Description

Day 1

 

We start our tour from Athens driving towards Corinth having on our left the Saronic Gulf and the island of Salamis, where in 480 BC the famous battle of Salamis took place.                                                                               

After about an hour, we make our first stop at the Corinth Canal. There, we will admire and take pictures of the magnificent Canal, which connects the Saronic with the Corinthian Gulf. 

Continuing our tour, and not far away, lies ancient Corinth, the richest city of ancient Greece and the only one that had two ports. The city is known for the visit and stay of Apostle Paul in it.

At the archaeological site, you will see the Temple of Apollo, the Pirene and Glafki fountains, the Ancient Agora and the location called “Vima” (Step) where the Apostle Paul was led to be tried by the Roman Proconsul Gallio, who refused to prosecute him. You will also see the Roman Odeon and the Ancient Theatre. The museum is situated in the same location.

Of course, we will continue our drive to the Acrocorinth rock, where the fortress by the same name stands at an altitude of 575 meters above the ancient city.

You will have enough time to visit and explore the beautiful fortress.

Upon continuing your visit, you will have lunch in a local restaurant.

After your lunch we continue driving southwest and after a 30 minutes drive through villages and fields where grapes and olive trees are cultivated, we reach the ancient city of Mycenae.

The city of Mycenae was the kingdom of the legendary King Agamemnon, whom Homer has praised. Mycenae is famous for its Mycenaean civilization, which lasted from 1,600 to 1,100 BC. At the Acropolis of Mycenae, you will admire the Cyclopean Walls and cross the impressive Lion Gate. A little further, the tomb of Agamemnon, stand impressive, majestic, which is nothing less than this great King deserved. The museum is situated in the same location 

Leaving Mycenae behind us and after approximately 30 minutes, we reach the town of Nafplion . 

Nafplion is the capital of the Argolis prefecture. In the 19th century, it was the first official capital of Greece (from 1828 to 1834), after the liberation of the country from Ottoman rule.

The old city has been given the status of a “traditional settlement” by the Greek state. It is full of historic buildings and ideal for walks through its narrow, picturesque alleys.

We will overnight at Nafplion so at the evening you will have plenty time to explore the old city and walk through the picturesque alleys. 

 

Day 2

 

We will start our second day, heading east to Epidaurus. We will first visit the archeological site of the Asklepieion of Epidaurus.

Epidaurus was considered to be the home of the Greek god of medicine Asclepius. It was also the most important therapeutic center of antiquity. There you will admire the Asklepieion (Sanctuary of Asclepius), the Abaton, the Tholos (circular building), the Ancient Stadium and the Theatre of Epidaurus, famous for its perfect acoustics, where performances are still given today.

The museum is situated in the same location.

After completing our visit to this mystifying place, we will head east, where at a distance of 15 kilometers, is the ancient city of Epidaurus, which is now called Old Epidaurus. You will see the small theater of the city as well as Mycenaean tombs.

Not far from this point, is the submerged city of ancient Epidaurus, just a few meters from the coast and at a depth of just one to one and a half meters. The beach is free for the public and you can, if you wish, swim in a magical place that is unknown to the general public and admire part of the sunken state, using a sea mask.

Lunch at a traditional restaurant will follow and then return to Nafplio.

After a small rest, your tour driver will take you to the Palamidi Castle which dominates over the city of Nafplio and is maintained in perfect condition.

You have enough free time in the afternoon, as we will be spending the night in Nafplio.

 

Day 3     

 

After a good breakfast, we will start our day, heading for Sparta, where we will arrive after a journey of approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes.

You will visit the small, archaeological site, and afterwards, our tour will continue towards the castle-town of Mystras.

Mystras, also known as “Myzithras” was founded in 1248 by William II of Villehardouin, ruler of the Frankish Principality of Achaea. In 1259, William II is captured by the Byzantines at the Battle of Pelagonia and three years later the castle surrenders to the Byzantines and specifically Michael VIII Palaiologos. In the mid-14th century, Mystras became the capital of the Byzantine Peloponnese. In the area, you can admire numerous Byzantine churches, the palace of Palaiologos and many more.                                                    

After your visit, you will have lunch at a local restaurant.

