Hidden Aegean Islands
A discovery of the Greek Islands aboard the MS Monet
- 5 August 2021
- 14 August 2021
Our voyage through the Aegean takes us to some of the most idyllic spots in the Aegean, to unspoiled islands, timeless villages and ancient sites. Join us aboard the 50-passenger MS Monet and explore some truly fascinating sites including the ancient city of Perge dating back to 1000 BC and the Palace of Knossos, the legendary home of the Minotaur. As well as visiting historical sites we also have the opportunity to take in the beauty of some of the lesser-known islands of the Aegean at a relaxed pace, stroll through the picturesque harbour towns and enjoy a swim at some of the wonderful bays we will visit.
After many years of experience of operating cruises in the Aegean, we believe we have the perfectly balanced itinerary with a mix of guided excursions and time at leisure. We have planned some late departures from port, offering us the opportunity to enjoy a post-dinner stroll in some towns which are particularly atmospheric in the evening. As our small ship can moor centrally, we have the added advantage of being able to access the towns and villages by foot in many of the ports of call instead of by long coach transfers. Whether it be the scenic harbours, beautiful bays or the wealth of ancient sites, the hidden islands of the Aegean offer much to the genuine traveller and our voyage will be appreciated by all those who enjoy a relaxed and informal style of cruising.
Useful links & Travel Advice
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Monet
We are delighted to have chartered the MS Monet, a 220 foot motor yacht accommodating a maximum of 50 guests, for a series of cruises through the Mediterranean in 2020 and 2021. Originally built in 1970, MS Monet was converted and launched as a passenger ship in 1998, fully renovated in 2016 and upgraded again in 2018. If you find large resort style vessels accommodating many thousands of passengers attractive then of course this isn’t the vessel for you. However, if you prefer an informal and warm atmosphere more akin to a private yacht combined with an itinerary dedicated to both discovery and relaxation then you need look no further.
5th August 2021 Itinerary
Day 1 London to Antalya, Turkey.
Fly by scheduled flight. On arrival transfer to the MS Monet and enjoy welcome drinks and dinner as we moor overnight.
Day 2 Antalya.
From our berth in Antalya we explore one of the principal Roman ruins along Turkey’s southern coast. We pass the modern city of Antalya enroute to the ancient city of Perge which dates back to 1000 BC and was founded by Mopsus and Calchas after their retreat from Troy. See the Basilica of Perge, which played an important role in the spread of Christianity, the 2nd century AD stadium, the baths complex and two magnificent round towers of the Greek Gate. Returning to the ship for lunch we set sail and spend the afternoon relaxing at sea.
Day 3 Kas & Kastellorizo, Greece.
Spend the morning in Kas, a delightful fishing town in a beautiful bay at the foot of the Taurus Mountains overlooking the turquoise waters of the Mediterranean. As you walk up from the port you will see narrow streets lined with beautiful Ottoman houses with flowered balconies and traditional painted doors. See the rock-cut tombs that date to the 4th century BC, the impressive Lycian tomb and the Hellenistic theatre. This afternoon we will head over to the tiny island of Kastellorizo, a gem of a place. A Greek possession and technically part of the Dodecanese, it is a long way east of Greece and only two kilometres from the Turkish coast. However, with few ferry connections it is well off the main tourist routes. Spend the afternoon exploring the delightful harbour, the Crusader castle and the monastery of St George on the Mountain. We will sail late for anyone wishing to enjoy a post-dinner stroll.
Day 4 Symi.
Spend the morning at sea arriving after lunch into Symi, a small, mountainous and much indented pretty island. The harbour of Gialos is particularly attractive and we have the afternoon to enjoy some time to wander through the colourful cobbled streets. The Simians were famous boat builders and are mentioned in the Illiad as sending boats to assist the siege of Troy but are better known today for their sponge diving. We will remain overnight in port for those wanting to enjoy an evening ashore.
Day 5 Symi & Nisyros.
After breakfast there will be a chance to explore the streets of Gialos further before we sail midmorning for Nisyros, arriving in the early afternoon. From the port of Mandraki spend a relaxing afternoon wandering through the village, climb to the Monastery of Panagia Spilanior or visit the archaeological museum. We will remain moored overnight.
