Ancient Civilizations of Greece, Crete & Santorini: On the Edge of the World

“My experience with the Ananda College of Living Wisdom was top notch. The tour guides are highly competent. What sets them apart though, is their open-hearted, kind nature. I always felt cared for and supported in a generous way! I definitely will be going on Spiritual Pilgrimage with these folks again!” —K.B., Davis, CA

Experience Sacred Monasteries, Greek Mythology, Ancient Communities and more. A transformative sacred trip to the mystical islands of the Gods.

May 5 to May 17, 2025

New! Sign-Up and pay your deposit NOW and have until March 1st to complete your full payment. Questions? admissions@anandacollege.org

12 days, 11 nights

Greece and her islands are majestically situated as if the Gods themselves can commune effortlessly, perched on the edge of the world. We can still feel their presence and understand their lives better in a group of like-minded souls, enjoying the scenery and the mythology while experiencing the benefits of satsang or spiritual gathering.

We invite you to join us for 13 inspiring days in mainland Greece and the islands of Crete and Santorini. We’ll use the Yuga Cycles of Time to investigate mythology and ancient civilizations in a stunning landscape while encountering thousands of years of spiritual practice. We’ll visit holy sites where travelers have received healings, learn ancient Greek myths and culture while exploring mystic oracles, gleaming temples, and miraculous sacred sites. Along the way, we’ll attune to the Greek people in her picturesque villages, visit the famous archaeological site of the mysterious Minoan Civilization in Crete, discover how Santorini changed the face of our planet, and imbibe in a variety of cultural experiences.

Gnothi Seauton means Know Thyself. These words were inscribed above the entrance to the temple of Apollo at Delphi. In Yogic terms, to know oneself is the most important thing in spiritual inquiry. To find the truth, we have to first know the one who is searching for the truth and that is indeed one’s self.

Plan to arrive in Athens on May 5th
2 nights Athens (6^th & 7^th)
2 nights Delphi (8^th & 9^th)
4 nights Crete (10^th, 11^th, 12^th & 13^th)
3 nights Santorini (14^th, 15^th & 16^th)
Tour ends after breakfast on the 17th

For those wishing to arrive in Athens a day or two early, we are offering a discount for the extra nights we may spend at our Athens hotel. Note that Santorini has an international airport that flies to all the major European cities. Or, if you want to explore another Greek island, flights and ferries are readily available from Santorini.

Your Hosts

Nayaswami Nischala and Nakula Cryer, co-founders of Ananda College of Living Wisdom, and the New Horizons Gap Year.

Nayaswami’s Nischala and Nakula Cryer have been leading tours for Ananda College of Living Wisdom for nearly 20 years. They have led tours to Northern India, Southern India, Egypt, Greece, Peru, Italy, France, and England. They are the co-founders of the Ananda College of Living Wisdom. For 18 years they lived at the Ananda Meditation Retreat in Northern California where they managed the retreat and the college, and where they raised their son. Nakula is a builder of sacred temples, creating the Temple of Light and Moksha Mandir at Ananda Village, as well as other sacred buildings. Nischala is also an author of two books, Reflections on Living 30 Years in a Spiritual Community, and the Amazon best-selling, The Four Stages of Yoga.

Jenny Kellogg, PhD, a Kriyaban who is fluent in Greek and has led Hellenic tours for Harvard.

Jenny holds a PhD in Modern Languages and Literatures from the Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Belgium and a BA in Classical Philology from Beloit College. She has worked in academia and non-profits in a variety of administrative and leadership roles, including ten years at Harvard University’s Center for Hellenic Studies. Since 2005, Jenny has developed and led many service-learning programs for college students in Greece.

Jenny is a Kriyaban and a disciple of Paramhansa Yogananda since 2013. She teaches the courses “Comparative Mythology of Greece, India, and Egypt,” “Finding Your Dharma,” and leads travel-study tours to Greece for Ananda College. Besides teaching, Jenny is both an astrologer and spiritual coach, helping her clients navigate change, find meaning in their lives, and reconnect to their authentic selves. She specializes in trauma-informed astrology, combining the Compassionate Inquiry approach of Dr. Gabor Maté with modern astrological techniques and ancient wisdom traditions. She is also a literary translator from the Modern Greek and enjoys volunteer work within Greece’s refugee crisis.

Costs

$6,850 $5,890* Per Person

Based on double occupancy. We encourage you to invite a roommate to share this uplifting experience. The single supplement for a room by yourself is $1,100 when you sign-up and pay your deposit now.

Double occupancy per person
$5,890 USD per person (when you sign up and pay your deposit now, with full payment due before March 1, 2025)
$6,859 USD per person (paid after March 1, 2025)

Single occupancy supplement
$1,100 USD per person (when you sign up and pay your deposit now, with full payment due before March 1, 2025)
$1,800 USD per person (paid after March 1, 2025)

A $1,000 deposit reserves your place.

International Flights Not Included

Terms & Conditions

Includes:

tour includes Prelude to Greece 4-week online class
all accommodations at 4 star hotels
12 buffet breakfasts and 6 dinners enjoyed together buffet style or at lovely restaurants
all transportation in comfortable, AC buses
airfare from Athens to Crete
fast ferry from Heraklion to Santorini
deluxe all-day Catamaran cruise around Santorini Island
entrance to all holy and ancient sites and museums including the Delphic Oracle and Acropolis Museum
all expert guides for monastery and Delphi visits, Athens morning walking tour, hiking and cave expert guides, and tours in Crete and Santorini

Cost does not include:

your international flights to/from Greece
any extra nights at hotels before or after trip
travel insurance that we require proof of
transportation from the Athens airport to our Athens hotel
any personal expenses, laundry costs
any medical expenses
Meals other than the above. We do not cover drinks at meals we provide, or lunches we do not provide.
NOTE: Greeks like to eat a light meal at 3:00 so we will visit small tavernas around lunch where people can order for themselves.
We suggest you plan your budget to include tips for the specialty expert guides we have contracted with at key trip locations.

Requirements for traveling to Greece:

You should be reasonably fit, able to walk up stairs and walk throughout the day. The tour includes a few longer hikes, and walking on uneven surfaces, sometimes up hills.

Travel Insurance

Travel insurance is compulsory for all our travelers and should be taken out at the time of booking. Your travel insurance must provide cover against personal accident, death, medical expenses and emergency repatriation with a recommended minimum coverage of US $200,000 for each of the categories of cover. We also strongly recommend it covers cancellation, curtailment, personal liability and loss of luggage and personal effects. You must provide proof of your travel insurance a couple weeks ahead of departure; you will not be able to join the trip without it. Here are a couple options:

Travel Guard (Travelguard.com); 855-470-5380
Squaremouth (Squaremouth.com); 800-240-0369

Travel Documents

You must hold a valid National Travel passport with an expiration date at least six months after the end of your stay. No visa is needed for travelers from the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Australia, and most other countries in the Americas and Europe.

Travel Safe in Greece & Crete

On May 14, 2021, Greece opened its borders in a safe and attainable manner. Requirements for traveling internationally are changing with some regularity. We will keep you informed as we approach the date of this trip of the then-current requirements. For now, these are the circumstances: Prior to departure, all travelers must ensure that they carry an acceptable form of certification of their health condition.

More information on Greece/Crete travel at https://travel.gov.gr/#/

Questions?

We are available to Skype or Zoom with you for questions you may have.

Nayaswami’s Nischala and Nakula Cryer

Jenny Kellogg, PhD, Tour co-leader

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