TOUR CODE: 15300

GRADE 3/Lifestyle

SEPTEMBER 2016

07 September 14 September

-

21 September 28 September

15 Days

ISLAND HOPPING IN THE DODECANESE A journey to some of Greece’s lesser known islands

©Ramblers Worldwide Holidays 2015 200416

HOLIDAY INFORMATION TOUR DESCRIPTION This information is in addition to our General Information Booklet, which is enclosed. This circular island hopping holiday takes us to the well known island of Rhodes in addition to some of the smaller, less visited islands of the Dodecanese (in Greek – Dodekanisa - meaning 12 islands). Travel between the islands will be by ferry allowing a more serene way to arrive and the opportunity to experience more of the beauty of the islands. We fly to Rhodes, for our first visit, where we spend two nights, giving us the opportunity to settle into Greek island “relaxed” mode and enjoy our walking and sightseeing. Rhodes is one of the better known of the Greek islands and was referred to by the ancient Greeks as “the island of sun”. The old medieval city of Rhodes Town is very beautiful and just walking through the streets will bring its own rewards, with its narrow alleys, open squares and cafes. Lindos, with its ancient acropolis and the temple of Athena Lindia, is within easy reach. Leaving Rhodes we take the first of our ferry journeys to the island of Tilos. This beautiful island offers the tranquillity found in the smaller islands of the Dodecanese, and during our walks we can explore an old monastery and perhaps visit a deserted village. Leaving Tilos we cross to the small volcanic island of Nisyros. Hot springs are still in use today and the volcanic soil is so fertile that vines and figs, together with almond trees and wild flowers, grow in abundance and its white houses’ dramatically stand out against the blue sky. In the centre of the island, is the now extinct volcano Polybates. On to Symi, where shipbuilding once made the island one of the most prosperous in the Aegean. Grand buildings, the 6th century Monastery of the Archangel Michael, museums, and great food are waiting for our visit, as well as some good countryside walking. Our last visit to Rhodes allows us to continue our exploration before we head home, savouring our time spent in this great collection of island gems in the Dodecanese.

©Ramblers Worldwide Holidays 2015 200416

INTINERARY

Day:

Overnight accommodation:

1:

Rhodes

Arrive Rhodes airport and transfer to the Plaza Hotel, located close to Rhodes’ Old Town, for 2 nights’ accommodation.

2:

Rhodes

Walking and sightseeing on Rhodes

B, D

3:

Tilos

A late ferry gives us more time to explore Rhodes We arrive at the nearby island of Tilos for 3 nights’ accommodation.

B, D

4 & 5:

Tilos

Walking and sightseeing on Tilos

B, D

6:

Nisyros

Transfer by ferry to the volcanic island of Nisyros for 3 nights’ accommodation.

B, D

7 & 8:

Nisyros

Walking and sightseeing on Nisyros

B, D

9:

Symi

We take the ferry from Nisyros to the Symi, with a short stop in Kos, for 4 nights’ accommodation.

B, D

10 - 12:

Symi

Walking and sightseeing on Symi

B, D

13:

Rhodes

We travel back to Rhodes today, by ferry, for 2 nights’ accommodation.

B, D

14:

Rhodes

Further exploration of Rhodes

B, D

15:

Daily itinerary:

Depart Rhodes today for our flight to the UK

Meals:

D

B

D (Dinner) B (Breakfast)

The above itinerary is based on the currently available ferry schedule. Greek ferry schedules can change at short notice, so it may be necessary to adjust the itinerary before the holiday departs, or once the holiday has started.

