Join us for a relaxing and informative voyage to some of the most idyllic islands in the Aegean. Part of the joy of a cruise aboard a small vessel is its capability to dock in small ports and cruising aboard the delightful MS Monet is a wonderful way to experience the lesser known islands of the southern Aegean and encounter their timeless quality. In addition to some day time cruising which allows us to enjoy some magnificent views, there will also be some overnight moorings. These afford the opportunity to take a stroll after dinner in some marvellous places that are particularly atmospheric in the evening. For those who wish to swim in the intensely blue Aegean there will also be time at leisure to explore the local beaches.
We have devised our itinerary to allow ample time to wander through the whitewashed villages and picturesque harbours of some hidden Greek island gems such as Sifnos, Lipsi, Nisyros, Fourni and Symi. In addition, whilst ensuring a relaxing time will be had by all, we could not devise an itinerary in this wonderful region without including visits to at least some of the fascinating ancient sites in the area and we will discover Ephesus where St Paul preached and spend some time on Patmos where we will visit the grotto of St John.
With a maximum of just 50 guests, our trips ashore will be a pleasure as we explore with local guides who will also join us on board for our cruise, adding immeasurably to our knowledge of the region. Whether you are interested in ancient history, Greek myths or simply the joy of cruising aboard a small ship and experiencing new places and islands in this beautiful region, our island hopping voyage has something for everyone.
Monet
We are delighted to have chartered the MS Monet, a 220 foot motor yacht accommodating a maximum of 50 guests. 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.
Athens to Rhodes Itinerary
Day 1 London to Athens, Greece.
Fly by scheduled flight. On arrival transfer to the MS Monet and embark. Enjoy welcome drinks and dinner as we sail this evening.
Day 2 Folegandros & Sifnos.
Arrive this morning at the little known island of Folegandros. Visit the clifftop capital of Chora, a wonderfully picturesque village with alleys lined with bougainvillea and hibiscus and a dramatic seascape over an edge which drops some 700 feet directly into the Aegean. Return to the ship for lunch and a relaxing afternoon at sea as we sail to Sifnos arriving in the early evening. This corner of the Cyclades is far from the well-trodden tracks of the big ships and you will be greeted by traditional white houses, picturesque churches and narrow lanes and alleys. Maybe take the chance for a pre or post-dinner drink ashore as we will moor overnight.
Day 3 Sifnos & Syros.
A morning tour of Sifnos will include Apollonia, the island’s tiny capital, the Virysianni Monastery and the villages of Kastro and Artemos, both delightful places to wander and admire the traditional architecture. Sail during lunch to Syros which was the largest cultural and trade centre of the Aegean in the 19th century and the capital Ermoupolis was Greece’s principal port. Enjoy a leisurely afternoon with a stroll in the town of Ermoupoli, the capital of the Cyclades. The prosperity of the island in the 19th and early 20th century created through commerce and shipping is reflected in the architecture with a beautiful square, town hall and theatre. We will sail late this evening allowing time for those who wish to take an after-dinner stroll.
Day 4 Fourni.
After a morning at sea we arrive at one of the best kept secret islands in the Aegean, Fourni. Once a haven for pirates who enjoyed the island’s remote setting and little changed for centuries, it has a wonderfully peaceful atmosphere. Enjoy an afternoon at leisure to walk up from the harbour to the charming main square and enjoy a drink whilst observing island life.
Day 5 Samos.
Today we explore Samos which lays claim to be the birthplace of Hera, the mathematician Pythagoras and philosopher Epicurus. From the port of Vathy we will visit the excellent archaeological museum with one of the richest collections in Greece including the five metre tall Kouros rescued from the Heraion and dedicated to the god Apollo. Continue to the Sanctuary of Hera, the second largest temple ever built in Greece dating from the 6th century BC before arriving at the charming village of Pythagorio. Return to the MS Monet for lunch and enjoy a free afternoon in Vathy where you may wish to learn about the local wine production at the museum of Samos wines, visit a local beach or wander through the historic quarter of Ano Vathy. We moor overnight for anyone wishing to take an after dinner stroll.
