13 days Travel explore Greece, historical/ educational tour, Athens, Meteora, Delphi, Olympia, Mani, Sparta, Monemvasia, Mycenae, Nafplion, Hydra island, Corinth.
13 days private tour with 12 exceptional overnights. Historical/ Educational tour of Greece.
Day 1: Welcome to Historical / Educational Tour of Greece/13 days
Meet at the airport. Transfer from Airport to your Hotel / Apartment. Then we'll get oriented to our neighborhood and walk to a nearby restaurant where we can get acquainted over dinner. Sleep in Athens (2 nights).
Day 2: Athens' Acropolis/ Parthenon/ Museum/ Zeus Temple...
This morning with your tour guide we'll hike to the top of Athens' legendary Acropolis, where we'll take a walking tour of its 2,500-year-old Golden Age temples, dominated by the dramatic Parthenon. We'll then work our way down and tour the sleek new Acropolis Museum, custom built to showcase the amazing Parthenon sculptures. Continue our tour by car, visit the Parliament, Stadium, Zeus Temple and Lycabetus Hill...Your evening is free for exploring Athens' marketplaces — the ancient Agora and the modern Plaka's labyrinth of inviting streets, squares, shops, and cafés. Walking: strenuous.
Day 3: Meteora Rocks & Monasteries
Historical/ Educational Tour of Greece departs from Athens (or other terminal - up request) via Lamia. We will stop at Thermopylae (where in 480 B.C. a battle between the ancient Greeks and Persians took place)to visit Leonidas Monument and then on via Trikala (Magnificent town, short stop). Visit Meteora, among striking scenery, perched on top of huge rocks which seem to be suspended in Mid - Air, stand ageless Monasteries, where you can see exquisite specimens of Byzantine Art. Of the 24 monasteries that grew up between the 13th and 16th centuries only six are still inhabited: The Great Meteoron, Agia Triad, Agios Nikolaos and Varlaam by monks: Agios Stephanos and Roussanou by nuns
Day 4: Delphi & Apollo Oracle
Further sightseeing in Meteora rocks and monasteries, this time will see the rocks early the morning with different light and shadows... and will take photos from different angles. Depart before noon for Trikala, (short stop to taste a Greek coffee) and continue for Lamia. the same way until Thermopylae where will turn west to across the Mount Parnassus, along Heracles road - this is a superb mountain road running between Bralos and Iraklia (90km/ 60miles about 1 hour) with an impressive landscape and extensive views. Late afternoon we will arrive at Delphi and visit the famous Apollo Temple, the oracle who was consulted about important decisions throughout the ancient classical world. Moreover, the Greeks considered Delphi the navel (or centre) of the world, as represented by the stone monument known as the Omphalos of Delphi. It occupies an impressive site on the south-western slope of Mount Parnassus, overlooking the coastal plain to the south and the valley of Phocis. It is now an extensive archaeological site with a small modern town of the same name nearby. It is recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in having had a phenomenal influence in the ancient world, as evidenced by the rich monuments built there by most of the important ancient Greek city-states, demonstrating their fundamental Hellenic unity.
Visit Castalia Spring and the Sanctuary of Athena Pronaea , the Sanctuary of Apollo Pythios and the Museum. Overnight on mount Parnassus which holds some of the most traditional villages in Greece.
