Athens Trip Overview
This PRIVATE tour is a great mixed experience of the Mythical Peloponnese, Zakynthos Island, Delphi, and Meteora.
We will first explore Peloponnese’s Unesco sites of Mycenae, Ancient Theater of Epidaurus, Nafplio town, and Ancient Olympia.
A quick ferry ride will take us to the amazing blue of Zakynthos island to explore with or without a boat the famous Navagio.
Next is the “bellybutton” of the world; Delphi with its famous Oracle.
Last destination, the stunning Meteora site to visit two or three amazing monasteries depending on your fitness & timing.
You’ll be enjoying and experiencing places, people, and real Greek life. We plan for you an experience and not a tour for tourists!
Your accommodation will be top class, as long as you don’t book this experience last minute.
Expect this tour to be about food & drink too! You are not limited to a fixed (touristy) menu. Food & drink is included and is a very important part of your experience!
Be prepared for a real Greek experience!
Additional Info
Duration: 5 days
Starts: Athens, Greece
Trip Category: Cultural & Theme Tours >> Cultural Tours
Explore Athens Promoted Experiences
What to Expect When Visiting Athens, Attica, Greece
This PRIVATE tour is a great mixed experience of the Mythical Peloponnese, Zakynthos Island, Delphi, and Meteora.
We will first explore Peloponnese’s Unesco sites of Mycenae, Ancient Theater of Epidaurus, Nafplio town, and Ancient Olympia.
A quick ferry ride will take us to the amazing blue of Zakynthos island to explore with or without a boat the famous Navagio.
Next is the “bellybutton” of the world; Delphi with its famous Oracle.
Last destination, the stunning Meteora site to visit two or three amazing monasteries depending on your fitness & timing.
You’ll be enjoying and experiencing places, people, and real Greek life. We plan for you an experience and not a tour for tourists!
Your accommodation will be top class, as long as you don’t book this experience last minute.
Expect this tour to be about food & drink too! You are not limited to a fixed (touristy) menu. Food & drink is included and is a very important part of your experience!
Be prepared for a real Greek experience!
Itinerary
Day 1: Corinth Canal – Mycenae – Nafplio town – Epidaurus
Stop At: Corinth Canal, Isthmia, Loutraki 201 00 Greece
The Corinth Canal connects the Gulf of Corinth with the Saronic Gulf in the Aegean Sea. It cuts through the narrow Isthmus of Corinth and separates the Peloponnese from the Greek mainland, arguably making the peninsula an island.
Duration: 15 minutes
Stop At: Archaeological Site Mycenae, Mycenae 21200 Greece
The home of King Agamemnon and the Mycenean civilization.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Nafplio, Nafplio, Argolis Region, Peloponnese
One of the most beautiful towns in the area of Argolis (Eastern Peloponnese) as well as one of the most romantic cities all over Greece.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Palamidi Castle, Eikostis Pemptis Martiou, Nafplio 211 00 Greece
Walkthrough the Venetian castle and down the 999 steps that take you to the old Nafplio town.
Duration: 40 minutes
Stop At: The Great Theatre of Epidaurus, Ethniki Odos Isthmou Archaias Epidavrou, Epidavros 210 52 Greece
The oldest theater in the world with the amazing acoustics.
Duration: 2 hours
Meals included:
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Overnight Olympia ready to explore the site in the morning. Be prepared for an alternative (better!) overnight location!
Day 2: Ancient Olympia
Stop At: Archaeological Site of Olympia, Archea Olympia, Olympia 27065 Greece
Olympia hosted the original Olympic Games, founded in the 8th century B.C. Its extensive ruins include athletic training areas, a stadium and temples dedicated to the gods Hera and Zeus.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Archaeological Museum of Olympia, Archaia Olympia, Olympia 27 065 Greece
You can also visit the world-famous museum and get the chance to see some unbelievable sculptures such as the sculpted decoration of the marble temple of Zeus, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and the famous Hermes carved by the ancient Greek sculptor Praxiteles.
Duration: 40 minutes
Stop At: Zakynthos Town, Zakynthos Town, Zakynthos, Ionian Islands
After exploring the Olympia site, we will head to Kyllini Port to take the ferry departing at in mod-afternoon to reach Zakynthos port after a 1-hour boat ride. After check-in at your hotel, you have the rest of the day at your leisure. You can explore the center of Zakynthos and have dinner at a traditional tavern.
Duration: 3 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Overnight at Zakynthos Island.
Day 3: Zakynthos Island – Boat tour to Navagio or Keri Caves
Stop At: Zakynthos, Zakynthos, Ionian Islands
You will board the boat to visit the famous Navagio beach and the Blue Caves on the way back. At both locations, you will have the option of a swim. At Navagio you will spend about 45 minutes exploring and enjoy the beach whereas at the Blue Caves it will only be a quick stop for another optional swim.
