A Journey to Cosy Coves of the Aegean with Explora Journeys

5 nights

23 Aug 25 to 29 Aug 25

Book by 04 Jun 25

The vibrant energy of Istanbul propels us through the Dardanelle Strait and the Aegean Sea to Syros. We navigate the Turquoise Coast to Bodrum, a hidden gem for the well-informed, before arriving at Rhodes, renowned for its medieval charm and extensive beaches. In Paros, we delight in an island cherished by both the elite and the free-spirited, eventually reaching Athens, where contemporary artists are revitalizing the old with a fresh, cool twist.

Includes

5 Night cruise onboard Explora I
5 Nights onboard Explora I
In-suite welcome bottle of champagne upon arrival
A bottle of wine and a bottle of spirit of the guests’ choice upon arrival
Authentic, cultured and intuitive service from our team of hospitality experts
All meals onboard with nine distinct culinary experiences, including in-suite dining
Unlimited beverages, fine wines and premium spirits, speciality coffees, teas and soft drinks available anytime, including in-suite mini-bar*
Access to the spa thermal area
Wellbeing and fitness programmes on board and at the destinations
All on-board gratuities
Complimentary Wi-Fi throughout the ship
Shuttle services from port to city centre (where required/available)

Excludes

Travel Insurance
any independent contractors' services or products
Destination Experiences
Food & Beverage exclusive products can be available for an additional fee.
Flights
Arrival/ departure transfers
Visas
Spending money and items of a personal nature

Extras

Bonus
Up to Euro 1000 destination experience credits (t&c’s apply)
10% reduced deposit benefit

Highlights

5 Nights cruise onboard Explora I
All meals onboard
Unlimited beverages

Itinerary

Day 1: Istanbul

Embark on a European and Asian adventure packed with a wealth of charm and cultural diversity. Roam the ‘blue’ mosque of Sultan Ahmet, the Grand Bazaar, opulent Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia or sink into a serene Turkish Bath experience. Embrace the city’s vine-shaded homely district where ladies shop for butter-soaked baklava and freshly picked olives. Explore further to haggle for gold jewellery, linen and oriental antiques. Dine in the atmospheric old city or take a ferry to Asia for street-served food. Feast over rich platters of meze, moist grilled bluefish and succulent kebabs. Heighten your senses even further in the spice bazaar with enticing aromas and vibrant, colourful displays. After such a sensorial feast, indulge in a restorative raki, whichever continent you’re in. By night parties don’t start until late, but expect to dance till dawn. Join the late crowd spilling into the streets overlooking the Bosphorus. Sway at European rooftop bars, shimmer by ferry over to the Asian suburbs or remain ensconced in old-fashioned folk venues. An eclectic fusion of east and west, this city is conservative at heart with a truly modern soul.

Day 2: At Sea

Cruising at Sea

Day 3: Syros (Syra)

Syros might be just across the water from Mykonos, but this snug island feels a world away from its hedonism. But this is no sleepy backwater: arrive at the capital Ermoupoli, once the mercantile heart of the Aegean, to find an elegant neo-classical enclave humming with real Greek hustle and bustle. Wander wide boulevards sparkling with Cyclades marble to Vaporia, a chic pocket with the best-preserved merchant palaces, the waterfront cafes of Little Venice and the Apollo Theatre, known as La Piccola Scala. Climb to Ano Syros, the scenic hilltop village settled by 13th-century Venetians and crowned by San Giorgio cathedral or seek the island’s fishing villages upon sandy shores and quiet coves cradled by forests.

Day 4: Bodrum

Imagine an old-world fishing town with high society appeal. Explore breathtaking sights on the sunlit Peninsula of the turquoise coast. Soak up the town’s buzzing energy; shop, eat, relax and explore. Pay respect to one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, savour fresh fish and meze and sip coffee of toe-tingling strength. Delve into captivating landscapes bursting with nature; the Bafa Lake, olive groves, bougainvillea and hundreds of different bird species. Feel the wind in your hair on a private gullet as you voyage to crystal clear coves of the Aegean. Lasting memories abound.

