My Big Fat Greek Adventure: Athens & Greek Islands

At a Glance

Athens, Greece
Oct 3 - Oct 10, 2026
7 Nights
Level: 3.5
We rate all trips on a 1 to 5 scale. A designation of 1 would be trips with the least amount of activity, such as our beach trips, where it's up to you if you'd like to be active. Our adventure trips (such as the Inca trail hike) are a 5. Most of our trips are rated 3, for people who don't mind a fair bit of walking.
10-12 Travelers

!What's Included?

Starting At

$4,999

Deposit: $500

Home >Trip >My Big Fat Greek Adventure: Athens & Greek Islands

Discover the Soul of Greece

Athens: Discover Your Fearless Self

Athens doesn’t play. It’s a city where ancient philosophers debated the nature of courage and democracy in agoras near the hotel where you’ll sip your morning coffee. Where the Acropolis rises like a cloud above the modern, busy streets. For a woman who’s lived enough to know what she wants, Athens offers the perfect paradox: the gravitas of millennia-old temples paired with trendy rooftop bars where locals debate passionately about politics, cinema, food, music.

To learn more about this trip, you can watch a recording of our Trip Preview Here.

Walk through the National Archaeological Museum and you’ll find yourself face-to-face with artifacts that prove women have always been a force to be reckoned with—then step outside into neighborhoods where street art blazes with modern rebellion. This is not a city for timid tourism; it’s a city that rewards the boldness NextTribe women embody.

REMEMBER: We offer easy interest-free monthly payments to make our trips more accessible.

Hydra: Where Cars Are Absent So Travelers Can Be Present

Forget everything you think you know about Greek islands. Mykonos? Meh. Santorini? Insanity. We’re leaving the crowds to the tourists. Hydra banned cars since before it was cool to be eco-friendly. Here, you’ll navigate cobblestone paths on foot, and the absence of traffic noise means you’ll actually hear yourself think, and relax. This tiny island has seduced artists, writers, and eccentrics for decades with its striking beauty and authenticity.

You’ll enjoy the fresh air and people watching  from comfortable chairs in  a harbor-side taverna.  You’ll swim in coves accessible only to those willing to hike down a few stairs to the crystalline waters of the Aegean sea, and your home for your stay will be a charming and fashionable renovated sponge factory with stone walls two feet thick. Sponge diving, processing and export made Hydra a wealthy island in the 18th century, and by staying at this hotel we honor the island’s history.  Hydra may not have the same PR as the other islands, but that’s OK with the residents, and travelers in the know. Once you’ve visited Hydra once, you’ll want to come back again and again. It will become “your” island.

Spetses: The Island That Celebrates Audacious Women

Spetses is another one of those Greek islands that’s a hidden gem, especially for women. On Spetses, the heroine is Laskarina Bouboulina—a wealthy widow who became a naval commander and fought in the Greek War of Independence. Her story isn’t relegated to dusty history books; it’s celebrated every September with festivals that light up the harbor with fireworks and recreated naval battles. This pine-forested island combines historic elegance with modernity: horse-drawn carriages clip-clop along waterfront promenades lined with neoclassical mansions and secluded beaches. Rent a bicycle or scooter and explore, discovering the Anargyrios and Korgialenios School (a stunning complex that once educated Greece’s future leaders) or one of the local fine art galleries.

NOTE: NextTribe members receive a $100 discount on price.

Please note that this is a sample itinerary. Accommodations and activities may change but we will always replace them with something of equal or better value.

5 Reasons We Love This Trip

  1. Experiencing the vibrancy of Athens, one of the most ancient cities in Western civilization, where you’ll see historical treasures, and spice up your stay with modern-day Greek street life and cuisine
  2. Relaxing time on Jacqueline Onassis’ favorite island, Hydra, playground of the rich and famous. Yachts enter and leave the harbor at all hours, and because the owners demand the best of the best, the shopping and restaurants on Hydra are extraordinary.
  3. Getting to know local artists and musicians who have made Hydra their home
  4. Visiting an island where women came together and lit the fuse that fired up Greece’s independence
  5. Swimming in the clean, warm waters of the Aegean Sea, relaxing on  shore, and people-watching in the bars and cafes of Hydra Town.

Meet Your Guide: Jeannie Edmunds

Jeannie is a former CNN reporter and CBS News producer, She has lived and worked in Europe, Asia and Latin America. After her first experience as a solo traveler at age 6 (her parents put her on a plane to visit her grandparents) she has always felt most comfortable on an airplane with her passport in hand. She’s the author of “Start Me Up: Tips, Tales and Truths about Starting Up and Starting Over.” Last year she fell in love with Athens and Hydra. She’s going back in March this year for a short vacation!

