Ancient Discoveries of Greece

8 Days / 7 Nights

Includes:

• Private airport transfers on arrival and departure in Athens
• 1 night in deluxe, first or tourist class hotel in Athens
• 1 night first class hotel in Nafplio
• 1 night first class hotel in Olympia
• 1 night first class hotel in Delphi
• 1 night first class hotel in Kalambaka
• 2 nights in deluxe, first or tourist class hotel in Athens
• 5-1/2 days of touring in deluxe, air-conditioned motorcoach
• Licensed, English-speaking guides
• All entrance fees to sites visited
• All service charges and taxes at hotels
• Full breakfast daily
• Dinner nightly outside of Athens
• 2 special dinners in Athens, including sound and light show at the Acropolis and Greek folk dances
• Services of our local representative

Itinerary:

Sunday: ARRIVE/ACROPOLIS:

Arrive in Athens. Meet our representative and transfer to hotel. In the evening, enjoy an unforgettable sound and light show on the Acropolis. The show will be followed by dinner in Plaka, facing the Acropolis, with bouzouki music and Greek folk dances. Return to hotel. Overnight in Athens. (D)

Monday: CORINTH/MYCANAE:

Leave Athens by the coastal road of the Corinth Canal. Drive to Mycanae. View the beauty of Agamemnon’s Greece in the famous Gate of the Lions and the Acropolis. Afterwards, visit the famous theater of Epidaurus, built 2400 years ago; Spa used and sacred to the god of healing. Overnight in Nafplio. (B,D)

Tuesday: TRIPOLI/MEGALOPOLI/OLYMPIA:

Drive in the morning through the Central Peloponnese, Arcadia - home of Pan and the Nymphs - and the towns of Tripoli and Megalopoli, to Olympia, the cradle of the Olympic Games. Visit the sanctuary of the Olympian Zeus and museum. Overnight in Olympia. (B,D)

Wednesday: ANTIRIO/DELPHI:

Drive through the plains of Ilia and Achia, through Petras, Capital of the Peloponnese and take the car ferry across the “Little Dardanells” from Rio to Antirio. Onwards, past picturesque Nefpaktos (Lepanto) stop at the seaside areas of Eratini or Itea for swimming and optional lunch. After lunch arrive in Delphi and visit Castalia Spring and the sanctuary of Athena Pronaia. Overnight inn Delphi. (B,D)

Thursday: KALAMBAKA:

In the morning visit the sanctuary of Apollo Pythios and the museum. Depart for Kalambaka, passing through numerous picturesque villages and typical towns of central Greece. Overnight in Kalambaka. (B,D)

Friday: METEORA:

Visit Meteora. Amid striking scenery, perched atop huge rocks which seem to be suspended in mid-air, stand ageless monasteries. View exquisite specimens of Byzantine art. Return to Athens via Trikala, Lamia and Thermopylae. Visit Leonida’s monument and spa of Kammena Vourla. Arrive Athens early in the evening and return to hotel. Later, wine and dine Greek style! Continue to the Old Stables, situated in the wine- growing district of Athens. During dinner, enjoy special entertainment by Greek musicians, singers and dancers wearing spectacular costumes. Overnight in Athens. (B,D)

Saturday: ATHENS/ACROPOLIS/PARTHENON:

A morning tour of Athens. Visit the center of Athens, Constitution Square, the House of the Parliament, Memorial to the Unknown Soldier and the National Library. Driving down Herod Atticus Street, see the evzones in their picturesque uniforms and the Presidential Palace. See the Panathenaic Stadium (where the first Olympic Games were held in 1896) and the Athens of the 2nd century A.D., the Olympian Zeus and Adrian’s Arch. On the Acropolis, visit its museum and the architectural masterpieces f the Golden Age of Athens: the Propylaea, the Temple of Athena Nike, the Erechtheion and the Parthenon. Overnight in Athens. (B)

Sunday: DEPART:

After breakfast, transfer to Athens airport for departure. (B)