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TASIS England Travel Program
IB ToK Senior Trip
Crete
Sat. 17 – Fri. 23 October 2015
Day 1 Saturday 17 October
Upon arrival in Athens we have some time for dinner before we board our connecting
flight to Chania (Crete), where we are met by our program leader and taken by private
coach to our hotel in the city center. Overnight Chania (Crete)
Day 2 Sunday 18 October
After breakfast, we start our first day in Crete with a drive along the north coast via the
national road up to Vrises and then across the island to Imbros. Imbros is known for the
nearby gorge, which, with its winding path and narrow sections, resembles a maze. Our
hike will finish as we arrive in Komitades, a village which
offers a magnificent view over the partly flat south coast. After
this hike we can sit and relax at one of the tavernas, enjoying
the panoramic view. This afternoon we have some time for
swimming in Frangokastello, a small seaside village known
for its Venetian castle and beautiful beaches. In the late
afternoon we drive to a small town east of Chania called
Kalyves. Here we will have dinner at a local restaurant accompanied by live music and
dancing. We then make our way back to Chania and our hotel. Overnight Chania (Crete)
Day 3 Monday 19 October
Today, we will continue our journey with a drive towards Heraklion. On our way we stop
at the village of Margarites for a pottery demonstration. We have lunch in a local tavern
before we visit the splendid ruins of King Minos’ Palace at Knossos, the heart of the
ancient and mysterious Minoan civilisation. More like a city in its intricacy than a palace,
this was the home of the original labyrinth, occupied by the feared Minotaur. Time and
energy permitting, we can visit the extraordinary Archaeological Museum, viewing the
unique items from the Minoan culture. Later this afternoon we check into our hotel before
dinner at a local taverna. Overnight Heraklion (Crete)
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TASIS England Travel Program
Day 4 Tuesday 20 October
We are up early for check-out and our transfer to Heraklion airport (Crete) for our flight
via Athens to Santorini. Upon arrival at our hotel in Fira town we check in before a break
for lunch. We then head by coach to the Akrotiri archaeological site to visit the
excavations and to spend some time swimming at a nearby beach. To end a busy day, we
will head to Oia, which was devastated in 1956 by an earthquake. There we will enjoy
the famous sunset before returning to Fira for dinner. Overnight Fira (Santorini)
Day 5 Wednesday 21 October
Today after breakfast we venture to the old port of Fira for our full day boat tour. Taking
sail on a traditional wooden boat, we head southwest towards Nea Kameni, an
uninhabited volcanic dome. We venture ashore and explore the barren, yet dramatic
landscape as we make our way to the summit, the volcanic rim found at 130 meters above
sea level. Returning to the shore, we re-board our boat and embark to our second
destination, the bay off the island of Palia Kameni, a separate island adjacent to Nea
Kameni. Here we’ll enjoy a well-deserved dip in the hot springs found off shore. We then
head to the small, sparsely populated volcanic island of Thirasia. We’ll have a couple
hours on the island, ample time to visit the shoreline village of Korfos and have lunch at a
local taverna. We end the boat excursion with a return to Fira, passing via the village of
Oia…make sure to have your camera ready. Overnight Fira (Santorini)
Day 6 Thursday 22 October
This morning we go for a visit of the Museum of Prehistoric Remains, which houses finds
from the excavations at Akrotiri, the ancient Minoan site covered for centuries by ash
thrown up in a volcanic eruption. After visiting the museum we’ll have lunch and some
free time before we board our coach for the transfer to the airport for our flight to Athens.
We head downtown to our centrally located hotel and quickly check-in. Dinner tonight
will be in a local restaurant in the Plaka area, the lively heart of Athens’ nightlife.
Overnight Athens.
Day 7 Friday 23 October
After breakfast, we start with a visit
to National Archaeological Museum,
where we see statues and artwork
from all periods of ancient Greek
civilization. Then it is on to the
famous Acropolis. No site in Greece
is better known than these groups of
temples on Athens’s greatest hill,
capped by the staggering form of the
Parthenon, a nearly-perfect classical
structure. After lunch we have some
free time for last minute shopping
before we transfer to Athens airport
for our flight back to London.
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