Day 6 Nisyros & Tilos.
This morning we will drive to the Polyvotis Volcano named after the Titan imprisoned under the rock of Nisyros during the battle with the gods. Here we will learn more of the legends and have the chance to walk into the caldera. Over lunch we sail to timeless Tilos, this lovely island has still to find its way onto the pages of tour operator’s brochures and so retains its traditional atmosphere. See Livadia, a lively little town and Megalo Chorio, its tiny capital rich in Crusader castles. Alternatively, there is a beach nearby for those preferring to have a swim. We will remain moored overnight.
Day 7 Tilos & Halki.
Enjoy a few hours of free time in Livadia before we sail to the little-known island of Halki arriving in the port of Nimporio in the early afternoon. Spend the afternoon exploring at your own pace through the maze of alleyways, see the picturesque houses, the church of Agios Nikolaos and the clock tower. Those feeling active may wish to walk to a local beach or climb to the old capital of Horio perched on a hill and where you can see the Castle of the Knights of St John and enjoy the wonderful views. Return to the ship for dinner and moor overnight.
Day 8 Kasos.
After a morning at sea we arrive in Kasos, the southernmost island in the Dodecanese. This tiny island is well away from the mass tourism routes and only accessible by a small ship such as ours. Known for the friendliness of the local people we spend the afternoon in the pretty harbour, see the Church of Aghios Spyridonas with its ornate bell tower and maybe try the local delicacies in one of the tavernas. There will also be the chance to swim at one of the picturesque beaches before we sail late tonight.
Day 9 Heraklion, Crete.
Arrive in Crete at lunchtime and our berth in Heraklion. From the port it is a short distance to the Palace of Knossos, legendary home of the Minotaur. Wander around the site impressively excavated by Sir Arthur Evans, seeing some of the 1300 rooms adorned with lively frescoes where King Minos held court. Return to the ship for our farewell dinner as we moor overnight.
Day 10 Heraklion to London.
Disembark this morning and transfer to the airport for our scheduled flight to London.
14th August 2021 Itinerary
Day 1 London to Heraklion, Greece.
Fly by scheduled flight.
On arrival transfer to the MS Monet and enjoy welcome drinks and dinner as we moor overnight.
Day 2 Heraklion.
From our berth it is a short distance to the Palace of Knossos, legendary home of the Minotaur. Wander round the site impressively excavated by Sir Arthur Evans, seeing some of the 1300 rooms adorned with lively frescoes where King Minos held court. Return to the ship for lunch and an afternoon at sea as we sail to the Dodecanese islands.
Day 3 Kasos.
Arrive after breakfast in Kasos, the southernmost island in the Dodecanese. This tiny island is well away from the mass tourism routes and only accessible by a small ship such as ours. Known for the friendliness of the local people we spend the afternoon in the pretty harbour, see the Church of Aghios Spyridonas with its ornate bell tower and maybe try the local delicacies in one of the tavernas. There will also be the chance to swim at one of the picturesque beaches. Sail this afternoon to Halki where we arrive this evening and moor overnight in the port of Nimporio.
Day 4 Halki & Tilos.
Spend the morning on the little-known island of Halki exploring at your own pace through the maze of alleyways, see the picturesque houses, the church of Agios Nikolaos and the clock tower. The more active may wish to walk to a local beach or climb to the old capital of Horio perched on a hill where you can see the Castle of the Knights of St John and enjoy the wonderful views. Maybe take lunch ashore before we sail in the early afternoon, arriving in Tilos this evening where we moor overnight.
Day 5 Tilos & Nisyros.
Tilos is a lovely island which has still to find its way onto the pages of tour operator’s brochures and so retains its traditional atmosphere. See Livadia, a lively little town and Megalo Chorio, its tiny capital rich in Crusader castles. There is a beach nearby for those that prefer to have a swim. We sail over lunch for Nisyros, arriving in the early afternoon. From the port of Mandraki spend a relaxing afternoon wandering through the village, climb to the Monastery of Panagia Spilanior or visit the archaeological museum.
Day 6 Nisyros & Symi.
