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Peregrine Travel Centre

From Dalmatia to the Cyclades (Monet)

From Dalmatia to the Cyclades (Monet)

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Description

Join us for a relaxing and informative voyage as we sail from Split to Athens and explore a magnificent array of ancient ruins, attractive towns and timeless villages. There will be interesting guided excursions each day combined with ample opportunity to explore independently and some relaxing, daytime sailing allowing time to appreciate the beautiful scenery of the region. The MS Monet is the perfect vessel for our voyage, her size allowing us to call into less developed places and once docked, with just 50 passengers, going ashore is quick and easy.

Our voyage is timed perfectly to take advantage of cooling temperatures and the dispersing of summer holiday crowds leaving us free to explore some spectacular Greek ruins such as Delphi and Mycenae, some picturesque villages including Alberobello in the Puglian countryside and some beautiful islands in the Aegean such as Sifnos and Folegandros. An additional highlight of our voyage will be our daytime transit of the Corinth Canal which, whilst only built in the 19th century, was conceived as long ago as the 7th century BC, a wonderful interlude to our cruise and only possible on a small ship such as the MS Monet. Whether you are interested in ancient history, Greek myths or simply the joy of cruising aboard a private yacht and experiencing new places and islands in this beautiful region, our voyage has something for everyone.

Trip Name
From Dalmatia to the Cyclades (Monet)
Days
11
Overview
Vessel Type: Motor Yacht Passenger Capacity: 50 Build / Referbished: 1998 / 2016 / 2018 Your Cabin All the cabins on board the MS Monet are designed for comfort and have a warm and inviting feel with light fabrics and wood trimmings. Cabins range in size from 9 to 22 square metres and Categories A, B & C are equipped with windows, while those in Category D have portholes. Cabins 104-107, 112, 119, 205 and 210-215 feature twin beds and all other cabins have fixed double beds. Facilities include en-suite bathroom with shower, television, minifridge, safety deposit box, air-conditioning and hairdryer. Your Space The public areas include a main lounge and bar with comfortable sofas on the Lumiere Deck, a restaurant located on the Parisian Deck and the Lumiere Open Deck al fresco dining area where meals can be enjoyed when weather permits. The gym can be found on the Parisian Deck and the Lumiere Sun Deck provides a delightful sun exposed space with sun loungers and a Jacuzzi, ideal for relaxation and wonderful views. Your Dining Located on the Parisian Deck, the glass enclosed indoor dining room seats all passengers in a single sitting with unassigned seating and allows for wonderful panoramic views of the stunning scenery as we sail. The Lumiere Open Deck provides a generous covered area where guests can enjoy meals al fresco, weather permitting. Food is served at the table or displayed on the hot and cold buffet stands. The menu is international, with a focus on local specialties. A choice of house wine, beer and soft drinks are served with lunch and dinner. Life On Board During the day, life on board focuses around the indoor lounge area, and the indoor and outdoor dining spaces, as well as the open and inviting deck areas including the Jacuzzi. These are natural gathering places and perfect for enjoying your meals al fresco, relaxing in a comfortable chair with a good book or socialising with your fellow passengers and enjoying the views.

