Ancient Greece & Santorini

Welcome to Greece, the birthplace of Western civilization! We will meet you from your flight and transfer you to the hotel where your Tour Director will meet with you and your fellow travellers. Your adventure in the historic city of Athens has begun! 

This morning we travel back in time, as we set out to discover ancient Athens.

Accompanied by our local guide we visit the Panathenaic stadium where the first Olympic Games were held. Also known as the Kallimamaro (meaning beautiful marble in Greek) stadium, it is the only stadium in the world entirely built of marble and also the finishing point of the annual Athens Classic Marathon.

We drive by the Prime Minister’s house and the National gardens. At Syntagma Square we watch the ceremony of the Changing of the Presidential Guard, when every hour, two Evzones Guards go off duty and are replaced by two new guards. The ceremony takes place in front of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, nearby the Parliament building, which used to be a royal palace.

We continue on foot and stroll through the commercial district to visit the Ancient Agora of Athens, located on the northwest of the Acropolis, between the neighbourhoods of Thission and Monastiraki. It is the best-known example of an ancient Greek Agora, an assembly area where people used to gather together for commercial, religious, social or political activities. 

We end our guided walk at Monastiraki Square, one of the most popular and lively spots in Athens with rooftop bars, shops and flea market, and is popular with locals and tourists alike. Recently renovated, the square is paved with mosaic blocks of marble, carved stone and cast iron, symbolizing theflow and the diversity of Mediterranean people.

We hop on our tour bus again and drive to a local restaurant for a late lunch where we can sample some Greek  delicatessen: a selection of nibbles drenched in Greek oil and wash it down with Greek spirits. After lunch the driver will drop you off in the centre of Athens.

The afternoon is free for you to explore the city on your own. You could return to Monastiraki Square again and pay a visit to the nearby Monastiraki metro station, one of the oldest metro stations in Athens, which has a display of several archaeological discoveries found on the Hadrian’s Library.

If you want to know more about Greek history, why not visit one of the many museums, or those who still have a lot of energy, could descend Mount Lycabattus, the highest peak in modern day Athens for a fantastic 360 view of the metropolis. Those wanting to pick up some early souvenirs, could head for the Plaka district with its winding streets and plethora of giftshops and local artisanal produce.

After breakfast we have our much-anticipated guided tour of one of the most iconic sights in the world, the Acropolis, located on a rock, that towers over the city of Athens. We climb up to the marble-capped ancient Citadel, (Acropolis means Citadel in Greek), and explore this world-famous excavation site with its amazing architectural designs that have stood the test of time. A historically rich complex with prominent landmarks like the Parthenon, the Erechtheion and the Temple of Athena Nike. You have most likely learned about these famous sites at school and now you have the opportunity to see it all with your own eyes and to take a leisurely walk amongst them.

Your guide will tell you all about the history of this ancient city, which was also known as Cecropia named after its legendary founder, Cecrops, the first Athenian King. You visit the fascinating Acropolis Museum, which houses every artefact found on the complex, dating back from the Greek Bronze age to the Roman and Byzantine period.

We leave the Acropolis and continue our walk around Anafiotika, on the northeastern side of the Acropolis hill, and is part of the old historical neighbourhood of Plaka. The first houses here were built by construction workers from the island of Anafi who refurbished King Othon's Palace. The architecture of the houses is more like you tend to find on the islands, as many of the laborers (carpenters, stone and marble workers) were drafted in from the Cycladic islands.  

After our lunch in a nearby local restaurant, we drive the port town of Piraeus located on the Saronic Gulf on the western coast of the Aegean Sea. Nowadays it’s the largest port in Greece, but in 480 BC its natural harbour played a significant role in the Battle of Salamis in 480 BC, when the Greek fought off the Persians. Due to its strategic position the great Athenian politician and general Themistocles decided that it was the perfect place to build a port and ship sheds. The Themistoclean Walls were completed in 471 BC and turned Piraeus into a magnificent military and commercial harbour, which served as the permanent navy base for the mighty Athenian fleet.

In the evening we have dinner in a local seafood restaurant by the sea.

After an early breakfast we depart Athens and drive to Chalkis the main town on Evia Island. It is linked to mainland Greece by two bridges, the "Sliding Bridge" in the west at the narrowest point of the Euripus Strait, and a suspension bridge. Here we observe a special tidal phenomenon in the strait, as strong tidal currents change the direction of the water every six hours, creating strong currents and maelstroms.

One of Greece's greatest poets Homer, mentioned Chalkis in the Iliad, his epic poem. It even played a small part in the Trojan War, as the ships, set for the Trojan War, gathered at Aulis on the south bank of the strait near the city.

We go on a short tour of the city’s monuments, like the Roman Aqueduct, the Church of Saint Paraskevi, the patron Saint of Chalkis, the City Hall and the Courthouse. We end our tour at the Castle of Chalkis also known as Karababa Castle or Kanithos Castle, a fortress and the last of two remaining castles built to protect the city up until the 19th century.You can visit the castle’s small and recently renovated museum (entrance not included), which gives an excellent overview of the story of the historic city or just take in the stunning panoramic views of the city below.

