ATHENS, DELPHI & PELOPONNESE

1st Day, Athens: Arrival in Athens Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport.  Meeting and transfer by private coach and assistance to your hotel in the center of Athens.  Welcome dinner at a traditional Greek Taverna in the old city of Athens. Return to the hotel. Overnight.

2nd Day, Athens: After breakfast, your guide will take you for a visit to the Acropolis Hill, you will walk to the Ancient Agora and the Roman Market. Afternoon free to stroll in Plaka,  Athens oldest and most picturesque neighbourhood, with stone-paved narrow streets.  You will be delighted by the beauty of the neo-classical colours of its houses, their architecture, their lovingly tended little gardens, the elegance, and the total atmosphere of the area. Dinner on your own, return to the hotel, overnight.

3rd Day, Athens: After breakfast, morning guided tour of the new fabulous Acropolis Museum, and the Dionysos Theater.  Lunch on your own in Plaka and in the afternoon drive along the Coast line to visit the Temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounion where you can also enjoy one of the most picturesque sunsets. Late afternoon return to Athens, overnight.

4th Day, Athens – Aigina Island – Athens: After breakfast departure by private bus and guide to the port of Athens, Pireaus. Ferry boat ride to the island of Aigina, the closest island to Athens and capital of the Newly founded Greek state in 1827.    There you will visit the Temple of Aphaia dedicated to the Goddess Athena and is located on top of a hill. This is one of the ancient architectural wonders of ancient Greece and was built in 480 BC and 25 of the original 32 Doric columns still stand. Lunch at one of the local fresh fish Tavernas at the seaside and stroll around Aigina town with its impressive neoclassical mansions. Return by ferry to Piraeus and transfer to your hotel in Athens, overnight.

5th Day, Athens – Delphi:  After breakfast, morning departure for a 9-days land tour in the Greek mainland. Drive to Thebes, pass levadia, you will visit Monastery of Hosios Loukas, one of the most important monuments of Middle Byzantine architecture and art that has been listed on Unescos world heritage sites. You will continue pass the traditional village of Arachova, on the slopes of Mount Parnassus, before you arrive Delphi Village, check-in your hotel, overnight.

6th Day, Delphi – Ancient Olympia:  After breakfast, you visit of the Archaeological site of Delphi, the Castalia Spring, and view the monument of the Argive Kings, the treasury of the Athenians, the Athenian Stoa, the Polygonal Wall, the monument of Platea and the Temple of Apollo famous for its oracle and Delphi museum, with its spectacular exhibits include the frieze of the Treasury of the Sifnians, the Naxian Sphinx, the Statue of Antinoos the metopes of the Athenian treasury, the famous bronze Charioteer, originally created to commemorate a victoyr during the 475 BC Pythian Games, and many other artifacts. Departing Delphi you will drive to the historical town of Nafpaktos the Lepanto of the medieval times, known for its famous battle, to Antirion. Cross the new bridge to the Peloponesse peninsula andand on to Patras and late afternoon arrive in Ancient Olympia where you will overnight.

7th Day, Ancient Olympia: After breakfast you will visit the archeological site of Ancient Olympia the birthplace of the first Olympic Games, in 776 BC.  There you will see the temple of Zeus the most celebrated sanctuary of Ancient Greece dedicated to Zeus which in antiquity was housing one of the 7 wonders of the Ancient world, the gold and ivory statue of Zeus, which Phedias had created. You will see 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, whre the marble starting blocks are still in position. Afternoon free and overnight.

8th Day, Olympia – Kalamata: After breakfast depart from Ancient Olympia, going south to Messinia very close to the ancient Figalia, you will visit the Neda Gorge with its untouched natural beauty of waterfalls, and small ponds with crystal clear turquoise waters. In the afternoon arrive in the beautiful city of Kalamata check-in your hotel and overnight.

