Day 1
START OF TOUR IN ATHENS
Welcome to Greece! Arrive in the morning and make your way to the hotel for the start of the tour. Your tour leader will meet you at the hotel to brief you on the upcoming itinerary. Then, get ready for an orientation tour of Athens! Get acquainted with this ancient city and its many iconic sites. One of the highlights of this tour is the traditional changing of the guard ceremony! This evening, enjoy an included dinner of authentic Greek cuisine. Get to know your tour leader and fellow travellers over this delicious meal. (Start point Athens: 10:00AM)
Meals: Dinner
Day 2
ATHENS - THERMOPYLAE - KALABAKA
Depart from Athens this morning and travel to Kalabaka. On the way, stop at Thermopylae to admire the statue of Leonidas, King of Sparta. Next, travel to Kalabaka, an excellent base town from which to visit the famous Meteora landscapes and monasteries. Upon arrival, visit a Byzantine art workshop to see how locals create exquisite works of Christian Greek art. Then, head to tonight’s hotel accommodation and take some time to settle in. Finish the day with a mesmerising sunset drive of the Meteora hills and catch panoramic views of the monolithic pillars and hills with its celebrated cliff top monasteries. It’s truly any photographer’s dream! Enjoy traditional Greek food for dinner this evening at the hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 3
KALABAKA - METEORA (OPTIONAL) - DELPHI
Enjoy free time in Kalabaka this morning. Choose to explore at your own pace or join the exciting optional excursion of the monasteries of Meteora. Explore the hills and giant sandstone formations of Meteora and stop at two spectacular cliff-top monasteries during the excursion! This afternoon, hop back aboard the coach and cross the mountains of central Greece to Delphi. Arrive and embark on an orientation tour with your tour leader. This evening, enjoy an included dinner with the group followed by free time to spend at your leisure.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 4
DELPHI - GLYFADA - OLYMPIA
This morning allows free time in Delphi. Join the highly recommended optional excursion to discover Delphi with a local guide. Admire the Sanctuary of Apollo, the Treasury of the Athenians and visit the famous museum of Delphi. Then, drive along the Coast of Corinth and take a short ferry to the colourful Greek island of Trizonia. The last of its kind, this island is only 2,5 km² big with almost no cars. You have the choice to join an optional lunch at a local eatery on the island or explore as you wish. Catch a ferry ride back to Glyfada and continue to ancient Olympia, home of the original Olympic Games, which originated in 776 BC! Tonight, choose to join a Greek evening of traditional food and dance.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 5
OLYMPIA - MYCENAE - NAFPLION
Enjoy a locally-guided tour of the Olympia Museum and ancient site before crossing the mountains of Peloponnese. Arrive at Mycenae for our visit to the tomb of Agamemnon and the famous Lion’s Gate. It’s not only one of the most important archeological sites in Greece, but also the place where many of the ancient Greek myths have their origin. Tour the grounds with an expert guide and enjoy an included lunch before travelling to the picturesque town of Nafplion. Nafplion is the first capital of modern Greece, the skyline of which is dominated by Palamidi castle. Settle in at your hotel upon arrival and spend the rest of the evening at your leisure, or join an optional evening tour to Epidaurus.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 6
NAFPLION - CORINTH CANAL - ATHENS - ACROPOLIS
Journey from Nafplion towards Athens. Make a short stop along the way to enjoy captivating views of the Corinth Canal. Next, continue to Athens and depart on a city tour with a professional local guide. The tour will introduce you to iconic sights like the Academy, National Library, Greek parliament, Panathinaikos marble stadium, Hadrian’s Arch, the temple of Olympian Zeus. The tour ends at the museum of the Acropolis where you will have the option to join a guided tour of the Acropolis site and Acropolis Museum. After the optional, walk along Apostolou Pavlou street towards the Plaka neighbourhood for an included lunch at a local restaurant. The afternoon is yours to explore Athens at your leisure.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 7
END OF TOUR IN ATHENS
After a week of Greek adventures, the tour comes to an end this morning in Athens. We hope you've enjoyed your tour of Greece and look forward to welcoming you on board an Expat Explore tour again soon! (Endpoint Athens: 10:00AM)
Meals: Breakfast