This itinerary offers an exciting introduction to the culture that was the foundation of Western Civilization. You will travel to mainland Greece and the beautiful islands of the Aegean - into the world of ancient monuments, fascinating museums and spectacular archaeological sites. You will see Athens and the Acropolis as , well as many other important monuments, the scenic site of the oracle of Delphi, the site of Olympia where the first Olympic Games took place, Epidaurus, with its world famous ancient theatre, Crete with its unique Minoan Palace and art treasures. Also you will have the opportunity to learn about modern Greece and meet Greek people. Perhaps even learn the steps of Greek dances.
Day1: ATHENS. Arrive in Athens Eleutherios Venizelos International Airport. Meeting and transfer to your centrally located hotel. Afternoon free. Overnight.
Day 2: ATHENS.Visit of the Acropolis and walking tour through the Old Town. Overnight.
Day 3: ATHENS. Visit of the Ancient Agora (market) and the Kerameikos cemetary. Optional visit of the Benaki Museum. Optional dinner in Greek taverna with Greek music and dancing.
Day 4: ATHENS. One-day-cruise to the islands of Hydra-Poros-Aegina. Lunch buffet included. Overnight in Athens.
Day 5: ATHENS. Visit of the Archaeological Museum. Afternoon trip to Cape Sounion with scenic drive along the seaside. On the way back, visit St. Paul’s Nunnery, a traditional monastery with young nuns producing their own organic products. Overnight in Athens.
Day 6: ATHENS-PELOPONNESE. Start Classical Tour via Corinth Canal (stop) - Ancient Corinth (visit) - Mycenae (visit) - Epidaurus (visit) - Nauplion. Dinner & overnight in Nauplion.
Day 7: NAUPLION-TRIPOLIS-SPARTA-MYSTRA (visit). Dinner & overnight.
Day 8: SPARTA-PYLOS (visit Nestor's Palace and the museum). Dinner & overnight.
Day 9: PYLOS-OLYMPIA (visit to the museum and the site of ancient Olympic Games). Dinner & overnight.
Day 10: OLYMPIA-PATRAS-DELPHI (optional visit of the Archaia Clauss winery) - Delphi (visit of the site of the oracle ) Dinner & overnight.
Day 11: DELPHI-ARACHOVA (stop for optional lunch at this traditional mountainous village) - Piraeus (port of Athens). Embarkation for overnight ferry to CRETE.
Day 12: CRETE Morning arrival in Heraklion, Crete. Visit the Minoan Palace of Knossos and the
Archaeological Museum. Overnight.Day 13: CRETE Full day tour to Gortys , and Phaestos (second important Minoan Place) and Matala. Optional Cretan evening with dinner music.
Day 14: CRETE. Full day tour to Mallia, St.Nicholas, Gournia . Overnight ferry to Piraeus.
Day 15: ATHENS-MARATHON Early morning arrival in Piraeus. Transfer to your hotel in Athens. Full day tour of Marathon Battlefield and visit to the Vorres Museum, a unique Greek traditional house with 800 pieces of Modern Greek art. Opt. lunch in typical taverna with Greek specialities. Overnight.Day 16: ATHENS. At leisure. Evening: Farewell dinner. Overnight.
Day 17: ATHENS-USA. Transfer to Athens' airport for return flight to the USA.
SANTORINI EXTENSION TOUR {April - October only}
Day 14: CRETE: Full day tour to Mallia, St.Nicholas, Gournia and Kavoussi-the current excavation site of the American School of Classical
Studies. Night ferry to Santorini.Day 15: SANTORINI Tour of the volcanic island and of the excavations of Akrotiri (if open). Overnight in Santorini.
Day 16: SANTORINI-ATHENS. Return flight to Athens. Transfer to your hotel. Overnight.
RATE: $2,235 p.p. (min. 20 participants +1 free) Nov-Mar.
INCLUDES:
- Fourteen (14) nights accommodation in Superior Tourist Class Hotels, double occupancy with private facilities
- Daily breakfast
- Five (5) dinners during 6-days Classical tour
- All bus transportation in modern air-conditioned motor coach with selected drivers, including transfers to/from airport and ports
- Ferry tickets to & from Crete in Tourist Class 4-berths cabins with shower/WC
- One - day - cruise to Poros - Hydra - Aegina, including lunch
- Farewell dinner in Greek Taverna with music and local specialties
Round-trip airfare from Athens- USA roundtrip NOT included.
High season supplement (April - October): $495 p.p.
Single supplement: $30 p.p. per night
Santorini extension: $355 p.p.
*Rates for 2006/07 are based on the current exchange rate of the Euro to the Dollar (1 Euro = $1.35) and are subject to change due to currency fluctuations