Mount Athos Cruise from Chalkidiki
Description
Sail towards the south of the Athos Peninsula and see from a close distance (from the boat), the mysterious and miraculous place which has been for centuries the center of Orthodoxy and you will find out new information about the history of Mount Athos and 8 of its monasteries. Stop in Ouranoupoli, where you will have enough free time to discover the village, to take a walk, to shop or to have a traditional meal in one of the taverns there.
Tour Options
Itinerary
The first part of the program begins with a transfer by bus to Ormos Panagias, situated in N-E of the Sithonia peninsula in Chalkidiki. From this seaport, we will go on with our journey, sailing towards the south of the Athos Peninsula, until we reach the south limit, where the highest point is 2.033 m. From here we shall sail north, along the western coast. You will be able to see from a close distance (from the boat), the mysterious and miraculous place which has been for centuries the center of Orthodoxy and you will find out new information about the history of Mount Athos and 8 of its monasteries.
After approximately 4 hours we shall stop in Ouranoupoli, where you will have enough free time to discover the village, to take a walk, to shop or to have a traditional meal in one of the taverns there. On our way, back from Ouranoupoli, the boat will sail to the west, to Ormos Panagias a where the bus will be waiting for your drive back to the hotel. Note: No assistant on the bus to the boat.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Free Hotel Pick up & Drop Off
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(13)
A great way to view the Holy Mountain without actually visiting. It's as close as a female can get to Mt. Athos since only men are allowed on the Holy Mountain.
Very nice excursion, well organized by this travel agency, always at the top Moreover, the person who took care of us, during everything, this stay has always been very responsive and very professional, I advise
Dear Ugocloe, Thank you for your kind words about your excursion with Cretan Holidays. We’re delighted you found the trip well organized and appreciated the professionalism and responsiveness of our team throughout your stay. It’s always our goal to make every experience smooth and enjoyable. We hope to welcome you again soon for another beautifully organized adventure with Cretan Holidays!
We booked a day trip from Halkidiki to mount Athos and Ouranoupolis, and chose this particular trip as it offered hotel pick up. We were waiting from 7am to 8.30, no pick up. Sent many messages to the operator. When they replied, they didn’t offer any explanation, they offered a full refund, but no compensation. I would not recommend this operator, they are not reliable.
Dear Guest, Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback with us. We are truly sorry that you were unable to participate in the excursion. Regrettably, there was an error in the pick up point we had arranged, and we fully understand the disappointment this caused. As a result, we issued a full refund, but we sincerely regret that we were not able to deliver the experience you were expecting. Guest satisfaction is always our highest priority, and it is deeply disappointing for us when we fall short. We do hope to have the opportunity to welcome you again and provide you with the level of service you deserve.
Departing from Ormos Paniagas for a dream cruise, with stopover in Amouliani, then 2 h on the beach of Banana Beach and last stop at the blue Lagoon for a swim in this clear water. The scenery is breathtaking, the service is just top! Everything is very well organized. Thanks again!
Dear Jennie, Thank you for your kind words! We're so glad you enjoyed the stunning landscapes and clear waters along the way! it truly is a dream route. It’s also great to hear everything felt well organized and seamless. At Cretan Holidays, we always aim to offer well crafted experiences with care and attention to detail. We hope to welcome you again soon on another memorable journey!
If you like cruising and boating for hours and just relax, they are perfect. Thought we'd go ashore but not. Swimming in the blue lagoon was the highlight. Lucky , a troubadour played for a while . The food was so-so when the rice was not cooked through and the wine you bought was self-made. Was a flop for us that wasn't worth the money How rather car o drive to the blue lagoon or other favorite places.
Dear Gustav, Thank you for sharing your experience with us. We’re pleased to hear that swimming in the Blue Lagoon was a memorable highlight and that the onboard entertainment added to the enjoyment. We're sorry, however, that other aspects of the cruise didn’t meet your expectations, especially the food quality and the overall value. Your feedback helps us improve, and we'll certainly pass along your comments to our partners to ensure we offer the best possible experience.
The place is wonderful: seeing these monasteries from the sea is a wonderful and unique sight to visit them would be the best but it is very complicated and above all impossible for women. The trip itself pleasant shame that we had secured lunch on board and instead there was no; we also lost a lot of time to reach the port of embarkation: provide a single bus of 50 seats that collects all guests hotel by hotel and be the first to get on the bus as in our case it meant taking twice as long and leaving the hotel at 6.30. Also totally useless the Guide on board the bus!!!!