Day 6 Kusadasi, Turkey.
Arrive in Kusadasi over breakfast. From our berth we will drive to the nearby ancient city of Ephesus, a stunning and partially excavated site where digging has been taking place for over a century. Broad streets are lined by impressive buildings including the Library of Celsus and the temples of Serapis and Hadrian. Once the capital of Ionia, St Paul preached here on his second missionary journey and we will see the Church of the Virgin Mary, the most important Christian monument in Ephesus. Also see the spectacular Grand Theatre, originally built in the 3rd century BC by the Greeks, and later expanded by the Romans to its present capacity of 24,000. We will enjoy an afternoon at leisure in Kusadasi.
Day 7 Patmos, Greece.
Of all the Greek islands, Patmos is the most sacred to Christians both Orthodox and Western and it was here that St John received his revelation. This morning we will make our way to the grotto of St John. This small cave, now converted into the beautiful chapel, is where the Saint lived, had his revelation and wrote ‘Book of the Apocalypse’. From here continue to the village of Chora, with its simple houses and Byzantine churches and climb to the Monastery of St John the Theologian. Upon entering into the courtyard, admire the intricate pebbled laid floor, decorated arches and frescoes adorning the entrance to the chapel of Christodoulos. Return to the MS Monet for lunch and this afternoon and evening is at leisure to explore the picturesque town of Skala or maybe enjoy a swim at a nearby beach. Over dinner we sail the short distance to Lipsi where we moor overnight.
Day 8 Lipsi & Leros.
Today we can use our small ship to visit two of the less visited islands of the Dodecanese. Spend the morning on Lipsi. At just eight kilometres long, the tiny island of Lipsi is popular with yachts and has avoided the development of many surrounding islands. It is a wonderful place to spend a few hours walking amongst the whitewashed houses or take the opportunity to visit a local beach for a swim. Over lunch we sail to Leros, the island of Artemis the God of hunting. We will drive to the capital, Platanos to see the Pandeli Castle which overlooks Agia Marina offering wonderful views from the ramparts to the harbour below and islands beyond. The Battle of Leros was a central event in World War II and we will also visit the War Museum and Commonwealth Cemetery before returning to the vessel.
Day 9 Nisyros & Symi.
Arrive this morning at the small island of Nisyros. From the port of Mandraki we 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. Alternatively, maybe wander through the village, climb to the Monastery of Panagia Spiliani or visit the archaeological museum. We sail this afternoon to the island of Symi where we moor overnight.
Day 10 Symi & Rhodes.
Spend the morning on the island of Symi, a small, mountainous and much indented pretty island. The harbour of Gialos is particularly attractive and we have 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. In the mid afternoon we sail to Rhodes arriving in the late afternoon and moor overnight.
Day 11 Rhodes to London.
Disembark after breakfast and transfer to the airport for the return scheduled flight to London.
Rhodes to Athens Itinerary
Day 1 London to Rhodes, Greece.
Fly by scheduled flight. On arrival transfer to the MS Monet and embark. Enjoy welcome drinks and dinner as we sail this evening.
Day 2 Symi & Nisyros.
Spend the morning on the island of Symi, a small, mountainous and much indented pretty island. The harbour of Gialos is particularly attractive and we have time to stroll through the colourful cobbled streets. The Simians were famous boat builders and are mentioned in the Iliad as sending boats to assist the siege of Troy but are better known today for their sponge diving. Spend the afternoon at sea as we sail to Nisyros where we moor overnight.
Day 3 Nisyros & Leros.
From the port of Mandraki we 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. Alternatively, maybe wander through the village, climb to the Monastery of Panagia Spiliani or visit the archaeological museum. We sail this afternoon to the island of Leros where we moor overnight.
Day 4 Leros & Lipsi.
