10 Day Ultimate Ancient Greece Tours Experience

Thermopylae is a place in Greece where a narrow coastal passage existed in antiquity. The Battle of Thermopylae was fought between an alliance of Greek city states led by King Leonidas of Sparta and the Persian Empire of Xerxes.

• Pickup from your chosen hotel in Athens
• The Gates of Fire: Deriving from the Hot sulphur Springs and in Greek mythology the cavernous entrances to Hades.
• The monument of King Leonidas: Erected in 1955 and created by the sculptor Vasos Falireas. The brass sculpture of the Spartan King with his spear and shield is truly amazing.
• Thermopylae museum: The innovative museum is dedicated to the 480 BC battle that changed the course of Greek history and western civilization as we know it today.
• Hotsprings: The baths of Thermopylae could be described as a paradise of healing spas. High end hydrotherapy facilities focusing on balneotherapy not only as a treatment for specific ailments, illnesses and injuries but also to promote general well-being. Of the 60 pending, 34 springs have officially been recognized so far.
• Drive to Meteora
• Check in at your chosen hotel

• The “Hanging Monasteries” (First day…Visit 1 to 2 monasteries).
• Explore the picturesque town of Kalambaka and the village of Kastraki.
• Experience the breathtaking Meteora sunset.
• Lunch/ dinner at a traditional taverna.
• Stroll amongst the village shops where you can treat yourself and buy handmade souvenirs for your family and friends.
• Overnight at Kalabaka or Kastraki.

• Breakfast at Meteora
• Visit the remaining “Hanging Monasteries” (4 monasteries)
• Enjoy lunch at a traditional taverna
• Coffees
• Drive to Delphi
• Checking at your chosen hotel
• Evening free with an option for dinner at Arachova

Visit Delphi archaeological site: A Unesco World Heritage Center, Delphi is one of the most important archaeological sites in Greece. The functions of the oracle grew over the centuries to include athletic games, cultural events, most importantly the Pythian games. The Temple of Apollo, the Ancient Theater, the Stadium, the Athenian Treasury, the Gymnasium, the Sanctuary of Athena Pronaia are truly captivating.

• Breakfast at Delphi
• Visit Delphi Archaeological Museum: Many important ancient Greek artifacts from the excavations at Delphi are housed here.

1. Frieze of the Treasury of Sifnias
2. Naxian Sphinx: Dated to 560 BC, comprises one of the earliest representations in art of the demonic creature with a lion’s body, bird’s wings and a woman’s head.
3. Metopes of the Athenian Treasury: Early 5th century BCE you will gaze upon Theseus and Antiope, Theseus and the Minotaur, Theseus and Marathonian bull, Heracles and the cattle of Geryon, Heracles battling the three-bodied giant Geryon, Heracles subduing a Centaur, Heracles and Cycnus, Heracles and the Nemean lion, An Amazonomachy scene and many more.
4. Omphalos: Signifying the center of the earth and kept in Apollo’s temple.
5. Kleobis and Biton: Two brothers from Argos. The statues are of the typical kouros type attributed to a Peloponnesian workshop and date to the end of the 7th century BC.
6. Statue of Antinoos: Portrays the celebrated for his beauty, youth and emperor Hadrian’s favorite as a god. This work is considered one of the finest examples of the neoclassical style revived in the 2nd century AD.
7. The famous Charioteer: Belonging to a statuary complex of a chariot run by four horses and included a second male figure.

