Athens Trip Overview
The tour includes visits to 5 spectacular UNESCO World Heritage Sites, set in enchantingly beautiful countryside. You will travel along immensely scenic routes on winding country roads; you will marvel at the exhibits in museums containing world-class treasures; you will have the opportunity to feast on great food and abundant wine; you will experience first-hand the world renowned Greek hospitality (filoxenia). Above all, you will discover a country of great variety and individuality, an element rarely commented on, which will make you want you to return time after time!
Additional Info
Duration: 6 days
Starts: Athens, Greece
Trip Category: Cultural & Theme Tours >> Cultural Tours
Explore Athens Promoted Experiences
What to Expect When Visiting Athens, Attica, Greece
The tour includes visits to 5 spectacular UNESCO World Heritage Sites, set in enchantingly beautiful countryside. You will travel along immensely scenic routes on winding country roads; you will marvel at the exhibits in museums containing world-class treasures; you will have the opportunity to feast on great food and abundant wine; you will experience first-hand the world renowned Greek hospitality (filoxenia). Above all, you will discover a country of great variety and individuality, an element rarely commented on, which will make you want you to return time after time!
Itinerary
Day 1: Athens-Nafplion
Stop At: Corinth Canal, Isthmia, Loutraki 201 00 Greece
Starting from Athens, the first stop is at the Corinth Isthmus, the canal that separates mainland Greece from the Peloponnese region. The canal was constructed in the late 19th century and was a major technical achievement, as it saved commercial ships some 700-kilometre (430 miles) of journey around the Peloponnese.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Archaeological Site Mycenae, Mycenae 21200 Greece
The tour then takes us to the mythical Bronze Age citadel of King Agamemnon in Mycenae, with its massive walls and vaulted tombs. Designated in 1999 as a World Heritage Site on UNESCO’s list, it is one of the most important archeological sites in the country. Mycenae was one of the major centres of Greek civilization, a military stronghold which dominated much of southern Greece, including Crete, the Cyclades and parts of southwest Anatolia. The period of Greek history from about 1600 BC to about 1100 BC is called Mycenaean in reference to Mycenae. At its peak in 1350 BC, the citadel and lower town had a population of 30,000. It was the kingdom of the much tormented Atreides family. Its most well known members – Agamemnon, Iphigenia, Clytemnestra, Aegisthus, Orestes and Electra – have been the protagonists in plays by Aeschylus, Sophocles and Euripides.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Nemea, Nemea, Corinthia Region, Peloponnese
After the visit in Mycenae, we propose a visit to one of the renowned wineries of the region of Nemea for a tasting session. The appellation of Nemea is the most important red wine Controlled Designation of Origin area of southern Greece and arguably of all of Greece. Also Nemea is the biggest vineyard of all Balkan territory. In this region, the indigenous Greek Agiorgitiko grape variety is grown. It produces wines famous for their deep red color, complex aroma and long, velvety palate. The cost of the wine tasting is not included in the price.
Duration: 1 hour
No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.
Day 2: Nafplion-Dimitsana
Stop At: Archaeological Museum of Nauplion, Syntagma Square Nafpliou – Epidavrou, Nafplio 211 00 Greece
Nafplion (or Nauplion) was the first capital of liberated Greece, when the war of independence against the Ottoman rule ended. This charming town with its cobbled-stone lanes, shaded by ever blooming bougainvilleas, and beautifully restored 19th century houses and Byzantine churches, has a long and turbulent history. We will visit two of its main attractions, the one being the small but superb archaeological museum, which houses many interesting and rare exhibits, including one of the oldest samples of full body armor, the Dendra panoply.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Stop At: Palamidi Castle, Eikostis Pemptis Martiou, Nafplio 211 00 Greece
There is no better spot to enjoy a panoramic view of the town, the Argolic gulf and, on a clear day, even far beyond, than the Palamidi castle. Built by the Venetians in the 17th century, it has been the stage of many battles but has been wonderfully restored and is carefully maintained.
Duration: 40 minutes
Stop At: The Great Theatre of Epidaurus, Ethniki Odos Isthmou Archaias Epidavrou, Epidavros 210 52 Greece
We then proceed to the Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus, renowned for its natural acoustics. Probably the most famous of the ancient Greek theaters, it can sit up to 14,000 spectators. Built at the end of a sanctuary dedicated to Asclepius, the ancient Greek God of medicine, the theatre hosted music, singing and dramatic games that were included in the worship of the god. Perfect with regard to acoustics and aesthetics, the theater comes alive every summer for 2 months with performances of ancient Greek drama.
Duration: 1 hour
No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.
Day 3: Dimitsana-Olympia
Stop At: Offshore Hydropower Museum, Kefalari Ai-Yianni, Dimitsana 220 07 Greece
Dimitsana’s Water Power Museum awaits us for a guided tour of how the power of the Loussios River was harnessed through time.
Duration: 40 minutes
Stop At: Moni Agiou Ioanni Prodromou, Stemnitsa Greece
Situated inside the Loussios Gorge, the 16th century Prodromou Monastery offers a chance for an idyllic walk along the river bank. It is a beautiful hike, suitable also for amateurs, amidst unspoiled nature.
Duration: 2 hours
No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.
Day 4: Olympia-Delphi
Stop At: Archaeological Site of Olympia, Archea Olympia, Olympia 27065 Greece
We are at Ancient Olympia, at the place that Zeus selected to host the Olympic Games, at the site of the actual stadium where the Olympic Games were held every four years from the 8th century BC until the 4th AD. A detailed visit of the expansive site is on the program.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Stop At: Archaeological Museum of Olympia, Archaia Olympia, Olympia 27 065 Greece
Within a short distance from the site, stands the superb archeological museum of Ancient Olympia, where one can admire some of the most iconic pieces of art of all times: the statue of Hermes by Praxiteles, the marble pediments from the temple of Zeus and the collection of Geometric and Archaic bronze votive offerings to Zeus, the richest collection of its kind in the world.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Stop At: Nafpaktos Old Port, Naupactus 30300 Greece
Next stop is charming Nafpaktos and its 15th century Venetian fortress, after crossing over from Peloponnese via the Charilaos Trikoupis bridge, a modern marvel of engineering.
Duration: 40 minutes
No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.
Day 5: Delphi-Kalampaka
Stop At: Temple of Apollo, Delphi Greece
This day of the tour delves into the rich past of Delphi, the city that owes its legend to the famous Oracle and its influence on most major events of ancient Greek history. We visit the site, with the beautiful temple of Apollon, the treasuries and the theater, as well as the Tholos.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Stop At: Delphi Archaeological Museum, Ethniki Odos Amfissas – Livadias, Delphi 330 54 Greece
Few exhibits are as captivating as the magnificent bronze charioteer housed in the museum. Yet, there are more exhibits to marvel: gold and ivory statues, bronze cauldrons and tripods, both very particular objects for the cult of Apollo and two monumental archaic kouroi (statues of young men),
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.
Day 6: Kalampaka-Athens
Stop At: Meteora, Kastraki, Kalambaka 422 00 Greece
Kalabaka is the gateway to the UNESCO World Heritage site of Meteora, an impressive field of rock formations whose name literally translates to “hovering”. Once remote and almost inaccessible, they offered the perfect location for the development of the second biggest monastic community in Greece. Today there are still six Eastern Orthodox Christian monasteries in operation, nested on top of the rocks since Byzantine times.
Duration: 2 hours
No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.
