Jewels of the Greek Islands

We fly to Rhodes and transfer to the Sun Beach Hotel, where we spend the next three nights.

We take a trip into pretty Rhodes Town, with a rich history that stretches back to 408 BCE and is dominated by a sun-weathered, centuries-old castle. Our tour includes a stroll through the spectacular UNESCO-listed Old Town, where mosaics of different influences are on display within the double ring of ancient city walls, resulting in a tangle of storied lanes dotted with relics of the Classical, Ottoman and Italian eras. Along the way, we learn about tales of the island’s past such as the siege of Suleiman the Magnificent and the knights of Saint John, a religious and military order who once played a crucial role on Rhodes. We also spend some time at the vibrant bazaar and take a drive through the delightful Mandraki Harbour, surrounded by early 1900s buildings, a medieval tower and three famous windmills.

Please note: Orientation Tour will take place either Wednesday afternoon or Thursday morning 

Free time to relax around the pool, enjoy the hotel facilities or explore the local resort area.

After checking out of our Rhodes hotel, we take a boat trip to stunning island of Leros. Along the way, we approach several of the Aegean’s jewels, including spectacular Symi, Kos, the birthplace of Hippocrates, and Kalymnos, known as the sponge driver’s island. After we disembark in Leros, we check into the Crithoni Paradise Hotel, where we stay for 6 nights.

Please note: the interisland ferries are not only for tourists but are working ships bringing much-needed supplies from Rhodes. Therefore, there is no time to disembark in Symi, Kos or Kalymnos.

A tour of Leros Island awaits today, characterised by lush landscapes and protected harbours. We take in historical sites such as the Franco-Byzantine fort and imposing Castle of the Virgin Mary on Mount Kasteli, plus the unique Leros War Museum, housed in a 1930s mountain tunnel built by the Italians as an ammunition depot. We also have time in the charming main port of Lakki, pay our respects at the Second World War British Cemetery and visit one of the most iconic symbols of the Dodecanese islands, the whitewashed Agios Isidoros chapel, built on a rock in the pretty cove of Gourna.

Free time to relax around the pool, enjoy the hotel facilities or explore the local resort area.

This afternoon, we take the ferry from Leros to Rhodes and visit the charming village of Lindos, one of the real treasures of the island and indeed of Greece as a whole. Here, an ancient Acropolis dating back to the 6th century BCE perches atop a picturesque hill, standing proudly over the Cycladic white-washed houses stacked like sugar cubes and the sparkling turquoise waters below. The village itself is a lovely place for a leisurely wander to discover local life, with cobbled streets dotted with little shops selling honey, olives and lace. Another pretty spot is St Paul’s Bay, which offers a unique vantage point to enjoy panoramic views of the surrounding harbours and coastline.

Days at leisure in Rhodes. Optional excursions to the Island of Symi and the Acropolis of Rhodes & Ancient Kamiros are payable locally in resort.

We check out of our hotel and transfer to the airport for our flight home.