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Athens, Crete & Santorini

9 days in Greece

Boat anchored off the coast of a Greek Island.
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OVERVIEW

Discover three islands, three faces of Greece, and thousands of years of civilization brought to life

From the Acropolis of Athens to the volcanic shores of Santorini, this tour takes students island-hopping through Greece’s most extraordinary places. After exploring Athens, they’ll journey to Crete, where Knossos Palace unlocks Europe’s oldest civilization and a boat ride to Spinalonga Island reveals centuries upon centuries of history. On Santorini, students walk the buried ruins of Akrotiri, relax on black-sand beaches, and watch the sun set over Oia. Each island adds a new layer to students’ understanding of how geography, culture, and ambition shaped the ancient world.

Map of EF Educational Tours Athens Crete and Santorini tour

What you’ll do

Explore a sample itinerary

Day 1: Fly overnight to Greece

Due to national and/or religious holidays, some sites may be closed and your itinerary may be modified on the following dates in 2028: February 28, March 25, April 16, May 1. These dates fluctuate each year—please contact us for more information.

Board your international flight to Athens

Day 2: Athens

Meet your Tour Director at the destination airport

Day 3: Athens • Night ferry

Take a guided tour of Athens. With your expert local guide you will:

  • See the Panathenaic Stadium

  • See Syntagma Square

  • Visit the Acropolis

Visit the Acropolis Museum, home to ancient ruins and prehistoric artifacts

Take a walking tour of Athens. With your Tour Director you will see:

  • Plaka district

  • Athenian Trilogy

Board a night ferry to Heraklion

Day 4: Heraklion • Agios Nikolaos • Spinalonga island

Enjoy lunch when you return to Elounda

Day 5: Heraklion

Take a guided tour of Heraklion. With your expert local guide you will:

  • Visit Knossos Palace

  • Enjoy a local cheese tasting with lunch

Take a walking tour of Heraklion

Enjoy free time to explore Heraklion town on your own

Day 6: Heraklion • Santorini

Travel by high-speed ferry to Santorini

Visit the prehistoric city of Akrotiri, often called the "Minoan Pompeii", with a local guide

Take a walking tour of Santorini's capital, Fira

Explore the town of Fira on your own

Day 7: Santorini

Explore Perissa Black Sand Beach on your own, renowned for its deep, dark blue water and black lava sand

  • Tour Megalochori with an expert local guide

  • Tour Pyrgos with an expert local guide

Take a walking tour of Oia, one of the most photographed places in Greece

Enjoy free time and take in one of Oia's world-famous sunsets

Day 8: Santorini • Athens

Fly back to Athens

Add this in-depth experience
Greek evening

Greek evening

Friends, feta, and fresh Mediterranean flavors: opa! Stuff yourself like an olive during a traditional Greek dinner. Then, link arms for a night of music and dancing. You might even get to experience the famous plate-smashing tradition. Whatever the night brings, you'll enjoy a lively celebration and experience the best of Greece's theatrical culture.

Day 9: Depart for home

Board your flight home from Athens

What makes this tour special?

Step into the Bronze Age at Knossos Palace, Crete’s remarkably preserved gateway to early European civilization

Step into the Bronze Age at Knossos Palace, Crete’s remarkably preserved gateway to early European civilization

Explore the picturesque village of Oia, known for its iconic white stucco buildings

Explore the picturesque village of Oia, known for its iconic white stucco buildings

Climb Acropolis Hill and walk in the footsteps of ancient Greeks as you see the Parthenon and Temple of Athena Nike up close

Climb Acropolis Hill and walk in the footsteps of ancient Greeks as you see the Parthenon and Temple of Athena Nike up close

All of our tours are powered by our proven EF Method

Learn more

Your experience includes

Airfare & transportation
Hotels
Regional-style meals
Guided sightseeing
Entrances
Full-time Tour Director
Expert Local Guides
Personalized Learning Support
Continuous Support
Worldwide Presence

Travelers save when you lead this tour before October 1, 2027

See 2027 pricing

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Payment plan options

Pay over time interest-free or pay all at once

Fundraising

Every traveler receives a no-fee donation page

Global Citizen Scholarship

Every year EF awards $100,000 to student travelers

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Frequently asked questions

Let’s unpack that

We’ll connect you with your personal Tour Consultant—someone who works with other teachers in your area and specializes in planning EF tours. They’ll walk you through this itinerary (along with other tours in our portfolio that match your curriculum or catch your eye), explain student pricing, and show you just how easy it is to partner with EF.

Once you decide to lead a tour, your Tour Consultant will help you get school administrators on board, students excited, and families ready to enroll. You’ll host an informational meeting to kick off the enrollment period, and we’ll provide everything you need—from a digital presentation to printed handouts, parent resources, and more.

You’ll have a dedicated Tour Director who will guide your group from the moment you land in your first destination until your final goodbye. They:

  • Take all the same transportation and stay in the same hotels as your group

  • Speak the local language (but lead the tour in English!)

  • Support you 24/7 as your right hand

  • Offer deep cultural context to help students feel connected to their destination

  • Handle all the logistics, so you don’t have to

  • Are the secret ingredient that makes your tour truly shine

Yes! You earn a free spot on tour as soon as six paying travelers enroll. For every additional six paying travelers, you earn another free spot for an adult chaperone of your choosing. For example, if 30 students sign up, that’s four free chaperone spots in addition to yours.

All travelers on international EF tours must have a valid passport. When it comes to documentation, every traveler and destination is different, so once your group starts enrolling, we’ll help direct you and your families to relevant resources.
 
Passports should have at least three blank pages and be valid for at least six months after your return date.

EF has set the standard for travel-based learning for over 60 years. Not only do our educational tours amplify the lessons you’re already exploring in your classroom, but they also help build more empathy, open-mindedness, confidence, and cross-cultural understanding.
 
Our educational philosophy, the EF Method, is built into every itinerary, so your students are immersed in a continuous journey of engaging, hands-on learning in real-world situations from the moment they step off the plane.

Yes! Plan to explore each destination primarily on foot, so be sure to pack your comfiest sneakers. You’ll have time to rest on the bus while traveling between cities and activities. If any travelers need accommodations, just let your EF Travel Team know in advance.

Every hotel your group stays in is required to meet EF’s rigorous standards for quality, safety, and cleanliness. (We have an entire team dedicated to ensuring that!) However, it’s important to remember that international hotels designed for student travel may feel a little different from what students are familiar with. For example, some hotels may not have an elevator. Rooms will have multiple single beds or shared double beds, and every room will have a private bathroom.

You’ll receive more detailed meal information closer to your tour, but here’s an overview of what to expect:

  • Daily breakfast is served continental-style at your hotel.

  • Most tours include daily group dinners, which take place at local restaurants (or your hotel) and feature a mix of familiar favorites and local dishes from a set menu.

  • Lunches are usually not included, but this varies by itinerary. If lunch isn’t included, this is the perfect opportunity for students to explore local markets and discover their new favorite food.

Travelers will share allergy or dietary information with EF after signing up, and we’ll help make the necessary accommodations.

We’re here to help! Start a live one-on-one chat with a team member.

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