13 Day Private Tour in Ancient Greece with Mykonos & Santorini

Greece packs an astonishing amount into this 13-day private journey. You move from the Acropolis and the Oracle of Delphi to Olympia, Meteora, Mykonos, and Santorini without having to arrange each hotel, driver, ferry, and transfer yourself. It is a big route, but it gives you a clear sweep of ancient Greece and the islands.

I like the private car and English-speaking driver, which make the long mainland days far easier than handling buses and rental roads. I also like the mix of grand sites and local stops, from the Kalavrita cog railway and an Olympia honey farm to sunset at Meteora and Oia. The main caution is pace: several days involve long drives, early departures, or ferry connections, and archaeological entrance fees and optional cruises add to the advertised price.

Key points at a glance

• Ancient Greece beyond Athens: Visit Corinth, Epidaurus, Mycenae, Olympia, Delphi, Meteora, and Thermopylae.
• A guided Acropolis and Museum visit: Two hours at the hill and one hour in the museum are included with admission.
• Private mainland travel: Your group uses a private car and English-speaking driver for the land portion.
• Two very different islands: Mykonos brings beaches and nightlife, while Santorini brings caldera views, volcanic sites, and Oia sunsets.
• Local food and drink stops: The route includes olive oil, wine, olives, honey, and handmade desserts.
• Optional boat days: Delos and Rhenia from Mykonos, plus a Santorini cruise, cost extra.

Athens begins with the Acropolis

Day 1 is simple and useful. A driver meets you at Athens International Airport and takes you to your hotel, leaving the rest of the day free. That open time matters after a flight, though the package does not specify the hotel until closer to departure.

Day 2 gets to the heart of Athens. Your driver takes you to the Acropolis, where a guide leads you through the Theatre of Dionysus, the Porch of the Caryatids, and the Parthenon. The visit lasts about two hours and includes admission.

The Acropolis is not just a photo stop. The Theatre of Dionysus helps you picture the birthplace of classical drama, while the Caryatids and Parthenon show how much artistic and political meaning the Athenians packed into one rocky hill. Wear shoes with a firm grip, since ancient stone can be uneven.

You then spend an hour at the Acropolis Museum. Sculptures from the Erechtheum, Temple of Athena Nike, and Propylaea give the hilltop ruins more context. The museum floor also looks down onto excavations beneath the building, a clever touch that links modern Athens with the city below.

A panoramic drive adds the Temple of Olympian Zeus, Syntagma Square, the Hellenic Parliament, and the Panathenaic Stadium. You can finish in Plaka, a good place for old streets, mansions, and souvlaki, or return to your hotel.

From Corinth to Kalavrita by mountain railway

Day 3 is one of the route’s most unusual combinations. You first stop at the Corinth Canal, a narrow waterway cut through rock, then continue to Ancient Corinth, a site connected with Saint Paul.

Admission to Ancient Corinth is not included, so keep extra cash in your planning. The stop is about an hour, enough for a first look, but not a slow archaeological study.

The day then shifts from ruins to mountain scenery. At Diakopto, you board the Odontotos cog railway for the trip to Kalavrita. The small train follows the Vouraikos Canyon through streams, tunnels, waterfalls, cliffs, and pine and oleander woodland. The journey takes about two hours and is included, making it one of the better value moments in the land portion.

The Cave of the Lakes is also part of this section of the route. Its 13 lakes vary in size and color according to the minerals in the rock. The schedule places lunch in Kalavrita before continuing toward Nafplio, where you spend the night.

There is a practical concern here: this is a full day with several changes of scenery and transport. The route description places Nafplio alongside the cave stop, so your exact order and timing should be checked in the detailed schedule you receive before departure.

Nafplio, Epidaurus, and Mycenae

Nafplio deserves more than a quick sleep, and the plan gives you some choice on the morning of Day 4. You can climb toward Palamidi Castle, reached by 999 steps, or take a small boat to Bourtzi, the fortress at the harbor entrance.

That choice suits different energy levels. Palamidi gives you a workout and a high view, while Bourtzi offers a short boat outing. The package does not list admission for these choices, so confirm costs before setting out.

Epidaurus follows. Its ancient theatre is famous for acoustics that still work today, and the site remains used for performances. Two hours are set aside for the theatre and archaeological museum, though entrance is not included.

Mycenae brings a much older world into view. You see the Lion Gate, Cyclopean Walls, royal remains, and the tomb traditionally linked with Agamemnon. The scale of the stonework is the point here. Even without a guide at every site, the walls make clear why later Greeks imagined giants had built them.