9th Day, Kalamata – Sparta:  After breakfast departure to have a quided tour of the city of Kalamata the capital and central port of Messinia, situated at the apex of the crystal-blue Messinian Bay and at the foot of the imposing Mount Taygetos. You will visit the citys historical centre. Wandering in the alleys of the historical centre will revive images from the past and reveal buildings that have resisted time. Continuing your journey over the magnificent Mount Taygetos, you will arrive at the ancient rival city-state of Athens, Sparta.   Check in yuor hotel, overnight.

10th Day, Sparta – Monemvasia – Sparta:   After breakfast, you will have a full day trip to the Byzantine Fortress Town of Monemvasia, the stone ship, that stands sentinel on the south-eastern coast of Lakonia, ready to take its visitors on a historic journey back through the ages. Castles, walls, old mansions, narrow cobbled lanes, churches, low arches and vaults, coats of arms, imperial marble thrones, Byzantine icons all give the impression of a town untouched by time. Referred to variously throughout the ages as the Gibraltar of the East, the Castle above the Clouds, or the Castle of Flowers, among others, it is situated on a small islet linked to the mainland by a causeway and bridge, as if floating on the edge of the Myrtoon Sea. You will walk around the town that retains its medieval character and also have time to enjoy lunch in one of the picturesque taverns, with a view in the sea. Late afternoon return to Sparta, overnight.

11th Day, Sparta – Mystras – Nafplion: After breakfast, in the morning visit the medieval Byzantine settlement of Mystras. You will wander around this Castle City, the Upper and the Lower Town, and sense through the silence the citys sheer grandeur.  The Palace of theDesports-Anaktora, the beautiful Cathedral of Sint Dimitrios and the impressive Monasteries of Our Lady Pantanassa, and of Our Lady Perivleptos. Continuing to the North before we arrive at the first capital of liberated Greece, Nafplion. Stroll around the picturesque old town and its port. Check-in hotel in Nafplion, free time and overnight.

12th Day, Nafplion – Mycenae – Tiryns – Nafplion: After breakfast you will visit the archaeological site of Mycenae, a Unesco world heritage site,  an ancient town with great power during the ancient years. You will have the chance to see the famous Gate of Lions, the Royal Tombs and Atreus King Tomb before you continue to Tiryns, a cyclopean structure dating from 13 BC. Return to Nafplion to climb up the Venetian Fortress Palamidi one of the best preserved castles in Greece with amazing views of the town. Free time in Nafplion, overnight.

13th Day, Epidaurus – Ancient Corinth – Athens:  After breakfast departure for one of the greatest monuments of Greek Antiquity, the famous theatre at the ASklepieion of Epidaurus, the finest and most renowned of its kind that combines perfect acoustics with elegance and symmetrical proportions. Continue to visit the site of ancient Corinth which was first inhabited in the Neolithic period, located at the northern base of the hill of Acrocorinth. Systematic excavations of the area, initiated by the American School of Classical Studies in 1896, are still continuing today. Short stop at the Isthmos Canal, a canal that connects the Gulf of Corinth with the Argosaronic Gulf while at the same time separates the Greek Mainland from the Peloponesse, thus effectively making the former peninsula an island.  Late afternoon return to Athens, check-in your hotel, overnight.

14th Day, Athens: Breakfast and day free to your leisure in Athens to visit museums like the Benaki and the Cycladic Art Museum, or stroll through traditional, authentic neighborhoods in the heart of Athens and visit some wonderful pastry shops serving favorite Greek sweets and be immersed in the colors and smells of local spices, the secret behind many of the most renowned dishes of Greek cuisine, and aromatic Greek coffee. Return to your hotel, overnight.

15th Day, Athens: Breakfast and spend your last day at leisure in Athens one of the oldest cities in the world, the cradle of Western civilization and birthplace of democracy that has evolved into the sprawling cosmopolitan, multilayered city which has the magical ability to surprise and enchant you around every street corner. Farewell dinner at a traditional Greek Taverna with live music and a view of the Acropolis, in the old city of Plaka. Return to your hotel and overnight.

16th Day, Athens: After breakfast, transfer by bus and assistance to the airport for your return flight home.