Day 1:
Athens - Corinth - Nafplion - Olympia
This morning you will be picked-up from your city hotel for the guided seat-in-coach Grand Tour of Greece. Leave by the coastal road to the Corinth Canal (short stop). Continue and visit the Theatre of Epidauros, famous for its remarkable acoustics. Then enjoy a short stop at Nafplion and continue to Mycenae to visit the Archaeological Site and the Tomb of Agamemnon.
Depart for Olympia through Central Peloponnese and the towns of Tripolis and Megalopolis. Arrive at Olympia, the cradle of the ancient Olympic Games.
Overnight.
Day 2:
Olympia - Delphi
Breakfast. This morning, visit the Archaeological Site with the Sanctuary of Olympian Zeus, the ancient Stadium, the spot where the torch of the modern Olympic Games is lit and the Archaeological Museum. Continue to the magnificent bridge that crosses the Corinthian Bay. Drive past picturesque Nafpaktos (Lepanto) and Itea towns to Delphi.
Overnight.
Day 3:
Delphi - Kalambaka
After breakfast, visit the Archaeological Site and the Museum of Delphi, the most famous oracle of the ancient world. Depart for Kalambaka, at the foot of the astonishing complex of Meteora, gigantic rocks.
Overnight.
Day 4:
Kalambaka - Meteora - Thessaloniki
Breakfast. Morning, visit Meteora perched on top of huge rocks, which seem to be suspended in mid-air, where stand ageless monasteries. See exquisite specimens of Byzantine art.
After lunch stop, drive through the valley of the longest river in Greece, Aliacmon. Arrive at Thessaloniki, the second largest and most vibrant city in Greece.
Overnight.
Note: For the monasteries, ladies are kindly requested to wear skirts and gentlemen long trousers.
Day 5:
Thessaloniki - City Tour
Breakfast. This morning, visit the city that was the Byzantine Empire’s “co-reigning” city, second after Constantinople. Visit unique monuments and see the oldest and most characteristic churches of the Christian world and see the Museum of Byzantine Culture. The rest of the day at leisure.
Overnight.
Day 6:
Thessaloniki - Macedonia - Thessaloniki
Breakfast. Today depart for historical Macedonia. Stop at picturesque Edessa to see its famous landmark, the Waterfalls. Continue to Naoussa, the picturesque site of Aristotle’s School, where the great philosopher taught the doctrines of morals and politics to Alexander the Great and the Macedonian youth.
Drive to Vergina (ancient Aigai), to visit the unique Museum, in the Great Tumulus covering the royal tombs of Macedonia including the tomb of King Phillip II, Alexander’s father. Next is Veria, (Biblical Beroea) to visit Saint Paul’s Bema, the old Jewish neighbourhood and the colourful market. Return to Thessaloniki.
Overnight.
Day 7:
Thessaloniki - Athens
Breakfast. Drive to Pella, the capital of Alexander the Great. See the exquisite floor mosaics of the 4th century B.C. villas, in situ as well as in the new Museum. Then visit the Archaeological Park of Dion (the sacred city of the Macedonians, at the foot of Mount Olympus, the highest mountain in Greece and house of the 12 Gods of Greek Mythology).
Return to Athens driving through the striking plain of Thessaly and the Valley of Tempi, admire the gigantic figure of Mount Olympus, pass by Lamia, Thermopylae (see the Leonidas’ Monument) and Thebes. Arrive in Athens late in the afternoon. Take a flight back home or extend your stay.
End of Tour.
