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Sure, you could plan the same Europe trip as everyone and their aunt. But we've got a better idea: this 15-day whirlwind adventure that'll have you discovering hidden gems across four epic countries. Kicking things off in the walled city of Dubrovnik, you'll travel south through Montenegro and Albania before arriving in Corfu for some well-earned beach-time. After that, you'll get your history fix in Athens and then hop your way through the Greek Islands of Paros, Ios, and Santorini for sun-soaked days and bumping nightlife.
We believe solo travellers should not have to pay more to travel so our group trips are designed for shared accommodation and do not involve a single supplement. Single travellers joining group trips are paired in twin or multi-share accommodation with someone of the same sex for the duration of the trip. Some of our Independent trips are designed differently and solo travellers on these itineraries must pay the single trip price.
Minimum age of 18 years for this trip.
Check-in times and baggage allowances/restrictions vary by airline and can change at any time. For the most up-to-date information for your flight, please contact your airline. We recommend checking in online in advance to avoid potential delays at the airport.
CEO (Chief Experience Officer) throughout.
Documents:
• Flight info (required) (Printouts of e-tickets may be required at the border)
• Insurance info (required) (With photocopies)
• Passport (required) (With photocopies)
• Vouchers and pre-departure information (required)
• Visas or vaccination certificates (With photocopies)
Essentials:
• Toiletries (required) (Shampoo, bodywash, soap, etc.)
• Binoculars (optional)
• Camera (With extra memory cards and batteries)
• Cash, credit and debit cards
• Day pack (Used for daily excursions or short overnights)
• Ear plugs
• First-aid kit (should contain lip balm with sunscreen, sunscreen, whistle, Aspirin, Ibuprofen, bandaids/plasters, tape, anti-histamines, antibacterial gel/wipes, antiseptic cream, Imodium or similar tablets for mild cases of diarrhea, rehydration powder, water purification tablets or drops, insect repellent, sewing kit, extra prescription drugs you may be taking)
• Flashlight/torch (Headlamps are ideal)
• Fleece top/sweater
• Footwear
• Hat
• Locks for bags
• Long pants/jeans
• Moneybelt
• Outlet adapter
• Personal entertainment (Reading and writing materials, cards, music player, etc.)
• Reusable water bottle
• Shirts/t-shirts
• Sleepwear
• Small travel towel
• Sunglasses
• Swimwear
• Watch and alarm clock
• Waterproof backpack cover
• Windproof rain jacket
Health & Safety:
• Hand sanitizer (required)
• Face masks (Clients will be only be required to wear a face mask where it is mandated by local regulations.)
• Pen (Please bring your own pen for filling out documents.)
Warm Weather:
• Sandals/flip-flops
• Shorts/skirts (Longer shorts/skirts are recommended)
• Sturdy water shoes/sandals
• Sun hat/bandana
• Swimwear
This G Adventures group trip is accompanied by one of our Chief Experience Officers (CEOs). The aim of the CEO is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. They will provide information on the places you are travelling through, offer suggestions for things to do and see, recommend great local eating venues and introduce you to our local friends. While not being guides in the traditional sense you can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the countries visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious and social aspects. We also use local guides where we think more specific knowledge will add to the enjoyment of the places we are visiting - we think it's the best of both worlds.
It is important to note that in Europe, all guiding is based around local guides all of whom are licensed to work only in a particular city. As such, our leaders are able to provide orientation walks which will show you the layout of each town and city as well as the location of local services such as post offices and laundromats, but are unable to legally share historical facts and figures in public places. If you wish to take a guided city tour in any location where this is not already included in the itinerary, your CEO will do their best to help you arrange this and pay locally.
While it is our intention to adhere to the route described below, there is a certain amount of flexibility built into the itinerary and on occasion it may be necessary, or desirable to make alterations. The itinerary is brief, as we never know exactly where our journey will take us. Due to our style of travel and the regions we visit, travel can be unpredictable. The Trip Details document is a general guide to the tour and region and any mention of specific destinations or wildlife is by no means a guarantee that they will be visited or encountered. Aboard expedition trips visits to research stations depend on final permission.
Additionally, any travel times listed are approximations only and subject to vary due to local circumstances.
