Absolutely Greek

After your breakfast and at the agreed time, you will commence the panoramic tour of the Athenian Neoclassical Center: the Parliament, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the University, the Library, and National Academy, the Ilion Palace, the Temple of Zeus and Hadrian's Gate, the Panathenaic Stadium, and many other monuments and sites of great interest.  You will learn all there is to know about their history and background from the licensed English-speaking Tour Guide accompanying you on this tour.

Your next stop will be the "sacred rock", the spectacular, unique and magnificent Acropolis and the Acropolis Museum. The entrance fee to both sites is included. At the end of the visit, you can either choose to return to your hotel or set out on your own adventure through the charming and picturesque streets of Plaka.

Overnight: Athens Meals: Breakfast

07.30 a.m. Transfer by motor coach from Athens center to Piraeus port to embark on the cruise ship in order to start the full day cruise to the 3 beautiful Islands of  Hydra – Poros – Aegina, which are nearby Athens (lunch on board is included). Aegina is famous for its variety of pistacios, Poros for its scenic beauty and Hydra, the greenest of these, for its elegant stone mansions, serene atmosphere and vehicle free roads. On board the cruise ship, you will also enjoy lunch in the accompaniment of traditional Greek music and dance. 

Return to Piraeus port at 7.15 p.m. and transfer back to your hotel in Athens.

Overnight: Athens Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Note: (during winter can be replaced with another day trip around Athens)

Today you will head towards the Corinth Canal, where you will stop briefly to take some photos and marvel at this famous channel that connects the Aegean Sea with the Gulf of Corinth.  With this impressive engineering feat, ships do not have to circumnavigate the Peloponnese peninsula for more than 400 km in order to reach the Ionian Sea.

You will continue your journey until you reach the Theater of Epidaurus, worldwide famous for its acoustics and still in use today for a number of performances, especially in the summer. You will also spend time at the museum of Asclepius, father of modern medicine, and then travel to the city of Nafplio, the first capital of the modern Greek state.  The journey will also take you to Mycenae, where you will visit the prehistoric Acropolis, the Lions Gate and the tomb of "Agamemnon". In the afternoon you will travel across central Peloponnese and arrive in the city of Olympia in the early evening, where you will check in at your hotel, have dinner and rest.

Overnight: Olympia Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

In the morning you will visit the site of the ancient Olympic stadium, where the first games were held at around 776 BC. The importance of these games was widely accepted, given the extensive participation of the Greek cities, which suspended hostilities throughout the celebrations. The Olympiad was recognized as the only chronological event all over Greece and, basically, represented the period of four years between two consecutive events.

Olympia was also the most important sanctuary of Ancient Greece, a place to worship Zeus, the first among the gods. The gigantic gold and ivory sculpture crafted by Phidias was considered one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.

After your visit to the Museum of Olympia, you will continue your journey, across the suspension bridge of Rio - Antirion, a modern engineering wonder, until you reach your destination.

Upon your arrival at Delphi you will have dinner and a well-deserved rest.

Overnight: Delphi Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

In the morning, and after your breakfast, you will visit the archaeological site of Delphi, a UNESCO World Heritage site and the center or 'navel' of the ancient world.  It was here where the renowned Oracle of Delphi, a counsellor of kings and pilgrims, was to be found. Make sure you visit the Museum, which houses the "Bronze Charioteer", a masterpiece of Greek sculpture.

At the end of your Delphi tour, you will descend the slopes of Mount Parnassus and head towards the plains of Thessaly, where the city of Kalambaka is located.               

You will arrive in the town of Kalambaka, have dinner and enjoy a good rest.

Overnight: Kalambaka Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Early in the morning you will visit Meteora, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1988. In this mysterious landscape, the natural beauty is combined with the compelling presence of the eternal monasteries suspended or "meteora" on top of the huge rocks. Currently there are only six in use, five for the male and one for the female monastic community.  

On the way back to Athens, you will briefly stop at Thermopylae, where you can see the statue of the Spartan King Leonidas, famous for leading the battle against the Persians in 480 BC. In the late afternoon you will arrive in Athens, where we will drop you off at your hotel.

Dresscode to the Monasteries: Sleeveless clothing and shorts above the knee are not allowed. Skirts, shawls and trousers are available at the entrance of the Monasteries in case visitors do not have such clothing to cover themselves with.

Overnight: Athens Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast you will be met by our assistant at your hotel and transferred to the airport by our minibus or taxi driver for your departure flight. Overnight: - Optionally you can extend pre/post stay.  Meals: Breakfast