SHORE EXCURSIONS

The old port of Mandraki, where this tour begins, is believed to be the site of the Colossus of Rhodes, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Historic sites abound in Rhodes, as you will soon discover after enjoying a panoramic view of the city and Rhodes Bay from atop Monte Smith.

Visit the fully restored 14th-century Grand Masters Palace, which contains beautiful alabaster windows, French and Venetian furniture, and floor mosaics with scenes from Greek mythology. It served as a fortress in times of war, and a residence for the Grand Master and a meeting place for senior knights during times of peace. As you continue down the Avenue of the Knights, where the knights lived, the cobblestoned street seems to exude a noble and somewhat forbidden aura, as its lofty buildings stretch in an unbroken wall of honey-colored stone, punctuated by huge doorways and arched windows. At the conclusion of this tour, you can either return to ship, or remain in the old town to explore further on your own.

A beautiful drive along the east coast of Rhodes to Lindos will take you past picturesque little villages and through a splendid landscape of orange and lemon groves, gnarled olive trees, and lovingly tended vineyards.

An ancient Doric town, Lindos is dominated by a magnificent acropolis, located atop a strategic hill overlooking the bay. The views are absolutely breathtaking on the walk to the summit, especially of the waterscape below where St. Paul is said to have landed in 58 A.D. Other highlights of the famed archaeological site are the ruins of a walled fortress built in the 15th century and the remains of the ancient Temple of the Lindian Athena. It was was consecrated to the goddess Athena and also named for Lindia, a pre-Hellenic divinity.

Upon descending from the acropolis, you can meander freely through the narrow streets and past clusters of whitewashed houses that lend Lindos its distinct look. A haunt of artists for years, the village also boasts a myriad of shops carrying locally made jewelry, leather goods and ceramics.

Rhodes is rich in history and teeming with significant monuments to the past, one of the most stunning being the Grand Masters Palace.

As a scenic precursor to the palace, you will drive along the old port of Mandraki, thought to be the site of the amazing Colossus of Rhodes, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Then, for a overview of the city and the beautiful bay of Rhodes, you will continue on to Agios Stefanos, more commonly known as Mount Smith. It was named in honor of the English admiral who kept an observation post here in the early 1800s to watch over Napoleon's fleet.

Back in Rhodes, you will enter the medieval Old Town through the dramatic Amboise Gate, the closest point to the Grand Masters Palace. Constructed in the 14th century as a reflection of the Palace of the Popes, this grandiose palace was largely rebuilt in the early 1900s after an ammunition explosion years before. Today, the palace is a museum.

While driving along the east coast of Rhodes to Lindos, you will catch glimpses of the turquoise sea and delight in the landscape, which is carpeted with orange and lemon groves and dotted with classic Greek vineyards.

One of the island's most impressive lookout points is the Acropolis of Lindos, where you will enjoy a panoramic view of serene St. Paul's Bay. Atop the acropolis stand numerous temples, sanctuaries and residences, including the 4th century B.C. Doric temple of Athena Lindia and the remains of the Governor's quarters.

Following lunch at a local restaurant, you will return to Rhodes Town for a fascinating walking tour. Replete with medieval treasures, this section of the city is a joy to explore and part of the fun is meandering through the mazelike streets. Sites to be seen in the Old Town include the Palace of the Knights and Streets of the Knights, and the Archaeological Museum. You will also find architectural details throughout the city, including old coats-of-arms that adorn many of the homes. Following your guided tour, some free time will be made available for you to further explore the Old City at your leisure and you may wish to independently visit the Archaeological Museum. After approximately 1-hour, you will re-board your coach for the return transfer to the pier.

From the pier, proceed by air-conditioned motor coach through the New Town of Rhodes, passing Mandraki Harbour and Fort Nicholas, where two bronze deer statues mark the site where the Colossus of Rhodes is believed to have stood. Continue up to Monte Smith hill, from here enjoy a panoramic view of Rhodes, the ancient stadium and the Temple of Apollo. Continue your drive to the village of Koskinou, where you will visit the Rhodian House, a traditional 19th-century home decorated with local art ceramic plates and coble stone floors. A leisurely walk into the village will bring you to a local home, where you will have the chance to view a traditional village home. A leisurely walk into the village will bring you to a local Greek Orthodox Church. Continue your drive to Archangleos.