"The trip to Hydra, Greece was magical. Everything was top-notch ...the food, the beautiful island, our wonderful local planner, Danniela, swimming in the sea, and even shopping! The island has no cars so I found it peaceful and calm. The donkeys and many cats everywhere were absolutely charming. I highly recommend."

- Jane S.

Photos

Map

Sample Itinerary

Itinerary Overview

To view the full itinerary and download a brochure, CLICK HERE.

Day 1: Athens Awakes

Day 2: Ancient Wonders & Modern Flavors

Day 3: Setting Sail for Hydra

Day 4: Art, Adventures & Artisans

Day 5: In the Footsteps of a Revolutionary Woman

Day 6: Beach, Bites & Leonard Cohen

Day 7: From Kitchen to Your Choice

Day 8: Farewell to the Islands

 

Logistics

Arrive in Athens (ATH) Saturday, October 3rd by 2:00pm

NextTribe will arrange your transfer to the hotel.

Depart from Athens (ATH) Saturday, October 10th after 3:00pm

Next Tribe will arrange your transport to the airport.

We require all international travelers to purchase travel insurance. We strongly recommend adding trip protection insurance to protect your investment. (Scroll down for more details about insurance)

No visa is required for US Citizens to visit Greece. Please make sure your passport is valid for at least 6 months beyond the end of the trip.

You will be receiving periodic communications from us leading up to departure with other important details included. If you have any questions, you can contact our travel manager, Marcy, at travel@nexttribe.com

What's Included

  • 7 nights accommodations
  • 7 Dinners
  • 6 Lunches
  • 7 Breakfasts
  • Ground Tranporation
  • All activities noted in the itinerary

What's Not Included

  • Roundtrip Airfare
  • Alcohol, unless mentioned in the itinerary.
  • Travel Insurance
  • Gratuities

Gratuities to local guides, drivers, maids and hotel staff, alcohol, unless mentioned in itinerary, travel insurance, round trip airfare, passport and visa fees, personal items such as phone calls, laundry, baggage fees and items not expressly listed as included.

Additional Add-Ons

Hotels

Astikon House

Athens

Bratsera Hotel

Hyrda

Our travelers love us (yay!)

Colleen M., California

What I love about the NextTribe trips is that there is so much camaraderie of other women that are like you, and then the fabulous things that the organizers puts together to give you that viewpoint, it’s awesome.

Courtney M., Texas

What I love about NextTribe trips is that you get the experience from an insider’s perspective—someone that has ties to the community and focused on building relationships from the start. I’ve been on a trip with another women’s travel group that dropped a guide in, not personally knowing anything about the locale, traditions, or culture. She was there to make sure you showed up on time, got on the bus, etc. With NextTribe, you feel like you’re having a personalized experience with your best girlfriends.

Donna B., Washington

I didn't know anyone going on the trip but that didn't stop me from signing up. I have learned that some of my life's greatest adventures have come from taking a risk and jumping in feet first. So glad I did with NextTribe! I may not have known anybody at the start, but now I feel like I know everybody.

Connie B., Pennsylvania

I love to meet and interact with strong, mature women from across the country as we learn together.

Leslie M., Georgia

I always come by myself on NextTribe trips because I like to meet super fun and interesting women. We're always doing fun and interesting things in great cities that you couldn't do on your own because you wouldn't know the people or places or the insiders.

Teresa S., Kentucky

NextTribe fills the need I have to travel with older interesting women who are curious about the world and want to share the journey.

We write articles about all our trips. Read about these special experiences.

Let’s Do This!

Starting From

$4,999

Did you know we have easy payment plans for our trips, interest free? Think of this as a layaway plan to feed your soul.

As Seen In

Book with confidence

What to Expect Traveling with NextTribe

You’ll be embraced by a tribe of travelers, starting with smart, fun women who lead our trips. We even have a code of community for both travelers and guides.

Learn More

Terms & Conditions

Here’s the boring stuff we encourage you to read so there are no surprises.

Learn More

Travel Insurance – Do You Need it?

Short Answer: Yes, we require trip protection insurance for all international trips. For domestic trips, we strongly suggest it. Protect your investment if things go wrong.

Learn More

Frequently asked questions

What’s different about your trips?