Dubrovnik
- Rector's Palace (70HRK per person)
- Museum of Croatian War of Independence (20HRK per person)
- Franciscan Monastery & Museum (30HRK per person)
- War Photography Museum (10EUR per person)
- Sea Kayaking (36EUR per person)
- Cable Car Ride (150HRK per person)
- Dubrovnik City Wall Walk (35EUR per person)
Kotor
- Donji Stoliv Hike
- The Ladder of Kotor Hike
- Kotor City Exploration (Free)
- Sea Kayaking (20EUR per person)
- Lake Skadar National Park
- Kotor Maritime Museum (4EUR per person)
- Sveti Ivan Fortress Hike
Perast
- Perast Visit
Risan
- Risan town and Roman Mosaics Visit (10EUR per person)
Herceg-Novi
- Herceg Novi Beach Visit
Tirana
- Dajti Ekspres Cable Car Ride (6EUR per person)
- National History Museum (2EUR per person)
- Piramida Visit (Free)
- National Gallery of Arts (2EUR per person)
Gjirokastër
- Gjirokaster Fortress
Butrint
- Butrint Archaeological Site Visit (20EUR per person)
Saranda
- Bay Visit (Free)
- Mirror Beach Visit
Corfu
- Palaio Frourio
- Archaeological Museum Corfu (3EUR per person)
- Achilleion Palace, Museum and Gardens (10EUR per person)
- Temple of Artemis (Free)
Athens
- Acropolis Museum Visit
- Roman Agora Visit (2EUR per person)
- Acropolis and Parthenon Visit (20EUR per person)
- Syntagma (Constitution) Square Visit (Free)
- National Archaeological Museum Visit (12EUR per person)
- Athens Sunset Bike Tour
Please note inoculations may be required for the country visited. It is your responsibility to consult with your travel doctor for up to date medical travel information well before departure.
You should consult your doctor for up-to-date medical travel information well before departure. We recommend that you carry a First Aid kit and hand sanitizers / antibacterial wipes as well as any personal medical requirements. Please be aware that quite often we are in remote areas and away from medical facilities, and for legal reasons our leaders are prohibited from administering any type of drug including headache tablets, antibiotics, etc. When selecting your trip please carefully read the brochure and itinerary and assess your ability to cope with our style of travel. Please refer to the Physical and Culture Shock ratings for trip specific information. G Adventures reserves the right to exclude any traveller from all or part of a trip without refund if in the reasonable opinion of our CEO they are unable to complete the itinerary without undue risk to themselves and/or the rest of the group.
Credit cards and debit cards are very useful for cash advances. Visa cards are the most widely accepted cards. While ATMs are commonly available, there are no guarantees that your credit or debit cards will actually work in Greece. Check with your bank. You should be aware when purchasing products or services on a credit card, that a fee usually applies. Do not rely on credit or debit cards as your only source of money. A combination of Euros, traveller's cheques and cards is best. Always take more rather than less, as you don't want to spoil the trip by constantly feeling short of funds.
As currency exchange rates can fluctuate often we ask that you refer to the following website for daily exchange rates: www.xe.com
After your travels, we want to hear from you! Your feedback information is so important to us that we'll give you 5% off the price of your next G Adventures trip if your feedback is completed on-line within 30 days of finishing your trip. Your tour evaluation will be e-mailed to you 24 hours after the conclusion of your trip. If you do not receive the tour evaluation link in the days after your tour has finished, please drop us a line at customersolutions@gadventures.com and we will send it on to you.
The information in this trip details document has been compiled with care and is provided in good faith. However it is subject to change, and does not form part of the contract between the client and the operator. The itinerary featured is correct at time of printing. It may differ slightly to the one in the brochure. Occasionally our itineraries change as we make improvements that stem from past travellers, comments and our own research. Sometimes it can be a small change like adding an extra meal along the itinerary. Sometimes the change may result in us altering the tour for the coming year. Ultimately, our goal is to provide you with the most rewarding experience. Please note that our brochure is usually released in November each year. If you have booked from the previous brochure you may find there have been some changes to the itinerary.
VERY IMPORTANT: Please ensure that you print a final copy of your Trip Details to review a couple of days prior to travel, in case there have been changes that affect your plans.
