Itinerary
- Day 1
Athens to Epidaurus
Your driver picks you up after breakfast to start with Athens city highlights. You'll see the Acropolis, Panathinaiko Stadium, University of Athens, National Garden, Hadrian's Arc, and Parliament among other landmarks. After that, you head along the mainland coast toward Peloponnese with a stop at the Canal of Corinth. From there, you'll explore Ancient Corinth and the Bema of Apostle Paul before driving to Epidaurus for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Acropolis
- Athens city tour including Panathinaiko Stadium, University of Athens, Academy of Athens, National Library
- Drive past National Garden, Hadrian's Arc, St. Paul's Church, Parliament, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Schliemann's House (Numismatic Museum), Catholic Cathedral, Old Parliament, Constitution Square, Russian Orthodox Church
- Short stop at Canal of Corinth
- Visit Ancient Market at Ancient Corinth
- Visit Bema of Apostle Paul (Galionas) at Ancient Corinth
Landmarks/POIs Acropolis Panathinaiko Stadium University of Athens Academy of Athens National Library National Garden Hadrian's Arc St. Paul's Church Parliament Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Schliemann's House (Numismatic Museum) Catholic Cathedral Old Parliament Constitution Square Russian Orthodox Church Canal of Corinth Ancient Market of Corinth Bema of Apostle Paul - Day 2
Nafplio - Mycenae - Mystras
Pickup happens at 08:30 to visit the Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus first thing, and the acoustics there are really something to experience. Next you'll check out the seaside town of Nafplio where you can either climb the castle (that's 999 steps) or take a boat to Bourtzi fortress. Later you continue to Argos, then head to the archaeological site of Mycenae to see the Gate of Lions and the Atreus King Tomb. By evening you're settled in the Mystras area for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus
- Explore seaside town of Nafplio
- Explore city of Argos
- Visit archaeological site of Mycenae
- View Gate of Lions at Mycenae
- View Atreus King Tomb at Mycenae
Optional Activities
- Climb 999 steps to Castle of Nafplio
- Take small boat to visit Bourtzi fortress at entrance of Nafplio harbor
Landmarks/POIs Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus Castle of Nafplio Bourtzi Mycenae Gate of Lions Atreus King Tomb - Day 3
Sparta - Diros - Mystras
After breakfast, you spend the morning walking through the Byzantine town of Mystras, which includes the Upper and Lower Town, Palace of the Despots, Houses of Laskaris and Frangopoulos, and the Cathedral of Saint Dimitrios plus several monasteries. Then you travel to Sparta and can optionally visit the Museum of Olive Oil if you're interested. From there, you head to Diros to explore the subterranean caves with their stalactites and stalagmites, accessing them by small boats. You return to Mystras for overnight.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Byzantine town of Mystras
- Explore Upper and Lower Town of Mystras
- Visit Palace of the Despots (Anaktora)
- Visit Houses of Laskaris and Frangopoulos
- Visit Cathedral of Saint Dimitrios
- Visit Monastery of Our Lady Pantanassa
- Visit Monastery of Our Lady Perivleptos
- Travel to city of Sparti
- Travel to Areopolis
- Explore Diros caves with boat access
Optional Activities
- Visit Museum of Olive Oil of Sparta
Landmarks/POIs Mystras Palace of the Despots Cathedral of Saint Dimitrios Monastery of Our Lady Pantanassa Monastery of Our Lady Perivleptos Museum of Olive Oil of Sparta Diros Caves - Day 4
Ancient Messene - Pylos - Ancient Olympia
Pickup at 08:30 takes you to Ancient Messene, a significant UNESCO archaeological site from the 4th century B.C. in the Messenian valley. You then travel to Pylos for the Palace of Nestor, which is the best-preserved Mycenaean palace around (or alternatively you can visit Vassae and the Temple of Epikourios Apollo instead). After that, you depart for Ancient Olympia to stay overnight.
