A Luxe Guide to Greek Island Hopping

How well do you know your Greek Islands? There are believed to be over 6,000 islands around mainland Greece, the majority of which are uninhabited. Each island differs in size, location and even pizazz! Why be limited when you can enjoy a leisurely Greek island-hopping holiday that takes in both the best and the off-the-beaten-track islands? Sovereign Luxury Travel invites you to sail away with us with our new inspiration itineraries. 

MYKONOS, SANTORINI & CRETE 

Let’s start with the Cyclades Islands. These are a cluster of about 220 islands located southeast of mainland Greece in the glittering Aegean Sea. The character of these islands is minimalist, with blue and white stucco towns, and idyllic beaches - not to mention their flourishing vineyards!  

Enjoy our 11-day Cyclades to Crete holiday, beginning in the whitewashed paradise of Mykonos, an island that took its name from the grandson of Apollo, the Greek god of the sun.  

Spend three nights at the beachside oasis of Mykonos Blu, Grecotel Boutique Resort, and while you’re there you can take a half day private boat tour to the uninhabited island of Delos. If you’re lucky, wild dolphins may swim alongside your boat on the way! Delos is central to the Cyclades archipelago as it was at the heart of ancient Delphi, having been believed to be the birthplace of Apollo. Explore the island’s rich and mystical archaeological wonders, including antiquated mansions, an ancient theatre, and Apollo’s hillside sanctuary with its famous lions and unique mosaics.  

Also while in Mykonos, explore the labyrinthine old port town on a private guided excursion, visiting the famous Windmills, Little Venice, and the captivatingly beautiful Paraportiani Orthodox Church.  

You’ll then take the hydroplane to spend three nights in Santorini, at the sleek clifftop hotel San Antonio Santorini. Super stylish crescent shaped Santorini is actually a group of islands formed by an active volcano whose crater is under the sea! Spend your days wandering the Instagram-worthy Oia Village, and sipping the island’s unique sweet dessert wine, Vinsanto. We’ve also thrown in a private full day wine lovers tour with an expert sommelier so you can taste the island’s fine vintages.  

Your final stop will be in Crete, the largest of the Greek islands. Take the hydroplane and a private transfer to enjoy four nights at the laid-back and quirky Minos Beach Art Hotel in Agios Nikolao. There’s the option to extend your stay here, should you wish. This coastal town is known for its beaches and nightlife so you can fully wind down. What better end to your holiday? 

RHODES, SYMI & KOS  

A whole world of ancient treasures can be found when you drift into the Dodecanese archipelago. These 12 islands are located in the southeastern Aegean Sea, not far from Turkey, and are teeming with medieval castles and Byzantine churches. Many of the islands have found their own niche: Kalymnos is a rock-climbing retreat, Leros is a diver’s dream, and Patmos is for peaceful pilgrims.  

Our special eight-day Dodecanese Discovery holiday is a Greek feast not just for the eyes, but also for the tastebuds, as you’ll be staying on a half board basis throughout your holiday.  

Begin your luxurious adventure with four nights at Sheraton Rhodes. Rhodes is the largest of the Dodecanese and is heavily influenced by the Byzantine and Ottoman era.  

A private guide will be at your side on a half day excursion to share the Old Town’s fascinating history with you, which is another acclaimed UNESCO World Heritage site. Explore the medieval and cobbled inn-lined Street of the Knights, the ancient, fortified Palace of the Grand Masters, and the bustling bazaar at Socrates Street.  

From Rhodes, take a day trip with a local guide to the island of Symi. Your boat will anchor up so that you can explore key locations around the island. Explore the sacred Panormitis Monastery, which is located right by the sea and boasts fabulous Byzantine frescoes. Visit a sponge processing workshop and learn about the island’s historic sponge fishing industry. Then head to the main port town, where rows of pastel-coloured houses fill the hillside and beautifully reflect on the water. Quaint Greek tavernas with their delicious Symi shrimp tempt you from their picturesque water’s edge. 

After Rhodes, take a scenic hydroplane journey to spend three nights at Grecotel Kos Imperial on the island of Kos. With its palm lined waterways, glorious lagoon pools, and breathtaking sea views, you may wish to stay within the resort. If you do venture out, we highly recommend you pay a visit to the Tree of Hippocrates, where the philosophising father of modern medicine would teach his students. 

CORFU, PAXOS, ANTIPAXOS & PARGA 

It’s time to set sail off the west coast of mainland Greece, where you’ll find a cluster of seven islands known as the Ionian Islands, located in - you’d never guess - the Ionian Sea. These islands are best known for their beautiful beaches and lush verdant landscapes, and our 10-day Mar-Bella Collection Ionian Experience allows you to dip into them in style!  

Begin your luxe island hopping with three nights at MarBella, Mar-Bella Collection. The Ionian’s northernmost island of Corfu is a firm favourite of ours, with its decadent beaches, romantic Renaissance architecture, and remote mountain villages. The inspiration for writers and poets for more than a thousand years, Corfu is the perfect island to embrace your creative spirit. Take a half day private tour of Corfu Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage site, where you can amble the cantounia (pedestrianised streets) and take in the Venetian fortresses, British mansions, and French esplanades.  

Spend a half day enjoying the Durrell’s Experience, inspired by the comedy-drama television series. Stop off at the village of Kontokali, where the show was filmed, and witness the picturesque waterfront setting of the White House at Kalami where, if you like, you can stop for lunch.  

To reach your next island escape, enjoy a full day leisurely cruise on a luxury catamaran, stopping for lunch in the tiny unspoilt islands of Paxos and Antipaxos. If you believe the legend, Paxos, also known as Paxi, and Antipaxos should have been at the tip of Crete if it were not for Poseidon, the god of the sea, who broke the island off so he could live a peaceful and amorous life with his wife, Amphitrite! Drop the anchor for a leisurely swim in the azure waters and investigate sea caves, or simply kickback and bathe on the sun-kissed deck.  

Complete your blissful Ionian Islands holiday with four nights at the unique Elix, Mar-Bella Collection. And should you wish to extend your stay here, you may! 

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