Amazing Tour of the Footsteps of Ancient Greece 4 Days

What's Included

Meeting and pickup

Itinerary

Day 1
Ancient Corinth, Corinth Canal, Epidavros, Nafplio, Mycenae.
5 stops
1
We first go to the Isthmus of Corinth, a narrow piece of land connecting mainland Greece and the Peloponnese. There we will see the manmade canal which connects the Corinthian and the Saronic Gulfs. The canal was finished in 1893, but its history dates to as early as 602 BC. It has a length of over 6km, and its sides are 78m tall at the highest point. There are bridges across the canal for cars and people to pass, and which sink up to 12m underwater to let boats through.
20 minutes • Admission ticket free
2
The ancient city of Corinth was located on the narrow strip of land connecting the Peloponnese to mainland Greece, known as the Isthmus of Corinth. In ancient times, the city grew wealthy due to this strategic location and its control of the transportation of ships from the Corinthian to the Saronic gulf and vice versa. It became one of the most important trade powers in ancient Greece and had an extensive network of colonies. It was also the location of countless ancient myths, like the myth of Sisyphus and there were games like the Olympics held in the devotional area of Isthmia. Although the city was destroyed by the Romans, who built a new city in its place. With a professional guide, we see extensive ruins columns of the Temple of Apollo that testify to Corinth’s great prosperity. These have been uncovered since 1896 by the American School of Classical Studies in Athens and the Greek Ministry of Culture. It is also one of the places that Saint Paul visited and wrote letters to.
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission ticket not included
3
We travel to Epidaurus and see the world-renowned Epidaurus theatre. Built in the 4th century BC, it is famous for its acoustics, which are so perfect that words spoken on stage can be heard perfectly wherever you are in the audience.
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission ticket not included
4
The Homeric city of Mycenae was one of the first great centres of the Greek culture; settlement on this site dates back to the second millennium BC. According to Homer, Mycenae was the seat of Agamemnon, who led the Greeks against the Trojans to take back Helen, the wife of his brother Menelaus. The ruins of the ancient city are famous for the amazing “Cyclopean walls” - so named because the later Greeks thought that only a Cyclops could move such huge rocks into place. You will see the Lion Gate, which formed the entrance to the royal court and palace.
1 hour • Admission ticket not included
5
Stepping forward in history, we see the Palamidi Castle in Nafplio, built by the Venetians and famous for supposedly having 999 steps. According to legend, there were once 1000 steps leading to the castle, but one of them was crushed by Theodoros Kolokotronis, a leader of the Greek war of independence, during celebrations for a victory against the Ottomans.
1 hour • Admission ticket not included
Day 2
Ancient Olympia, Arachova, Delphi.
2 stops
6
We head to the valley of the river Alfios where a professional guide accompanies us to see the ruins of the ancient Olympia, the historic site of the Olympic Games. This was the greatest of the Panhellenic Games and every four years Greeks from all the different city-states would put aside their disputes and come together to compete. The importance of Olympia can still be seen from its ruins, including the Temple of Zeus, which once contained a 13 meter statue of the god made of gold and ivory, the Temple of Hera, the stadium and the Shrine of Pelops. Even today, the Olympic Flame is lit in Olympia and then taken on a relay across the world to end up in the city hosting the Olympic Games.
2 hours 30 minutes • Admission ticket not included
7
We will stop over in the picturesque mountain resort of Arachova, which is one of the most popular places near Athens to go skiing in the winter. There we will have a chance to relax, enjoy the beautiful views, or have a coffee at one of the many cafés.
2 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 3
DELPHI, THERMOPOLIS, METEORA (Kalambaka).
3 stops
8
Along with a professional guide, we visit Delphi - considered the religious centre of the ancient Greek world and the seat of Pythia, the greatest oracle. Located on the slopes of Mount Parnassus, the ruins of the Sanctuary of Apollo overlook the timeless beauty of the ancient landscape. People from all over Greece would travel to ask advice from Pythia, the oracle of Apollo. In fact, in some of the most important moments in history, her words had a great effect on the course of events, and it is recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. The Temple of Apollo is the centre of an extensive archaeological site that includes the Treasuries of the Siphnians and the Athenians, a theatre, and a stadium. We also visit the museum, which houses the famous Delphic Charioteer and the statue of Antinous, the lover of Hadrian.
2 hours • Admission ticket included
9
We then visit the site and museum of Leonidas’ 300 Spartans stand against the mighty army of the Xerxes of Persia - Thermopylae, or the “Hot Gates”. The Spartans and their allies lured the Persian army to this narrow pass between the cliffs and the sea and although they were defeated, their bravery allowed the other Greek city-states to mobilise and finally defeat the Persians at the Battle of Salamis.
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission ticket not included
10
Finally we reach the village of Meteora (Kalambaka), were we stay. We will have dinner and enjoy the view of the monasteries (that we will visit the next day) from the village.
10 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 4
METEORA, return to Athens.
5 stops
11
At the stunning, fairy tale landscape of Meteora, we visit at least three monasteries (or more, time permitting), two of which are guided with a professional guide, before having a meal and returning to Athens late in the afternoon.
6 hours • Admission ticket free
12
You will get to see at least 2 monasteries (if there is time even more), 2 of them will be guided with a professional guide.
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission ticket not included
13
You will get to see at least 2 monasteries (if there is time even more), 2 of them will be guided with a professional guide.
1 hour • Admission ticket not included
14
You will get to see at least 2 monasteries (if there is time even more), 2 of them will be guided with a professional guide.
1 hour • Admission ticket not included
15
You will get to see at least 2 monasteries (if there is time even more), 2 of them will be guided with a professional guide.
1 hour • Admission ticket not included

Additional info

• Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
• Service animals allowed
• Specialized infant seats are available
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels
• All prices are for 1 private vehicle, for 1 to 3 passengers with a sedan, 4-6 passengers (on request 8 passengers) with a minivan, usually Mercedes Benz
• Children/Youth under 18 must be accompanied by an adult

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