Embark on a journey through the ancient world on a 7-day classical Greece adventure from Athens. Discover the rich cultural heritage of Athens as you visit its famous landmarks, including the Acropolis and Parthenon. Explore the picturesque town of Nafplion, the first capital of Greece, and marvel at the impressive Venetian fortress of Palamidi. In Delphi, learn more about ancient Greek mythology and history as you visit the Temple of Apollo and the Delphi Archaeological Museum. Finally, head to Kalabaka to see the stunning rock formations of Meteora and the monasteries perched on top of them. Immerse yourself in the wonders of Ancient and modern day Greece.
Highlights
Visit Athens, known for its history, ancient landmarks, and vibrant culture
Discover iconic landmark, like Acropolis, Parthenon, and Temple of Athena
See the famous Lion gate, the Mycenaean acropolis and the Palace in Mycenae
Explore the charming town of Nafplion and its picturesque harbor
Visit Archaeological site and museum in Olympia
Enjoy the sightseeing of Ancient Delphi and other iconic sites
Marvel the stunning rock Formation of Meteora, a UNESCO world heritage site
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
Welcome to Athens! You will be greeted on arrival and transferred to your hotel in Athens. Time at leisure to discover Athens! Redolent with history and mythology, Athens is a vibrant city, enlivened by bustling outdoor cafes, pedestrian streets that wind through the city's ancient sites, and its fair share of urban eccentrics. It is a city full of contrasts. Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.
After breakfast, enjoy a city tour of Athens, combining a visit to the Acropolis with other iconic landmarks. The sightseeing tour begins with a drive to the center of Athens and the majestic sight of the Acropolis. With cameras in hand, walk up to the site to enjoy the beauty of these magnificent buildings. See the Parthenon, the Propylaia, the Erechtheion, and the temple of Athena Nike. The buildings on the Acropolis are considered by many to be the most impressive architectural feats of ancient times and are listed as UNESCO world heritage sites. Your guide will walk you through the site and give you insights into its history and connection to mythology.
Concluding your visit to the Acropolis, take a short walk to the Acropolis Museum. Opened in 2009, the new museum looks out onto the Acropolis and features amazing displays. The artifacts are arranged in specific locations to help visitors comprehend and picture what the Parthenon looked like in ancient times. It is considered one of the most beautifully situated museums in the world. This dazzling modernist museum at the foot of the Acropolis's southern slope showcases its surviving treasures still in Greek possession.
Finishing the first part of the tour, continue to your next stop, the Panathenaic Stadium, which used to host the first modern Olympic Games in 1996. Take a short photo stop here before continuing on to see other landmark buildings in Athens. From your private vehicle, enjoy the national gardens and the Greek parliament. See the traditionally dressed Evzones stand guard outside the building. You will enjoy views of the temple of Zeus and the Zappeion before returning to the city center again to see the National Library and the University of Athens, the two most impressive neoclassical buildings. Afternoon and dinner at leisure
The tour will begin with a scenic drive via the coastal road from Athens towards the Corinth Canal. It will take about an hour to get to Corinth and cross the bridge that connects the mainland with the Peloponnese over the narrow canal.
After a brief stop, continue towards Mycenae, one of the most important cities of ancient Greece. You will walk under the famous Lion Gate up to the Mycenaean Acropolis and the Palace. We will see the tomb of Agamemnon and the ruins of the Cyclopean walls that protected this mighty city. After Mycenae, we will set off to Epidaurus.
The site of Epidaurus, which is listed as a world heritage site by Unesco, is vast. With ruins of temples and hospital buildings devoted to the healing gods, it is considered to be the birthplace of Asklepios. The monuments, particularly the temple of Asklepios, the Tholos, and the Theatre, are considered some of the purest masterpieces of Greek architecture and date from the 4th century BC. For most travelers, Epidaurus is known for the magnificent theater that still stands there and is still used for plays and other performances. The theater's acoustics are unmatched even by modern standards, and it was considered an engineering marvel. Walk down the site's pine-lined path toward the exit after seeing the Epidaurus Theater.
A highlight of the tour is our overnight stay at the port town of Nafplio, one of the most historic and beautiful towns in Greece.
In the morning, travel from Nafplion to Olympia. Enjoy a spectacular drive through the mountains of Arcadia to Olympia, the birthplace of the Olympic Games, first held in 776 B.C. In both antiquity and modern times, Olympia was a significant archaeological site. The town itself is not remarkable, but the surroundings are stunning. The magnificent site of ancient Olympia is not the only thing to stroll through and admire; the surrounding landscape is also incredibly beautiful. You will first see the main attraction before moving on to the fascinating museum.
At the main site, you can see the temple of Zeus, which once housed one of the Seven Wonders of the World, a statue of Zeus made of ivory and gold. Your expert guide will show you the gymnasium where the athletes trained, the nymphaeum, and, of course, the main stadium in which the games were held. The museum is a short walk from the site, and it contains the 4th-century BC statue of Hermes by Praxiteles, plus several other finds from the excavations, including the Nike of Victory by Paeonios.
The site of Olympia is one of the most important in Greece and one of the most awe-inspiring due to its beauty and wonderful setting. It is not only rich in history; it is also a lovely spot to visit.
