Ancient Greece - First Class Hotels

On arrival transfer to hotel.

Morning tour of Athens giving you the opportunity to observe the contrasts that make it such an intriguing city. Visit Constitution Square, Temple of Zeus, Olympic Stadium, Acropolis & Acropolis Museum. Fill the rest of your day with a visit to Plaka, the old historical neighbourhood of Athens. Located under the Acropolis and stretches almost to Syntagma, most streets have been closed to automobile traffic and the area is filled with places to shop, eat or where you can just discover a little more about the city. (B)

Pick up from hotel to start four day coach tour of mainland Greece with English speaking guide, visiting the most fascinating ancient sights in Greece. Morning drive to Corinth Canal, the 6km long and only 21.4 meters wide canal which separates the Peloponnese from the Greek mainland (short stop). Continue to Epidaurus and visit one of the best preserved and acoustically superb amphitheatres. Short stop at beautiful seaside town of Nafplio. The town was an important seaport held under a succession of royal houses in the Middle Ages before coming under the Republic of Venice and, lastly, the Ottoman Empire. Nafplio was the capital of the First Hellenic Republic and of the Kingdom of Greece. In the afternoon visit to the archaeological site of Mycenae, the kingdom of King Agamemnon. See the The Lion Gate at Mycenae, the only known monumental sculpture of Bronze Age in Greece. Drive to Olympia for dinner and overnight. (B, D)

After breakfast visit Olympia, home of the first Olympic Games in the 8th Century B.C. Visit Its extensive ruins including athletic training areas, a stadium and temples dedicated to the gods Hera and Zeus. The Archaeological Museum of Olympia exhibits finds from the site, including a statue of Hermes attributed to the sculptor Praxiteles. Depart via Patra (short stop) to Rion, cross the Corinthian Bay by the famous bridge to Antorion. Pass the picturesque town of Nafpaktos and from there on along the coastal road to Delphi , known in ancient times as the navel of the world. Dinner  

Delphi is famous as the ancient sanctuary that grew rich as the seat of Pythia, the oracle who was consulted about important decisions throughout the ancient classical world. In the morning visit the archaeological site and the Museum of Delphi, featuring the bronze statue of the Charioteer amongst many other ancient treasures. Drive through towns of Amphissa, Lamia (short stop) and Trikala to Kalambaka. Overnight stay in this small town built at the foot of majestic grey rocks and crowned by the famous Meteora Monasteries. (B, D)

After breakfast visit the breathtaking Monasteries of Meteora amazingly perched on monolithic rocks. Opportunity to see exquisite treasures of Byzantine Art inside two of the Monasteries. Monasteries are accessible by steps only. Afternoon return to Athens passing the monument of heroic Leonidas of Sparta at Thermopylae. Drop of at the hotel and overnight in Athens. (B)

Services end after breakfast. (B)