Greece, Sicily & Malta on Star Flyer - Star Flyer

Itinerary

• Day 1
  We'll arrive in Athens and transfer to the hotel for your overnight stay. Athens sits just five miles from the Bay of Phaleron, an inlet of the Aegean - a place of history, myth and legend. Athens itself is one of the world's oldest cities. The city was once the centre of ancient Greece and still houses 5th-century landmarks, such as the Acropolis and Parthenon, which stand tall over the city. Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure (flight time permitting) exploring the vibrant and cosmopolitan capital houses, museums and modern neighbourhoods. There's a real café culture in the city and plenty of restaurants to choose from for dinner this evening. Not sure where to go? Don’t worry, your expert Tour Manager will be on hand to offer recommendations.
• Day 2
  This morning, we'll enjoy a tour of Athens, including a visit to the Acropolis. This UNESCO World Heritage site is the most striking and complete ancient Greek monument complex still in existence. Sitting atop the Acropolis is the Parthenon, an ancient religious temple the Athenians built for the Greek goddess Athena. Its white marble columns and perfect symmetry dominate the skyline as we ascend the hill. Continue to the old district of Plaka where you can explore independently and enjoy some free time for lunch. This area dates back to the late 18th century when Athens was barely more than a small village beneath the Acropolis. Despite its humble beginnings, it is now a delightful neighbourhood filled with neo-classical buildings, balconies adorned with vibrant geraniums, and quaint tavernas lining the cobblestone streets. Afterwards, we’ll head to the port of Piraeus to board Star Flyer. You will have the rest of the afternoon to get comfortable in your cabin and indulge in the first of many delicious dinners on board.
• Day 3
  Enjoy a leisurely breakfast as you relax on board before anchoring off the port of Nafplion around lunchtime. Famously one of the most romantic places in Greece, Nafplion is a beautiful seaside town with two Venetian castles. Epidaurus From Nafplion, we head to Epidaurus on our guided tour. Unlike the Acropolis in Athens or the Greek remains in Sicily - which seems designed to make a bold statement for miles around - Epidaurus hides itself away, almost seductively, enticing you to discover the ruins for yourself. It's so well hidden that it was only rediscovered and excavated a century ago. It's only up close that you get a true feeling of its grand scale. Buried in a hillside and set amongst dense groves of trees, we'll see the site of a shrine devoted to Aesculapius, the Greek God of Medicine. It consists of a sanctuary where illnesses were cured, as well as a 14,000-seat theatre. The theatre is so well-preserved, that it's still used in summer for performances of the ancient classics. With an evening in port, you can have a pre-dinner stroll along Nafplion’s waterfront before returning on board for dinner. *Ship is expected to anchor at this port and guests will be tendered ashore.
• Day 4
  Nestled between a craggy cliff face and the sea, sits our next destination, Monemvasia. Known as the "Gibraltar of the East", it was once described by Greek poet - and famous Monemvasian - Yannis Ritsos as a "stone ship". Its vast bulk juts out of the mountainous coastline of the Peloponnese. The town reached its peak in the Medieval period with a population of 40,000 when it was known for its excellent wine - legend has it that Richard III's brother died in a vat of it. Wander through the labyrinth of winding cobblestoned streets passing medieval buildings - tall, slim, earthy-stone houses with arched doorways and vaulted rooms. The town has been sympathetically restored and many of the old buildings in the lower town have been converted into hotels, artisan shops, boutiques, cafes and restaurants. Top Tip: If you want to know how old a building is, look at the width. The narrower buildings have older foundations, while the wider buildings date back to the 18th or 19th centuries and feature modern touches, such as wrought-iron balconies. We’ll have plenty of time to wander the town or - if you're feeling energetic - follow the steep path up to the ruins of the upper town. On a clear day, you might catch a glimpse of the mountains of Crete from across the sea. Or if you prefer to join a tour, you can choose an optional tour to Monemvasia Castle as well as the Liotrivi Estate. Here your guide will show you around the historic mansion coupled with the vast olive groves – learning how olive oil is produced along with a tasting. *Ship is expected to anchor at this port and guests will be tendered ashore.
• Day 5
  Located in the south of the Peloponnese peninsular, Pylos is historically known by its Italian name, Navarino. Rich in olive groves, pine forests, little-known beaches and archaeological treasures, it offers the perfect blend of leisure and culture. Spread across gentle slopes, Pylos town and harbour is peaceful with cobblestone streets, trees, sidewalk cafés and little boutiques. But don't let the town’s laid-back charm fool you, it was once the stage for a bloody battle and there are endless places to visit while we're here. In mythology, Pylos was the home of the son of Poseidon - Neleus, and his son Nestor, a leader in the Trojan Wars. Our tour takes us to the ruins of Nestor's Palace high on the bleached hilltop of Ano Englianos. Although it was destroyed by fire, it's still considered to be one of the best-preserved Mycenaean palaces in Greece (a testament to the building quality). As if the views of the coastline here weren’t impressive enough, hundreds of clay tablets bearing inscriptions were found with a rare text - known as Linear B - at the site, preserving knowledge almost lost to the fire. With a full day in port, you can also enjoy some free time to wander Pylos at your leisure this afternoon. *Ship is expected to anchor at this port and guests will be tendered ashore.
