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L ' Austral - Guests

At The Heart Of The Greek Islands

Athens - Athens

The Greek Islands, from the Peloponnese to the Cyclades via the Dodecanese, are enchanting, bewitching and captivating. From the sheer coastlines bordered by paradisiacal turquoise waters to the archaeological sites that are as emblematic as they are monumental, let yourself fall under the spell of these jewels of the Aegean Sea. From Athens, set sail aboard L’Austral for an 8-day cruise in the heart of the most beautiful Greek islands.

In the Dodecanese archipelago, where St. John is said to have written the Apocalypse, the island of Patmos, known as “the Jerusalem of the Aegean Sea”, reveals itself to offer you a moment suspended between unique landscapes of white-sand beaches and rocky bays.

Planted with forests of cypress trees and olive groves, Symi is bewitching. The shimmering colours of its dwellings and surrounding nature make it a real paradise for those seeking tranquillity and serenity.

You will now head towards the most easterly part of the Cyclades. Amorgos, or the island in the Big Blue film, as it is nicknamed, is a rough gem. Fall under the spell of its volcanic and mountainous landscapes diving into the bordering crystal-clear waters and its paved small streets edged by traditional whitewashed houses.

After an unforgettable cruise in Santorini’s captivating caldera, where high cliffs surround the majestic ancient crater engulfed by water in the 2nd millennium BC, you will set sail north west. On Milos, the limestone cliffs and small hidden coves are yours to discover in a soothing atmosphere.

The birthplace of Artemis and Apollo, Delos is rich in archaeological ruins, UNESCO World Heritage Sites, illustrating its prestigious history. The Terrace of the Lions, the Sanctuary of Zeus and Athena, the Temple of the Athenians… journey back in time almost 2,000 years, between millennia-old heritage and sumptuous panoramas.

Following the currents, you will head towards emblematic Mykonos. Constructed just above the water, the district known as “Little Venice” captivates with its windmills swirling on the hill and its paved streets edged with marvellous bougainvillea.

You will now sail towards the east of the Peloponnese, to reach your final port of call. Here, a gem named Hydra reveals its old-world charm in a stunning setting. With its hidden coves and its mountains topped with monasteries, this jewel of the Saronic Islands completely devoid of cars offers a total change of scenery against the spellbinding blue of the Aegean Sea.

Athens, the mythical city dominated by the Acropolis and its monuments, which form the most extraordinary architectural and artistic ensemble bequeathed to the world by Ancient Greece, will mark the end of this exceptional odyssey.

 



 

 

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Kid Explorers Club in partnership with MAUD FONTENOY FOUNDATION.
  • A cruise in the heart of the Aegean Sea, discovering the Greek Islands, featuring emblematic ancient heritage and unique landscapes with a mix of white sandy beaches and rocky bays.
  • UNESCO World Heritage Sites: the Acropolis in Athens (embarkation port), Delos, the sacred island, the monastery of Saint John and the Cave of the Apocalypse in Patmos.
  • Discover the pearls of the Cyclades: Amorgos, the Santorini Caldera, Folegandros, Delos, Mykonos and their ancient ruins, typical landscapes and beaches.
  • An exceptional sunset cruise in the Santorini caldera.
  • Swimming opportunity from many small coves.

DATES / RATES

Rates are listed per person
Start DateEnd DateFrom EURFrom USD
Rates are listed per person
Start DateEnd DateFrom EURFrom USD

ITINERARY


4 JULY 2024 - ATHENS

Embarkation 04/07/2024 from 16:00 to 17:00
Departure 04/07/2024 at 19:00

The Greek capital city is located on the edge of the Saronic gulf, in the east of the country. It bears a plural name in reference to the first villages that surround the Acropolis. You will be enchanted by the rocky plateau presided by its monuments listed as UNESCO World Heritage. In the city below, you can visit some of the liveliest districts in Athens: Plaka, with its maze of colourful streets, and where, in the evenings the drifting aroma of moussaka and garlic prawns will tickle your taste buds. The National Archaeological museum and the Cycladic Art Museum are also some of the city’s key attractions and allow visitors to discover Athens’ cultural past.

5 JULY 2024 - PATMOS

Arrival 05/07/2024 midday
Departure 05/07/2024 early evening

Patmos is one of the legendary must-see islands in the Dodecanese. This is where Saint John resided, presumed author of the last book in the Bible. The cave of the Apocalypse and the Saint John Monastery are dedicated to him. These sites, which are listed by UNESCO as World Heritage, are located at the top of a hillside planted with vines and orchards. On the shore, the crystalline coves of Kambos and Lampi offer absolutely gorgeous swimming areas.

