The Best of Greece: Island Hopping in the Aegean

Outstanding program with a highly knowledgeable leader. Each island visit prepared us for the next experience. Was exactly what we hoped it would be. Our congenial group completed the enjoyment.

Trip of a lifetime! You got to go!

Dionysis, our tour guide, did an amazing job both enlightening us about the history of ancient Greek and making sure we all had a safe and enriching experience. The Greek islands are enchanting!

I was sick with a very bad cold/flu for much of the trip -- as a result, I missed out on several days, staying in my hotel room in an effort to keep from spreading my illness to the rest of the group. I was a bit annoyed at the response of the tour leader to my condition -- every time I contacted him to let him know that I was not joining the group, his attitude was one of incredulity. I told him repeatedly that I know my own body, what it is capable of, and I was met with reluctant acceptance. He did express gratitude at the end of the trip for my taking care to keep away from others and to always mask. Perhaps it is a cultural thing -- that women don't really accurately report on anything, i.e. lie -- but I did find it annoying. I feel that the trip was a bit much -- being ill not withstanding. There needs to be more 'vacations' from the vacation included -- days with nothing planned, to allow for sleeping in, resting by the pool or just taking advantage of amenities offered at the different locations. The overnight journey on the ferry from Crete to Athens was awful -- the rooms are dirty, the beds are like a hard slab, and the entire ship smells of motor oil. Heraklion airport is not far from the hotel and a 40 minute journey to Athens -- and the cost of tickets, while higher than the ferry, should not increase the cost of the trip by that much. The overnight ferry was a horrible experience that no one should have to endure. Lastly -- I'm not a vegetarian/vegan, but several of the tour members were -- and their food choices were abysmal. One offering was either calamari (not allowed for the vegan crowd) or a dish of green beans. Surely Road Scholar can work with the restaurants they select to provide better food choices for those who choose to abstain from meat.

Our second Road Scholar program - and another success! A very good Group Leader in Athina - very knowledgeable with a great personality. Accommodations and logistics are fantastic in spite of the numerous ferry departures. Much to explore - Archeological remains, ancient civilizations, and architecture.

I highly recommend this trip for its perfect presentation of the land and art and architecture of the earliest and classical Greek civilizations. Our tour leader shared his vast knowledge generously and made me feel welcome in his homeland.

Island Hoping in the Aegean was a wonderful experience. Learn history, culture, see amazing things and make new friends.

If you ever wanted to see Athens and several islands in the Aegean Sea, if you love learning, eating, swimming and dancing, this is a wonderful way to spend nearly two weeks.

This was a superb and varied trip, taking us into other worlds in a fascinating way. The days were full and active, there was a lot of information to process, and our Tour Guide made the experience very special indeed.

The Best of Greece: Island Hopping in the Aegean is a fantastic trip with more history, beautiful islands and friendly people than can be imagined. It is an active trip visiting 5 islands and Athens very educational and enlightening.

This is an amazing trip. Our guide, Marily, was one of the best leaders we've had in 11 RS trips. She was so knowledgeable and welcoming. The islands are beautiful, ferries were a bit challenging but with Marily's expert guidance we were fine! Cooking class on Paros was great fun. Wonderful fellow travelers. Lindy

A really worthwhile visit to the cradle of Western Civilization.Given the complex logistics of the area, there is no way I could have visited even half of what I saw.

The Program Educator "Tasso" was the highlight of our trip to Greece.

We enjoyed our first trip to Greece. We enjoyed the archeology - especially akrotiri which had buildings that looked like frank lloyd wright designed them, only these were 17th century bc. We enjoyed swimming in the Aegean. The ferries were a great way to get around and also see the local people. The food was great (not surprising). Our group leader was informative and well organized (Marili). Highly recommended. It you liked Israel and Jordan, do this trip

“The Best of Greece: Island Hopping in the Aegean” is a great trip. The Acropolis and museums in Athens, the beauty and history of the three Cyclades islands (Mykonos and Delos, Paros and Santorini), and the surprising diversity of Crete all made for an exhilarating and packed fourteen days. The ferries proved to be a great way to see Greece and the islands. Our tour guide’s passion and knowledge of the historical sites made them live as imagined communities, while her comments on the artistic works spoke not only to their historic importance, but their formal beauty. Walking, bussing and ferrying, we felt effortlessly stewarded and cared for.

A life long dream of traveling to Greece was fulfilled on this trip. It was my first trip being newly widowed and traveling with a group of couples and other singles was so much fun and rewarding. It was a great step forward for my new chapter of life. Learning about ancient civilizations, hiking on beautiful islands surrounded by azure colored seas as well as enjoying the food and culture of the Mediterranean made for a wonderful trip!

This adventure was wonderful. A great taste of Greece covering culture, history, and culinary traditions. Our study leader was knowledgeable and fun to be around. We visited Athens and four islands. Each location had a wealth of sites to visit. So well organized and thought out. Truly enjoyed the entire trip.

This is a wonderful educational trip. If you are interested in ancient history, wonderful scenery, ferry trips and interesting places then this trip is for you.

