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Treasures of the Hellenic World

Treasures of the Hellenic World

From AUD $4,710

Description

Succumb to the charms of Eternal Greece during an 8-day cruise.

With Athens as the departure point, board Le Bougainville for an unforgettable sailing experience discovering exceptional islands and cities.

Your first port of call: Paros. Nestling in the heart of the Cyclades archipelago, this island reputed for its sublime white marble offers a real concentration of Greek beauty, from whitewashed houses to olive groves to ancient monuments.

A little further north, you will arrive on Mykonos, with its iconic windmills, beaches, countless churches and whitewashed houses.

Le Bougainville will then set sail for the Dodecanese archipelago. You will discover the medieval city of Rhodes, with its impressive walls, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Lying between the Aegean Sea and the Mediterranean Sea, Crete is the cradle of many myths, including that of the Minotaur. According to legend, this creature, half-man, half-bull, was the lovechild of Pasiphae, the wife of Minos, and a white bull.

Your cruise will conclude with the exploration of two of Greece’s major sites, from Napflio: the Mycenae ruins and the Epidaurus theatre, both UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Trip Name
Treasures of the Hellenic World
Days
8
Overview
Vessel Type: Luxury Passenger Capacity: 92 cabins Built: 2017/2018 Featuring innovative and environmentally-friendly equipment, elegantly designed cabins, spacious suites with large windows, and lounge areas that open onto the outside, this new limited-capacity yacht boasting just 92 cabins and suites will offer you a truly unique cruising experience. As the first ship in a new series that remains true to the Ponant spirit, Le Bougainville will embody the unique atmosphere that is the cruise line’s hallmark: a subtle blend of refinement, intimacy and comfort. Aboard this ship that flies the French flag, you will experience the incomparable pleasure of an intimate cruise, with the possibility of exploring an ever-increasing range of destinations in an ethnic-chic ambiance with luxury service. Experience a luxurious setting where the accent is on authenticity and passion for travel. RESTAURANTS As it is an essential part of French culture, gastronomy will naturally have pride of place aboard this new ship. Through its two restaurants, Le Bougainville will invite you on a journey to elegance and epicureanism. In a relaxed atmosphere, a first dining area located on Deck 3 and able to seat 70 will serve grilled meats daily, along with a variety of salads and desserts. To the back of Deck 4, you will find a 260 m² panoramic restaurant which can accommodate all of our passengers in a single sitting. Designed differently to that on our other ships, this dining area, which opens onto the outside, will have a buffet of salads, desserts and cheeses at your disposal. Our discreet and attentive crew will provide table service for hot meals. PUBLIC AREAS Like Le Boréal and its sisterships, Le Bougainville has many common areas that are designed and equipped to meet all of your needs while preserving the intimacy of each passenger. A 140 m² reception area includes: A reception/concierge desk, An excursions desk, The ship’s administrative services, The sales office, manned by our Guest Relations Officer, Our 50 m² boutique which sells clothing, jewellery, beauty products, postcards and various accessories, Toilets accessible to passengers with reduced mobility. A new hydraulic platform with adjustable height provides: Easier boarding than on any other cruise ship, Easier Zodiac embarkation and disembarkation for expeditions, Easier access to the sea for swimming and practising various water sports such as kayaking or paddle-boarding. A pool deck offering: A pool with a panoramic view, equipped with a counter-current swimming system, A pleasant solarium, An outdoor bar and lounge with armchairs and sofas. A 200 m² main lounge which can accommodate all of our passengers to share convivial moments and to host activities organised during the day or evening. Lastly, a theatre that seats 188, equipped with: The latest sound and lighting technology, A LED wall as the stage backdrop, for the projection of high-resolution images and videos.

