Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival in Athens
You'll arrive in Athens and travel roughly 45 km north to settle near Marathon for your first night. This gets you close enough to the capital while giving you a quieter base to start adjusting to Greece time.
- Day 2
Athens
After breakfast, head into Athens to walk through the Acropolis, where you'll see the Propylaea and Parthenon. The modern Acropolis Museum is right there to visit afterward. Then wander around the Plaka to get a feel for how locals actually live in the city. Your afternoon is free to rest before driving about 95 km to the Corinthian Gulf area.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit the Acropolis including the Propylaea and Parthenon
- Modern Acropolis Museum entrance and visit
- Explore the Plaka quarter
Landmarks/POIs Acropolis Propylaea Parthenon Acropolis Museum Plaka - Day 3
Nafplio - Epidaurus
You'll explore ancient Mycenae by walking through the Lion Gate to the Treasury of Atreus while learning about Agamemnon and Helen. From there, check out Nafplio on the Gulf of Argos, which was Greece's first modern capital. Later you'll reach the archaeological site at Epidaurus to see one of antiquity's most beautiful theaters. The drive to your hotel in the Arcadia mountains totals about 230 km.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Mycenae including the Lion Gate and Treasury of Atreus
- Explore Nafplio
- Visit the archaeological site of Epidaurus
Landmarks/POIs Mycenae Lion Gate Treasury of Atreus Nafplio Epidaurus - Day 4
Mystras
This morning you'll learn about the feared Spartan army before traveling to Mystras. There you'll step into the Byzantine era through its churches and monasteries with medieval frescoes. Back at your Arcadia hotel, enjoy a romantic dinner in the mountain village. The day covers roughly 280 km total.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Dinner together in a romantic mountain village)
Included Activities
- Visit Sparta
- Explore Mystras churches and monasteries with Byzantine frescoes
- Dinner at a romantic mountain village location
Landmarks/POIs Sparta Mystras - Day 5
Olympia
Head to Messini where you'll find wonderful panoramic views along the way. Explore the ancient polis where over 10,000 people lived, then continue on to Olympia. This stretch is approximately 260 km.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit the ancient polis of Messini
- Travel to Olympia
Landmarks/POIs Messini Olympia - Day 6
Olympia
You'll see how ancient athletes competed for glory at Olympia by walking through the stadium, thermal baths, gymnasium, and Sacred Grove. The Temple of Zeus and its sculptures in the museum show the scale of what this place meant. After exploring the excavation site and museum, you'll drive across an impressive suspension bridge to reach Nafpaktos and then Arachova, covering about 220 km.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Olympia excavation site including stadium, thermal baths, gymnasium, Sacred Grove, and Temple of Zeus
- Olympia Museum visit and sculpture viewing
Landmarks/POIs Temple of Zeus Olympia Archaeological Site Nafpaktos Arachova - Day 7
Osios Loukas - Preveza
Visit Delphi's famous oracle, checking out the museum, Marmaria district, Castalian Spring, and the Temple of Apollo with its stadium and treasure houses. You'll hear about prophecies given to Oedipus, Croesus, and Alexander. Then explore Osios Loukas monastery with its 10th and 11th-century frescoes and mosaics. Afterward, drive on newer roads to Preveza on the Ambracian Gulf, approximately 330 km total.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Delphi Museum
- Explore Delphi including Marmaria, Castalian Spring, Temple of Apollo, stadium, and treasure houses
- Visit Osios Loukas monastery with Byzantine frescoes and mosaics
Landmarks/POIs Delphi Temple of Apollo Castalian Spring Osios Loukas Monastery Preveza - Day 8
Ephyra - Parga - Ioannina
In the Epirus region, you'll walk through the magnificent ruins of Nicopolis, which Augustus founded after his victory over Antony and Cleopatra. Next, see the legendary Necromanteion, the funerary oracle mentioned by the historian Herodotus. Stop in Parga on the Ionian Sea to visit an olive mill and learn about Greece's olive oil industry. By evening you'll reach Ioannina, a city on a lake at about 500 meters elevation, covering approximately 165 km.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- View Nicopolis ruins from outside
- Visit Ephyra (Necromanteion)
- Visit an olive mill in Parga
- Travel to Ioannina
Landmarks/POIs Nicopolis Ephyra Parga Ioannina - Day 9
Ioannina
You'll explore Ioannina and take a boat out to a small island in the lake to visit two Byzantine monasteries. After the boat trip, you can optionally check out the archaeological museum in Ioannina and walk through the city at your own pace.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Boat trip to island in lake
- Visit two Byzantine monasteries on island
Optional Activities
- Visit the archaeological museum in Ioannina
- Stroll through the city of Ioannina
Landmarks/POIs Ioannina Lake - Day 10
Metsovo
Visit Dodona to see the oracle of the sacred oak that Homer knew about and the preserved ancient theater. Then travel through the spectacular Pindos Mountains to Metsovo, a typical Greek village that shows what the landscape around Meteora is like. The route covers approximately 160 km.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Dodona oracle of the sacred oak
- View the ancient theater at Dodona
- Travel to Metsovo
Landmarks/POIs Dodona Metsovo Pindos Mountains - Day 11
Meteora
See the Meteora monasteries perched dramatically on steep cliffs like swallows' nests. You'll explore two of the still-inhabited monasteries to learn about Orthodox traditions and get a real sense of how monks lived in these remote locations. In the afternoon, drive to your resort on the Thermaic Gulf to relax, approximately 110 km.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit two inhabited Meteora monasteries
Landmarks/POIs Meteora - Day 12
Litochoro
Experience Mount Olympus, the legendary seat of the gods that often sits shrouded in clouds. You'll start from Litochoro village for a walk at the foot of the nearly 3,000-meter massif. Enjoy a culinary surprise as a guest at a nunnery. For the next couple of days, you can either relax at the resort or explore more sites like Vergina and Thessaloniki, approximately 160 km.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Walk at Mount Olympus from Litochoro
- Visit a nunnery with meal
Optional Activities
- Optional excursion to Vergina (Day 13)
- Optional excursion to Thessaloniki (Day 14)
Landmarks/POIs Mount Olympus Litochoro - Day 13
Vergina (Optional)
This optional excursion takes you to Vergina, arguably Greece's most spectacular archaeological site. Explore the subterranean tomb of the Macedonian kings with its golden treasures, revealing a Greece that rivaled Oriental power. You'll delve into Macedonian history, approximately 125 km from your base.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Visit Vergina archaeological site including subterranean tomb of Macedonian kings
Landmarks/POIs Vergina - Day 14
Thessaloniki (Optional)
This optional tour of Thessaloniki shows a city shaped by Romans, Byzantines, and Ottomans. Visit the Triumphal Arch of Galerius and the city's landmark White Tower. Browse the Archaeological Museum before heading back to your hotel, approximately 155 km.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Sightseeing tour of Thessaloniki including Triumphal Arch of Galerius and White Tower
- Visit the Archaeological Museum
Landmarks/POIs Thessaloniki White Tower Triumphal Arch of Galerius - Day 15
Departure from Thessaloniki
Your journey through Greece's past and present ends today. If you're extending your vacation, enjoy what comes next. Otherwise, prepare for your return journey, approximately 85 km from your location.
- Meals
- Breakfast
