Athens
Day 1 Depart USA
Day 2 Athens
Day 3 Athens
Our hotel in Athens is situated on Omonia Square, within walking distance from most of the sites. The modern centre of Athens is formed by Syntagma Square and Omonia Square that are connected to one another by busy shopping streets. The Archaeological Museum is located not far from Omonia Square. Here you can find one of the most famous collections of Greek art, from the most ancient Greek times up until the Hellenistic era. From the hotel you can walk to the Plaka Quarter in 15 minutes. This Quarter came into existence in the Turkish era. As opposed to the architecture in modern Athens the architecture of the houses here is still traditional. The walls are overgrown with hibiscus and bougainvillea. At many open clearings you can still find remainders of temples and market squares from the ancient Athens. The classic highlight is of course the climb of the Acropolis. It is also nice to walk across the Pynx, a hill covered with green pine trees. Further you can visit the National Museum with its famous statues.
Delphi
Day 4 Athens - Delphi
Day 5 Delphi - Kalambaka
By bus we leave for Delphi, about a four-hour drive away. Delphi is a small provincial town that is visited mainly because of the remains of the sanctuary and of the oracle from classical Greek antiquity. The inhabitants of Delphi thus still live from the proceeds of the oracle just like their ancestors did. For centuries people from the wide surroundings of Delphi visited this oracle to ask advice from the god Apollo about all possible life questions. Leaders made their political decisions sometimes depending on the answers the high priestess gave them. Besides the cultural historical significance a visit to the oracle is also a must because of the magnificent view that you have from there. The oracle is situated at about a 15-minute walk from the hotel.
Kalambaka
Day 5 Kalambaka
Day 6 Meteora Monasteries, bus to Ioannina
The trip from Delphi to Kalambaka takes about five hours. Kalambaka is situated at the foot of some rocks, at a distance of about 3.11 miles from the Monasteries. In Kalambaka itself, which is an atmospheric little town with many restaurants and shops, there is a 14th century cathedral. The highlight of a visit to the city is of course the nearby-situated monasteries, of which the oldest was also founded in the 14th century. The excursion to the Meteora Monasteries takes place in the morning, before we drive to Ioannina. The Monasteries are accessible by way of stairs and can be visited for a fee. Many Monasteries, especially the large Meteoron Monastery and the Agios Nikolaos, are richly decorated with old frescos and icons. Very impressive is also the view of the other monasteries that often seem as if to be constructed from the rocks themselves.
Ioannina
Day 6 Arrival in Ioannina
Day 7 Ioannina
By bus we drive in four hours through the Pindos mountain range to busy Ioannina. On the way we visit Metsovo where the inhabitants still do wood work and make cheese according to traditional methods. Ioannina, situated at the Pamvotis Lake and by Mount Mitsikeli, was once dominated by the Turks and therefore has a more Eastern atmosphere. In Ioannina itself the Citadel, the Archaeological Museum and the Cultural Anthropological Museum situated in the Aslan Pasha Mosque are worth visiting. Nearby this afore-mentioned museum you can take the boat to island Nisi in the lake. It is also possible to make an excursion with the bus to Monodendri, a beautiful little village. Depending on the weather circumstances, you can take a hike along the spectacular Vikos Gorge from here. Other options in the vicinity of Ioannina are excursions to the oracle of Dodona (about 12 miles southwest of the city) or to the Perama Caves (About 3.73 miles north of the city).
Olympia
Day 8 Ioannina – Olympia
Day 9 Olympia
On the long drive to the Peloponnesus we will make a stop around noontime in Nafpaktos, a small, typically Greek harbour city dominated by a Venetian Fort built on a hill. After a break we will take the ferry from Antirion to cross over to the Peloponnesus in about ten minutes. We then drive for approximately three hours to reach Olympia. This is our first introduction to the Peloponnesus, the large peninsula in the south. We will spend two nights here in a centrally located family guesthouse. Olympia of course is famous because of the Olympic Games, authentically a religious festival in honour of Zeus. In the large temple of Zeus the winners of the Games were crowned with laurel wreaths. The remains of this sport and temple complex are located in a wooded area. You can walk here from our hotel in about ten minutes. Hop on one of the local buses sometime; these drives by the small villages in this region, which are often spectacularly situated in the mountains. That is the ideal way to see something of authentic Greece and to experience surprising events. You will barely encounter other foreigners here and you can for instance spend the afternoon playing cards on the village square with the local population whilst savouring your glass of retsina.