Itinerary



Day 1 - Day 1 ATHENS
The Greek capital city is located on the edge of the Saronic gulf, in the east of the country. It bears a plural name in reference to the first villages that surround the Acropolis. You will be enchanted by the rocky plateau presided by its monuments listed as UNESCO World Heritage. In the city below, you can visit some of the liveliest districts in Athens: Plaka, with its maze of colourful streets, and where, in the evenings the drifting aroma of moussaka and garlic prawns will tickle your taste buds. Don’t miss anything of the city’s cultural past. Pay a visit to the National Archaeological museum, or the Cycladic Art Museum.
Day 2 - Day 2 PAROS
Famous for its white marble, the island of Paros is located in the Cyclades. Along the quays of Parikia, its main town, you’ll see Byzantine churches and neoclassical buildings. To make the most of the turquoise waters, you can stop over in Naoussa. This little fishing port is bounded by a very beautiful cove and offers more than one café to sit and unwind.
Day 3 - Day 3 VOLOS
Volos, one of the biggest port cities in Greece, is located at the foot of Mount Pelion. According to mythology, Mount Pelion was a place of celebration for gods and heroes, and the home of the centaurs. The beauty of the place and the magical atmosphere that reigns here can indeed only have been inspired by the gods: the clear water that flows from a multitude of sources bathes the plane trees, apple trees, oaks, beech trees, gardenias, camellias, and hydrangeas that thrive in the fertile soil of Thessaly. Do not miss your chance to visit picturesque villages in the hills, such as Makrinitsa and Portaria. They have remained intact over the centuries and visitors will enjoy discovering mansions with an architecture that is unique in Greece, as well as typical fountains and churches.
Day 4 - Day 4 MYKONOS
Nicknamed “little Venice”, Mykonos is famous for its Alefkandra district where houses are built right on the water’s edge. Their multi-coloured loggias are emblematic of this Cyclades island, as are the pelicans and windmills. You can get close up to the birds on the quaysides of the old port. Up on the hillside, you can see the windmill sails turning. In the cobbled streets of the pedestrian centre, bougainvillea bedeck immaculate facades. As you weave in and out of the little streets, snatches of coastline will undoubtedly call you to the island’s beaches, the quietest of which can be found on the northern coast.
Day 5 - Day 5 RHODES
With its particularly agreeable climate, the island of Rhodes invites you to walk its pathways and discover its immaculate villages and sumptuous medieval city, a UNESCO World Heritage site. At the centre of the island the mountains are covered in forest and on the western slopes we find vineyards and crops. Rhodes also owes much of its charm and its character to the Knights of St John who reigned over the island from 1310 to 1522 and built impressive defensive walls punctuated with majestic gateways. Do not miss this delightful island with its peaceful beaches, its large walkways and its lively nightlife, perpetuating the myth of the famous Colossus, the legendary statue that is one of the Seven Wonders of the World.
Day 6 - Day 6 RETHYMNO, CRETE
Between the Sea of Crete and Libya, appears the island of Crete with its unimaginable beauty. Discover Rethymnon, home of Zeus, king of the Gods. With a huge fine sandy beach to the east and a rocky coastline to the west, this small town enchants visitors with its natural beauty and its fascinating history. The cradle of the Cretan Renaissance, a town of letters and intellectuals, from its rich past it has retained Venetian buildings from the 16th century, which cohabit harmoniously with the many minarets, testimony of the Turkish presence. Do not fail to admire its old Venetian port as well as its historical district offering a maze of narrow streets, before you head to the famous site of Cnossos, birthplace of the Minotaur.
Day 7 - Day 7 NAFPLION
The engaging town of Nafplio is staggered up green hillsides of the Argolic Gulf, to the east of the Peloponnese. Don’t be surprised by its extremely varied cultural heritage. For instance, you’ll see the ancient agora on the plateau of Akronafplia, Italianate arcades in Syntagma square as well as the baroque fortress of Palamidi on a hillside of the same name. At the top of the hill, views of the gulf and the surrounding mountains are simply awesome. If you want to chill out by the water’s edge, walk along the Arvanitia promenade to a beautiful creek in the shade of cedars and cypresses.
Day 8 - Day 8 ATHENS
Disembarkation.
Day 9 - Please Note:
Itinerary is subject to change.

Trip Dates

StartEndPrice FromRoom Type
22-04-201929-04-2019AUD $0Deluxe Stateroom
22-04-201929-04-2019AUD $0Prestige Stateroom Deck 4
22-04-201929-04-2019AUD $0Prestige Stateroom Deck 5
22-04-201929-04-2019AUD $0Prestige Stateroom Deck 6
22-04-201929-04-2019AUD $0Deluxe Suite
22-04-201929-04-2019AUD $0Prestige Suite Deck 5
22-04-201929-04-2019AUD $0Prestige Suite Deck 6
22-04-201929-04-2019AUD $0Privilege Suite
22-04-201929-04-2019AUD $0Grand Deluxe Suite
22-04-201929-04-2019AUD $0Owner's Suite

Inclusions

    • A cruise to discover the finest ancient sites of Greece, with a port of call in Crete.
    • Several UNESCO World Heritage Sites: the Acropolis of Athens (embarkation and disembarkation port), the medieval city of Rhodes, the Mycenae ruins and the Epidaurus theatre (from Napflio).
    • The possibility of visiting Athens, before or after your cruise.
    • A varied cruise, including lively cities, historic and cultural sites and beaches of unique charm.

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