Understanding Escorted Tour Itineraries

Posted on Monday, October 31, 2011

Thinking about taking an escorted tour?  Here is a glossary of some common terms used in our itineraries:

Visit - Your coach will stop and you'll get to visit a specific site.
View - A brief stop and an opportunity to take photos.
See - Your Insight coach will drive by the site so that you can see it.
Sightseeing tour - A local city guide will accompany you on a tour of a city or site.
Orientation tour - Places of interest are pointed out, allowing you to go and explore them on your own.
'Why not see' or 'perhaps enjoy' - These phrases refer to optional excursions not included in the tour package, but are available for an additional fee.
Time to explore and discover - Free time on your own.
A day to relax - No planned activities; time for optional excursions or other independent activities.

Our tour specialists are always available to help you understand what is included on a tour vacation, so that you can plan how much money to budget on your European vacation.

Santorini Greece

Posted on Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Luciano Travassos, shore concierge for Silversea Cruises, shares his knowledge of Santorini, the beautiful Greek island.

One of  the most touristy, visited and crowded islands in Greece, Santorini still has a lot to offer if you ditch the crowd and find a place that you can claim for your own.

Part of the Cyclades, Santorini forms a “ring shape” that offers visitors fantastic views of the typical villages with white houses perched on the edge of the cliffs that ring the island’s rim.

The center of the ring is called Caldera, Santorini’s main natural attraction. Many visitors make their way to Nea Cameni Island, located in the Caldera a few minutes away by boat. Once there, you can climb to the top of the island or swim in a hot spring.

Many people believe that when the central part of the volcano sunk it took the legendary city of Atlantis with it.

Peloponnese Greece

Posted on Tuesday, August 23, 2011

The southernmost geographic part of mainland Greece with a purely Mediterranean climate along the coast invites you to unravel its magic of a mythical land composed of images, music, and the unforgettable image of the sea. While the island of Peloponnese is surely endowed with exciting ancient splendors; such as the scant remains of Sparta, the hilltop Temple of Apollo, and the even older Mycenaean ruins of Nestor's Palace, the island offers so much more than its illustrious past.  

Within this sun-drenched landscape of olive groves and mighty mountain ranges resides golden-hue palaces and monasteries and pretty ports of Pylos and Methoni dispense a Greek tonic of blue sea, cloudless sky, and sandy beaches, which are some of the finest and least developed in Greece.   Costa Navarino stretches over a spectacular sunset-facing seaside area in the Greek region of Messinia in the southwest Peloponnese.

Discover the beauty and culture, engage in traditional activities ranging from fishing to olive-oil and wine-making and mingle with the local community, becoming part of an age-long heritage that spans the millennia. Largely undiscovered, Messinia harbors a history of 4,500 years, with palaces and vaulted tombs from the Mycenaean era, classical temples, Byzantine churches and medieval castles, all set in a breathtaking, sun-drenched and lush landscape, that enjoys a temperate climate, making it an ideal year-round destination.

Browse Greece tours

Crete & Rhodes

Posted on Monday, August 15, 2011

Crete, known to the locals as Big Blue, is the largest of all the Greek islands and the southernmost island in Europe. On this one enchanting island, you'll find rugged mountains, long sandy beaches, rocky bays, hidden coves, astonishing gorges and the iridescent Aegean Sea. The never-ending sunny days provide a stunning quality of light that adds a special glow to every breathtaking vista. You'll be able to breathe in the smell of fresh herbs, delights in sumptuous cheeses and olives, enjoy the local wines and feast on delectable fruit picked directly from the trees.   Rhodes is a magical paradise with one of the sunniest climates in all of Europe. Although many visitors pursue relaxation, there are endless activities to fill the sun-drenched days. With more than 300 sun-filled days per year, the island of Rhodes lives up to its patron Greek God of Helios. At the northern end of the island you will find the Ancient Acropolis of Rhodes, a less-intact structure than its cousin in Athens, with wonderful sea views and an enchanting aura.

Mykonos & Santorini

Posted on Sunday, August 07, 2011

Mykonos floats in the cobalt Aegean Sea like a twinkling star. Small villages of whitewashed brilliance gleam against earth-colored hills that dot this astonishing Greek island paradise. The gleaming white beaches are pure bliss, and the skies seem to glimmer a brilliant blue each and every day. Glittering nightclubs and a pulsating island beat will thrill you until dawn. As in all of Greece, culture reigns here as well, as Mykonos has traditionally drawn artists to its gleaming shores for countless centuries. History is in full flower at the nearby ruins of Delos, the Legendary birthplace of Apollo. In addition, the town of Hora's Venetian fortress and the famous Kato Myli windmills are historical sights to behold.   The gleaming beauty of Santorini is the perfect choice for a more relaxed and tranquil atmosphere. You'll be spellbound by the island's spectacular landscape and quaint villages majestically perched cliffside overlooking the azure waters of the Aegean Sea. Charming houses sit along narrow cobblestone streets, creating an indelible image of leisurely days under the golden rays of the sun. More than 250 churches dot the island, with traditional whitewashed walls and blue windows gleaming against the clear blue sky. Although the pristine beaches are visitor favorites, culture abounds with countless galleries and the celebrated Santorini Jazz Festival.