ITINERARY DETAILS
DAY 1
Athens
Arrive to Greece, the land of mythical Gods and ancient civilization. Your private driver will pick you up from Athens International Airport and take you to your five-star hotel. Enjoy your afternoon and evening exploring the vibrant culture and nightlife of Modern Athens. Ask your Leisure Travel Consultant for recommendations of their favorite restaurants, cafes and entertainment.
DAY 2
Athens - Half Day Athens Walking Tour
In the morning, your licensed English-speaking guide will meet you at your hotel lobby, to begin your tour of the new Acropolis Museum. Afterwards, you will have the opportunity to explore the Acropolis and its timeless temples of the Parthenon, Erectheion and Athena Nike. Walk up to the Hill of Philopappus to see the impressive funeral monument from the Roman era as you appreciate the widespread views of Athens and Piraeus. Subsequently, walk down to the hill of the Pnyx, an area used in Classical Athens as the meeting place for the democratic assembly. You can later enter the historical Plaka area, close to the Thiseion temple, dating back to the 5th century BC. Meander past the ancient Agora and its remarkably restored Stoa of Attalus, Hadrian's Library, and the picturesque Tower of the Winds. The return route takes you over the Hill of Mars, also known as Areopagus, where Saint Paul preached his Sermon on an unknown God, as recorded in the Acts of the Apostles, in 54 A.D., which is directly below the Acropolis. Continue your tour to the Odeion of Herodes Atticus, still used today as a summer venue for open-air concerts and theatrical performances. The last stop of the tour will be at Syntagma Square, where you will witness the changing of the Guards, at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, right below the Parliament building.
DAY 3
Athens, Olympia
After breakfast, your private driver will pick you up from your hotel to begin your 4-day tour of Greece's Mainland. Start by travelling along the Saronic Gulf's coastal road towards the Corinth Canal. Before the canal was built, ships used to sail between the Aegean and Adriatic Seas by circumnavigating the Peloponnese, adding an additional 185 nautical miles to their journey. Visit Ancient Corinth where St. Paul spoke to the Corinthians before driving across the Peloponnese, to reach the city of Sparta, the hometown of Leonidas which was popularized by the movie 300. You will have the opportunity to see Leonidas statue along with the remains of the palace and theatre. After visiting Sparta, head for the capital of the Byzantine Empire, a little town known as Mistras, full of churches and monasteries. End the day at your final stop of Olympia, where you will stay the night.
DAY 4
Olympia, Arachova
Your second day of exploration on the Peloponnese peninsula begins in Ancient Olympia, which gained its fame as the sanctuary of Zeus and Hera and contains a wealth of other small shrines, gymnasiums and sculptors' workshops. According to history, Ancient Olympia was the site of the Olympic games in classical times, founded in 776 B.C. Today, the Olympic torch is still lit here, before travelling to where the modern Olympics are hosted. While visiting the museum, pay close attention to the exhibits of unique sculptural masterpieces, such as Praxiteles' Hermes, Paeoneus' Victory, and Apollo. Your journey from Olympia continues by crossing the newly built bridge near Patra, exiting the Peloponnese, as you head towards the quaint village of Arachova. Relax in the evening with a nice dinner at a local tavern and wander through the streets as you explore this mountainous town.
DAY 5
Delphi, Kalambaka
After breakfast, spend your morning exploring Delphi's archaeological site and impressive museum, which was once considered the center of the universe, best-known for the oracle at the sanctuary and later dedicated to Apollo during the classical period. After visiting Delphi, continue towards Kalambaka, stopping along the way at historical Gravia, where Odysseus Androutsos, with a team of 100 men stopped 8 thousand Turks. Its noted in history that over 400 of Turks died, while Androutsos lost only 2 of his men. Make a pit stop for coffee in the town of Domokos, before ending the day at your hotel in Kalambaka.
DAY 6
Meteora, Athens
Start your day by visiting Meteora, a unique and impressive site with ageless monasteries perched on top of huge monolithic granite rocks, with unforgettable views. Explore three of the monasteries, suspended between the earth and sky, containing priceless historical and religious treasures, as well as many pieces of Byzantine art. On the return trip to Athens you will stop again in Domokos for coffee or lunch, before visiting the giant statue of Leonidas in Thermopiles, which was popularized by the movie 300, where the Persians battled against the vastly outnumbered Greeks for three days. Although it was clear that the Persians were going to win, Leonidas stayed and fought the final battle with only 300 men from Sparta. The last stop on your journey will be at the beachside town of Arkista, before returning to Athens.
DAY 7
Departure
After breakfast, your private driver will pick you up from your hotel and take you to Athens International Airport to catch your departure flight.
