Noto, Baroque town

4h00

Depart by coach from the port through the countryside, passing through villages and almond groves as you make your way to Noto, the second largest town in Syracuse province and the best example of Sicilian Baroque architecture on the island.

You will cross on foot the Public Gardens, where it is possible to admire the busts of the artists who contributed to Noto’s urban culture and style.

Besides the 18th century Cathedral, currently under restoration after damage suffered during 1990 earthquake, other impressive buildings are the Churches of St Domenico and of St Charles (del Colleggio), the “Ducezio” Palace and “Villadorata” Palace.

Noto has been declared a Heritage site by UNESCO, who also provides financial support for the reconstruction of monuments destroyed during 1990 earthquake.

A refreshment will be offered at a local bar and then you will enjoy some free time to browse around before commencing the return drive to Syracuse.

Restoration works on the monuments of Noto (after damage suffered during the 1990 earthquake) are almost completed but access to church interiors might still be restricted. This excursion involves approximately 1.2 mile (2 km) of walking mostly over easy terrain, except for steps to enter churches. We recommend you wear comfortable walking shoes. Appropriate dress is recommended to enter religious sites (shoulders and knees must be covered). The palace visits are only outside visits. This tour is not recommended for guest with limited mobility.

Total : €90

According to availability, price per passenger.

Archaeological site & Ortygia

4h00

Depart the pier by coach and drive to the archaeological area, which you will reach after a short drive.

Visit the Roman Amphitheatre of Augustus, used for fights between gladiators and wild beasts, the Altar of Hieron, constructed in the 2ndcentury BC to celebrate the “Eleutherian Feast”, the Latomie of Paradise, huge caverns once used as prisons, the Ear of Dionysius, an enormous grotto with extraordinary echo and the Greek Theatre, one of the largest in the Hellenic World, constructed in the 5thcentury BC and successively enlarged.

Upon completion of the visit, re-board your coach for the short drive to Ortygia, which you will visit on foot. On Ortygia Island discover the Piazza Pancali (the ruins of the Temple of Apollo of the 6thcentury BC), Corso Matteotti, Archimede’s Place, Piazza Duomo. Visit the Cathedral in Baroque style, erected over the remains of the Doric Temple of Minerva: in the interiors, see the undamaged twelve Doric columns. Then visit the fountain of Arethusa, the nymph praised by Pindar and Virgilio in one of the most touching and fine myths. Several nobility palaces – majority of them originating in the 15th and 16th centuries – will be seen from outside during the walking tour.

Then, return to the port and your ship.

This excursion involves approximately 1.5 miles (2,5 km) of walking over uneven terrain and cobble stones as well as steps. We recommend you wear comfortable walking shoes and protect yourself from the sun. Appropriate dress is recommended to enter religious sites (shoulders and knees must be covered). This tour is not recommended for passengers with reduced mobility.

Total : €90

According to availability, price per passenger.

Meet Mr Mauceri, the puppeteer

2h00

From the pier, you will meet with your guide and start your walking tour through the Old Town of Syracusa, whose narrow streets are lined by old, Baroque-style houses with charming balconies. You will enjoy a photo stop at the Cathedral Square where the Baroque-style Cathedral can be seen (outside visit only), erected over the remains of the Doric Temple of Minerva.

You will continue your walking tour through the narrow streets in the heart of the historic center towards the artisan workshop of Daniel Mauceri, a famous pupeteer. Daniel, together with his family, carries-on the ancient tradition of the Opera dei Pupi.

In 2021 Daniel Mauceri was selected by the Michelangelo Foundation to be included in the Homo Faber Guide, which contains the best international artisan excellence. His private collection represents the fruit of years of hard work by the Vaccaro Mauceri family. Upon your arrival, Daniel will explains all the processing stages for the creation of a Sicilian puppet and will show you how to move it during a show.

Finally, you will walk back to your ship.

This tour involves 1,3 miles (2,5 kms) of walking on mainly flat but cobblestoned floor with some steps. We recommend you wear comfortable clothes and shoes. This visit is limited to 15 participants. Being an immersive tour, relying on a single artisan availabilty, please note that in case of force majeure, the tour might be cancelled without prior notice.

Total : €100

According to availability, price per passenger.

Walking tour of Gallipoli, pearl of the Ionian Sea

3h00

Fall under the spell of one of Puglia’s jewels, Gallipoli, listen to its history in the old town’s maze of narrow lanes and admire its historic and architectural heritage.

A visit through its enigmatic lanes is like a journey back in time, a living exploration of the cultural strata that make Gallipoli such a rare pearl. Time here sometimes seems to stand still. Near the port, where your guided tour will begin, the fisherman are hard at work. Some are gathering together the catch of the day, whereas others are repairing their nets. Off in the distance, the gates of the old town open onto a maze of narrow lanes edged withbright- and warm-coloured dwellings, where the shade of the buildings draws a mystical labyrinth. Each street corner tells its own story of this medieval city, with its multiple heritages and cultural influences. Take the time to listen to the stories told by your local guide, as you admire the surprising St. Agatha’s Cathedral, its columns and its stunning baroque frescoes.

The sun-drenched hills of Gallipoli, bathed by the blue waters of the Mediterranean, made it a regional stronghold in olive-oil production as of the 15th century. The exports of this “liquid gold” were so significant that its production was stored in the four corners of the city in underground cisterns dug out of the local limestone, called carparo. You will have the opportunity to discover the production techniques that were used in the past, as you visit one of the 35 recently renovated underground oil mills.

This excursion includes three hours of walking on uneven surfaces. This visit is not accessible for persons with reduced mobility or in a wheelchair. We recommend that you wear comfortable walking shoes and sun protection.

Total : €50

According to availability, price per passenger.

Lecce, a Baroque jewel

5h00

Stroll around Lecce, the "Baroque Florence", and discover the countless churches, palaces and monuments carved out of this soft and almost golden limestone that gives the city a glowing look, like the chubby cherubins that decorate its façades.

A veritable open-air museum, Lecce is a microcosm of Baroque splendours, located only one hour's drive from Gallipoli. The cherubins, gargoyles, plant patterns, columns and capitals, each more extravagant than the last, are legion here - to the extent that the city lays claim to its own style, the "Barocco Leccese"- since the sculptors and architects of the 16th and 17th centuries had a field day with the regional stone, a marvel of malleability and delicacy.

The Centro Storico historic centre is proof of this, with its cobbled streets and shady squares teeming with incredible rococo treasures, including the Basilica of Santa Croce - with a constellation of sublime ornaments - and the Governor's Palace.

Not far from there, on the Piazza Santa Oronzo, the palazzos, church and Roman amphitheatre dating from the 2nd century try to outdo each other with their beauty.

A few metres away, the Piazza del Duomo, in spectacular golden monochrome, proudly displays a cathedral, its bell tower and the archbishop's palace, making it one of Italy's most beautiful squares. Your exploration of the city centre will finish with a gourmet break in a café.

· This excursion involves a coach journey to Lecce as well as walking 3 kilometres (1.9 miles) on uneven surfaces, with some steps to negotiate. We recommend you wear comfortable walking shoes and sun protection. Appropriate clothing is recommended when visiting places of worship: trousers for men, and skirts covering the knees for women. The tasting is included in your excursion.

Total : €100

According to availability, price per passenger.

Boat ride and visit to a monastery in Paleokastritsa

4h30

Discover "the Greek Capri" and its sea caves and head for Lakones, a village perched up high.

After a 30-minute coach ride, you will reach the Paleokastritsa region, located to the north-west of the city of Corfu and famous for its exceptional natural beauty. Also known as "the Greek Capri", it features small sandy coves bathed by turquoise waters and dominated by rocky outcrops covered in pines and cypress trees.

You will take a 30-minute boat ride to discover the famous Nafiska, St. Nicholas and Blue Eye sea caves. Once back on the beach, you take the bus to visit the 13th century Byzantine Monastery dedicated to Virgin Mary.

You will continue your visit to the traditional village of Lakones, which sits atop a craggy mountain. From here, you can enjoy breathtaking views over the island. Enjoy an Ouzo, the anised-flavoured Greek alcoholic drink, with some mezze before heading back to the pier and your ship in Corfu.

This tour is not advised for persons with reduced mobility. We recommend wearing comfortable shoes, a swimsuit, sun protection, and bringing a towel.

Total : €95

According to availability, price per passenger.

Corfu Town & Mon Repos Palace

4h00

From the pier, you will board your coach to Mon Repos Palace.

The Palace was built by the British Commissioner Sir Adam Maitland in 1828, as a gift to his beautiful Corfiot wife. It was used as the Summer Residence of the High Commissioners, while their official residence was the Palace of St. Michael and St. George located in the town of Corfu. Today Mon Repos belongs to the Ministry of Culture and the Municipality of Corfu. It houses a museum with mainly local finds from ancient Corfu.

Then, re-board your coach for a short transfer to Corfu city centre. Upon arrival, follow your guide through the narrow cobbled-stoned serpentine streets of the Old Town known as "kandounia" and charming little "piazzas" (squares) built by the Venetians in the 14th century. During your walking tour, you will pass by the arcades of "liston", the replica of the "Rue de Rivoli" of Paris and the Old Town Hall. You will also visit the Church of St. Spyridon, patron saint of Corfu.

At the end of the visit, you will return to the pier.

This tour involves two hours of walking and standing. There are some steps at the Mon Repos Palace. We recommend you wear comfortable walking shoes and protect yourself from the sun. Appropriate dress is recommended to enter religious sites (shoulders and knees covered).

