Program

19.July.2008 - Saturday - Athens /Greece -- 5:00 PM
Above the city, looking out towards the blue Aegean, stands the Acropolis. Here lie the ruins of a culture 2,500 years old: the Propylaea; the Temple of Athena Nike; the Erechtheum temple, and, most famous of all, the Parthenon.
Meanwhile, modern Athens buzzes busily below, a city of chic restaurants, lively bazaars, sophisticated banking, historical museums, and the sights and smells of the Plaka district

20.July.2008 - Sunday Monemvasia/Greece 7:00 AM 2:00 PM
Situated near the site of ancient Sparta, the ancient castles and fortresses, faded palaces and narrow byways are more reminiscent of the city's Byzantine and Venetian days.

21.july.2008 - Monday Katakolon/Greece 10:00 AM 6:00 PM
Katakolon is the gateway to Olympia, site of the first Olympic games which began in 776 B.C. Olympia was as a sacred precinct built exclusively for the quadrennial games dedicated to Zeus during which all hostilities were ceased in the name of athletic competition. Much was destroyed when the games were outlawed as a pagan festival in 393 A.D., but visitors can still see the Temple of Zeus and the 45,000 seat stadium. The Archaeological Museum houses sculptures, including the famous -Winged Victory.

22.july.2008 - Tuesday Corfu/Greece 1:00 PM 11:00 PM
The exquisite island of ancient Pheakon, has 150 miles long coasts, picturesque promenades and a vivid night life. The lush green silhouette of Corfu (better known as Green Greece) rises from the Ionian sea, a fertile island dense with lemon and orange groves, fig trees, cypress, and three million olive trees. Two forts mark the graceful old town of Kerkira, along with a gorgeous Esplanade, where locals play cricket – one of the remaining British influences. In the Campiello area, a maze of shuttered Venetian-era alleyways leads to a Byzantine museum full of icons.

23.july.2008 - Wednesday Saranda/Albania 7:00 AM 1:00 PM
Saranda is situated in an open sea gulf, opposite the island of Corfu (Greece). There are daily ferry services to and from Corfu. Saranda is rapidly developing into the southern gateway for tourism into Albania. There are many interesting things to see in Saranda, including: the archaeological site of Butrint, the Ethnographic Museum, the ruins of ancient town of Onhezmi in Saranda, the ancient temple and other ruins of Foinike in Finiq village, the small Castle of Ali Pasha in Vrine village, the Church of Saint Kolli in Mesopotam village as well as the beautiful Ksamili Islands.

24.july.2008 - Thursday Dubrovnik/Croatia 11:00 AM 8:00 PM
Nestled on the Adriatic coast, Dubrovnik is a beautifully preserved fortifed town. Its ancient medieval walls contain a sparkling white Old City, filled with 15th-century churches, peaceful Franciscan cloisters, a cathedral with works by Raphael and Titian, and a fascinating Maritime Museum. One of Dubrovnik’s main attractions is the sea swim from the quiet, rocky beaches on either end of the city, or catch a boat to the wooded island of Lokrum nearby.

25.July.2008 - Friday At Sea -- --
On the sea

26.July.2008 - Saturday Venice/Italy 7:00 AM --
For centuries,Venice stood at the crossroads of culture between the Byzantine and Roman worlds. The city the great traders and philosophers created is an extraordinary place. From the elegant carved gondolas and vaporetti that ply the Grand Canal to the magnificent Piazza San Marco bustling with life – Venice is unique in all the world. Great works of art are housed here, in the Accademia with its Renaissance masters and the collection of Peggy Guggenheim in her canal-side palazzo. The Basilica di San Marco and the Doge’s Palace are must-sees. After that, follow where your feet take you, over romantic bridges, to shops selling precious glass, to small cafés for a cappuccino or Campari.

For all information including prices, availability, and early booking discounts, please email any questions, and tell us the dates that suit your travel plans. (The e-mail address is info@encountertours.net. ) You can also call us at +971-322-3915 PST.

As soon as we get your e-mail we will respond with any information you need.

Encounter Tours also provides services such as Athens or Venice hotel bookings, daily private tours, airport transfers, rental cars, as well as everything related to travel in all of the cities where the cruise takes place.