©Ramblers Worldwide Holidays 2015 200416

HOLIDAY GRADE & WALKING PROGRAMME During our grade 3/L holiday there will be scenic walking through the hills and along the coast to explore the ancient sites, local monasteries, castles and beaches. We use paths, mule tracks and quiet roads, which generally give easy walking with gentle climbs. While distances may be short, there are some unavoidable ascents and descents involved in the programme, and the paths can be rough and stony at times. We proceed at a leisurely pace with a typical day including up to four hours of walking and sightseeing. Additionally, many walks will allow opportunities for relaxing on beaches, swimming and enjoying lunch in a local taverna. On a Lifestyle holiday, in addition to great walking there will be plenty of time to immerse ourselves in the delights of local cuisine and wines, friendly people, language and natural beauty. An example of some of the walks we may include in our programme (dependent on weather conditions and the ability of the group) are as follows: Rhodes: Filerimos. A visit to the beautiful monastery of Filerimos, now restored after heavy fighting in WW11 followed by a walk down through shaded woodland to Trianda – once the site of an important Mycenaean settlement. Descent 260m 3.5 hrs inc sightseeing Nisyros: Nikea and Volcanoes. This walk introduces you to one of the main points of interest on the island and explores the delightful crater rim village of Nikea before gently descending on a centuries old donkey track to the crater floor. Descent 450m 4 hrs inc sightseeing Tilos: Monastery of Pandelimona and Megalo Horio. A visit to Ayiou Pandelimona on the east coast of the island followed by a walk to the fishing village of Agios Antonio with the opportunity for a swim. After lunch, we visit the Elephant Museum in Megalo Horio. Ascent / descent 250m; 3 hours plus sightseeing Symi: Pedhi – Ayios Nikolaos and Emborio beach. A walk to a small fishing village and a fine, sandy beach with the opportunity for a swim Ascent / descent 70m; 2 hours We do not include local transport costs or entrance fees in conjunction with the walks programme on this holiday. This is due to walks being weather dependent and also takes into account the group ability and your personal choice (you may choose to take a day off from the group arrangements), and this way you only pay for the activities that you take part in. Local transport costs for this holiday should not exceed £50 per week (approx. €60, payable locally in euro). Should you decide to take an optional excursion, these costs are not included in the holiday or local transport costs. You may wish to also allow up to €15 per person for possible entrance fees. There is usually a 50% discount for over 65’s on production of an EHIC or passport. Each evening, the leader will discuss with you the programme for the following day. Should you not wish to join the party, please let the leader know.

©Ramblers Worldwide Holidays 2015 200416

TRAVEL INFORMATION 

We fly from London Gatwick, Birmingham and Manchester to Rhodes. Dependent on the final flight confirmed times, the transfer vehicle may wait until all flights have arrived before departing to the hotel.



Details of your baggage allowance will be confirmed in your travel documents, sent approximately 10 days prior to departure.

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Travel within Greece is by road, ferry or catamaran. Greek ferry schedules have been known to change at a moments notice, and the next leg of your onward journey may not be confirmed until your arrival on each island!



Transfer time from Rhodes airport to our hotel takes approximately 30 minutes by road.

If you are joining and leaving in Greece it is assumed, unless you have advised us otherwise, that you will meet and leave the party at the hotel in Rhodes. If this is not your plan, please let us know, in writing, at least 5 weeks before departure.

PASSPORTS & VISAS Please refer to Section 2 of the enclosed General Information Booklet. For British passport holders, for stays in Greece of up to three months your passport should be valid for the proposed duration of your stay. You don’t need any additional period of validity on your passport beyond this. It is a good idea to carry photocopies of the personal details pages of your passport. Should you lose your passport, this may assist with the issue of replacement documents and your return to the UK. Passport, visa and health requirements can change at any time. It is your own responsibility to ensure that you inform yourself from a professionally qualified source on, and comply with, such requirements. Advice on vaccinations is available from your GP, or can be obtained from the Medical Advisory Services for Travellers Abroad (MASTA). In addition, general travel advice is available from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office at www.fco.gov.uk/travel.

LOCAL CURRENCY Please refer to Section 2 of our General Information Booklet for details. The currency in Greece is the euro; banks and ATM machines can be found on each of the islands.

