| HIGHLIGHTS: Athens - Kalambaka - Meteora - Delphi - Olympia - Mykonos - Ios - Santorini
Explore some of the world's most impressive ancient sites on mainland Greece followed by a relaxing island hopping adventure of Mykonos, Ios and Santorini.
Day 1 Athens. Your trip starts today in Athens. No activities are planned so you may arrive at any time. If you have not pre-booked an arrival transfer you will find taxis available on arrival at Athens Airport. We recommend arriving early so you can visit the New Acropolis Museum, an excellent museum which provides a great background on ancient Greece. This evening we meet our tour guide and fellow travel companions at a Welcome meeting (details will be posted on the hotel noticeboard). Your tour guide will collect your local payment of EUR250 at this meeting. This evening we take a walking tour of the famous Plaka area. From anywhere in the Plaka, you can look up and see the magnificent Acropolis illuminated up on the hill, an incredible site.
Day 2 Athens - Kalambaka. Today we explore the ancient treasures of Athens. Our guided visit of the city includes the Acropolis, the pinnacle of western civilisation and one of the most important monuments of the ancient world. Set on top of rock, dominating the sprawling city below, it is crowned by the magnificent Parthenon. After our morning exploration of Athens, we journey by private bus to central Greece. As we approach our base for the night, the town of Kalambaka, you'll notice the sheer rock pinnacles that border the northern edge of the city. Tomorrow we'll explore the mystical monasteries built within this unusual landscape.
Day 3 Kalambaka - Meteora - Delphi. This morning we explore the amazing perched monasteries of Meteora, one of the country's most fascinating sites and something that has to be seen to be believed. Dating back to the 11th century, the hidden away caves and isolated rock crevices became the abodes of solitary monks and as time passed monasteries began to be built atop the steep, soaring rock pinnacles, twenty - four to be exact. An engineering feat yes, but also the ideal place to escape Turkish invasion. Today six of the monasteries remain occupied by monks or nuns and are still used for religious reasons. After our visit, we drive south, down to Delphi, our base for exploring yet another fascinating ancient site.
Day 4 Delphi - Olympia. Today is devoted to exploring one of Greece's most important archaeological sites; the Sanctuary of Apollo in Delphi. With our guide tour, we'll explore this fascinating site, once home to the Delphi Oracle; people would travel from far and wide to seek advice from the famous oracle. On our guided visit of the site, we'll explore the Temple of Apollo, the most important building of the site and the place were statues and offerings to the gods were housed and were cult rituals took place. We also spend time visiting the Delphi Museum. We then head to Olympia, on the Peloponnese Peninsula.
Day 5 Olympia - Athens. Today we explore the site of the first Olympic Games; Ancient Olympia. With our guide, we'll tour the site, uncovering the remains of temples, public buildings, stadiums and gymnasiums We see the main stadium, gymnasium, wrestling school (palaestra), priest houses (theokoleon), Temple of Hera, Temple of Zeus and the hippodrome where chariot races were ran. After our visit, we drive back to Athens, stopping en route to view the famous Corinth Canal that separates the mainland from the Peloponnese Peninsula. Attempts were made as early as 7th century BC to build the canal, including Alexander the Great and Nero but it wasn't until the 19th century that the final project was complete. Hopefully we'll get the chance to see a ship pass through. We arrive into Athens in the late afternoon.
Day 6 Athens - Mykonos. We transfer to Athens' Piraeus port this morning and board our ferry which whisks us across the Aegean to the island of Mykonos. Mykonos is both a beautiful and glamorous island. The rocky hills lead down to beautiful golden beaches and iconic white - washed cubic houses and old windmills are scattered throughout the landscape. As one of the most cosmopolitan and lively islands of the Cyclades group; it enjoys a vibrant beach life and dynamic night scene. After checking in to our hotel, we wander into Old Mykonos town to orientate ourselves with our new surrounds. We then take a local bus to the interior of the island to experience a different side to Mykonos. Our destination is the small town of Ano Mera; one of Mykonos' oldest villages where traditional village life still exists. We have some free time to wander around the large town square or perhaps enjoy a drink in one of the village's small bars and restaurants. We return by local bus to Mykonos town.
