Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival in Athens
You'll be transferred to your hotel in Athens where you can settle in for the afternoon. Stop by the hotel reception to check for information about when your tour officially starts.
- Day 2
Athens City Tour
A local guide takes you through Athens, starting with the Presidential Mansion and moving to the Panathenaic Stadium where the first modern Olympics took place. You'll see the National Library and various city center squares, including neighborhoods built after 2004. The day wraps up at the Acropolis, then an evening transfer brings you to Plaka's historic streets lined with traditional Greek tavernas.
Included Activities
- City tour of Athens with local guide
- Visit Presidential Mansion
- Visit Panathenaic Stadium
- Visit National Library
- Explore city center squares
- Tour newer neighborhoods developed after 2004 Olympic Games
- Evening transfer to Plaka neighborhood
Optional Activities
- Acropolis visit (admission not included)
Landmarks/POIs Presidential Mansion Panathenaic Stadium National Library Acropolis Plaka - Day 3
Thermopylae - Kastraki - Meteora - Kalambaka
Early departure heads north toward Kamena Vourla, a seaside resort surrounded by scenic landscape. After that, you'll stop at Thermopylae Mountain Pass, the historic battlefield site. From there, Kastraki village offers free time for lunch with views down the valley. Later, Meteora UNESCO World Heritage Site opens up with admission to one monastery included. Dinner happens in Kalambaka.
- Meals
- Dinner (Dinner in Kalambaka)
Included Activities
- Visit Kamena Vourla
- Visit Thermopylae Mountain Pass
- Visit Kastraki village
- Explore Meteora with monastery admission included
- Dinner in Kalambaka
Landmarks/POIs Kamena Vourla Thermopylae Mountain Pass Kastraki Meteora - Day 4
Delphi - Hosios Loukas Monastery - Athens
Traveling south through Thessaly's landscapes, you'll reach Delphi and its archaeological site overlooking the Gulf of Corinth. Free time for lunch comes next. Later you'll visit Hosios Loukas Monastery, a Byzantine World Heritage Site with famous 11th-century mosaics. The evening brings you back to Athens.
Included Activities
- Journey through Thessaly region
- Visit Delphi archaeological site
- Visit Hosios Loukas Monastery
Landmarks/POIs Delphi Archaeological Site Hosios Loukas Monastery - Day 5
Corinth Canal - Poros Island - Epidaurus - Nafplio
After breakfast, head to the Peloponnese and cross the impressive Corinth Canal connecting two seas. A ferry takes you to Poros island for free time and lunch. Back on the mainland, the ancient Theater of Epidaurus is next with admission included, followed by a stroll through Nafplio, a coastal city with a Venetian fortress. Dinner is provided.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Stop at Corinth Canal
- Ferry to Poros Island (15 minutes)
- Free time in Poros
- Visit Theater of Epidaurus (admission included)
- Explore Nafplio
- Dinner in Nafplio
Landmarks/POIs Corinth Canal Poros Island Theater of Epidaurus Nafplio - Day 6
Olympia - Patras
Mountains of the Peloponnese bring you to Tripoli where you'll have time to explore Areos Square and grab coffee. Moving on to Olympia, you'll tour the Archaeological Site where the first Olympic Games began in 776 BC, seeing the Temple of Zeus, Stadium, Gymnasium, and Arena with a guided tour included. Patras comes next, Greece's third-largest city with a medieval fortress and St. Andrew's church. Dinner is provided.
- Meals
- Dinner
Included Activities
- Explore Tripoli and Areos Square
- Visit Olympia Archaeological Site with guided tour (admission included)
- Explore Patras and its fortress
- Visit cathedral in Patras
- Dinner in Patras
Landmarks/POIs Areos Square Olympia Archaeological Site Temple of Zeus Stadium at Olympia Patras - Day 7
Central Greece - Epirus - Igoumenitsa - Ferry to Brindisi
After breakfast, you'll cross the Rio-Antirrio suspension bridge connecting the Peloponnese to mainland Greece. The route continues through Central Greece and Epirus, arriving in Igoumenitsa port town for a stroll. At 2:00 p.m. you board the modern ferry sailing across the Ionian Sea to Brindisi, Italy, arriving around 9:00 p.m. for an overnight stay.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Cross Rio-Antirrio Bridge
- Journey through Central Greece and Epirus
- Stroll in Igoumenitsa
- Ferry crossing from Igoumenitsa to Brindisi
Landmarks/POIs Rio-Antirrio Bridge Igoumenitsa Brindisi - Day 8
Matera - Naples
Alberobello comes first with its UNESCO World Heritage trulli, those distinctive conical stone houses of Italian rural architecture. Next is Matera in Basilicata region, where you'll explore the ancient Sassi di Matera carved into rock thousands of years ago and still inhabited. Lunch is included in Matera. The afternoon journey through mountain landscapes brings you to Naples by evening with free time to explore.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch in Matera)
Included Activities
- Visit Alberobello and explore trulli houses
- Visit Matera and Sassi di Matera ancient dwellings
- Lunch in Matera (included)
- Journey through Basilicata and Campania
Landmarks/POIs Alberobello Sassi di Matera Matera Naples - Day 9
Sorrento - Salerno
After breakfast, head to Naples port for a ferry to Capri island. A funicular takes you up to Capri town for strolling and enjoying views. Following lunch, you'll travel to Sorrento, a charming cliffside town with free time to walk around. The day ends in Salerno on the Gulf of Salerno coast.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Ferry from Naples to Capri
- Funicular ride up to Capri town
- Explore Capri
- Ferry from Capri to Sorrento
- Explore Sorrento
- Travel to Salerno
Landmarks/POIs Capri Sorrento Salerno - Day 10
Paola - Sicily - Messina - Taormina
Traveling south through scenic Italian countryside, you'll cross Cilento National Park. Paola on the Tyrrhenian Sea has the Sanctuary of St. Francis of Paola with free time for lunch in the historic center. Later a short ferry from Villa San Giovanni brings you to Messina in Sicily with time to walk around the cathedral. The day finishes in Taormina with dinner included.
