Tour From Thessaloniki To Athens

1 DAY

ARRIVAL AT THESSALONIKI-SIGHTSEEING TOUR-NIGHT EXCURSION IN “LADADIKA”-OVERNIGHT IN THESSALONIKI

Arrival at Thessaloniki. Welcoming and city tour. After your arrival, we are going to have a city tour until time for lunch. We will visit the “White Tower“, a landmark that has been part of the city fortifications and has a “twin” in Trigonion Square. Later, we will have dinner at the entertainment-quarter of the Thessaloniki-Ladadika. Return to the hotel and overnight.

2 DAY

MORNING TOUR IN THESSALONIKI-MIDDAY TRIP TO OURANOUPOLIS AND CRUISE TO MOUNT ATHOS-RETURN TO THESSALONIKI

After breakfast, we will visit the rest of the city. At midday, we will head to Ouranoupolis for a cruise to Mount Athos. The Holy Mount Athos lies in the northern headland of Chalkidiki peninsula. The peninsula with Mount Athos has been inhabited since antiquity and is well-known for various goods. The Holy Mount Athos is as a whole like a museum of byzantine art. Return to Thessaloniki, dinner and overnight.

3 DAY

TOWARDS PELLA-VERGINA-EDESSA

After breakfast, we will head towards Pella. Pella was Alexander the Great’s birthplace. On the acropolis of the city, there had been the king’s treasure house and the aqueduct, with gigantic pipes providing clean water, great house-buildings embellished with mosaics and rows of columns as well as the great cemetry where graves of Macedonian style have been excavated. We will continue our journey towards Vergina. The most important monument of Vergina is undoubtedly the king grave that was discovered there. We will continue our journey to Edessa, also known as the city of waters, with the waterfalls at the outskirts of the city being the main attraction, unique not only in Greece but also Europe as a whole. Later we will return to Thessaloniki. Dinner and overnight.

4 DAY

TOWARDS THE MONASTERIES OF METEORA-OVERNIGHT IN KALAMBAKA

After our morning in Thessaloniki, we are to visit the monasteries of Meteora– a natural marvel. The cliffs of Meteora are part of Pindos mountain range, the largest of the country. The churches located there are important monuments of byzantine art.Today, only 6 monasteries are inhabited and we are going to visit two of them: Varlaam’s and Holy Trinity. Then we will return to the hotel. Dinner and overnight.

5 DAY

TOWARDS DELPHI-OVERNIGHT AT THE AREA OF PATRAS

In the morning, after breakfast, we will head to Delphi-the well known oracle of ancient Greece on the slopes of Mount Parnassos. A holy place in the honor of Apollo, god of music and poetry. We will visit Apollo’s sanctuary with the Athenian treasure house, Apollo’s temple, the theater, the stadium and the museum with the bronze statue of the Charioteer (Iniochos). Continuing our journey, we will have a short break in the area of Itea and Galaxidi on our way to Antirrion and over the new suspension bridge connecting the mainland with Peloponnese (the largest in Europe) at the area of Rion. Arrival at our hotel, dinner and overnight.

6 DAY

SCENIC TRIP TO MOUNTAIN VILLAGE OF KALAVRYTA

After breakfast, we will travel by bus to Diakofton along the coast of the Corinthian Gulf (about 20 minutes away). From there, we will travel downwards with the legendary cog railway through the Vouraikos Gorge towards the mountain village of Kalavryta. On our way to the Cave of the Lakes we will visit the historic monastery of Aghia Lavra, an important national memorial in Greece. After about 20 minutes by bus, we will reach the Cave of the Lakes, where we will be guided. Afterwards, we will return to Kalavryta for lunch. On our return from Kalavryta to our hotel, we will visit the Mega Spileon monastery so as to enjoy the breathtaking view of Vouraikos Gorge. Then, we will return to our hotel. Dinner and overnight.