This area has a tradition of pottery making. You will have the opportunity to observe their techniques of the potter's craft. After your glimpse into the traditions of Rhodes is complete we will have a refreshment at the fishing settlement of Kolymbia , re-board your motor coach for the return journey to Rhodes and your ship.

Paddle a kayak along the extraordinarily beautiful eastern shore of Rhodes with relaxing stops along the way to swim, snorkel or simply admire the scenery. After an introductory briefing to help you maximize the kayaking experience, the adventure will begin at Kathara Beach, a lengthy stretch of sand where the seas are typically calm. As you paddle along at a comfortable pace, you will pass one spectacular setting after another, including Mandomata Beach and an uninhabited rocky promontory that you will round on the way to Anthony Quinn Beach. Originally known as Vagies Beach, it was renamed for the actor that purchased it after filming “The Guns of Navarone” on Rhodes in 1960. The pier that you will see across the small cove is named for the movie. There will be several opportunities where the water is especially calm to pause for a refreshing swim and to snorkel.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Kayak along the eastern shore of Rhodes between two of its loveliest beaches.
• Paddle to Anthony Quinn Beach, a beautiful stretch of sand that the actor once owned.
• Pause to swim and snorkel where the transparent waters are particularly calm.

Meander through the ancient sites within the acropolis of Lindos using 3D technology that shows the buildings as they appeared in ancient times. After departing from the pier, you will enjoy a leisurely drive along the island’s eastern coast. Expect spectacular views of the sea and numerous orange, lemon and olive groves. On the approach to Lindos, you will pass beach-rimmed St. Paul’s Bay, where Saint Paul supposedly landed to preach in the 1st century.

Continuing on, you will soon reach Lindos, a beautiful town of whitewashed “sugar cube” buildings tucked into the hillside. An ancient acropolis crowns the hill and looms over Lindos. For a closer look at the acropolis, you will ascend the town’s narrow gently winding streets on foot. Be sure to notice that some of the streets are distinctively paved with black and white pebbles from the sea.

Nearby, you will find the Doric Temple of Athena, which was constructed about 2,500 years ago, an ancient walled fortress and the Byzantine Church of St. John. Although only remnants of these architectural treasures remain, the ruins are still fabulous and lend great insight into life here centuries ago.

To enhance your understanding of the buildings, you will use an electronic tablet with augmented reality software. Simply point the tablet’s camera at the ruins, and the buildings will appear on the screen in 3D, just as they looked in ancient times.

Following this enlightening look at Lindos, you will return to the pier.

Follow a theology expert through medieval Rhodes and explore the mosques, synagogues and churches that reveal the city’s history and religious tolerance. After departing from the pier, you will soon pause for photos at Monte Smith, a hilltop named for a distinguished British admiral in the French Revolutionary Wars. From this spectacular vantage point, you will enjoy a bird’s-eye view of Rhodes, the Temple of Apollo and a stadium from the Hellenistic period built on the slopes of Monte Smith. You will then enter the medieval section of Rhodes through the St. Athanasios Gate, which leads to a treasure-trove of religious sites.

The theology expert guide will elaborate on how the various denominations peacefully coexisted side by side. You will see a mosque built during the 16th-century rule of Ibrahim Pasha, the oldest synagogue in Greece, and Catholic Church of Santa Maria, which features beautiful frescoes. Other religious highlights include the Orthodox church of St. Fanourios. It is easy to differentiate the different architectural styles within the latter, as the ruling Ottomans and Italians made several additions over the centuries. The Church of St. Fanourios still functions as the parish church. Following your immersion into the diverse religions that have been practiced in Rhodes, you will pause for a snack at a café before returning to the pier.

Snap selfies at the most photogenic spots in and around Rhodes, many of them iconic attractions that define the cities. To ensure the best possible results, a selfie expert guide will offer tips so you can capture just the right angle, lighting and composition for every shot. Plus, selfie sticks and selfie photo frames are available. Your pictures will be ideal for posting on social media and sharing in other ways.

As you walk and ride through Rhodes, you will pause at designated selfie stops that include:
• Kallithea Beach
• Madraki Port
• Monde Smith Viewpoint
• Acropolis Of Rhodes
• Palace of the Grand Masters
• Panagia Bourgo Church

HIGHLIGHTS

• Take inspiring selfies at the most photogenic attractions in Rhodes.
• Follow tips from your selfie expert guide to ensure the very best pictures.
• Learn the historical significance of the locales while enjoying their dramatic settings.
• Admire the panoramas at Kallithea Beach and from atop the Monde Smith viewpoint.
• Behold the Palace of the Grand Masters, a fortress with seemingly impenetrable towers.
• Pose in front of the Acropolis of Rhodes, which dates to the 5th century B.C.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Wear casual, weather-appropriate clothing and comfortable walking shoes.
• Bring a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen.
• Be sure your phone or camera is fully charged.

