Itinerary
- Day 1
Athens
Your host picks you up at Athens airport and takes you to your hotel. After settling in, you'll meet your Travel Director and other travelers for an evening of Greek food and wine in one of the city's historic neighborhoods.
- Meals
- Dinner (Indulge in local specialities with your fellow travellers as you savour dinner in one of the city's historic neighbourhoods.)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Divani Palace Acropolis, New, Athens, Athens Marriott)
- Day 2
Athens
Start at the Acropolis and Parthenon with a local guide. Then check out the Acropolis Museum to see original sculptures and pieces like the Caryatids and sections of the Parthenon frieze. You'll also walk past the Panathenaic Stadium, Hadrian's Arch, Temple of Zeus, Parliament building, and the tomb of the unknown soldier. Later this evening, there's an optional dinner in the lively Psiri neighborhood if you're interested.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Divani Palace Acropolis, New, Athens, Athens Marriott)
Included Activities
- Ascend the Acropolis with a Local Expert to admire the Parthenon, built in 5th century B.C. See the Temple of Athena Nike, also known as the Temple of the Wingless Victory, and the six stone-carved caryatids that make up the Porch of the Maidens on the Erechtheion
- View key originals from the Parthenon, Erechtheion and Temple of Athena Nike, including the Caryatids and sections of the frieze at the Acropolis Museum with your Local Expert
- See the Arch of Hadrian and the remaining columns of the Temple of Olympian Zeus
- View the Panathenaic Stadium, Parliament building and tomb of the unknown soldier
Optional Activities
- Dinner experience in lively Psiri
Landmarks Acropolis Parthenon Acropolis Museum Panathenaic Stadium Arch of Hadrian Temple of Olympian Zeus Temple of Athena Nike Erechtheion - Day 3
Athens - Thermopylae - Ancient Dion - Thessaloniki
Head north from Athens through the mountain pass at Thermopylae, where King Leonidas and his Spartan army fought the Persians in 480 B.C. You'll see the Leonidas memorial, then continue to the archaeological park of Ancient Dion at Mount Olympus's base with a local expert. By afternoon you'll reach Thessaloniki, Greece's second city, and have dinner featuring northern Greek cuisine at a local restaurant.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Northern Greek cuisine at a local restaurant)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (MonAsty, Thessaloniki)
Included Activities
- See the Leonidas Monument, dedicated to the brave warrior and his 300 Spartans at Thermopylae
- Visit the archaeological park of Ancient Dion, located at the foot of Mount Olympus, with your Local Expert to learn about the myths and stories of the city of Zeus
Landmarks Thermopylae Leonidas Monument Ancient Dion Mount Olympus 
- Day 4
Thessaloniki
Explore Thessaloniki with two options. Option 1 takes you through narrow streets in the old town (Ano Poli) where you'll spot the White Tower, Rotunda Monument, and Church of Saint Demetrius. Option 2 focuses on local food, sampling sesame rings, cheeses, cured meats, and bougatsa at city markets before walking along the harbor.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Monasty), Hotel (MonAsty, Thessaloniki)
Included Activities
- Explore the historical city of Thessaloniki with your Local Expert, walking the quaint narrow streets of the old town (Ano Poli)
- Explore Thessaloniki and its cuisine, perfect for local-food-lovers with your Travel Director on a walking tour of the city's markets
Landmarks White Tower Rotunda Monument Church of Saint Demetrius - Day 5
Thessaloniki - Vergina - Metsovo - Ioannina
Visit the UNESCO site of Vergina with a local expert to see the ancient palace and burial ground with over 300 tumuli, including the tomb believed to hold Philippos, Alexander the Great's father. Check out the Polycentric Museum of Aigai, then travel to the mountain town of Metsovo, known for cheese and grilled meats. Later you'll arrive in Ioannina for dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Du Lac, Ioannina)
Included Activities
- Visit the UNESCO-protected site of the ancient city of Aigai (modern name Vergina) and its new archaeological museum with your Local Expert
- See the monumental palace and the royal burial ground, home to over 300 tumuli at Vergina
- Visit Metsovo, the authentic traditional village on the picturesque mountainside, famous for cheese and grilled meats
Optional Activities
- Sample local fare in Metsovo
Landmarks Ancient Vergina (Aigai) Polycentric Museum of Aigai Metsovo - Day 6
Ioannina
