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Relax on deck - Make yourself at home aboard M/S Isidoros II, where you can dive into the Aegean for a swim or snorkel or enjoy a sea breeze on deck. Explore Panagia - Walk in the hills above this beautiful fjord, taking in the natural beauty of the quaint fishing village. Discover ancient sites - Step back in time on walks to sites like the Dragon Houses and Castelli Hill's Acropolis.
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Join Captain Thanos onboard his traditional caique to enjoy a week filled with sailing and walking through the Greek islands. Discover hillside villages, fragrant olive groves and ancient sites on foot, before unwinding on the deck of our boat (or diving from deck into the inviting azure waters). In the evenings, watch the sun set from harbourside tavernas, sipping local wines and enjoying hearty Greek cooking.
Our Grecian adventure begins today at 6pm at Athens International Airport (ATH). The latest your flight can arrive is 5.30pm, allowing time to clear the airport before we meet. We'll then travel together by bus to the port of Rafina or Marathon, where we'll catch a ferry to the island of Evia. On arrival, we'll take a short taxi or minibus ride to Karystos, where our caique will be waiting for us. Before settling into our cabins, we'll meet the friendly boat crew and enjoy a welcome drink. If your flight arrives earlier in the day and you have time to spare, Athens is easily accessible from the airport by a direct metro service. The airport is well signposted in English, and luggage storage facilities are also available. Our caique: MV Isidoros II Our home is the MV Isidoros II, a traditional wooden caique owned by our captain and tour leader, Thanos, and his family. Thanos has worked with us for over 20 years, so there's nobody better to give you a warm welcome aboard and introduce you to Evia. Exclusively chartered by Explore, the boat has just eight cabins. Listed as a historic caique, it is one of fewer than 80 iconic Greek-designed boats still in existence, making the opportunity to stay aboard a real treat. Built in 1962, it was originally used as a cargo ferry before being converted into a passenger cruiser in 1974. The boat has a large sundeck and a comfortable galley for meals. There's also a bar where you can purchase local wine and beer, spirits and soft drinks. A boat ladder and snorkelling equipment are available on board, making it easy to enjoy the many swimming opportunities along the way. All cabins are cosy and en-suite, with windows and large fans, and complimentary Wi-Fi is available on board. The boat has a relaxed, home-from-home feel, and you're free to move around as you please. If you'd prefer to enjoy the clear night sky and cool evening breeze, you can even choose to sleep on deck. Discovering Evia One of the largest Greek islands, Evia remains largely off the main tourist trail. In summer and at weekends, its main visitors are often Greeks escaping Athens to enjoy the waterfront tavernas and uncrowded beaches, giving the island an authentic local feel. The rugged coastline is dotted with market towns, fishing villages, secluded coves and wide sandy beaches. The sea is clear and warm, making it wonderful for swimming and snorkelling, while pine-covered hills provide a beautiful backdrop and help keep evening temperatures cooler. Please note: The order of the itinerary and inclusions may vary depending on weather and cruising conditions.
The Greek Cruise and Island Walking tour was a great experience. The caique is a unique form of accommodation - very well maintained with an excellent crew. There's no denying the sleeping quarters are cozy, but they are perfectly functional and you'll be so tired from the sea air and walking, you'll sleep well regardless. The lunch provided each day is delicious - probably better than what you get in the Tavernas of an evening, although they were also very good. You will need a good appetite, as food is plentiful! The walks were very good; we had a nice breeze to keep us cool, and plenty of opportunities to swim in the clear Aegean sea. Our tour leader, Thanos, was very organized and passionate about the history of Evia and the people of Greece. We learned a lot.
The holiday was lovely. Thanos is amazing. So knowledgeable and full of information. George and Jargas were also wonderful. Food was very nice as well. I like that Thanos kept on top of the weather and wind conditions and adapted the daily plans according to that to make the most of the holiday. The accommodation was very basic, but this was very clear from the onset and information provided by Explore so one knew what to expect. The boat itself is well organised and even in the heat of the day, being on water means we had a breeze which made staying on the deck or in the langue really nice.
Brilliant experience ⭐️
If this had been my first explore holiday, I would never travel with them again, the holiday was very disappointing due entirely to the guide. I have been on many adventures with Explore and other companies and I have never known there not to be a collection for the guide and a suitable thank you speech. No collection was made this time. Contrary to previous reviews I found Thanos very disappointing and he created an unpleasant atmosphere for the week. He was dismissive, abrupt and simply rude to many of the guests including myself. On one occasion he embarrassed the group in a restaurant by shouting at one of the group. On a hot sunny day after the gorge walk and then a twenty minute uphill climb to the bus, I politely asked if we could have some air conditioning on in the coach as it had not been on in the morning. I was told it was always on and to get some “common sense’ His guiding of tour walks were vert mediocre, on one walk he got of the coach and marched ahead without speaking to anyone in the group until we reached our destination. Other walks he just steamed ahead without speaking no commentary as he was too far ahead of the whole group and we were unable to ask any questions. from this aspect he was the worse guide I have ever experienced. He created a very bad atmosphere and at the end of the holiday people didn’t even say goodbye to him. Explore guide are normally excellent
I felt that the tour leader had a particularly challenging week with some members of the group. In my view, this ultimately resulted in neither the tour leader nor the boat crew receiving a tip from the group, which I felt was unfair given the effort they put in throughout the trip. I did however give a tip in recognition of their efforts. A small number of guests were difficult to travel with and were frequently critical or demanding. One guest repeatedly referenced her personal connection with Explore's CEO and suggested she would escalate matters directly, which created an uncomfortable atmosphere within the group. While I appreciate that every group will contain a mix of personalities and expectations, the overall experience has made me question whether Explore's current upper class client demographic is the right fit for the type of holiday experience I am looking for. I prefer a more relaxed and collaborative travel environment and, on this occasion, felt that the dynamic within the group detracted from the enjoyment of the trip. I would, however, like to reiterate that the tour leader and boat crew handled the situation professionally throughout and deserved greater recognition for their efforts. What feedback you recieve from others I hope accounts for a balanced view.
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