11 Day Classical Greece Tour

• Day 1: 

  Arrival in Athens
  This vibrant metropolis pulses with 5,000 years of history, from its Neolithic origins to its golden age when Athenian values shaped Western civilization. In 1834, Athens became the capital of modern Greece, transforming into an attractive metropolis that seamlessly blends archaeological treasures with contemporary European energy.
  
  Tonight we gather with fellow travellers for our first evening meal, beginning our shared journey through the cradle of democracy and philosophy.
  
  Overnight in Athens.

   

  Included Meal(s): Dinner, if required
• Day 2: 

  Athens: City Touring
  Today we enjoy a guided tour of Athens, the heart and soul of Greece.* A large part of the town's historic centre has been converted into a 3-kilometre pedestrian zone (one of the largest in Europe), leading to the major archaeological sites, reconstructing -- to a large degree -- the ancient landscape, thus allowing us to avoid the city's horrendous traffic. As such, much/most of our tour today will be conducted ON FOOT at a leisurely pace.
  
  We start at the Acropolis (with hopes to beat the heat/crowds), near the site of the Dionysos Theatre. Constructed in the 6th century BC, it is one of the world's oldest theatres and the place where the great works of Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides and Aristophanes were first performed. We will also see a more recent theatre, the Odeon of Herod Atticus from the second century AD, which is still used for concerts and performances.
  
  Ascending to the top of the Acropolis, we will see magnificent buildings dating from the 5th century BC, the Golden Age of Athens. On the highest point on the Acropolis is the Parthenon, often considered the finest monument to Greek civilization. The temple was dedicated to Athena "Parthenos," the virgin and patron goddess of the city.
  
  After our Acropolis tour, we'll descend by foot and enter the Ancient Agora located adjacent to the Plaka, the old town of Athens. Among the numerous sights in this archaeological park are the well-preserved Temple of Hephaistos and the landmark Roman era Tower of the Winds.
  
  Our guided tour ends with a guided visit of the Acropolis Museum, located at the foot of the Acropolis. The museum was built to house every artifact found on the rock, from the Greek Bronze Age to Roman and Byzantine Greece; nearly 4,000 objects are exhibited over an area of 14,000 square metres. After our tour you are free to wander and explore on your own or make your way back to the hotel with your Tour Leader's assistance.
  
  * The exact order of our sightseeing in Athens may be altered by your Tour Leader depending on several variables and their judgement on how best to run today's tour. Please note that our time in Athens may be managed by a local guide (not an AA Tour Leader) for groups of 6 or less.
  
  Overnight in Athens.

   

  Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Dinner
• Day 3: 

  Athens - Mycenae & Epidaurus - Nafplio (Nauplia)
  This morning we board our coach toward Mycenae, where massive stone fortifications crown a triangular hilltop between two dramatic gorges. Here stood the most powerful kingdom in Greece for 400 years (1600-1200 BC), its rulers building with enormous unworked stones in a style that awed even the ancient Greeks.
  
  We enter through the famous Lion Gate, constructed in the 13th century BC, and explore the Great Court where legend claims Agamemnon met his tragic end. The Mycenaeans' mastery of this cyclopean architecture influenced fortifications across the ancient world.
  
  Next we travel to Epidaurus, sanctuary of Asklepios, the healing god. These ancient "health farms" combined medicine with worship, drawing pilgrims seeking cures from across the Mediterranean. This prestigious centre flourished in the Classical period, receiving splendid 4th-century BC buildings. Epidaurus gained prominence when Athens adopted the cult in 420 BC, with tragedian Sophocles serving as its priest.
  
  We then continue toward the charming seaside town of Nafplio.
  
  Overnight in Nafplio

   

  Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Dinner
• Day 4: 

  Nafplio - Mystras - Monemvasia
  We take some time this morning to stroll through the seaside town of Nafplio, learning about its importance in early 19th century Greek history. Greece won independence from the Ottomans in slow stages throughout the 19th and into the 20th centuries. During the earliest years of the new republic, Nafplio served as the first Greek capital, where Ioannis Kapodistrias, the first head of state, attempted to unite the diverse factions struggling for independence. The Great Powers of Britain, France and Germany eventually forced Greece to become a kingdom, choosing German prince Otto of Bavaria as ruler. His statue stands on a street in this seaside city.
  