Total : €65

According to availability, price per passenger.

Sacred site of Delphi

4h15

On the slopes of Mount Parnassus, the Delphi site opens the doors to a sacred world, where each stone summons up the glorious past of Ancient Greece.

Take the Sacred Way, the route walked in the past by pilgrims and kings of Antiquity, and go on a timeless journey. Here, the history of Greece and its legends overflow from everything: the ruins and ancient monuments, but also from the surrounding nature, which is still stunning.

This will jump out at you as you stand before the Temple of Apollo. It was constructed around the 7th century BC by two legendary architects, Trophonios and Agamedes; today, only a few vestiges remain of this Doric monument, decorated at the time with shields captured from the Persians. However, the foundations and columns that are still present seem to find an echo of their grandeur in the surrounding mountains.

The same goes for the ruins of the Senate of Delphi, as well as the vestiges of the Oracle of Delphi, where thousands of pilgrims gathered to receive the oracle of Pythia, high priestess of Apollo. The ancient theatre is also worth visiting.

A stone’s throw away from the sanctuary of Apollo, you will also be able to discover the Delphi Museum’s exhibitions, which present objects found at the archaeological site over the past century or more. Vases, bronzes, sculptures, precious offerings made to Apollo by pilgrims, objects of gold and ivory found under the slabs of the Sacred Way... they all recount the history of one of the most emblematic sites in Antiquity.

This excursion involves walking around 1.7 kilometres (around a mile) on uneven ground, with some steps. We recommend you wear comfortable walking shoes and protect yourself from the sun.

Total : €75

According to availability, price per passenger.

Hosios Loukas and charming Arachova

4h15

Marvel at the beauty of the Byzantine monastery of Hosios Loukas and take to the heights in the streets of Arachova, a small town perched 1,000 metres (3,000 feet) up on the illustrious Mount Parnassus.

The fortified monastery of Hosios Loukas, near Delphi, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most characteristic monuments of the second golden age of Byzantine art. Founded at the start of the 10th century by the hermit Saint Luke, it includes a central-plan church decorated with superb marble decor and admirable mosaics on a gold background. The main shrine is none other than the tomb of Saint Luke, originally situated in the crypt.

Your excursion will continue with a visit of Arachova. Built on the side of the mountain, this small town of 3,300 inhabitants is famous for its traditional stone houses spread out over the northern slopes of Mount Parnassus, between 800 and 1,100 metres up. As you explore its small streets on your own, allow yourself to be charmed by the hospitality of the inhabitants, the local handicrafts and the gastronomy. Indeed, the town is well-known for its wine and cheese, as well as for its homemade carpets and blankets.

This excursion involves walking an hour on uneven surfaces and cobblestone streets with many staircases (approximately 50 steps to the Monastery). We recommend you wear comfortable walking shoes and sun protection. Appropriate dress is recommended to enter religious sites (shoulders and knees must be covered).

Total : €65

According to availability, price per passenger.

The Acropolis & its museum

7h00

From the pier, you will board your coach and drive to the city centre of Athens. Your first stop will be the Acropolis, a symbol of the glory of ancient Greece, where you will climb its smooth marble steps as visitors have for centuries. History opens before you as you reach one of the masterpieces of classical architecture, the Propylaea, which serves as the entrance to the complex. See the Temple of Athena Nike, or Wingless Victory, and the Erechtheum with its classical Porch of Maidens, the Caryatids. Stand in awe of what is considered to be the most perfect example of classical architecture in the world, the Parthenon, designed as a shrine to Athena that, at one time, housed a massive gold and ivory statue of the warrior goddess.

Looking down from the Acropolis, see the two ancient theatres in its shadow - the Greek theatre of Dionysus, where the masterpieces of Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides and Aristophanes debuted to delighted audiences, and the grand Roman theatre of Herod Atticus, restored and used for concerts and classical plays during the summer Athens Festival.

You will then visit the splendid Acropolis Museum, which is an archaeological museum focused on the findings of the archaeological site of the Acropolis of Athens. The museum was built in order to house every artifact found on the rock and nearby, covering a large period of time, from the Greek Bronze Age to Roman and Byzantine Greece. The museum was founded in 2003, while the Organisation of the Museum was established in 2000. Finally, it opened to public on June 21, 2009. Nearly 4,000 objects are on exhibit, and the museum spans an impressive 14,000 square metres.

After the visit of the Museum, you will enjoy lunch at a restaurant in the Thesseion area.

You will then you board your coach again for the return drive to Lavrio port.

This tour involves extensive walk on uneven terrain with steps. This tour is not recommended for guests with mobility challenges. We recommend you wear light clothing, comfortable walking shoes and protect yourself from the sun with a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen. Pre-booking is required to participate in this tour.

Total : €210

According to availability, price per passenger.

Cape Sounion & Temple of Poseidon

2h30

Leave Lavrion for a beautiful drive along a scenic coastal road to Cape Sounion.

Here, you will visit the Temple of Poseidon. Built in the 5th century BC and standing some 60m/200 feet above the sea at the edge of a cliff, it is one of the most breathtaking and deeply moving sights in all of Greece. This is the place where the ancient Greeks worshipped their mighty god of the seas, Poseidon. The 15 (of the original 34) columns of the Doric order that are still standing belong to the temple built here during the Golden Age of Perikles’ Athens, over the relics of an older one. The architect is unknown, but it is believed to be the same who built the Theseion in Athens.

Following your visit, you will have some free time before you board your vehicle for the return drive to Lavrio port.

This tour involves walking on uneven terrain with steps. We recommend you wear light clothing, comfortable walking shoes and protect yourself from the sun with a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen.

Total : €75

According to availability, price per passenger.

Maria Callas Museum & Acropolis Museum

7h15

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Plunge into both Ancient Greece and lyrical Greece by visiting two of Athens’ finest museums: the Acropolis Museum and its impressive collections of sculptures, and the museum devoted to Maria Callas, the legendary 20th-century Greek soprano.

On Mitropoleos Street, in the heart of Athens, the first museum dedicated to Maria Callas is a totally immersive journey through the life of the woman who changed the opera world forever. Texts, personal objects, correspondence, videos and rare audio extracts... over 1,000 pieces make up these impressive archives, which paint a picture of the magnetic diva. Discover her character, her life in Greece, her international career, the key figures in her life and the deep heritage she left behind.

Further on is the Acropolis Museum with its amazing collection of bas-reliefs, statues and ceramics dating from the Bronze Age through to Roman and Byzantine Greece. This was all found in excavations on the Acropolis: almost 4,000 statuary objects - including the Porch of the Caryatids which welcomes visitors - play with materials and the natural light of the building, glass being omnipresent here. Moreover, this is best experienced when you enter the Parthenon Gallery, inundated with light filtered through its glazed atrium towards the lower floors.

After this visit, you will walk to your restaurant to enjoy lunch. From the restaurant, nestling on a roof terrace, you will be able to admire the Acropolis!

The journey in air-conditioned transport takes approximately an hour and a quarter. The excursion involves an easy walk, with some steps. We recommend you wear light clothing and comfortable shoes. A maximum 25 persons per group is allowed inside the Maria Callas Museum. The visit inside the Maria Callas Museum will be led by the museum's English-speaking guide. Pre-booking is required to participate in this excursion.

Total : €200

According to availability, price per passenger.

Walking tour of Volos

3h30

After disembarking, you will board your coach for a short transfer to "Athanasakeion", the archaeological museum of Volos, housed in a neoclassical building built in 1909.

The Archaeological Museum of Volos houses numerous exhibits: Palaeolithic finds, vases and figurines from the Neolithic era, jewellery and painted funerary steles.

Following your visit, you will start your walking tour through Anavros park. The park, along the shore, is a lovely relaxing area in the city. It was laid out in 1920 by the architect N. Kitsikis and provides recreation and a breath of cool air to residents and visitors alike.

Then, you will go to the Agios Konstantinos & Eleni Church. The church, towering over the waterfront of Volos, is an elaborate piece of architecture, designed and built by the architect A. Zachos. Ever since its construction in 1936, the church has been a reference point in the city.

Before reaching your local restaurant where you will have the opportunity to taste local sea "mezedes" along with a glass of the famous local spirit "tsipouro", you will meet the Statue of Liberty dedicated to freedom, peace, and human rights.

You will finish your visit with some free time before following your guide for a walk back to the pier.

This excursion involves 2 hours of walking on uneven streets with some steps. We recommend you to wear comfortable shoes and protect yourself from the sun. Appropriate clothing must be worn when visiting the religious buildings: trousers for men and skirts covering the knees for the ladies. You will return to the ship on foot. This tour is limited to 75 participants.

Total : €65

According to availability, price per passenger.

Mythical villages of Pelion

3h30

According to Greek mythology, Mount Pelion was the place where the ancient Greek gods and heroes were entertained. It was also the home of the Centaurs.

You can easily understand why this place was chosen by the gods, once you have visited its picturesque villages (24 in total, only 2 villages are included on your tour). The villages are spread out along the slopes among chestnut and apple trees, with many springs of crystalline waters. Most of the villages have remained untouched over the centuries and the architecture of their houses is unique.

From the pier, embark your coach for a 30-minute drive to Portaria. Like many villages in Pelion, Portaria was developed around a monastery: the Monastery of Panagia Portarea (13th century). During your walking tour, you may admire the natural landscape, the cool springs, the mansion houses, the picturesque paths and the churches.

