Itinerary
- Day 1
Athens
You'll arrive in Athens and head to your hotel to get settled. After checking in, there's time to walk around this capital city where ancient history sits alongside modern life. In the evening, you'll join your Travel Director and other travelers for a light meal together.
- Meals
- Dinner (Light meal with Travel Director and travel companions)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Divani Caravel, Radisson Blu Park, Crowne Plaza Athens City Centre)
Optional Activities
- Explore Athens after hotel transfer
- Day 2
Athens
A Local Specialist leads your morning tour through the Acropolis complex, where you'll see the Parthenon and other ancient structures. Next you'll visit the Acropolis Museum to see the antiquities, then check out Hadrian's Arch and the Olympic stadium (site of the 1896 first modern Olympics). The afternoon and evening are yours to wander through Plaka, sit in Syntagma Square, or hunt for the best souvlaki around the city.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Divani Caravel, Radisson Blu Park, Crowne Plaza Athens City Centre)
Included Activities
- Guided morning sightseeing tour of the Acropolis with Local Specialist
- Visit to Acropolis Museum
- See Hadrian's Arch
- Visit to Olympic stadium (first modern Olympics site, 1896)
Optional Activities
- Stroll through the Plaka
- People-watch in Syntagma Square
- Search for local souvlaki
Landmarks Acropolis Parthenon Acropolis Museum Hadrian's Arch Panathenaic Stadium Royal Palace Temple of Zeus Plaka Syntagma Square - Day 3
Athens - Corinth - Mycenae - Epidaurus - Nafplion
You'll leave Athens and cross the Corinth Canal into the Peloponnesian Peninsula. A Local Specialist takes you through ancient Corinth, then on to Mycenae where you'll see the Lion Gate, Beehive Tombs, and what remains of Agamemnon's Royal Palace. After that, head to Epidaurus for the ancient theatre and Sanctuary of Asclepius. By evening you'll reach the charming Venetian town of Nafplion and have dinner at your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Hotel dinner)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Amalia Nafplio)
Included Activities
- Cross the Corinth Canal
- Guided exploration of ancient Corinth with Local Specialist
- Visit to Mycenae including Lion Gate, Beehive Tombs (Treasury of Atreus), and Agamemnon's Royal Palace with Local Specialist
- Visit to Epidaurus ancient theatre and Sanctuary of Asclepius
Landmarks Corinth Canal Ancient Corinth Mycenae Lion Gate Treasury of Atreus (Beehive Tombs) Agamemnon's Royal Palace Epidaurus Theatre Sanctuary of Asclepius - Day 4
Nafplion - Olympia
Today heads through the Arcadian mountains toward Olympia. Along the way, you'll stop at a family-run honey farm to taste thyme honey and learn about traditional beekeeping. Once in Olympia, explore the ancient athletic grounds where the Olympic Games started in 776 BC, walking through temple ruins and the original stadium. The evening is free to explore the village, eat at a taverna, or relax at your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Amalia Olympia)
Included Activities
- Visit to family-run honey farm with tasting of thyme-infused honey and learning about traditional beekeeping (MAKE TRAVEL MATTER Experience)
- Exploration of Olympia archaeological site including stadium, Temple of Zeus, Temple of Hera, and athlete's gymnasium
Optional Activities
- Explore Olympia village center
- Visit local taverna
- Relax at hotel
Landmarks Olympia Stadium of Olympia Temple of Zeus Temple of Hera - Day 5
Olympia - Patras - Delphi
Your morning starts with a Local Specialist at the Olympic site, checking out the museum and temple ruins. Then you'll connect with the Karabelas family at their olive and wine estate for a homecooked meal, traditional dancing, and real Greek hospitality. After that, you'll drive north along the coast to Patras, cross to mainland Greece, and head to Delphi where an interactive cooking lesson is available if you want to try it.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Homecooked meal with Karabelas family)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Amalia Delphi)
Included Activities
- Morning exploration of ancient Olympia with Local Specialist including museum visit and Temple ruins
- Be My Guest experience with Karabelas family at olive and wine estate including homecooked meal and traditional dancing
Optional Activities
- Interactive cooking lesson in Delphi preparing local dishes
