Itinerary

Day1 Tuesday June 2 ,  /  Friday November 6th
Flight to Athens from USA (suggestion to use one of Lufthansas  17 gateways in the US  including Chicago, Philadelphia, Atlanta or JFK for competitive rates, check www.weflyhome.com).

Day2. Wednesday June 3  / Saturday November 7th ATHENS
Arrival in ATHENS in the early afternoon. Meeting and transfer by private bus and assistant to your centrally located first class hotel Herodion near the Acropolis, the old town and the new Acropolis Museum. Orientation tour on foot and welcome dinner. Overnight at Hotel Herodion (www.herodion.gr).

Day3. Thursday June 4 / Sunday November 8th ATHENS – CAPE SOUNION
Departure at 8.30am from your hotel along with your private guide for visit of the Acropolis and the Ancient Agora.  Afternoon coach tour to Cape Sounion to view the Temple of Poseidon, overlooking the Aegean and  visit the replica of the ancient Trireme on the way.  Dinner with a variation of Greek appetizers in Voula, on the way back to Athens, in a typical Greek tavern. Overnight in Athens.

Day4. Friday, June 5  /  Monday November 9th ATHENS – CORINTH – MYCENAE - EPIDAURUS – NAUPLION
We start our 4 day tour of Greece at 8:00 am travelling towards the Peloponnese. Pass the Corinth canal, and then visit Ancient Corinth (site and the arch. museum) – Mycenae (Lions Gate, Royal tombs, Site of the Palace of Agamemnon, the new arch. museum, the beehive tomb of Atreus)  - Epidaurus (the  ancient Theatre still in use today, arch. Museum and the sanctuary of Ascleipion). Reach the seaside town of Nauplion, with its old town in traditional architecture, the Palamidi Venetian fortress and Bourtzi island. Dinner in a typical Greek tavern and overnight in a guest house in the old town, Hotel Marianna (www.pensionmarianna.gr).

Day5. Saturday,  June 6 / Tuesday November 10th   NAUPLION – TIRYNS - OLYMPIA
Morning departure with your private bus and guide to pass by Tiryns, known for its Cyclopean walls, for a visit and then drive through the mountains of Arcadia (3 hours) to reach Ancient Olympia with its impressive arch. Museum, the sanctuary  and the stadium of the  Olympic Games. Dinner and overnight in the first class hotel Europa (www.hoteleuropa.gr).

Day6. Sunday, June 7 / Wednesday  November 11th OLYMPIA – PATRAS - DELPHI - ARACHOVA
Morning visit of the site of Olympia. Then depart to the north to pass by Patras and the newly constructed over the water Rion/Antirion bridge to reach Nafpaktos and Galaxidi. Lunch stop on the way. Dinner and overnight in the Hotel Lykoria, in the picturesque mountain village of Arachova just a few miles outside Delphi.

Day7. Monday  June 8 / Thursday  November 12th DELPHI - ATHENS
Morning visit of the oracle of Delphi and its sanctuary and renovated arch. museum. Then, after lunch depart Delphi for Athens. Dinner in selected tavern in Plaka in Athens and overnight in Hotel Herodion.

Day8. Tuesday, June 9 /Friday  November 13th ATHENS – AEGINA
Depart at 8:00 am for one day tour with your private bus and guide to the nearby island of Aegina (1 ½ hour ferry boat ride) to visit the Temple of Aphea, the picturesque port of Aegina famous for its pistachio nuts. Return to Athens in the early afternoon. Dinner and overnight in Athens.

Day9. Wednesday, June 10 /  Saturday November 14th ATHENS
Morning departure at 9.00 am for guided visit of the Arch. museum in Athens and the Benaki Museum, with displays of all eras of the Greek civilization. Farewell dinner in a typical tavern in the Plaka (old town of Athens) and overnight in  Athens.

Day10. Thursday, June 11 /Sunday  November 15th ATHENS – USA
Transfer by cab or minibus to the airport for your return flight.

INCLUDES:
Accommodation in shared double/twin rooms with private facilities in first class hotels in Athens, Olympia and Superior Tourist Class hotels in Nauplion and in Arachova
Daily breakfast buffet
All dinners mentioned (4 course dinners) in selected establishments
English speaking licensed guide/lecturer as per itinerary while in Greece
Transportation by selected motor coach with all comforts and professional bus driver for tour and transfers as per itinerary
Metro tickets as per itinerary when needed in Athens
Boat tickets Piraeus – Aegina Roundtrip
All admission fees to sites and museums mentioned in the itinerary
Assistance and guidance from our local reps through out your stay

Not included:

Transatlantic flight tickets to and from Greece. Lunches and meals not mentioned, Visits and admission fees not mentioned in the itinerary. Gratuities to drivers ($ 3 per day /per person) and guide ($ 4 per day/person)

Extra COSTS:
Spouses are eligible to join at a supplement:  $ 350 per person
Single supplement: $295 per person

Opportunity to extend your stay in Greece on your own to visit other sites, islands and cities or to travel with our assistance to Turkey, Italy or Egypt for exploration.

*** Participation is limited. Please send the below form ASAP –preferably by APRIL 15th - to secure your place on the trip.

►PLEASE EMAIL (edtours@ed-tours.com) or FAX (011-30210-8955419) THIS FORM by APRIL 15th 2009

RESERVATION FORM:

ETC Conditions and Responsibility
Educational Tours and Cruises (ETC) provides customized travel planning throughout the world for group travellers who have a variety of reasons and goals for travel. The goals and/or opinions of these groups do not reflect or imply the position of ETC in any matter. Brochure contents may not be duplicated without permission from ETC. In offering these travel arrangements, ETC acts solely as an agent for the sale of air transportation and other travel related services. ETC maintains no control over the personnel, equipment or operations of any entity furnishing services, products or accommodations. ETC  assumes no responsibility or liability for, and shall not be expected, asked or required to pay for any injury, damage, expense, personal injury, property damage, inconvenience or any other loss experienced by reason of:
(1) any intentional, wrongful, negligent or unauthorized act or omission on the part of any supplier, its agents or employees;
(2) any defect, breakdown or other failure of any vehicle, equipment, service, product or other instrumentality which is owned, operated or otherwise used by a supplier;
(3) any intentional, wrongful, negligent, or unauthorized act or omission on the part of any other party not under the direct control of ETC ;
(4) financial problems causing non performance by any supplier; or
(5) any other cause, condition or event whatsoever beyond the direct control of ETC
ETC  cannot guarantee any rates, bookings or reservations of any supplier. Your retention of tickets, reservations or bookings after issuance shall constitute a consent to the foregoing provisions. All prices quoted are subject to change if airlines or ground operators increase their prices, the U.S. dollar is devalued significantly against foreign currencies, the group falls below minimum numbers, or a fuel surcharge, government tax or user's fee is imposed. Baggage and personal effects are the sole responsibility of the owners at all times. ETC reserves the right to withdraw from any tour member whose conduct is incompatible with the interests of the group as a whole. The above Conditions and Responsibility also includes the individual group leaders and their respective organizations.

Athens, Jan 6th 2009 UPDATED
Dimitri Cocconi / Thalia Cocconi

*Rates for 2011/12 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