Today we discover two of the less visited islands of the Dodecanese. Spend the morning on Leros, the island of Artemis the God of hunting. We will drive to the capital, Platanos to see the Pandeli Castle which overlooks Agia Marina and offers wonderful views from the ramparts to the harbour below and islands beyond. The Battle of Leros was a central event in World War II and we will visit the war museum and Commonwealth Cemetery before returning to the ship. Over lunch we sail the short distance to Lipsi. At just eight kilometres long, this tiny island is popular with yachts and has avoided the development of many surrounding islands. It is a wonderful place to spend a few hours walking amongst the whitewashed houses or to take the opportunity to visit a local beach for a swim.
Day 5 Patmos, Greece.
Of all the Greek islands, Patmos is the most sacred to Christians both Orthodox and Western and it was here that St John received his revelation. This morning we will make our way to the grotto of St John. This small cave, now converted into the beautiful chapel, is where the Saint lived, had his revelation and wrote ‘Book of the Apocalypse’. From here continue to the village of Chora, with its simple houses and Byzantine churches and climb to the Monastery of St John the Theologian. Upon entering into the courtyard, admire the intricate pebbled laid floor, decorated arches and frescoes adorning the entrance to the chapel of Christodoulos. Return to the MS Monet for lunch and this afternoon and evening is at leisure to explore the picturesque town of Skala or maybe enjoy a swim at a nearby beach.
Day 6 Kusadasi, Turkey.
Arrive in Kusadasi over breakfast. From our berth we will drive to the nearby ancient city of Ephesus, a stunning and partially excavated site where digging has been taking place for over a century. Broad streets are lined by impressive buildings including the Library of Celsus and the temples of Serapis and Hadrian. Once the capital of Ionia, St Paul preached here on his second missionary journey and we will see the Church of the Virgin Mary, the most important Christian monument in Ephesus. Also see the spectacular Grand Theatre, originally built in the 3rd century BC by the Greeks, and later expanded by the Romans to its present capacity of 24,000. We will enjoy an afternoon at leisure in Kusadasi.
Day 7 Samos, Greece.
Returning to Greece, we explore Samos which lays claim to be the birthplace of Hera, the mathematician Pythagaros and philosopher Epicurus. From the port of Vathy we will visit the excellent archaeological museum with one of the richest collections in Greece including the five metre tall Kouros rescued from the Heraion and dedicated to the god Apollo. Continue to the Sanctuary of Hera, the second largest temple ever built in Greece dating from the 6th century BC before arriving at the charming village of Pythagorio. Return to the MS Monet for lunch and enjoy a free afternoon in Vathy where you may wish to learn about the local wine production at the museum of Samos wines, visit a local beach or wander through the historic quarter of Ano Vathy. We sail late this evening allowing time for anyone wishing to take an after dinner stroll.
Day 8 Fourni.
This morning we arrive at one of the best kept secret islands in the Aegean, Fourni. Once a haven for pirates who enjoyed the island’s remote setting and little changed for centuries, it has a wonderfully peaceful atmosphere. Enjoy a morning at leisure to walk up from the harbour to the charming main square and enjoy a drink whilst observing island life. Spend a leisurely afternoon on board as we cruise towards the Cyclades.
Day 9 Syros & Sifnos.
Syros was the largest cultural and trade centre of the Aegean in the 19th century and the capital Ermoupolis was Greece’s principal port. Enjoy a leisurely morning with a stroll in the town of Ermoupoli, the capital of the Cyclades. The prosperity of the island in the 19th and early 20th century created through commerce and shipping is reflected in the architecture with a beautiful square, town hall and theatre. Over lunch we will sail to Sifnos where we will moor overnight for those who wish to explore this evening.
Day 10 Sifnos & Folegandros.
A morning tour of Sifnos will include Apollonia, the island’s tiny capital, the Virysianni Monastery and the villages of Kastro and Artemos both delightful places to wander and admire the traditional architecture. We will sail during lunch to the little known island of Folegandros. Visit the clifftop capital of Chora, a wonderfully picturesque village with alleys lined with bougainvillea and hibiscus and a dramatic seascape over an edge which drops some 700 feet directly into the Aegean. Return to the ship for dinner as we sail to Athens.