We curate trips specifically for curious, engaged women over 45. You’re pretty well assured that your fellow travelers will be a lot like you–since you’ve all responded to the idea of “aging boldly.”. That means built-in compatibility in your small group, including the woman who is leading the adventure.. In addition to specializing in group travel for people who don’t normally like group travel, we also pride ourselves on creating experiences that allow you to interact with local women or get deeper into the culture than you would if you planned the trip yourself.

Where do you go?

We have a wide range of weekend jaunts here in the U.S. for those who want a quick getaway. We also love taking women to Mexico, where founder Jeannie Ralston used to live. We’re always talking about pushing boundaries, and we’re doing that in the geographic sense too. For those with more time, we offer trips all over Europe, to India, Vietnam, Peru (for a hike on the inca Trail to Machu Picchu). Soon, our travelers will be getting passport stamps in even more countries on six continents. Be saving those frequent flier miles!

What do you mean by transformational travel?

NextTribe is affiliated with the Transformational Travel Council, an international group of travel professionals dedicated to making the world a better place, one trip and one traveler at a time. We recognize that travelers, especially post-pandemic, are looking for more than just a date and a destination. They can shop for that anywhere online. Our community honors the intention behind a traveler’s investment in a trip. Our travelers want to have fun (we do too!) and to travel with a sense of purpose and belonging. That’s why we go to great lengths to provide ways for women to self-select by reading the articles in our magazine and the content of our website. If you like what you see, you’re likely to be a NextTribe traveler, and we look forward to seeing you on a trip soon!

What if I travel solo?

If you really prefer to book your travel yourself and go it alone, we applaud you. That’s brave and bold and we would never try to talk you out of it. But our trips are designed so that even a woman who’s used to traveling alone, or someone shy about meeting new people, will feel comfortable in our group. Our trip leaders are there to “read the room” and make sure everyone feels included and respected.

What if I don’t like group travel?

We don’t either! Not the way most groups do it. If you feel like doing what the group is doing, great! Join us for dinner or just some of the activities. All the benefits of solo travel and the comfort of being with a group. Our groups are small (normally around 12 to 14 women) and in most situations, you are free to opt out of an activity. We figure you’re grown-ass women who know what’s best for you.

What’s the price range of your trips?

We are committed to providing what we call “affordable-luxury” travel. Don’t expect
the Four Seasons, but who wants to stay in a gilded bubble anyhow? We always look for good value and offer wonderful hotels and memorable experiences that won’t break the bank and will get you closer to how locals live. Our prices depend on the length of the
trip and the destination. We offer domestic trips for under $2,000 for a shared room, which we encourage. If you don’t have a roommate we will match you with someone. Sometimes this has resulted in lasting friendships with new travel buddies., Some of
our longer trips–two weeks in India or Vietnam, for example–will cost between
$4,800 and $6,000.

What’s included in the price?

Our trips cover most everything you’ll need to dive into a destination. Hotels and most meals, plus special experiences such as hands-on classes and sessions with local artists, writers or entrepreneurs are almost always included, but each trip is different so please be sure to read The Experience and the itinerary. We occasionally have an add-on for an extra price, but those are clearly designated. What’s not covered as a rule are airfare, alcohol and tips.

Do you have payment plans?

We sure do. It’s easy to pay for our trips by setting up automatic credit card charges at regular intervals, interest free. Think of it as the layaway plan to feed your soul.

How do I get trip discounts?

Our NextTribe members get a discount on every trip. Plus, members are the first to hear about new trips and receive upgrades on rooms if they’re available. Check out our three different membership levels here.

What’s the average age of women on the trips?

We welcome all women over 45, but most of our travelers are in the 50 to 65 age range. More important than age is the spirit of the traveler–her curiosity about the world, and her eagerness to embrace new opportunities. We’ve found women of any age with those qualities fit in well with our groups.

What’s the activity level of the trips?

Most of our trips are geared for active travelers who like to walk–a rating of 3 on our 1-5 rating scale. Here are some examples of how we rate. A designation of 1 would be our beach trips, where it’s up to you if you’d like to stroll down the beach, or play in the waves or walk around the small town. Trips where we have dedicated transportation for much of the time (such as India) are a 2; Paris is a 3 because we believe the best way to appreciate a city is to view it on foot. San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, is a 4, because you’ll be walking up some hills (at 6,000 feet altitude) and occasionally on cobblestone sidewalks. Our Inca trail trip is a 5, as are our more adventurous outdoor trips.

Explore more upcoming trips

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This
Secret Link