Greece

Journey to the Ancient World: A Family Odyssey through Greece with WSJ+

When

May-Oct

Price

From $8,192pp excl. flights
(based on 2 ppl sharing)

How long

10 nights ideal length

We’re working with WSJ+ to create entirely customizable and private trips for you, their members. Our Travel Experts are here to make your trip entirely your own. Private, customizable, and totally flexible. This is what we do. This month, we’re introducing a new highlight itinerary to Greece that you can embark on today. Take it ‘as is’ or customize it to your heart’s content.


Over the millennia, Greece has lured many a curious traveler to its shores. And on this ten-night escape, we’ve prepared plenty to satisfy that curiosity. There’s history to tempt, with the ancient world making an indelible impression on both young and old over private tours of the Acropolis and Parthenon. But there’s also ample opportunity to unwind, whether that’s amid the slow-paced sophistication of Spetses or aboard a private sailing charter in the Peloponnese. There’s art and hiking on Hydra, cuisine and Herculean tales in the vineyards of Nemea. In short, there’s a little bit of everything, for everyone.

To add extra magic to your time away, WSJ+ members will enjoy a complimentary sunset tour of the Temple of Poseidon. Dating back to 444BC, this hillside temple is the epitome of Greek architectural elegance and as the sun begins to set on the Mediterranean Sea, there’s no better time to visit.

Exclusive to WSJ+ members

This trip has been designed exclusively for WSJ+ members, drawing on our travel experts’ in-depth knowledge of Greece and family travel. The experience, however, is yours and yours alone, with all of our trips private and customisable. What you’ll find below, therefore, is simply a suggestion. Our Travel Experts will work with you to devise an itinerary based on your inquiry, budget, group size, and desires. Typically, this will include everything from the experiences you do (and the guides that will take you there) to the hotels you’ll bed down in and the trains, planes and automobiles that will take you in between. We can also help with international flights, if you like.

WSJ+ members will receive:

  • Immersive experiences tailored to your interests. This could include anything from yacht charters for the day to privately guided tours of UNESCO-listed ancient wonders.
  • Exclusive benefits to elevate your experience, including a complimentary sunset tour of the Temple of Poseidon for the whole family.
  • Stays in Greece’s most luxurious hotels.
  • Access to expert guides throughout.
  • Unrivalled expertise in planning your trip to Greece.

Make this itinerary yours

Each and every Black Tomato trip is tailored exactly to who you are and what you want to do So tell us about yourself and we’ll create something that’s entirely you.

Start Planning

What to do

Touchdown in Greece and spend your first few nights in ancient Athens. Here, we’ll set you up with a private guide to bring the city to life for you and your family. Starting at the top, you’ll travel through myth and legend as you explore the sacred rock of the Acropolis, going between the colonnades of the iconic Parthenon and Erechtheum temple before continuing down into the vibrant Plaka district. For a lasting impression of Athens, we’ll then arrange a sunset visit to the Temple of Poseidon for your last evening. Exclusive to WSJ+ members, make your way up the hillside from Cape Sounion, arriving just in time to see the sun dip down into the Mediterranean and set the white marble columns ablaze as history comes to life before your family’s eyes.

Across the water in Spetses, the trip slows to island pace. Take some time to yourselves here, we recommend strolling down to charming Dapia, a tiny port town known for its authentic Greek vibe. Tomorrow, we’ll pick you up by boat for a private tour of neighboring Hydra. A hotbed for the arts, we’ll introduce you to local personalities and little-known haunts. But there’s also the option for some hiking in the mountains, after which a plunge into the Mediterranean offers the perfect chance to cool off and unwind.

Your trip finishes up in Nafplio on the Peloponnese peninsula where you’ll have UNESCO World Heritage on your doorstep in the form of Olympia, Mycenae and Corinth. Get to know your surroundings by climbing the 999 steps up to the Palamidi Fortress with its far-reaching views across the Bay of Argolis. Tomorrow, you’ll explore further as we arrange a private day charter along the ancient coastline. An opportunity to relax, you’ll swim and sail in secluded bays before dropping anchor for a gourmet lunch. Before you leave, there’s time left to visit Nemea. Made famous as the scene of Hercules first labours, you’ll spend the day amid myths and vines as you visit two local vineyards to taste unique varieties of wine, taste local produce and hear more of the area’s mythical past.

Where to stay

Throughout your trip, you’ll stay in the best hotels Greece has to offer. In Athens, we’ll set you up in the heart of the city at the Hotel Grande Bretagne where you’ll be able to soak in views of Athens’s most iconic sights from both the pool and rooftop restaurant. In Spetses, you’ll then settle into the island’s most sophisticated stay at The Grand Poseidonion. A favorite of high society over its 100 year history, you’ll find it perfectly located in the heart of the old town with sea views and a timeless elegance.

Finally, there’s time for rest and relaxation at Nafplia Palace Hotel & Villas with its spacious accommodations and tempting infinity pools. Set up on the hillside, you’ll have enviable views across the Bay of Argolis however when it comes time to explore further, there’s also a handy lift that will whisk you straight down to sea level.

Anything else?

This experience is yours and yours alone, so feel free to customize it however you wish. Over our years exploring Greece, we’ve built up a handy network of contacts and exclusive experiences and can help take your experience to the next level. In Athens, might we suggest returning to the Acropolis once everyone else has gone home for the day? With the doors of the Acropolis Museum closed to the public, we can offer special after-hours access for a truly private tour. Perfect for curious minds, discover ancient artefacts, with the rare opportunity to handle some of them, as you experience this ancient citadel all to yourself. You’ll then sit down to a private dinner with views of the Acropolis and nobody else in sight.

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Where to rest your head

The Poseidonion Grand Hotel, Spetses

A landmark of the Greek island Spetses for the last 100 years, The Poseidonion Grand Hotel is the definition of charming elegant and quintessential Greek…
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Nafplia Palace Hotel & Villas, Peloponnese

Caught somewhere between ancient and modern Greece, Nafplia Palace Hotel & Villas takes it all in from its perch on a Bronze Age acropolis. Beneath…
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