Itinerary



Day 1 - Day 1 London Heathrow to Split, Croatia.
Fly by scheduled flight. On arrival transfer to the MS Monet and embark. Sail this evening.
Day 2 - Day 2 Korcula.
Spend the day on the island of Korcula, the reputed birthplace of the explorer Marco Polo. A guided tour will include a walk along Korcula’s crooked Medieval streets revealing elegant squares flanked with palaces of the old nobility. Enjoy an afternoon at leisure and maybe find a quiet spot to swim in the clear waters of the Adriatic.
Day 3 - Day 3 Kotor, Montenegro.
This morning we enter the Gulf of Kotor and sail up the fjord-like entrance to the Medieval town and UNESCO World Heritage Site of Kotor. This really is an extraordinary place full of marvellous architecture and pretty town squares nestled at the foot of towering cliffs. Our morning guided walk will include the 12th century cathedral of St Tryphon, the ancient town gates, the Maritime Museum and Romanesque churches including St Luke’s. Return to the MS Monet for lunch and enjoy an afternoon at leisure to explore at your own pace.
Day 4 - Day 4 Monopoli, Italy.
Today we drive into the Puglian countryside which is scattered with ‘trulli’, limestone dwellings built with dome or conical roofs. Enjoy a pleasant walk in Alberobello, a fairy-tale trulli village and a UNESCO World Heritage Site and see the St Anthony Church also built in trullo style. Afterwards we visit ‘Cantina Albea’ and its wine museum, home to pictures and old instruments used in the past for the production of wine and where we will enjoy a tasting along with a talk on the wine production. Return to the ship for lunch and enjoy an afternoon at leisure. You may want to wander through the historic centre, visit the cathedral or see the Castello di Carlo V.
Day 5 - Day 5 Otranto.
From the port of Otranto we will drive to Lecce, often referred to as ‘The Florence of the South’ with its majestic collection of Baroque architecture. A guided walk will include a visit to the beautifully decorated Santa Croce Basilica and Piazza Duomo, considered one of the finest and most impressive squares in southern Italy. Return to the ship for lunch and spend the afternoon at leisure. A stroll ashore brings you to the town ramparts – wander through the gate and discover tranquil streets and alleys with views over the harbour as well as a 15th century Aragonese Castle.
Day 6 - Day 6 Vathy, Ithaca, Greece.
Enjoy a relaxing day on board as we cross the Adriatic before arriving at the island of Ithaca, one of the most legendary of all Greek islands in the mid-afternoon. This jewel of the Ionian Sea is unspoiled by tourism, yet has a fascinating history. Relics date back to 4000 BC and by Mycenaean times it was the capital of a kingdom that included surrounding islands and part of the Peloponnese coast. It was under Odysseus that this kingdom reached its zenith, sending 12 ships to the Trojan War. Enjoy an afternoon at leisure to explore this delightful town and harbour.
Day 7 - Day 7 Delphi & Corinth Canal.
We arrive during breakfast in Itea and this morning visit the sacred site of Delphi, one of Greece’s most important sites of antiquity. The hillside ruins, overlooking the mountains are exceptional and we will explore the Sanctuary of Apollo, site of the sacred Delphic Oracle and walk along Delphi’s Sacred Way, visiting the Treasury of the Athenians and the 5000 seat theatre dating from the 4th century BC. We depart in the afternoon and cruise down the Gulf of Corinth. Be on deck as we transit the Corinth Canal. Completed in 1893 and only 6.4 kilometres long and 21.5 metres wide, it is only small ships like the MS Monet which can now make this journey.
Day 8 - Day 8 Nafplio, Mycenae & Nemea.
After breakfast enjoy a scenic drive through the Argos Plain to Nemea, the site of a religious sanctuary which hosted the pan-Hellenic athletic games every two years from 573 BC until 271 BC. The mythical origin of the Games is sometimes ascribed to Hercules who, after his first labour in which he had to kill the Nemean lion living in the caves of Mount Tritos above the site, established the athletic games in honour of his father, Zeus. Nemea was not a town or settlement but a venue where festivities were held during the games and our tour will include the Temple of Zeus, the bath house and the stadium before spending time in the small but excellent on-site museum. Nemea is also famous for its red wines and we will enjoy a wine tasting at a local vineyard. We continue to the famous citadel of Mycenae which is located high above the confluence of two boulder strewn ravines and accessed by way of the Lion Gate. Once inside the gate, we will explore the Royal Palace, the shaft graves and the remains of the city walls. An archaeological briefing within the Treasury of Artreus (also known as the Tomb of Agamemnon) will add to our understanding and appreciation of the sights. Return to Nafplio later in the afternoon and wander ashore before sailing later this evening.
Day 9 - Day 9 Milos & Sifnos, Cylcadic Islands.
Trade drove the early development of civilisation in the Aegean and Milos was a valuable source of quality obsidian used in ancient tools, knives and weapons. Created from volcanic activity, this super hard glass was excavated and one of the Mediterranean’s most ancient mines is found on this island. The harbour of Adamas is found on a natural caldera and the volcanic activity that shaped the island is evident with lunar landscapes and white cliffs contrasting with the turquoise waters of the Aegean. Spend the morning on Milos and this afternoon we will cruise over to the nearby island of Sifnos and the port of Kamares where you can perhaps find a spot for an evening swim.
Day 10 - Day 10 Sifnos & Folegandros.
This corner of the Cyclades is far from the well-trodden tracks of the big ships and you will discover traditional white houses, picturesque churches and narrow lanes and alleys. A morning tour of Sifnos will include Apollonia, the island’s tiny capital, the Virysianni Monastery and the villages of Kastro and Artemos, both delightful places to wander and admire the traditional architecture. We sail over lunch to the little known island of Folegandros and later in the afternoon visit the clifftop capital of Chora, a wonderfully picturesque village with alleys lined with bougainvillea and hibiscus and a dramatic seascape over an edge which drops some 700 feet directly into the Aegean.
Day 11 - Day 11 Athens to London Heathrow.
Disembark this morning in the port of Piraeus and transfer to the airport for our scheduled flight to London.
Day 12 - Please Note:
Itineraries are subject to change.

Trip Dates

StartEndPrice FromRoom Type

Inclusions

    • Discover Korcula.
    • Visit Kotor, Montenegro.
    • Explore Monopoli, Italy.
    • Enjoy Vathy, Ithaca, Greece.

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