After a good lunch, we depart for Monemvasia. 

Monemvasia is a famous fortified town on southwestern Peloponnese. It is built on limestone rock and has a length of one and a half kilometers, a maximum width of 600 meters and a height of 195 meters. It is linked to the mainland by a 200-meter short causeway, the shape of which resembles a human neck. Monemvasia was founded in the 6th century AD, after Sparta residents were relocated there. Its strategic position, the power of its fleet and the alliance with the Byzantine emperors, turned Monemvasia into a famous and powerful city. In its long history story, after a brief papal occupation, it was occupied by Venetians. Then, it fell under Ottoman rule, until its liberation in 1821.

You will have enough time to visit the fortified town and wander into this amazing fortress which is full of life until today.

We will overnight in Monemvasia        

 

Day 4

 

We start our 4rth day heading northeast.

After two hours and 30 minutes, we will reach the town of Ancient Messene.                    

The ancient city of Messene was founded in 370 or 369 BC by the Theban general Epaminondas, after his victory over the Spartans. Here, you can admire the imposing city wall and walk through the Arcadian Gate.

In this incredibly beautiful ancient site, you can admire the ancient theater, the Ekklesiasterion (or Odeon), the Arsinoe fountain, the Asklepieion, the ancient stadium and many more. The small museum is situated just a few meters away.

Leaving enchanted by Ancient Messene, you’ll wonder why this awesome location is not getting the recognition and the visitors it deserves!   

You will have lunch in a local restaurant. 

Leaving Ancient Messene behind us, we head north.

After 1 hour and 30 minutes, we will reach Ancient Olympia, where we will stay overnight.      

 

Day 5    

 

In the morning, you will visit Ancient Olympia.

The historic and famous city of Ancient Olympia is located on the west side of the Peloponnese. It is, of course, the city which gave birth to the Olympic Games in 776 BC.

At the archaeological site, you will admire the Temple of Zeus, the Temple of Hera (Heraion), the Palaestra, the Gymnasium, the Ancient Stadium, the Zanes, the workshop of the famous sculptor Phidias, the circular Philippeion and many more . The museum is situated in the same location, where, among many exhibits, you will see the famous statue of Hermes of Praxiteles. The Museum of the Olympic Games is situated just a few meters away.  

Finishing our visit and heading towards the north, we will arrive at Rio, where we have two options, depending on the kind of experience you want to live.

A) We can cross the famous and impressive Rio – Antirrio Bridge, which boasts a length of 2,580 meters, state-of-the-art technology and incredible resistance to weather conditions.

B) We can reach Antirrio, onboard a small boat which moves parallel to the bridge and will give us the chance to take many pictures.

After Antirrio, we will move northeast and reach the city of Nafpaktos. This is one of the most ancient Greek cities and is related to important historical events, such as the battle of Lepanto, between the great alliance of Spain, Venice, Genoa, the Duchy of Tuscany and the Papal States (called Lega Santa) against the Ottoman Empire.

                                                                                                                                 

There you will have the chance to walk along the picturesque harbor and dine in a traditional restaurant.                     

Leaving Nafpaktos behind us, we will move east, passing by beautiful coastal cities like Galaxidi and Itea. We will get to Delphi in the afternoon and you will check in at your hotel.

After some rest, your driver will take you to the picturesque village of Arachova, where you will have the opportunity to make a pleasant walk admiring the stone buildings.

You can dine either in Arachova or at a traditional restaurant in Delphi.

 

Day 6

 

After breakfast, we start our day by visiting the archaeological site of Delphi.

At the archaeological site, you will admire the Temple of Apollo, the Sanctuary of Athena Pronaia, the Roman Agora, the Athenian Treasury, the Ancient Theatre, the Stadium and many more.

The amazing museum is situated in the same location. A few meters away, one can see the famous Castalia Spring and the Ancient Gymnasium.

After finishing our visit to Delphi, and following lunch, we will head towards Thermopylae.

This is the location where the Spartan warrior Leonidas told Persians the famous phrase "Molon Labe" which means "come and get them."

There, we will photograph the monuments of Leonidas and the Thespians and will have the opportunity to visit the Center for Historical Awareness of Thermopylae .

