Discovering Ancient Greece’s legacy

Breakfast at the hotel. On your first full day in Greece, you’re free to spend the day however you like! Rest, explore, or join in on one of our optional activities. You have the chance to go on a guided tour of the city and the Acropolis* or go on a cruise to the Saronic islands** of the Aegean. Return to the hotel in the evening for an overnight stay in Athens.

Please note: Due to timings, you will only be able to enjoy one of the optional activities listed below, so please pick the one you prefer.

*Optional Athens Guided Sightseeing & Acropolis Tour: Depart for an Athens sightseeing tour including the Acropolis and the New Acropolis Museum. Our expert guide will take you to see  Constitution Square (Syntagma), the House of Parliament, the Memorial to the Unknown Soldier and the National library. Pass by Hadrian’s Arch, the Temple of Olympian Zeus and make a short stop at the Panathenaic Stadium, where the first Modern Olympic Games were held in 1896. At the Acropolis, visit the Propylaea, the Temple of Athena Nike, the Erechtheion and the famous Parthenon. End at the New Acropolis Museum. Please note: At the Athens Acropolis, the terrain is quite uneven underfoot and includes a number of stairs. It may not be suitable for those with reduced mobility. Note: This activity can accommodate a maximum of 40 people, and visitors will have access to audio guides during the tour.

**Optional cruise to the Saronic islands of Aegina, Poros and Hydra: Set off on a cruise and spend the day falling in love with the charm of Poros, contemplating the ancient ruins of Aegina, and appreciating the picturesque landscapes of Hydra, an ancient refuge of the Saronic pirates. Lunch on board is included.

Breakfast at the hotel. Start your guided archaeological tour by departing for the Corinth Canal. Arrive at Epidaurus to visit the famous amphitheater, one of the largest in all of Ancient Greece and considered the most ancient and perfect in terms of acoustics and aesthetics. Then, pass through the city of Nauplia and arrive at Mycenae to visit the Treasury of Atreus or the Tomb of Agamemnon, built around 1250 BC and a masterpiece of Mycenaean funerary architecture.

In the afternoon, leave for Olympia through the Central Peloponnese and the cities of Tripolis and Megalopolis. Arrive in the city of Olympia, birthplace of the Olympic Games, enjoy dinner and an overnight stay in Olympia.

Estimated transfer distance from 371km.

Breakfast at the hotel. Set off for a guided tour of the archaeological sites of Olympia, such as the Temple of Zeus or Olimpeion, a grandiose temple built between the sixth and second centuries BC where we can still observe the fifteen majestic Corinthian columns. Next, head to the Ancient Stadium and the Archaeological Museum.

In the afternoon you’ll cross the plains of Elia and Achaia to the famous suspension bridge from Rion to Antirion. Continuation to the picturesque towns of Naupactus (also known as Lepanto), which in the Classical period had the best harbor on the northern coast of the Gulf of Corinth, and Itea. Arrive in Delphi, enjoy dinner and an overnight stay in Delphi.

Please note: At Delphi, the terrain is quite uneven underfoot and includes a number of stairs and steep paths. It may not be suitable for those with reduced mobility. During the excursion, travelers are advised to bring a hat, sunscreen, and comfortable shoes.

Note: This activity can accommodate a maximum of 40 people, and visitors will have access to audio guides during the tour.

Estimated transfer distance 240km.

Breakfast at the hotel. Today you’ll discover the city of Delphi, which for the ancient Greeks was the center of the world thanks to its oracle. In times gone by, visitors came to seek advice or predictions of the future from the priestesses who were believed to have powers granted by the god Apollo.

Next, visit the archaeological area, where you’ll enjoy the views from Mount Parnassus and discover the Temple of Apollo, the stadium, and the Archaeological Museum and its famous bronze sculpture of the Auriga of Delphi, which commemorates an important victory in the Pythian Games of 478 BC.

In the afternoon, depart for Kalambaka, a small town situated at the foot of the magnificent rock formations of Meteora, one of the most beautiful and mystical places in Greece. Dinner and overnight stay in Kalambaka.

Please note: At Meteora, the terrain is quite uneven underfoot and you will be required to climb a number of stairs in order to visit the monasteries. It may not be suitable for those with reduced mobility. Modest dress is required to enter the monasteries of Meteora. This includes a long skirt (not trousers) and covered neckline/shoulders for women, and long trousers for men. 

Note: This activity can accommodate a maximum of 40 people, and visitors will have access to audio guides during the tour.

Estimated transfer distance 220km.

Breakfast at the hotel. Today you’ll visit the impressive Meteora Monasteries, a UNESCO World Heritage Site built on the peaks of the rocky mountains. Enjoy one of the most striking images of Greece: Orthodox monasteries that seem suspended in the air as they are nestled in rock formations over 600 meters high. Game of Thrones fans will also be familiar with it for having served as the setting for the famous Eagle's Nest prison, where Tyrion Lannister was held captive.

Return to Athens via Thermopylae, which has little to do with the gorge that existed during the famous battle in 480 BC, where the Greeks managed to contain the Persian advance despite being outnumbered. Contemplate the commemorative statue of Leonidas, the famous Spartan king, with his spear and shield and practically naked, just as the Spartans went into battle. Arrive in Athens in the afternoon and transfer to the hotel. Overnight stay in Athens.

Estimated transfer distance 375km.

Breakfast at the hotel.* After an unforgettable journey through Greece's ancient sites, it's time to bring your trip to a close. At the indicated time, transfer to Athens airport for a flight back to the UK/Ireland. Arrive in the UK/Ireland and end your trip.

*Depending on the return flight schedule and the hotel breakfast service, you may not be able to enjoy the included breakfast on the last day.