Walk the castle walls of Ioannina's old fortified city (Kastro), which has ancient towers throughout. Look out over Lake Pamvotis, then take a local boat to the Island of Ioannina. This car-free island lets you walk quiet streets, visit the Ali Pasha Museum, and explore the Monastery of Saint Nicholas of Philanthropinoi. Try fresh baklava if you want.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Du Lac, Ioannina)
Included Activities
- Cruise to the island of Ioannina, nestled in the tranquil waters of Lake Pamvotida
- Walk around the old town on the Island of Ioannina
- Visit the Ali Pasha and Revolutionary Period Museum, located at the very site where Ali Pasha was killed and decapitated by the sultan's troops in 1822
- See the Monastery of Saint Nicholas of Philanthropinoi, an important site on the island
Optional Activities
- Treat yourself to freshly made baklava
Landmarks Kastro (Old Town Fortified City) Lake Pamvotis Island of Ioannina Ali Pasha Museum Monastery of Saint Nicholas of Philanthropinoi - Day 7
Ioannina - Nafpaktos - Galaxidi
Travel to the Venetian town of Nafpaktos, site of the 1571 Great Sea battle of Lepanto where the Spanish Empire and European allies defeated the Ottoman Empire. You'll explore the town and see Nafpaktos Port with its yachts and lighthouse. Then continue to Galaxidi for a two-night stay and sample local dishes at a seaside restaurant.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Local dishes at a seaside restaurant)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Ganimede, Galaxidi, Epavlis Boutique Galaxidi, Nostos, Galaxidi)
Included Activities
- Discover the site of the great naval Battle of Lepanto in the Venetian town of Nafpaktos
- View Nafpaktos Port with its elegant private yachts, historic lighthouse and statues commemorating Greek national hero Anemogiannis and Spanish writer Miguel de Cervantes
Landmarks Nafpaktos Nafpaktos Port - Day 8
Galaxidi - Delphi - Galaxidi
Walk the Sacred Way of Delphi with a local expert, past temples and the marble Treasury of the Athenians. See the Polygonal Wall with stones still perfectly fitted after thousands of years. Reach the Temple of Apollo where the Oracle breathed mysterious words for 14 centuries, believed to have predicted events tied to the Argonauts and Trojan War. Return to Galaxidi for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Nostos, Galaxidi, Epavlis Boutique Galaxidi), Hotel (Ganimede, Galaxidi, Nostos, Galaxidi, Epavlis Boutique Galaxidi)
Included Activities
- Walk to The Sacred Way at Delphi with your Local Expert, once lined with offertory temples
- See the reconstructed Athenian Treasury and pass the superb Polygonal Wall
- Visit the Temple of Apollo at Delphi where the people would seek divine wisdom from the mysterious Oracle
Landmarks Temple of Apollo Sacred Way of Delphi Treasury of the Athenians Polygonal Wall - Day 9
Galaxidi - Rio-Antirio Bridge - Nemea - Nafplion
Cross the Rio-Antirio bridge, one of Europe's longest, into the Peloponnese. In Nemea have a light lunch and taste the region's wines with a sommelier. Then visit an organic beekeeping facility where a local family focuses on pollinator conservation and sustainable honey production. End the day in Nafplion, the first capital of modern Greece, exploring the Old Town's neoclassical buildings and bougainvillea.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Light lunch in Nemea)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Ippoliti, Nafplio, 3Sixty, Nafplio, Castellano, Nafplio)
Included Activities
- Cross the Rio-Antirio bridge, one of the longest in Europe
- Meet an expert sommelier at a Nemea winery and sample delicious and elegant Greek wines, expertly paired with piquant local cheeses and tasty cured meats
- Meet Anthony and Sophia at their family's organic beekeeping facility in Arcadia, where three generations have tended bees - put on a beekeeper's suit and step into the hives to witness these remarkable pollinators in action, then enjoy a guided tasting of Greek honey
Landmarks Rio-Antirio Bridge Palamidi Fortress - Day 10
Nafplion - Mycenae - Epidaurus - Nafplion
See the ruins of Mycenae with a local expert to explore one of the greatest Mycenaean cities linked to Homer's works. Walk through the Lion Gate, visit the royal beehive tombs, and see the giant Cyclopean stones. Continue to the Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus, one of Greece's best-preserved amphitheatres from the 4th century B.C. Stop at an olive oil grove to learn the process and taste extra virgin oil before heading back to Nafplion.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Ippoliti, Nafplio, 3Sixty, Nafplio, Castellano, Nafplio)
Included Activities
- Walk through the Lion Gate at Mycenae, where Schliemann uncovered golden treasures
- Visit the royal beehive tombs at Mycenae and see the giant Cyclopean stones used to build the city walls
- Visit the Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus, one of the best-preserved amphitheatres in Greece built in the 4th century BC
