General information
| Destination | Duration | Category |
|---|
| Halkidiki, Greece | 3 hours | Cruise and Boat Tours |
Program details
IMPORTANT INFORMATION: PLEASE NOTE THAT ANY VARIATIONS IN THE PRICES OF SIMILAR EXCURSIONS & ACTIVITIES, OBTAINED TO THE FACT THAT THE SERVICES ARE PROVIDED BY DIFFERENT SUB-SUPPLIERS, AND THEY MAY ALSO BE CARRIED OUT ON DIFFERENT DAYS OF THE WEEK.
Overview :
We start our journey at 10:30 from the port of Ouranoupolis, a small village at the edge of the frontier between the Holy Mountain and the rest of the world. After about 5 minutes of sailing, we meet the borders of the monasterial city which are defined on the ground by an imaginary line that starts from the location "Fragocastro" on the west coast and reaches the cape "Arapis" in the opposite end. From this point, we enter into the region of Mount Athos and you can feel the spiritual aura of this place even as you stand on the deck of our boat as we sail along the coastline of the peninsula and come face to face with the impressive monasteries clinging to the cliffs. After 15 minutes we see the first Russian skete "Thivaida" and about 20 minutes later the "Arsanas" of the Serbian monastery of Chilandariou.
Next following two more inland monasteries, the Bulgarian monastery of Zografou and the Greek one of Konstamonitoy. The first monastery which is down on the coast and we get clear views is Dochiarioy and after a while along the coast is Xenofontos. Further on, is Dafni, the main port of Mount Athos where monks and pilgrims come ashore and take the bus for the inland monasteries. Just before Dafni perched on the hillside is the monastery of Xiropotamou, about 500m above the sea. After passing the small Russian Skete of Agios Modestos we reach one of the most impressive sights of our journey. The monastery of Simonos Petras is truly breathtaking, something that many of you have seen before but up until now only on postcards. An imposing building of the 14th century consists of seven floors and located on top of a rocky ridge. Afterward is following the monastery of Osiou Grigoriou, also on a clifftop, and after 10 minutes is Agiou Dionysiou perched 100m above the sea.
The last monastery of our trip is Agiou Pavlou, which is nestling below the Holy Mountain of Athos. You can feed the seagulls or enjoy a company of dolphins sailing with us under our bow and if you are lucky enough you will spot one of the 2-3 Mediterranean monk seals living here, leaving you with precious moments and lasting memories. During our way back you have enough time to drink a cold refreshment or a glass of ouzo with Greek appetizers, to do your shopping onboard, to visit our boat's bridge and take photos of yourselves with the Captain or just to enjoy our free wifi network. On the main deck of our boat except for the bar for drinks, cold food, and coffees there is also a small art shop where you can buy original souvenirs from Mount Athos at very competitive prices. We are back in Ouranoupolis at 14:00.
Highlights :
• take a close look at the extraordinary beauty of Mount Athos and its monasteries
• discover the stunning landscape of these UNESCO World Heritage-listed monasteries
• great photo opportunities
Inclusions :
• All taxes
Exclusions :
• food and drinks
• gratuities
• personal expenses
Additional info :
• confirmation will be received within 8 hours of booking, subject to availability
• children must be accompanied by an adult
• children rates apply to ages no more than 12 years old
Voucher info :
You can present either a paper or an electronic voucher for this activity.
On the confirmation voucher there will be complete operator information, including local telephone numbers, maps with the exact departure and arrival time, exact time and duration.
Cancellation Policy :
If you cancel at least 7 days in advance of the scheduled departure, there will be no cancellation fee. If you cancel between 3 and 6 days, there will be a 50 percent cancellation fee. If you cancel within two days, there will be a 100 percent cancellation fee.