You will then continue to Makrinitsa, perhaps the most beautiful village in Pelion, and one of the prettiest in Greece. There you will stroll along the traditional houses, the old churches and the little shops with local delicacies. Afterwards you can rest and have a cup of coffee in the central square, under the shade of the plane trees. Apart from the view offered from here, you may also admire the frescoes painted by the famous painter Theophilos in one of the cafes in the square.

This excursion involves between 30 and 45 minutes of walking on paved, narrow and climb streets with some steps. We recommend you to wear comfortable shoes and protect yourself from the sun. A refreshment is included on your tour. This tour is limited to 120 participants.

Total : €90

According to availability, price per passenger.

Spectacular Meteora monasteries

8h30

Meteora is one of the most imposing sights in mainland Greece: giant rocks in bizarre shapes, ranging in height from 100 to 150 metres.After disembarking, you will board your coach for a two hours and a half drive, leaving the port of Volos to head Northwest crossing the agricultural plains of Thessaly. You will pass provincial towns such as Larissa and Trikala before reaching Kalambaka, a small town nestled at the footsteps of the Meteora rocks.A short restroom stop with refreshments will take place there before continuing to the "monasteries in the sky" of the Meteora.

Once a monastic community with 24 monasteries, Meteora now consists of only five active ones. They were first built in the 14th century by monks who searched for a place where they could stay isolated and pray undisturbed from the rest of the world. Until 1920 most of the Meteora monasteries could only be reached by getting into a net and hauled up by a rope. Fortunately, steps were cut afterwards to all of the monasteries.

You will visit two of the most beautiful and representative Monasteries of the valley, where you will admire icons, mosaics and frescoes, old manuscripts, domed roofs as well as breathtaking views of nearby monasteries and of the surrounding area.

After your visit to the monasteries, proceed to a local restaurant in Kalambaka for a Greek lunch.Then, via the same road passing Trikala and Larrisa, you will return to the port of Volos to join your ship, a 2h30 drive.

This excursion involves two hours of walking and standing with many steps. We recommend you to wear comfortable shoes and protect yourself from the sun. Appropriate clothing must be worn when visiting the religious buildings: trousers for men and skirts covering the knees for the ladies. The lunch and refreshment are included in your tour. This tour is limited to 150 participants.

Total : €135

According to availability, price per passenger.

The Ephesus archaeological site

2h45

From the pier, embark your coach for a 30-minute drive to the Ephesus site, one of the best-preserved ancient cities in the Mediterranean basin.

Originally dedicated to Cybele, the goddess of fertility, during the prehistoric times, the city was claimed by the Ionians for Artemis and later to Diana by the Romans.

Ephesus is one of the best-preserved Greco-Roman sites of the ancient world in the whole Mediterranean. Excavated since 1869, most of the main streets and public buildings have been unearthed and opened for visitors. Everything is here: town hall, dwellings, shops and even public toilets. A town of white marble dazzling in the sunshine, Ephesus is like a stone history book recounting the story of what daily life must have been like in the time of the Greeks and Romans.

During your tour, you will discover the Roman Ephesus. Most of the monuments were built during the reign of Emperor Augustus. Due to its location, the city was developed into two sections: the upper part of the city was the administrative sector with the town hall, a civil basilica and the Odeon aligned on the north side of the State Agora. The lower section facing the port houses religious, commercial and cultural buildings, such as the famous Celsius Library, Roman Villas, commercial agora and its theatre, which accommodated up to 24,000 spectators, and the stadium.

Residences of the town’s nobility are grouped on the slopes of Mount Pion and Mount Coressos on either side of Couretes Street, which links the town’s two districts. The site is also famous for its Hercules Gate, the ancient Scholastikia baths, the Marble Street and Hadrian’s temple.

This tour involves one hour and a half of walking on uneven ground with some steps. We recommend you wear comfortable walking shoes and protect yourself from the sun.

Total : €65

According to availability, price per passenger.

Ephesus & Roman Villas

3h45

From the pier, you will embark your coach for a 30-minute drive to the Ephesus site, one of the best-preserved ancient cities in the Mediterranean basin.

Originally dedicated to Cybele, the goddess of fertility, during the prehistoric times, the city was claimed by the Ionians for Artemis and later to Diana by the Romans. Ephesus is one of the best-preserved Greco-Roman sites of the ancient world in the whole Mediterranean. Excavated since 1869, most of the main streets and public buildings have been unearthed and opened for visitors. Everything is here: town hall, dwellings, shops and even public toilets. A town of white marble dazzling in the sunshine, Ephesus is like a stone history book recounting the story of what daily life must have been like in the time of the Greeks and Romans.

During your tour, you will discover the Roman Ephesus. Most of the monuments were built during the reign of Emperor Augustus. Due to its location, the city was developed into two sections: the upper part of the city was the administrative sector with the town hall, a civil basilica and the Odeon aligned on the north side of the State Agora. The lower section facing the port houses religious, commercial and cultural buildings, such as the famous Celsius Library, Roman Villas, commercial agora and its theatre, which accommodated up to 24,000 spectators, and the stadium.

You will start your tour at the upper gate of Ephesus, which is also known as the Magnesium Gate. Your guide will lead you on a leisurely downhill walking tour through Ephesus’ marble streets, passing and pointing out all the historically important buildings on the way.

You will move on to the recently excavated Terrace Houses complex which are also known as the houses of the rich Ephesians. Located on the northern slope of Bulbul Mountain next to Curetes Street and opposite the Temple of Hadrian, these houses were built in the peristyle form with a courtyard surrounded by Ionic colonnades. They are finely decorated with mosaics and frescoes. Built in the period of Augustus, they were inhabited until the 7th century AD according to evidence from excavations.

Then, you will visit one of the most impressive sites of Ephesus, the Library of Celsus. Built in 135 BC by a son in homage to his father, this library is finely decorated with columns and sculptures.

Finally, after just a short walk away, you will join the Grand theatre where St Paul preached to the Ephesians, imploring them to give up their worship of Artemis and embrace the Christian faith.

This tour involves two and a half hours of walking on uneven ground with many steps. The surface can be slippery. We recommend that you wear comfortable walking shoes and protect yourself from the sun. This tour is limited to 40 participants.

Total : €70

According to availability, price per passenger.

City tour

2h30

Today, we will start exploring Alanya with its Archeological Museum. It was opened in 1967 with objects dating back to the Bronze Age. Some objects come from Ankara Anatolian Civilization Museum. The most important object in museum is bronze “Hercules” statue that has the dramatically story in 2nd century AD. There are antiques of bronze, marble, earthenware, glass and mosaic with rich ostotek (ash urn) and coin collection from periods of Archaic, Classic, Hellenistic, Roman, Bizantium in the museum.

Our next visit will be the Alanya Castle. Surrounded by walls with 6 km lengths and situated on 10 hectares of a peninsula, Castle of Alanya hosted Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, Seljuk and Ottoman civilizations. It is located approximately 250 metres above sea level and so the views from there are breathtaking.

Unknown about its history of establishment and by whom to found, geographer Scylax from 4th century BC mentioned Alanya as Coracesium at first. Strabon talking about Coracesium as specified its location on a very steep rock. Coracesium by convenience of its natural defence and its sheltered port became an ideal harbour for pirates and rebels in 2nd century BC.

Our last visit will be the Red tower, being one of the unique examples of the medieval Mediterranean defence structure from 13th century. Red Tower was built by order of Alaeddin Keyqubad I, the Seljuk ruler, to Ebu Ali Reha el Kettani who was a master builder from Aleppo in order to protect harbour, shipyard and Alanya Castle against attacks from the sea.

This tour involves approximately 1 h 30 of walking on uneven ground with a lot of cobble stones and steps at the Castle and at the Red Tower. We recommend you wear comfortable walking shoes and protect yourself from the sun.

Total : €75

According to availability, price per passenger.

Side theatre & Damlatas cave

4h15

From the pier, board your coach for about a 1-hour drive to the ancient city of Side, a stunningly situated seaside village where Marc Antony and Cleopatra played out one scene in their romantic saga. Side, meaning “pomegranate” in a long-lost local language, was an important seaport at the beginning of the first Millennium. You’ll walk through broad colonnaded streets lined by ancient buildings and to a central agora, where pirates once unloaded and sold their cargo.

Passing through the agora, you will admire Side’s 15,000-person theatre, which was built in the 2nd century AD. This theatre, once home to legendary gladiatorial bouts, was converted into a massive open-air church in the 5th century. Three temples lie on the fringes of the theatre, one of Dionysus, the god of wine, and two others dedicated to Apollo and to Artemis.

Side’s blossoming period was long ago, between the 2nd and 4th centuries AD, when the city prospered due to good relations with the Roman Empire. Earthquakes, Christian crusaders, and Arab raiders all took their toll on the city, however, and it was completely abandoned by the 10th century, left to be buried by the sands. It has recently experienced a revival, home to an eclectic but tasteful blend of ancient ruins and modern beach side hotels and cafés.

Our next visit will be the Damlatas Cave on the western side of the peninsula. This enormous chasm is covered with stalactites and stalagmites that continue to grow. With constant high temperatures and high humidity, the cave is called a “magic cure” for certain respiratory ailments, especially asthma.

You will then return to the pier.

This tour involves 1 h 30 of walking on uneven ground as well as a considerable number of stairs inside the theatre and the Damlatas cave. We recommend you wear comfortable walking shoes and protect yourself from the sun. The visit of Damlatas cave is not recommended for those with heart ailments.

