Greek Odyssey with Lauren's Little Library

Tonight you will be picked up from your hotel and transferred to Syntagma square, where you will start your Plaka walk. Finish at a local taverna for your welcome dinner. Take a stroll in the Plaka, the oldest neighborhood in Athens. Under the shadow of the Acropolis and its ancient temples, the neighborhood has a village feel with narrow cobblestone streets lined with tiny shops, tavernas and cafes. A perfect introduction to Greece! Packing essentials: Comfortable walking shoes, non -Slip. Walking Distance: approximately 1.3miles/2km

For dinner you will try Greek cuisine. Dinner is included at a local taverna with set menu consists of: Family style shared starters, choice of 1 main dish, dessert and 1 glass of wine or 1 beer or 1 soft drink. Water and bread are also included. Final menu and restaurant to be determined.

For those who plan on arriving early, join me on an ambling stroll through the city centre to visit a whole bunch of notable bookstores. I've marked out 10 in total!

Following our welcome dinner, let's get cosy and dig into the moments our novel made us squeal, cry, or kick our feet. For our first meeting, we’ll cover the first third of the novel, which will be chosen by all of us at least a month before our trip. P.S. The exact dates and times for our book club meetings are not written in stone. If, for example, everyone is shattered and desperate to head to bed, I'll push this out a day. Not a big deal at all xx

Overnight in Athens.

Greek Continental buffet breakfast at the hotel is included. A typical Greek Continental breakfast usually includes: Coffee, tea, bread, jams, honey, yogurt, milk, croissant, cake, cereals, seasonal fruits, eggs, cold cuts, bacon & sausages (Above items can be vary)

Departing from your hotel after breakfast, your private coach will transfer you to the site of the Acropolis. Explore the mighty Parthenon, built in the mid 5th century. This magnificent structure sits above a compound of temples known as the Acropolis of Athens, overlooking the city. Take a step back in time as you wander through the Acropolis amongst ruins and architectural marvels. Learn about the ancient Greek civilization and visit the site of the first Olympic Games. This tour includes walking on uneven ground. The sights visited at parts include uphill walking on unpaved ground. Please wear comfortable walking shoes, non slip, and pack a hat, sunscreen & water. You will be walking approximately 2.6miles. At the end of the tour you will be transferred back to your hotel for free time.

The old home to the National Library of Greece until it outgrew the space and moved to its new home in 2018, Vallianeio Megaron is a stunning building constructed with white Pentelic marble, adorned with Doric columns and boasts a Renaissance-style twin staircase. We'll take turns capturing gorgeous photos of one another at this incredible landmark.

Ever wanted to learn how to transform your books into one-of-a-kind works of art? I'll share everything I've learned about annotations, not just the way I tend to annotate. That way, when we wrap the workshop, you'll have tonnes of options that speak to both your aesthetic and investment level.

Overnight in Athens.

Hotel will provide breakfast boxes due to very early morning departure. Breakfast boxes usually includes: 1 cold sandwich, 1 seasonal fruit or carton juice box, 1 cereal bar or 1piece of cake & 1 bottle of water. Final meal to be determined.

Today you will take a high speed ferry to Santorini. There is a snack bar & toilets on board the ship.

Tonight you will be transferred from your hotel to Oia to explore the village at sunset. Oia (pronounced ‘ee-yah’) is well known for its beautiful sunsets, blue domed churches and traditional white homes. The narrow cobblestoned streets have plenty of tourist shops, restaurants and cafes. Situated on top of rugged cliffs, Oia offers breathtaking views of the Volcano of Santorini and the island of Thirassia. Your expert tour leader will walk you around this amazing village and explore its attractions before enjoying Sunset. You will be walking up and down stairs and hills so please be sure to wear comfortable walking shoes. You will be walking for roughly 1.3 miles.