Finikoundas
Day 10 Olympia – Finikoundas
Day 11 Finikoundas
The drive from Olympia to Finikoundas takes about three hours. We drive along a quaint coastal road from where for most of the time you have a view of the sea. On the way we can stop at the palace of King Nestor at the old Pylos and at the Venetian-Turkish Fort in the small city of Methoni. Finikoundas is an old fishing village that is a popular holiday destination for the Greeks. Despite all the tourism the atmosphere here is very relaxed, and it is an ideal place to take a moment to recuperate from all the impressions so far. Our hotel is situated close to the sandy beach, where in the early morning you can feel the first rays of the sun on your skin, while sitting in your chair in the sand. If you feel more like exploring you can take the local bus to go and view the small city of Pylos.
Sparta
Day 12 Finikoundas - Mystras - Sparta
Day 13 Sparta - Mycenae - Nafplion
In the morning we leave Finikounda by bus to drive to Sparta. After taking a magnificent route across the Taigetos mountain range we will visit the 14th century town of Mystras, beautifully built against a mountain slope. In a few hours you can view this splendid, fairytale-like little town, which is one of the most beautiful examples of Byzantine architecture. As you descend from the top of the mountain you pass by the various remains. At the halfway-point of the hike you can stop by the nuns for a glass of water and you can enjoy a beautiful view of the surrounding area. Situated a few miles away is the modern city of Sparta, where not much remains from the illustrious military stronghold of ancient Greek times. On the way from Sparta to Nafplion we will pay a visit to Mycenae. In the Fort here you can view the imposing Lions Gate that is thousands of years old. The bus ride then goes on to Nafplion. Around 1830 this was the first capital of Greece, which had then just become independent.
Nafplion
Day 14 Nafplion
Day 15 Nafplion - Athens
Day 16 Athens – Arrival USA
Nafplion is one of the most appealing cities of the Peloponnesus. The Venetians ruled the city for two centuries. The architecture still strongly reminds of Venice with white and pastel colored houses with small wrought iron balconies that set the tone. The city is built at the foot of a hill and offers a view across a bay. In the past many large forts were constructed on the hillside, because of the city’s very strategic location right by the sea. One of these is the Palamidi Fort. When visiting this fort prepare yourself for a tough climb! A few miles away you can relax at the beach of Tolo. Situated near Nafplion are some of the most famous remains of classical civilization, like the remains of Tiryns. Epidauros is situated to the Northeast. Here you can visit the most well preserved antique theatre of Greece. This theatre is so well preserved and still has such good acoustics that in the summer months many performances of classical Greek theatre plays are offered here. After our stay in Nafplion we will drive across the Channel of Corinth to reach Athens. The next day we fly back to the United States.
Day 1 Depart USA
Day 2 Athens
Day 3 Athens
Our hotel in Athens is situated on Omonia Square, within walking distance from most of the sites. The modern centre of Athens is formed by Syntagma Square and Omonia Square that are connected to one another by busy shopping streets. The Archaeological Museum is located not far from Omonia Square. Here you can find one of the most famous collections of Greek art, from the most ancient Greek times up until the Hellenistic era. From the hotel you can walk to the Plaka Quarter in 15 minutes. This Quarter came into existence in the Turkish era. As opposed to the architecture in modern Athens the architecture of the houses here is still traditional. The walls are overgrown with hibiscus and bougainvillea. At many open clearings you can still find remainders of temples and market squares from the ancient Athens. The classic highlight is of course the climb of the Acropolis. It is also nice to walk across the Pynx, a hill covered with green pine trees. Further you can visit the National Museum with its famous statues.
Delphi
Day 4 Athens - Delphi
Day 5 Delphi - Kalambaka
By bus we leave for Delphi, about a four-hour drive away. Delphi is a small provincial town that is visited mainly because of the remains of the sanctuary and of the oracle from classical Greek antiquity. The inhabitants of Delphi thus still live from the proceeds of the oracle just like their ancestors did. For centuries people from the wide surroundings of Delphi visited this oracle to ask advice from the god Apollo about all possible life questions. Leaders made their political decisions sometimes depending on the answers the high priestess gave them. Besides the cultural historical significance a visit to the oracle is also a must because of the magnificent view that you have from there. The oracle is situated at about a 15-minute walk from the hotel.
Kalambaka
Day 5 Kalambaka
Day 6 Meteora Monasteries, bus to Ioannina
The trip from Delphi to Kalambaka takes about five hours. Kalambaka is situated at the foot of some rocks, at a distance of about 3.11 miles from the Monasteries. In Kalambaka itself, which is an atmospheric little town with many restaurants and shops, there is a 14th century cathedral. The highlight of a visit to the city is of course the nearby-situated monasteries, of which the oldest was also founded in the 14th century. The excursion to the Meteora Monasteries takes place in the morning, before we drive to Ioannina. The Monasteries are accessible by way of stairs and can be visited for a fee. Many Monasteries, especially the large Meteoron Monastery and the Agios Nikolaos, are richly decorated with old frescos and icons. Very impressive is also the view of the other monasteries that often seem as if to be constructed from the rocks themselves.
