Travel Insights

Insights, ideas and itineraries from kimkim's trusted network of Local Travel Specialists and Experts

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The Erechtheion Temple at the Acropolis, Athens

Historic Athens, Mainland Greece, Cyclades, and Crete - 15 Days

Delve into Greece's rich history and culture with this jam-packed trip through the mainland and the islands. Beginning in Athens, you'll explore the Acropolis and the Parthenon, followed by an excursion to Delphi. Then set sail for historical sites in Mykonos, Delos, and Santorini. Discover charming Crete and walk the Minotaur's labyrinth before making your way back to the mainland. See where Helen of Troy lived at Mycenae, visit the birthplace of the Olympics, and more, before ending your trip with a magical sunset at the Temple of Poseidon.

Relaxing Secret Cyclades - 7 Days

Recline for a week in the less crowded parts of the sunny Cyclades with this seven-day itinerary. You'll start and end in Athens, visiting Tinos and Naxos in between. Tinos is home to time-honored basket-weaving methods and marble quarries that will take you back to the Classical era, while neighboring Naxos boasts an extensive agricultural scene and Venetian castle district ready to be wandered.

Relaxing Secret Cyclades - 8 Days

Legend has it that Dionysus was born on the island of Naxos, so manage a revel of your own with this eight-day itinerary to lesser-known yet amazing isles. From your starting point in Athens, you'll first visit petite Tinos for a taste of Cycladic cooking, then onward to Naxos to spin past its sunny beaches before you return to the city.

Relaxing Secret Cyclades - 10 Days

These four Cycladic islands haven't graced as many guidebook covers as their glitzier cousins, but that means there's more here for you to discover without battling hordes of selfie sticks. Take 10 days to tour Syros, Tinos, Naxos, and Ios on this itinerary, with pilgrimage sites, culinary experiences, and more.

Relaxing Secret Cyclades - 11 Days

What better way to unwind than spending 11 days sampling the culinary selections from across the Cyclades surrounded by the sea? You'll start this trip with a street food tour of Athens, then head to less famous yet beautiful islands, stopping in Syros, Tinos, Naxos, and Ios to sip wine, sample fresh produce, and even learn how to recreate the recipes at home.

Relaxing Secret Cyclades - 13 Days

White domed buildings, blue seas, freshly baked baklava, and more await on this 13-day itinerary. You'll hit up all the hallmarks of the Cyclades but beat the crowds with stops in Syros, Tinos, Naxos, and Ios. Start with a food tour in Athens to fuel up before you ferry out to tour the mansions of Syros, bike past the beaches of Naxos, and more.

Relaxing Secret Cyclades - 14 Days

While away for two weeks in lesser-known islands, get a taste of Athens with this itinerary that focuses on relaxation. Whether hiking amid the marble-rich hills of Tinos or tasting fresh produce on Naxos, these four Cycladic islands will have you asking, "Santorini, who?" in no time.

Relaxing Secret Cyclades - 15 Days

Hideaway from the rest of the world as you discover the Cycladic islands that you may not have heard about—yet. Spend 15 days visiting Athens and the islands of Syros, Tinos, Naxos, and Ios. They may not be as famous as their glittery neighbors but have plenty of culture, history, and straight-from-the-Aegean seafood to keep you satisfied.

Active Athens, Tinos, Naxos, and Crete - 9 Days

Nine days is plenty of time to work up a sweat with this energetic itinerary. Enjoy a welcome dinner in Athens before you ferry to the Cyclades, stopping in Tinos and Naxos for hiking and biking along the blue shores. Then onward to Crete and the famous Samaria Gorge before you return to Athens for a well-deserved sunset break.

Active Athens, Tinos, Naxos, and Crete - 11 Days

Skip the sun lounger and go straight for your sneakers instead on this 11-day itinerary. Start by spinning down the Athenian Riviera before you ferry out to Tinos, Naxos, and Crete, with new scenery and challenges awaiting at every spot before you return to Athens for a sunset over the sea.

Active Athens, Tinos, Naxos, and Crete - 12 Days

The Greek word for water is "neró," which will come in handy both when you need to refill your bottle before trekking over the hills and when you're pointing out views from the ferry on this 12-day itinerary. Spend your days taking in all the activities that Athens and the islands have to offer, whether you're biking down the Athenian Riviera or hiking into Crete's Samaria Gorge.

Active Athens, Tinos, Naxos, and Crete - 13 Days

It would take about 108 hours to swim from Athens to Chania, but since you only have 13 days, this itinerary will let you take the ferry instead. You'll stop at the islands of Tinos and Naxos along the way, with plenty of time to hike, bike, and climb along the way.