6 JULY 2024 - SYMI

Arrival 06/07/2024 early morning
Departure 06/07/2024 mid afternoon

A simply ravishing gem in the Dodecanese, Symi is located north-west of Rhodes. This island of cypress forests, vineyards and olive orchards, possesses a capital city of the same name that is as colourful as the surrounding countryside. The charm of the port district of Gialos is not to be missed: its quaysides are lined with picturesque houses with multi-coloured facades. You can get to the upper town by car or climb the 500 steps up the Kali Strata ramp. The second option offers superb viewing points of the coast and gorgeous turquoise waters.

7 JULY 2024 - AMORGOS

Arrival 07/07/2024 early morning
Departure 07/07/2024 mid afternoon

It’s no accident that the island of Amorgos was chosen as a shooting location for Luc Besson’s film, The Big Blue. You too will fall under the charm of this island as your ship edges closer. Amorgos is the most easterly island in the Cyclades and stands out for its rocky inlets with crystal-clear water and its small, picturesque villages. This port of call will be your chance to visit one of the prettiest villages in the Cyclades, Chora, and discover its cobbled streets and whitewashed houses overlooked by a castle. Byzantine churches, windmills and courtyards brimming with flowers complete this typical tableau of timeless Greece.

7 JULY 2024 - SAILING IN THE SANTORINI CALDERA

Arrival 07/07/2024
Departure 07/07/2024

Sailing in the waters of Santorini caldera is breathtaking. The gigantic scale of the unique setting, the majesty of the high cliffs surrounds this ancient crater that was flooded in 2000 years before Christ, is one of the highlights of the cruise. From your ship, the colourful whites, greys, reds of the volcanic rocks, the blue of the Aegean Sea and the immaculate perched villages form a unique and marvellous spectacle.

8 JULY 2024 - ADAMAS, MILOS

Arrival 08/07/2024 early morning
Departure 08/07/2024 late afternoon

Although Milos is especially renowned for the famous statue of Venus found in a field there and now displayed in the Louvre in Paris, this mineral island is also a geological treasure. Its volcanic origin is evident in its breathtaking landscapes and the colours of its cliffs, ranging from pure white to deep red. You’ll discover the wild beauty of the shorelines lined with the most beautiful beaches in Greece from a ship deck, and you’ll enjoy privileged access to emerald-green coves. Tiny fishing ports like Adamas hide there, with brightly-painted doors and terraces. Milos is a charming port of call in the heart of the Cyclades.

9 JULY 2024 - DELOS

Arrival 09/07/2024 early morning
Departure 09/07/2024 midday

This legendary Cyclades island of Delos stands just a few miles southwest of Mykonos. The ceremonial solemnity of this ancient holy sanctuary will not leave you indifferent. The sheer size and importance of this UNESCO World Heritage site which covers over half of the island is thrilling in itself. From the Stoa of Antigonos, the Terrace of the Lions, to the carved marble animal statues, you will make discovery after discovery, against a backdrop of the Aegean stretching to the horizon. The theatre steps on the hillside are a particularly good place from which to enjoy the expansive view.

9 JULY 2024 - MYKONOS

Arrival 09/07/2024 early afternoon
Departure 09/07/2024 late evening

Nicknamed “little Venice”, Mykonos is famous for its Alefkandra district where houses are built right on the water’s edge. Their multi-coloured loggias are emblematic of this Cyclades island, as are the pelicans and windmills. You can get close up to the birds on the quaysides of the old port. Up on the hillside, you can see the windmill sails turning. In the cobbled streets of the pedestrian centre, bougainvillea bedeck immaculate facades. As you weave in and out of the little streets, snatches of coastline will undoubtedly call you to the island’s beaches, the quietest of which can be found on the northern coast.

10 JULY 2024 - HYDRA

Arrival 10/07/2024 midday
Departure 10/07/2024 evening

This unusual gem belonging to the Saronic islands is located to the east of the Peloponnese. There are no cars here. Named after the island, the harbour town is layered up the slopes of a mountainous bay. You may be surprised to see beautiful stone mansions. These are traditional here, as are the multi-coloured caïques along the quays. Further along the shore, you will discover the Historical Archives Museum. Collections from Athens National History Museum are exhibited in the elegant villa Koundouriotis.

11 JULY 2024 - ATHENS

Arrival 11/07/2024 at night
Disembarkation 11/07/2024 at 08:00

The Greek capital city is located on the edge of the Saronic gulf, in the east of the country. It bears a plural name in reference to the first villages that surround the Acropolis. You will be enchanted by the rocky plateau presided by its monuments listed as UNESCO World Heritage. In the city below, you can visit some of the liveliest districts in Athens: Plaka, with its maze of colourful streets, and where, in the evenings the drifting aroma of moussaka and garlic prawns will tickle your taste buds. The National Archaeological museum and the Cycladic Art Museum are also some of the city’s key attractions and allow visitors to discover Athens’ cultural past.

(Click image to view Ship details)

WHAT'S INCLUDED


 
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