Total : €85

According to availability, price per passenger.

VISIT OF MDINA AND PALAZZO PARISIO

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Travel with peace of mind as PONANT organises your daytime between airport and embarkation port.

Valletta

Meet at the airport in the Arrival hall. Look for PONANT sign. You will be greeted by our local representative off the flight selected by PONANT.

Then, proceed to Mdina - Malta’s Old Capital, one of the locations used by the film “Black Eagle” featuring Jean-Claude Van Damme, and by “Game of Thrones” series. Mdina is one of Europe’s finest examples of an ancient walled city, with its extraordinary mix of medieval and Baroque architecture.

Continue with the visit of Palazzo Parisio, a unique 19th century palace in the heart of the Mediterranean. Palazzo Parisio is not only another palace of the legendary Knights of St. John, but the ultimate memorial of ambitions, aspirations and pretensions of a 19th century noble family. It houses two baroque walled gardens, including a lovely orangery – a miniature Versailles.

Enjoy a small snack in the Palace.

You will then be transferred to the pier to embark on your ship.

Your programme includes:

Transfers, and visits as mentioned in the programme.
Services of a local English-speaking guide.

Your programme does not include:

Tips for the driver and local guide.
Personal expenses and other services not mentioned in the programme.

Duration and price of the visits are given as a guide only. The order of the visits may be reversed. To know your PONANT flight schedule, please contact your travel agent; it is also indicated on your electronic ticket included in your travel documents.
In the event of schedule changes of PONANT’s selected flight, your programme will be adapted to ensure the most seamless and enriching experience. The content of your revised programme will be updated on the PONANT website, in My Ponant space and on the PONANT app. The final programme will also be sent to you along with your cruise documents.

Total : AU$304

Price is per person, based on double occupancy, based on availability.

VISIT OF MDINA, GOURMET LUNCH AND WINE TASTING (1 NIGHT)

(1 nuit)

Enhance your cruise and extend your trip with a carefully designed programme.

Day 1 – Valletta

Meet and greet at the airport arrival hall. Look for PONANT sign. You will be greeted by our local representative off the PONANT selected flight or any other flight (provided that you have previously communicated your flight schedule to your travel agent).

You will be transferred to your hotel The Phoenica 5*.

Check-in in your room.

The end of the day and dinner are at leisure.

Day 2 – Valletta

Set off from your hotel with a local guide and start your day by visiting Mdina. Take a stroll through the Silent City’s narrow streets and visit the Mdina cathedral and fortifications. Mdina, Malta’s Old Capital, was used as a filming location for the movie Black Eagle, starring Jean-Claude Van Damme, and for the Game of Thrones series. With its extraordinary mix of medieval and Baroque architecture, Mdina is one of Europe’s finest examples of an ancient walled city.

You will then proceed to a local boutique winery, where wine is produced on an estate comprising four hectares of terraced vineyards. It was built with weathered limestone blocks that perfectly blend old-world charm with practical, modern architectural touches. About 15,000 vines are planted on this estate, along with around 200 olive trees plus fig trees, carob trees, and other indigenous Maltese flora. After the visit, you will have the opportunity to taste three fine wines.

This will be followed by a fine meal at a local gourmet restaurant.

You will then be transferred to the port in time for embarkation onboard your ship.

Your hotel:

The luxurious Phoenicia Hotel 5* dates back to 1935. Surrounded by seven acres of gardens, it is ideally located next to the Triton Fountain in Valletta's City Gate Square, just outside the ancient city walls. The rooms are spacious and elegant with modern furnishings. You have a choice of three restaurants, serving a range of Maltese and Mediterranean food. The pool bar and restaurant offer a resort-style setting overlooking Grand Harbour. The hotel is also equipped with a gym and spa. Wi-Fi is available to all guests, throughout the hotel.

Your programme includes:

1-night accommodation at the Phoenicia Hotel 5* (or similar) in Executive room, breakfast included.
Meals as mentioned in the programme.
Beverages package during meals (mineral water + 1 soft drink or 1 local beer + 1 coffee or tea).
Transfers, visits and entrance fees as mentioned in the programme.
Local English-speaking guide.

Your programme does not include:

Lunch and dinner of day 1.
Tips for the guide and the driver.
Personal expenses
Other services not mentioned in the programme.

Please note:

It is imperative that the details of your departure flight are provided to your travel agent, no later than 30 days before the start date of your cruise, to secure the proper private transfer.

Contact of your hotel:

Phoenicia Hotel
The Mall Floriana
FRN 1478, MALTA
Telephone number: +356 2122 5241

Duration of the visits are given as a guide only. The order of the visits may be reversed. To know your PONANT flight schedule, please contact your travel agent; it is also indicated on your electronic ticket included in your travel documents.

Total : AU$960

Price is per person, based on double occupancy, based on availability.

Noto, Baroque town

4h00

Depart by coach from the port through the countryside, passing through villages and almond groves as you make your way to Noto, the second largest town in Syracuse province and the best example of Sicilian Baroque architecture on the island.

You will cross on foot the Public Gardens, where it is possible to admire the busts of the artists who contributed to Noto’s urban culture and style.

Besides the 18th century Cathedral, currently under restoration after damage suffered during 1990 earthquake, other impressive buildings are the Churches of St Domenico and of St Charles (del Colleggio), the “Ducezio” Palace and “Villadorata” Palace.

Noto has been declared a Heritage site by UNESCO, who also provides financial support for the reconstruction of monuments destroyed during 1990 earthquake.

A refreshment will be offered at a local bar and then you will enjoy some free time to browse around before commencing the return drive to Syracuse.

Restoration works on the monuments of Noto (after damage suffered during the 1990 earthquake) are almost completed but access to church interiors might still be restricted. This excursion involves approximately 1.2 mile (2 km) of walking mostly over easy terrain, except for steps to enter churches. We recommend you wear comfortable walking shoes. Appropriate dress is recommended to enter religious sites (shoulders and knees must be covered). The palace visits are only outside visits. This tour is not recommended for guest with limited mobility.

Total : €90

According to availability, price per passenger.

Archaeological site & Ortygia

4h00

Depart the pier by coach and drive to the archaeological area, which you will reach after a short drive.

Visit the Roman Amphitheatre of Augustus, used for fights between gladiators and wild beasts, the Altar of Hieron, constructed in the 2ndcentury BC to celebrate the “Eleutherian Feast”, the Latomie of Paradise, huge caverns once used as prisons, the Ear of Dionysius, an enormous grotto with extraordinary echo and the Greek Theatre, one of the largest in the Hellenic World, constructed in the 5thcentury BC and successively enlarged.

Upon completion of the visit, re-board your coach for the short drive to Ortygia, which you will visit on foot. On Ortygia Island discover the Piazza Pancali (the ruins of the Temple of Apollo of the 6thcentury BC), Corso Matteotti, Archimede’s Place, Piazza Duomo. Visit the Cathedral in Baroque style, erected over the remains of the Doric Temple of Minerva: in the interiors, see the undamaged twelve Doric columns. Then visit the fountain of Arethusa, the nymph praised by Pindar and Virgilio in one of the most touching and fine myths. Several nobility palaces – majority of them originating in the 15th and 16th centuries – will be seen from outside during the walking tour.

Then, return to the port and your ship.

This excursion involves approximately 1.5 miles (2,5 km) of walking over uneven terrain and cobble stones as well as steps. We recommend you wear comfortable walking shoes and protect yourself from the sun. Appropriate dress is recommended to enter religious sites (shoulders and knees must be covered). This tour is not recommended for passengers with reduced mobility.

Total : €90

According to availability, price per passenger.

Meet Mr Mauceri, the puppeteer

2h00

From the pier, you will meet with your guide and start your walking tour through the Old Town of Syracusa, whose narrow streets are lined by old, Baroque-style houses with charming balconies. You will enjoy a photo stop at the Cathedral Square where the Baroque-style Cathedral can be seen (outside visit only), erected over the remains of the Doric Temple of Minerva.

You will continue your walking tour through the narrow streets in the heart of the historic center towards the artisan workshop of Daniel Mauceri, a famous pupeteer. Daniel, together with his family, carries-on the ancient tradition of the Opera dei Pupi.

In 2021 Daniel Mauceri was selected by the Michelangelo Foundation to be included in the Homo Faber Guide, which contains the best international artisan excellence. His private collection represents the fruit of years of hard work by the Vaccaro Mauceri family. Upon your arrival, Daniel will explains all the processing stages for the creation of a Sicilian puppet and will show you how to move it during a show.

Finally, you will walk back to your ship.

This tour involves 1,3 miles (2,5 kms) of walking on mainly flat but cobblestoned floor with some steps. We recommend you wear comfortable clothes and shoes. This visit is limited to 15 participants. Being an immersive tour, relying on a single artisan availabilty, please note that in case of force majeure, the tour might be cancelled without prior notice.

Total : €100

According to availability, price per passenger.

Walking tour of Gallipoli, pearl of the Ionian Sea

3h00

Fall under the spell of one of Puglia’s jewels, Gallipoli, listen to its history in the old town’s maze of narrow lanes and admire its historic and architectural heritage.

