Highlights and island tours
The best places for highlights and island tours are Key West, Aruba, Nassau, Rhodes and Kusadasi. Key West offers a trolley and a catamaran trip to a backcountry sandbar. Aruba has bus tours of its attractions with beach stops, and Nassau has bus and jeep tours that take in Paradise Island and Atlantis.
Where it's best
Old Town Trolley runs as a hop-on hop-off tour of Key West. A catamaran day trip also goes to a remote natural sandbar in the backcountry, with time to wade in shallow water.
Air-conditioned bus tours cover Aruba's attractions and often stop at Arashi Beach for a swim and snorkel. De Palm Island is a separate all-inclusive private-island day pass with snorkeling, slides, banana boats, a buffet and a bar.
Bus tours drive around the city and island, stopping at old forts and continuing to Paradise Island for the Atlantis resort and its aquarium. Two guided open-side jeep tours of Nassau each last about 3 hours, and a separate pirate ship tour sails through the Nassau area on a 500-ton Spanish galleon. Rose Island is a boat day trip for a private beach escape rather than a tour of the city.
Lindos is usually combined with the village, the Acropolis and St Paul's Bay on a half-day or full-day tour of the island, and its bay has many tourism boats, including a glass bottom boat. Day trips also leave for the nearby islands of Symi, a high-speed island escape, and Alimia, a secluded escape.
Ephesus is the main highlight here. The House of the Virgin Mary is usually combined with it on a half-day or full-day tour, and the basilica of St John is sometimes added.
Santorini's island days sail around the caldera, with swim stops at a quiet bay or an uninhabited island, and some catamarans go on to Thirasia and the hot springs.
Half-day highlights tours combine West Bay and Seven Mile Beach with the village of Hell, rum sampling and dolphins, with time to swim at the beach. The Paradise Discovered Tour starts with a scenic tour of George Town, then visits the Blue Iguana Conservation Facility and the Mission House in Bodden Town, with Caymanian refreshments.
Island tours stop in West End village and at West Bay Beach, often with wildlife sanctuaries along the way. Many head east to Oak Ridge, where a small tuk-tuk takes you through the colorful streets of the fishing village. The Pigeon Cayes are deserted islands that can be visited.
Island highlight tours mostly start in Kralendijk with a guided drive past the salt ponds and old landmarks. The Southern Bonaire Island Highlights tour covers the south of the island.
Ketchikan is the jumping-off point for Misty Fjords National Monument, reached by boat or by air.
Caye Caulker is done as an island highlights day, reached by water taxi and explored on foot once you land. On the mainland, one tour pairs Altun-Ha with a Belize City overview, and another covers city sightseeing and highlights.
Private island tours show Cozumel's highlights and stop at a beach club.
St Thomas island tours go by bus to the best-known stops, or by taxi with a driver hired by the hour, who can time the stops to miss the bus crowds.
Mykonos island days are mostly on the water: yacht cruises to Delos and Rhenia, and boat trips to quiet beaches around the island.
A guided Wave Jet tour leaves from Chill Island and takes you out on the water to see the island's sights.
Tours to book
Prices are per person, booked with our partner, Shore Excursions Group.