If you like history, archaeology, deep blue seas and memorable sunsets I highly recommend this trip!

I recently completed the program “The best of Greece:Island hopping in the Aegean”. I was very interested in exploring Greece, but as a solo traveller that had never been on a guided group tour, I was apprehensive that the group tour experience might not be for me. Fortunately, my concerns were quickly dismissed. The other travelers in my group were all friendly, interesting, and welcoming people and our group leader (Chrysa Peritogianni) was truly exceptional. The tour itself was much better, in my opinion, than a cruise-based experience would have been. Chrysa used her knowledge and experience to schedule our visits to the perpetually overcrowded stops so as to avoid the crowd surges ( from the cruise ships) and have our experiences with reasonable or light crowds. The tour also included several less travelled and truly authentic destinations that gave us a feel for the daily life of the Greek people and the way the history we were learning about is reflected in Greek culture today. Traveling by ferry was also very interesting, and provided insight into how the Greek people travel around their country. Overall a wonderful experience. Chrysa communicated the history of Greece with such infectious joy and wonder that I now want to read and study even more about the destinations we visited. Greece is incredibly beautiful, the Greek people are warm and welcoming and the history is fascinating. I highly recommend this tour.

Wonderful experience! Packed with information and fun hands-on activities. Our guide (Dionysios) was stellar - amazing breadth of knowledge, patient and always concerned about our group having the best experience possible. Exceptional bang-for-the-buck and highly recommended for those looking for new adventures with like-minded travelers.

Fantastic, Location, Itinerary, and especially our Guide!

This was a fabulous introduction to the Cycladic isles, and the history, myths and pre-history associated with them. Our guide Dionysis was very knowledgeable about Greece, especially with adding insightful comments during our tours of archeological sites and museums.

This was an extraordinary opportunity to travel around major islands of the Aegean in a way many travelers to Greece do not experience. While getting on and off the ferry boats consisted of about 5 minutes of madness, crowds, and chaos, the sea journeys themselves were calm (we had excellent weather) and relaxing, especially the overnight ferry boat from Crete to Athens. If you have the stamina to deal with embarking and disembarking up/down the ramps of the ferry boats, surrounded by hundreds of other passengers, then do it! The visits to each island were special. Staying overnight on the islands offered the group the chances to travel around the islands, seeing countryside, ruins, historic sites, and smaller communities that a cruise around the islands most likely would not. We even had the chance to unwind and splash in the waters of the Aegean or just sit on the beach or in the shade of an outdoor cafe, enjoying the sea breezes. Wonderful! Best of all, however, was our guide, Dionysios. I have been on several other RS tours and all guides were professional and helpful, but Dion is in a class by himself. He was so well-prepared, knowledgeable, and organized, while also being patient, affable, calm, personable, and just overall, a wonderful, multi-talented guide. Despite having to deal with ferry boat schedule delays and "herding cats," he never seemed to break a sweat. I would love to go on another tour with him in the future. In short, I highly recommend this tour.

Konstatina is a truly amazing guide: exceptionally knowledgeable, very friendly and kind, great overall skills. The trip was a wonderful overview of the Greek isles with some amazing historical and cultural experiences that change your understanding of world history. And lots of great food. Overall a great trip.

Greece was on my bucket list and this program satisfied many of my dreams and expectations. It is as described, fast paced, with a lot of walking, but it never seemed too much, and was easy to keep up. We ate A LOT, so pace yourself. The cooking demonstration was fun and a highlight of the trip. There is a good balance of guided touring and free time. Athina, our guide, was a font of knowledge, and we all learned so much. She was very experienced and organized and was able to help us navigate all the "hopping" and ferries with ease. Overall, I would highly recommend this program.

Konstatina was an amazing guide. We were always informed about what we were doing, she was an endless source of historical information and she remained completely calm the entire way. I would have appreciated a lot less tourist shopping stops.

This program was more than I expected. Our leader, the experiences and program were exceptional. I totally recommend it.

This was my first (and not my last) RS trip. The group leader was just as amazing and the locations I visited. I'm SO happy I selected this trip.

If you haven’t tried Road Scholar, you’re missing out and paying too much. My next adventures will be with Road Scholar.

The program is very fast-paced and wonderful! Be prepared to change hotels every 2 or 3 days, to walk a LOT (we averaged 4.3 miles per day) and to navigate crowded spaces - even at the beginning of May. We loved the variety of experiences, modes of travel, ancient ruins and modern-day villages and towns. The views were amazing; there are views of the mountains and the sea everywhere. Our guide was terrific, and the people we met were generally very welcoming and warm. Remember to be flexible - ferry schedules, especially, really can change.

The trip was so great! It was well planned and executed perfectly. Our guide, Dionysios Flevotomos, was amazing! Not only was he so knowledgable, but he was able to communicate in an understandable manner. He was attentive to the group. Our activities included actual cooking at a taverna - which was so much fun, dancing at a vineyard, and watching filo dough being made by a local baker. There were 2 beach opportunities available as well. A lecture about vegetation in Greece added to the appreciation of the gorgeous natural beauty of the islands. Ferry rides went smoothly. And we had a lovely group of travelers...