• Arachova Village: A popular locals destination the village of Arachova is renowned for the little picturesque shops and traditional cafes and tavernas.
• Lunch on the Caldera at Delphi, overlooking fabulous Itea and Amfissa.
• Drive to ancient Olympia
• Check in at your chosen hotel
• Option for dinner at an authentic taverna
• Overnight at Olympia

• Breakfast at Olympia
• Visit the archaeological site

1. Visit the Temple of Zeus: Dedicated to the god Zeus the Doric temple built in the second quarter of the 5th century BCE was the very model of the fully developed classical Greek temple of the Doric order.
2. Visit the Temple of Hera: Known as Heraion this ancient Archaic Greek temple was dedicated to Hera, queen of the Greek gods. The temple was built in approximately 590 BCE. In modern times the torch of the Olympic flame is lit in its ruins by the god Apollo.
3. Philippeion: The only circular building inside the Altis. One of the finest examples of ancient Greek architecture, it was dedicated to Zeus by Philip II of Macedonia after his victory at Chaironeia in 338 BCE. The monument was completed by his son Alexander the Great.
4. Visit the Hippodrome and later Stadium: The Hippodrome was a wide flat open area where the starting and finishing line was defined by a pole. Horse and chariot races took place here.
5. The Palaestra: Built in the 3rd century BC as part of the gymnasium complex it was used to practice boxing, wrestling and jumping.
6. The Workshop of Pheidias: This is where the great sculptor crafted the gigantic chryselephantine statue of Zeus listed as one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world.

• Visit the Archeological Museum of Olympia: Exhibits incredible artifacts from the site.
• Statue of Zeus: A giant seated figure about 13 m tall. The huge ivory and gold statue was bigger even than that of Athena in the Parthenon.
• Visit the Museum of the History of the Olympic Games in Antiquity: Since 2004 a new museum is in operation. The museum was based on the collection of Georgios Papastefanou who was the first to believe in the possibility of spreading the Olympic Idea and Education through a museum.
• Visit the museum of Archimedes (Mathematician) regarded as one of the leading scientists in classical antiquity. A unique museum in the center of ancient Olympia dedicated to the “Greatest Mind” of all time. Visitors will have the opportunity to see replicas of his inventions and to interact with them.
• Explore Olympia village: In the western Peloponnese, in the beautiful valley of the Alpheios river lies the most celebrated sanctuary of ancient Greece. You will be amazed by the serenic feel that this village creates.
• Lunch at an authentic Greek taverna
• Shopping for family and friends
• Drive to Monemvasia
• Check in at your chosen boutique hotel
• Option for dinner at an authentic Greek restaurant in the castle
• Overnight at Monemvasia

• Breakfast at Monemvasia
• Discover “The Rock”: You will feel overwhelmed by the magical rawness, wildness, history and profound romanticism!
• Explore the marvelous Medieval castle: Discover the Christos Elkomenos Church featuring the heavily guarded icon of the Crucifixion. The Ritsos family residence together with a total of 40 churches will captivate you.
• St.Sofia
• Vathysfero cafe: Enjoy your refreshments and delicious Greek delicacies while gazing out to the Myrtoan sea.
• Lunch at Matoula’s enjoying authentic “village style” delicacies captivated by the breathtaking panoramic views.
• Drive to Limeni: The Mani peninsula
• Check in at your boutique hotel
• Dinner by the water
• Overnight at Limeni

• Breakfast at Limeni
• Discover Diros caves
• Discover Aeropoli
• Limeni sea & sun at leisure
• Dinner by the sea at an authentic fish taverna
• Overnight at Limeni