Day 11 Athens to London.
Disembark after breakfast and transfer to the airport for the return scheduled flight to London.
Dates and Prices
Athens to Rhodes Itinerary
Prices per person based on double occupancy4 to 14 June 2025 • 13 to 23 September 2025 | ||
---|---|---|
Category | Brochure Price | Special Offer Price |
D Twin/Double with portholes on Camille/Parisien Deck | £4695 | £4495 |
C Twin/Double with windows on Parisien/Lumiere Deck | Fully Booked | Fully Booked |
B Superior Double with windows on Lumiere Deck | Fully Booked | Fully Booked |
A Deluxe Double with windows on Lumiere Deck | Fully Booked | Fully Booked |
D Twin/Double with portholes on Camille/Parisien Deck for sole use | £6195 | £5995 |
5 to 15 June 2026 • 14 to 24 September 2026 | ||
---|---|---|
Category | Brochure Price | Special Offer Price |
D Twin/Double with portholes on Camille/Parisien Deck | £4995 | £4695 |
C Twin/Double with windows on Parisien/Lumiere Deck | £5395 | £5095 |
B Superior Double with windows on Lumiere Deck | £5895 | £5595 |
A Deluxe Double with windows on Lumiere Deck | £6495 | £6195 |
D Twin/Double with portholes on Camille/Parisien Deck for sole use | £6495 | £6195 |
Rhodes to Athens Itinerary
Prices per person based on double occupancy14 to 24 June 2025 • 23 September to 3 October 2025 | ||
---|---|---|
Category | Brochure Price | Special Offer Price |
D Twin/Double with portholes on Camille/Parisien Deck | £4695 | £4495 |
C Twin/Double with windows on Parisien/Lumiere Deck | Fully Booked | Fully Booked |
B Superior Double with windows on Lumiere Deck | Fully Booked | Fully Booked |
A Deluxe Double with windows on Lumiere Deck | Fully Booked | Fully Booked |
D Twin/Double with portholes on Camille/Parisien Deck for sole use | £6195 | £5995 |
15 to 25 June 2026 • 24 September to 4 October 2026 | ||
---|---|---|
Category | Brochure Price | Special Offer Price |
D Twin/Double with portholes on Camille/Parisien Deck | £4995 | £4695 |
C Twin/Double with windows on Parisien/Lumiere Deck | £5395 | £5095 |
B Superior Double with windows on Lumiere Deck | £5895 | £5595 |
A Deluxe Double with windows on Lumiere Deck | £6495 | £6195 |
D Twin/Double with portholes on Camille/Parisien Deck for sole use | £6495 | £6195 |
Tour Reference Code: SCMO040625/SCMO140625
PRICE INCLUDES: Economy class scheduled air travel • 10 nights aboard the MS Monet on a full board basis • House wine, beer & soft drinks with lunch and dinner • 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. 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.
Also of Interest
Sicilian Splendours
A circumnavigation of Sicily aboard the MS Monet with Guest Speaker Jeremy Paterson
Monet
Itinerary at a glance
- Valletta / Piazza Armerina / Valley of the Temples / Selinunte / Palermo / Cefalu / Taormina / Syracuse / Noto / Valletta
Aegean & Adriatic Odyssey
A voyage between Athens & Split aboard the MS Monet
Monet
Itinerary at a glance
- Athens / Corinth Canal / Itea / Argostoli / Preveza / Sarande / Otranto / Lecce / Monopoli / Kotor / Dubrovnik / Korcula / Brac / Split
Halcyon Days on Aegean Islands
A voyage between Athens & Istanbul aboard the 50-passenger MS Monet
Monet
Itinerary at a glance
- Athens / Naxos / Chios / Skopelos / Meteora / Thessaloniki / Samothrace / Thassos / Limnos / Cannakale / Istanbul
Book with Confidence
Speak to one of our advisors on 020 7752 0000