This is a great program if you enjoy ancient history and enjoy archeological sites and traveling like a local by the ferries. Be aware, this program is not for leisure travelers or anyone with balance issues. There are at least 3 sites where a walking stick is advantageous. Railing is infrequent and can be very disconcerting if you are not watching where you step. The ferries were great fun. On two of the fast ferries, it can be a challenge getting your luggage on and off because of the steepness of the ramp. They have employees there to help, so wait for them to be safe. The overnight ferry was just perfect for our last ferry ride. We loved the islands and especially our accommodations in Mykonos. It was a bit of a walking distance from town but staying there was just wonderful. It was the best in so many ways. The locals eat late at night but we ate dinner usually around 7:00 to 8:00. One night, on our own, we ate dinner at the hotel. Luncheon was served until 7:30 PM. The archeological sites were many and our leader brought them to light. We saw ruins as far back as the 16th century BC. On Crete, you saw farming of olive trees, vineyards as well as tomatoes and watermelon. Enjoy the Greek Salads, they are magnificent. We surely had plenty of good food to eat - lots of seafood including octopus, anchovies, calamari. No shrimp, lobster or crabs served here. The trip provides you with a lot of experiences in a two week period.

The absolute best !!!

And we didn't even know we wanted to visit Greece! We signed up for this trip at the last minute and did not have time to properly read and prepare but thanks to our superb guide Georgia, we had an extensive educational experience. By the end, I felt I had completed a college-level course presented by an engaging and skilled professor. Road Scholar included many field trips and experiences beyond what I expected. Their logistical support was flawless and every aspect of the trip was perfect. Our accommodations were varied and excellent. The Greek ferries need to be experienced at least once in your lifetime--the boarding can be hectic but then you have an assigned seat on a well-outfitted boat and the journey is comfortable. We did not find it any problem to transport our luggage but suggest you limit yourself to a carry on size bag and small backpack. We usually do solo travel to hike but I loved this group trip for the experiences and education I could have gotten no other way!

Tour guide, Dionysios, was phenomenal. Fillipos "shadowed" Dionysios on the program and he was wonderful also. I feel very fortunate to have had such a friendly, intelligent, caring group of people with whom to share my adventure in Greece. Everyone got along and enjoyed each other. Lots of laughs and good times! From the start to the finish, my tour of Greece was wonderful. It was a dream come true. Highest praise to Dionysios (and Fillipos) for sharing their knowledge and caring for us.

What a great time! The ferry was a pleasant trip, only once having some turbulence. The islands each have their unique appeal. It's a lot of packing and moving, but we became pros. A good overview for us in the event we decide to return to some select locations.

This was a wonderful trip with a great variety of interesting and fun activities! Our leader, Athina, is very knowledgeable and great fun. This program lives up to its activity rating with plenty of walking on uneven surfaces, areas with slick and/or loose rocks, uphill walks, lots of steps without rails, quickly hauling luggage on and off ferries, etc., as well as moving hotels every couple of days, so honestly evaluate your ability to do those things before enrolling so you can have a good experience. Quite a few people used walking poles. The cooking class, Greek dancing, and swimming in the sea were highlights, and the many ancient sites we visited were fascinating.

I loved this tour. I am Greek and I thoroughly enjoyed visiting the different islands. Paros and Crete were my favorites since I had never been there before. Santorini, we did not see the front of the Caldera where the blue domed churches are, but I had been to Santorini in 2004 so I had seen it before.

If you are looking for an active tour which shows you not only the big city of Athens but a good sampling of the smaller, and very enjoyable, islands of Greece, this trip is perfect. It provides an intense historical, cultural and architectural perspective, but also offers enjoyable activities like a cooking class, wine tasting and a Big Fat Greek wedding! Opa!

The Best of Greece: Island Hopping in the Aegean was an awesome experience and I would highly recommend this trip to anyone who wants to see the beauty and experience the history of this country.

This was my first Road Scholar trip and I was worried about being able to keep up. The program turned out to be perfectly paced. One day would be 10,000+ steps and the next only 5,000. Within each day there were opportunities to pause. It was a wonderful trip.

The Best of Greece: Island Hopping in the Aegean was an amazing experience! It was exactly as described in the material on the website with a LOT of walking and climbing stairs. We spent two days on each island and saw many iconic sites. There was a good mix of archeological sites, cultural areas, and museums. Our group leader Georgia was truly a wealth of information and her passion for ancient Greek culture was contagious. I'm eager to continue learning about some of the places and things we saw. I would highly recommend this trip to anyone who enjoys an active and educational trip with extraordinary Greek island experiences.

Road Scholar has done it again! “The Best of Greece: Island Hopping in the Aegean” was an interesting, challenging, and fun survey course in ancient and modern Greece experienced just as events in Israel and the Middle East became volatile. Our group leader, Konstantina Grivas, was a font of information and patience. Tina seamlessly organized and served as the expert for our many field trips in Athens, Mykonos, Delos, Paros, Santorini, and Crete. It’s one thing to learn of a culture in a classroom and another to live and walk among its past and present structures, artifacts, creations. I gained a visceral appreciation for the inventiveness, creativity and folly of Man and our inevitable cycles through the experience of this program. Bravo, Road Scholar!