• Breakfast or brunch at Limeni
• Drive to Nafplio
• Check in at your chosen hotel
• Explore Palamidi Castle: Nestled on the crest of a 216 m high hill, this Venetian built fortress commands an impressive view over the Argolic gulf. There are 999 steps to the top of the castle! Climb them if you must!
• Freedom Square: Thanking the French for their contribution in our War of Independence against the Ottomans, an obelisk is erected here depicting a French and a Hellenic woman in their struggle for Liberty.
• Bourtzi: The water castle of Bourtzi is a Venetian fortress located in the middle of the harbor.
• Constitution Square: The most important and historic square in Nafplion. The square is named after the Constitution that Otto, the first king of Greece was obliged to grant after the 3rd of September uprising in 1843.
• First Hellenic Parliament: Strolling down the old world near Syntagma square you will find an imposing mosque. Built in 1730 with a large hall and characteristic dome, the mosque housed the first Hellenic parliament from 1825 until 1826.
• Anastasios of Nafplia church: Located in the old world you will be impressed by the church’s dome and the wall paintings decorating the spiritual interior. A true Christian Orthodox religious pragmatism.
• St.Spyridon church: It was here outside this church one of the blackest events in modern Greek history took place. The assassination of Ioannis Kapodistrias, the first Greek Governor in 1831!
• Lunch or dinner at one of the many unique traditional tavernas
• Antica Gelateria di Roma for the best gellato and Italian delights
• Pergamonto for the best ‘loukoumades’in Greece (puff balls with honey or chocolate and almond nuts)
• Stroll amongst the town’s shops where you can treat yourself and buy handmade souvenirs for your family and friends
• Overnight at Nafplio

• Breakfast at Nafplio
• Visit the Epidaurus and Asclepius
• The Epidaurus amphitheatre: Famous for its classic Greek construction and astounding acoustics. Enjoy the arts! Be captivated by the theatrical performances from Euripides, Sophocles, Aristophanes and Aeschylus. Drop a pin or coin on the stage… it will be heard even if you are sitting at the last seats of the theater.
• The Epidaurus Archaeological Museum: Noted for its reconstructions of temples and its columns with inscriptions.
• The Asclepius: The sanctuary dedicated to the ancient Greek demi-god of medicine Asclepius. A marvelous ancient medical retreat.
• Drive to Mycenae

Rich in gold! King Agamemnon’s mythical kingdom sung in Homer’s epics. It is the most important and richest center of the late Bronze Age.

• The Lions Gate: The main entrance of the Bronze age citadel of Mycenae erected during the 13th century BC.
• Grave Circles A and B: Royal cemeteries situated to the south of the Lion Gate and outside the Bronze Age citadel.
• The Cyclopean Walls: The main characteristic of the Mycenean walls is that they are made of huge limestone boulders. Only the mythical Cyclopes had the strength to move the enormous boulders that made up the walls of Mycenae and Tiryns.
• The Royal Palace: Consisting of domestic apartments, the Throne Room Suite, the Grand Staircase, a collection of rooms for officers or palace officials and the Forecourt.
• The Treasury of Atreus: A large tholos or beehive tomb constructed during the Bronze Age around 1250 BC.
• Tomb of Clytemnestra: A Mycenean tholos type tomb built in 1250 BC named after Clytemnestra the wife of king Agamemnon and leader of the Greeks in Trojan war.
• The Mycenean Archaeological Museum: The most important Mycenean artifacts are exhibited here. You will be dazzled by the gold grave goods, burial masks, jewellery, weapons, worship idols and frescoes.
• Enjoy refreshments overlooking the citadel of Mycenae
• Drive to Nemea

A beautiful land of soft hills with endless vineyards and great wines. A popular day trip from Athens for every lover of antiquity fewer places in Greece combine ancient Greek temples with what feels a lot like the Napa Valley of California. Nemea should be on the itinerary of every traveler to the Peloponnese.

• The Temple of Zeus / Jupiter: The center piece of the Macedonian building program was the temple of Nemean Zeus. Three columns of which have always stood since the time of the original construction.
• The Ancient baths: The Nemean baths are an athletic bathing house at the Panhellenic sanctuary of Nemea.
• The Apodyterium: The Apodyterium is where athletes got undressed, oiled their skin and prepared for the games.
• The Ancient Stadium Crypt: Over 36 m. in length and for the most part in very good condition, it is the entrance tunnel that makes the Nemean games unique. It is the passage through the tunnel, clad in chiton and with bare feet that effects the transformation of the participant from a modern to an ancient. The tunnel thus plays the critical role in the accomplishment of our goal to provide an opportunity for anyone and everyone to become an ancient Greek athlete.
• The starting grid: Characterized by toe grooves cut into the stone blocks.
• The Archeological Museum: Founded by the University of California the museum contains a collection of pictures of Nemea by travelers of the 18th and 20th centuries, coins of ancient visitors and items related to athletic activity.
• The Wine Roads: Nemea a mythical land where Agiorgitiko wine is born.
• Palivou winery: Enjoy a fabulous wine tour and taste the award winning wines…Nectar for the gods
• Drive to Tolo
• Lunch by the sea at Tolo
• Free time to enjoy Nafplio by night
• Option for dinner at Nafplio
• Overnight Nafplio

