Itinerary

1st Day :athens to corinth epidaurus nafplion mycenae olympia

Starting from tours in Athens, Greece, we drive westward along the scenic coast until we reach the Corinth Canal with its breathtaking views (short stop). The Corinth Canal is a junction of international sea transport and serves ships coming from the western Mediterranean and Adriatic en route to eastern Mediterranean and Black Sea ports, and vice versa. Continue along the coastal road of the Saronic Gulf to Epidaurus (visit). On the headland called "Nesi" at Palaia Epidaurus, the theater of the ancient city is quite well preserved, in the shape it acquired during the latter years of its function. Apart from a few rows of seats, the cave is made of limestone with porous staircases. The theater is marveled at for its exceptional acoustics, which permit almost perfect intelligibility of unamplified spoken word from the proscenium or scene to all 12,000 spectators, regardless of their seating. Then depart for Nauplia, the first capital of Greece in 1829 (a short stop), and drive to Mycenae for a four-day tour. "Mycenae, 'Rich in Gold', the kingdom of mythical Agamemnon, first sung by Homer in his epics, is the most important and richest palatial center of the Late Bronze Age in Greece. Its name was given to one of the greatest civilizations of Greek prehistory, the Mycenaean civilization.” In the afternoon, depart for Olympia for a four-day tour. Have dinner and stay overnight in Olympia.

2nd Day : olympia rion bridge nafpaktos delphi

Olympia, the most celebrated sanctuary of ancient Greece, Dedicated to Zeus, the father of the gods, it sprawls over the southwest foot of Mount Kronios, at the confluence of the Alpheios and the Kladeos rivers, in a lush, green landscape. Although secluded near the west coast of the Peloponnese, Olympia became the most important religious and athletic center in Greece. Its fame rests upon the Olympic Games, the greatest national festival and a highly prestigious one worldwide, which were held every four years to honor Zeus. Visit the archaeological site and the museum, and then drive via Patras to Rion, across the channel to Antirrion on the “State of the Art” new suspended bridge considered to be the longest and most modern in Europe. Arrive in Nafpaktos, and then continue to Delphi for a 2-day tour. Have dinner and stay overnight in Delphi on the day trip from Athens.

3rd Day : delphi kalampaka meteora

Situated at the foot of Mount Parnassos, within the angle formed by the twin rocks of the Phaedriades, lies the Pan-Hellenic sanctuary of Delphi, which had the most famous oracle of ancient Greece. Delphi was regarded as the center of the world. According to mythology, it is here that the two eagles sent out by Zeus from the ends of the universe to find the navel of the world met. The sanctuary of Delphi, set within a most spectacular landscape, was for many centuries the cultural and religious center and symbol of unity for the Hellenic world and seat of the Pythian Games, the second most important games in Greece after the Olympics, which were held every four years. Explore the 3-day on Delphi tour from Athens, the archaeological site, and the museum, where one can see, among other archeological treasures, the unique bronze statue of the charioteer dedicated to Apollo by Polyzalos, the tyrant of Gela, in 478 B.C., when he won the chariot race at the Pythian Games. This incomparable statue is a representative example of the ''severe'' Attic style, certainly the work of a major artist. After exploring the Delphi and Meteora tours, take a short trip to Kalabaka. Have dinner and stay overnight in Kalabaka.

4th Day : meteora monasteries thermopylae athens

Today we will see one of the most amazing places in Greece, Meteora. Meaning’ suspended in air', the name Meteora soon came to encompass the entire rock community of 24 monasteries, the biggest and most important group of monasteries in Greece after those in Mount Athos. There were no steps, and the main access to the monasteries was using a net that was hitched over a hook and hoisted up by rope and a hand-cranked windlass to winch towers overhanging the chasm. Monks descended in the nets or on retractable wooden ladders up to 40 meters long to the fertile valleys below to grow grapes, corn, and potatoes. Each community developed its own resources, and by the end of the 14th century, the Grand Meteoron emerged as the dominant community. The rock monasteries have been characterized by UNESCO as a unique phenomenon of cultural heritage. After visiting Meteora for a four-day tour, start the drive back to Athens, passing through Thermopylae (photo stop). This visit to the Meteora tour sometimes takes place on the third day.