Explore the UNESCO World Heritage Site at Delphi, home of the 4th-century-BC Temple of Apollo on this private, full day excursion from Athens. Travel in private, air-conditioned vehicles and get around all the sites your group is interested in visiting within the extensive mountainside archaeological complex before returning comfortably to Athens.
The pan-Hellenic sanctuary of Delphi, where the oracle of Apollo features, was the site of the omphalos, the 'navel of the world'. Blending harmoniously with the superb landscape and charged with sacred meaning, Delphi in the 6th century B.C. was indeed the religious centre and symbol of unity of the Ancient Greek World
Give us the chance to make this icon live and feel together the fundamentals of our culture.
Trust the locals!!!
From the early Christian times, the Meteora vertical cliffs were regarded as the perfect place to achieve absolute isolation, to discover peace and harmony and, thus, to support man’s .
Inclusions & Exclusions
✔ Pick-up and drop-off service: Athens Hotel, Airbnb residence or Port
✔ All taxes, fees and handling charges
✔ Transportation via modern, first-class private vehicle
✔ All vehicles with WiFi, A/C, Bottled Water
✔ Fully Private Tour
✔ English-speaking tour driver well-versed in Greek history. not Licensed to accompany you in sights
✖ Lunch, other beverages and meals.
✖ Tips and gratuities
✖ Entrances Tickets Delphi : 12€ per a person
✖ Entrance tickets price Meteora : 6€ per a person
Departure & Return
Return: End right where it started.
Itinerary
2
Mount Parnassus
Mount Parnassus is a mountain in central Greece that towers above Delphi, north of the Gulf of Corinth.
Mount Parnassus offers many advantages to the population of Greece. In peace, it possesses scenic views of the countryside and features olive groves and rolling hills. The mountain is also the location of historically, archaeologically, and culturally significant places of interest (such as Delphi). Recreationally, the slopes of Parnassus provide a medium for hiking (in the three warm seasons) and are skied in winter. Its melting snows provide water to the surrounding communities, reaching out as far as Athens. The mountain is composed of limestone, and its rock contains bauxite, ore that is rich in aluminum. In war, Parnassus has been a center of resistance if need be, providing cover and refuge to partisans.
3
Tholos of Athena Pronaia
The tholos at the sanctuary of Athena Pronoia (Ἀθηνᾶ Πρόνοια, “Athena of forethought”) is a circular building that was constructed between 380 and 360 BC. It consisted of 20 Doric columns arranged with an exterior diameter of 14.76 meters, with 10 Corinthian columns in the interior.
The Tholos is located approximately a half a mile (800 meters) from the main ruins at Delphi. Three of the Doric columns have now been restored, making it the most popular site at Delphi for tourists to take photographs.
The gymnasium, which is half a mile away from the main sanctuary, was a series of buildings used by the youth of Delphi. The building consisted of two levels: a stoa on the upper level providing open space, and a palaestra, pool and baths on lower floor. These pools and baths were said to have magical powers, and imparted the ability to communicate to Apollo himself.
Duration: 20 minutes
4
Delphi Archaeological Museum
Delphi Archaeological Museum is one of the principal museums of Greece and one of the most visited. It is operated by the Greek Ministry of Culture. Founded in 1903, it has been rearranged several times and houses the discoveries made at the Panhellenic sanctuary of Delphi, which dates from the Late Helladic (Mycenean) period to the early Byzantine era.
Duration: 60 minutes
5
Temple of Apollo
The Temple of Apollo, god of music, harmony, light, healing, and oracles occupied the most important and prominent position in the Delphic Panhellenic Sanctuary. The edifice with the partially restored colonnade visible today dates to the 4th century BC; it is the third temple built at the same place. The famous oracle, the Pythia, operated inside the temple, the location chosen, according to one tradition, due to a sacred chasm beneath the site emitting vapors, which were inhaled by the Pythia. Some ancient writers state that the Pythia then entered a state of delirium and uttering inarticulate cries, which were then turned into equivocal oracles by the priests.
Duration: 15 minutes
6
Delphi
The Greeks told many stories to explain the origins of Delphi. The site was originally sacred to Gaia (also known as Ge), the ‘Mother Goddess’ whose cult centred on the Korykeon Cave, high on Mt Parnassos. After slaying a snake or she-dragon (known as Pytho) here, Apollo took the local name of Apollo Pythios.
For a thousand years, pilgrims flocked to his sanctuary for guidance. The height of its fame came between the 6th and 4th centuries BCE, after the Amphictyonic League, a federation of 12 tribal states, took control of the sanctuary following the First Sacred War (595–586 BCE). As an autonomous state, Delphi earned great prosperity from benefactors including the kings of Lydia and Egypt, and the Roman emperor Hadrian. Nominally neutral, it was a locus of political power.
Duration: 60 minutes
7
Treasury of the Athenians
Treasury of the Athenians built to commemorate victory at Battle of Marathon
From the entrance of the upper site, continuing up the slope on the Sacred Way almost to the Temple of Apollo, are a large number of votive statues, and numerous so-called “treasuries.” These were built by many of the Greek city-states to commemorate victories and to thank the oracle for her advice which was thought to have contributed to those victories.
These buildings held the offerings made to Apollo; these were frequently a “tithe” or tenth of the spoils of a battle. The most impressive is the now-restored Athenian Treasury, built to commemorate their victory at the Battle of Marathon in 490 BC.
The Siphnian Treasury was dedicated by the city of Siphnos whose citizens gave a tithe of the yield from their silver mines until the mines came to an abrupt end when the sea flooded them.
One of the largest of the treasuries was that of Argos
Duration: 15 minutes
8
Meteora
In this tour we will visit Meteora, a unique location full both in terms of landscape and christian faith.
9
Kalabaka is a town and seat of the municipality of Meteora in the Trikala regional unit, part of Thessaly in Greece. The population was 12,000 at the 2011 census, of which 8,330 in the town proper. The Meteora monasteries are located near the town.
Duration: 60 minutes
10
Varlaam Monastery
tour of Osios Varlaam Monastery
Duration: 45 minutes
11
Roussanou Monastery
tour of the Rousanou Monastery at Meteora
Duration: 45 minutes
12
Thermopylae
As we leave the magnificent Meteora behind us, let us not overlook the Battle of Thermopylae of 480 BCE, which has long been the topic of cultural motivation, as it is perhaps the most famous military last stand of all time. The monument of the Great Leonidas, King of Sparta, in Thermopylae, will grace our path on our way back to Athens in the late afternoon.
Duration: 30 minutes
13
Athens
After meeting our guide, your transfer to the archeological site of Delphi will begin for a total duration of 2 hours and 30 minutes.
Duration: 2.5 hours
14
Meteora
As soon as you have completed your visit to the monasteries, you will start your Return to Athens total duration 3 hours 30 minutes
Duration: 3 hours
15
Delphi
After you finish your guided tour of the archaeological site of Delphi, you will start a trip to Meteora, lasting 2 hours
Duration: 2 hours
Additional info
• Service animals allowed
• Specialized infant seats are available
• Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels
