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ITINERARY:
DAY 1: ATHENS
Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to
your hotel. Balance of day at leisure.
DAY 2: ATHENS
Morning sightseeing tour of Athens includes
visit to the Acropolis and its Museum. Balance
of day at leisure
DAY 3 : ATHENS /OLYMPIA
Starting from Athens we
drive westwards along the scenic coast, until we
reach the CORINTH CANAL
with its breathtaking views (Short Stop).
The Corinth Canal is a junction of international
sea transport and serves ships coming from the
western Mediterranean and Adriatic en route to
eastern Mediterranean and black sea ports and
vice-versa. Continue along the coastal road of
the Saronic Gulf to EPIDAURUS
(Visit). On the headland called "Nesi"
at Palaia Epidaurus, the theatre of the ancient
city is quite well-preserved, in the shape it
acquired during the latter years of its
function. Apart from a few rows of seats, the
cavea is made of limestone with poros
staircases. The theater is marveled for its
exceptional acoustics, which permit almost
perfect intelligibility of unamplified spoken
word from the proscenium or scene to all 12,000
spectators, regardless of their seating.
Then depart for NAUPLIA
1st capital of Greece in 1829 (Short
Stop) drive to MYCENAE(Visit)
“Mycenae 'Rich in Gold', the kingdom of
mythical Agamemnon, first sung by Homer in his
epics, is the most important and richest
palatial centre of the Late Bronze Age in
Greece. Its name was given to one of the
greatest civilizations of Greek prehistory, the
Mycenaean civilization.” In the afternoon
depart for OLYMPIA – Dinner & Overnight
in OLYMPIA.
DAY 4: OLYMPIA / DELPHI
Olympia the most celebrated
sanctuary of ancient Greece, Dedicated to Zeus,
the father of the gods, it sprawls over the
southwest foot of Mount Kronios, at the
confluence of the Alpheios and the Kladeos
rivers, in a lush, green landscape. Although
secluded near the west coast of the Peloponnese,
Olympia became the most important religious and
athletic centre in Greece. Its fame rests upon
the Olympic Games, the greatest national
festival and a highly prestigious one
world-wide, which was held every four years to
honor Zeus. Visit the Archaeological Site &
the Museum and then drive via
PATRAS to RION, across
the channel to ANTIRRION
on the “State of the Art” new suspended bridge
considered to be the longest and most modern in
Europe. Arrive in NAFPAKTOS
then continue to DELPHI – Dinner &
Overnight in DELPHI.
DAY 5: DELPHI / METEORA
Situated at the foot of
Mount Parnassos, within the angle formed by the
twin rocks of the Phaedriades, lies the
Pan-Hellenic sanctuary of Delphi, which had the
most famous oracle of ancient Greece. Delphi was
regarded as the centre of the world. According
to mythology, it is here that the two eagles
sent out by Zeus from the ends of the universe
to find the navel of the world met. The
sanctuary of Delphi, set within a most
spectacular landscape, was for many centuries
the cultural and religious centre and symbol of
unity for the Hellenic world and seat of the
Pythian Games, the second most important games
in Greece after the Olympics, which were held
every four years.
Visit of the archaeological site and the
Museum where one can see among other
archeological treasures, the unique bronze
statue of the Charioteer
dedicated to Apollo by Polyzalos, the tyrant of
Gela, in 478 B.C. when he won the chariot-race
at the Pythian Games. This incomparable
statue is a representative example of the
''severe'' Attic style, certainly the work of a
major artist.
After visits depart for KALAMBAKA
through AMPHISSA – LAMIA & TRIKALA
– Dinner & Overnight in KALAMBAKA
DAY 6: METEORA / ATHENS
Today we will see one of
the most amazing places in Greece - METEORA.
Meaning ‘suspended in air’
the name Meteora soon came to encompass the
entire rock community of 24 monasteries, the
biggest and most important group of monasteries
in Greece after those in Mount Athos There were
no steps and the main access to the monasteries
was by means of a net that was hitched over a
hook and hoisted up by rope and a hand cranked
windlass to winch towers overhanging the chasm.
Monks descended in the nets or on retractable
wooden laddesr up to 40 meters long to the
fertile valleys below to grow grapes, corn and
potatoes. Each community developed its own
resources and by the end of the 14th century,
the Grand Meteoron emerged as the dominant
community. The rock monasteries have been
characterized by UNESCO as a unique phenomenon
of cultural heritage. After visits, start the
drive back to Athens passing through THERMOPYLAE
(photo stop) and Kammena Vourla.
Arrive in Athens in early evening. Overnight
Athens.
DAY 7:
ATHENS / CRUISE / MYKONOS
Morning transfer to Piraeus port to embark the cruise ship for
your 4 day cruise to the Greek islands & Turkey.
Cruise to Mykonos and enjoy the evening on this lively island.
DAY 8:
MORNING IN KUSADASI / EVENING IN PATMOS
Enjoy breakfast on board and the
morning at leisure in Kusadasi (Ephesus, Turkey) from 7:00 am to
noon. Renowned for its beaches and attractive view of the
Aegean, Kusadasi is near to several historical sites including
Ephesus, the Temple of Artemis, and the House of the Virgin
Mary. Spend the evening at leisure in Patmos (Greece). Sail to Rhodes this evening.
DAY 9: FULL DAY IN RHODES
Enjoy a full day on the island of
Rhodes (Greece), the largest island of the Dodecanese
archipelago. Explore the island`s
medieval Old Town, preserved in and around the walls of a
Venetian castle, built by the 14th-century Knights of St. John.
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Citadel of Rhodes is located
at the far northern end of the island and is considered one of
the best preserved medieval towns in the Mediterranean.
DAY 10: MORNING IN CRETE /
AFTERNOON IN SANTORINI
Arrive early this morning in
Heraklion (Crete, Greece), one of the four prefectures that
constitute the island of Crete. Enjoy a half day at leisure to
explore the island on your own. At noon, cruise to Santorini,
and enjoy an evening on Santorini Island.
Known for its breathtaking caldera, Santorini is also famous for
its sandy beaches, colorful sunsets, and whitewashed buildings
along the sea-cliffs.
DAY 11:
PIRAEUS / AIRPORT
Early morning return to Piraeus port. After breakfast on board,
disembarkation and transfer to the airport for your departure
flight home.
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