Greek Island-Hopping Adventure

SET SAIL FOR PARADISE

Spend hazy days floating aboard a traditional motor sailing vessel and cruising between a cluster of captivating Ionian Isles. Step aboard the gulet-style MS Hemera and set sail for a sublime, sun-soaked week of adventuring around a Greek archipelago rich in legend and natural beauty. Swim in secreted coves, snorkel in turquoise-tinted waters and emerge swathed in a layer of sea salt to feast on freshly prepared lunches. Slow-paced afternoons call for siestas on deck as you sway to the gentle rocking of the waves or embrace the company of your fellow passengers, soon to be friends. As dusk falls, you’ll dock at pretty ports and venture ashore to candle-lit quayside tavernas, whitewashed and waiting for you to dine on local delicacies under the stars.

Highlights

Experience a week aboard the traditional gulet, MS Hemera
Cruise to five of Greece’s most paradisical islands, both remote and popular
Embrace free time to seek out the seaside delights of Zante
Anchor in hidden coves and sheltered bays, picked specifically for swimming and snorkelling
Discover pristine pebbled and sandy beaches, completely unspoiled
Journey to Ithaca, the famed homeland of Odysseus (Ulysses)
Dine on authentic Greek dishes in quayside, bougainvillaea-clad tavernas
Paddle in the waters near Skorpios, the resting place of the late shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis
Sip on glasses of iced Ouzo while stargazing from the vessel’s top-deck bar every evening

Inclusions

Seven nights’ accommodation in a compact, air-conditioned, and double cabin aboard the traditional MS Hemera
Seven breakfasts, six freshly prepared lunches and one celebratory ‘Captain’s Dinner’
A welcome drink upon arrival
Return flights to Zante
Return airport transfers
The services of the captain and crew

Day

1

After you arrive on the Greek island of Zante (Zakynthos), you’ll receive the warmest welcome from your tour manager and be transferred to the harbour. Here, you’ll meet the friendly crew, sip on a refreshing ‘welcome drink’ and stow your luggage on board your home for the week, MS Hemera. You can then embrace some free time to explore the centre of this popular summer resort, perhaps seeking out one of the pristine sandy beaches like Agios Nikolaos and sampling your first souvlaki for lunch. After the sun has set, you may want to freshen up in your cabin before heading to a quayside taverna for dinner. Concluding the evening with a nightcap on the top-deck bar under the stars presents the perfect way to end your first day.

Day

2

Rise to the gentle rocking of the boat and enjoy a leisurely breakfast as the gulet sails towards the first island of your itinerary, beautiful Ithaca, famed as the homeland of Odysseus (Ulysses), the hero of the Homeric poem Odyssey. Along the way, you’ll stop off for a swim in a secluded bay and then moor at the sweeping Gidaki Bay, with its sublime pebbled beach, enveloped by turquoise waters and backed by rugged, white cliffs. A fresh, light lunch will be served back on board after you’ve dried off and then MS Hemera will dock by the island’s main town, Vathy where you’ll spend the night. Head ashore and discover what is – for many – one of the Ionian Isle’s most picturesque ports, with its striking amphitheatre-like shape. Take your pick of the vine-cloaked tavernas for dinner, accompanied by the lapping of gentle waves.

Day

3

Another slow-paced morning awaits as you have breakfast and continue towards the island of Meganisi, known for its sea caves, which were used to hide submarines during World War II. A swim stop at the uninhabited islet of Atokos, laden with green vegetation, will break up the journey. Lunch will be served back on board before MS Hemera sails and docks at Meganisi. Home to sleepy villages and sea-facing tavernas, this lesser-known location promises a pleasant and peaceful evening.

Day

4

Breakfast will be served and then MS Hemera will sail to the island of Lefkada today, which means ‘white’, referring to its famous white cliffs. Your daily swim stop before lunch will be at Skorpios, a private island and the resting place of the late shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis. The afternoon will see your arrival at the lively port and village, Nydri on Lefkada. You can wander its pedestrianised centre and seaside promenade before feasting on a traditional Greek dinner on the terrace of a taverna, bound by bougainvillaea.