- Meals
- Dinner
Included Activities
- Cross Cilento National Park
- Visit Sanctuary of St. Francis of Paola
- Explore Paola historic center
- Ferry from Villa San Giovanni to Messina
- Stroll around Messina Cathedral
- Travel to Taormina
- Dinner in Taormina
Landmarks/POIs Cilento National Park Paola Sanctuary of St. Francis of Paola Villa San Giovanni Messina Messina Cathedral Taormina - Day 11
Taormina
Taormina sits at the foot of Mount Etna, and you'll explore the lively historic quarter centered on the Greek theater with landscape views. You can also spend time on the beach if you prefer. Dinner is provided.
- Meals
- Dinner
Included Activities
- Explore Taormina historic quarter
- Visit Greek theater
- Beach time option
- Dinner in Taormina
Landmarks/POIs Taormina Greek Theater Mount Etna - Day 12
Syracuse - Agrigento
After breakfast, head to Catania at Mount Etna's base, where history and Mediterranean life blend together. The UNESCO World Heritage Baroque center has beautiful squares and palaces to explore, plus the bustling fish market. Later, Syracuse on the Ionian Sea opens up the island of Ortigia with narrow streets, a cathedral, ancient castle, and seaside terraces. Free time for lunch and strolling follows. Finally, you'll see the Valley of the Temples complex from the coach. Dinner included.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Explore Catania and its Baroque center
- Visit Catania fish market
- Travel to Syracuse
- Explore Ortigia island
- Visit Syracuse Cathedral
- Visit Syracuse Castle
- Admire Valley of the Temples from coach
- Dinner in Agrigento
Landmarks/POIs Catania Mount Etna Syracuse Ortigia Syracuse Cathedral Valley of the Temples - Day 13
Marsala - Erice - Palermo
A local guide leads you through the Valley of the Temples, an impressive archaeological site with the most complete Greek temples complex, with admission included. Then Marsala comes next, a historic city famous for its wine and vibrant atmosphere, with free time for lunch. The scenic route around Marsala salt pans reaches Erice, a Phoenician town overlooking the sea for a leisurely stroll. Evening arrival in Palermo with dinner provided.
- Meals
- Dinner
Included Activities
- Valley of the Temples guided tour (admission included)
- Explore Marsala
- View Marsala salt pans
- Explore Erice
- Travel to Palermo
- Dinner in Palermo
Landmarks/POIs Valley of the Temples Marsala Marsala Salt Pans Erice Palermo - Day 14
Palermo - Ferry to Naples
After breakfast, you'll head to Monreale to visit the Arab-Norman cathedral, a World Heritage Site with magnificent golden mosaics and tickets included. Back in Palermo, you can see the Cathedral and Norman Palace with its Palatine Chapel (tickets included). Free time to explore the city follows. An afternoon departure boards the modern night ferry with double cabin accommodations.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Transfer to Monreale
- Visit Monreale Arab-Norman Cathedral (tickets included)
- City tour of Palermo
- Visit Palermo Cathedral (tickets included)
- Visit Norman Palace and Palatine Chapel
- Free time in Palermo
- Board modern night ferry to Naples
Landmarks/POIs Monreale Cathedral Palermo Cathedral Norman Palace Palatine Chapel Palermo - Day 15
Pompeii - Rome
Early morning arrival in Naples is followed by a trip to Pompeii to see the ancient Roman city buried under Mount Vesuvius ashes, with a local guide and admission included. Then Naples itself opens up, one of Italy's oldest cities with a UNESCO World Heritage historic center. Free time for lunch and exploring comes next. The day ends with arrival in Rome.
Included Activities
- Visit Pompeii with local guide (tickets and tour included)
- Explore Naples historic center
- Free time in Naples
Landmarks/POIs Pompeii Mount Vesuvius Naples Rome - Day 16
End of Tour in Rome
After breakfast, your tour concludes, leaving you with lasting memories of Greece and Italy.
- Meals
- Breakfast