Day 5: Rhodes

Rising from the sea like a jewel, the island of Rhodes was a gift from Zeus to Helios, the sun god. A sun-kissed home to Cicero and Caesar whose rhetoric and thinking still echo along stone-paved lanes and the UNESCO-listed Old Town. Follow the footsteps of the Knights of St. John and their Turkish conquerors who both left fascinating monuments, fountains and shady squares. Soak up the buzzing energy and be gently tempted to step back in time. Pay respect at the pinkish Suleiman Mosque with its tall minaret then seek serenity at the Byzantine Church or heavenly views where perfectly positioned white houses are dotted high into the hills. Whilst you wander, lean into the legend of the 100-foot Colossus, a wonder of the world, replaced now with twin bronze deer that guard the Mandraki Harbour.

Day 6: Paros

Unveil picturesque Paros' unadorned charms from ancient remains to traditional tavernas and sweet villages and blue-domed churches to a bounty of blonde-sand beaches. Head out to Parikia to find the awe-inspiring AD326 Byzantine monastery or take a ferry across to explore caves in the rugged natural beauty of Antiparos. Walk through the island's ancient archaeological history at the tiny museum and lose yourself in the labyrinth of lanes at the old Venetian port of Náoussa. Banish any tension on a sunlounger, then breeze through home-cooked mezze feasts in white-washed tavernas. Windsurf, kite-surf, dive, swim au naturel and enjoy a network of walking trails. Somehow Páros has managed to preserve more of the soft spirit than some of her Cyclade cousins.

Day 7: Piraeus (Athens)

Athenians don’t live in the past. Ahead of its time, Athens exudes glamour and a sense of possibility - housing galleries, gelaterias, bijoux boutiques alongside a plethora of museums. And you can’t help but marvel at the archaeological wonders of the Acropolis and the Parthenon. Stroll through vibrant streets and markets, dance at buzzing bouzoukia, sing along in tavernas. At night, head to the harbour, where dimly lit bars serve the local ice cold beer. And, as you inhale the salty air and watch Greek fishing boats peacefully depart for their catch, reflect on this ancient city's progressive attitude.

Ship info

Explora I

EXPLORA I represents a new era of luxury ocean travel. Exquisitely designed with a promise of elegance, joy, exploration and discovery. A new era of ocean travel has arrived.

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Terms & conditions

Prices are per guest, include discounts, capacity controlled and are subject to availability and rate of exchange changes. Offers above are a guide only and will vary depending on departure date, our guide price is based on the cheapest departure within the stipulated season and availability is correct at time of loading. Visas may be necessary and insurance is essential. High season supplements and block out dates may apply. Cruise lines reserve the right to increase fares and end promotional offers without prior notice. Upgrade Your Ocean: Guests receive a one category complimentary upgrade on their journey fare with Explora Journeys when booking select suites in the Ocean Terrace and Penthouse categories. The Upgrade benefit is calculated using our Best Available Fare which already includes up to 25% savings on the fare.  This means that the Upgrade your Ocean benefit will be reflected already in the fare paid for the selected suite category. The promotion also includes a 15% reduced deposit.   This promotion applies to any new bookings made with Explora Journeys between 2 April and 4 June 2025** on select journeys*. The offer is for new bookings only and applies to the journey fare only and is not applicable to any pre-& post-journey hotels and transfers, destination experiences or onboard paid experiences. The offer is combinable with the Explora Early Booking Benefit, Extended Journeys, Back to Back, Solo Traveller, Additional Guests and Younger Traveller benefits (3rd and 4th guest fares), Journey Together / Journey Together Gatherings, ‘For Your Service’, Explora Journeys Referral Programme, Welcome Back Benefit, Consortia Amenities, Event Offer and On board Booking savings. It is not combinable with any other offer and reduced fare programmes. The offer may be withdrawn at any time. The Complimentary Suite Upgrade is only applicable to select suite categories (OT2-OT4-PH-PP-CO category codes) and is already reflected in the published fare of the offer: Book an Ocean Terrace 2 (OT2) at the price of the lower category (Ocean Terrace 1 – OT1) Book an Ocean Terrace 4 (OT4) at the price of the lower category (Ocean Terrace 3 – OT3) Book a Penthouse (PH) at the price of the lower category (Ocean Grand terrace – GT) Book a Premier Penthouse (PP) at the price of the lower category (Deluxe Penthouse – DP) Book a Cove Residence (CO) at the same price of the lower category (Grand Penthouse – GP) Offer may be withdrawn at any time. Explora Journey’s standard cancellation policy applies. All savings has already been applied to advertised price. Supplier and tour operator is not responsible for technical or system errors that may interfere with or otherwise prohibit the use of the promotion. Other terms and conditions pay apply. These packages are based on CASH price. E&OE;.

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