A visit through its enigmatic lanes is like a journey back in time, a living exploration of the cultural strata that make Gallipoli such a rare pearl. Time here sometimes seems to stand still. Near the port, where your guided tour will begin, the fisherman are hard at work. Some are gathering together the catch of the day, whereas others are repairing their nets. Off in the distance, the gates of the old town open onto a maze of narrow lanes edged withbright- and warm-coloured dwellings, where the shade of the buildings draws a mystical labyrinth. Each street corner tells its own story of this medieval city, with its multiple heritages and cultural influences. Take the time to listen to the stories told by your local guide, as you admire the surprising St. Agatha’s Cathedral, its columns and its stunning baroque frescoes.

The sun-drenched hills of Gallipoli, bathed by the blue waters of the Mediterranean, made it a regional stronghold in olive-oil production as of the 15th century. The exports of this “liquid gold” were so significant that its production was stored in the four corners of the city in underground cisterns dug out of the local limestone, called carparo. You will have the opportunity to discover the production techniques that were used in the past, as you visit one of the 35 recently renovated underground oil mills.

This excursion includes three hours of walking on uneven surfaces. This visit is not accessible for persons with reduced mobility or in a wheelchair. We recommend that you wear comfortable walking shoes and sun protection.

Total : €50

According to availability, price per passenger.

Lecce, a Baroque jewel

5h00

Stroll around Lecce, the "Baroque Florence", and discover the countless churches, palaces and monuments carved out of this soft and almost golden limestone that gives the city a glowing look, like the chubby cherubins that decorate its façades.

A veritable open-air museum, Lecce is a microcosm of Baroque splendours, located only one hour's drive from Gallipoli. The cherubins, gargoyles, plant patterns, columns and capitals, each more extravagant than the last, are legion here - to the extent that the city lays claim to its own style, the "Barocco Leccese"- since the sculptors and architects of the 16th and 17th centuries had a field day with the regional stone, a marvel of malleability and delicacy.

The Centro Storico historic centre is proof of this, with its cobbled streets and shady squares teeming with incredible rococo treasures, including the Basilica of Santa Croce - with a constellation of sublime ornaments - and the Governor's Palace.

Not far from there, on the Piazza Santa Oronzo, the palazzos, church and Roman amphitheatre dating from the 2nd century try to outdo each other with their beauty.

A few metres away, the Piazza del Duomo, in spectacular golden monochrome, proudly displays a cathedral, its bell tower and the archbishop's palace, making it one of Italy's most beautiful squares. Your exploration of the city centre will finish with a gourmet break in a café.

· This excursion involves a coach journey to Lecce as well as walking 3 kilometres (1.9 miles) on uneven surfaces, with some steps to negotiate. We recommend you wear comfortable walking shoes and sun protection. Appropriate clothing is recommended when visiting places of worship: trousers for men, and skirts covering the knees for women. The tasting is included in your excursion.

Total : €100

According to availability, price per passenger.

Boat ride and visit to a monastery in Paleokastritsa

4h30

Discover "the Greek Capri" and its sea caves and head for Lakones, a village perched up high.

After a 30-minute coach ride, you will reach the Paleokastritsa region, located to the north-west of the city of Corfu and famous for its exceptional natural beauty. Also known as "the Greek Capri", it features small sandy coves bathed by turquoise waters and dominated by rocky outcrops covered in pines and cypress trees.

You will take a 30-minute boat ride to discover the famous Nafiska, St. Nicholas and Blue Eye sea caves. Once back on the beach, you take the bus to visit the 13th century Byzantine Monastery dedicated to Virgin Mary.

You will continue your visit to the traditional village of Lakones, which sits atop a craggy mountain. From here, you can enjoy breathtaking views over the island. Enjoy an Ouzo, the anised-flavoured Greek alcoholic drink, with some mezze before heading back to the pier and your ship in Corfu.

This tour is not advised for persons with reduced mobility. We recommend wearing comfortable shoes, a swimsuit, sun protection, and bringing a towel.

Total : €95

According to availability, price per passenger.

Corfu Town & Mon Repos Palace

4h00

From the pier, you will board your coach to Mon Repos Palace.

The Palace was built by the British Commissioner Sir Adam Maitland in 1828, as a gift to his beautiful Corfiot wife. It was used as the Summer Residence of the High Commissioners, while their official residence was the Palace of St. Michael and St. George located in the town of Corfu. Today Mon Repos belongs to the Ministry of Culture and the Municipality of Corfu. It houses a museum with mainly local finds from ancient Corfu.

Then, re-board your coach for a short transfer to Corfu city centre. Upon arrival, follow your guide through the narrow cobbled-stoned serpentine streets of the Old Town known as "kandounia" and charming little "piazzas" (squares) built by the Venetians in the 14th century. During your walking tour, you will pass by the arcades of "liston", the replica of the "Rue de Rivoli" of Paris and the Old Town Hall. You will also visit the Church of St. Spyridon, patron saint of Corfu.

At the end of the visit, you will return to the pier.

This tour involves two hours of walking and standing. There are some steps at the Mon Repos Palace. We recommend you wear comfortable walking shoes and protect yourself from the sun. Appropriate dress is recommended to enter religious sites (shoulders and knees covered).

Total : €65

According to availability, price per passenger.

Sacred site of Delphi

4h15

On the slopes of Mount Parnassus, the Delphi site opens the doors to a sacred world, where each stone summons up the glorious past of Ancient Greece.

Take the Sacred Way, the route walked in the past by pilgrims and kings of Antiquity, and go on a timeless journey. Here, the history of Greece and its legends overflow from everything: the ruins and ancient monuments, but also from the surrounding nature, which is still stunning.

This will jump out at you as you stand before the Temple of Apollo. It was constructed around the 7th century BC by two legendary architects, Trophonios and Agamedes; today, only a few vestiges remain of this Doric monument, decorated at the time with shields captured from the Persians. However, the foundations and columns that are still present seem to find an echo of their grandeur in the surrounding mountains.

The same goes for the ruins of the Senate of Delphi, as well as the vestiges of the Oracle of Delphi, where thousands of pilgrims gathered to receive the oracle of Pythia, high priestess of Apollo. The ancient theatre is also worth visiting.

A stone’s throw away from the sanctuary of Apollo, you will also be able to discover the Delphi Museum’s exhibitions, which present objects found at the archaeological site over the past century or more. Vases, bronzes, sculptures, precious offerings made to Apollo by pilgrims, objects of gold and ivory found under the slabs of the Sacred Way... they all recount the history of one of the most emblematic sites in Antiquity.

This excursion involves walking around 1.7 kilometres (around a mile) on uneven ground, with some steps. We recommend you wear comfortable walking shoes and protect yourself from the sun.

Total : €75

According to availability, price per passenger.

Hosios Loukas and charming Arachova

4h15

Marvel at the beauty of the Byzantine monastery of Hosios Loukas and take to the heights in the streets of Arachova, a small town perched 1,000 metres (3,000 feet) up on the illustrious Mount Parnassus.

The fortified monastery of Hosios Loukas, near Delphi, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most characteristic monuments of the second golden age of Byzantine art. Founded at the start of the 10th century by the hermit Saint Luke, it includes a central-plan church decorated with superb marble decor and admirable mosaics on a gold background. The main shrine is none other than the tomb of Saint Luke, originally situated in the crypt.

Your excursion will continue with a visit of Arachova. Built on the side of the mountain, this small town of 3,300 inhabitants is famous for its traditional stone houses spread out over the northern slopes of Mount Parnassus, between 800 and 1,100 metres up. As you explore its small streets on your own, allow yourself to be charmed by the hospitality of the inhabitants, the local handicrafts and the gastronomy. Indeed, the town is well-known for its wine and cheese, as well as for its homemade carpets and blankets.

This excursion involves walking an hour on uneven surfaces and cobblestone streets with many staircases (approximately 50 steps to the Monastery). We recommend you wear comfortable walking shoes and sun protection. Appropriate dress is recommended to enter religious sites (shoulders and knees must be covered).

Total : €65

According to availability, price per passenger.

The Acropolis & its museum

7h00

From the pier, you will board your coach and drive to the city centre of Athens. Your first stop will be the Acropolis, a symbol of the glory of ancient Greece, where you will climb its smooth marble steps as visitors have for centuries. History opens before you as you reach one of the masterpieces of classical architecture, the Propylaea, which serves as the entrance to the complex. See the Temple of Athena Nike, or Wingless Victory, and the Erechtheum with its classical Porch of Maidens, the Caryatids. Stand in awe of what is considered to be the most perfect example of classical architecture in the world, the Parthenon, designed as a shrine to Athena that, at one time, housed a massive gold and ivory statue of the warrior goddess.

Looking down from the Acropolis, see the two ancient theatres in its shadow - the Greek theatre of Dionysus, where the masterpieces of Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides and Aristophanes debuted to delighted audiences, and the grand Roman theatre of Herod Atticus, restored and used for concerts and classical plays during the summer Athens Festival.

You will then visit the splendid Acropolis Museum, which is an archaeological museum focused on the findings of the archaeological site of the Acropolis of Athens. The museum was built in order to house every artifact found on the rock and nearby, covering a large period of time, from the Greek Bronze Age to Roman and Byzantine Greece. The museum was founded in 2003, while the Organisation of the Museum was established in 2000. Finally, it opened to public on June 21, 2009. Nearly 4,000 objects are on exhibit, and the museum spans an impressive 14,000 square metres.

After the visit of the Museum, you will enjoy lunch at a restaurant in the Thesseion area.

You will then you board your coach again for the return drive to Lavrio port.