Then, after leaving behind Thermopylae, and passing the towns of Lamia, Karditsa and Trikala we will reach the area of Kalabaka, in Meteora, where you will check in at your hotel.

After a few hours rest, you will make your first walk through the towering cliffs and enjoy an amazing sunset.

Then, you can dine in a traditional restaurant and return to your hotel.

 

Day 7

After breakfast, we start our tour around the Meteora rocks and the historic monasteries. The location and the natural environment will leave you breathless

Meteora is located on the northwestern border of the Thessalian plain. It is a large cluster of dark rocks with a maximum height of 530 meters. This strange and unique landscape was created by nature about 30 million years ago. This wild and inaccessible place attracted Christian hermits as early as the 10th and 11th centuries, with official operation of the monasteries beginning in the 14th century. At their peak, there were about 24 monasteries in operation. However, today only 6 of them remain active.

The area has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

You will have time to visit three of the most important monasteries. Finally, you will make all the necessary stops to enjoy the scenery and take hundreds of photos. After completing your tour, you will dine at a local restaurant, tasting excellent Greek cuisine.

After completing your tour and finishing your lunch we will drive north east.

Our next destination is the small town of Edessa which located in central Macedonia.

The city is famous because of its waterfalls.

We will stay overnight at Edessa so you will have the opportunity to walk the town, admire the wonderful waterfalls and make a lot of photos beside them.

 

Day 8

 

After your breakfast we will start our day by visiting the Vergina  (the site of ancient Aigai), the first capital of Macedonia.

There, we will admire the graves of the ancient Macedonians, and especially the tomb of Philip II of Macedon, the father of Alexander the Great.

The view of the entrance to the grave is breathtaking, while the exhibits, made of gold, located in the same place, will leave you speechless!

Very close nearby, the palace of Philip is situated, where archaeological works are carried out. Nevertheless, you will still enjoy a satisfactory tour of the area.

Leaving Vergina behind us, we will head north, and after 50 minutes we will reach ancient Pella, which was the second capital of Macedonia.

Ancient Pella was founded by Archelaus I of Macedon (413-399 BC) and had its greatest prosperity during the reign of Philip II (360-336 BC). There, we will visit the archaeological site with its beautiful mosaics, as well as the archaeological museum, which is amazing and rich in exhibits. 

After your visit, you will have lunch at a local restaurant.

After your lunch we head northeast to the city of Thessaloniki, where we will arrive after a journey of approximately 50 minutes.

Arriving in the city, we will check in at our accommodation.  

At evening you will have plenty time to walk on the coastal road and admire the white tower.

You can dine at the location of Ladadika which is famous for its nightlife

  

Day 9

 

After a good breakfast we will start the tour of Thessaloniki.

Thessaloniki has many points of interest, such as the White Tower, the Archaeological Museum, the Roman Forum, the Rotunda, The Arch of Galerius (known as “Kamara”), the church of Agios Dimitrios with its underground catacombs, etc.

We will also go to visit the north part of the city and the castle Heptapyrgion, also popularly known by its Ottoman Turkish name Yedi Kule .

After completing the city tour and enjoying a delicious meal, we will leave the city behind us and head south. After about an hour, we will reach the foothills of Olympus.

According to mythology, the 12 gods of Olympus lived here: Zeus, Hera, Hestia, Demeter, Poseidon, Athena, Apollo, Artemis, Hermes, Ares, Aphrodite and Hephaestus.

We will check in at our accommodation, located in the beautiful village of Litochoro.

In the evening you can explore the picturesque village and dine at a local restaurant.

Day 10

 

After breakfast, we will visit the archaeological site and the museum of Dion.    

The archaeological site is enormous in size and literally nestled in the green of the trees.

You will see the ruins of the old sacred city of Macedonians, the Roman theater, the temple of Isis, the public baths and the villa of Dionysus.                                  

In the museum, there is a prominent position for the “Hydraulis of Dion”, which is considered to be the oldest keyboard instrument in the world. 

After the visit, we will take the national road to Athens.                                                                                                                                     

Our next stop will be at a seaside small town of Kamena Vourla where you will have lunch and rest.

Then we will take the road back to Athens very satisfied of our amazing tour.