: Polignano a Mare & Monopoli - 5 hours

Today you will have the chance to visit Polignano a Mare, a shining gem on the coast of the Valle d’Itria, perched atop a 20 metre-high limestone cliff above the crystal clear waters of the Adriatic.

Continue to Monopoli, whose history has been thoroughly influenced by its east-facing position and its fortified sea-front walls and castle. Visit the colourful street market, the cathedral and the elegant bell tower that is over 60 metres high, completely dominating the town below.

Walk down the sea front promenade, where you will visit the church of Santa Maria della Zaffira and take a look at Monopoli’s harbour with it’s fishermen mending their nets or unloading the day's catch.

Highlights:

• Perched atop a 20 metre-high limestone cliff Polignano a Mare makes for a fascinating stop
• Walk along Monopoli’s sea-front promenade, with its colourful street market and fishermen unloading the day’s catch  

• Luxury car or minivan at your disposal during the tour
• An expert local guide (5 hours)
• Entrance fees
• All taxes

• All cruise travel, personal items, meals and associated costs
• Gratuities

Bari: Locorotondo & Alberobello - 5 hours

You will visit Locorotondo where you will see the architecture typical of the region with white-washed, stone buildings with cool, shaded, cave-like interiors, narrow streets and churches. The town also features several community squares, each of which are built on the edge of the hill allowing for some spectacular views.

Afterwards you will visit Alberobello, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Alberobello represents the heart of the Itria Valley. The city was founded in the 15th-century by the Counts of Acquaviva. The image of the trullo in Alberobello has always been associated with Puglia, where the deep roots of Alberobello act as one of the most typical expressions of the area. The trullo is a construction with a central round or square base of dry stone and at its summit a cone-shaped roof.

Highlights:

• Visit Locorotondo, whose historical centre contains charming white-washed stone buildings
• Explore Alberobello the UNESCO World Heritage Site characterised by the Trullo cone-shaped roofs

• Private transport by luxury car or minivan
• An expert local guide throughout (5 hours)
• Entrance fees
• All taxes

• All cruise travel, personal items, meals and associated costs
• Gratuities

Bari: Ancient Matera - 8 hours

Spend a full day soaking up the unique ambience of Matera. Venture down the steep streets that crisscross Barisano and Caveoso, the two districts of Matera's sassi (literally the "stones"). Visit a house furnished as it would have been when as many as ten people lived with their animals in one or two rooms. Explore the chiese rupestri, or rock churches, some of which still have their original fresco decorations. After lunch on your own, head out on an easy hike along the opposite ridge of the ravine on which Matera is built and discover some of the rock churches that dot the countryside.

Please note: Matera involves steep walking

Highlights:

• Soak up the unique ambience of Matera and its ancient centre 
• Hike to discover the nearby rock churches that dot the countryside

• Private transport by luxury car or minivan
• An expert local guide throughout (8 hours)
• Entrance fees
• All taxes

• All cruise travel, personal items, meals and associated costs
• Gratuities

Bari: Highlights of Puglia & Cheese Tasting - 8 hours

Today you will meet your English-speaking guide for a full day excursion of “Valle d’Itria”. You will visit Alberobello which has been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city was founded in the 15th-century by the Counts of Acquaviva. The image of the trullo in Alberobello has always been associated with Puglia. The trullo is a construction with a central round or square base of dry stone and a con-shaped roof.

Afterwards you will visit Locorotondo where you will see the architecture typical of the region with white-washed, stone buildings with cool, shaded, cave-like interiors, narrow streets and churches. The town also features several community squares, each of which are built on the edge of the hill allowing for some spectacular views.

Next visit to a local cheese production where you will see the different phases of how different cheeses are made. After the visit you will enjoy an informal cheese tasting with a buffet where you will taste the local products.

Finally, visit Polignano a Mare, shining gem on the coast of the Valle d’Itria, perched atop a 20 metre-high limestone cliff above the crystal clear waters of the Adriatic, Polignano a Mare truly lives up to its name and literally could not be any more ‘at sea’!

Highlights:

• Tour the charming and architecturally impressive villages of Alberobello and Locorotondo
• Experience the authentic taste of Puglia with a cheese tasting that includes various local products

• Private transport by luxury car or minivan
• An expert local guide throughout (8 hours)
• Cheese tasting
• Entrance fees
• All taxes

• All cruise travel, personal items, meals and associated costs
• Gratuities

Kotor sightseeing

This tour will start with a meeting with your guide. Kotor is located at the end of Boka Kotorska (Bay of Boka) where Mount Lovcen and the sea cuddle the town. Kotor is a town that belongs to a very “young” country, Montenegro, even though founded in 2006 as an independent country, the area has a deep and unique history and cultural richness dating back to the Neolithic ages. Kotor is an excellent combination of natural, cultural, and historical beauties which makes the town worth visiting even more than once in a lifetime. Your visit to the Old town in Kotor can be supplemented with a visit to the Maritime museum, which is found on the Square of the Boka fleet.

