CLASSICAL & MINOAN CIVILIZATIONS

1st Day, Athens: Arrive in Athens capital of Greece during the day. Transfer from the Athens airport Eleftherios Venizelos with private coach and guide, start a condensed city tour to the capital of Greece to trace the history of culture of Athens from ancient times to the present day underground station. Afternoon – Evening Free. Overnight.

2nd Day, Athens: After breakfast meet with our guide to start for an unforgettable experience of a guide tours in Athens starting from the New Acropolis Museum and the Acropolis Hill.   The tour continuous walking through the old Market and the neighbourhood of Plaka, Athens oldest and most picturesque neighbourhood. Walking around Plakas stone-paved, narrow streets, you will have the feeling that you are travelling back in time. 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.  In Plaka even the air is different, lighter, clearer, scented, like a gift from the gods. In the afternoon your guide will take you at Syntagma Metro Station, remaining of the afternoon free, return to your hotel, overnight.

3rd Day, Athens – Mycenae – Nafplion – Ancient Olympia: After breakfast departure by private coach and guide to the Peloponnese peninsula. After a short stop at the Corinth canal before visit the archaeological site of  Mycenae where you will visit the Royal Palace of Agamemnon, the Royal Tombs and Tomb of Atreus.  Continue to the picturesque town of Nafplio for short stop and continue to Ancient Olympia. Overnight at a hotel in the village.

4th Day, Ancient Olympia – Delphi: After breakfast, morning visit with our guide to the archaeological site of Ancient Olympia with the Temple of Zeus, the Temple of Hera, the altar of the Olympic Flame, the Stadium and the archaeological museum. In the afternoon depart from Olympia, drive to the town of Rion cross the Corinthian bay to Antirion on the new state of art suspended bridge and continue along the coastal road up the mountain of Parnassos to arrive Delphi, known in ancient times as the navel of the world. Overnight at a hotel in Delphi.

5th Day, Delphi – Arachova – Athens: After breakfast you will visit the archaeological site, the Temple of Apollo famous for its oracle and the Museum, with its spectacular finds, including the bronze Charioteer, the Naxian Sphinx and the Statue of Antinoos. After lunch return to Athens via the picturesque mountain village of Arachova, built on the south slopes of Parnassus, well known for its attractive hand-woven carpets, rugs and guilts, as well as for its wine and cheese, short stop. In the afternoon arrive in Athens and to the port of Piraeus, board the boat for the overnight passage to the island of Crete.

6th Day, Crete: Early morning the boat will arrive at the port of Heraklion, the largest city and capital of Crete.  With our guide we will start with a condensed city tour as we head to the most popular visitation spot in Heraklion the ruins of Knossos, which was the biggest centre of population on Crete during Minoan Times. We will see the palace of King Minos, believed to be the starting point for the mythological Minotaurs labyrinth. We will continue our trip to the Kazantzakis Museum situated in Varvaroi Village, approximately 20 km. to the south of Heraklion. It was founded to preserve the work and to record the life of the Cretan writer. Late afternoon retun to Heraklion, overnight.

7th Day, Crete: After breakfast will depart from the hotel in Heraklion by private coach to the south-eastern part of the island were the famous caves in the cliff of Matala bay were created in the Neolithic age. Matala was the port of Phaistos during the Minoan Period. Matala was then a fishing village. In the 1960s the caves were occupied by hippies which were later driven out. Spend the day at the beautiful beach and in the afternoon depart Matala, drive through picturesque villages to the north coast to reach the 3rd largest city of Crete, Rethymno. Overnight.

8th Day, Crete: After breakfast depart from Rethymno drive along the coastal road and crossing the island from north to south, the route crosses the White Mountains to Hora Sfakion by the Libyan Sea. Halfway from the picturesque village of Vrisses to Horra Sfakion is the fertile plateau of surrounded by high mountain peaks. From here to Hora Sfakion the road is particularly spectacular hugging the western slope of the Imbros Gorge with breathtaking views. Sfakia is a mountainous area in the south-western part of Crete, in the Chania prefecture and is considered one of the few places in Greece to never have been fully occupied by foreign powers.  Not far east from Hora Sfakion is Frangokastello, The Venetian fortress built in 1371 to deter pirates. It is largely ruined but is picturesquely set on a wide sandy beach with the towering White Mountains behind. Late Afternoon depart from Sfakia to reach your hotel in the town of Chania. Overnight.

9th Day, Crete: After breakfast visit the old town of Chania and depart for Falasarna, the peaceful beautiful beaches along the far west end of Crete with a few simple tavernas, a place to swim walk and absorb the wild beauty of the place. In the hills behind the beaches you find the ruins of the ancient city and harbour of Falasarna.  In the evening return by boat – overnight passage – to Piraeus.

10th Day, Athens: Early morning arrival at the port of Piraeus, harbour of Athens, transfer to the airport for the return flight, saying goodbye to the city that lives through the centuries, taking home bits of our cultural heritage, tastes of the Mediterranean.. with a promise to be back for more.