- Learn about the Sanctuary of Asclepius at Epidaurus, once a sacred healing centre
- Stop at a local olive oil grove to learn about the olive oil making process while tasting extra virgin olive oil, a staple of the Mediterranean diet
Landmarks Mycenae Lion Gate Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus Sanctuary of Asclepius 
- Day 11
Nafplion - Corinth Canal - Heraklion, Crete
Travel to Athens crossing the Corinth Canal engineering feat, then fly to Crete for four nights. In Heraklion take a walking tour with your Travel Director past the Koules fortress, Venetian Loggia, Morosini Fountain, Basilica of St Mark, Church of Agios Titus, Monastery of St Catherine, and Cathedral of Agios Minas. Later try Cretan cuisine with raki, the local drink.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Enjoy the famous Cretan hospitality this evening and join your fellow travellers at a local restaurant for a Cretan feast. Food is a social affair for the locals, to be savoured with good company, served in the middle of the table to taste and share. An array of dishes such as the delectable dakos - a traditional Cretan recipe, with barley rusk, fresh tomato and Cretan cheese mizithra and the famous kaltsounia, a pastry dessert served with honey and cinnamon are carefully prepared for you this evening. Complete your Cretan experience this evening perhaps raising a toast with a glass of tsikoudia or raki, the national drink of the Cretans!)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Megaron, Heraklion)
Included Activities
- Cross the amazing rock-cut channel dividing the Peloponnese from mainland Greece via the Corinth Canal
- Take an internal flight to Crete
- Join your Travel Director in an orientation of the urban capital of the island of Crete - Heraklion, a port city with millennia of history
Landmarks Koules Fortress Venetian Loggia Morosini Fountain Basilica of St Mark Church of Agios Titus Monastery of St Catherine Cathedral of Agios Minas 
- Day 12
Heraklion, Crete
Explore the Minoan Palace of Knossos, the largest surviving Minoan palace and considered the birthplace of Europe's first civilisation. See the Central Court, Throne Room, Grand Staircase, and the fresco of the Prince of the Lilies. Think about the Cretan legend of the Minotaur living in the Labyrinth before Theseus killed it. Then visit the Archaeological Museum of Heraklion with a local expert to see remarkable artifacts from Knossos.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Megaron, Heraklion)
Included Activities
- Enjoy your guided visit to the Palace of Minos at Knossos
- Further your discovery of Crete island and its past on a visit to the Archaeological Museum of Heraklion with a Local Expert
Landmarks Palace of Knossos Archaeological Museum of Heraklion - Day 13
Heraklion - Rethymno - Chania, Crete
Travel to Rethymno, one of Greece's best-preserved medieval towns. Walk through cobbled streets lined with bougainvillea, passing stone arches and courtyards with olive trees. See the 16th-century Venetian fortress overlooking the town with its bastions and ramparts. Check out the quaint lighthouse before heading to Chania for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Samaria, Chania)
Included Activities
- Take a walking tour of Rethymno, one of the best-preserved medieval towns in Greece
- View the 16th-century Venetian fortress built on Paleokastro hill overlooking Rethymno town
Landmarks Rethymno Venetian Fortress 
- Day 14
Chania, Crete
Explore Chania's history with a local expert, walking through the old town and Ottoman district of Splantzia. Pass Splantzia Square with its local cafes and shops, see the Church of Agios Nikolaos, and visit the Jewish district with the Etz Hayyim synagogue, Crete's only functioning synagogue. Stroll along the harbor with its quayside cafes. This afternoon there's an optional Cretan coast cruise (summer departures only), and you'll have dinner at a traditional Cretan restaurant.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Toast the culmination of your travels with dinner in true Greek style at a local restaurant.)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Samaria, Chania)
Included Activities
- Delve into the history of the town of Chania with your Local Expert, visiting the most important monuments of the old town
- Visit the Ottoman district of Splantzia in Chania
- View the Church of Agios Nikolaos in Chania
- Explore the Jewish district in Chania
Optional Activities
- Cruise along the Cretan coast (summer departures only)
Landmarks Splantzia Square Church of Agios Nikolaos Etz Hayyim Synagogue - Day 15
Chania - Athens
After breakfast you'll get transferred to Chania airport for your flight home. You're leaving Greece with memories of ancient sites, Mediterranean scenery, and Greek hospitality.
- Meals
- Breakfast