Highlights:

• Unique sightseeing experience
• Personal guide

Kotor: Walking Tour - 2 hours

Meet your guide at the tender pier ready for your walking tour of Kotor, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Surrounded by impressive medieval bulwarks which extend above the town to the fortress of Sveti Ivan, Kotor was under the rule of the Republic of Venice between 1420 and 1797 and the Venetian influence on the architecture is strong. Take a walking tour of the town passing the Watch Tower, the 12th-century Cathedral of St Tripun, the Church of St Luc and the 17th-century Prince’s Palace.

Highlights:

• Walking tour of Kotor, a UNESCO World Heritage Site

• An expert local guide in Kotor (2 hours)
• All taxes

• All cruise travel, personal items, meals and associated costs
• Gratuities

Kotor: Highlights of Montenegro - 8 hours

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Kotor is surrounded by impressive medieval bulwarks. Strong Venetian influences can be seen in the architecture and a walking tour of the town reveals the Watch Tower (Sat Kula), the 12th-century Cathedral of St Tripun, the Church of St Luc and the 17th-century Prince’s Palace.
After lunch at leisure, drive over the Lov´cen mountain (the Black Mountain which gives Montenegro its name) to Cetinj. The former capital of Montenegro, Cetinj was home to Njegoš, Montenegro’s greatest poet and king. Visit the National Museum of Montenegro, and the monastery before continuing to Budva, one of the oldest settlements on the Adriatic Sea, dating back to the 5th century BC. In the Middle Ages when Budva was under Venetian rule, the town was fortified by powerful Venetian walls to protect against the Ottoman conquests.

Highlights:

• Enjoy a walking tour of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Kotor
• Visit to the National Museum of Montenegro in Cetinj
• Discover the Venetian influences on the historic town of Budva

• Luxury car or minivan at your disposal during the tour
• An expert local guide (8 hours)
• Entrance fees to all stated sights and museums
• All taxes

• All cruise travel, personal items, meals and associated costs
• Gratuities

Chania Walking Tour (Chania, Crete) - 3 hours

Highlights/Description:

• Archaeological Museum
• Venetian fortifications
• The Arsenals
• The 1860 Greek Orthodox Cathedral
• The 1879 Roman Catholic Cathedral
• The Etz Hayyim Synagogue
• The Turkish Quarters

• Licensed, English-speaking guide
• Entrance fees
• Applicable taxes
• Transfers to/from port of Chania

• Meals, unless otherwise noted
• Gratuities
• Personal expenses

Heaven and Crete (Chania, Crete) - 5 hours

Highlights/Description:

• Tour of the botanical park
• Cretan delicacies and drinks tasting
• Meze style lunch
• Tour around scenic areas and villages of the Cretan mountains
• Visit to a traditional winery and its vineyards
• Information about the unique viticulture and the indigenous grape varietals
• A wine-tasting session with 5 different types and styles of wines
• Info booklet and Wine Certificate

• Licensed, English-speaking guide
• Entrance fees
• Applicable taxes
• Transfers to/from port of Chania

• Meals, unless otherwise noted
• Gratuities
• Personal expenses

Wine and Olive Trails of Crete - 4 hours

Highlights/Description:

• Visit to the oldest olive tree in the world
• Visit to a traditional winery and its vineyard
• Information about the unique viticulture and the indigenous grape varietals
• A wine-tasting session with 5 different types and styles of wines
• Info booklet and Wine Certificate
• Visit to an organic olive oil estate and extra virgin olive oil tasting
• Picnic with traditional Cretan delicacies and drinks

• Licensed, English-speaking guide
• Entrance fees
• Applicable taxes
• Transfers to/from port of Chania

• Meals, unless otherwise noted
• Gratuities
• Personal expenses

Piraeus: The Ancient City of Athens - 8 Hours

Dominated by the remarkable Parthenon, which has stood for over 2,000 years, Athens is a city of major architectural and archaeological treasures. At Piraeus Port you will receive a warm welcome from your guide and driver who provides a captivating insight into the city’s history and culture during your full day tour.

For most, the highlight of a visit to Athens is the world famous Acropolis and the Parthenon. Dedicated to the Goddess Athena, it is one of the most important ancient monuments in the Western world. This afternoon, delight in the mesmerising display of eclectic Greek and Oriental art at the Benaki Museum. Complete your day with a drive past the Panethenaic Stadium, the pure marble masterpiece that served as the original site for the modern Olympics. At the end of the tour you are privately transferred back to your cruise ship.

Highlights:

• Ascend the Acropolis to the Parthenon, one of the most important ancient monuments in the Western world
• Tour the Benaki Museum

• Private transport by luxury car or minivan
• An expert local guide for 8 hours
• Entrance fees to all sights and museums
  All taxes

• All cruise travel, personal items, meals and associated costs
• Gratuities

Piraeus: Cape Sounion - 5 hours

Meet your guide as you disembark your cruise ship in Piraeus and venture along the scenic coast to Cape Sounion where you visit the ancient ruined Temple of Poseidon. This temple is believed to date from the 5th century BC and was built to honour Poseidon, who ranked second only to Athena herself in terms of power. The Temple enjoys an impressive position, high on the cliffs, and has, over the centuries, been marked by many travellers’ carved signatures, including that of Lord Byron. After touring the site, you return to your cruise ship in Piraeus.

Highlights:

• Venture along the coast to Cape Sounion to the ancient ruins of the Temple of Poseidon