Site of a former village in Samaria Gorge

Active Athens, Tinos, Naxos, and Crete - 14 Days

Take two weeks to discover the islands from a more active perspective with this itinerary. Learn to surf on Tinos, ride a horse along the beaches of Naxos, and even cook in the Botanical Gardens of Crete as you discover three major islands sandwiched in between your Athenian arrival and departure.

Trek under the towering rock faces of Samaria Gorge

Active Athens, Tinos, Naxos & Crete - 15 Days

Start and end in Athens but spend most of your time in the Greek islands with this active 15-day itinerary. Whether you're scaling up to the tops of the cliffs on Tinos or down into Samaria Gorge on Crete, or catching a wave along the way, this trip will keep you moving.

Wild beach in Costa Rica's Osa Peninsula

Costa Rica Self Drive Adventure - 15 Days

This itinerary is designed for those who want a classic tropical excursion into Costa Rica's rainforests. Start with the remote Osa Peninsula, where you'll visit beaches and hike through the rainforest. Then, drive north along the Pacific coast to the white-sand beaches of Manuel Antonio National Park before heading northwest into the Monteverde region. Finally, pay a visit to Arenal, an active volcano and one of Costa Rica's most famous landmarks.

Athens City Break - 3 Days

Make any three days feel like a long weekend in Greece's capital with this itinerary. After a welcoming wine tasting, you'll take a private tour through the highlights of Athens from the top of the Acropolis down to bustling Varvakios Market, spanning mythology, modernity, and the years in between.

Athens City Break - 10 Days

Spend ten days in the city once won by the goddess Athena for a gift of an olive tree. Vibrant Athens is one of the world's oldest cities, continuously inhabited for more than 7,000 years. Once home to Plato and Aristotle, Greece's capital now houses plenty of dynamic neighborhoods waiting for you to explore their history, food, scenery, and more.

Adventurous Athens, Central Greece, and Corfu - 7 Days

This weeklong adventure trip takes you through some of the highlights of central Greece. Go up to Meteora's monasteries in the sky, then down into the gorges of the Pindos mountain range to explore the stone villages of Zagori. End your trip by kayaking around Corfu's petite Pontikonisi island.

Adventurous Athens, Central Greece and Corfu - 16 Days

Spend 16 days exploring both central and coastal Greece after a few days in the country's dynamic capital. Start in Athens with a sail around the Saronic Gulf in search of your dinner before you spend two days amid the cliffs of Meteora. From there you'll hike, cook, and raft your way through the mountainside Zagori villages, then hop a ferry to Corfu to bike, jeep, and kayak past the island's forts, monasteries, and stony coastline.

Mainland Greece Adventure Trip - 9 Days

Spend nine days adventuring through mainland Greece, from the clifftops of Meteora to the Nafplio seaside. You'll start and end in Athens, hiking up to the monasteries, over the stone bridges of Zagori, and down past the Venetian and Ottoman architecture of Nafplio in between.

Mainland Greece Adventure Trip - 21 Days

Clamber over the corners of mainland Greece on this three-week itinerary. You'll start by experiencing the Classical myths and modern street art of Athens. Then make your way out of the capital and up to the sky-high Meteora monasteries and Zagori mountain villages, where you'll learn to cook like a local. Hop in the waters of the Peloponnese before you end your trip in seaside Nafplio, home to biking, kayaking, and the chance to channel your inner Pan as a shepherd for a day.

Family Holiday in Athens and Nafplio - 5 Days

A short but sweet itinerary perfect for your short people. This five-day trip takes you to some of the child-friendly highlights of Athens and neighboring Nafplio, with storytelling at the Acropolis, a seaside bike tour, a castle built to defend against pirates, and plenty more to see and entertain regardless of your age.

Colorful tables in Athens' Plaka district

Family Holiday in Athens and Nafplio - 11 Days

This 11-day itinerary can appeal to all ages, mixing cultural experiences parents will enjoy with enough engaging entertainment for children. The first half of your trip will be set in Athens, with games in the Olympic stadium or atop the Acropolis. Then head to the seaside city of Nafplio, where you can play shepherd or actor for a day.

Family Adventures in Athens and the Cyclades - 5 Days

See Athens and the Cycladic island of Naxos with this five-day itinerary. Start by taking your whole family up to the Acropolis to experience the myths of Classical Greece up close, then head down to the island of Naxos to explore its former Venetian castle district and lounge on the many beaches.

Family Adventures in Athens and the Cyclades - 15 Days

The Cyclades aren't just for honeymooners; you can take the whole family on this 15-day trip through some of Greece's most famous islands. After your arrival in Athens, you'll set sail to Mykonos to cruise around the beaches and out to the historic site at Delos. Busy Naxos is up next with biking, horseback riding, and even more beaches before you go over to Santorini to experience the caldera from all sides.