After the sightseeing, travel to the town of Delphi. Driving north to Patras, cross the Gulf of Corinth on the new and most impressive suspension bridge to mainland Greece. Delphi, situated on the slopes of Mount Parnassus, you will see the home of the legendary oracle, the most revered site of ancient Greece and considered to be the navel of the world.
Today, in the morning, enjoy the sightseeing of Ancient Delphi, probably the ancient world's most famous oracle.
Start your walking tour at the site at the foot of the mountain of the Pan-Hellenic sanctuary of Delphi. Visit the archaeological site, the Argive Kings Monument, the Athenian Stoa, the Polygonal Wall, the Platea Monument, and the Temple of Apollo while passing by the Castalia Spring. There is a lot to see at the site, which is very large, including the famous oracle where, in earlier times, people thought they could learn what their futures held.
Enjoy the views from the site; they are incredible. The setting is so impressive that in ancient times it was considered the navel of the world. Visit the Delphi Museum after exploring the area. The Delphi Museum has spectacular exhibits, including the frieze of the Treasury of the Sifnians, the Naxian Sphinx, the Statue of Antinoos, the metopes of the Athenian Treasury, and the famous bronze Charioteer. The museum is well worth a visit because the artifacts add to what you saw at the site and help you understand Delphi's significance in ancient times.
A picturesque early afternoon drive brings you to Thermopylae, famous for the heroic defense by Leonidas and his three hundred courageous Spartans against the invading Persians. After seeing the memorial, continue the drive across the fertile Thessaly region to Kalambaka.
When you awaken to see the awe-inspiring rock formations unfold before your eyes, you will easily understand why we call this place Meteora, which means “suspended in the heavens above.” Today we will climb above the charming mountain villages of Kastraki and Kalambaka to visit two of the six surviving monasteries of Meteora, a UNESCO world heritage site and one of the most important complexes of Eastern Orthodox monasteries in the world. Visit some of Greece's most fascinating Byzantine basilicas while learning about how monks still live today. In the afternoon, you will head south to Athens for dinner (at leisure) and an overnight stay.
Day 7: Athens | Return Home
1 Breakfast
As the tour ends, say farewell to the vibrant city of Athens. Enjoy a nice breakfast at the hotel. Before your flight, enjoy some free time. Depending on the time of your flight, the team will arrange a transfer for you to the Athens airport.
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$3,8632-3 travelers
Notes
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Pricing is estimated and fluctuates by season and departure date. For the most current pricing and details, please request a quote from a Trip Planner.
Initial deposit is 35%, and most travelers will call our office and pay the deposit with a credit card.
Final payment is due 70 days (10 weeks) prior to departure by bank transfer, check or credit card. All final payments by credit card may be subject to a surcharge and maximum of $20,000 charge
We are so glad that we chose Adventure Life. The service is top-notch. Everything is well taken care of and we just have to print the documents and go. Franny even gave us timely updates on possible airport strike.
KC Chan
TrustScore 4.8 | 176 reviews
TrustScore 4.8 of 5
Based on 176 reviews on
1 day ago
Adventure Life is always an excellent choice when planning complicated, extreme, or exotic vacations or expeditions. They provide friendly professional services and advice and are enthusiastic and encouraging in helping us to prepare and thoroughly enjoy our trip. They handle all the details which greatly reduces the stress of planning a difficult trip. I'm very impressed with Adventure Life and definitely recommend them to friends and family.
Scott Trochim
3 days ago
The response from Adventure Life to my first inquiry was prompt and promising. I worked with Jamie Broeckel, Trip Planner, via text, email, and phone calls- always extremely responsive and thorough with information and explaining the process to arrange a private tour for me to Malaysia Borneo. Within about week, the booking was complete and I made decisions because of Jamie's great customer service , friendly manner, and overall competence on behalf of the company's travel expertise. Now I have an itinerary, additional Trip Planner Assistants, several links for vital information for traveling to Maylasia, etc. Still many details for Sept. trip, but now the heavy lifting is done and I can enjoy the rest of the anticipation and research!! Thanks Jamie- you are amazing!!!!
Susan Campo
5 days ago
The trip was not only memorable for the amount of animals we saw but also for the people and accommodations at the two camps where we stayed. Our first guide, BK, was a wealth of information about the animals, landscape and down to the plants and what they were used for. Everyday out was a learning experience with him. All the people at the camps were gracious and the food was excellent.
Our second camp in the Okavanga was just as good as the first as far as the staff, accommodations, food and animals. After our experience at the first camp we amazed that the high quality remained the same. Our guide, G, made sure we were able to enjoy every experience including a rush through the bush to witness a cheetah and an ensuing hunt that he heard over his radio.
In both camps there were enough guides out that if they saw something the other guides were informed which helped in seeing as much as possible. It was also nice that the concessions were large enough that we did not have vehicles following each other throughout the day.
Normally there is always something in a trip of this length that we think could be improved upon but this is the rare case where we cannot think of anything. From the time we left the States to when we returned it was one of the most hassle free vacations we took.
Perhaps emphasizing the use of the laundry facilities at the camps would be useful because of the luggage restrictions would be the only thing I can think of as an improvement to future clients.
Kenneth Dropek
6 days ago
Mary was so pleasant and professional. She made sure all of our questions were answered.