Days / Nights

11 days / 10 nights

Athens – Sounion – Ancient Nemea – Nafplion – Nafpaktos – Delphi – Kalampaka – Thessaloniki – Philippi – Chalkidiki – Ancient Amphipolis – Litochoro

1st Day: AIRPORT – ATHENS – SOUNIO

Departure from the airport to Athens and our hotel. Arrival and arrangement/check-in in the rooms. Our Sounion Τour begins with a wonderful drive along the scenic coastal road which allows a splendid view of the Saronic Gulf, passing through some of Athens’ most beautiful suburbs (Glyfada, Vouliagmeni, Varkiza). Cape Sounion rises like a sheer cliff out of the sea as one approaches the site. At Cape Sounion we will visit the Temple of Poseidon, dated from the 5th century B.C. and offering one of the most breathtaking panoramic views in the world. According to legend, Cape Sounion is the spot where Aegeas, King of Athens, believing that his only son Prince Theseas was dead, jumped off the cliff, giving his name to the Aegean Sea. The wind-swept Cape Sounion was an obvious choice for a sanctuary of Poseidon, where the sailors might offer a last sacrifice to appease the mighty God of the Sea before leaving the comparative safety of the Saronic Gulf for the perils of the open Aegean Sea.  The archaic temple was destroyed by the Persians in 480 B.C. and a new one was built in its place in 440 B.C. by Pericles.  The contrast between the 12 white remaining Doric columns and the deep blue of the sea is still as spectacular as in the days of Lord Byron, who carved his name on the marble. We will have lunch at a seaside tavern. Return to our hotel. Overnight stay.

* The Tour in Sounion depends on the time of arrival of travelers

2nd Day: ATHENS CITY TOUR

After breakfast we depart for a City Tour starting from the Panathenaic Stadium known as Kallimarmaro. In Antiquity, the Stadium was used for Panathenea, the celebration held in honor of Goddess Athena. Free time for photos will be given. With the bus we will be heading for Zappeion Hall, the Greek Parliament and the Tomb of Unknown Soldier, which is a symbolic monument dedicated to the memory of the soldiers who died fighting for their country. Passing along Panepistimiou Street, one of the most known and central streets of Athens, we will end up in the triad of neoclassical buildings: The Library, the Academy and the University. Coming next is our most important visit in the center of Athens, Acropolis. Here we will have the chance to admire magnificent monuments, such as Parthenon, the Temple of Athena Nike, the Erechtheion, the Propilaia, the Ancient Agora, the theatre of Dionysus and the Odeon of Herodes Atticus. We will have time for a tour in Parthenon Monument, which was built in the 5th century B.C by the architects Ictinus and Kallikrates. A visit in the New Acropolis Museum follows, which mainly includes findings of the archaeological area of Acropolis. The Museum first opened in 2009 and the building was designed by French-Swiss Benar Tschumi. It is considered one of the most beautiful museums. After that, we will have a guided tour followed by free time in the old historical neighborhood of Plaka, a district in the center of Athens, near the Acropolis. In the afternoon we will return to our hotel. Dinner and overnight stay.

3rd DAY: ISTHMUS OF CORINTH – ANCIENT NEMEA – TRADITIONAL WINERY – MYCENAE – NAFPLION

After breakfast departure for Peloponnese. Our first stop will be the Isthmus of Corinth. It is a narrow strip of land 6 kilometres in length joining Central Greece with Peloponnese. We will have free time to take photos. Then we begin with Ancient Nemea, a village of the Prefecture of Corinthia, famous ancient city known by the mythical lion which Hercules Killed. In Greek mythology, the Nemean Lion was a lion that lived in the region of Nemea and dread fear. It was Tyfonos and Echidna’s descendant. Killing the lion was the first feat assigned to Hercules by Evrythea. Hercules fought with bare hands against the beast and strangled it. The dead body of the Lion was transferred by Gods in Heaven and formed the constellation of Leo. We will see the ruins of the Temple of Nemean Zeus. Only three columns and some parts of the others have survived. There wines Appellation of Origin of High Quality are produced. There we will taste famous wines at a Traditional Winery. Our next visit is Mycenae. It was an ancient city of Argolis and one of the largest Greek culture centres forming a strong military fortress. We shall visit the Kingdom of Mythical Agamemnon whom first Homer praised in his epics. Then we start for the capital of the prefecture Argolis, Nafplion. It is one of the most scenic cities in the country and it was the first capital of Greek state during the period 1828 – 1833. You will have free time to explore the picturesque streets of the city *. Arrival at our hotel. Dinner and overnight stay.

