Splendors of the Mediterranean

15 or 18 days

Italy, Greece, extension to Crete

Journey through Italy and Greece, and uncover the many layers of two fascinating cultures inexorably intertwined. Walk over canals in Venice, marvel at Florence’s cathedrals, and stand before Rome’s ancient monuments. In Greece, the mystical powers of Delphi give way to the classical antiquity of Athens. Together, these countries offer a profound connection to the roots of Western civilization.

Due to national and/or religious holidays, some sites may be closed and your itinerary may be modified on the following dates in 2026: March 19, March 25, April 3-8, April 12, May 1, June 29, and August 14-15. These dates fluctuate each year—please contact us for more information.

Image displaying map describing the itinerary of the Splendors of the Mediterranean tour

Day 1: Fly overnight to Italy

Day 2: Milan • Venice

Meet your Tour Director at the destination airport

Travel to Venice

Day 3: Venice

Take a ferry to Venice

Take a guided tour of Venice

With your expert local guide you will see:

St. Mark’s Square
Grand Canal

See a glass-blowing demonstration

Travel by water taxi to the island of Burano

Explore Burano on your own

Enjoy a gondola ride

Day 4: Venice • Florence

Travel to Florence

Take a guided tour of Florence

With your expert local guide you will see:

Piazza della Signoria
Ponte Vecchio
Basilica of Santa Croce
Gates of Paradise

Day 5: Florence

Add this in-depth excursion:

Pisa

Journey to Pisa on this half-day excursion. Enjoy a guided tour of the city’s Field of Miracles, where you can snap a picture of the 12th-century Leaning Tower, aslant ever since the third floor was built. This is where Galileo was said to have developed his laws of gravity. Also visit the adjacent cathedral and baptistery, which contain exquisite marble pulpits carved in the Gothic style.

Day 6: Florence • Assisi • Rome

Travel via Assisi to Rome

Visit the Basilica of St. Francis

Tour Assisi with an expert local guide

Day 7: Rome

Take a guided tour of Rome

With your expert local guide you will see:

Colosseum
Roman Forum
Capitoline Hill
St. Peter's Square and Basilica

Explore Rome during a food-themed walking tour

Day 8: Rome • Sorrento region

Travel to the Sorrento region

Snap a photo of seaside Sorrento

Day 9: Sorrento region • Pompeii • Rome

Travel via Pompeii to Rome

Tour the ruins of Pompeii with an expert local guide

Day 10: Rome • Athens • Argolida region

Fly to Athens

Travel to Argolida region

Add this in-depth excursion:

BBQ dinner with boat cruise

After a busy day of exploring the sights, relax this evening on a two-hour optional boat cruise excursion and BBQ beach dinner. Head to the charming port town of Tolo on the Vivary Bay and board your boat, embarking on a tour of the scenic Argolic Gulf. You will then anchor at Kondyli Beach, where your captain has organized a BBQ dinner under the stars. Enjoy live music in this unforgettable Mediterranean setting before heading back to Tolo. (Available June–August only)

Day 11: Argolida region • Epidaurus • Mycenae • Corinth • Delphi

Travel to Delphi via Epidaurus and Mycenae

Tour Epidaurus and Mycenae with an expert local guide

See the Corinth Canal

Day 12: Delphi • Meteora region

Visit the Delphi Museum

Take a guided tour of Delphi

With your expert local guide you will see:

Temple of Apollo
Delphi Archaeological Museum

Travel to the Meteora region

Day 13: Meteora region • Athens

Visit a Meteora monastery, a town suspended in the "middle of the sky"

Tour a Meteora monastery with an expert local guide

Travel to Athens

Day 14: Athens

Take a guided tour of Athens

With your expert local guide you will:

See the Ancient Olympic Stadium
See Syntagma Square, the central square of Athens
Visit the Acropolis

Visit the Acropolis Museum, home to ancient ruins and prehistoric artifacts

Take a walking tour of Athens

With your Tour Director you will see:

Plaka district
Athenian Trilogy

Add this in-depth excursion:

Greek evening

Friends, feta, and fresh Mediterranean flavors—opa! Stuff yourself like an olive during a traditional Greek dinner. Then, link arms for a night of music and dancing. You might even get to experience the famous plate-smashing tradition. Whatever the night brings, you'll enjoy a lively celebration and experience the best of Greece’s theatrical culture.

Day 15: Depart for home

Add 3 more days

Day 15: Athens • Heraklion

Fly to Heraklion on the island of Crete

Take a tour of Knossos Palace with a local guide

Take a walking tour of Heraklion

Enjoy a cheese tasting with lunch

Day 16: Heraklion • Elounda • Spinalonga

Travel to the coastal town of Elounda

Take a guided boat tour of Spinalonga, a historic fortress island

Explore the beach town of Elounda on your own

Day 17: Chania • Night ferry