A wonderful trip to Greece! It was the right blend of historical education and experiencing the country as it is today, excellent accommodations and food, a great group of people to hang out with, and most of all, our instructor/group leader was amazing!

Don't delay this wonderful experience!

Five star trip for us: 1. We got to see so much and learn so much of Greece! 2. The food was amazing! 3. It is a very active trip which was great for us; however there were quite a few in our group that had trouble keeping up. 4. I wanted to experience the ferries in Greece. This trip made it happen.

Island Hopping was a fantastic way to learn about life in Greece today while getting to the stories of yesterday. Being on the ferries helped the group understand the importance of the sea to the Greeks and the need to offer this transportation to everyone. We were able to appreciate the distances between the islands along with the proximity to other countries. Crete was my favorite island because there is so much to learn and so much topographical diversity. We had many group and hands-on activities that fostered getting to know one another and appreciating each others' backgrounds.

This is the first time I have been disappointed in a Road Scholar trip. Usually we had lectures in a conference room where we can interact. Instead our guide who was very nice choose to be a walking talking encyclopedia on the bus. After awhile you tended to tune her out. It would have been nice to spend one afternoon near one of our hotels at the beach. We went to 4 digs. Two would have been plenty. More time enjoying Greece. The best meal we had was shark. Excellent. Loved the salads before the meals but most meals were pretty bland and the same each time. Too much time spent on bus and ferries which were wonderful. Maybe less island and enjoying what we saw. One day our day was cancelled due to wind. That day could have been spent at the beach. Instead we were instruct to stay at our hotel. Waiting for instructions. We are flexible. Things happen. No problem. Maybe ask what we would prefer to do. We waited most of a day without contact by our guide to find out what the plan was. Maybe it was my fault for not totally reading what I was going to be presented. Thanks for listening.

If Greece is on your bucket list then this is the educational trip for you. It is well paced, the ancient sites and museums are top notch and the history comes alive. Nice hotels and unique experiences complete the tour.

Loved our trip to Greece with Road Scholar! It was a great experience and I highly recommend it. They gave us all the information to be prepared for the journey and the program was well rounded with knowledge and experiences. I really feel that we came away with a good understanding of the culture, history and the great food.

This is the most complete and incredible tour of Greece in 2 weeks that I believe can be found anywhere. We did things and went places that are never included on other trips. This is a trip for people who truly want to learn about Greece and not just glance at the landscape. It does take high energy and good physical condition but it is like a complete college semester in 2 weeks with the chance to actually experience the sights that you are learning about.

The Best of Greece: Island Hopping in the Aegean September 14-28 2023 This was a wonderful trip which I took with my sister. Our mother visited Greece many times and we wanted to find out why she kept going back. We found out it is a beautiful place with many chances to experience ancient and recent history. The program was structured to give enough time for visiting historical sites, enjoying strolling through large and small towns, having wonderful food and exciting learning opportunities. The cooking class was enjoyed by our whole group and my take away is I need to add more olive oil to my diet. The food served on this trip was excellent. This is trip I will always remember.

Excellent program! A good overview of Athens and the islands. Experiences like the cooking demonstration, Greek dancing, good food, architecture and history were fun.

The Best of Greece: Island Hopping in the Aegean is a great way to see Athens and to explore some of the Cyclades islands. It's a very active tour with many fascinating destinations and lots of fun interactive activities! I highly recommend it to anyone who is interested in learning more about the history of Greece and exploring archeological digs and museums. In addition, you will have many opportunities to participate in hands-on activities like cooking, pottery making, and traditional Greek dancing! The local food, wine and shopping is wonderful as well!

Athens and the Greek Islands Tour is breathtaking. The locations, the places of interest and the pure beauty of the country combine to make for an unforgettable trip

This was our first Roads Scholar trip, it was wonderful We have traveled extensively on our own and have done Backroads bike tours. Our experience was such a positive one we will definitely be doing more in the near future, actually signed up for an African Safari trip in the fall. Our group leader was so exceptional, if future leaders are half as good, those trip will be incredible.

This program is exactly as described. A wonderful way to really get to know this part of the world and its history! Be ready to get out and see it!

My trip on The Best of Greece: Island Hopping in the Aegean completely surpassed my expectations. The islands were absolutely gorgeous, I learned a lot, and it was the best vacation I've ever taken. One of the reasons I had such a great time was due to our wonderful guide, Dionysios. He was extremely knowledgeable about the history and culture of the islands and people, and very warm and personable. I highly recommend this trip!

This was a wonderful trip with great traveling companions.The group leader, Tassos,was spectacular. I have been with many great group leaders but Tassos was by far the most knowledgeable of Greek history and Mythology. I would highly recommend this trip.

Perfect way and excellent organization for seeing some of the most significant Greek islands and major archeology sites.

