CLASSICAL GREECE TOUR “TRACING THE ANCIENT GODS”
Athens, Mainland Greece
All Year Round
3.000
7 Days
On this Legendary Greek Landmarks tour, you’ll get to know the ‘Big Five’ (+plus) under UNESCO World Heritage Protection, not-to-miss historical sites of Greek mainland away from Athens.
Immerse yourself in history by exploring Ancient Olympia, the birthplace of the ancient Olympic Games; the postcard-pretty old town of Nafplio, the first capital of modern Greece; the best of its kind Ancient Theater of Epidaurus; the majestic citadel of Ancient Mycenae, the hometown of legendary Agamemnon king; the mythical oracle of Delphi; and the breathtaking rocks of Meteora with its suspended monasteries. Get ready to experience the glorious history of Greece!
- Athens: Start your exploration of Greece with a walk around the Acropolis with your own private guide
- Athens: Stroll around the Kalimarmaro Stadium, home of the first modern Olympics
- Epidauros: Admire the legendary acoustics of the ancient theater of Epidaurus, the best preserved of its kind in the world.
- Mycenae: Bring Homer’s poems “Iliad” and “Odyssey” to life while you’re exploring Ancient Mycenae, the land of intrepid king Agamemnon.
- Nafplio: Stroll around the postcard-pretty coastal town of Nafplio and admire unique views from the three medieval fortresses.
- Ancient Olympia: Explore the Temples and ancient training facilities of Ancient Olympia and grab the opportunity to run in the birthplace of the Olympics.
- Delphi: Explore the Archeological Site of Delphi with its mythical monuments and spectacular views and seek your prophecy in the most famous oracle of the ancient world.
- Meteora: Capture the most breathtaking landscapes in your camera at the gigantic rocks of Meteora with its ‘suspended in the air’ monasteries.
What to Know
What’s Included
- Breakfast daily, all lunch and dinners as outlined in the itinerary.
- Private sightseeing (including all entrance fees) as outlined in the itinerary.
- All the activities as outlined in the itinerary.
- Comfortable private transportation with driver. Other modes of transportation include 4 WD vehicle .
- Snacks and refreshments along the way.
- Tipping & porterage taken care of .
- Airport meet and greet service.
- Departure transfer.
Not Included
- International flights
- Visas
- Airport taxes
- Laundry
- Gratuities
- Travel Insurance
Day 1 Arrive in Athens/Greece
Start / End Points
Tour starts in Athens/Greece. The tour ends in Athens/Greece. If you want to extend your trip, please inform us upon booking about your starting and ending point so as to be quoted the final price.
Check in time at your hotel in Athens is after 14:00 so we recommend choosing a flight that arrives in the early afternoon.
Check out time upon departure is 12:00 p.m. We will meet you at the airport and you will enjoy your private transfer to the hotel. We have also arranged private transport back to the airport on your last day.
Take your time to relax. In the evening you will have your first taste of Greece by strolling around the old neighborhoods of Athens, on a moonlight evening tour and indulge in mouth-watering local dishes and drinks.
Overnight Athens
Included Meals: Dinner
Day 2 Athens
We will take a half day tour of Athens and its most significant sights. No visit to Athens is complete without a climb up to the Acropolis (“peak of the city”), where Ancient Athenians of the 5th century BC erected the great temple dedicated to the goddess Athena – the extraordinary Parthenon.
You will also see the Ancient Agora, and some of the finest structures of modern Athens, such as the Kalimarmaro Stadium, home of the first modern Olympics in 1896; the old Royal Palace and today’s Parliament, with the elite unit known as the Evzones guarding the Memorial of the Unknown Soldier.
We will have lunch in one of the most traditional neighborhoods, at a restaurant that only locals know and discover secret corners of this multifaceted city.
The evening is free for you to enjoy the luxury of your hotel, or go outside and why not dine with an Acropolis backdrop view.
Overnight Athens
Included Meals: Breakfast /Lunch
Day 3 Athens-Epidaurus-Nafplio
Leaving Athens with its one-and-only Acropolis, we will travel to Peloponnese, the birthplace of the Ancient Olympic Games, Drama Theater and great civilizations.
After taking a short stopover for unique Instagram photos at the Corinth Canal, the waterway that crosses the narrow Isthmus of Corinth with its long history, we’ll move toward Epidaurus.
