Greek Odyssey: Family Edition

Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Athens Capital Hotel, MGallery Collection. A transfer is included upon arrival from Athens International Airport to Athens Capital Hotel, MGallery Collection. Ideally located in the heart of Greece's capital city on fashionable Syndagma Square, your hotel is close to the Ancient Agora and the Acropolis where democracy was born and history lives on. The rooftop swimming pool offers panoramic views of the city, including the Parthenon, places you will explore during your four-night stay here. Join us for a welcome reception and dinner tonight as you meet the families you'll be traveling with.

Discover the mythological sites of Athens today. Home to the Greek philosophers, Plato and Socrates, Athens is one of the world's oldest cities and is a virtual open-air museum. Walk up to the hilltop Acropolis with a private guide to see where stories of Greek goddesses and gods live on. Begin at the 2nd-century Odeon of Herodes Atticus, a grand amphitheater still used for performances today. Then stand before the iconic Parthenon, a white marble masterpiece dedicated to Athena, goddess of wisdom and the city's namesake, constructed between 448 and 438 BCE. Continue to the Erechtheion, where myth and architecture merge and the sacred site of Athena and Poseidon's legendary contest, featuring the graceful Porch of the Caryatids. Descend for a treasure hunt within the Plaka, a quaint village-like neighborhood, millennia old, located just below the Acropolis, that entices with the true essence of Greece. Enjoy time at leisure to explore the little shops and cafés before returning to your hotel.

Drive out into the countryside of central Greece for a visit to the archaeological site of Delphi, nestled on the south slopes of Mount Parnassus. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, it was essentially considered the center of the world by ancient Greeks and was a major religious and cultural base for them. Today you can walk among the remains of ancient structures like the Temple of Apollo and the stadium of Delphi, echoing with whispers of times past. Return to Athens after lunch where the remainder of the day is all yours.

Spend the day on the car-free Greek Island of Hydra, where the slow pace of daily life epitomizes the ideal Greek experience. With only one town and no true roads, you won't see cars or even bikes as you explore the sights today, but you will see donkeys, the main form of transportation here. Ferry rides to and from the island give you the opportunity to discover the natural beauty of this seaside destination. A guided walking tour and time to do as you wish on the island make this a most delightful way to spend the day.

Leave Athens today as you make your way west across the Peloponnese to Costa Navarino, still relatively unknown by crowds of tourists. Stop at a family owned agriturismo en route for an authentic taste of life of a Greek farm, before arriving at your beachfront resort. Set amidst one of the most unspoiled and breathtaking landscapes in the Mediterranean, it is home to a cultural heritage dating back 4,500 years; the town was traditionally known for its rustic landscape, Kalamata olives, ancient temples and a historic naval battle; today it is emerging as a world-class golf and beach destination. Your resort overlooks the Ionian Sea and is rooted in Greek history.

See where the Olympic Games were born during an inspiring visit to Olympia on the western side of the Pelopnnese in the "Valley of the Gods." Celebrated as a sacred site of ancient Greece, it is the original site of the first Olympic Games in the 8th century BC – the games took place here every four years from 776 BC to 393 AD. The extensive ruins you'll see during your visit include ancient athletic training areas, a stadium and temples dedicated to the gods Hera and Zeus. Spend the rest of the day enjoying the amenities and watersport activities at your resort. 

Costa Navarino was named by King Hestor, the legendary ruler of Pylos. Visit Pylos today to experience a village and remote beaches still relatively untouched by time. Here, Athens triumphed over Sparta in a decisive 425 BC battle during the Peloponnesian War, and centuries later, the Naval Battle of Navarino sparked Greece's independence from Ottoman rule. Explore Pylos' charming harbor, Roman aqueduct, 13th-century castle, and Ottoman-era hilltop fortress—all set against a stunning seaside backdrop. Back at your resort, get ready to participate in an afternoon of Tauck Bridges exclusive Olympic Games, where champions will emerge and lasting memories will be shared during this friendly competition. This evening, gather together for our farewell reception and dinner before your journey home.

Tour ends: Costa Navarino. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from The Romanos, A Luxury Collection Resort, to nearby Kalamata or Athens International Airport (an approximately 3 1/2 hour drive). Allow a minimum of three hours for flight check-in at the airport. Ask about booking a post-stay at this beachside resort to extend your family's vacation fun.