Greece is renowned for its high-quality cuisine and there is no better way to explore these culinary secrets than to attend a cooking demonstration of Greek & Mediterranean cuisine. We have our lunch at the same restaurant, which has great sea views of the Evripos strip.

We return to Athens in the late afternoon.

After an early check out & breakfast Meet your guide at the reception. We leave Athens and drive to Delphi via Thebes, Levadia and the picturesque village of Arachova, on the slopes of Mount Parnassus. Ask your guide if you can taste the local Formaela cheese. This hard light-yellow cheese is exclusively made in Arachova and is prepared from sheep or goat milk. It has a particularly pungent taste, and you can eat it either grilled or fried. You may want to wash it down with Arachova’s famous black wine.

Another interesting fact about this picturesque town with its cobbled street is that the Greek rebels under the leadership of Georgios Karaiskakis, a famous Greek military commander and a leader of the Greek War of Independence, defeated the Ottomans at the 1826 Battle of Arachova.

Arrive in Delphi and visit the Archaeological Site. After the visit depart for Kalambaka, passing through picturesque villages and towns of Central Greece.

En route stop for lunch to a local tavern.

In the afternoon, arrive to Meteora & check in to Kalambaka hotel. Free evening.

Accompanied by our guide we go on an early morning tour and visit The Monestery of Grand Meteoron, the biggest and oldest one, founded in the 14th century. We may have the opportunity to view another monastery, dependent on their opening hours which are subject to change.

Lunch at leisure at the hotel.

In the afternoon proceed to a local winery. We meet the owners of the winery and do a tour of the winery with some wine tasting at the end. There will be a cooking presentation before our dinner.

Leisure morning. Check out & we make our way back to Athens and stop for lunch in the town of Trikala for our lunch to a local traditional tavern .

Arrive to Athens early afternoon and enjoy the evening at leisure before dinner ao the hotel

We leave Athens in the morning, in time to catch the ferry to Santorini, a legendary island in the Cyclades. The name Cyclades refers to the islands which form a circle around the sacred island of Delos in the Aegean Sea. Although its official name is Thera, it is better known as Santorini. It has experienced one of the largest volcanic eruptions (the Minoan eruption) in recorded history, which left a large volcanic crater and is nowadays a water-filled caldera.

Immortalised by artists who have fallen in love with the island and have waxed lyrically about its stunning natural (sun)light, the much-loved island has been a popular destination for years and has often been described as one of the most beautiful destinations in the world. Santorini is best known for its traditional whitewashed, one story, cubical shaped homes that cling to the black volcanic cliff-side, and its breath-taking sunsets.

Upon arrival in Santorini, we go straight to a local restaurant where we take our lunch. The restaurant offers spectacular views of the caldera.

After lunch we check into our hotel. The rest of the day is free for you to explore the island, or just relax, soak up the glorious sunshine and embrace the local ambiance.

After a leisurely breakfast we explore Santorini, and you soon realise why this island is often voted one of the best places to visit in the world.

Proceed to a local brewery factory, which was set up in 2011. Here we can quench our thirst with the locally produced beer, which uses home grown ingredients and imported malt from Bosnia. After our light lunch to the Brewery, head to black beach for an aperitif.

After breakfast we head to the Southern part of the island to the prehistoric settlement of Akrotiri, where the town of Santorini was built. Our guide will take you on a tour of the extensive ruins of this Bronze Age settlement, with walkways that enable visitors to walk among the excavated section of the Minoan port town, covered in volcanic ash in the 16th century. 

Later will proceed to the Red Beach for lunch and free leisure time and then return to the hotel early afternoon.

There is no better way to end our last evening on Santorini, than an unforgettable sunset cruise. After a morning at leisure, we board our private catamaran and sail along the magnificent coast of Santorini.

Make sure you bring your swimming gear and camera, as there will be plenty of opportunities to swim and snorkel in the crystal-clear azure blue waters that surround Santorini. We sail along remote beaches that are only accessible either on foot or by boat. We visit one of the most beautiful beaches of the island - Red Beach in Akrotiri – with its distinct red rocks and dark pebbles and the White Beach, which is only accessible by boat.

We also visit the Mesa Pigadia swimming spot and sail past the Indian Rock, the Venetian Light House of Akrotiri. The crew in the meantime prepares a delicious meal prepared with fresh and local produce.

After we have taken our last shots of the sunset, we sail back again to the harbour and return to our hotel.

All things good things come to an end and sadly it's time to say goodbye (αντ?ο in Greek) to Greece. 

Flights will either depart from Santorini (We will arrange your airport transfers to Santorini airport in time to meet your onward flight) or extend your stay to the Greek Island of Mykonos for 5 more days relaxing and enjoying the splendid Greek beaches and sunshine.