Experience the heart and soul of Greece’s mainland on an 8 day expedition ending in a 3-island cruise. Embark on a Greece vacation you will never forget!
This Greece trip package begins in Athens. Upon your arrival, the driver will be waiting for you right outside the Arrivals Hall holding a sign with your name to transfer you to your hotel. Our representative will wait for you in the hotel to welcome you and brief you about your trip. Check in and enjoy free time for relaxation or a stroll through the capital of Greece.
On day 2 of the essential Greece trip package, you will travel through time between the “old” and the “new” Athens. You will marvel at the magnificent ancient ruins of the past and explore the modern architecture of the city. You will have the chance to visit the Acropolis, an exquisite landmark of Athens, exhibiting its glorious history along with the Parthenon, the Propylea, the temple of Athena, Nike, and the Erechtheion. Other equally impressive and historic sites are the Roman Temple of Olympic Zeus and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier which is housed with the Parliament House in Syntagma (Constitution) Square.
Starting from Athens, we drive westwards along the scenic coast until we reach the Corinth Canal to take in its breathtaking views (Short Stop). The Corinth Canal is a junction of international sea transport that serves ships coming from the western Mediterranean and Adriatic en route to the eastern Mediterranean and Black Sea ports. You’ll continue along the coastal road of the Saronic Gulf to Epidaurus.
Olympia is the most celebrated sanctuary of ancient Greece, dedicated to Zeus, the father of the gods, it sprawls over the southwest foot of Mount Kronos, at the confluence of the Alpheios and the Kladeos rivers. Although secluded near the west coast of the Peloponnese, Olympia became the most important religious and athletic center in Greece. Its fame rests upon the Olympic Games, which was held every four years to honor Zeus. You’ll visit this archaeological site and the museum before driving to Rion, the channel to Antirrion, onto the new state of the art suspended bridge, considered to be the longest and most modern in Europe. You will then arrive in Nafpaktos and continue to Delphi for dinner and an overnight stay.
Situated at the foot of Mount Parnassos, within the angle formed by the twin rocks of the Phaedriades, lies the Pan-Hellenic sanctuary of Delphi, the home of the most famous oracle of ancient Greece. Delphi was regarded as the center of the world. According to mythology, it is here that the two eagles sent out by Zeus from the ends of the universe to find the navel of the world met.
Today we will see one of the most amazing places in Greece – Meteora. Meaning ‘suspended in air’ the name Meteora soon came to encompass the entire rock community of the 24 biggest and most important group of monasteries in Greece, after those in Mount Athos. Monks descended the mountains in nets or on retractable wooden ladders up to 40m long to the fertile valleys below. Each community developed its own resources and by the end of the 14th century, the Grand Meteoron emerged as the dominant community. The rock monasteries have been characterized by UNESCO as a unique phenomenon of cultural heritage. After the visit, you’ll begin the drive back to Athens, passing through Thermopylae for a photo stop.
Our point of departure is Piraeus Port.
The driver will be waiting for you in the lobby of the hotel to transfer you to Athens International Airport. We can’t wait to have you again on your next Greece vacation!
You can use this travel itinerary as a starting point for a customized itinerary designed With your travel specialist
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