Ancient Greece

Our driver will meet you at Athens International Airport or your Athens hotel, with your first stop bringing a spectacular view from the famous canals that links the Corinthian to the Saronic gulf. You’ll explore the 4^th-century BC theater in Epidaurus and then head to the country’s first capital, Nafplio where you can climb the 999 steps of Palamidi Castle or hop on a small boat to visit Bourtzi which floats in the bay. There will be time for an optional lunch followed by a visit to ancient Mycenae and its archaeological site which includes the tomb of Agamemnon, before arriving at Olympia.

Step out of your hotel this morning and straight into Olympia: birthplace of the ancient Olympic Games, and one of the most celebrated sanctuaries of ancient Greece. The ancient Games were held here every four years across a span of at least a millennium, eventually abolished in AD 393 under the rule of Emporer Theodosius. Walk through the staggering ruins, taking in former training and event areas, and well-preserved monuments such as the temple of Zeus, the Hermes of Praxiteles, and the statue of Nike of Paionios. You’ll then depart the Peloponnese peninsula and return to mainland Greece, heading towards Delphi. Your drive will take you across the impressive Rio-Antirrio Bridge – the longest suspension bridge in the world – and through the picturesque medieval town of Nafpaktos. Overnight in Delphi.

Begin your day with another memorable archeological tour. Once believed to be the center of the world, and site of Apollo’s teachings via his Oracle, Delphi is one of the most important sites in all of Greece. It is rightly recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site, taking into account the sheer significance of the ruins, and their incredible setting backed by steep valleys and with distant views of the Gulf of Corinth. You’ll then journey across the Greek mainland to Meteora, along the way make a stop at Thermopylae – literally translated as the ‘hot gates’ – a thin coastal passage known for its sulfurous springs, and as the site of a historically significant battle during the second Persian invasion of Greece in 480 BC. Arrive in Meteora late afternoon and overnight in the nearby town of Kalambaka, itself a fine historic town with an attractive Byzantine church dedicated to the Virgin Mary.

You’ll have the full morning to explore Meteora, visiting its two striking monasteries, incredibly situated atop a pair of near-sheer vertical peaks. Your tour will take you back to the Dark Ages, imagining the lives of the hermits and monks who built out these isolated retreats across several centuries. Choose between a tour by car, or an invigorating hike, either way taking in some of Meteora’s best viewpoints. After lunch you’ll return to Athens, a drive of around 4-5 hours, arriving late afternoon.