This tour involves extensive walk on uneven terrain with steps. This tour is not recommended for guests with mobility challenges. We recommend you wear light clothing, comfortable walking shoes and protect yourself from the sun with a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen. Pre-booking is required to participate in this tour.

Total : €210

According to availability, price per passenger.

Cape Sounion & Temple of Poseidon

2h30

Leave Lavrion for a beautiful drive along a scenic coastal road to Cape Sounion.

Here, you will visit the Temple of Poseidon. Built in the 5th century BC and standing some 60m/200 feet above the sea at the edge of a cliff, it is one of the most breathtaking and deeply moving sights in all of Greece. This is the place where the ancient Greeks worshipped their mighty god of the seas, Poseidon. The 15 (of the original 34) columns of the Doric order that are still standing belong to the temple built here during the Golden Age of Perikles’ Athens, over the relics of an older one. The architect is unknown, but it is believed to be the same who built the Theseion in Athens.

Following your visit, you will have some free time before you board your vehicle for the return drive to Lavrio port.

This tour involves walking on uneven terrain with steps. We recommend you wear light clothing, comfortable walking shoes and protect yourself from the sun with a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen.

Total : €75

According to availability, price per passenger.

Maria Callas Museum & Acropolis Museum

7h15

Plunge into both Ancient Greece and lyrical Greece by visiting two of Athens’ finest museums: the Acropolis Museum and its impressive collections of sculptures, and the museum devoted to Maria Callas, the legendary 20th-century Greek soprano.

On Mitropoleos Street, in the heart of Athens, the first museum dedicated to Maria Callas is a totally immersive journey through the life of the woman who changed the opera world forever. Texts, personal objects, correspondence, videos and rare audio extracts... over 1,000 pieces make up these impressive archives, which paint a picture of the magnetic diva. Discover her character, her life in Greece, her international career, the key figures in her life and the deep heritage she left behind.

Further on is the Acropolis Museum with its amazing collection of bas-reliefs, statues and ceramics dating from the Bronze Age through to Roman and Byzantine Greece. This was all found in excavations on the Acropolis: almost 4,000 statuary objects - including the Porch of the Caryatids which welcomes visitors - play with materials and the natural light of the building, glass being omnipresent here. Moreover, this is best experienced when you enter the Parthenon Gallery, inundated with light filtered through its glazed atrium towards the lower floors.

After this visit, you will walk to your restaurant to enjoy lunch. From the restaurant, nestling on a roof terrace, you will be able to admire the Acropolis!

The journey in air-conditioned transport takes approximately an hour and a quarter. The excursion involves an easy walk, with some steps. We recommend you wear light clothing and comfortable shoes. A maximum 25 persons per group is allowed inside the Maria Callas Museum. The visit inside the Maria Callas Museum will be led by the museum's English-speaking guide. Pre-booking is required to participate in this excursion.

Total : €200

According to availability, price per passenger.

Walking tour of Volos

3h30

After disembarking, you will board your coach for a short transfer to "Athanasakeion", the archaeological museum of Volos, housed in a neoclassical building built in 1909.

The Archaeological Museum of Volos houses numerous exhibits: Palaeolithic finds, vases and figurines from the Neolithic era, jewellery and painted funerary steles.

Following your visit, you will start your walking tour through Anavros park. The park, along the shore, is a lovely relaxing area in the city. It was laid out in 1920 by the architect N. Kitsikis and provides recreation and a breath of cool air to residents and visitors alike.

Then, you will go to the Agios Konstantinos & Eleni Church. The church, towering over the waterfront of Volos, is an elaborate piece of architecture, designed and built by the architect A. Zachos. Ever since its construction in 1936, the church has been a reference point in the city.

Before reaching your local restaurant where you will have the opportunity to taste local sea "mezedes" along with a glass of the famous local spirit "tsipouro", you will meet the Statue of Liberty dedicated to freedom, peace, and human rights.

You will finish your visit with some free time before following your guide for a walk back to the pier.

This excursion involves 2 hours of walking on uneven streets with some steps. We recommend you to wear comfortable shoes and protect yourself from the sun. Appropriate clothing must be worn when visiting the religious buildings: trousers for men and skirts covering the knees for the ladies. You will return to the ship on foot. This tour is limited to 75 participants.

Total : €65

According to availability, price per passenger.

Mythical villages of Pelion

3h30

According to Greek mythology, Mount Pelion was the place where the ancient Greek gods and heroes were entertained. It was also the home of the Centaurs.

You can easily understand why this place was chosen by the gods, once you have visited its picturesque villages (24 in total, only 2 villages are included on your tour). The villages are spread out along the slopes among chestnut and apple trees, with many springs of crystalline waters. Most of the villages have remained untouched over the centuries and the architecture of their houses is unique.

From the pier, embark your coach for a 30-minute drive to Portaria. Like many villages in Pelion, Portaria was developed around a monastery: the Monastery of Panagia Portarea (13th century). During your walking tour, you may admire the natural landscape, the cool springs, the mansion houses, the picturesque paths and the churches.

You will then continue to Makrinitsa, perhaps the most beautiful village in Pelion, and one of the prettiest in Greece. There you will stroll along the traditional houses, the old churches and the little shops with local delicacies. Afterwards you can rest and have a cup of coffee in the central square, under the shade of the plane trees. Apart from the view offered from here, you may also admire the frescoes painted by the famous painter Theophilos in one of the cafes in the square.

This excursion involves between 30 and 45 minutes of walking on paved, narrow and climb streets with some steps. We recommend you to wear comfortable shoes and protect yourself from the sun. A refreshment is included on your tour. This tour is limited to 120 participants.

Total : €90

According to availability, price per passenger.

Spectacular Meteora monasteries

8h30

Meteora is one of the most imposing sights in mainland Greece: giant rocks in bizarre shapes, ranging in height from 100 to 150 metres.After disembarking, you will board your coach for a two hours and a half drive, leaving the port of Volos to head Northwest crossing the agricultural plains of Thessaly. You will pass provincial towns such as Larissa and Trikala before reaching Kalambaka, a small town nestled at the footsteps of the Meteora rocks.A short restroom stop with refreshments will take place there before continuing to the "monasteries in the sky" of the Meteora.

Once a monastic community with 24 monasteries, Meteora now consists of only five active ones. They were first built in the 14th century by monks who searched for a place where they could stay isolated and pray undisturbed from the rest of the world. Until 1920 most of the Meteora monasteries could only be reached by getting into a net and hauled up by a rope. Fortunately, steps were cut afterwards to all of the monasteries.

You will visit two of the most beautiful and representative Monasteries of the valley, where you will admire icons, mosaics and frescoes, old manuscripts, domed roofs as well as breathtaking views of nearby monasteries and of the surrounding area.

After your visit to the monasteries, proceed to a local restaurant in Kalambaka for a Greek lunch.Then, via the same road passing Trikala and Larrisa, you will return to the port of Volos to join your ship, a 2h30 drive.

This excursion involves two hours of walking and standing with many steps. We recommend you to wear comfortable shoes and protect yourself from the sun. Appropriate clothing must be worn when visiting the religious buildings: trousers for men and skirts covering the knees for the ladies. The lunch and refreshment are included in your tour. This tour is limited to 150 participants.

Total : €135

According to availability, price per passenger.

The Ephesus archaeological site

2h45

From the pier, embark your coach for a 30-minute drive to the Ephesus site, one of the best-preserved ancient cities in the Mediterranean basin.

Originally dedicated to Cybele, the goddess of fertility, during the prehistoric times, the city was claimed by the Ionians for Artemis and later to Diana by the Romans.

Ephesus is one of the best-preserved Greco-Roman sites of the ancient world in the whole Mediterranean. Excavated since 1869, most of the main streets and public buildings have been unearthed and opened for visitors. Everything is here: town hall, dwellings, shops and even public toilets. A town of white marble dazzling in the sunshine, Ephesus is like a stone history book recounting the story of what daily life must have been like in the time of the Greeks and Romans.

During your tour, you will discover the Roman Ephesus. Most of the monuments were built during the reign of Emperor Augustus. Due to its location, the city was developed into two sections: the upper part of the city was the administrative sector with the town hall, a civil basilica and the Odeon aligned on the north side of the State Agora. The lower section facing the port houses religious, commercial and cultural buildings, such as the famous Celsius Library, Roman Villas, commercial agora and its theatre, which accommodated up to 24,000 spectators, and the stadium.

Residences of the town’s nobility are grouped on the slopes of Mount Pion and Mount Coressos on either side of Couretes Street, which links the town’s two districts. The site is also famous for its Hercules Gate, the ancient Scholastikia baths, the Marble Street and Hadrian’s temple.

This tour involves one hour and a half of walking on uneven ground with some steps. We recommend you wear comfortable walking shoes and protect yourself from the sun.

Total : €65

According to availability, price per passenger.

Ephesus & Roman Villas

3h45

From the pier, you will embark your coach for a 30-minute drive to the Ephesus site, one of the best-preserved ancient cities in the Mediterranean basin.

Originally dedicated to Cybele, the goddess of fertility, during the prehistoric times, the city was claimed by the Ionians for Artemis and later to Diana by the Romans. Ephesus is one of the best-preserved Greco-Roman sites of the ancient world in the whole Mediterranean. Excavated since 1869, most of the main streets and public buildings have been unearthed and opened for visitors. Everything is here: town hall, dwellings, shops and even public toilets. A town of white marble dazzling in the sunshine, Ephesus is like a stone history book recounting the story of what daily life must have been like in the time of the Greeks and Romans.