Arenal, Monteverde, and Manuel Antonio Self-Drive - 11 Days

This itinerary combines mountain excursions with a bit of a beach holiday and some aquatic adventure. You'll arrive in Liberia, the hub of Costa Rica's Guanacaste Province. From there, drive to Arenal Volcano National Park, where you'll hike to a waterfall, relax in natural hot springs, and raft world-class whitewater. Then it's west to the Monteverde to see the cloud forest canopy via suspension bridges and a zip-line tour. A drive south will take you to Manuel Antonio, a unique destination with a combination of the beach, jungle and national park. After a couple days enjoying the beach and wildlife in Manuel Antonio, you'll return to San Jose for your journey home.

Greek Panorama in Athens, Mainland Greece, Cyclades, and Crete - 11 Days

Hit all the high points of Greece on this 11-day itinerary. After a warm welcome and Acropolis tour in Athens, ship out to the islands to see the archaeological site at Delos, saunter through the streets of Santorini, visit the villages of Crete, and more before you end with a sunset over Cape Sounion.

Enchanting Northern Greece and Corfu - 5 Days

Northern Greece has been the home of mighty civilizations, including the Macedonians, Thracians, Romans, Byzantines, Slavs and Ottoman Turks. Get a five-day glimpse into their world with this itinerary. From the bustling streets of Thessaloniki, you'll go on to see the monasteries of Meteora as they touch the sky, then follow the footsteps of Oydsseus to the Ionian Sea.

Enchanting Northern Greece and Corfu - 14 Days

Experience the lesser-known side of the country with this two-week trip across Northern Greece. You'll go from Greece's second city of Thessaloniki to living like the proverbial pasha in lakeside Ioannina, then up to the clifftop monasteries of Meteora. Continue on through the stone Zagori mountain villages to wrap up your journey on the shores of Corfu in the Ionian Sea, where you'll follow in legendary traveler Odysseus's footsteps.

Costa Rica in May: Travel Ideas, Weather, and More

May in Costa Rica is the start of the nation's rainy season, but this doesn't happen overnight—most of the month you can expect great weather. What's certain is that a May trip to Costa Rica means lower prices and epic beauty without the big crowds. It's the perfect month for savvy travelers to enjoy a wide-open tropical paradise.

Costa Rica in June: Travel Tips, Weather & More

In June, Costa Rica eases into its rainy shoulder season. Crowds are down, landscapes are lush (and warm), foliage is vibrant, and wildlife like the slow-moving sloth can readily be seen. And while no area or activity is off limits, stick to places like Tamarindo and the Nicoya Peninsula in the north Pacific coast region for less rainfall, and plan to hike, surf, and whitewater raft earlier in the day before the afternoon showers.

Costa Rica in July: Travel Ideas, Weather, and More

In the middle of Costa Rica's rainy season are a precious few weeks of sun and clear skies. This typically occurs in July, and anyone lucky enough to visit during this month gets the best of Costa Rica at reduced prices and with fewer crowds. Read on for tips on how best to enjoy this "sweet spot" on Costa Rica's calendar.

Active Athens, Mainland Greece, Cyclades, and Crete - 10 Days

Cover a range of terrain across Greece with this athletic 10-day itinerary. Start in Athens with a day trip up to Meteora's monasteries in the sky, then sail to the Cyclades to hike and bike on the shore. Stop in Crete to trek the towering Samaria Gorge before you return to Athens.

Rock formations on Agia Anna beach in Naxos

Active Athens, Mainland Greece, Cyclades & Crete - 24 Days

You'll have plenty of time to bike, hike, surf, and explore the country of Greece in every possible manner on this epic 24-day itinerary. Whether pedaling past beaches or trekking up the Pindos mountains, the mainland has plenty to offer before heading to the Cyclades. Climb and dive through the islands of Tinos and Naxos, then learn to cook on Crete before you return to the mainland for a visit to coastal Nafplio.

Costa Rica in August: Travel Ideas, Weather, and More

August falls right in the middle of Costa Rica's "green" season, a rainier time of year when all of the country's famous flora is in bloom. Take advantage of the precipitation with whitewater rafting, or head to the Caribbean coast if you're looking for a vacation with more sun. One of the biggest religious holidays of the year occurs during this month, too. Read on for more on the nature and festivities of Costa Rica in August.

Costa Rica in September: Travel Ideas, Weather, and More

September is right in the middle of Costa Rica's rainy season—but visitors this month are still in for a treat. Not only are Costa Rica's famous rainforests in lustrous bloom, the rivers are perfect for whitewater rafting and the Caribbean Coast is still warm enough to sunbathe. Plus, you'll be in town for Independence Day—this monthly guide offers more insight into the great party.

Costa Rica in October: Travel Ideas, Weather, and More

October is one of the rainier months in Costa Rica, but if you know where to go, you can have as epic a holiday in the wetter months as you can in the high tourist season—and at a fraction of the cost.

