Legends of Greece

On arrival at Athens airport, you will be welcomed by our English-speaking assistant and transferred to your hotel in an air-conditioned luxury car or coach. Athens offers a selection of outstanding hotels, and your accommodation has been carefully chosen from the very best. Once you have settled in, you are free to spend the remainder of the day at your leisure - whether that means exploring the vibrant streets of Athens at your own pace or enjoying the facilities available at your hotel. Overnight in Athens.

After breakfast, we begin a guided tour of Athens, exploring the city's historic heart. We visit Constitution Square (Syntagma), the Hellenic Parliament, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the National Library. En route to the Acropolis, we pass Hadrian's Arch and the Temple of Olympian Zeus, then pause briefly at the Panathenaic Stadium, site of the first modern Olympic Games in 1896. At the Acropolis, we explore the Propylaea, Temple of Athena Nike, Erechtheion and the iconic Parthenon masterpieces from Athens' Golden Age. The tour concludes at the Acropolis Museum, a modern space housing the original statues and artefacts. You then have the afternoon free to wander the charming streets of Plaka, nestled beneath the Acropolis, or to relax at your leisure. Overnight in Athens.

After a hearty breakfast, we depart your hotel and head towards the Corinth Canal, where we pause to admire this remarkable engineering feat. If timing allows, you may witness a ship passing through the narrow waterway. Next, we travel back three millennia to explore Mycenae, the powerful citadel of the Atrides, famed in Homer's epics as "rich in gold". Here, we visit the imposing Cyclopean Walls, the iconic Lion Gate, and the acropolis, where your guide will reveal the history of the palace complex and its burial sites, including the impressive Treasury of Atreus, also known as the Tomb of Agamemnon. We also explore the archaeological museum, which houses many significant finds from the site. Later, we visit the sanctuary of Asclepius nestled in the gentle hills of Argolis. This ancient healing centre was dedicated to the god of medicine, where patients underwent therapies combining physical exercise and intellectual pursuits. We then explore the renowned theatre of Epidaurus, celebrated for its exceptional acoustics and capacity to seat nearly 16,000 spectators. In the afternoon, we cross the central Peloponnese to reach Olympia, where you will have dinner and stay overnight at your hotel.

After breakfast, we begin with a guided tour of the archaeological site of Olympia, once a major sanctuary symbolising the unity of ancient Greece through the Olympic Games. We explore the remains of key structures including the gymnasium and arena where athletes trained and received oil massages, the Heroon with its altar to an unknown hero, the Theokoleon, the priests' residence from the 4th century BC and Phidias' workshop. We also visit the sanctuary that housed the statue of Zeus Olympian, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. From here, we access the stadium where the athletic competitions took place. The significance of the Games is reflected in the truce observed by Greek city-states during their celebration and the use of the Olympiad as the official chronological system across Greece. Afterwards, we visit the Olympia Museum, which displays many artefacts from the temple and surrounding excavations in chronological order. In the afternoon, we cross the impressive Rio-Antirio suspension bridge - the world's longest of its kind at 2,252 metres, linking the Peloponnese with mainland Greece. We then continue to Delphi or nearby Arachova for dinner and overnight stay.

After breakfast, we explore Delphi, once regarded as the centre of the world - the "navel of the universe". This ancient religious site was home to the sanctuary of Apollo, god of harmony and music, and a place where pilgrims sought guidance from the oracle. We walk along the Sacred Way, lined with offerings from Greek city-states, until we reach the Temple of Apollo. You will also see the various treasuries, including those of Sifnos, Thebes and Athens, which once housed votive gifts. The visit includes the tholos of the oracle and the Delphi Museum, which displays remarkable artefacts such as the conical marble navel marking the world's centre and the well-preserved statue of the Charioteer of Delphi, a bronze votive from the archaic period. In the afternoon, we travel north, stopping briefly at the historic Thermopylae pass, known for its strategic significance in antiquity. We continue to Kalambaka for dinner and overnight accommodation.

After breakfast, we travel to Meteora, known as the "suspended in the air" monasteries. Here, towering rock formations rise dramatically above the Peneus Valley and Kalambaka, creating a striking and unique landscape. These geological wonders are topped by historic monasteries, originally established by 11th-century hermits seeking solitude. In the 14th century, many of these hermitages became monasteries, with Saint Athanasius from Mount Athos founding the Great Meteora. At their peak in the 15th and 16th centuries, there were 24 monasteries; today, five remain active. With our guide, we visit two of these remarkable religious sites, gaining insight into their history and significance. We return to Athens early this evening for an overnight stay.

After breakfast at the hotel in Athens, enjoy a full day at your leisure to relax or explore the city at your own pace. This is an ideal opportunity to revisit favourite spots, discover hidden gems, or simply unwind before your onward journey. Overnight in Athens.

Enjoy a final breakfast at your hotel before your private transfer to Athens airport. The departure time will be arranged to suit your flight schedule, ensuring a smooth journey to your next destination.