Included Activities
- Visit Ancient Messene archaeological site
Optional Activities
- Visit Palace of Nestor at Pylos
- Visit Vassae and Temple of Epikourios Apollo (alternative tour)
Landmarks/POIs Ancient Messene Palace of Nestor Vassae Temple of Epikourios Apollo - Day 5
Preveza
Pickup at 09:00 and you're heading to the archaeological site of Ancient Olympia in the lush valley formed by the Alfios river, where the original Olympic Games took place back in 776 BC. You'll see the Temple of Zeus, Temple of Hera, the shrine of Pelops, council house, treasury houses, gymnasium, palestra, and the stadium with its original marble starting blocks. Later you cross the Rion-Antirion bridge and arrive in Preveza for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Temple of Zeus at Ancient Olympia
- Visit Temple of Hera at Ancient Olympia
- Visit shrine of Pelops at Ancient Olympia
- Visit Council house at Ancient Olympia
- Visit Treasury houses at Ancient Olympia
- Visit Gymnasium at Ancient Olympia
- Visit Palestra at Ancient Olympia
- Visit stadium at Ancient Olympia
- Cross Rion-Antirion bridge
Landmarks/POIs Ancient Olympia Temple of Zeus Temple of Hera Rion-Antirion Bridge - Day 6
Nikopolis - Kassope - Ioannina
After breakfast, you visit Nikopolis, an ancient city founded by the Romans that covers more land area than most other ancient Greek cities. Next you continue to Ancient Kassope, an ancient Greek city in Epirus that sits on a high platform overlooking the sea, the Ambracian gulf, and Zalongo Mountain. From there you depart for Ioannina to stay overnight.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Nikopolis archaeological site
- Visit Ancient Kassope
Landmarks/POIs Nikopolis Ancient Kassope - Day 7
Dodoni - Perama Caves - Ioannina
Your driver picks you up to visit Ancient Dodoni first, a worship center of Zeus and Dionysus known as the oracle of the ancient Greek world. Then you explore the Perama caves, which are part of an underground riverbed built approximately 1,500,000 years ago during the pre-Ottoman period. The caves have great passageways, extensive chambers, and rich decorations throughout. You return to Ioannina for overnight.
Included Activities
- Visit Ancient Dodoni
- Visit Perama caves
Landmarks/POIs Ancient Dodoni Perama Caves - Day 8
Meteora - Thessaloniki
You leave Ioannina after breakfast and drive to Meteora in Kalambaka. Starting with a visit to the Byzantine Monasteries of Meteora (UNESCO World Heritage sites), you'll see the 16th-century Monastery of Varlaam on a 380m-high rock, then the 15th-century Monastery of St. Stephan with its museum of Byzantine and Christian items. After passing through the Tempi valley where you can see Mount Olympus (Greece's highest mountain), you arrive in Thessaloniki for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Monastery of Varlaam at Meteora
- Visit Monastery of St. Stephan at Meteora
- View museum of Byzantine and Christian items at Monastery of St. Stephan
- Travel through Tempi valley
Landmarks/POIs Monastery of Varlaam Monastery of St. Stephan Mount Olympus - Day 9
Thessaloniki
Your Thessaloniki city tour includes the Archeological Museum, White Tower (Lefkos Pyrgos), Triumphal Arch of Galerius (Kamara), Rotunda, central Aristotelous Square, the historical quarter of Ladadika, and traditional markets like Modiano or Louloudadika (the flower market). You'll stay overnight in Thessaloniki.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Archeological Museum
- Visit White Tower (Lefkos Pyrgos)
- Visit Triumphal Arch of Galerius (Kamara)
- Visit Rotunda
- Explore central Aristotelous Square
- Explore historical quarter of Ladadika
- Visit traditional markets of Modiano or Louloudadika (flower market)
Landmarks/POIs Archeological Museum White Tower Triumphal Arch of Galerius Rotunda Aristotelous Square Ladadika Modiano Market - Day 10
Vergina - Thessaloniki
After breakfast, you drive to Pella, the birthplace of Alexander the Great, where you can see exquisite floor mosaics from 4th century BC villas both at the site and in the new Museum. Then you visit Vergina (ancient Aigai) to explore the unique Museum created in the Great Tumulus covering Macedonia's royal tombs. You'll see findings from King Phillip II's tomb, which represents one of the 20th century's greatest archaeological discoveries. After that, you return to Thessaloniki for overnight.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Pella and view floor mosaics of 4th century BC villas
- Visit Museum at Pella
- Visit Vergina (ancient Aigai)
- Visit Museum at Great Tumulus with royal tombs of Macedonia
- View findings from tomb of King Phillip II
Landmarks/POIs Pella Vergina - Day 11
Mount Olympus - Volos
Your driver picks you up to visit the Archaeological Park of Dion, the sacred city of the Macedonians located at Mount Olympus's foot about 80 km southwest of Thessaloniki on the border between Thessaly and Macedonia. The site features 52 peaks, deep gorges, and exceptional biodiversity. You visit the Prionia area to see the natural beauty at Olympus's foot, then depart for Volos to stay overnight.
Included Activities
- Visit Archaeological Park of Dion
- Visit Prionia area at foot of Mount Olympus
Landmarks/POIs Archaeological Park of Dion Mount Olympus Prionia - Day 12
Arachova - Athens
After breakfast, you drive to the archaeological site of Delphi, passing through Thermopylae for a short photo stop at the Leonidas statue (a memorial to the battle of the 300 Spartans against the Persian Empire). At Delphi you visit the ancient stadium, oracle, and museum. Then you head to Arachova, Greece's most famous winter resort, a traditional and modern small city at 1,000 meters altitude. You return to Athens in the afternoon.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Short stop at Thermopylae for photo of Leonidas statue
- Visit archaeological site of Delphi
- Visit ancient stadium at Delphi
- Visit oracle at Delphi
- Visit museum at Delphi
- Visit Arachova winter resort
Landmarks/POIs Thermopylae Leonidas Statue Delphi Arachova
