Athens, Saronic Gulf & Delphi

Upon your arrival in the city of Athens, you'll be transferred to your hotel in one of our private vehicles. The remainder of the day is yours to unwind and explore Athens at your leisure.

Please note: The order of activities on this tour may vary depending on your arrival day. All Inclusions remain the same. This tour is conducted in English. However, dependent on the mix of the group, touring may also be bilingual, in one additional language as well as English.

After breakfast, we'll begin the day with a panoramic tour of Athens' Neoclassical Centre. we will visit the Parliament, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the University, the Library, the National Academy, the Ilion Palace, the Temple of Zeus, Hadrian's Gate, and the Panathenaic Stadium, alongside numerous other notable monuments and sites. Our knowledgeable English-speaking tour guide will provide insights into the history and background of these landmarks.

The next highlight will be the "sacred rock," the remarkable and unique Acropolis, along with the Acropolis Museum. Entrance fees to both sites are covered. Following the visit, you can either return to your hotel or embark on a personal exploration of the charming and picturesque streets of Plaka.

Athes - Hydra - Poros - Aegin - Athens. At 7:30 am, we depart on a motor coach that will transfer us from the centre of Athens to Piraeus port, where we will board a cruise ship for a full-day tour of three beautiful islands near Athens: Hydra, Poros, and Aegina.

Aegina is renowned for its variety of pistachios, Poros for its scenic beauty, and Hydra, the greenest among them, is known for its elegant stone mansions, tranquil atmosphere, and car-free roads.

During the cruise, we'll also enjoy lunch accompanied by traditional Greek music and dance. The cruise returns to Piraeus port at 7:15 pm, followed by a transfer back to our hotel in Athens.

Please note: In winter, this trip may be replaced with another day trip around Athens.

Athens - Epidaurus - Nafplio - Olympia. Today, we will set out for the Corinth Canal, making a brief stop to capture photos and admire this renowned waterway connecting the Aegean Sea with the Gulf of Corinth. This remarkable engineering achievement allows ships to avoid the over 400 km journey around the Peloponnese peninsula to reach the Ionian Sea.

Our journey will then continue to the Theatre of Epidaurus, celebrated globally for its exceptional acoustics and still hosting performances, particularly in the summer. We'll also visit the museum dedicated to Asclepius, considered the father of modern medicine, before heading to Nafplio, the first capital of modern Greece. The trip will also include a stop at Mycenae, where we can explore the prehistoric Acropolis, the Lions Gate, and the so-called "Tomb of Agamemnon."

In the afternoon, we will travel through central Peloponnese, reaching the city of Olympia by early evening. There, we will check in at our hotel, have dinner, and relax.

Olympia - Delphi. In the morning, we'll visit the site of the ancient Olympic stadium, where the first games took place around 776 BC. The significance of these games was widely acknowledged, as Greek cities paused hostilities during the celebrations. The Olympiad was recognised as the single chronological reference across Greece, marking the four-year span between consecutive games.

Olympia was also the most significant sanctuary in Ancient Greece, dedicated to the worship of Zeus, the foremost of the gods. A colossal gold-and-ivory statue created by Phidias, located here, was considered one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.

After visiting the Museum of Olympia, we will continue our journey, crossing the modern engineering marvel of the Rio-Antirion suspension bridge, until we reach our destination. Once in Delphi, we'll enjoy dinner and a well-deserved rest.

Delphi - Kalabaka. After breakfast in the morning, we'll visit the archaeological site of Delphi, recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage site and considered the centre or 'navel' of the ancient world. This was the location of the famous Oracle of Delphi, an advisor to kings and pilgrims.

We will then explore the Museum, home to the "Bronze Charioteer," a masterpiece of Greek sculpture. After our Delphi tour, we'll descend the slopes of Mount Parnassus and proceed to the plains of Thessaly, where we'll find the city of Kalambaka located near the rock formations of Meteora. Upon arrival in Kalambaka, we'll have dinner and enjoy a restful evening.

Kalabaka - Meteora - Athens. In the early morning, we will visit Meteora, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1988. This enigmatic landscape blends natural beauty with the striking presence of ancient monasteries perched on top of towering rocks. Currently, there are six functioning monasteries, five for the male monastic community and one for the female.

On our return to Athens, we will make a brief stop at Thermopylae, where we can view the statue of Spartan King Leonidas, renowned for leading the battle against the Persians in 480 BC. we will arrive in Athens in the late afternoon, where we will make our way to the hotel.

Please note:For the monastery visit, Sleeveless clothing and shorts above the knee are not permitted. Skirts, shawls, and trousers are available at the monastery entrances for visitors who need appropriate attire.

Following breakfast, you will be met at your hotel and transferred to the airport via our minibus or taxi service for your departure flight. Safe travels!