Depending on the weather, the boat tour of Navagio can be replaced by a tour of the south side of Zakynthos which is equally amazing with Marathonisi and swimming with the turtles.
OPTION: At an extra cost we can arrange for a totally private boat tour ranging from 100-500 Euros depending on the boat size.
Duration: 3 hours
Stop At: Navagio, Greece
We will also explore the island by a car while driving towards the boat pick-up location and also visiting (after the boat tour) and photographing Navagio from above.
Duration: 4 hours
Stop At: Zakinthos, Greece
EXPLORING OPTIONS: The above itinerary is very flexible and you have several alternatives you can discuss in advance:
a. Exploring by car the island from the comfort of our vehicle enjoying the coastline views OR
b. Joining a 2-3 hour boat tour to the north or the south side of the island and then exploring by our car for the rest of the day OR
c. Go for TWO boat tours that will cover both the north and the south side coastline of Zakynthos island
Duration: 8 hours
Stop At: Zakynthos, Zakynthos, Ionian Islands
OPTION: An interesting alternative to the boat tour for you to consider is to do a boat tour privately (with a captain) and a smaller/faster boat which will have an additional cost of 120-250 Euros or even more depending on the number of people, time on the boat and type of boat.
Duration: 3 hours
Stop At: Lithakia 290 92, Greece
Lunch and drinks are always included and part of the experience.
Duration: 1 hour
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Overnight at Zakynthos Island.
Day 4: Zakynthos Island – Delphi – Meteora
Stop At: Delphi Archaeological Museum, Ethniki Odos Amfissas – Livadias, Delphi 330 54 Greece
The Archaeological Museum of Delphi, one of the most important in Greece, exhibits the history of the Delphic sanctuary with the famous ancient Greek oracle. Its rich collections are comprised primarily of architectural sculpture, statues and minor objects donated to the sanctuary. These reflect its religious, political and artistic activities from its early years, in the eighth century BC to its decline in Late Antiquity.
Duration: 45 minutes
Stop At: Athena Pronaia Temple, Delphi 330 54, Greece
OPTIONAL: The first photo you see when you google “Delphi” but still a place that most tourists miss out! We don’t!
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Hani of Gravia, Gravia 330 57 Greece
A totally of the beaten path location for our lunch with authentic choices, treat of your driver/tour leader
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Meteora, Kastraki, Kalambaka 422 00 Greece
Optional: If there are no unexpected delays, and although not part of the normal itinerary, we shall make the first visit to the amazing monasteries’ area to get a feeling of the amazing landscape with the sun setting down. Time permitting it may be possible to visit St Stephan’s monastery.
Totally different lighting than the morning visit to follow the next day!
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Nafpaktos Old Port, Naupactus 30300 Greece
FREE OPTION: Nafpaktos is a beautiful seaside small town, where we will have the option to stress our legs and enjoy a coffee next to the water and the Venetian Castle, before arriving to Delphi.
Duration: 20 minutes
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Overnight near Meteora.
Day 5: Meteora (visit of 2-3 monasteries) & Thermopylae Battlefield
Stop At: Great Meteoron Monastery, Eparhiacos dromos Meteoron, Kalambaka 42200 Greece
We shall be visiting 2-3 of the monasteries that are open on the day and depending on your fitness levels & available time.
The gigantic rocks of Meteora dominate imposingly in Kalampaka between mountains Koziakas and Antichasion. This masterpiece of nature reveals all its glory for centuries as a unique geological phenomenon in beauty and an important monument of Orthodoxy.
The Great Meteoron Monastery, built on an imposing rock, is the oldest, the biggest, and the most important among the monasteries of Meteora which are preserved today.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Varlaam Monastery, Kalambaka Greece
In 1350 a daring ascetic named Varlaam ascended to the rock. The monastery was named after him. He built three churches, a small cell and a water tank. After his death the rock remained abandoned for about 200 years until 1517 when the two priest-monks Theophanes and Nektarios Apsarades started to construct the first buildings from the beginning.
Duration: 45 minutes
Stop At: Holy Trinity Monastery (Agia Triada), Kalambaka Greece
According to historical sources Holy Trinity must have been built between 1458 and 1476. Our favorite.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Battlefield of Thermopylae, Thermopylae Greece
The Battle of Thermopylae was fought between an alliance of Greek city-states, led by King Leonidas of Sparta, and the Persian Empire of Xerxes I over the course of three days, in 480 BC.
Duration: 30 minutes
Pass By: Syntagma, Syntagma, Athens, Attica
… back to Athens
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: We return to Athens and drop you off at your hotel. Please let us know of your location in advance.