CLASSICAL GREECE TOUR “TRACING THE ANCIENT GODS”

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