7 DAY

TOWARDS OLYMPIA (THE NATIONAL SANCTUARY OF GREECE)-VISIT VASSAE-OVERNIGHT IN TOLON IN THE ARGOLIC GULF

After breakfast, we are going to visit Olympia-the cradle of the Olympic Games, established in 776 BC with a panhellenic character and reaching a peak in 576 BC. We will visit the excavation site of ancient Olympia and the museum. Later, we will also visit the temple and sanctuary of Apollo, one of the most important in antiquity and well-preserved since then. Then, we will continue our journey to Tolon, dinner and overnight.

8 DAY

DAYTRIP TO ARGOLIS-VISIT TO EPIDAURUS, NAUPLIA AND MYCENAE-OVERNIGHT IN ATHENS

After breakfast, we will head to Epidaurus, where we will be guided in the sanctuary of Asclepius, god of Medicine, and the ancient theater, famous for its acoustics. Then, we will go to Nauplion (Nauplia), the first capital of Greece after the Ottoman rule, where we will have a sightseeing tour to the Bavarian Lion in the entrance of the city and the Archaeological and Folklore museums of the city. Afterwards, we will visit the archaelogical site of Mycenae, excavated in 1876/77 by Heinrich Schliemann (Lions’ Gate, Cyclopian Walls, royal graves, treasure house of Atreus). Afterwards, we will travel along the canal of Corinth, where we will have a short pfoto-break, towards our hotel in Athens. Overnight.

9 DAY

MODERN AND OLD CITY OF ATHENS – ACROPOLIS AND THE NEW ACROPOLIS MUSEUM – AFTERNOON EXCURSION TO CAPE SOUNION – RETURN

After breakfast sightseeing of Athens. We are going to visit the world famous Acropolis and the New Acropolis Museum. Acropolis is not only the symbol of the city of Athens, but also the most important national monument in Greece. Time for a tour across the old town (shopping spree). Afternoon trip to Cape Sounion – the southernmost tip of Attica, projecting into the Aegean Sea. There, we will visit the 5th century Poseidon Temple. Eventually, the sunset from the temple will offer a magnificent experience, followed by dinner in a fish tavern on our way back to Athens.

10 DAY

RETURN FLIGHT

Breakfast in the morning and then departure from Athens.

8 Days Classical Tour Greece

• 
  Akropolis
• 
  Epidaurus
• 
  Ancient Corinth
• 
  Nauplia
• 
  Olympia
• 
  Ancient
• 
  Evzones, the Greek Presidential Guard
• 
  Mykene
• 
  Mystras

1 DAY

ARRIVAL – TRANSFER TO HOTEL – DINNER IN OLD TOWN OF ATHENS, PLAKA

Transfer from the airport to the hotel. Pick up by our tour guide – short city tour.  We visit Plaka, the old city of Athens with the winding pedestrian streets, small shops and taverns, glimpses of ancient and century-old architecture and a number of museums. Plaka is what Athens used to be before it grew to a sprawling modern metropolis. Dinner in traditional restaurant in Plaka. Return to our hotel.

2 DAY

ATHENS SIGHTSEEING – CAPE SOUNIO

In the morning we start our sightseeing in Athens. Enjoy a tour of Athens, combining many of the city’s principal modern and classical sights. For thousands years Acropolis has been the symbol of Athens, the sacred rock, the link that connects the magnificent ancient  with the modern civilization. Entering on the south slope of the Acropolis, you’ll visit the Dionysus Sanctuary and Dionysus Theater before you walk up the slope leading to the Acropolis monuments. Panoramic views of the city will be perfect for your photo album. In this area we also visit Parthenon,  Propylaea, Temple of Athena Nike and Erechtheion. We continue to the new Acropolis Μuseum. In the afternoon optional excursion to Cape Sounio and the 5th century B.C. Temple of Poseidon with one of the most breathtaking panoramic views in the world. Return to our hotel in Athens.

3 DAY

ATHENS – OSSIOS LUCAS – DELPHI – OVERNIGHT IN THE AREA OF PATRAS

After breakfast, we travel to Delphi. Short stop to visit the monastery of Ossios Lucas. The monastery is famous for its wall paintings. We continue by visiting Delphi, perhaps best known for the oracle at the sanctuary that was dedicated to Apollo during the classical period. Later we travel via Itea and Galaxidi to Antirrion (through the modern and biggest Europeʼs suspension bridge, which connects Peloponnese with the main land). Overnight to our hotel in the area of Patras.

