Vergina_Greece_Philip_II_Larnax

Grand Tour of Greece is covering the most important ruins of ancient Greece and Byzantine Greece and showing the biggest part of mainland Greece country side. The ruins of ancient Mycenae, Epidaurus, Olympia, Delphi, ancient Dion, Pella and Vergina and the famous monasteries in Meteora are worth visiting and will leave you with good memories. You visit Thessaloniki, the second biggest city of Greece with famous archaeological and Byzantine museums and also see a big part of the Greek countryside.


Day 1: ATHENS – OLYMPIA  Drive along the coastal road of the Saronic Gulf you pass   Olympic-Flame-Olympia-GreeceDaphne and Eleusis and arrive to the Corinth Canal, which connects the Aegean Sea with the Ionian Sea (short stop). Drive on to Epidaurus to visit the Theatre (4th century B.C.) famous for its astonishing acoustics. Continue to Nafplion, the picturesque town nestling at the foot of a cliff crowned by the mighty ramparts of the Palamidi Fortress, the first capital of Greece, for a sort stop. Drive through the fertile plain of Argolis and arrive at Mycenae , the legendary Homeric city of the Atreides – the city ‘rich in gold’ of the ancient poets (visit the Lion’s Gate, the Cyclopean Walls, the Royal Tombs) and depart for Olympia, the cradle of the Olympic games, through the central Peloponnese area passing the cities of Tripolis and Megalopolis. Dinner and Overnight at Olympia.


Day 2: OLYMPIA – DELPHI

Delphi_Greece_Archaeological_Site  In the morning visit the Sanctuary of the Olympian Zeus and the museum and then drive through the plains of Eliad and Achaia, through Patras to Rion, cross the channel to Antirion on the ‘state of the art’ new suspended bridge considered to be the longest and most modern in Europe. Crossing the picturesque town of Nafpaktos (Lepanto) and via the seaside area of Galaxidi and Itea arrive in Delphi. Dinner and Overnight


Day 3: DELPHI

In the morning visit the archaeological site and the museum of Delphi. Afternoon free to Delphi_Greece_Tholos_Athina_Proneastroll around the village and admire the valley covered with olive trees like a big carpet. Dinner and Overnight


Day 4: DELPHI – KALAMBAKA – METEORA

In the morning depart for Kalambaka driving through the cities of Thessaly, Amphissa,   Meteora_Greece_The_Holy_Monastery_of_Rousanou_01Lamia and Trikala and arrive at Kalambaka. In the afternoon visit Meteora, among striking scenery, perched on top of huge rocks which seem to be suspended in mid-air, stand ageless monasteries, where you can see exquisite specimens of Byzantine art. Dinner and Overnight


Day 5: KALAMBAKA – THESSALONIKI

Drive through Trikala and Larissa to the famous, sacred Macedonian town of Dion (visit). Thessaloniki_White_Tower_and_promanadeThen continue to Thessaloniki, the largest city in northern Greece. Visit the most interesting museum of Thessaloniki and the other important sites of the city. Rest of the day at leisure to stroll around this beautiful city ‘the northern beauty’ full of monuments and nice cafes. Take a walk at the sea shore and admire the white tower or do your shopping in the nice shops of the city. Dinner and Overnight


Day 6: THESSALONIKI

Pella_Greece_Lion_Hunt_Mosaic   In the morning drive to Pella, Alexander the Great’s capital (visit). Continue to Vergina to visit the tomb of the King Philip and the famous ‘Vergina Treasures’. Then on to Lefkadia to visit the excavations. Return to Thessaloniki via Veria. This is your last chance to enjoy the city and discover its beauty, taste delicious sweets and the ‘Bougatsa’, Thessaloniki is famous for. Dinner and overnight.


Day 7: THESSALONIKI – ATHENS

Start the return drive to Athens. Pass the valley of Tempi with extraordinary beauty of   Euzones-Unkown-Soldier-monument-Athens-Greecethe entire scenery. Admire the combination of the high rocks with the small river and the very old palm trees. Continue passing by Larissa and Lamia and arrive at Thermopylae famous for the ancient battle. Visit the statue of Leonidas, from Sparta, standing here and teaching people of all ages that you have to fight for your liberty and your ideas. In the afternoon arrival in Athens.

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Meteora-Monasteries-Greece

Combination of  Ancient Greece with Byzantine Greece. The ruins of ancient Delphi and the famous Meteora Monasteries are the two samples of these great Greek periods. At the same time you will see a big part of mainland Greece full of green and beautiful villages.

