Classical Greece with Meteora Monasteries

Itinerary :

Day 1: Athens: Arrival at Athens International Airport, meet and transfer to your hotel for check in. Rest of the day is at leisure for you to explore Athens. Overnight stay in Athens.

Day 2: Athens: After breakfast, head for your half day Athens Tour where you will come across the striking contrasts that make Athens such a fascinating city. The guide will take you to see the Panathenaic Stadium where the first Olympic Games of modern times were held in 1896. Continue and pass by the Prime Minister’s residence (ex. Royal Palace) guarded by the Euzones in their colorful uniform, the Temple of Olympian Zeus, the Hadrian’s Arch, the Parliament and the memorial to the Unknown Soldier, the Academy, the University, the National Library, the Constitution Square (Syntagma). 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. Continue and visit the place where at last the statues found their home and admire the wonders of the classical era: The new Acropolis museum. Return to your hotel and rest of the day is at leisure. Overnight in Athens. (B)

Day 3: Athens – Argolis – Olympia: After breakfast, check – out of your hotel and transfer to Argolis, by the coastal road to the Corinth Canal (short stop). Drive on and visit the Theatre of Epidauros, famous for its remarkable acoustics. Then proceed to the coastal town of Nauplion (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. Arrival at your hotel, dinner and overnight in Olympia, the cradle of the Olympic Games. (B, D)

Day 4: Olympia – Delphi: After breakfast, proceed for your Olympia tour, where you will come across the Archaeological Site with the Sanctuary of Olympian Zeus, the Ancient Stadium and the Archaeological Museum. Then drive through the plains of Eliad and Achaia until the magnificent bridge which is crossing the Corinthian Bay from Rion to Antirion. Pass by the picturesque towns of Nafpactos (Lepanto) and Itea. Overnight in Delphi. (B,D)

Day 5: Delphi – Kalambaka: After breakfast, check out of your hotel and visit the Archaeological Site and the Museum. Later proceed to Kalambaka, a small town stated at the foot of the astonishing complex of Meteora, gigantic rocks. Overnight in Kalambaka. (B,D)

Day 6: Kalambaka – Athens: After breakfast, visit Meteora, among striking scenery, perched on top of huge rocks which seem to be suspended in mid-air, stand ageless Monasteries, where you can see exquisite specimens of Byzantine art. Return to Athens via Trikala, Lamia, Thermopylae (short stop to see across the road the Leonida’s Monument). Arrive in Athens early in the evening. Overnight in Athens. (B)

Day 7: Athens – Santorini: After breakfast, transfer to the port for your ferry boat to Santorini. Arrival and transfer to your hotel. Check-in. Overnight in Santorini. (B)

Day 8: Santorini (Caldera and Oia Sunset Tour): After breakfast, start your tour by taking the bus from your pick up point, and arrive at at the port of Athinios and board the boat. Sail close to the old port of Fira where you will make your first stop in the volcanic island of Nea Kameni. Walking up the soil path, we will approach the crater of the still active volcano. The trip continues to the second volcanic island named Palea Kameni. The boat makes a stop approximately 50 meters from the Hot Springs so you can dive in the green sulphur waters or simply relax and enjoy the view. After the Hot Springs we will sail to Thirasia Island which was part of Santorini before the big explosion of the volcano. Spend two hours in Thirasia giving you enough time to go swimming, have lunch (not included) next to the sea or explore the village of Manolas with its winding steps and traditional houses. Leaving Thirasia Island, the boat will take us to the port of Oia. We will walk up the steps to the most famous place of the world for its amazing sunset. The tour ends 30 minutes after the sunset. Arrive at the pickup point in Oia where the bus will be waiting to take you back to the point you started the excursion. Overnight in Santorini. (B)

Day 9: Santorini (Departure): After breakfast, check out of your hotel and transfer to the airport for your departure flight. (B)