 Day 1: Depart from the US to Athens
Day 2: ATHENS . Arrive in Athens Eleutherios Venizelos International Airport . Meeting and transfer to Hotel Philippos near the Plaka area and the Acropolis. Walking tour to Pnyx Hill and the Plaka Old town. Welcome dinner in selected taverna. Overnight with breakfast.
Day 3: ATHENS - SOUNION. Possible guided visit of the Benaki Museum and the Agora. Stop for a quick lunch. Drive along the Riviera-Attica to Cape Sounion , for a guided visit of the Temple of Poseidon . Dinner included in selected taverna on the way back to Athens . Overnight with breakfast in Hotel Philippos.
Day 4: ATHENS . Guided tour of the Acropolis on foot and Herodus Atticus Theatre, walk through the old town Athens, Plaka. Lunch in Plaka at extra cost. Visit typical taverna/ouzeri with traditional Greek music in the Psiri area, meet locals and observe how Greeks entertain themselves. Afternoon free. Overnight with breakfast at Hotel Philippos.
Day 5 : ATHENS - ELEUSIS - NAUPLION. Morning departure for 3 day land tour to mainland Greece and the Peloponnese with private guide and coach. Visit Eleusis , the site of the Eleusinian Mysteries dedicated to the Goddess Demeter. Continue and pass by Corinth Canal . Lunch on the way at extra cost. Continue to the famous Greek theatre of Epidaurus, well preserved and used for performances still to today as well as the sanctuary and the archeological museum . Drive to Nauplion, once the capital of Greece , with its picturesque port and hill fortress of Palamidi. Overnight with breakfast in Nauplion.
Day 6: NAUPLION - MYCENAE - DELPHI . Morning departure for the site of Mycenae . Visit the Royal Palace of Agamemnon, the Royal Tombs and Tomb of Atreus. Continue passing the town of Egion, cross over by short ferry right, reach Agios Nikolaos and continue for Delphi . Overnight with breakfast.
Day 7: DELPHI-OSIOS LOUKAS- ATHENS . Visit the archeological site of Delphi , the famous Oracle, the Temple of Apollo . Continue to Osios Loucas for a visit of the famous monastery with the golden frescoes. Arrive in Athens late afternoon. Overnight in Hotel Philippos.
Day 8: ATHENS- PIREAUS- EGINA- HYDRA Morning departure by guide and coach to Pireaus (if open due to restorations). Stop for a short visit of the Archeological Museum of Pireaus. Continue to board the ferry at 10:30am to the island of Egina . Visit the Temple of Aphaia . Lunch stop on the island in a fish taverna at extra cost. Enjoy some local island treats such as pistachio nuts. Continue by ferry or hydrofoil to Hydra ( 2 hours away ) for overnight.
Day 9: HYDRA- ATHENS . Enjoy the morning until the afternoon on this typical island with donkeys, small galleys, island houses, small picturesque port without any cars. Ferry or hydrofoil to return to Athens for overnight at Hotel Philippos.
Day 10 : ATHENS . Enjoy a free day in Athens to visit one of its Museums such as the Nomismatic Museum or the Cycladic Museum , reached by local subway. Farewell dinner in selected taverna in Athens . Overnight at Hotel Philippos in Athens .
Day 11: ATHENS- USA . Morning transfer to airport for return flight to the US .
RATE: $1,925 p.p. (based on 15 participants + 1 free)
INCLUDES:
- Accommodation in superior tourist class hotels in Athens , Nauplion, Delphi ,
- Hydra for nine (9) overnights in double rooms with all private facilities
- Daily buffet breakfast
- Three (3) dinners in selected restaurants in Athens, one welcome, one farewell dinner and one extra dinner near the seaside
- Transfers to/from airport upon arrival and departure
- English speaking guide/lecturer through out as per itinerary
- Coach transportation in for day trip in Athens , Egina and as per itinerary on 3 day land tour
- Boat tickets to/from Egina in ferry boat and Egina/Hydra and Hydra/Piraeus
- Assistance 24 hours from our reps in Athens
Rates for 2008/09 are based on the current exchange rate of the Euro to the Dollar (1 Euro = $1.40) and are subject to change due to currency fluctuations |