This morning we will drive to the Polyvotis Volcano named after the Titan imprisoned under the rock of Nisyros during the battle with the gods. Here we will learn more of the legends and have the chance to walk into the caldera. Over lunch we sail to Symi, a small, mountainous and much indented pretty island. The harbour of Gialos is particularly attractive and we arrive in the late afternoon to enjoy some time to stroll through the colourful cobbled streets. The Simians were famous boat builders and are mentioned in the Illiad as sending boats to assist the siege of Troy but are better known today for their sponge diving. We will remain overnight in port for those wanting to enjoy an evening ashore.
Day 7 Symi & Kasterllorizo.
After a couple of hours to explore Gialos further we depart mid-morning and spend the day at sea sailing to Kastellorizo in the far east of Greece. Arrive over dinner and moor overnight.
Day 8 Kastellorizo & Kas, Turkey.
Spend the morning exploring Kastellorizo, a gem of a place. A Greek possession and technically part of the Dodecanese, it is a long way east of Greece and only two kilometres from the Turkish coast. However, with few ferry connections it is well off the main tourist routes. Here you can see the delightful harbour, the Crusader Castle and the monastery of St George on the Mountain. Over lunch sail the short distance to Kas, a delightful fishing town in a beautiful bay at the foot of the Taurus Mountains overlooking the turquoise waters of the Mediterranean. As you walk up from the port you will see narrow streets lined with beautiful Ottoman houses with flowered balconies and traditional painted doors. See the rock-cut tombs that date to the 4th century BC, the impressive Lycian tomb and the Hellenistic theatre
Day 9 Antalya.
After a morning at sea we arrive at our berth in Antalya from where we explore one of the principal Roman ruins along Turkey’s southern coast. We pass the modern city of Antalya en-route to the ancient city of Perge which dates back to 1000 BC and was founded by Mopsus and Calchas after their retreat from Troy. See the Basilica of Perge, which played an important role in the spread of Christianity, the 2nd century AD stadium, the baths complex and two magnificent round towers of the Greek Gate.
Day 10 Antalya to London.
Disembark this morning and transfer to the airport for our scheduled flight to London.
Dates and Prices
5th August 2021 Itinerary
Prices per person based on double occupancy5 to 14 August 2021 | ||
---|---|---|
Category | Brochure Price | Special Offer Price |
D Twin/Double with portholes on Camille/Parisien Deck | £3395 | £3195 |
C Twin/Double with windows on Parisien/Lumiere Deck | £3595 | £3395 |
B Superior Double with windows on Lumiere Deck | £3895 | £3695 |
A Deluxe Double with windows on Lumiere Deck | £4295 | £4095 |
D Twin/Double with portholes on Camille/Parisien Deck for sole use | £4595 | £4395 |
14th August 2021 Itinerary
Prices per person based on double occupancy14 to 23 August 2021 | ||
---|---|---|
Category | Brochure Price | Special Offer Price |
D Twin/Double with portholes on Camille/Parisien Deck | £3395 | £3195 |
C Twin/Double with windows on Parisien/Lumiere Deck | £3595 | £3395 |
B Superior Double with windows on Lumiere Deck | £3895 | £3695 |
A Deluxe Double with windows on Lumiere Deck | £4295 | £4095 |
D Twin/Double with portholes on Camille/Parisien Deck for sole use | £4595 | £4395 |
Tour Reference Code: SCMO050821/SCMO140821
PRICE INCLUDES: Economy class scheduled air travel • Nine nights aboard the MS Monet on a full board basis • House wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner on board • Noble Caledonia onboard team • Shore excursions • Gratuities • Transfers • Port taxes.
Not Included: Travel insurance.
Monet
We are delighted to have chartered the MS Monet, a 220 foot motor yacht accommodating a maximum of 50 guests, for a series of cruises through the Mediterranean in 2020 and 2021. Originally built in 1970, MS Monet was converted and launched as a passenger ship in 1998, fully renovated in 2016 and upgraded again in 2018. If you find large resort style vessels accommodating many thousands of passengers attractive then of course this isn’t the vessel for you. However, if you prefer an informal and warm atmosphere more akin to a private yacht combined with an itinerary dedicated to both discovery and relaxation then you need look no further.
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Speak to one of our advisors on 020 7752 0000