  Later today we travel south, stopping at Mystras, a Frankish-built Byzantine fortress town dating from the 13th century AD, which served as the Byzantine capital of the Morea as the Peloponnese was known. During the rule of the despots, while the empire declined elsewhere, Mystra experienced a renaissance, but then declined under Turkish rule. It was captured by the Venetians in 1687 and thrived once again with a flourishing silk industry and a population of 40,000. It was recaptured by the Turks in 1715, and from then on declined steadily. It was burned by the Russians in 1770, the Albanians in 1780 and Ibrahim Pasha in 1825. At Independence it was virtually abandoned and in ruins, though since the 1950s much restoration work has taken place.
  
  We then head southward toward Cape Maleas. This isolated peninsula, located off the east coast of the Peloponnese, is home to Monemvasia, often called the Gibraltar of the East. Accessible only by a long causeway, the town is an enormous and ancient fortress.
  
  NOTE: Mystras is built on a mountainside, which means exploring it involves hills and stairs. If you have concerns, please consult with your Tour Leader who will be familiar with your abilities at this point.
  
  Overnight in Monemvasia.

   

  Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Dinner
• Day 5: 

  Monemvasia Touring & Free Time
  This morning we have an introduction to the medieval town of Monemvasia, perched dramatically on a rocky peninsula. As we wander through the cobblestone streets, the blend of Byzantine, Frankish, and Ottoman influences becomes evident in the architecture and layout.
  
  Founded in the 6th century when a massive earthquake separated the rock from the mainland, Monemvasia became a vital maritime stronghold. The Byzantines fortified it against Arab raids, and later it served as an important commercial port linking Constantinople with the western Mediterranean. Venetians, Turks, and Greeks all fought for control of this strategic fortress.
  
  The fortified lower town retains its medieval character, with narrow lanes winding between stone houses built directly into the cliff face. We visit several historic churches, including the 13th century Elkomenos Christos Cathedral, and explore the remains of the upper fortress which crowns the summit 300 metres above the sea.
  
  With free time in the afternoon, you can explore at your own pace, perhaps climbing to the upper town for views across the peninsula, or relaxing in one of the cafes tucked into the ancient streets.
  
  Overnight Monemvasia.

   

  Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Dinner
• Day 6: 

  Monemvasia - Nestor's Palace - Mani Peninsula
  This morning we travel in a westerly direction to the southernmost peninsula of Greece, known simply as The Mani. We will enjoy a driving tour down this rugged finger of land towards Cape Tenaro, the mythical entrance to the underworld. While on the Mani Peninsula, we will visit the amazing cave systems at Pyrgos Dhirou and learn why this region was often overlooked by invaders. The Dorians never made it this far south, and the Romans passed it by as unimportant. The region did not even accept Christianity until the 9th century AD. Later the Venetians and French, and even the Russians, left this area alone. Even the Turks left the Maniots to themselves, reckoning that they would eventually do themselves in with the violent blood feuds they fought among themselves. Instead, in 1821, the feuding tribes united, rebelled against the Ottomans, and initiated the Greek Wars of Independence which eventually lead to the formation of the modern Greek state.
  
  We will overnight near the village of Oitylou on the Mani Peninsula.
  
  Overnight near Oitylou.

   

  Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Dinner
• Day 7: 

  Mani - Olympia Touring
  Today we drive along the west coast of the Peloponnese toward Ancient Olympia. En route, we stop at the Palace of King Nestor, an archaeological site nestled in the hills above Navarino Bay. This Mycenaean palace dates to the 13th century BC and is said to be the home of King Nestor, the wise ruler immortalized in Homer's Odyssey. The recently excavated ruins reveal a sophisticated Bronze Age palace with remnants of frescoes, storage rooms, and a central megaron where the king held court.
  
  We continue to Ancient Olympia, birthplace of the Olympic Games. The sanctuary of Zeus at Olympia hosted athletic competitions beginning in 776 BC, drawing competitors from across the Greek world. These games, held every four years, continued for over a millennium until Roman Emperor Theodosius I banned them in 393 AD as pagan festivals.
  
