Description

Day 1

We start our tour, driving on the Athens - Corinth National Road, 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. Not far from the Corinth Canal, lies Ancient Corinth, which is our next stop. Ancient Corinth was the richest city of Ancient Greece and the only one that had two ports. It is also known for the visit, stay and teaching of Apostle Paul.       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.

We leave Ancient Corinth behind us and after a journey of two and a half hours, we reach the town of 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 .

Olympia is also the location of our overnight stay.

Day 2

We will start our day, quite early in the morning, at about 08:00.                                                                                                

The journey we have to make is quite long and requires a stop. After we start and cross through the stunning Rio–Antirrio Bridge that joins Peloponnese with Western and Northern Greece, we arrive in the small town of Nafpaktos, which has been declared a traditional settlement.                                                                                                                              

Nafpaktos is a historic city known for the Battle of Lepanto (as the city was then known). The battle, which is known to Western historians as the Naval Battle of Lepanto, was very important, as the European powers intercepted the naval threat of the Ottomans.                                                                                                                                                                                                     

In Nafpaktos, we will see the old port city and have a chance to enjoy a cup of coffee.                                                                              

We continue and arrive in the city of Delphi at early noon, where you will dine in an amazing restaurant with a breathtaking view.                                                                                                                                                                                                        

After your meal, you will visit Delphi, the site which was considered by the ancient Greeks the center of the Earth, and also the location of the most important Oracle of ancient times.

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.

Leaving Delphi behind us, we depart for the magical location of Meteora, where we will have our second overnight stay.

Day 3

After a good breakfast, we depart for our tour of the monasteries and the amazing Meteora rocks.                                         

The landscapes and the natural environment, as well as the sight of the monasteries on the tops of the rocks, are beyond words!    

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.                                                                                                                                                                                                 

We will go to the best locations; take fantastic pictures and we will visit 3 monasteries.   

Later, we can have lunch in Kalambaka.                                                                                                                                                         

After lunch we leave behind us the Meteora phenomenon and head northeast to the city of Thessaloniki, where we will arrive after a journey of approximately 2 hours and 50 minutes.                                                                                                               

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

If you have the mood, you can walk the city and you can have dinner at the famous area of Ladadika .

Day 4

We will start our day, visiting points of exceptional 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. You will also have the opportunity to walk and explore the city. including the Castle of Thessaloniki, called The Heptapyrgion, also popularly known by its Ottoman Turkish name Yedi Kule.

We will have lunch at a local restaurant and in the afternoon, after we finish our tour, we will leave the city and head south.

After about one hour we will reach the foothills of Olympus and check in at our accommodation in the village of Litochoro.

At evening you can walk, explore the village and dine in a local restaurant

Day 5

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 Thermopylae where you will see the statue of Leonidas and the place where the famous Battle of Thermopylae was fought: 300 brave Spartans with their allies, 700 Thespians, against the huge Persian army.

In the afternoon we will return to Athens, having completed our wonderful tour.