"The Best of Greece: Island Hopping in the Aegean" is a Road Scholar program designed to take participants to places that they have only read about. Given the time constraints, the places visited were the most important and written-about archaeological sites in Greece. And of course, we were able to get a sample of what life is like in present day Greece as well.

Island Hopping in the Agean:Greece was an outstanding adventure. Tassos was an amazing leader, knowledgeable, amiable and fun to be learning with. It is a very active trip but if you are prepared it is quite rewarding. Hiking poles can be helpful on the areas of rough and steep terrain. The itinerary allows you to see several sides of Greek life and history. We highly recommend this program to anyone interested in learning about past a present Greece.

I had a fabulous time in Greece. I met the most wonderful people in our group as well as Tasso our outstanding tour guide!!! There were 24 of us in the group and we all enjoyed each others' company which was awesome!! The entire itinerary was magical...well orchestrated...very organized..no snafus. The overnight on the ship/ferry was so comfortable, it was beyond my expectations. The learning aspect of the tour was impressive as well. I've learned so much being there. One must truly experience GREECE! Its history is amazing and incomprehensible when you see all the antiquities, artifacts, etc. that they have dug up throughout the years...unimaginable that these antiquities were from 6000 B.C. There's so much rich history in GREECE...I loved it!!! I also enjoyed touring Athens on my own since I arrived early and stayed later. Mykonos, Santorini, Delos, Paros, Crete were all very beautiful islands with its own characteristics and interesting sights. The ferry rides were fun even with all the crowds. One of the highlights was the cooking class with Maria in Lefkes, Paros. So much fun cooking up all those delicious Greek dishes. Another was the Greek dancing we did one night after dinner...oh what fun that was!!! This was truly an adventure that I will forever cherish!!! I miss our tour guide Tasso as well as all the new friends I have made in this tour. I plan to stay in touch with all of them too. We had fabulous weather in May. I highly recommend this tour with Road Scholar...you will absolutely love it!!

This was a fabulous tour of Greece! Our tour guide Athina was extremely knowledgeable and made the tour fun. There is a variety of sites visited, the transportation on coach and ferries was easy and comfortable. Highly recommend this tour to see multiple Greek Islands.

Great program and group leader. It was very challenging physically and hiking sticks were helpful.

Marily is a wonderful guide and this is an interesting, fun tour. This program is well described in the activity notes. But if you’re uncomfortable with walking on irregular steps with loose gravel, some of the sites may be challenging. If you like to walk regularly and can handle tripping hazards from time to time this is a wonderful experience.

ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC!!!!! DO IT!!!!!

Learning is a life long pursuit. This tour provided unique insights and new knowledge, all while having fun, learning about a new culture and meeting new friends.

The Best of Greece: Island Hopping in the Aegean was a wonderful experience and learning opportunity. Through our tour guide we got to experience the wonders of Athens and the beauty of the islands. Through this program I learned and experienced so much more than I expected. Each day was more exciting that the one before. I can't wait for my next Road Scholar adventure.

Fabulous trip. Dionysios was an exceptional guide and all the sites and museums were incredible. Good value for what we received.

The trip to Greece was my first Road Scholar tour and it exceeded my expectations. And, I had high expectations. I would recommend Road Scholar to anyone who is interested in learning about different cultures, history, and who is open for a fun and educational adventure.

Of the 5 Road Scholar trips we have enjoyed this one was the best. Staying two nights in every site helped with the comfort and awareness of the places visited. Our guide was incredibly knowledgeable and friendly!

This is a FAST and FURIOUS overview of Greek Islands. Do not sign up if you are not able to walk on VERY uneven ground and go up steps. They tell you that and they are NOT kidding! We were fortunate to go when the summer crowds were down (late October) so although we had ferry rides canceled for wind, we still got to do more and see more because the crowds were thinner. We also got going really early in the morning so do NOT expect a relaxing time. DO take the swimsuits since even in the cooler fall, a dip in the ocean was not to be missed.

Our first experience with Road Scholar was even better than we anticipated. Greek Island Hopping was informative, beautiful and a dream come true. Thank you Road Scholar and our group leader Dionysios.

A perfect choice for my first Road Scholar trip, Greece is extremely beautiful and full of history. Our guide Tassos was excellent, interesting, and informative. As a trained archeologist, he knew so much about his country and enjoyed sharing it with us. Everyone in our small group of only 16 people got along well and really made the trip more fun. Traveling between islands by ferry allowed us to focus more time on just a few islands. I chose this trip because I wanted to learn about the history of ancient sites on each island in more detail than would have been possible from a one-day cruise excursion. Some of the highlights of the trip included a cooking class on Paros, a day trip to scared Delos, the beauty of Santorini and the excavation of Akrotiri, the unforgettable island of Crete with Knossos, Phaistos, Gortyn, and pottery. Each island was different and there was so much to discover. The accommodations and meals were excellent with lots of variety. I felt like the amount of free time was about right and I enjoyed exploring some of the places with just one or two others from the group. There is so much to see in Athens it’s definitely worth arriving a day or two early. The subway is easy to navigate and our hotel was within easy walking distance of many sites that are not part of the tour. I highly recommend this trip if you are interested in seeing the beautiful Aegean Sea and the treasures that it holds.