During your tour, you will discover the Roman Ephesus. Most of the monuments were built during the reign of Emperor Augustus. Due to its location, the city was developed into two sections: the upper part of the city was the administrative sector with the town hall, a civil basilica and the Odeon aligned on the north side of the State Agora. The lower section facing the port houses religious, commercial and cultural buildings, such as the famous Celsius Library, Roman Villas, commercial agora and its theatre, which accommodated up to 24,000 spectators, and the stadium.

You will start your tour at the upper gate of Ephesus, which is also known as the Magnesium Gate. Your guide will lead you on a leisurely downhill walking tour through Ephesus’ marble streets, passing and pointing out all the historically important buildings on the way.

You will move on to the recently excavated Terrace Houses complex which are also known as the houses of the rich Ephesians. Located on the northern slope of Bulbul Mountain next to Curetes Street and opposite the Temple of Hadrian, these houses were built in the peristyle form with a courtyard surrounded by Ionic colonnades. They are finely decorated with mosaics and frescoes. Built in the period of Augustus, they were inhabited until the 7th century AD according to evidence from excavations.

Then, you will visit one of the most impressive sites of Ephesus, the Library of Celsus. Built in 135 BC by a son in homage to his father, this library is finely decorated with columns and sculptures.

Finally, after just a short walk away, you will join the Grand theatre where St Paul preached to the Ephesians, imploring them to give up their worship of Artemis and embrace the Christian faith.

This tour involves two and a half hours of walking on uneven ground with many steps. The surface can be slippery. We recommend that you wear comfortable walking shoes and protect yourself from the sun. This tour is limited to 40 participants.

Total : €70

According to availability, price per passenger.

City tour

2h30

Today, we will start exploring Alanya with its Archeological Museum. It was opened in 1967 with objects dating back to the Bronze Age. Some objects come from Ankara Anatolian Civilization Museum. The most important object in museum is bronze “Hercules” statue that has the dramatically story in 2nd century AD. There are antiques of bronze, marble, earthenware, glass and mosaic with rich ostotek (ash urn) and coin collection from periods of Archaic, Classic, Hellenistic, Roman, Bizantium in the museum.

Our next visit will be the Alanya Castle. Surrounded by walls with 6 km lengths and situated on 10 hectares of a peninsula, Castle of Alanya hosted Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, Seljuk and Ottoman civilizations. It is located approximately 250 metres above sea level and so the views from there are breathtaking.

Unknown about its history of establishment and by whom to found, geographer Scylax from 4th century BC mentioned Alanya as Coracesium at first. Strabon talking about Coracesium as specified its location on a very steep rock. Coracesium by convenience of its natural defence and its sheltered port became an ideal harbour for pirates and rebels in 2nd century BC.

Our last visit will be the Red tower, being one of the unique examples of the medieval Mediterranean defence structure from 13th century. Red Tower was built by order of Alaeddin Keyqubad I, the Seljuk ruler, to Ebu Ali Reha el Kettani who was a master builder from Aleppo in order to protect harbour, shipyard and Alanya Castle against attacks from the sea.

This tour involves approximately 1 h 30 of walking on uneven ground with a lot of cobble stones and steps at the Castle and at the Red Tower. We recommend you wear comfortable walking shoes and protect yourself from the sun.

Total : €75

According to availability, price per passenger.

Side theatre & Damlatas cave

4h15

From the pier, board your coach for about a 1-hour drive to the ancient city of Side, a stunningly situated seaside village where Marc Antony and Cleopatra played out one scene in their romantic saga. Side, meaning “pomegranate” in a long-lost local language, was an important seaport at the beginning of the first Millennium. You’ll walk through broad colonnaded streets lined by ancient buildings and to a central agora, where pirates once unloaded and sold their cargo.

Passing through the agora, you will admire Side’s 15,000-person theatre, which was built in the 2nd century AD. This theatre, once home to legendary gladiatorial bouts, was converted into a massive open-air church in the 5th century. Three temples lie on the fringes of the theatre, one of Dionysus, the god of wine, and two others dedicated to Apollo and to Artemis.

Side’s blossoming period was long ago, between the 2nd and 4th centuries AD, when the city prospered due to good relations with the Roman Empire. Earthquakes, Christian crusaders, and Arab raiders all took their toll on the city, however, and it was completely abandoned by the 10th century, left to be buried by the sands. It has recently experienced a revival, home to an eclectic but tasteful blend of ancient ruins and modern beach side hotels and cafés.

Our next visit will be the Damlatas Cave on the western side of the peninsula. This enormous chasm is covered with stalactites and stalagmites that continue to grow. With constant high temperatures and high humidity, the cave is called a “magic cure” for certain respiratory ailments, especially asthma.

You will then return to the pier.

This tour involves 1 h 30 of walking on uneven ground as well as a considerable number of stairs inside the theatre and the Damlatas cave. We recommend you wear comfortable walking shoes and protect yourself from the sun. The visit of Damlatas cave is not recommended for those with heart ailments.

Total : €85

According to availability, price per passenger.

DIRECT TRANSFER FROM ANTALYA PORT TO ANTALYA AIRPORT

Travel with peace of mind as PONANT organises your transfer between your port of disembarkation and the airport.

Antalya

After disembarkation procedures are completed, you will be greeted at the port by our local English-speaking representative.
You will then be directly transferred to the airport in time for check-in for the PONANT selected flight.

Your programme includes:

Transfer as mentioned in the programme.
Services of a local English-speaking guide.

Your programme does not include:

Tips for the driver and local guide.
Personal expenses and other services not mentioned in the programme.

To know your PONANT flight schedule, please contact your travel agent; it is also indicated on your electronic ticket included in your travel documents.

In the event of schedule changes of PONANT’s selected flight, your programme will be adapted to ensure the most seamless and enriching experience. The content of your revised programme will be updated on the PONANT website, in My Ponant space and on the PONANT app. The final programme will also be sent to you along with your cruise documents.

Total : AU$50

Price is per person, based on double occupancy, based on availability.

MAGICAL CAPPADOCIA (4NIGHTS)

(4 nuits)

Enhance your cruise and extend your trip with a carefully designed programme.

Enjoy a few days discovering Cappadocia’s unique scenery in the heart of Turkey. The exceptional landscapes, as beautiful as they are mystical, will fascinate you, as will the history of this striking region. From fairy chimney rock formations to cave dwellings and underground cities, embark on a journey where shimmering colours mingle with the aromas and magic of the Orient.

Day 1 – Antalya/Konya

After disembarkation procedures are completed, you will be greeted at pier by our local representative.

By road, you will immediately head for Konya, lying in Central Anatolia at an altitude of 1,000 metres (3,281 feet). From the Mediterranean region of Antalya, an approximately 4.5-hour-long road journey will take you to this holy city, the cradle of Sufism and the former capital of the Seljuk Empire. It is there that, in the 13th century, the mystic poet Jalal al-Din Rumi – also called “Mevlana”, meaning ‘erudite’ – founded the Mevlevi Order, also known as the “whirling dervishes”. Today, the city boasts prestigious religious monuments that attract a great many pilgrims, but it is also a significantly urbanised modern metropolis.

For lunch, you will enjoy traditional cuisine at a local restaurant in Konya.

You will then visit the Mevlana Museum, dedicated to the founding father of the whirling dervishes. This major pilgrimage site houses the former lodge of the Mevlevi Order and the mausoleum of the master, a masterpiece of Seljuk art built in 1274 after his death.

You will then be taken to the Dedeman Konya Convention Center 5*.

Check-in in your room.

Dinner and overnight at your hotel.

Day 2 – Konya/Cappadocia

Breakfast and check-out.

After breakfast, once you have completed your hotel check-out, you will leave Konya and cross the arid planes of Anatolia towards Cappadocia.
On the way (approximately 1.5 hours into the journey), you will stop at the Sultan Han Caravanserai. This roadside inn built in the 13th century afforded caravaners a place to rest and recover from the day's journey. Caravanserais, or hans in Turkish, supported the flow of commerce across a network of trade routes connecting Asia, North Africa and South-Eastern Europe. The Sultanhani han is one of the most well-preserved along the Silk Road linking Konya to Persia.
You will travel on for another couple of hours to reach Mustafapasa (Sinasos). Located 5 km (3 miles) south of Urgup, it is one of the most beautiful villages in Cappadocia. The town is famous for its Greek architecture. Greeks and Karamanlides (Turkish-speaking Christians) make up the majority of the population. The rest are Muslim Turks. Its sculpted wooden doors and facade decorations are very typical.

Lunch will be served in a local restaurant.

After lunch, you will head to Kaymakli to visit the UNESCO-listed, largest underground city in the region. Between the 6th and 10th centuries, the city was carved out of volcanic rock, up to a depth of more than 90 metres (295 feet). It is possible to go as deep as eight levels down through an intricate labyrinth of tunnels.
After another half-hour or so on the road, you will arrive at the 4* Argos In Cappadocia Hotel in the mid-afternoon.
Enjoy some free time to freshen up and rest.

Dinner will then be served in a local restaurant.

Overnight in the hotel.

