When: Three identical trips are scheduled in 2008. The dates are June 13 - 20 or 21 - 28 and September 4 - 11, 2008.

What: Greek Islands Sea Kayaking Adventure Vacation - eight days/seven nights - including sea kayaking, mountain biking, walking, snorkeling and cultural tours. With Greek language and cooking lessons; seven nights lodging; seven breakfasts, and five group gourmet dinners.

Where: This Cutter Aquatics trip will be based on Poros Island, in the Saronic Gulf, two hours by ferry from Athens. View photos from our trip in September 2007.

Who: This exclusive custom vacation is limited to twelve participants. All levels of kayakers are welcome. We will have orientation sessions to help you get comfortable in your boat and practice skills before you join a longer kayaking excursion. Kayaking trips will vary in length and distance and will be interspersed with days of other tours and adventures. Everyone will be offered activity choices. This is like deluxe summer camp for big kids! You can do everything or you may opt out of any activity to read on the beach, shop, rent a four wheeler to explore the island or take a nap!

Cost: $1647 if paid by cash or check; $1696 if paid by credit card. Accommodations are private apartments for couples or singles. Airfare is not included.

How: Deposit $300 per person to reserve your place. (Non-refundable.) Arrange your own transportation to Athens, Greece (airport code: ATH). You may wish to spend a few days on your own in Athens or visit another European destination before or after our sea kayaking adventure trip. You will receive a complete packet of trip information and will be invited to a trip information meeting to learn what to expect, how to prepare and what to take with you. For June trips full payment is due by May 1, 2008. For September trips full payment is due by July 20, 2008. We have to get sea kayaking permits from the Greek authorities 5 weeks before paddling.

Join us for a unique and fantastic trip to Greece. The Greek Islands are one of the best locations in Europe for sea kayaking. Rising majestically from the Saronic Gulf, these islands provide spectacular scenery and protection from wind and waves. In the northern Mediterranean Sea there is very little tidal change and the water is turquoise blue, crystal clear and delightfully warm. It is a perfect paddling destination - the people are friendly, English is understood and the food is fabulous. What more can we ask for in an area rich in culture and history.

This custom adventure vacation - created exclusively for you by Cutter Aquatics - is limited to 12 people. It is designed to provide a true Greek experience. In addition to sea kayaking we have arranged opportunities for Greek cooking, exploring the island by mountain bike, snorkeling and fun Greek language sessions. We will visit an archeological museum and enjoy a guided tour of a local history museum. A local guide will take us by ferry to historical sights on a neighboring island, too. Of course there is also time to relax on the beach, swim in the sea or pool, shop, explore town and try local restaurants. Click here to view the photos of our 2007 trip.

We will stay 7 nights and 8 days at the Odyssey apartments on Askeli Bay on the island of Poros. The Odyssey provides modern, comfortable accommodations in one and two level air-conditioned apartments with double and twin beds. Each apartment has two private baths with showers. You will enjoy a full breakfast every morning. Most evenings will include gourmet dinners with wine in the adjacent Bistro. One night we will eat out on our own and one night we will enjoy a dinner party with wine on the beach -- complete with stories of ancient Greece. From the Odyssey you can walk just a few yards to the beach, up the hill to a gym or grocer or around the corner to a private swimming pool.

Katerina Sakelliou, born on Poros, owns and operates the Odyssey Centre apartments and Bistro. She is a renowned Greek chef who will teach us about Greek language and Greek cooking. She promises both are easy and fun, especially when accompanied by a locally brewed beer!

Our sea kayaking guide is Brian Gibbons. He is a British Canoe Union sea kayaking coach from Scotland. We first paddled with him in 2006 and have been very impressed with his skills, knowledge and friendliness. He certainly meets our Cutter Aquatics standards for safety and care on coastal paddling trips. Our excursions will be around Poros and to the peninsula of Methana; across the bays to great snorkeling spots and to secluded beaches with fascinating geology. We can picnic on beaches, enjoy frequent swim breaks, explore quaint coastal villages and stop to buy ice cream! You don't have to travel with your own paddling gear; Brian provides kayaks, paddles, spray skirts and life jackets.

This holiday will be filled with adventures of your choice or you can enjoy the flexibility to opt out of some scheduled activities. Relax on the beach, shop, tour more cultural/archeological sites or just enjoy a cool beer late into the evening. Though we will always try to be flexible, here is an example of our adventure plan.