Soak up the rural atmosphere in several inland villages while tasting classic Greek specialties such as sourdough bread, stuffed grape leaves and ouzo.

After departing from the pier, you will drive inland through beautiful pine forests to the village of Psinthos, a small farming community. While pausing at a bakery, you will see how Greek sourdough bread is made from scratch and baked in a wood-fired oven. You can expect it to be an enlightening and genuine look at traditional village life.

Continuing on, you will drive through other charming mountain villages and pass a former Italian-built sanatorium before arriving in Apollona. While walking through the village, you will visit a historical church and then pause at a café for a glass of ouzo and a meze. The drink is synonymous with Greek life, especially when paired with a traditional appetizer.

More scenic vistas await you on the way to the village of Salakos, as it is surrounded by dense forests, ancient olive groves and vineyards with grape varieties such as athiri. The grape leaves are used for dolmades, which you will sample in one of the village squares, as the guide elaborates on their preparation. The leaves are typically stuffed with rice, minced meat and fresh herbs, and as you will discover dolmades are extraordinarily tasty.

Grapes are also grown to produce souma, although this aperitif can also be made with figs. After sampling a glass of souma, you will be served a traditional barbecue lunch.

OVERVIEW

Dine at a waterfront restaurant on seafood dishes and other specialties that reflect the local Greek cuisine. The venue for this dining experience will be Argo, a restaurant that overlooks sheltered Haraki Bay on the island’s eastern shore. The setting couldn’t be lovelier as the beach is a blend of sand and pebbles, and the water is typically calm and brilliant blue. Argo isn’t just close to the water, several of the exterior stairways lead right into the sea. As is only fitting, the lunch menu will feature a variety of succulent seafood dishes and mezes that highlight other fresh locally sourced ingredients. You can expect the meal to be leisurely, immensely satisfying and indicative of the local cuisine. Back in Rhodes Town, you will pause to snap pictures of another photogenic attraction – the Old Town. UNESCO declared it a World Heritage site for its medieval architectural character.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Savor a lunch of local Greek cuisine at a restaurant that couldn’t be closer to the sea.
• Enjoy the restaurant’s waterfront setting and authentic Greek dishes that include seafood.
• Pause for photos of Old Town Rhodes, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

This excursion is for guests that use a cane/walker, have limited mobility issues or for companions of those guest that have booked mobility equipment tour.

Those guests that are fully dependent on their mobility device please book: RHO_A2 Accessible- Mobility Equipment: Medieval Rhodes & Lindos.

Tour includes step-free routes, shorter distances and no stairs. Accessible restrooms with wide doors for wheelchairs are present along the tour route. Vehicles are adapted with an access ramp (or lift where available) to accommodate a limited number of wheelchairs and/or mobility scooters. Guides are not allowed to push wheelchairs; therefore, guests needing special assistance must be accompanied by an able-bodied.

Gain a greater understanding of Greek history by wandering through the medieval Old Town of Rhodes and through Lindos, a whitewashed town known for its “sugar cube” buildings. You will see much of the architecture that earned the Old Town a UNESCO World Heritage site designation, including the former stronghold of the Knights of Saint John of Jerusalem. Even so, the highlight may be the Palace of the Grand Masters, an extraordinary fortress that was re-constructed in the 1930s after an 1856 explosion leveled much of the original. While admiring the palace exterior, don’t miss the seemingly impenetrable towers that offered defenders panoramic views of the port. In Lindos, you will have the opportunity to explore its church of Panagia, which dates to the 14th century. Interior features include a colorful fresco depicting The Last Judgment and intricate pebble- stone mosaics. Outside, you will see the seashore where St. Paul supposedly landed in 58 AD.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Explore the medieval Old Town of Rhodes, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
• See architectural treasures including the imposing Palace of the Grand Masters.
• Admire the iconic “sugar-cube” buildings in Lindos that are tucked into the hillside.
• View the colorful mosaics and a fresco of The Last Judgment in a church in Lindos.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.