Epidaurus’s fame is so grand worldwide due to the ancient theater of Epidaurus –an UNESCO World Heritage Site-, the most fascinating and best preserved of its kind being built in the 4th century BC and still used today under the framework of the summer Epidaurus Festival. Not to miss to stand in the middle of the highest row and admire how incredible clearly you can hear the sound of a coin being thrown and reaching the floor in the middle of the stage!
Last stop for today will be at the charming coastal city of Nafplio, the first capital of modern Greece where you’ll have free afternoon for exploring the village-feel, cobblestone labyrinth alleys and the neoclassical houses and admire unique views from the two city-mountains crowned by medieval fortresses or from Bourtzi, the small island fortress overlooking the city.
Overnight Nafplio
Included Meals: Breakfast
Day 4 Mycenae
Departing from Nafplio we’ll visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Mycenae citadel after a short ride. Explore fascinating hilltop city of Mycenae with its very long history dating back to 1600-1200 BC; stroll around the mythical Cyclopean Walls, the Lion Gate and the Royal beehive tombs; and hear stories about the intrepid king of Mycenae, Agamemnon who was the commander-in-chief of Greek army in the Trojan War and who was honored in Homer’s epic poems “Iliad” and “Odyssey”.
In the afternoon, we’ll continue our journey towards the picturesque village of Dimitsana where we’ll stay overnight.
Overnight Dimitsana
Included Meals: Breakfast
Day 5 Ancient Olympia
During the morning, we’ll live the myth of the first ancient Olympic Games took place in 776 BC in the archeological site of Ancient Olympia –an UNESCO World Heritage Site- where we’ll visit the ruins of the great monuments.
Take your time and explore the most celebrated temple of Ancient Greece, the Temple of Zeus which once, housed the gold and ivory statue of Zeus, one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world. Continue your exploration and admire the Temple of Hera where the torch is lit during the modern Olympic Games; stroll around the ancient training facilities of the Palestra and the Gymnasium; and feel the passion for victory of the ancient athletes while you are standing in the middle of the Olympic stadium. Why not grab the opportunity to run in the birthplace of the Olympics? If yes, not forget to get crowned with the victory olive wreaths!
After visiting the outstanding treasures of the Archeological Museum of Ancient Olympia, we’ll move toward Central Greece passing from Rio-Antirrio Bridge, the world’s longest multi-span cable-stayed and fully suspended bridge standing above the Gulf of Corinth. Then, we’ll take a short stopover at the medieval coastal town of Nafpaktos before reaching Delphi archeological area where we’ll have overnight stay.
Overnight Nafpaktos
Included Meals: Breakfast
Day 6 Delphi
We’ll visit one of the most fabulous ancient areas of Greece, the Archeological Site of Delphi. Lying on the slopes of Mount Parnassus, Delphi -today a UNESCO World Heritage Site- was believed to be the navel of the world in ancient times. Simply, you’ll be at a loss for words when you stare at this spectacular view with its mythical monuments.
Seek your prophecy in the most fabled and accurate oracle of the ancient world and explore one by one all the hotspots of the archeological area – the Sacred Way leading to the Temple of Apollo, the unusual Polygonal Wall, the Treasury of the Athenians, the Theater and the Stadion, the monumental fountains of the Castalian spring and the masterpiece of the Tholos. Before leaving the area, we’ll visit the Delphi Archeological Museum with the great collection of finds from the site.
Next, we’ll depart for Kalambaka where we’ll stay overnight.
Overnight Kalambaka
Included Meals: Breakfast
Day 7 Meteora
In the morning, we’ll move to the nearby astonishing rock formations of Meteora with the ‘suspended in the air’ monasteries –an UNESCO World Heritage Site-. Etymologically related to meteor, these gigantic rocks are like being felt from the sky and formatted this outstanding geological phenomenon where the marvel of nature meets the marvel of man.
There, we’ll admire the natural beauty and explore some of the well-preserved monasteries with their grand cultural heritage. Get ready to discover the best spots and capture the most breathtaking landscapes on your camera!
On the way back to Athens, we’ll take a short stopover at the heroic monument of Thermopylae’s Battlefield where Leonidas, the king of Sparta, was sacrificed himself along with his 300 comrades.
Overnight Athens
Included Meals: Breakfast
Day 8 Athens
Our tour concludes after breakfast, with a departure transfer to the Athens International airport.
Included Meals: Breakfast