Cultural Greece

📅   Day 1   |   Arrival to Athens

• Every Saturday, Sunday & Thursday

• Arrival to Athens Airport and private transfer to your hotel in the city center.

• Check in at the hotel and free time for the rest of the day.

• Optional tour: A Night Out in Athens:

• Dep. 20.15 - Ret. 00.30 – Every Thursday & Saturday

• Your evening begins with a short panoramic drive through the city center and on the slopes of the sacred hill you will be able to see, admire and take photos of the illuminated Acropolis. Then a pleasant walk through the narrow picturesque streets of Plaka, the old city, will bring you at a Typical Greek Tavern where you will enjoy your dinner following a floor show with live music and Greek Folk Dances in traditional costumes. The mesmerizing and graphic Plaka was developed mostly around the ruins of Ancient Agora of Athens in an area that has been continuously inhabited since antiquity. During the years of Ottoman rule, Plaka was the known as the "Turkish quarter of Athens”, and the seat of the Turkish Voivode (Governor).

• During the Greek War of Independence, Plaka like the rest of Athens, was temporarily abandoned by its inhabitants because of the severe battles that took place in 1826. The area was repopulated during the first years of King Otto's rule. Plaka had a sizable Arvanite community till the late 19th century, which led some to refer to it as the Arvanite quarter of Athens. At the same period the neighborhood of Anafiotika, featuring traditional Cycladic architecture, was built by settlers from the Aegean Island of Anafi. In 1884 a fire burned down a large part of the neighborhood which gave the opportunity for the archaeologists to conduct excavations in the Roman Market and Hadrian’s library. Excavations have been taking place continuously since 19th century.

• Rates: 53,00 Euro per adult including dinner & 36,00 Euro per child including dinner

• Return to the hotel after midnight. Overnight the hotel in Athens.

📅   Day 2   |   Athens

• Breakfast at the hotel.

• Athens H/D City Tour with New Acropolis Museum (included in package)

• Dep. 08.45 - Ret. 13.30 – Every Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Sundays

• This tour gives you an opportunity to observe the striking contrasts that make Athens such a fascinating city. Our expert guides take you to see the center of the city, Constitution Square (Syntagma), the House of Parliament, the Memorial to the Unknown Soldier and the National Library. Driving down Herod Atticus Street, you will see the Evzones in their authentic uniform and the Presidential Palace. On your way to the Acropolis, you will see the Hadrian’s Arch, visit the Temple of Olympian Zeus and you will make a short stop at the Panathenaic Stadium where the first Olympic Games of the modern era were held in 1896. On the Acropolis visit the architectural masterpieces of the Golden Age of Athens: the Propylaea, the Temple of Athena Nike, the Erechtheion, and finally “the harmony between material and spirit”, the monument that “puts order in the mind”, the Parthenon. You complete the visit with the Acropolis Museum. Evening at leisure. Overnight at the hotel in Athens.

📅   Day 3   |   Athens – Epidarus theater – Naflpion – Mycenae -Olympia

• Breakfast at the hotel and check out.

• Departures: Every Monday/Tuesday & Saturday from April 4th Dep. 08.45 - Ret. 19.00 (4th day)

• Leave by the coastal road to the Corinth Canal (short stop). Drive on and visit the Theatre of Epidaurus, famous for its remarkable acoustics. Then proceed to the town of Nafplion (short photo stop), drive on to Mycenae and visit the Archaeological Site and the Tomb of Agamemnon. Then depart for Olympia through Central Peloponnese and the towns of Tripolis and Megalopolis.

• Overnight at the hotel in Olympia (Dinner)

📅   Day 4   |   Olympia - Delphi

• In the morning visit the Archaeological Site with the Sanctuary of Olympian Zeus, the Ancient Stadium and the Archaeological Museum. Then drive on through the plains of Eliad and Achaia until the magnificent bridge which crosses the Corinthian Bay from Rion to Antirion. Pass by the picturesque towns of Nafpactos (Lepanto) and Itea, arrive in Delphi.

• Overnight at the hotel in Delphi. (Dinner)

📅   Day 5   |   Delphi - Kalambaka Meteora

• In the morning visit the Archaeological Site and the Museum. Delphi was regarded as the center of the world. According to mythology, it is here that the two eagles sent out by Zeus from the ends of the universe to find the navel of the world met. The sanctuary of Delphi, set within a most spectacular landscape, was for many centuries the cultural and religious center and symbol of unity for the Hellenic world. Depart for Kalambaka, a small town situated at the foothills of the astonishing complex of Meteora, gigantic rocks. Overnight at the hotel in Kalambaka. (Dinner)

📅   Day 6   |   Meteora - Athens

• The floating monasterie. In the morning visit the gigantic rocks of Meteora which are perched above the town of Kalambaka, at a maximum height of 400 m (1200 ft.) The most interesting summits are decorated with historical monasteries and are included in the World Heritage List of UNESCO. Only 6 of them have made it through the centuries, from an initial estimated number  of 24. Mostly dating to the 14th and until the 16th century, these monasteries were built by monks who were previously hermits in the area, living in individual caves. Once united, these monks took months and years to carry the construction material to the top of rocks, using ropes, folding ladders, nets and baskets, and with much determination. Return to Athens via Trikala, Lamia, Thermopylae (short stop to see Leonida's Monument located across the road). Arrive in Athens early in the evening.

• N.B. Please ladies for the visit of the Monastery you need a skirt and the gentlemen long trousers. & Overnight in Athens.

📅   Day 7   |   Athens - Departure

• After breakfast, our driver will pick you up from the hotel & transfer to the Airport for your departure flight.