An olive oil tasting in Nafplio adds a welcome modern counterpoint. You learn how olives are grown and pressed, then compare oils ranging from peppery and strong to smooth and fruity. It is the kind of stop that helps you understand Greek food at the table, not just Greek history in a museum.

The day finishes with an overnight in Ancient Olympia. It is another long day, so do not plan a late night.

Olympia, honey, and the road to Delphi

At 9 a.m. on Day 5, you visit Ancient Olympia, the sanctuary where the first Olympic Games took place in 776 B.C. The Temple of Zeus, Temple of Hera, shrine of Pelops, council house, treasuries, gymnasium, and palaestra show that the Games were part of a religious complex, not a stand-alone stadium event.

The Olympic oath and training areas give the site a human scale. You can picture athletes preparing for competition, then walking into a sacred precinct devoted to Zeus.

Entrance is extra, as it is at several mainland archaeological sites. The package states a suggested fee of 25 euros per person per site, so this can become a noticeable addition across the trip.

A nearby market offers wine, olive oil, and Greek olive tasting. At Klio’s Honey Farm, you have coffee or juice and handmade desserts prepared with honey from the farm. These stops are included and break up the ruins with food that has a real connection to the area.

You then cross the Rio-Antirrio Bridge, one of Europe’s major bridges, and stop in Nafpaktos for lunch and a look at its Venetian port and castle. The overnight is in Delphi, which keeps you close to the next morning’s major site.

Delphi and a sunset at Meteora

Day 6 visits Delphi’s archaeological site, stadium, theatre, and museum. Delphi was the sanctuary of Apollo and the home of the famous oracle. Its appeal comes from both the ruins and the setting high in central Greece, where the ancient Greeks placed a major religious center far from the city streets.

Two hours is enough for a strong introduction, but not for every museum label and side path. Admission is not included. A coffee or lunch stop in Arachova follows, giving you time in a traditional mountain village before the drive to Kalambaka.

The Meteora sunset is a highlight. Huge rock pillars rise above the town, with monasteries perched on top. Seeing them in late light gives you a better sense of their isolation than a quick daytime visit. The program includes a sunset tour, though sunset conditions and the exact viewing point can change with the schedule.

Day 7 focuses on two Byzantine monasteries. Great Meteoron is the largest and oldest, while St. Stephen’s is built on a lower, more accessible rock area. Monastery admission is not included, and religious sites may require suitable clothing.

You have a traditional Greek lunch in Kalambaka, then drive back toward Athens with a 15-minute stop at Thermopylae. The statue of Leonidas marks the famous battle of the 300 Spartans. It is a brief memorial stop, not a full museum visit.

This mainland section is the strongest reason to choose a private car. Public transport would make this chain of sites difficult, and your driver can handle the long links between them. Staff members Dimitra, Effie, and Patty are named as key contacts for planning and communication, and WhatsApp is recommended for updates.

Mykonos brings a sharp change of pace

Day 8 starts early, with pickup around 5:45 a.m. for the Piraeus ferry at 7:25. You reach Mykonos at about 11:25, then transfer to your hotel.

After a week of ancient sites and road travel, Mykonos feels like a reset. Walk through Little Venice, explore the narrow Matogiannia streets, shop for local items, or simply rest. The island is known for sandy beaches, beach bars, luxury hotels, and nightlife, so you can make this section as active or relaxed as you wish.

The early ferry is the price of reaching the island on the same day. If you need a slow morning, this schedule will feel demanding. On the other hand, the private transfer from port to hotel removes the usual arrival scramble.

Day 9 offers an optional six-hour boat trip to Delos and Rhenia. Delos is a UNESCO World Heritage site and the mythical birthplace of Apollo and Artemis. You have about 90 minutes to see temples, mosaics, and monuments before returning to the boat for a barbecue lunch.

The boat then sails to Rhenia for swimming, snorkeling, and time on its quiet beaches. The excursion is optional and costs extra. It is a good add-on if you want the Aegean by water, but skip it if you need downtime before the next ferry.

Santorini adds volcanoes and Oia

On Day 10, you take the 2:55 p.m. boat from Mykonos and arrive in Santorini around 5:35 p.m. A transfer takes you to your hotel, followed by the island’s signature event: sunset in Oia.

Oia is famous for good reason, but expect a crowd gathered for the same view. You can follow the sunset with dinner or a drink in the island capital and wander its narrow streets.

