8 Days Classical Greece from Athens, Athens

Discover the famous historical monuments of mainland Greece! With this eight-day tour you will get to visit some of the country’s most interesting sites, such as the Acropolis, the birthplace of the Ancient Olympics, the archaeological site of Delphi, the Temple of Apollo and the UNESCO-listed World Heritage rock-tower monasteries of Meteora.

Inclusions & Exclusions

✔ Shared air-conditioned transportation in a luxury vehicle for transfers to and from Athens Airport

✔ Lunch

✔ and the 4-day round trip beyond Athens

✔ Dinner

✔ Meet & Greet on arrival day 1

✔ Entrance fees for the Acropolis, the Acropolis Museum, the Delphi Site and Museum,the Olympia Site

✔ Breakfast

✔ the half-day Athens sightseeing tour, and the four-day round trip.

✔ and Museum, Epidaurus, Mycenae and two monasteries of Meteora.

✔ Operated with English or French speaking guides for the half-day Athens sightseeing tour

✔ 7 nights' accommodation

✖ Expenditures of a personal nature, drinks and meals if not stated explicitly in the programme

✖ Flight tickets or visa fees

✖ Airport taxes for domestic and international flights

✖ Gratuities for driver and guide

✖ Optional tours: half-day Sounio Excursion, Athens by Night excursion, 1-day cruise to Aegina

✖ Hydra and Poros Island

✖ Any pre and post stays

✖ Overnight city tax for the hotel overnights effective from January 1st 2018.

✖ Clients will have to pay the TAX on the spot at the hotels.

Pickup Locations

1. Athens Intl Airport

Itinerary

ARRIVAL ATHENS

1

On your arrival at Athens airport, you will be greeted by our English-speaking assistant and taken to your Athens hotel in the comfort of an air-conditioned luxury car or bus. Athens has an array of amazing hotels, and this package offers the cream of the crop. Once you’re settled, you can spend the rest of the day at leisure, either by heading out to explore the streets of Athens at your own rhythm, or by making the most of the services available at the hotel. Overnight in Athens.

Duration: 12 hours

ATHENS ACROPOLIS (140km – 4 hrs)

1

In the morning, have breakfast and then embark on a sightseeing tour of the ancient city. Along with your expert guide, go see the city centre, Constitution Square (Syntagma), the House of Parliament, the Memorial to the Unknown Soldier and the National Library. On your way to the Acropolis you will pass Hadrian’s Arch and the Temple of Olympian Zeus. Make a short stop at the Panathenaic Stadium, where the first Modern Olympic Games were held in 1896. Then, at the Acropolis, visit the architectural masterpieces of the Golden Age of Athens: the Propylaea, the Temple of Athena Nike, the Erechtheion and the famous Parthenon. Your first taste of Athens would not be complete without a visit to the Acropolis Museum, a modern architectural building where, at last, the statues have found their home. After the tour, enjoy the rest of the day at leisure. You can book an optional tour to Cape Sounion, passing the wonderful beaches of Glyfada, Vouliagmeni and Varkiza, to see the white marble pillars of the Temple of Poseidon and the rocky promontory of Sounio. In the evening you can book another optional tour: Night out in Athens. Enjoy a short panoramic drive through the city centre and then take photos of the illuminated Acropolis. After that, enjoy a walk through the picturesque streets of the old city and wrap up the night in a typical Greek tavern with live music and Greek folk dances in traditional costumes. At the end of the visit, return to your hotel. Overnight in Athens.

Duration: 12 hours

ATHENS – CANAL OF CORINTH – EPIDAURUS –NAUPLION - MYCENAE – OLYMPIA (385km – 9 hrs)

1

After breakfast in the hotel, leave Athens by the coastal road to the Corinth Canal, where you will make a short stop to contemplate the views. Then drive on and visit the splendid Theatre of Epidauros, famous for its remarkable acoustics. After that, proceed to the town of Nauplion, where you will enjoy a brief photo stop before continuing to Mycenae. Here you will visit the city’s fascinating Archaeological Site, as well as the Tomb of Agamemnon. Lastly, depart for Olympia by driving through the Central Peloponnese and the towns of Tripolis and Megalopolis. Once you arrive in Olympia, cradle of the Olympic Games, check in at the hotel to spend the night. Overnight in Olympia.

