11D10N GREECE TOUR

Upon your arrival at Athens airport or Piraeus port (please advise your flight details or ferry details, in order to arrange the pick-up), meet and greet, and transfer to your hotel for check in. The afternoon is free at leisure for exploring this never sleeping city.

Overnight in Athens.

Luscious breakfast at your hotel is followed by the exciting Athens city tour which gives you an opportunity to observe the striking contrasts that make Athens such a fascinating city. Our expert guide will take you to see Panathenaic Stadium where the first Olympic Games of modern times were held (shortstop), Prime Minister’s residence guarded by the Euzones in their colorful uniform, the Temple of Olympian Zeus, the Hadrian’s Arch, the Parliament and the memorial to the Unknown Soldier, the Academy, the University, the National Library, the Constitution Square (Syntagma). On the Acropolis visit the Architectural Masterpieces of the Golden Age of Athens: The Propylaea, the Temple of Athena Nike, the Erechtheion and finally the monument that “puts the order in the mind”, magnificent Parthenon. Tour ends by the visit to the new Acropolis museum. Return to your hotel in Athens overnight. The rest of the day free of leisure. Optionally, you can book a half-day excursion to Cape Sounio, or enjoy a typical Greek night out in Athens (not included, optional extra) in a tavern with dinner and following a floor show with live music and Greek Folk Dances in traditional costumes.

Athens night out tour

The tour will begin with a short panoramic drive through the city center where you’ll also have the chance to admire and take photos of the illuminated Acropolis. Then a pleasant walk through the narrow picturesque streets of Plaka will bring you at a Typical Greek Tavern where you will enjoy your dinner accompanied by live music and Greek folk dances.

(Operates daily, except Sundays; includes roundtrip shared transportation from/to hotel, dinner in a typical Greek tavern, shared professional English speaking escort).

Cape Sounio excursion

This unique tour will take you through the coastal road, passing the wonderful beaches of Glyfada, Vouliagmeni & Varkiza to Cape Sounio, where the white marble pillars of the Temple of Poseidon stand. After visiting the Temple of Poseidon, you have time to walk at leisure on the rocky promontory of Sounio.

(Includes roundtrip shared transportation from/to hotel, shared professional English speaking guide, entrance fee to Cape Sounio).

End time: 19:30

Overnight in Athens.

After the delightful breakfast at the hotel, depart today by the coastal road to the impressive Corinth Canal where you will have a short photo stop. Continue the drive on and visit the Theatre of Epidaurus famous for its remarkable acoustics. Then proceed to the Town of Nauplion (short stop) drive on to Mycenae and visit the Archaeological Site and the Tomb of Agamemnon. Then depart for Olympia through Central Peloponnese passing by the towns of Tripolis and Megalopolis. Arrive at Olympia, cradle of the ancient Olympic Games and after the check-in enjoy a dinner at the hotel.

Overnight in Olympia.

Breakfast at your hotel. In the morning visit the archaeological site with the sanctuary of Olympian Zeus, the Ancient Stadium and the archaeological museum. After drive on through the plains of Ilia and Achaia until the magnificent bridge which is crossing the Corinthian Bay from Rion to Antirion. Pass by the picturesque Towns of Nafpactos (Lepanto) and Itea, and once in Delphi, check-in to your hotel. Dinner serves at the hotel.

Overnight in Delphi.

Wake up to tasty breakfast at the hotel and get ready for your morning visit of the archaeological site and the museum of Delphi. Depart for Kalambaka, a small town situated at the foot of the astonishing complex of the Meteora, those gigantic rocks that rise steep from the plain of Thessaly. Arrive to Kalambaka, check-in and wrap up the day with a dinner at the hotel.

Overnight in Kalambaka.

Enjoy your breakfast at your hotel and get ready for one of the most exciting sites, Meteora, perched on top of huge rocks, which seem to be suspended in mid-air, stand ageless Monasteries, where you can see exquisite specimens of Byzantine art. Afterward, depart from Kalambaka, drive through the striking plain of Thessaly and the Valley of Tempi, and admire the gigantic figure of Mount Olympos, the highest mountain in Greece, home to the 12 Gods in Greek Mythology. Arrival at Thessaloniki, the second largest and the most vibrant city in Greece, check-in to the hotel and dinner.

Overnight in Thessaloniki.

After breakfast, learn about the history of this city that throughout the era of the Byzantine Empire was the “co-reigning” city, second in population and prestige only to Constantinople. On this city tour you will visit unique monuments and you will feel the glorious Byzantine past in some of the oldest and most characteristic churches of the Christian world as well as in the Museum of Byzantine Culture, awarded with the Council of Europe’s Museum Prize for the year 2005. Rest of the day free, to enjoy time in the lively centre of the Thessaloniki city. Dinner serves at the hotel.

Overnight in Thessaloniki.

After an energizing breakfast at the hotel, depart in the morning for a unique approach to historical Macedonia. First stop is at picturesque Edessa where you see the town’s famous landmark, the Waterfalls. Then proceed to Naoussa, to visit the Aristotle’s School, the picturesque site where the great philosopher taught ‘the doctrines of morals and politics’ to Alexander the Great and the Macedonian youth. Afterward drive to Vergina (ancient Aigai), to live the experience of a visit to the unique Museum, created in the Great Tumulus covering the royal tombs of Macedonia. See the astonishing findings from the tomb of King Phillip II, Alexander’s father, and feel the thrill of the greatest discovery of the 20th century. In only a few miles away is Veria (Biblical Beroea) to visit Saint Paul’s Bema, and then stroll through the old Jewish neighbourhood and the colourful market area. A walk in a city where past is present and around. Return to Thessaloniki for dinner at your hotel.

Overnight in Thessaloniki.

Start your day with a tasty breakfast at the hotel, after which you drive to Pella, the capital of Alexander the Great. See the exquisite floor mosaics of the 4th century B.C. villas, in situ as well as in the new Museum. Further on continue to the Archaeological Park of Dion (sacred city of the Macedonians, at the foot of mountain Olympos) and afterward, you proceed driving south and through Thessaly, Lamia, Thermopylae (see the Leonidas’ Monument) and Thebes, back to Athens, where you arrive in late afternoon. The rest of the day at leisure.

Overnight in Athens.

Delightful breakfast at the hotel are followed by a big farewell to Greece. At an indicated time you will be transferred to the Athens airport to take your flight to following destinations.