Day 3 – Cappadocia

Very early in the morning (weather permitting), you will set off for a hot-air balloon ride to the heart of unique landscapes. The sunrise will take on another dimension.
Dawn is the best time to enjoy this unique experience, as the cooler, calmer air ensures peaceful and stable flights, as well as soft landings. Another advantage is that the superb colours and contrasts at daybreak provide ideal conditions for taking beautiful photos.
The excellent flying conditions allow the hot air-balloons to gently drift over spectacular and surreal landscapes featuring fairy chimneys, dovecotes hewn into the unique rock formations, orchards and vineyards, and impressive valleys.
The flight time will be around 45 minutes (subject to weather conditions and approval from local authorities).
The duration of your flight is around 45 minutes.

After your flight, you will return to your hotel to freshen up and breakfast.

Next, you will visit Pasabag, boasting the most striking fairy chimneys in Cappadocia, crowned with double and sometimes even triple rock caps. Even for this region, these formations are truly unique! The locals call them mushroom-shaped fairy chimneys. As you wander around Pasabag, you will see many vineyards.

After lunch, your discovery tour will continue with the Zelve Open-Air Museum, south of Avanos. It encompasses three valleys home to a multitude of crumbling cave dwellings, painted and carved churches, wine-making rooms and wheat grinding mills. Right at the back of the third valley are the deepest and most intact cave dwellings, with many details indicating what life must have been like here a thousand years ago.

Next, in Avanos, the capital of Turkish pottery, a workshop will teach you more about this wonderful local handicraft inherited from the Hittite period.

To wrap up this day spent amid fairy chimneys and Byzantine vestiges, you will stop for a wine tasting at a local vineyard with some of the oldest perched vines in the world. There, you will be able to taste fruity wines made from local grapes.

Back to your hotel.

Dinner will be on your own.

Overnight at the hotel.

Day 4 - Cappadocia

Breakfast at the hotel.

Your day will then be spent discovering this unique and colourful natural environment through some of the most well-known sites in the region (10- to 20-minute transfer between each visit).

On the road between Uchisar and Goreme, you will start by visiting Pigeon Valley. A short walk will enable you to discover the dovecote tradition in Cappadocia. The locals carve them out of the tuff formations called “fairy chimneys”.

Lunch will be served in a local restaurant.

After a short transfer (approximately 10 minutes), you will reach the Goreme Open-Air Museum, the most visited site of the monastic communities in Cappadocia, and one of the most famous sites in the centre of Turkey.

It is a complex comprising more than 30 churches and chapels carved out of rock and containing superb frescoes dating from the 9th century to the 11th. While the exterior seems relatively unremarkable, the interiors are designed in a typical Byzantine style, with a central dome and a floor plan in the shape of a cross or a rectangle. The largest and most well-preserved church in Goreme is Tokali Kilise. Its interior walls are covered in some of the most beautiful frescoes in the region, depicting scenes from the New Testament.

In the early evening, you will be attending a whirling dervish ceremony called “semah”. During this ritual dance, accompanied by Sufi music and symbolising a prayer and divine communion, the Mevlevi Order disciples spin around in a trance-like state.

Dinner at the hotel and overnight.

Day 5 – Cappadocia/Kayseri

After breakfast and check-out, time at leisure depending on your flight schedule.

You will then be transferred to the Kayseri airport in time for check-in for the PONANT selected flight or any other flight (provided that you have previously communicated your flight schedule to your travel agent).

Your hotels:

The 5* Dedeman Konya Convention Center Hotel is a modern and comfortable establishment 5 km (3 miles) out of the centre of Konya. Its well-appointed rooms, its restaurant serving Turkish and international cuisine, and its indoor pool will provide a relaxing setting.

The 4* Argos In Cappadocia Hotel is a former monastery in the village of Uchisar, now turned boutique hotel. Its interior reflects the cave-dwelling tradition yet offers every modern-day comfort. The hotel has been beautifully renovated by integrating the new structures into the heart of the vestiges with the utmost respect for the environment. Guests come here to press pause and take a break from the frantic pace of the modern world. Each room is unique and offers a private space. They are carved right out of the rock, celebrating the region’s cave-dwelling tradition. Lush gardens and sun-drenched terraces reveal picturesque panoramic views.

Upgraded rooms are also available depending on availability and on a supplement basis. Contact your travel professional for further detail.

Your programme includes:

1-night accommodation in Junior Suite at Dedeman Konya Convention Center 5*, (local standard) or similar, breakfast included.
3-night accommodation in Suite rooms at l’hôtel Argos In Cappadocia 4*, (local standard) or similar, breakfast included.
Meals as mentioned in the programme.
Beverage package during meals (bottled water + 1 soft drink or 1 local beer or 1 glass of wine and 1 coffee or tea). Excepted for the Lunch in Konya, No alcoholic beverages available around the Mevlana Museum Complex.
45-minutes hot air balloon flight (weather and local authorities permitting)
Transfers, visits, and entrance fees as mentioned in the programme.
The services of a local English-speaking guide and a local French-speaking guide during visits.

Your programme does not include:

Personal expenses.
Dinner on Day 3, Lunch on day 5.
Visa if necessary.
Tips for the driver and local guide.
Other services not mentioned in the programme.
Early check-in and late check-out.

Please note:

It is imperative that the details of your departure flight are provided to your travel agent, no later than 30 days before the start date of your cruise, to secure the proper private transfer.
Turkey’s unit is the Turkish Lira.
The distance between Cappadocia and Antalya is about 540 km (335 miles) and takes about 8 hours to cover by road. Since no domestic flights are possible on the itinerary dates, the package includes an overnight stay in Konya to make your trip more enjoyable.
Konya is a holy city and its region is one of the most conservative in Turkey. The traditional local restaurants, particularly those located near religious sites, do not sell alcoholic beverages. It is possible to order alcoholic beverages in the bars and restaurants of certain international hotels.
For the Mevlana Museum visit, clothing must cover the shoulders and legs. Women must cover their head, so a scarf is recommended.
Kaymakli Underground City: this visit is not recommended for anyone suffering from claustrophobia, respiratory problems, or who has difficulties walking. The passageways are very narrow and low, requiring visitors to hunch over (but not crawl). There is adequate light. Good walking shoes are recommended.
The hot-air balloon ride is subject to weather conditions. It may be postponed to the following day. In the event of a cancellation, the activity will be reimbursed.
The hot-air balloon ride requires the ability to stand in the basket for the duration of the flight (approximately 1 hour) and to crouch down with bended knees during the entire landing. The maximum weight for taking part in this activity is 90-100 kg. This activity is not recommended for anyone with respiratory problems.
Official in-room check-in time at 3:00 p.m.
Official time of check-out from the room at 12:00 p.m.
This programme is not suitable for people with reduced mobility.

Contact of your hotels:

Dedeman Konya Hotel & Convention Center
Esenler, Yeni Sille Cd. No: 1,
42080 Selçuklu/Konya, Turquie
Telephone number: (90) 332 221 66 00

Argos Cappadocia
Uchisar-Nevsehir
TURKEY
Telephone number: (90) 384 219 31 30.

Duration and order of the visits may vary. To know your PONANT flight schedule, please contact your travel agent; it is also indicated on your electronic ticket included in your travel documents.

Total : AU$4,470

Price is per person, based on double occupancy, based on availability.

The Mediterranean: in the Footsteps of Great Civilizations

Valletta - Antalya

Dates: 9/5/2024 to 19/5/2024

Your itinerary

Your trip in detail

Your ship L'AUSTRAL

Itinerary

Important trip details

Baggage

Choose your stateroom

Complete your trip

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Ports of Call & Excursions

9 May 2024 - Valletta

10 May 2024 - Syracuse, Sicily

11 May 2024 - Gallipoli

12 May 2024 - Corfu

13 May 2024 - Itea

13 May 2024 - Crossing the Corinth Canal

14 May 2024 - Lavrio (Athens)

15 May 2024 - Volos

16 May 2024 - Kusadasi

17 May 2024 - At sea

18 May 2024 - Alanya

19 May 2024 - Antalya

Noto, Baroque town

Archaeological site & Ortygia

Meet Mr Mauceri, the puppeteer

Walking tour of Gallipoli, pearl of the Ionian Sea

Lecce, a Baroque jewel

Boat ride and visit to a monastery in Paleokastritsa

Corfu Town & Mon Repos Palace

Sacred site of Delphi

Hosios Loukas and charming Arachova

The Acropolis & its museum

Cape Sounion & Temple of Poseidon

Maria Callas Museum & Acropolis Museum

Walking tour of Volos

Mythical villages of Pelion

Spectacular Meteora monasteries

The Ephesus archaeological site

Ephesus & Roman Villas

City tour

Side theatre & Damlatas cave

VISIT OF MDINA AND PALAZZO PARISIO

VISIT OF MDINA, GOURMET LUNCH AND WINE TASTING (1 NIGHT)

Noto, Baroque town

Archaeological site & Ortygia

Meet Mr Mauceri, the puppeteer

Walking tour of Gallipoli, pearl of the Ionian Sea

Lecce, a Baroque jewel

Boat ride and visit to a monastery in Paleokastritsa

Corfu Town & Mon Repos Palace

Sacred site of Delphi

Hosios Loukas and charming Arachova

The Acropolis & its museum

Cape Sounion & Temple of Poseidon

Maria Callas Museum & Acropolis Museum

Walking tour of Volos

Mythical villages of Pelion

Spectacular Meteora monasteries

The Ephesus archaeological site

Ephesus & Roman Villas

City tour

Side theatre & Damlatas cave

DIRECT TRANSFER FROM ANTALYA PORT TO ANTALYA AIRPORT

MAGICAL CAPPADOCIA (4NIGHTS)

Dates:
9/5/2024
to 19/5/2024