Day 1 Drive through the spectacular sites at fertile plain of Boeotia, crossing the towns of Thebes, Delphi Archaeological Site GreeceLevadia and arrive to Arachova. Take pictures of the famous winter resort built on the slopes of Parnassus Mountain. We continue to  Delphi located a few kilometers away. You have two hours at leisure and can visit the Sanctuary and the Museum, which contains masterpieces of ancient Greek sculpture including the famous bronze Charioteer. Depart for Kalambaka for overnight with Dinner. You can enjoy a walk to this small city under the huge rocks with the famous Monasteries.


Day 2 In the morning after your breakfast in the hotel we will depart for Meteora to see the Meteora Manasteries Greecefamous Byzantine monasteries containing priceless historical and religious treasures built on very high rocks between earth and sky. After visit departure for Athens, passing by Thermopylae, where we will arrive in the early evening .

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Meteora Monasteries

Mycenae, Epidaurus, Olympia and Delphi are famous places of ancient Greece while Meteora was and still is a great religious center and a very important geological phenomenon.

This tour covers the most important ruins of ancient Greece and Byzantine Greece in the Peloponnese and central Greece and gives you the opportunity to see also the Greek country side.


Day 1Epidaurus_Theatre_Greece

You start your Classical Greece Mycenae Olympia Delphi tour early in the morning from the Athens tour terminal or you are picked up from your hotel.  Leave by the Coastal Road to the Corinth Canal (shortstop). Drive on and visit Epidaurus which was a small city in ancient Greece, at the Saronic Gulf. Reputed to be the birthplace of Apollo’s son Asclepius, the healer, Epidaurus was known for its sanctuary, the cult of Asclepius at Epidaurus is attested in the 6th century BC.as well as its theatre, which is once again in use today.
The Sanctuary of Asklepios at Epidaurus is a UNESCO world heritage site.
The theatre is marvelled for its exceptional acoustics, which permits almost perfect intelligibility of non-amplified spoken word from the proscenium or scene to all 15,000 spectators, regardless of their seating.
Then proceed to the Town of Nauplion ( shortstop) drive on to Mycenae. and visit the Archaeological Site and the Tomb of Agamemnon. Departure for Olympia Through Central Peloponnese and the Towns of Tripolis and Megalopolis. Dinner and overnight in Olympia, the Cradle of the Olympic Games


Day 2Olympic_Flame_Lighting_Olympia_Greece

Olympia was a sanctuary of ancient Greece, known for having been the site of the Olympic Games in classical times, the most famous games in history. The sanctuary, known as the Altis, consists of an unordered arrangement of various buildings. Enclosed within the temenos are the Temple of Hera (or Heraion/Heraeum) and the Temple of Zeus, the Pelopion and the altar area, where the sacrifices were made. The hippodrome and later stadium were also to the east.
To the north of the sanctuary can be found the Prytaneion and the Philippeion, as well as the array of treasuries representing the various city-states.
Olympia is also known for the gigantic ivory and gold statue of Zeus that used to stand there, sculpted by Pheidias, which was named one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World by Antipater of Sidon.
Then drive on through the plains of Eliad and Achaia until the magnificent bridge crosses the Corinthian Bay from Rion to Antirion. Pass by the picturesque Towns of Nafpactos (Lepanto) and Itea, and arrive in Delphi. Dinner and overnight.


Day 3Delphi_Greece_Tholos_Athina_Pronea

Delphi was the centre of the Ancient World – the “Omphalos” (Navel of Earth) – whose prestige extended far beyond the boundaries of the Hellenic World.
On the slopes of Mount Parnassus, in a landscape of unparalleled beauty and majesty, lie the ruins of the Sanctuary of Apollo Pythios.
Visit the Treasury of the Athenians, the Temple of Apollo and the Museum containing such masterpieces of Ancient Greek sculpture as the bronze Charioteer and the famous athlete Aghias. Depart for Kalambaka, a small town situated at the foot of the astonishing complex of Meteora, gigantic rocks. Dinner and overnight.

 

 


Day 4Meteora_Greece_The_Holy_Monastery_of_Great_Meteoron

Meteora is one of the largest and most important complexes of Eastern Orthodox monasteries in Greece, second only to Mount Athos. Among striking scenery, perched on top of huge rocks which seem to be suspended in mid-air, stand ageless Monasteries, where you can see exquisite specimens of Byzantine art. The six monasteries are built on natural sandstone rock pillars, at the northwestern edge of the Plain of Thessaly near the Pineios river and the Pindus Mountains, in central Greece. The Meteora is included on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Return to Athens via Trikala, Lamia, and Thermopylae (visit Leonida’s monument). Arrive in Athens early in the evening.

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