Duration: 12 hours

OLYMPIA - DELPHI (330km – 8 hrs)

1

Today breakfast in the hotel is followed by a visit to the Archaeological Site containing the Sanctuary of Olympian Zeus, the Ancient Stadium and the Archaeological Museum. After that morning of history, monuments and enlightenment, it’s time to drive through the plains of Eliad and Achaia to the magnificent bridge crossing the Corinthian Bay from Rion to Antirion. Pass by the picturesque towns of Nafpactos (Lepanto) and Itea before you finally arrive in Delphi, a city once regarded as the centre of the world. According to mythology, Zeus sent out two eagles from the ends of the universe to find the navel of the world, and it was in this location that they met. The sanctuary of Delphi is set within a most spectacular landscape. Check in at the hotel and spend the night. Overnight in Delphi.

Duration: 12 hours

DELPHI - KALAMBAKA (310km – 8 hrs)

1

Wake up to breakfast in the hotel and then head out to explore the Archaeological Site and Museum of Delphi, where amongst other archaeological treasures you can contemplate the unique bronze statue of the Charioteer dedicated to Apollo by Polyzalos. After the visit, you will depart for Kalambaka, a small town located at the foot of the astonishing complex of Meteora, an almost alien landscape filled with gigantic rock formations. Check in to the hotel and have dinner at the hotel before spending the night. Overnight in Kalambaka.

Duration: 12 hours

KALAMBAKA - ATHENS (355km –9 hrs)

1

After breakfast in the hotel, explore the striking scenery of Meteora. Perched on top of enormous pillars of rock that seem almost suspended in mid-air, stand a series of ancient monasteries showcasing a wonderful collection of Byzantine art. You will ascend to two of the monasteries to marvel at their beautiful contents before beginning the drive back to Athens via Trikala, Lamia and Thermopylae, where you’ll make a short stop to see Leonida's Monument. Arrive in Athens early in the evening and check in to the hotel. Overnight in Athens on selected hotel.

Duration: 12 hours

ATHENS (OPTIONAL ONE DAY CRUISE TO AEGINA, HYDRA AND POROS)

1

Charge your batteries after finally returning to Athens with breakfast in the hotel. Then you are free to enjoy a full day at leisure. Today you have the chance to book an optional one-day cruise to the islands of Hydra, Poros and Aegina. After a morning transfer to the port, you’ll be welcomed on board a luxurious cruise ship and invited to one of its spacious open decks offering great views of the Greek coast. The first stop is the island of Poros, the smallest of the three islands you’ll visit on the tour. It’s separated from the Peloponnese by a narrow strait. After exploring the island, you’ll be served lunch as the ship sail towards Hydra. Take in the stunning views as you enter the port of Hydra and see the cove once used as a shelter for pirates. Wander around the narrow, stone-paved streets of the island on foot or by saddled donkey. When you return to the ship, you’ll find the tables set once again. Along with your food enjoy charming Greek music on the way to Aegina, the largest of the three. Apart from its beautiful harbour, there are numerous interesting sites that you’ll have a chance discover on your own. Alternatively, you can join an excursion to the Temple of Aphaia at an additional cost. Enjoy a Greek folk show with singers and dancers in traditional costumes on the sail back to Athens. Overnight in Athens.

Duration: 12 hours

DEPARTURE ATHENS

1

Wake up to one last breakfast in the hotel before taking your transfer back to Athens airport, where you’ll catch your flight to your following destination. The time your transfer leaves depends on your flight departure. Breakfast included.

Duration: 12 hours

Cancellation Policy

All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.

Additional info

• Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap

• Suitable for all physical fitness levels

• Local conditions prevalent at the time of travel may result in modifications to the tour contents without prior notice

• What do I need to bring? Comfortable and light clothing is the most suitable for travelling in Greece. Visitors should not wear sleeveless shirts, shorts, short skirts or skimpy clothing when visiting temples, religious or official buildings. Sun protection, sun glasses, a hat and mosquito repellent can be very useful during your stay.

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