Dear Valerio, Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback with us. We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed the unique view of the monasteries from the sea, it truly is a special experience. We regret to hear about the inconvenience you experienced with the transfer time. It's standard for the first passengers to have a longer wait as the bus picks up other guests, as the excursion is not a private one. Furthermore we would like to clarify that we do not advertise a meal included on this tour, We are reviewing our communication to ensure clarity about what is included in each tour. Thank you once again for your feedback.
An absolutely unmissable trip to admire the monasteries that have existed for more than a thousand years, even from afar. Of course the journey on this slightly kitsch cruise ship is long and at times exhausting but there is no other option unless you ask for a visa to enter (Mount Athos is a separate territory even if it is within Greece ) The village of Ouranopolis is cute, where you stop for an hour
Dear Umberto, Thank you for sharing your experience with us. We're thrilled to hear that you found the trip to the monasteries, with their thousand-year history, absolutely not to be missed. The monasteries are indeed a remarkable sight, and we're delighted you enjoyed them even from a distance. We understand that the journey on the cruise ship can be long and occasionally exhausting. However, as you mentioned, this is currently the best way to admire the monasteries unless one has a visa to enter Mount Athos. Your understanding and patience regarding this are greatly appreciated. We're glad you enjoyed your stop in the quaint village of Ouranopolis. It’s a charming place with a lot to offer in a short visit, and we're pleased you found it cute and interesting. Thank you for your valuable feedback. We hope to have the opportunity to welcome you on another excursion soon, providing you with more unforgettable experiences.
A mediocre tour compared with others in Greece. The bus driver was organized arriving on time, the crew on the ship were good and lovely scenery along the way. However, the tour guide was unprofessional. He was rude towards some passengers, he explained absolutely nothing, not pointing out anything of interest , explaining anything about the region , giving some history etc. All things that usually tour guides do, He simply told us that all would be explained on the boat. Yes, the boat provided commentary about the monasteries but he could have provided information about the villages and peninsula. He told us what time we would be back and what time the bus would leave. However, when we arrived at the port to get the boat, he jumped off first and disappeared. He gave no information or instructions . There were 2 boats at the port and he did not tell us which ore we needed to board. When we arrived at the boat, there were 2 people checking we had our passes. . One passenger asked a question as he needed to clarify something due to lack of instructions and he was spoken to rudely, being not to give him a headache. The cruise was on time and the boat was unique but no safety instructions were given and the mevjsmics of the boat were not up to scratch . The boat is in desperate need of maintainance, the pictures of the monasteries are misleading. You don’t get to see the monasteries closely, it’s a long day to see them at such a distance. On the return , the air conditioning on the bus was barely working and you could not move some chairs to the upright position. Again no engagement or commantary by guide. We do wonder what his role was, overall a disappointing tour .
Dear Anna, Thank you for your detailed feedback. We’re pleased to hear that the bus driver was punctual, the crew were lovely, and the scenery was beautiful. We deeply apologize for the unprofessional behavior and lack of information from the tour guide. This is not the standard we strive for, and we will share your concerns with our partners to ensure these issues are addressed. Your comments are valuable to us, and we hope to provide you with a much better experience in the future.
Stunning day all round 🫶🏻👍🛳️🌊⛰️🇬🇷 Was a long day which really does tire you out but 100% worth it The company I used always kept me informed and updated highly recommend The journey is a few hours sailing and then a port of call on a gem of a village Scenic views literally too die for
Dear Laura, Thank you for taking the time to share your stunning experience with us! We're thrilled to hear that you had a fantastic day exploring with Cretan Holidays. We understand that it can be a long day of adventure, but it's fantastic to know that you found it 100% worth it. Keeping our guests informed and updated is a priority for us, and we're delighted that you appreciated our efforts. The scenic views in the picturesque village are indeed breathtaking, and we're glad you got to enjoy them. Your recommendation means a lot to us and motivates us to continue delivering exceptional experiences. We can't wait to welcome you back for more memorable journeys in beautiful Greece.
Very good but too bad no explanations in French so it's difficult to understand what we see The boat departing from Sithonia a little long
Dear Valerie, We greatly appreciate your positive review and are thrilled that you enjoyed your visit. Your feedback means a lot to us. We'd like to clarify that we do offer explanations in French through a recorded guiding message on board. We're sorry if this wasn't effectively communicated during your experience. We'll certainly look into how we can make this information more prominent to ensure all guests are aware of the available resources for understanding the sights. Thank you very much and we hope to see you again soon.