• Day 6
  Experience life at sea today with a full day on board. Whether you're a seasoned sailor or just finding your sea legs, we think you'll agree – nothing beats life on the high seas. You'll wake up slowly to the hypnotic murmur of the waves and enjoy a leisurely breakfast, watching the scenery change as we sail. The sun loungers on the deck are the perfect place to crack open that book you've been meaning to read, and you can always cool off with a dip in one of the saltwater pools. When it's time to rehydrate, you'll be in great company at the open-air Tropical Bar. It's the social hub of the ship. And lunch on board is the opportune moment to swap highlights with your fellow explorers. You might even have a chance to climb the crow's nest for a birds-eye view of the ocean (pun intended) - all with a harness, of course! While the rest of the holiday may be a whistlestop tour of the greatest archaeological and architectural finds in the Med, today we give you permission to be blissfully idle. So, you can put your feet up - there's no formality here - and enjoy the balmy summer breeze as it breathes life into the canvas above on our adventure through the Mediterranean.
• Day 7
  This morning you awake on the eastern shore of Sicily sailing towards the bay of Taormina. This is one of the smartest and most exclusive small towns in Italy and you’d be hard pressed to find a more agreeable spot in which to spend the day! Retaining much of its medieval charm, wonderfully situated on a high balcony, facing Etna and overlooking the sea, it is renowned for its beautiful gardens and peaceful atmosphere.   Today, its short main street is lined by designer boutiques and jewellers with tiny side streets, some of which are so narrow you can touch both sides at once, leading to intimate piazzas lined with atmospheric family-run restaurants. As you would expect in a country so famous for its cuisine, speciality food shops selling fresh pasta, olives, Sicilian wine and the local Marsala abound. Stylish locals deep in animated conversation complete the picture.   Our included tour of Taormina sees its greatest claim to fame: the theatre, a legacy of the ancient Greeks. Wonderfully preserved and still in use today, it has a panoramic view of Etna, Europe’s highest volcano, as its natural backdrop!   For an even closer view of Mount Etna, the more adventurous side of you might choose an optional 4WD off road excursion. After driving along the northern side of Mount Etna, you will take the off-road track reaching a lava-cave before ascending to 1800m to reach the seven inactive crater cones around Mount Sartorius where a short hike will bring you to the panoramic viewpoint.  An evening in port allows you to make the most of your time here. *Ship is expected to anchor at this port and guests will be tendered ashore.
• Day 8
  Today, Star Flyer will berth for the day in Syracuse, called "the greatest and most beautiful of all Grecian cities" by Cicero in the ancient world. In fact, Syracuse rivalled Athens and Carthage in size and status. Much of the old city has crumbled since Cicero's time, but you can still explore the ruins in Syracuse's Neapolis Archaeological Park - which we'll visit on our tour. This open-air museum, and UNESCO World Heritage site, is home to a Greek theatre, ancient stone quarries and the Ear of Dionysius - which looks like the inside of a giant's ear. The crowning glory of this site is the 16,000-capacity amphitheatre which is still used for performances today. The city itself is a web of narrow streets tangled between Greek, Roman and Baroque buildings. We'll experience the buzz of Syracuse in the old town on Ortygia Island. As we explore, we'll stumble out into glistening Piazzas, like Piazza Archimedes (named after the city's most famous resident mathematician) with the beautiful Fountain of Diana, the Roman goddess. 
• Day 9
  Did you know that Malta is actually part of an archipelago? (Don't worry, not many people do.) Today, we'll cross the sea to its sister island, Gozo – also known as the Island of Calypso - taking us back in time with its natural landscape, hills and valleys. Gozo has a long history for such a small island - it's thought to have been inhabited since prehistoric times. Today, we'll tour the island and visit two prehistoric Ggantija temples. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is thought to be one of the oldest free-standing monuments in the world, it's older than Stonehenge and the Egyptian pyramids. In Victoria, the capital of Gozo, you can't miss the citadel. Like it's been plucked from a fantasy novel, its imposing walls stand several stories high above the roofs of the surrounding city. It's so big it's visible from all over the island. As we wander through the warren of streets with houses that were abandoned after an earthquake, we'll see the Cathedral of Gozo dedicated to Santa Marija, as well as the Law Courts and the Bishop’s Palace. *Ship is expected to anchor at this port and guests will be tendered ashore.
• Day 10
  Mooring in Valletta, we'll disembark Star Flyer for a guided tour. Tucked behind towering bastion walls on a rocky peninsula, surrounded by the waters of the Mediterranean, is one of Europe's smallest cities. Built by knights, it's said to be "built by gentlemen, for gentleman" - and it shows. As you wander the golden-hued limestone streets, passing beneath wooden balconies, it's easy to forget that Valletta is one of the world's strongest forts. In its heyday, it was an impregnable state-of-the-art citadel built to protect the island from any invaders. Mdina Then, we continue to the old capital, Mdina - unspoilt by time. Nicknamed the "silent city" - after being all but abandoned - there's an eerie stillness to it. There are no cars (except for a few residents with a special license), only horses and carriages are used within the walls. All of which adds to the historic charm of the city. Here we'll take a short walking tour before time at leisure, transferring to the hotel in the afternoon. The rest of the day is up to you. While there are no lakes or rivers in Malta, the sea is never more than a quarter of an hour away, if you fancy an afternoon at the beach. Nowhere is very far so you have an entire island to explore.