Day 7 Mykonos. Today is a free day to enjoy all the Mykonos has to offer. You may wish to explore the island on your own or perhaps simply relax and unwind on one of Mykonos's beaches. A great optional excursion is a visit to the nearby island of Delos; a sacred site of huge archaeological significance where finds are still being made today. Your tour guide will be able to assist you with options available.
Day 8 Mykonos - Ios. We farewell Mykonos today and take a ferry to the island of Ios. After settling into our hotel we head out to discover Chora, the main settlement of the island and a typical Cycladic town. Its bright white cubist houses, labyrinth of narrow winding streets and small churches are great to wander around. For those who wish, we can take a walk to the top of the hill, where a church is perched and from here you have stunning views of the surrounding landscapes. The remainder of the day and evening is free, so why not wander around the village and find a local taverna to sample some delicious Greek Island cuisine.
Day 9 Ios. Today is a free day to enjoy Ios. The island is known for its great beaches so you may wish to spend the day relaxing on one of these. A local bus or caique (boat) can take you to Manganari beach on the south coast, with a long white sandy shore, it's considered one of the best beaches on the island. Or perhaps you'd prefer to visit one of the more remote beaches on the north coast, such as Psathi, Kalamos or Agia Theodoti. There are plenty of optional water sports available on the island. Your leader will point you the right direction of how to access these beaches. Alternatively you may wish to visit to the Ios's archaeological museum in Chora which displays exhibits of interesting finds from the island.
Day 10 Ios - Santorini. We take a ferry today to Santorini, considered one of the most beautiful islands of the Cyclades. The island was formed from a series of volcanic eruptions and earthquakes over thousands of years. Today an incredible caldera remains, surrounded by colourful steep cliffs; this is an icon of the island and a spectacular sight. Our base here will be the capital of Fira, a lively town with plenty of restaurants, bars and shops available. This afternoon we take an orientation walk around Fira town and to the nearby Imerovigli village. Perched at one of the highest points on the island, Imerovigli is a beautiful and peaceful village and due to its strategic location was historically used by villagers as a lookout point for the looming arrival of pirates.
Day 11 Santorini. Today is a free day to explore Santorini. There are plenty of things to see and do on the island. You may wish to take a boat out to Volcano Island to find out about the island's famous volcanic eruption. Santorini is also known for its white wine production so a visit to one of the island's wineries including a wine tasting is also a good option. Another possibility is an optional bus tour around the island. And for those wanting to learn more about the history of the island, the Museum of Prehistoric Thira houses an impressive range of archaeological finds from the site of Akrotiri. Aside from that, there are plenty of places to sit back, relax and unwind including one of the islands black - sand beaches. Late this afternoon we regroup and take a local bus out to the charming town of Oia. This is the perfect place to watch the Santorini's spectacular and famous sunset. The remainder of the evening is free so why not plonk yourself in one of Oia's local restaurant, perched high up on the cliffs and enjoy a delicious seafood dish amidst stunning views.
Day 12 Santorini - Athens. It's our last morning to enjoy Santorini before we make our way back to Santorini's port for our return journey to Athens by ferry. We arrive in Athens late in the day (depending on ferry schedule) and then transfer to our hotel for a last night in Athens.
Day 13 Athens. Your tour ends after breakfast in Athens.
Explore some of the world's most impressive ancient sites 13 day tour departing Athens. 12 nights accommodation in hotels. 12 breakfasts. Gecko's expert English-speaking local guide throughout the tour with local site guides at some locations
Ask about our great airfaresConditions Valid for sale until 31 December 2012.Price is per person twin share.Airfare not included.Additional conditions may apply, please enquire for further details.Prices shown are fully inclusive of taxes. Additional levies, government charges and other applicable fees may apply and are beyond our control.Seasonal surcharges and blackout dates may apply depending on date of travel.Payments made by credit card will incur a surcharge. Prices shown are for payments made by cash in store or Bpay.These prices are a guide to the best price and are subject to change without notice.Prices are subject to change without notice, due to matters outside our control, such as adverse currency fluctuations, fuel surcharges, taxes and airfare increases, please enquire for further details. |
