Date
Sep 22, 2026 - Sep 30, 2026
Trip Type
By Sea By Land

Group Size: Up to 84 participants from all co-sponsors
Price: Starting from $7,990 per person, double occupancy 
Co-sponsored with: Archaeological Institute of America, Princeton Journeys, Princeton Theological Seminary

Activity Level
3

Trip Overview

Begin your journey in Athens with a welcome reception in Syntagma Square. Over the next few days, explore the city’s legendary landmarks, from the Parthenon to the acclaimed Acropolis Museum, in the company of expert guides. Choose between discovering the refined treasures of the Museum of Cycladic Art or delving into centuries of history at the Benaki Museum. Travel beyond Athens on a full-day excursion to Delphi, the sanctuary of Apollo and one of the most important spiritual centers of the ancient world.

Continue your adventure aboard the 50-cabin luxury mega-yacht Emerald Azzurra, privately chartered to offer the highest levels of comfort and service, for a four-night cruise to some of the Aegean’s most remarkable ports. Step ashore early on the sacred island of Delos, birthplace of Apollo and Artemis, for an intimate exploration before sailing on to Mykonos, where you can swim in crystal-clear waters and stroll its winding cobblestone streets. Cross into Turkey to walk the marble avenues of Ephesus, the most complete classical metropolis, and experience the colorful atmosphere of Kusadasi. Return to Greece, visit Crete to marvel at the Bronze Age ruins of Knossos, often described as Europe’s oldest city.

Continue your adventure with a three-night extension, featuring the storied Peloponnese. From your seaside base in Nafplion, explore Ancient Corinth, the ruins of Mycenae, and the theater of Epidaurus, before concluding with a final evening in Athens.

Schedule by Day

Independent overnight flights to Athens, Greece.

Depart the United States on overnight flights to Athens. Upon arrival, transfer to a 5-star deluxe hotel in the refined Kolonaki district, just steps from Syntagma Square. Gather with fellow travelers for a welcome reception and dinner at the hotel. 

Overnight: Grand Bretagne

Meals: R, D

Begin the day with a lecture to set the stage for your exploration of ancient Greece, and set out to explore Plaka (Athens’ oldest neighborhood) and the Ancient Agora, once the bustling heart of civic life in classical Athens. Enjoy an authentic lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, visit the Museum of Cycladic Art, a remarkable repository of ancient Aegean treasures.

Enjoy dinner on your own this evening, with many excellent restaurants just steps from the hotel.

Overnight: Grand Bretagne

Meals: B, L

Travel to Delphi for a full-day excursion to one of the most important sacred sites of the ancient Greek world. Explore the Sanctuary of Apollo, the Temple of Athena Pronaia, and the site’s theater, then tour the nearby museum, home to the renowned bronze Charioteer and other masterpieces. 

Return to Athens in the late afternoon. Dinner is on your own this evening. 

Overnight: Grand Bretagne

Meals: B, L

Visit the Acropolis to admire the Parthenon and other landmarks for classical Athens, followed by a visit to the outstanding Acropolis Museum.  After an authentic Greek lunch, continue to Piraeus to embark the Emerald Azzurra. In the evening, join the captain for a welcome reception and dinner aboard the mega yacht

Overnight: Emerald Azzurra

Meals: B, L, D

After a morning lecture, step ashore on the sacred island of Delos, a UNESCO World Heritage site and mythological birthplace of Apollo. A guided tour reveals the island’s remarkably preserved temples, homes, and mosaics, offering a vivid picture of life in a once-thriving religious and commercial hub. Enjoy lunch as you cruise to nearby Mykonos. There’s time to swim, relax, or explore ashore.

Overnight: Emerald Azzurra

Meals: B, L, D

Begin your day with an early morning exploration of the legendary city of Ephesus, one of the best-preserved ancient sites in the world. Continue with a visit to the Ephesus Museum, where remarkable treasures from the ruins are beautifully displayed. Midday, you’ll be welcomed at the Nakkas Weaving Center for a memorable farm-to-table Turkish lunch. Afterwards, stop at the Temple of Artemis, once one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, before returning to Kusadasi. Enjoy some free time in the charming seaside town before reboarding the ship for a late afternoon lecture and dinner at sea.

Overnight: Emerald Azzurra

Meals: B, L, D

Spend the morning exploring the ruins of Knossos, the center of the Bronze Age Minoan civilization and legendary home of the labyrinth and the Minotaur. Celebrate the journey with a farewell reception and dinner on board. 

Overnight: Emerald Azzurra

Meals: B, L, R, D

Disembark in Athens this morning and transfer to Athens International Airport for flights home. 

Travelers joining the optional post-tour extension to the Peloponnese Peninsula will continue on by motorcoach. 

Meals: B

Pricing

Category

Per Person, Double Occupancy

Single Occupancy

Category D, Oceanview Stateroom$7,990$11,985
Category B, Balcony Suite$9,990$14,995
Category A, Balcony Suite$10,990Inquire
Category S, Deluxe Balcony Suite$11,990Inquire
Category T, Terrace Suite$13,990Inquire
Category Y, Yacht Suite$14,990Inquire
Category SA, Owner's Suite$17,990Inquire

Accommodations

  • Three nights at the Grande Bretagne
  • Four nights aboard Emerald Azzurra

Extensions

Optional Post-Tour Extension: Peloponnese Discovery 

September 30 - October 3, 2026

Continue your adventure with three nights in Greece’s Peloponnese, where layers of history meet breathtaking scenery. From the ruins of Corinth to the legendary citadel of Mycenae and the remarkable theater at Epidaurus, this journey immerses you in the wonders of antiquity while also giving you time to relax in the seaside charm of Nafplion. Conclude your travels in Athens with a visit to its world-renowned Archaeological Museum.

  • $2,990 per person, double occupancy
  • $3,890 single occupancy

What to Expect

Activity Level 3

This is a moderately strenuous program that is at times both physically demanding and busy and requires participants to be in good health and able to keep up with the group without assistance from tour staff. In order to make the most of what each locale has to offer the shore excursions will be active, and you will often be spending much of the day off the ship. These adventure-filled days will be offset by relaxing time spent cruising at sea, with the opportunity to enjoy the passing coastal scenery, the ship’s amenities, and the full lecture program. Travel on land will be by modern, air-conditioned motorcoaches, with most drives lasting under an hour at a time; longer drives will be broken up with rest stops and site visits. Daily activities can involve up to two miles of walking, and many walking tours will take place in older quarters and historic sites, where the terrain is often cobblestoned or uneven. Many historic buildings do not have elevators, and you’ll occasionally encounter steps without handrails. While the Emerald Azzurra has an elevator that connects all passenger decks, participants should still be capable of navigating stairs on rolling seas. You will need to climb into and out of tenders for three shore excursions (staff and crew will be on hand to assist). This promises to be a memorable journey, but as with all travel, a flexible attitude, a spirit of adventure, and a willingness to explore new areas will enhance your enjoyment of this program. You do not have to participate in all of the scheduled activities, except when traveling to the next destination. We are sure you will be pleased with the exciting educational program provided, but we want you to be aware of the pace and activity level.

Study Leader(s)

Assistant Professor of Classics

Mode of Travel

Discover why the editors of Cruise Critic picked Emerald Azzurra as their “Best New Luxury Ship” in 2022. Reaching an impressive 360 feet in length with only 50 cabins, the spectacular new Emerald Azzurra will exceed your yacht cruising expectations as it sails into some of the most picturesque ports and harbors in the world.

For More Information

Please email haatravels@harvard.edu or call our office at 800-422-1636 or 617-496-0806.