6 breakfasts, 1 lunch
Every traveller is different and therefore spending money requirements will vary. Some travellers may drink more than others while other travellers like to purchase more souvenirs than most. Please consider your own spending habits when it comes to allowing for drinks, shopping and tipping. Please also remember the following specific recommendations when planning your trip.
Max 16, avg 12.
OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES NOTE:
During high season in Europe (May-October) we highly recommend booking reservations for any popular optional activities/museum tickets etc. in advance to avoid encountering sold-out activities on the ground while on tour.
16
The variety and local flavour of our accommodation is a favourite part of our European 18-to-Thirtysomethings trips. Although the properties we use are simply furnished and with few facilities, we base our choices on location, character and cleanliness. We will stay in a mixture of hotels, some hostels, and private rooms in local households.
Some accommodation on this tour will be multi-share. This may involve 4-6 group members sharing and even (on rare occasions) dormitory-style rooms for the whole group. The majority of accommodation will have shared bathroom facilities.
Where we use multi-share hostels, rooming requests of any kind cannot be taken.
Note that most accommodation in Europe does not have air conditioning units in rooms. Air conditioning is not routinely installed in European homes and workplaces. However, nearly all hotels will provide a standing or desk fan for your room on hot nights. If you do not already have one in your room, please ask your CEO to organize one for you with reception. For private accommodation please see tours in our Classic Travel Style.
Laundry facilities are offered by some of our hotels for a charge or ask your CEO where the closest laundromat is. There will be times when you may want to or have to do your own laundry so we suggest you bring non-polluting/biodegradable soap.
We don't expect any problems, and nor should you, but if for any reason you are unable to commence your trip as scheduled, please refer to the emergency contact details provided in this dossier and contact us as soon as possible. If you have a pre-booked transfer, and you have not made contact with our representative within 30 minutes of clearing customs and immigration, we recommend that you make your own way to the Starting Point hotel, following the Joining Instructions. Please apply to your travel agent on your return for a refund of the transfer cost if this occurs.
Your Welcome Moment: Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group
Your First Night Out Moment: Connect With New Friends
Your Big Night Out Moment: Athens
Your Discover Moment: Athens. Orientation walks in Tirana, Corfu, Paros and Ios. Internal flight. Free time in Paros and Ios. Half-day Paros beaches tour. Best of beaches tour Ios. Caldera walk in Santorini. All transport between destinations and to/from included activities.
Soak up the sun on Corfu's beaches, Live it up with a night out in historic Athens, Go island-hopping as you cruise through the Mediterranean, Walk along the caldera on Santorini with incredible views
Illegal drugs will not be tolerated on any trips. Possessing or using drugs not only contravenes the laws of the land but also puts the rest of the group at risk. Smoking marijuana and opium is a part of local culture in some parts of the world but is not acceptable for our travellers. Our philosophy of travel is one of respect towards everyone we encounter and in particular the local people who make the world the special place it is. The exploitation of people in the sex trade is completely contrary to this philosophy. Our CEOs have the right to expel any member of the group if drugs are found in their possession or if they utilize the services of paid sex workers, in any capacity.
Eating is a big part of traveling. Travelling with G Adventures you experience the vast array of wonderful food that is available out in the world. Generally meals are not included in the trip price when there is a choice of eating options, to give you the maximum flexibility in deciding where, what and with whom to eat. It also gives you more budgeting flexibility, though generally food is cheap. Our groups tend to eat together to enable you to taste a larger variety of dishes and enjoy each other's company. There is no obligation to do this though. Your CEO will be able to suggest favourite restaurants during your trip. The above information applies to G Adventures group trips. For Independent trips please check the itinerary for details of meals included. For all trips please refer to the meals included and budget information for included meals and meal budgets.
Hotels/Hostels (14 nts, some multi-share with 2-6 people).
Please also make sure you have access to at least an additional USD $200 (or equivalent) as an 'emergency' fund, to be used when circumstances outside our control (ex. a natural disaster) require a change to our planned route. This is a rare occurrence!
Train, metro, bus, ferry, private van, walking, internal flight.
For your first night out, take to the cobblestone streets of Dubrovnik with your CEO and group. After making your way between historic, domed buildings, settle in at a bar in Dubrovnik's old town or a similar trendy neighborhood for drinks and conversation with your new friends.