For anyone with an interest in Greek/antiquity/history or an openness to learn, this trip is a standout, greatly enhanced by our tour leader Georgia and a good bunch of tour participants. I had high expectations for the trip and it exceeded my expectations.

We had a wonderful trip to the Greek isles with Road Scholar. Two weeks was the right time frame. Our leader, Dionesis, was wonderful, and really helpful in all ways. The other group members were interesting and fun to talk to and be with. They certainly added to our enjoyment of the trip. I would highly recommend this trip to others. My only complaint, if I had one, was that the food could have been upgraded somewhat.

This Island hopping trip in the Aegean was the perfect place to learn about how a female-centered civilization in the Aegean -- the Minoans --were replaced by patriarchy, a crucial change in the Western world. Also, the trip through Cycladic islands was full of beauty and excitement. Santorini is a marvel, especially the archeological remains of a Minoan port buried by ash from an enormous volcanic eruption.

Wonderful way to experience the Cyclades and Crete without being confined to a cruise ship. Great variety of experiences, with an emphasis on how millennia of Greek civilizations have influences Western culture.

If you "dig" archeology (ha) and don't mind going out of your way to enjoy seeing some of the roots of Western Civilization (and can handle ferries and many bus rides on twisty roads), you will enjoy this trip - you see things most travelers will never experience, and many things you won't see from a typical cruise journey.

Great tour. Athina had so much in-depth knowledge on so many topics on the history and culture of Greece, it was amazing. She tried her best to cater to any specific needs or requests from everyone during the whole trip. I don't know how she can keep all that in her head.

This is a wonderful program if you want to learn more about the archeology of Greece. Our guide was an archeologist and shared his passion and knowledge with us. We had just 16 in our group, which was a great size. It's a very active tour, with lots of climbing up and down. The drawback is that it was very hot in early September and Santorini and Mykonos were very crowded, so I would suggest going later in the fall or early spring. Overall, it was a wonderul trip and I would highly recommend it!

5 Stars for this trip (I would give 10 Stars if possible!) This trip was a life changing experience for me. It transcended 6,000 years of history and culture from the days of antiquity to current day geopolitical / cultural dynamics and strife. The beauty of Greece is astonishing - it's everywhere! This trip was perfect in every way. I would not change a thing about the trip. It was amazing to be in Greece where many aspects of Western civilization began. I learned SO much on this trip (and I have so much more to learn). The excellence of this trip is due to a very large extent to the superb guidance and instruction by our guide Dionysis Flevotomos. He's brilliant, approachable, personable, friendly, highly organized, and accommodating. He anticipates the needs/interests of travelers and identifies specific items of interest that would otherwise be unnoticed. This trip was an 'immersion' experience in Greek history, culture, and scenery. This trip thoroughly exceeded my expectations. I will definitely visit Greece again. Also, I definitely want to do another trip somewhere with Dionysis as my guide.

This is a great tour of Athens and the islands. Come early and explore Athens more on your own. This is physically challenging for many, so be prepared to go up and down steps and climb on rocks. Well worth it.

This was a very enjoyable trip! It provided a broad look at highlights in the areas in which we visited. Archeological sites, museums, villages, etc. The accommodations varied from island to island, and all hotel accommodations were adequate. It would have been nice to have an additional day at some of the islands...in particular Mykonos, to enjoy the beauty. The hotel on Mykonos offered a beautiful, picturesque view. One afternoon I had time to swim in the pool there. Fabulous. The leader was very professional, knowledgeable, and excellent English/communication skills.

A great introduction to Greek history, culture, and food. This was a very active program, with lots of steps, hills, uneven terrain, and somewhat slippery marble paths (especially at the Acropolis). For me, the highlights were the cooking class on Paros, the ruins on Delos, seeing the Acropolis from every possible angle from various hotel rooftop restaurants (on our own), and learning how warm and welcoming the Greek people are! The hotels on Mykonos and Santorini are outstanding! And our group leader, Anastasia, was very knowledgeable, organized, and helpful, as well as very patient.

A fascinating experience exploring Athens as well as 5 Cycladic Islands.

Great trip and value for the money. There were some hiccups such as folks who brought more luggage than they could safely drag or carry. Also, pay attention to the activity level. Candidly some of your group had trouble with the steps and uneven terrain. We had several falls and fortunately no one appears to have been seriously hurt. If you need assistance walking, like walking sticks, this trip may not be for you.

Experience the entire range of human history from prehistoric technology, art and religion to the luxuries of present day tourism and adventures in food and local culture and handcrafts. Great fun, learning and comfort every day.

I was very impressed with the abilities of Konstantina Griva as a guide and manager. As with all my previous Road Scholar experiences, I was well pleased with the program over all and give it a very high rating. Since my interests lie in the history, art, and architecture of the sites we visit, I was more than satisfied with the information provided by Konstantina and the site selections. I look forward to my next Road Scholar adventure.