Ioannina
Day 6 Arrival in Ioannina
Day 7 Ioannina
By bus we drive in four hours through the Pindos mountain range to busy Ioannina. On the way we visit Metsovo where the inhabitants still do wood work and make cheese according to traditional methods. Ioannina, situated at the Pamvotis Lake and by Mount Mitsikeli, was once dominated by the Turks and therefore has a more Eastern atmosphere. In Ioannina itself the Citadel, the Archaeological Museum and the Cultural Anthropological Museum situated in the Aslan Pasha Mosque are worth visiting. Nearby this afore-mentioned museum you can take the boat to island Nisi in the lake. It is also possible to make an excursion with the bus to Monodendri, a beautiful little village. Depending on the weather circumstances, you can take a hike along the spectacular Vikos Gorge from here. Other options in the vicinity of Ioannina are excursions to the oracle of Dodona (about 12 miles southwest of the city) or to the Perama Caves (About 3.73 miles north of the city).
Olympia
Day 8 Ioannina – Olympia
Day 9 Olympia
On the long drive to the Peloponnesus we will make a stop around noontime in Nafpaktos, a small, typically Greek harbour city dominated by a Venetian Fort built on a hill. After a break we will take the ferry from Antirion to cross over to the Peloponnesus in about ten minutes. We then drive for approximately three hours to reach Olympia. This is our first introduction to the Peloponnesus, the large peninsula in the south. We will spend two nights here in a centrally located family guesthouse. Olympia of course is famous because of the Olympic Games, authentically a religious festival in honour of Zeus. In the large temple of Zeus the winners of the Games were crowned with laurel wreaths. The remains of this sport and temple complex are located in a wooded area. You can walk here from our hotel in about ten minutes. Hop on one of the local buses sometime; these drives by the small villages in this region, which are often spectacularly situated in the mountains. That is the ideal way to see something of authentic Greece and to experience surprising events. You will barely encounter other foreigners here and you can for instance spend the afternoon playing cards on the village square with the local population whilst savouring your glass of retsina.
Finikoundas
Day 10 Olympia – Finikoundas
Day 11 Finikoundas
The drive from Olympia to Finikoundas takes about three hours. We drive along a quaint coastal road from where for most of the time you have a view of the sea. On the way we can stop at the palace of King Nestor at the old Pylos and at the Venetian-Turkish Fort in the small city of Methoni. Finikoundas is an old fishing village that is a popular holiday destination for the Greeks. Despite all the tourism the atmosphere here is very relaxed, and it is an ideal place to take a moment to recuperate from all the impressions so far. Our hotel is situated close to the sandy beach, where in the early morning you can feel the first rays of the sun on your skin, while sitting in your chair in the sand. If you feel more like exploring you can take the local bus to go and view the small city of Pylos.
Sparta
Day 12 Finikoundas - Mystras - Sparta
Day 13 Sparta - Mycenae - Nafplion
In the morning we leave Finikounda by bus to drive to Sparta. After taking a magnificent route across the Taigetos mountain range we will visit the 14th century town of Mystras, beautifully built against a mountain slope. In a few hours you can view this splendid, fairytale-like little town, which is one of the most beautiful examples of Byzantine architecture. As you descend from the top of the mountain you pass by the various remains. At the halfway-point of the hike you can stop by the nuns for a glass of water and you can enjoy a beautiful view of the surrounding area. Situated a few miles away is the modern city of Sparta, where not much remains from the illustrious military stronghold of ancient Greek times. On the way from Sparta to Nafplion we will pay a visit to Mycenae. In the Fort here you can view the imposing Lions Gate that is thousands of years old. The bus ride then goes on to Nafplion. Around 1830 this was the first capital of Greece, which had then just become independent.
Nafplion
Day 14 Nafplion
Day 15 Nafplion - Athens
Day 16 Athens – Arrival USA
Nafplion is one of the most appealing cities of the Peloponnesus. The Venetians ruled the city for two centuries. The architecture still strongly reminds of Venice with white and pastel colored houses with small wrought iron balconies that set the tone. The city is built at the foot of a hill and offers a view across a bay. In the past many large forts were constructed on the hillside, because of the city’s very strategic location right by the sea. One of these is the Palamidi Fort. When visiting this fort prepare yourself for a tough climb! A few miles away you can relax at the beach of Tolo. Situated near Nafplion are some of the most famous remains of classical civilization, like the remains of Tiryns. Epidauros is situated to the Northeast. Here you can visit the most well preserved antique theatre of Greece. This theatre is so well preserved and still has such good acoustics that in the summer months many performances of classical Greek theatre plays are offered here. After our stay in Nafplion we will drive across the Channel of Corinth to reach Athens. The next day we fly back to the United States.
