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Gulf
of Corinth Passages Linking
Athens and Corfu
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Sail
through the Corinth Canal to the Ionian Sea
September
13-26, 2002 16 Days
(Corfu to Athens)
Price: $3,150 per person sharing double cabin and hotel room.
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The yachts we
use are the sleek, fast and comfortable 55ft and 60 ft yachts
each with four double cabins, private showers and toilet
facilities. A
skipper aboard each boat will make your trip an enjoyable
adventure and always give each character every opportunity to
take the helm and offer the assistance and training to improve
sailing skills. The Ionian Islands and Gulf of Corinth coastal towns offer
some of the best scenic and historic sites in Greece, and the
archaeological guide sailing with us will take every opportunity
at each port to help us understand the history, secrets and
myths and traditions of these lands. |
Day 1: Depart
for Athens
Depart JFK airport, Olympic airways non-stop flight to Athens.
Day 2: Arrive in Corfu
Arrive in Athens and take a connecting flight to Corfu, transfer to our hotel. In the evening we meet for our orientation and boat assignments, meet our staff, and then enjoy our welcoming dinner.
Day 3: Corfu, Paxos
After breakfast we will board a bus to visit the sites of Corfu, then board our boats to begin our adventure. We sail to the island of Paxos, a picturesque, serene, verdant sanctuary with small clear water coves, wonderful beaches and tiny villages with Venetian relics.
Day 4: Paxos, Lefkas
Leave Paxos for the island of Lefkas, an island separated from the mainland only by a canal dug by the Corinthians in 7th century BC. Its steep cliffs and high mountains are breathtaking.
Day 5: Meganisi
Sailing south through the canal to the island on Meganisi which, since ancient times, was known as a pirate’s haunt. Its villages are quaint and friendly and streets too small for cars.
Day 6: Cephalonia, Argostoli
Our heading is for Cephalonia which was a part of the kingdom of Odysseus and recently the set for the movie, Corelli’s Madolin. We will plan to take a bus to the main town of Argostoli.
Day 7: Ithaka
Today we will sail to the island of Ithaka, birthplace of Odysseus and where his wife Penelope waited for his return. Its enchanting coves and medieval monasteries are waiting to be explored.
Day 8: Ithaka, Patras
Set sail from Ithaka to Patras at the entrance to the Gulf of Corinth, a key port in present & ancient times. A castle from 1220 Venetian period is now being restored. Our approach to the gulf is flanked by two high mountain ranges rising to 2,400 ft, Mt. Killini, south and Mt. Parnassos, north.
Day 9: Patras, Gulf of Corinth
Leaving Patras, we enter the narrows of the entrance to the Gulf of Corinth and set course for Nafpaktos, a very picturesque harbor built in the medieval period. At the entrance, we’ll see a castle built by the Venetians and later occupied by the Turks.
Day 10: Itea, Delfi
On this day, we sail to Itea where we will be met by tour coaches to visit Delfi one of the most beautiful classical sites in Greece and, according to the ancients, the center of the world. It is to Delfi where leaders sent their emissaries, or made personal visits to discover the secrets of the future as revealed by the Oracles of Delfi. Alexander the Great started his conquest of the East after he was told that his campaign would be successful.
Day 11: Harbor of Kiato
Our quest for ancient tales satisfied, we sail to the Harbor of Kiato, a quaint town with lovely beaches, shops, and surrounded with citrus trees and vineyards.
Day 12: Corinth Canal, Epidauros
Today we cross the Corinth Canal, 3.2 miles long, 81 ft wide, and limestone walls that rise 250º above sea level. We arrive at the classical city and theater of Epidauros, known for its famous 14,000 seat classical Greek theater where the Greek tragedies and comedies played to a full house…
Day 13: Aegina, Pireus
Nearing the end of our passage, we head for our last island visit, Aegina. Historically, it is an important island due to its position near the entrance to Athens’ main port city of Pireus.
Day 14: Athens
Our sailing comes to an end as we enter the marina near Athens. There we will spend the evening, recounting our passage from Corfu to Athens at the beachfront Tavernas near the marina.
Day 15: Athens, Acropolis
Saying goodbye to our boats and skippers, we board our bus, which will take us on tour of Athens and the Acropolis, then to our hotel. In the evening, a farewell dinner is planned.
Day 16: Depart for Home
With our Ionian Sea passage at an end, we reflect on the images of the islands and their people, the ancient sites and culture we discovered, and the native beauty of Greece. We are taking these memories with us as we are transferred to the Athens airport for the return flight home.
Price
per person: $3,150
per person sharing double cabin & hotel room.
Inclusions:
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Airfare
New York-Athens-New York & flights between Athens & Corfu
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All
transfers in Athens and Corfu
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Welcoming
reception and dinner
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Accommodations
in Class A hotels in Athens and Corfu, including breakfast.
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Lead
boat with skipper, Archaeological Guide and Albatross staff.
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The
yachts are 55 & 60 ft (4 double cabins, each with ensuite
facilities, and private skipper’s cabin).
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Skipper
included in each boat (bareboat requests for a full yacht charter
can be accommodated).
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Starter
Pack Provisions for the first day’s lunch and following
morning’s breakfast.
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Half-day
coach tour of ancient sites in each Corfu and Athens.
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Farewell
dinner in Athens.
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Running
expenses of the yachts including all port fees, yacht insurance, and
taxes, Fuel and water.
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Canal
fees.
Arrange
Your Own Itinerary:
Charter a Yacht for Parties
of 4 or More
The itinerary described
is the schedule of ports we plan on visiting; however, it is subject to
change due to weather schedule considerations, and the decision of the
lead skipper is final.
For those who want the
most from this visit to Greece!
For those wishing to
extend their stay in Greece, we will offer special tours on mainland
Greece or visits to the island of Greece, Santorini, Rhodes, Crete, or
others.
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