Costa Rica in November: Travel Ideas, Weather, and More

November in Costa Rica is the calm before the tourist high season of December. Get here early enough and you might even make it for Costa Rica's own "Day of the Dead" celebrations. Otherwise, enjoy all this country's nature and beaches without the oppressive crowds.

Costa Rica in December: Travel Ideas, Weather, and More

December is Costa Rica's peak travel season. There's a near endless procession of festivities and holiday merrymaking fit for any reveler young or old. Plus, there's all that natural beauty the country is famous for. Find out how best to enjoy Costa Rica during the December holiday season with this monthly guide.

Hindu followers celebrate Dashain in October

Nepal in October: Travel Tips, Weather & More

October is the most popular month for visitors traveling to Nepal. Trekking conditions are glorious, the crisp skies offer excellent mountain views, and cultural festivals offer many opportunities to celebrate. Rates and crowds are at their peak, but for good reason—read on to discover why you should get in on the action in Nepal in October.

Snowy cover is common the higher up you travel in Nepal come winter

Nepal in December: Travel Tips, Weather & More

December isn't peak season in Nepal—but with clear, sunny skies and mild temperatures in many places, perhaps it should be. If you've been considering coming to Nepal at the start of winter, take the plunge with this monthly guide.

Nepal in November: Travel Tips, Weather & More

November is a lovely month to travel in Nepal, and not as busy with travelers as October. Most trails are still available to trekkers, temperatures are comfortable, and there are important cultural festivals to enjoy. Read on for more about traveling to Nepal in the last month of autumn.

Discover Phewa Lake in Pokhara in February and enjoy the surrounding views of Annapurna mountain range

Nepal in September: Travel Tips, Weather & More

As the monsoon rains subside, travelers begin returning to Nepal this month. The autumn air is cool and clear, popular teahouse treks in the Everest Region are beginning to open up, and a host of lively celebrations keep the atmosphere festive. Read on for more about visiting Nepal in September.

Time your trip to observe the August Full Moon Festival at Gosaikunda's glacial lake shores in the Himalaya of Langtang National Park

Nepal in August: Travel Tips, Weather & More

While August is still a month of monsoon rains, they ease by the end of the month. Visitors to Nepal in August will be welcomed by dazzlingly green rice fields. High altitude hiking is out of the question, but trails in the Mustang region remain dry. And this is a good time for cultural sightseeing—you'll have the most popular spots all to yourself.

Come June, trek in Upper Mustang, a remote region in Nepal often referred to as "Little Tibet"

Nepal in June: Travel Tips, Weather & More

With the arrival of monsoon season in Nepal, visitor numbers thin out considerably in June. But there are still a number of cultural and trekking activities you can enjoy in this warmer month, if you know where to look.

Stick to rain shadow locations like Lo Manthang in Upper Mustang during the monsoon season

Nepal in July: Travel Tips, Weather & More

July falls right in the middle of Nepal's monsoon season, making it the least visited month of the year. That said, there are still things to see and do when it's wet out. Head to the Mustang region for excellent trekking or dig into the endless cultural sights of Kathmandu and Pokhara, taking advantage of lower prices along the way.

April is prime for trekking Imja Tse or Island Peak in the Everest region

Nepal in April: Travel Tips, Weather & More

April is perhaps the most popular month for travel in Nepal, with prime weather for outdoor adventures at any altitude. The most popular trekking routes are at their best and busiest—you'll need to book well in advance to secure your spot on the trail. While you won't have the country all to yourself, you'll find that this is peak season for good reason.

Colorfully dressed "Sadhus" (Hindu holy men) celebrate Maha Shivaratri in March

Nepal in March: Travel Tips, Weather & More

March is the start of one of Nepal's two annual peak tourist seasons, and it's also when the temperatures have truly warmed up after winter. With the thawing of many high-altitude trekking trails, river levels primed for whitewater rafting, and some exciting cultural festivals, March is a great time to travel to Nepal.

Check out cultural sites like the Swayambhunath Stupa, also known as the Monkey Temple in Kathmandu in February

Nepal in February: Travel Tips, Weather & More

By mid-to-late February in much of Nepal, winter starts giving way to the warmth of spring, yet international travelers are still not arriving in large numbers. Beyond low-altitude trekking, this is also a great month for jungle safaris, and conditions are excellent for mountain biking. Read on to find out why you should beat the crowds by visiting Nepal in February.

Spot big game wildlife like the Indian one-horned rhino in Chitwan National Park during the cooler winter months of January

Nepal in January: Travel Tips, Weather & More

While January is the middle of winter in Nepal, travelers shouldn't hesitate to visit. Manageable temperatures, crystal-clear skies, and excellent low-altitude hiking make this a surprisingly perfect winter destination. Plus, this is the best month for spotting wildlife in Chitwan National Park. Read on to discover why you can (and should!) start your year with a trip to Nepal.

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