Revitalized itinerary adds more walks, new cultural connections

La Jolla, CA – Call it a full-blown Greek revival. You might not know it from recent media coverage, but there’s good news in abundance coming out of Greece…especially for those lucky enough to be exploring its legendary islands on foot.

Edward Piegza, president and founder of Classic Journeys, just returned from a week in-country on Crete and Santorini. Our mission quickly moved from renewing ties with our native guides to reinvigorating our entire Greek Isles cultural walking adventure,” Piegza observed.

Wholesale improvements include four fewer hours of driving time, three new countryside walks, two new cultural visits to local artisans, and one new boutique hotel.

Day 4 of the itinerary, for example, features the excavations at Eleftherna, one of Crete’s must-see archaeological sites. Explains Piegza, “To our minds, there was too much time in the vehicle and not enough time in the open air. So we reconnoitered, rerouted, and came up with a brand-new walk that showcases the natural beauty of the island.” After a visit to the magnificent ruins of the Minoan palace at Knossos, guests proceed to their highly recommended boutique hotel in Heraklion.

For Piegza and his guides, Elli and Marinella, resetting their sights on walking was a breeze in a place where the sea is a constant presence. Yet – as on every Classic Journey – the real highlights are the cultural connections guests make along the way:

• A private introduction to ancient lace-making techniques by the curator of a local folk art museum
• A private instruction from one of the rare bakers who still makes phylo dough by hand
• A private demonstration of the centuries-old craft of pottery-making
• A private stopover and sampling at a family-run olive press
• A private winetasting at a family-owned vineyard

Personal interactions like these reflect the company’s in-depth approach to each region it visits. On Santorini, most tourists arrive by sea, spend a few hours amid the hustle and bustle of Fira, and quickly return to their ships. Classic Journeys guests get to know Santorini like the locals do, setting out on a meandering footpath that takes them from Fira to Oia on the back side of the island, with whitewashed villages dotting the hillsides and terraced fields sloping down to the sea.

The price for the seven-day, six-night Greek Isles adventure, departing in September, October, May and June, is $3895 per person, double occupancy, including all breakfasts and five dinners.

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