  We explore the extensive ruins of the sanctuary, including the remains of the Temple of Zeus, which once housed Pheidias's colossal statue of Zeus, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The statue, created around 435 BC, stood 13 metres tall and depicted Zeus seated on an elaborate throne. We also see the ancient stadium where athletes competed, the gymnasium where they trained, and the palaestra for wrestling practice.
  
  The Archaeological Museum houses an exceptional collection of artifacts from the site, including bronze helmets, athletic equipment, and sculptural fragments from the Temple of Zeus's pediments depicting mythological scenes.
  
  Overnight in Olympia.

   

  Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Dinner
• Day 8: 

  Olympia - Delphi Touring
  We drive across the Rio-Antirrio Bridge en route to Delphi, arriving in the early afternoon. On arrival we will have a guided tour of this spectacular site and its excellent museum.
  
  According to mythology, Zeus released two eagles at opposite ends of the world and they came to rest at Delphi, dramatically situated on the slopes of Mount Parnassus, overlooking the deep ravine of the Pleistos river. This striking and somewhat remote location was considered the 'navel of the world.' Delphi is known as the centre of worship for the God Apollo, son of Zeus who embodied moral discipline and spiritual clarity. But even before the area was associated with Apollo there were other deities worshipped here including the earth goddess Gea, Themis, Demeter and Poseidon, the well known god of the sea. By the end of the Mycenaean period Apollo had displaced these other deities and became the guardian of the oracle.
  
  Delphi was the site of the Delphic oracle, the most important oracle in the classical Greek world, and it was a major site for the worship of the god Apollo. His sacred precinct in Delphi was a Pan-Hellenic sanctuary, where every four years athletes from all over the Greek world competed in the Pythian Games, the precursor to the Olympic Games.
  
  Overnight in Delphi

   

  Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Dinner
• Day 9: 

  Delphi - Kalambaka & The Monasteries of Meteora
  Leaving Delphi, our journey takes us through the central plains of Greece, a fertile region that has nourished civilizations for centuries. The rolling hills and agricultural fields showcase the country's rich farming heritage, with small villages dotting the landscape.
  
  As we approach Kalambaka, the landscape transforms dramatically. The rocks of Meteora rise from the plains, towering sandstone pillars formed over 60 million years ago when the area lay beneath a prehistoric sea. Geological forces and erosion carved these vertical rock formations, creating the unusual landscape we see today.
  
  Our afternoon drive offers views of these rock formations, crowned with monasteries built beginning in the 14th century. Orthodox monks sought isolation from the Ottoman-controlled lowlands, constructing their monasteries atop these seemingly inaccessible peaks. We make stops along the route to appreciate the scale and setting of these remarkable structures, which we'll explore in detail tomorrow.
  
  Overnight in Kalambaka.

   

  Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Dinner
• Day 10: 

  The Monasteries of Meteora - Thermopylae - Athens
  Today we revisit the Meteora, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the most significant complexes of Eastern Orthodox monasteries in the world. Perched atop towering sandstone rock pillars, these ancient monasteries seem to defy gravity, their architecture a testament to the ingenuity and devotion of the monks who built them. As we explore several of these magnificent structures, you'll uncover the rich history, stunning frescoes, and serene atmosphere that define this sacred place.
  
  After our visit, we'll journey back to Athens, stopping at the historic site of Thermopylae, where the legendary Battle of Thermopylae took place. Here, the brave Spartan King Leonidas and his 300 Spartans made a heroic stand against the vast Persian army, etching their names in the annals of history. As we walk in the footsteps of these legendary warriors, we'll relive the drama and sacrifice of this pivotal moment in ancient Greek history.
  
  After our stop, we'll continue to the vibrant city of Athens.
  
  Overnight in Athens.

   

  Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Dinner
• Day 11: 

  Departure
  Departure from Athens.
  
  KALO TAXIDI/BON VOYAGE!

   

  Included Meal(s): Breakfast

*The red tour trail on the map does not represent the actual travel path.