Greece Family Vacations

Adventures include biking through ancient villages, rafting in the Peloponnese, trekking in Crete, kayaking in Santorini and climbing the pinnacles of Meteora.

Beaches are everywhere – tiny and private, large and popular, sandy and rocky – world class all of them! You will never forget the beaches – from Balos Beach in Crete to Plaka Beach on Naxos – they are unforgettable!

Healthy and fresh with newly harvested olive oil, fish and tomatoes. Every meal is a treat. Greek food is famous throughout the world and it’s even better in Greece. Taramasalata, dolmades, moussaka, baklava and much more.

From the Parthenon in Athens to the Palace of Knossos, Greece is a culture and history lover’s dream.

Day 1
On arrival in Athens you’ll be met and transferred to your hotel conveniently located in the historic centre of Athens (the Plaka area) and next to the most important monuments. Plaka is the oldest part of Athens and now buzzing with restaurants and atmosphere. Overnight in Athens.

Day 2
After breakfast, you’ll go on a morning walking tour of Athens. Explore the Acropolis, which was the center of ancient Athenian religious and commercial life. Your history lesson will be completed with your visit to the Acropolis museum, the museum that the Athenians are most proud of.

Late this afternoon you’ll go sea kayaking. Admire stunning views from the seaside along the Athenian Riviera all the way to Cape Sounion and the famous Temple of Poseidon! Upon arrival at Cape Sounion, you’ll visit the famous temple and end your day with a typical Greek meal, enjoying unique views and the sunset over the Saronic Gulf!

Day 3
This morning you’ll pick up your rental car and drive out towards the Peloponnese region of Greece and on to Mycenae and Epidaurus. Mycenae, the ancient Bronze Age walled city, dates back to the 13th and 14th centuries BC, and is regarded as one of the greatest archaeological sites in all of Greece. Epidaurus, one of Ancient Greece’s most significant cities, is today marked by its incredible Ancient Theatre, still used in the summer for staging performances. On the way stop and admire the Corinth Canal, a marvel of nineteenth century engineering. The drive to Mycenae should take about 2 hours. Afterwards drive on to your hotel in Nafplion, one of the most romantic seaside towns in Greece.

Day 4
Today is a free day in Nafplion. Depending on the weather, you may want to walk the famous 999 steps up to the Palamidi Fortress overlooking the town. You can also take a taxi boat out to the Bourtzi Venetian Castle lying in Nafplion’s harbor. There are also many beaches nearby and Nafplion itself is a wonderful small city to walk around in!

Day 5
Today you leave Nafplio and head to the mountains. You’ll be driving to Ancient Gortyna to hike the Lousios Gorge. The hike offers a beautiful combination of history and nature. You’ll walk amongst trails of dense vegetation crisscrossing the Lousios River. You’ll visit monasteries that appear to be literally hanging from the cliffs and end the trek at the archaeological site of Ancient Gortys. This is one of the most stirring of all Greek sites as it is based along the rushing river known in ancient times as the Gortynios. Your hike will include a picnic lunch. Afterwards drive on to Stemnitsa, one of Greece’s most stunning mountain villages.

Day 6
This morning after breakfast drive to Maratha village for your rafting adventure! The river is where Zeus the father of Olympian gods bathed after his birth.

Enjoy rafting down the river ending at the spectacular bridge of “Koukos”. After the rafting and the included country lunch, you can meander back to Stemnitsa. If you haven’t yet seen the Monastery of Prodromus, built into the mountains, take a small detour to see it!

Day 7
Today you’ll have a leisurely drive back to Athens and then catch your flight to the most magical Greek island of them all, Santorini!

Day 8
Explore the gorgeous, largely untouched landscapes of Santorini! This morning you’ll have a short guided walk to the idyllic beach of Mesa Pigadia. Here you can swim and snorkel in the crystal clear waters of the Aegean Sea. Then you’ll meet our chef who will show you all there is to know about traditional Greek cuisine. You’ll learn how to prepare a variety of lovely dishes all bursting with Mediterranean flavor. You will use only homegrown ingredients and local cooking techniques. You will then savor your delicious homemade meal!

After lunch you’ll have time to relax or stroll around the small town. Late this afternoon enjoy one of most scenic hikes in the world, the famous Caldera Trail. This hike gives you spectacular views of the island, its immense caldera, and the surrounding Mediterranean islands in the distance. An old mule path winds through some of Santorini’s most picturesque scenery. As you hike along the trail, enjoy stops at a variety of viewpoints that let you marvel at the blue and white Cycladic chapels, as well as the Aegean Sea and the volcano. From the top of the last hill of the hike, enjoy a panoramic view of sunset.

Day 9
This morning you’ll visit Akrotiri. This Minoan settlement, destroyed in the Theran eruption around 1627 BCE is regarded as the inspiration behind Plato’s Atlantis. After that, you can wander down the path to the famous Red Beach, a must see place with gorgeous views even if you don’t plan on swimming! After the tour, you will be transferred back to your hotel and the rest of the day is free to wander around Fira town, enjoy the beach etc.

Day 10
Santorini is a magical place to explore so we’re leaving today free for you to do just that! You may want to do a wine tour of Santorini’s beautiful volcanic wine estates. Wine making goes back 3,000 years on the island and this is a great way to experience another side of Santorini. This afternoon we’d suggest visiting some of the island’s prettiest traditional villages – Imerovigli, Emporio, Pyrgos and Kamari. Or you might want to relax on the beach!

Day 11
Fly back to Athens and onwards.

Although Greece is an all year round destination it is probably best in shoulder season. It is most popular in the warmer months from June through September but April, May and October may be the loveliest times to visit. Summer will be warmer and more crowded and some islands may be a little too full of tourists; nevertheless we at Quivertree always know how to get you off the beaten track!

Yes! Greece has long established itself as a perfect destination for families! With a combination of friendly local people, a buzzing atmosphere, some of the best food you’ll find anywhere, ancient ruins and possibly Europe’s best beaches, Greece is perfect for all ages.

Greece’s ancient history, culture and ruins will stir anyone’s imagination! Between Homer and Percy Jackson, kids will be fascinated. Hike to monasteries in gorges, raft in ancient rivers, kayak to Poseidon’s Temple and then relax on the magnificent beaches of the Greek Isles! Just perfect!

Food is an absolute treat! Wonderful fresh local produce which is also an alphabet of exotic names! It’s not only Greek salad and olives. There’s taramasalata, dolmades, moussaka, tzatziki, baklava, gyros, kataifi, saganaki, souvlaki, amygdalota – the list goes on and on. Don’t know what some of these are? You must go to Greece to try them!

Accommodation can include intimate boutique hotels, large North American and European chain hotels, beach cottages and lovely local B&B’s and guesthouses.

Greece is not a particularly expensive destination. Food is great value and one of the country’s greatest assets – its beaches – are free! The inter island ferries are also inexpensive although for longer inter island trips flights are also available.