Day One
Travel from Athens airport to Piraeus. Transfer by airport bus to the ferry port is included. The Hellenic Seaways ferry will take us to Poros Island. We will settle into the Odyssey apartments, relax on the beach or explore the hamlet of Askeli. In the evening we will enjoy a welcome orientation get-together with Greek metzes (small plate appetizers) and local wine.

Day Two
Sea kayaking orientation paddle in the morning and a bike trip to Poros Town in the afternoon. Visit the local archeological museum; shop. In the late afternoon half our group joins Katerina in the kitchen to learn about Greek cooking. Wine is included while cooking! For dinner we will all enjoy the fruits of the cooks labors.

Day Three
Morning and afternoon sea kayaking trips; or choose a guided bike tour of Poros trails. A packed lunch can be ordered from The Bistro. Group dinner with wine at the Bistro (Party plans could develop!).

Day Four
Ferry trip to Hydra Island. Katerina will join us to share the rich history of the people and the island's development. You must not forget your camera; Hydra is incredibly picturesque. Choose a waterfront or hilltop cafe to enjoy lunch. Museums and hikes are available, but the jewelry and craft stores should not be missed. Tonight we will have wine and dinner on the beach and share stories from Greek history and our own heritages.Click here for more information on Hydra.

Day Five
Sea kayaking excursion with snorkeling and beach combing. You may order a packed lunch. You may choose to explore the island by bicycle or rent a four-wheeler. (An international drivers license is required to rent motor scooters.) This might be the night we go to town to choose a Taverna for dinner on our own.

Day Six
Mountain biking, kayaking and snorkeling trips to more destinations are planned; but perhaps today you want to go shopping or read a book, swim in the sea. Half our group will cook a Greek feast for us tonight.

Day Seven
A full day sea kayaking trip can be enjoyed again today if you feel up to it; and there are still other activity options all included in our trip. Our group dinner with wine at the Bistro tonight will include music and special local guests. This is not to be missed!

Day Eight
Ferry transportation to Athens to accommodate your flight schedule. Or stay on at the Odyssey apartments on Poros. We have arranged discounted accommodations for those who wish to stay longer -- only $40 per person per night.

The cost of this eight day trip includes:

- Equipment and certified instruction for sea kayaking
- Multiple half day and full day sea kayaking excursions
- Two days of bicycle rental/tours
- Snorkeling (masks and snorkels provided)
- Archeological and local history museum visits
- Guided excursion by ferry to Hydra Island
- A Greek cooking lesson
- Greek culture and language sessions
- Welcome reception with metzes and wine
- Seven nights accommodations in private apartments
- Seven full breakfasts
- Three evening entertainment suprises
- Five group dinners with wine
- Airport bus transfers and round trip ferry transportation between the port of Piraeus and Poros Island
- Taxes and gratuities

Register on our Schedule Page and pay $300 deposit a hold your place. This deposit is not refundable. It allows us to secure exclusive use of our private accommodations and reserve our kayaks in Greece.

Balance due by May 1, 2008 for June trips or on July 20, 2008 for September trips.

The full price of this trip is $1696 per person. If you pay by cash or check the trip fee is $1647.

If you pre-arrange a group of three or four friends who agree to share a two-level, two-bath apartment you will receive an $80 per person discount off your final payment. Contact us to make group arrangements.

Our trip does not include your airfare as you may wish to combine this outdoor adventure with a cultural visit to Athens or other European destinations. You will be invited to a DFW area in-town group meeting on May 10 or July 27 to discuss trip details and make arrangements for all participants to meet at the Athens airport or the port of Piraeus.

The last ferry of the day to Poros Island departs Piraeus about 7 PM. If you plan to arrive in Athens by air on the first day of our trip (June 13, June 21 or Sept 4), you should land by 4 PM. Allow at least three hours to clear customs, pick up your luggage and travel one hour by bus to the ferry. On departure day don't schedule a flight out of Athens before 12 noon. You will need plenty of time to ride the ferry from Poros to Piraeus and transfer to the Athens airport.

We do not include accommodations or special arrangements for delayed flights and luggage or other circumstances beyond our control. However, every effort will be made to help you work through these glitches so the fun is not delayed for too long.