What a joy to have Konstantina as our tour guide on this truly enlightening and scenic itinerary through some of the Grecian islands. She constantly amazed us at the wealth of her knowledge of the history and architecture, as well as her patience and expertise in the logistics of moving our group along! Greece and its people were warm and welcoming - an incentive for a return trip in the future. The indoor mask requirement per Covid did little to hamper or discourage - 5 star trip!

This tour was highly recommended by other Road Scholar friends and I consider it one of the best organized programs for educational experiences and exposure to the different Greek Islands. The history of Greece makes you appreciate our ancestors and how advanced they were to live together and create different societies. I would highly recommend this Greek Island tour since you come away with an appreciation of how ancient Greece influenced future civilization. Staying on each island made it more memorable and the photography capturing it will help me remember it for many years.

An excellent, well-conceived program that my wife and I thoroughly enjoyed. We benefited from a conscientious, energetic, expert tour leader, Dionysios Flevotomos. If he is your leader, you are very fortunate. Greece is welcoming. In Athens, we could view the Acropolis from our hotel's rooftop bar/restaurant. Ferries were used to travel to the four islands. Crete was a particular pleasure. Contrary to what you may have heard, Greek wine is good and was often included with meals. Please note, this is an active program with lots of steps and uneven surfaces. Pack light to make the ferry on-off experience less difficult.

This is a fantastic program focusing on early Greek archeological sights and travel to important Greek islands. We found the Greek people to be welcoming, friendly and happy to share their history. The walking was not really difficult and we all loved meeting the many cats of Greece.

The program was outstanding and I don't hesitate in recommending it. I attended in the spring and temperatures and crowds were tolerable. I don't know about the summer but think that it might be less than optimal.

Wonderful trip - couldn't have asked for more! Our guide Sophia was amazing and I'm so glad I went...I only wish I could go back sometime next year!

A fascinating trip into the past. Our guide was an expert in archeology, art history, and had a depth of knowledge about all things Greek. A good introduction to the Greek isles. RS made it easy to cover a lot of ground and increase my knowledge of this ancient world.

One of the top 3 trips we have ever taken by any tour group in our years of traveling.

This trip was full of beautiful sights and flavors. October was a good time to visit since there were fewer tourists. I was prepared for walking and hiking non-stop, but it was very doable and well-paced with breaks. Almost all the hotels were excellent locations for walking around on your own without getting lost. Each island has it’s own look and style, so there was a variety of eye-candy. It felt safe and friendly. Sophia is super-smart and was very accommodating to peoples’ needs. Blue water everywhere and quaint villages is what I’ll remember. Plus, the ruins were so much OLDER than others I’ve visited. Sophia’s passion and knowledge of the history ancient people was evident, and she drew us in on every field trip. Thanks, Road Scholar!

Outstanding program! Ride the ferries and see outstanding scenery while seeing the places you've read about and studied in literature and history. Remember the Greek myths and see the places where the gods were born and walk in the ruins where great civilizations lived.

Roula was our fearless leader of a group of 15 Americans traveling from one end of the U.S. to the other. She made her job look effortless as she quickly became known as the Queen of Finding Lost Articles. Somehow, she managed to keep track of all of us and taught us how to navigate the ferries and find the best Greek food around. Not only was she lots of fun, she was extremely knowledgeable, had a great sense of humor, and was organized beyond belief. She was very proud of her homeland and wanted to share every aspect of it with us. She was able to answer every question we asked her without hesitating and there’s a lot to know about Greece! With her leadership, our group bonded on the first day and thoroughly enjoyed each other’s company the entire trip. While we worried about many things before we left (heatwave, fires, COVID, etc.) none of them were an issue on the trip. The highlight of the trip was the cooking class where we not only learned how to cook Greek food but we had a great time doing it. Greece was beautiful and rich in history. We are so happy we took this trip! This review should show 5 stars but for some reason I am unable to give it any kind of star rating.

This trip gives a good overview of Greece by exploring Athens and five islands. I enjoyed the depth and the breadth of seeing so much of each island, not just the touristic spots. The beauty of Greece, the perfect weather, the authentic and plentiful food, the cooking class, the villages, the archeological sites, and the warm welcome from the Greeks themselves made for a fabulous experience. In addition, there are not enough words to express how this was all enhanced by our expert guide, Sophia. Her knowledge and obvious love of the country and history were beyond incredible. Her attention to the group as a whole and individual participants was top notch. I am very grateful having had this experience with Sophia at the helm to lead and share with our group.

This trip was way beyond what I had expected. It rates at the top of my travel experiences. Our tour director, Konstantina, was a big part of my satisfaction.

You obviously can't see all of Greece in a few days, but this trip introduced us to the history, culture, people and FOOD of a beautiful country.

This is a fantastic program for those who want to learn about Greek history and life on multiple islands of Greece. Some parts may be strenuous, but the scope of the program and the leadership of the tour are absolutely top notch.

This tour is a delightful excursion into Greece: both ancient and modern; big city and village; the "in" spots and the lesser known. Newer travelers will discover they are more successfully adventurous than they thought; experienced travelers will discover something new at almost every turn.