©Ramblers Worldwide Holidays 2015 200416

ACCOMMODATION & MEALS We stay at a selection of comfortable friendly hotels throughout the programme, except on the small island of Tilos where accommodation is limited and we may be split between hotel accommodation and studio apartments, depending on the size of the group. The electricity supply is 220V AC. You will need a 2 round pin plug adaptor to use electrical equipment. Some of the accommodation on this holiday may charge locally for air conditioning. An Accommodation List will be sent to you with your flight tickets. Breakfasts and dinners are included in the holiday charge. Dinners on the holiday will generally be taken in local tavernas providing an opportunity to taste local dishes. On Rhodes we will eat at our hotel and local restaurants. Lunches are not included. Provisions can be bought from shops and supermarkets for picnic lunches or a day’s walking may include lunch at a taverna. Your leader will give you more information at your daily briefings. The meals on this holiday are a wonderful accompaniment to the walking and scenery, and the menus are chosen so that you are able to sample a wide variety of the Greek cuisine, with vegetarians easily catered for. The locally produced wines are an excellent addition to the meals.

RESORT INFORMATION Resort facilities on the islands include:     

Local shops Banks (with ATM facilities) Restaurants & Bars Supermarkets Medical facilities

CLOTHING & EQUIPMENT Late summer is an ideal time to visit the Greek islands. September holds on to the summer warmth with temperatures in the mid to high 20°Cs and virtually no rainfall. The evenings can turn cooler, so take a warm jacket especially towards late September. When visiting churches or monasteries, arms should be covered. You may find it useful to bring a small rucksack, lightweight bottle for drinking water, picnic knife (packed in your luggage), some polythene bags, and a small first aid kit. We suggest you take insect repellent, sun cream, light waterproof jacket, swimsuit and beach towel. Beach shoes can be used as protection on stony beaches and against sea urchins. A universal sink plug may also be useful. Lightweight walking boots with good ankle support are recommended, as some paths can be rough and stony. You may also wish to bring shoes with strong ribbed soles, which will be suitable for some of the walks and sightseeing on this holiday.

©Ramblers Worldwide Holidays 2015 200416

We recommend that you wear your walking boots or pack them and some waterproofs in your hand luggage as in the unlikely event that your hold luggage is delayed, you will still be able to participate in the walking programme.

TRAVELLING LIGHT We do recommend that you aim to travel reasonably light, and with luggage of manageable proportions, as you will have to carry your own bags, often both on and off the various ferries and to your rooms at the hotels. Not all hotels have lifts.

INSURANCE Please make sure that your insurance for this holiday covers you for guided walking below 2000m. Please also take your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) with you - it will help in the event of an emergency. Please note that the EHIC has an expiry date, so you need to ensure that it is valid for all dates of your holiday. See our General Information Booklet for further details.

MAPS & SUGGESTED READING Inexpensive maps of the islands are available locally, although maps and books may be obtained before departure from specialist map and book sellers such as: The Map Shop 15 High Street Upton upon Severn, Worcs.WR8 0HJ Tel : 01684 593146 Fax : 01684 594559 Website: www.themapshop.co.uk

Suggested Reading:  Rhodes and the Dodecanese (Lonely Planet Regional Guides) – Paul Hellander – Lonely Planet Publications  Greek Islands (Eyewitness Travel Guides) – Marc S Dublin - Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd  The Rough Guide to the Greek Islands – Rough Guides Ltd Many local libraries now stock a selection of travel guides/books which may offer you more information regarding the Greek Islands, and you may find the following websites useful in planning your trip: Greek National Tourist Office Visit Greece Greek Island Specialists ©Ramblers Worldwide Holidays 2015 200416

www.gnto.gr www.visitgreece.com www.greeka.com

PLEASE QUOTE YOUR HOLIDAY CODE AND BOOKING REFERENCE NUMBER IN ALL CORRESPONDENCE. WE WISH YOU AN INTERESTING AND ENJOYABLE HOLIDAY AND WE WELCOME YOUR COMMENTS UPON YOUR RETURN.

Revisions to this Holiday Information sheet Please note that this Holiday Information sheet may be periodically updated and reissued. In most cases any revisions will be minor and the overall nature of the holiday will be unchanged. Should we need to make a major change to the holiday arrangements between you booking your holiday and your date of travel we will notify you to specifically draw your attention to any significant change. You may wish to review the latest version of the Holiday Information sheet online prior to travel.

©Ramblers Worldwide Holidays 2015 200416