* Our Company will provide, for all travelers, a sightseeing Train Tour” in Nafplion, without any extra charge.

4th DAY: NAFPAKTOS – DELPHI

After breakfast we start for Nafpaktos. It is a coastal town situated in the Corinth Gulf, a city of great history. It appears in 1104 B.C with the Dorians. It is known for the naval battle that was taken place in 1571 between Christians and Turks. We will have free time to wander in the picturesque Venetian harbor. Then we depart for Delphi.Ιt was an ancient Greek city in which the most important Oracle of ancient Greek world was operated. Arrival at our hotel. Dinner and overnight stay.

5th DAY: DELPHI – METEORA – KALAMPAKA

Departure after breakfast. We will be guided around the archaeological site and the Museum in Delphi and then have free time for lunch. Then we will head to Kalambaka. A town in the Trikala Prefecture built in a rare geological phenomenon of Meteora. It’s a cluster of huge dark colored stones made of sandstone. The name Meteora is attributed to the monk of the monastery Agios Athanasius the Meteorite. Arrival in Kalambaka and our hotel. Dinner and overnight stay.

6th DAY: METEORA – THESSALONIKI

Αfter breakfast departure for Meteora. We will have the chance to enjoy the panoramic ride and visit two of the most visited monasteries. Our tour continues with the second largest city of Greece, Thessaloniki. It was founded by the ascendant of Alexander the Great, Cassander. Arrival at our hotel. Dinner and overnight stay.

7th DAY: THESSALONIKI

Departure after breakfast for a City Tour starting from Saint Dimitrius, where we will pilgrimage the relics of the Saint, admire the mosaics of the Church, and also see the spot where the Saint martyred. Following that, we will visit the White Tower and the Upper Town where we will have a panoramic view of Thessaloniki. Our next stop is the Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki. Followed by free time in the city center for our lunch. Return to our hotel and relaxation. Dinner and overnight stay.

8th DAY: PHILIPPI – ANCIENT THEATRE – TRADITIONAL WINERY

After breakfast we will visit the ancient colony of Philippi. It was built in 356 B.C. by Alexander’s father, Philip II. Also, we will visit the Ancient Theatre, the church of Philippi which founded in 49 a.D. by Apostle Paul. It was the first church in European territory. We will also see the Baptistery of S. Lydia of Filippisias. Afterwards, we will visit a Traditional Winery, where we will taste local wines. Return to our hotel. Dinner and overnight stay.

9th DAY: CHALKIDIKI – ARISTOTLE’S PARK – ANCIENT CITY OF AMPHIPOLIS

After breakfast departure for the most important historical area of Chalkidiki, the Ancient Stageira. Aristotle’s birthplace. The city was founded in 665 B.C. by Ionian settlers who arrived from the island of Andros. There, you will have the chance to visit the Aristotle Park which is the only theme park of Chalkidiki. The original interactive organs hosted are operating on the basis of natural laws and are mentioned to Aristotle’s writings. The experimental instruments hosted in the park are the following: The compass, the telescope, the prism, the Sundial, the lens, the pentafono, the water turbine, the idle globes and the parabolic mirrors. Free time to wander around the park will be given. Then, we depart for the ancient city of Amphipolis, which is built in Eastern Macedonia, on the banks of the river Strymon. The city was founded by the Athenians in 437 B.C. Free time for a guided tour in the Archaeological site. Return to our hotel in the afternoon. Dinner and overnight stay.

10th DAY: LITOCHORO – ATHENS

Departure after breakfast to visit the picturesque Litochoro, built at the foot of Mountain Olympus, the highest mountain in Greece. Departure for the way back with intermediate stops for lunch and coffee. In the evening arrival in Athens. Arrange at the hotel. Dinner and overnight stay.

 

 

11th DAY: ATHENS – AIRPORT

After breakfast we depart from the center of Athens to the airport.

We present you various proposals of excursions but also we can customize our services “depending on your needs

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Highlights


  • Temple of Poseidon

  • Kallimarmaro

  • Acropolis

  • Parthenon

  • Acropolis Museum

  • Isthmus of Corinth

  • Mycenae

  • Archaeological Museum of Delphi

  • Meteora

  • White Tower

  • Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki

  • Ancient Colony of Philippi

  • Baptistery of S. Lydia

  • Aristotle’s Park

  • Mountain Olympus

Extra Tips (without extra charge):

Sightseeing “Train Tour” in Nafplion, without any extra charge
Time to taste famous wines at a Traditional Winery

Proposal:

Memorable Folklore Night: Enjoy your dinner watching a folklore show