Cross the border into Montenegro and go hiking or visit Lake Skadar.
Take the day to explore the city of Kotor or the beaches of Herceg Novi. Opt to take a day trip to the beautiful nearby village of Perast.
Check out all that the capital of Albania has to offer on an included orientation walk.
Be sure to check out the lively nightlife here.
Travel through the Albanian countryside to coastal Saranda, stopping along the way to explore towns and local sights. Stop for lunch in the historic centre of Gjirokastër, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and opt to visit the Gjirokastër Fortress. Arrive early to Saranda with plenty of time to enjoy the Ionian Sea.
The exact stops along the drive depend on the day and weather.
Depending on traffic and arrival/departure times to Saranda, groups may opt to stop by Albania's largest archaeological site from the Greek era, which includes a large Roman amphitheatre and a Byzantine basilica.
Take a late afternoon ferry across the border to the island of Corfu. Enjoy an orientation walk in the old town of Kerkyra, then enjoy free time to hit the beach and the clubs in the evening.
Free time to hit the beach and the clubs. Opt to explore the island by horseback, visit some of the older churches and historic buildings found on the island, or relax on one of its many beautiful beaches.
Hop on a morning flight to Athens, then take a free afternoon to explore Greece's capital city. Tonight, enjoy a Big Night Out with the group!
Spend the day in one of the most renowned ancient capitals of the world. Wander around the open-air museum that is the historic centre. Sample mouthwatering greek food such as Saganaki (fried cheese), or Spanakopita (spinach pie). Opt to visit the Acropolis site, the new Acropolis Museum, the Roman agora and the National Archaeological Museum.
Please note that passenger luggage (up to 15kgs/33lbs per passenger) is included on this flight.
Enjoy a free day to explore Athens and partake in any of the optional activities you didn't have a chance to try out yesterday. Maybe visit the National Archaeological Museum, or Syntagma (Constitution) Square, and of course the, Acropolis and Parthenon. In the evening maybe opt for a bike tour to watch the sunset.
Travel by ferry to the Paros, an island of beautiful villages surrounded by picturesque nature and views of the Mediterranean. Head out on an orientation walk starting at the port town of Paroikla with its white cube-shaped houses. Wander past churches, the Venetian Castle on the hill and the Archaeological Museum. Afterwards, take advantage of free time to visit the many restaurants, cafes, and shops along the old town's main streets.
Set off on a half-day tour to see more of the island of Paros. Visit the inland village of Lefkes surrounded by hills, pine forests, and olive groves. Then, travel to the resort town of Naousa and Kolymbithres Beach with the clearest water and coolest rock formations you could use for sunbathing. The rest of the day is yours to continue exploring, walk on the beach, grab a bite to eat, and relax in this paradise that offers you a Greek island experience without the crowds.
Hop on a ferry to your next island destination today and enjoy a small lunch onboard. Upon arrival at Ios the group will enjoy an orientation walk with your CEO of Chora which is the main and only real village of Ios. Wander around admiring the little cube house with the flat roofs and the narrow stone paved winding labyrinth of streets. Afterwards you'll have free time to visit some of the bars and restaurants for some food and drinks, lounge on the beach, or climb to the highest point on the island for panoramic views of Ios. It's truly unforgettable, especially during a colorful sunset.
Today is all about beaches, swimming, and living out those Greek Island bucket-lists. The group will embark on the Best of Beaches Tour of Ios midmorning. The trip is four hours and you'll visit seven different beaches along the island. Lunch is included and you'll have opportunities to swim, try snorkelling at Neverbay. In the evening take advantage of free time to stroll through town or dance the night away at an island nightclub and bar.
Spend the morning in Ios. In the afternoon jump on the ferry to the island of Santorini. Upon arrival the group will enjoy a CEO guided caldera walk. The walk is just under 11km and will take you along the rim of the caldera between Fira and Oia. Afterwards, you have the option of attending dinner with the group for your final night in Santorini.
Depart at any time.
Details
Duration: 15 Days
Merchandising: New Trips
Physical Grading: 3 - Average
Trip Type: Small Group
Travel Style: 18-to-Thirtysomethings
Service Level: Basic
15 day 18-to-Thirtysomethings tour
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