Day 11 is another optional six-hour boat trip. It visits Palea Kameni’s hot springs, with time for a swim, then passes Aspronisi, the Ancient Lighthouse, Akrotiri, and Indian Rock. Red Beach and White Beach are included in the route, with White Beach accessible only by boat.

A barbecue buffet includes seafood, grilled meats, salads, and desserts. The cruise finishes with another Oia sunset, this time viewed from the water. Admission is not included, and the cruise has an extra charge, so ask for the current supplement before committing.

This is a full island day, not a quiet beach break. The payoff is variety: volcanic rock, swimming, beaches, and caldera views in one outing.

What the $7,360 price really covers

At $7,360.28 per person, this is a costly trip. Its value depends on how much you would otherwise pay for 12 hotel nights, private drivers, airport and port transfers, ferry tickets, and planning help across a complicated route.

The package includes 12 nights of accommodation, 12 breakfasts, the private car and English-speaking driver for the mainland, ferry tickets from Piraeus to Mykonos and onward to Santorini, and the Santorini to Piraeus return. The Acropolis and Acropolis Museum tour includes a guide and tickets. Honey, olive oil, and wine tastings are also included.

Budget separately for mainland site admissions, listed at about 25 euros per person per site, hotel city tax, gratuities, and the optional Delos and Santorini cruises. Ancient Corinth, Epidaurus, Mycenae, Olympia, Delphi, and Meteora all list admission as extra.

Room sharing matters. Two people share a double room, three people share a triple room, and one person has a private single room. Confirm the room plan before paying, especially if your group has different preferences.

Who will get the most from this route

I would choose this for someone who wants Greece’s major ancient sites but does not want to rent a car or manage a web of buses and ferries. It also suits a private family or friend group that values door-to-door transport and a fixed plan.

It is less suited to someone who wants long stays on one island, slow mornings, or detailed guided time at every ruin. The schedule covers a lot of ground, and several admissions are not included.

The three available ratings are all 5 out of 5, with particular praise for the trip’s organization, strong accommodations, steady communication, and adjustments made during the journey. That matches the structure here: the main benefit is not just the places, but having a team coordinate the moving parts.

Cancellation is generous only if you act early: cancel at least six full days before the start for a full refund. Two to six days allows a 50 percent refund, while cancellation within two days receives none.

Should you book this private Greece tour?

Book it if you want a broad first look at Greece, from classical Athens and ancient sanctuaries to two famous islands, and you are willing to pay for private transport and planning support. The combination of Acropolis access, Olympia, Delphi, Meteora, Mykonos, and Santorini is hard to arrange neatly on your own.

Think twice if the price stretches your budget or if you prefer independent days with flexible timing. Before booking, ask for the hotel names, exact pickup times, room assignments, entrance-fee estimate, and prices for the optional boat trips. If those details fit your group, this is a well-organized way to see a remarkable amount of Greece without driving yourself.

FAQ

How long is the tour?

The tour lasts approximately 13 days and includes 12 nights of accommodation.

Where does the tour begin?

It begins with pickup at Athens International Airport in Spata, Greece. The stated start time is 8:30 a.m.

Is airport pickup included?

Yes. Meet and greet at Athens Airport and the transfer to your Athens hotel are included.

Is this a private tour?

Yes. Only your own group participates in the private tour and activity.

Is an English-speaking driver included?

Yes. A private car with an English-speaking driver is included for the mainland portion, along with private transfers in the other destinations.

Are ferry tickets included?

Yes. Fast ferry tickets are included for Piraeus to Mykonos, Mykonos to Santorini, and Santorini to Piraeus.

Are the Acropolis and Acropolis Museum tickets included?

Yes. The guided Acropolis and Acropolis Museum visit includes a guide and admission tickets.

Are all archaeological entrance fees included?

No. Entrance fees are listed separately at about 25 euros per person per site. Admissions for Ancient Corinth, Epidaurus, Mycenae, Olympia, Delphi, and Meteora are not included.

Are the Delos and Santorini cruises included?

No. The Delos and Rhenia boat trip from Mykonos and the Santorini cruise are optional and cost extra.

Is breakfast included?

Yes. The package includes 12 breakfasts.

What room arrangements are provided?

Two people stay in a double-sharing room, three people stay in a triple-sharing room, and one person has a private single room.

When do I receive the final schedule?

A detailed itinerary is provided after booking. About one week before the trip, you receive an updated itinerary with hotel names, pickup times, and other details.