Day

5

Kick-start the day with breakfast before sailing to Fiskardo, a historic harbour village on the northern tip of Kefalonia, surrounded by verdant hills and rows of olive trees. You can cool off from sun tanning with a refreshing swim at the breathtaking Afales Bay, which is only accessible by boat, before lunch. In the late afternoon, MS Hemera will sail to the port of Fiskardo, where you’ll stay overnight. As evening falls, stroll along the village’s charming streets, lined with original Venetian-style houses, which escaped an earthquake in 1953. The buzzing waterfront is the place to be, with its selection of seafood eateries spilling onto the pavement. Please note, due to its small size and popularity, we may not be able to moor at Fiskardo’s harbour. In this case, you’ll make the short transfer to the town via dinghy.

Day

6

It’s another dreamy day at sea, and following breakfast and maybe an early stroll, MS Hemera will sail for Agia Effimia, a coastal village on the east coast of Kefalonia. You’ll have the opportunity to take a dip in the waters of Poros Bay, as the gulet will moor there for a break. The next stop is one of Kefalonia’s most idyllic beaches, Antisamos, which was used in the film version of Captain Corelli’s Mandolin. There will be a chance to have a pre-lunch paddle here before MS Hemera journeys to Agia Effimia, where you’ll have the evening at your leisure to dine and drink.

Day

7

Your final full day awaits, and once you’ve had breakfast, you’ll cruise along the rugged Kefalonian coast and pause at Katelios Bay, a stretch of sand, overlooked by hills and scattered with private villas. Tuck into lunch on board and then head to the deck to soak up the sun while MS Hemera returns to Zante. An unhurried afternoon is yours for the taking, and then to commemorate the end of your memorable sea-based sojourn, a ‘Captain’s Dinner’ will be served on board, and perhaps followed by a tipple or two on the top-deck bar.

Day

8

Bid farewell to the captain and crew of MS Hemera and make the short transfer (30 minutes) to the airport to catch your flight home.

Further Information

Hotel transfer times

The transfer time from Zakynthos Airport to Zakynthos port is 20 minutes.

Combining hotel transfers

We sometimes need to combine transfers to and from your hotel. We always try to keep any wait to a minimum, but you may be asked to wait at the airport for up to an hour, while other incoming flights arrive, before the transfer to your hotel. Similarly, we may need to transfer you back to the airport up to three hours before your flight home departs.

Special requirements

If you have notified us of any special requirements, please check that they have been noted and acknowledged. This is especially important with any dietary needs you may have.

Disabled access

Whilst we have made every effort to accommodate wheelchairs, the vessels we use for the Greek Island-Hopping Adventure are Gulet-style vessels. This means the configuration of the cabins and the different levels in a confined space with steep stairs. We would therefore not recommend taking a wheelchair or this holiday. This holiday is not recommended for anyone with walking difficulties.

Itinerary changes

The itinerary is subject to change due to the weather, the captain’s decision, and the port availability. If the weather changes, the tour might go the other way around or must miss a port out. Sometimes it’s necessary to enter the port early afternoon to secure the generator hook-up.

Changes to your hotels

Should circumstances require, we reserve the right to accommodate you in alternative hotels, of a similar standard, nearby. Full details of your hotels will be sent with your Final Travel Documents.

Foreign Office Travel Advice

Visit www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice to find out the latest Foreign And Commonwealth Office travel advice for your holiday destination, as well as information about passports and visas.

Life on board

Please note: The MS Hemera offers simple cruising and passengers should be aware that the emphasis aboard is on enjoying stunning surroundings in the company of a few like-minded, newfound friends. Do not expect a full range of modern comforts, but instead enjoy the chance to be ‘Wi-Fi-free’ while aboard. At the captain’s discretion it may be necessary to alter the order of the itinerary on your holiday. Passages will always be made under motor engine.

Travelling to Europe

Rules may have changed since you last travelled to European Union countries as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. The following are useful guidelines which will help you prepare for your next adventure. You do require government issued passport to travel. Names - It is very important that all passenger names are exactly as per your passport although we do not require middle names. Passport - Your passport must meet two requirements to travel to an EU country and to Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. It must be: Less than 10 years old on the day you return home (please check the "date of issue") and valid for at least 3 months after the day you return home (please check the "expiry date"). Visa - You do not need a visa for short trips to most EU countries, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. You’ll be able to stay for up to 90 days in any rolling 180-day period. European Travel Information & Authorisation System (ETIAS) - Commencing in late 2023 or 2024, all citizens of the United Kingdom will require a ETIAS electronic form completed prior to their arrival into the EU and Schengen member countries. The cost for this travel authorisation will be €7.00 per person with exceptions for under 18’s and over 70’s. The latest information and further details can be found at www.etias.com.