7 Days Greece — Athens, Santorini & Mykonos

Land at Athens Eleftherios Venizelos Airport and transfer to your hotel near the Acropolis. Evening walk through Plaka — the oldest neighbourhood of Athens, its whitewashed houses draped with bougainvillea beneath the lit Acropolis. Dinner of souvlaki, tzatziki, and spanakopita at a taverna in Monastiraki.

Morning ascent of the Acropolis: the Propylaea gateway, the Temple of Athena Nike, and the Parthenon — the greatest surviving monument of Classical antiquity, built in 447 BC. Walk to the Acropolis Museum to see the original Elgin Marbles friezes in situ with the Parthenon visible through the glass walls. Afternoon at the Ancient Agora and the Temple of Hephaestus.

Short flight to Santorini (45 min). Transfer to Fira — the island's clifftop capital 260 m above the volcanic caldera. Afternoon walk the caldera rim path to Imerovigli. Evening sunset at Oia — arrive early to claim a terrace, watch the sun sink into the caldera in a famous display of orange and pink that no photograph fully captures.

Full-day catamaran cruise around the caldera: hike on the active Nea Kameni volcano (still emitting sulphur steam), bathe in the natural hot springs, snorkel at the Red Beach where the crimson cliffs meet the Aegean. Wine tasting at a Santorini winery in the late afternoon — Assyrtiko grown in volcanic soil has no parallel in the wine world.

Morning visit to the iconic blue-domed churches of Oia for photography in the morning light (cooler and less crowded). Ferry to Mykonos (2.5 hours). Check into your hotel and explore the iconic windmills on Kato Myli hill overlooking the Aegean, then wander the narrow marble-paved lanes of Mykonos Town (Hora) with its bougainvillea-draped Cycladic architecture.

A leisurely Mykonos day. Morning at Paradise Beach or Super Paradise Beach — crystal-clear Aegean waters lapping white pebbles. Afternoon wander to Little Venice — a row of fishing houses built to the water's edge, their balconies hanging above the sea, legendary for sundowner cocktails. Look out for Petros the pelican, Mykonos's unofficial mascot.

Final Greek breakfast — feta, olives, honey, and fresh bread — then transfer to Mykonos Airport. Return flight via Athens. Board your onward flight to India carrying olive oil, Greek herbs, and the caldera forever imprinted on your retinas.