Landmarks Ancient Olympia Delphi 
- Day 6
Delphi - Thermopylae - Kalambaka
Walking with your Local Specialist, you'll follow the Sacred Way to Delphi's 4th-century Temple of Apollo and see statues from the Pythian Games. Later you'll travel to Thermopylae where Leonidas and his 300 Spartans made their stand against the Persians, visiting the Leonidas Monument. Then it's through the Thessaly plain (Greece's agricultural heartland) before arriving in Kalambaka by evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Amalia Kalambaka)
Included Activities
- Walk the Sacred Way to Temple of Apollo with Local Specialist
- View Pythian Games athlete statues
- Visit Thermopylae and Leonidas Monument
Landmarks Temple of Apollo Sacred Way Thermopylae Leonidas Monument - Day 7
Kalambaka - Meteora - Athens
You'll visit two of the six Eastern Orthodox monasteries at Meteora, which are UNESCO World Heritage sites clinging to massive rock towers. After exploring, there's a scenic drive back to Athens. In the evening, you'll have a final dinner with your travel group to talk through your experiences across Greece.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Final dinner with travel companions)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Divani Caravel, Radisson Blu Park, Crowne Plaza Athens City Centre)
Included Activities
- Visit two Eastern Orthodox monasteries of Meteora with Local Specialist (UNESCO World Heritage site)
Landmarks Meteora Monasteries - Day 8
Athens to Mykonos
After leaving Athens, you'll board your cruise ship and sail across the Aegean Sea toward Mykonos. That evening you can wander through the island's narrow streets lined with white-washed buildings and colorful bougainvillea flowers.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel (MV Celestyal Discovery)
Included Activities
- Cruise from Athens to Mykonos
Optional Activities
- Explore Mykonos labyrinthine lanes and white-washed cottages
Landmarks Mykonos Windmills of Kato Mili Chora - Day 9
Mykonos - Kusadasi (Ephesus) - Patmos
The ship stops at Kusadasi on the Turkish coast, where you'll explore the ancient city of Ephesus as a complimentary shore experience. You'll walk the Arcadian Way, see the Library of Celsus and Amphitheatre, and visit the House of the Virgin Mary. Later the ship sails to Patmos, where St. John wrote the Book of Revelations, with optional visits to the Cave of the Apocalypse and St. John's Monastery available.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel (MV Celestyal Discovery)
Included Activities
- Shore Experience to ancient Ephesus including Arcadian Way, Library of Celsus, Amphitheatre, and House of the Virgin Mary with Local Specialist
Optional Activities
- Visit Cave of the Apocalypse and St. John's Monastery in Patmos
Landmarks Ephesus Library of Celsus Amphitheatre of Ephesus House of the Virgin Mary Patmos Cave of the Apocalypse St. John's Monastery 
- Day 10
Patmos - Rhodes
You'll arrive at Rhodes, a medieval island with deep historical roots. An optional experience lets you see one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. You can walk through the old town, checking out stone walls, historic gates, and cobblestone streets where medieval knights once walked. Before heading back to the ship, there's time to explore on your own.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel (MV Celestyal Discovery)
Optional Activities
- Optional experience for encounter with one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World
- Explore medieval knight sites, stone walls, gates, and cobblestone lanes of Rhodes capital
Landmarks Rhodes 
- Day 11
Rhodes - Heraklion (Crete) - Santorini
The ship sails to Heraklion on Crete, where you'll explore the Palace of Knossos and learn about Minoan culture. Later you'll reach Santorini, the volcanic island with cliff-top villages. An optional Shore Experience takes you to the village of Oia if you're interested.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel (MV Celestyal Discovery)
Optional Activities
- Visit Palace of Knossos in Heraklion to explore Minoan culture
- Optional Shore Experience to the village of Oia in Santorini
Landmarks Heraklion Palace of Knossos Santorini Oia 
- Day 12
Santorini - Athens
This morning you'll disembark from the cruise ship and transfer to the airport to head home. Take time to reflect on your 12-day journey through ancient Greece, from Athens to the Greek islands.
- Meals
- Breakfast