I took my brother on this trip. He had always wanted to go to Greece. The trip did not disappoint us for a moment. Our guide, Athina, was informative, participated actively in all the tour, and was entertaining as well. We were continuously on the go. Athina could have sat back while on the bus and just let us look at the scenery. However, she was always teaching us, letting us know the history of the past, as well as the current affairs of an area. We also had a little "free time" to explore on our own, which was also great. If you get Athina as a leader, you will be very lucky.

Excellent trip. Complemented our Egyptian trip in Feb by showing the trading connection among all major civilizations around the Mediterranean. Informed us of how advanced the Late Bronze Age was. Georgina was an excellent, well-informed guide. We particularly liked the emphasis on scholarship. John and Doris

This trip was a disappointment. There was a single guide, Georgia. My other RS trips had 2 guides, one to handle the educational aspects and 1 for logistics. Georgia was very knowledgeable about the history and mythology. Our tours were very good. I was surprised that there was only 1 outside expert to speak with us on archeology. On other trips, we have enjoyed several subject matter experts’ lectures on various topics. Logistically, it was poor at best. The group leader did not wait for people when crossing the streets or making turns and parts of the group were consistently lost on a daily basis. When we would ask her to wait for people, she was visibly annoyed. The food was subpar. There were a few very good meals but mostly disappointing. I have been on 2 other RS trips (Israel and Poland) and did not have any of these issues. RS did offer the group a credit or refund for a portion of the fee since the reviews were consistently bad. I will try RS again but only if there are 2 guides.

This fulfilled a lifelong dream of mine to explore the roots of democracy and the Western world. I haven't had so much fun learning since my college days.

Traveling with a group in your age range makes the experience more comfortable.

We just returned from our first Road Scholar trip and what a memorable trip it was! We made new friends and learned so much in an immersive and beautiful experience. I'm already thinking about our next trip and would recommend Road Scholar to anyone with an inquiring mind.

Excellent program if you want to learn deeply and cover a lot of ground. I highly recommend it!

Wonderful tour with great guide. Saw so many interesting, beautiful and important historical sites. Great food (but too much) and company. It was everything I hoped for.

The verdant fields in Crete were a joy to see and brought great comfort to me. The people throughout the trip were helpful and welcoming. It was a pleasure to plunge into Greek history, customs, crafts and superb food.

The "island hopping" tour of Greece was a wonderful experience. We had a chance to spend a good amount of time on each island, rather then simply getting off a boat, walking around for a few hours and leaving again. The educational value of this tour was very impressive, and I learned more about Greek history than I ever did in school. I highly recommend this tour.

Want to visit seven islands in the Aegean? Want to study 3,700 years of civilization? Want to learn about the origins of democracy? This tour does all those and much, much more! A great experience that is highly recommended.

An exciting, active adventure exploring the history, archaeology, and people of Athens and the Aegean islands!

This trip was even better than the description. Our guide was exceptional and the sites were varied and interesting. The transportation was top-notch. Food and accommodations were great! This was truly a 5 star experience. Highly recommended.

This is a very active trip that immerses you in the ancient history of Greece and the Aegean. All the major archeological sites are visited, as well as a number of small villages that are less exposed to tourist traffic. The trip was well organized and everything went according to schedule, and excursions are timed to avoid the cruise ship crowds. I especially liked seeing the different architectural styles, Classical in Athens, Cycladic in the islands, and Venetian in Crete. The provided food was good but not great. With the wealth of restaurants that have excellent seafood and low prices, I would prefer to skip the hotel meals and go off exploring. That is, if you are daring and prefer to try octopus over souvlaki. Just avoid the places with a view where the tourists gather. The need to pack light is overstated. Almost no one did. At the most you have to pull your luggage up or down the ferry ramp, but someone else will take it from there. This was my third RS trip and the best yet.

The “Island Hopping in the Aegean” was a wonderful trip. Our tourist guide, Georgia, did an amazing job of bringing the history of the region to life, expertly guiding us through the centuries with tales of actual events intermingled with the myths that arose from them. We spent quite a bit of time visiting museums and archaeological sites but this was interspersed with free time where we were encouraged to roam around and explore on our own. When I became ill on Paros, Georgia arranged for a local doctor to come to the hotel and with the hotel staff to make sure I knew how to get to the clinic the next day. Luckily, the problem was easily resolved with antibiotics and I was able to quickly join the rest of the group for the remaining activities. Georgia’s genuine concern and quick action in making sure I got the care I needed was greatly appreciated. I was a little concerned that a group of 24 would be a little too many folks but we had plenty of opportunity to get to know each other and I couldn’t have wished for a better group of travelling companions, our wonderful guide included!

This island hopping tour fulfilled a long time dream. Georgia was an incredible guide, her vast knowledge of the history and culture of Greece made everything come alive. Georgia made the learning accessible to all, her sense of humor, calm under pressure and logistics magic made this a worry free adventure. It was not as physically active as I imagined, but there were opportunities to explore independently that created more exercise. I highly recommend to anyone wanting a true taste of Greece.