4 DAY

THE PANHELLENIC SANCTUARY OLYMPIA – BASSAE – SPARTA

In the morning we travel to Olympia, the Panhellenic sanctuary. We visit the archaeological site of Ancient Olympia, the place that first  Olympic Games took place in 776 B.C., lies in the lush valley formed by the Alfios river. There is a temple of Zeus. Then visit the temple of Hera , the shrine of Pelops (one of the oldest in the sanctuary), the Council house where the athletes took the Olympic oath, the Treasury houses, the Gymnasium and the Palestra where they used to exercise for a month prior to the Games. Finally come to the stadium, where the marble starting blocks are still in position. We travel to Sparta. Dinner and overnight in Sparta.

5 DAY

SPARTA – MYSTRAS – EPIDAURUS – NAUPLIA – TOLO

Excursion to the Byzantine town of Mystras. Wander around the castle city the Upper and the Lower Town, and sense through the silence the city’s sheer grandeur: the Palace of the Despots (Anaktora), the Houses of Laskaris and Frangopoulos, the beautiful  Cathedral of Saint Dimitrios and the impressive Monasteries of Our Lady Pantánassa, and of Οur Lady Perivleptos. Mystras was built as an amphitheatre around the fortress erected in 1249 by the prince of Achaia, William of Villehardouin. For a short period Mystras came under the control of the Venetians (1687-1715) but was again taken over by the Turks. It was one of the first castles of Greece to be liberated in 1821. Τhe city was abandoned in 1832, leaving only the breathtaking medieval ruins, standing in a beautiful landscape. We continue by travelling to the ancient theatre of Epidaurus. The theater of Epidavria is marveled for its exceptional acoustics, which permit almost perfect intelligibility of unamplified spoken word from the proscenium or  scene to all 15,000 spectators, regardless of their seating. We continue by visiting the town of Nauplia, a beautiful city with an excellent history and the first capital of Greece. Transfer to our hotel in Tolon (in the Gulf of Argolis). Dinner and overnight.

6 DAY

TOLON –  MYCENAE – ANCIENT CORINTH – TOLON

Today at first we will visit Mycenae. Mycenae was the most powerful, brilliant and sovereign influence in Greece up to 1100 BC when it was destroyed by fire. Centuries later the tragic poets Aeschylus and Sophocles brought it back to life with the magic of their verses. One enters the Acropolis through the Lion Gate, the oldest example of monumental sculpture in Europe. We continue to Ancient Corinth, the first prefecture you come to in the Peloponnese – the first sign of warmth and excitement. The aromas of the sea, the mountains, the harvest of grapes and currants are all-encompassing, accompanied by the sound of bees buzzing around the sheds where the currants are drying. Here you will rediscover some old Greek myths, learn that Nemean wine is called “Heracles blood” and that retsina is the teardrop of a certain wood nymph. You will find out about gods, nereids and mortals; Zeus and Apollo. You will come upon columns, sanctuaries and ancient palaces. On this “flaming red earth” celebrated by the poet, you will hear the most sublime voices of the Greek land, Homer, Aeschylus, Sophocles. Return to our hotel in Tolon. Overnight.

7 DAY

TOLON – CRUISE TO THE SARONIC ISLANDS OF HYDRA AND SPETSES

Early morning departure from Tolon or Hermioni. This one day cruise is the perfect passport to this Aegean destination. In Hydra you will be indulged of this favourite resort of the International ‘Jet Set’. This is the Saronic known to connoisseurs, to lovers of history, culture and beauty. We continue to Spetses, a picturesque island with excellent and very scenic landscapes, beautiful houses and sunny beaches. Return to Tolon and transfer to our hotel. Overnight in Tolon.

8 DAY

DEPARTURE

After breakfast, transfer to Athensʼs airport, Eleftherios Venizelos.  Departure.