Perched on the cliffs of this volcanic island in a postcard-worthy Greek villa, Atlantis Books has been making must-visit lists for almost 20 years. In 2004, two Oxford students were on holiday in Santorini, got drunk and decided to open a bookshop. Despite niggling doubts once they sobered up, after graduating they filled up a van and drove back. They run a small printing press in the back room and have signs saying you can ‘rent a cat’ while you read.

Our second of three book club meetings. I can't wait to see which book all of you pick!

Overnight in Santorini.

Greek Continental buffet breakfast at the hotel is included. A typical Greek Continental breakfast usually includes: Coffee, tea, bread, jams, honey, yogurt, milk, croissant, cake, cereals, seasonal fruits, eggs, cold cuts, bacon & sausages (Above items can be vary)

Today you will be transferred in a private coach to the trailhead. Hiking along the rim of the volcanic caldera offers some of the most breathtaking views on the island. See the famous white yposkafa (translates to ‘dug into a rock’) homes perched on the edge of sheer cliffs, dotted here and there by vineyards and colorful local flora. All surrounded by clear, turquoise water. Your hike starts from Fira Village and finishes at Oia Village and you will be transferred back to the hotel once complete. On the hike, the path consists of sidewalks, cobblestone, gravel & dirt so please be sure to wear comfortable walking shoes. You will be walking roughly for 6 miles. The hike can get quite hot so we recommend a hat, sunscreen, water and light snacks.

Soak up some rays, try out your new annotation skills, or simply get lost in your current read. You can think of this as quiet time together ❤️

Overnight in Santorini.

Greek Continental buffet breakfast at the hotel is included. A typical Greek Continental breakfast usually includes: Coffee, tea, bread, jams, honey, yogurt, milk, croissant, cake, cereals, seasonal fruits, eggs, cold cuts, bacon & sausages (Above items can be vary)

Depart from hotel by private coach for 30 minutes for your optional Santorini Wine tour. Santorini is considered to have the best wine in Greece because of its unique climate and the mineral content of its volcanic soil. Join the tour and sample some of the best wine Santorini has to offer! You will visit 2 local wineries, and 3 tastings per vineyard are included as well as local bites. Local bites included could be cold cuts, bread sticks or cheese bites and salami, & olives. Final menu & wineries to be determined. At the end of the tasting you will be transferred back to your hotel for the remainder of the day.

For those who aren't joining the wine tour, if you walk 10 minutes down the road from our hotel you'll find Prospect Books. It's a bit of a mishmash, so as long as you don't expect to find a Barnes & Noble or Waterstones, it's worth visiting to see what they have on offer.

Our third and final session dedicated to chatting about our novel!

Soak up some rays, try out your new annotation skills, or simply get lost in your current read. You can think of this as quiet time together ❤️

Overnight in Santorini.

Greek Continental buffet breakfast at the hotel is included. A typical Greek Continental breakfast usually includes: Coffee, tea, bread, jams, honey, yogurt, milk, croissant, cake, cereals, seasonal fruits, eggs, cold cuts, bacon & sausages (Above items can be vary)

Today you will take a high speed ferry to Athens. There is a snack bar & toilets on board the ship.

Farewell dinner included at a local taverna with set menu consists of: Family style shared starters, choice of 1 main dish, dessert and 1 glass of wine or 1 beer or 1 soft drink. Water and bread are also included. Final menu and restaurant to be determined.

We'll cap off our week-long Greek adventure with a delightful book swap. Bring along a beloved book from your collection and exchange it for a new literary gem. (Bonus points if it's one you've annotated, but no pressure if it isn't!) It's a chance to share stories, discover new authors, and leave with a tangible representation of all the new friends we've made 😭🫶

Instead of staying up late reading, we'll swap our books for cocktails and mocktails and explore a bit of the Athens nightlife!

Overnight in Athens.

Greek Continental buffet breakfast at the hotel is included. A typical Greek Continental breakfast usually includes: Coffee, tea, bread, jams, honey, yogurt, milk, croissant, cake, cereals, seasonal fruits, eggs, cold cuts, bacon & sausages (Above items can be vary).