• Breakfast at Nafplio
• Drive to Acrocorinth
• Visit Acrocorinth, the acropolis of ancient Corinth, a monolithic rock overseeing the ancient city of Corinth. It is one of the most impressive and dominant acropoleis of the Peloponnese.

1. Gates: A system of 3 circuit walls reinforced by towers.
2. Keep
3. Peirene Spring: Located within the encircling walls, a gift of Asopus to Sisyphus.
4. Temple of Aphrodite: On the highest of the two picks of the mountain are traces of the temple of Aphrodite on the site.
5. Frankish Tower: At the SW edge of the precipitous rock fortified during Frankish times forming the inner keep of the fortress. Remains of churches, mosques, houses, fountains and cisterns are preserved here.

• Views of Geraneia Mountain: Enjoying breathtaking views of the Corinthian gulf and the SW coast of the Peloponnese.
• Drive to Ancient Corinth

• Hadgimoustafa spring: a fountain built during the Ottoman empire.
• Ancient Corinth Archaeological Museum: Housing a large collection of artifacts from the local site and from smaller sites in the neighboring area.

1. Temple of Apollo: One of the earliest Doric temples in the Peloponnese and the Greek mainland with monolithic columns, rare in the ancient world, built around 560 BCE.
2. Agora: A rectangular construction 160 m long and 70 m wide, consisting of central shops, small temples and altar and the renowned podium or Bema from where Apostle Paul addressed the Corinthians in 52 AD.
3. Roman buildings.
4. Bema or Pedestal
5. Theatre and Odeon/Asklepieion

• Lechaion road: Facing the Corinthian gulf leading to the port of Lechaion.
• St. Paul’s church: Admiring a magnificent mosaic mural depicting Saul’s vision from Christ as he was travelling to Damascus to persecute the Christians.
• Stroll amongst the village shops where you can treat yourself and buy handmade souvenirs for your family and friends.
• Drive to Ancient Diolkos, witnessing the ancient passageway from the time of Periander (tyranny)
• Drive to Isthmus Canal

• Visit the Isthmus Canal, one of the most important projects and 19th century engineering masterpieces, playing a catalytic role for the Mediterranean trade.
• Drive to Kechries Port tracing the footsteps of St Paul
• Lunch by the Saronic sea at the village of the Baths of Helen of Troy
• Drive to Athens
• Checkin at your chosen hotel
• Overnight at Athens

• Breakfast at Athens
• Drive by Hadrian’s Arch, a monumental gateway resembling a Roman triumphal arch.
• Drive by the Temple of Olympiad Zeus, a colossal temple at the center of Athens
• Visit the Olympic Stadium Kallimarmaro, the only stadium in the world built entirely of marble.
• Visit Mount Lycabettus where you will enjoy magnificent panoramic views of Athens.
• Visit the breathtaking Athens National Archaeological Museum housing some of the most important artifacts from around Greece.
• Drive by the neoclassical buildings of the ‘architectual trilogy’ consisting of the National library, Athens University and the Academy of Athens.
• Drive by the famous Stadiou street with the remarkable statue of Theodoros Kolokotronis, “General” of the War Of Independence, 1821.
• Visit the Constitution Square, the Greek Parliament and the changing of the Royal Guards.
• Enjoy an authentic Greek lunch in Monastiraki square or Plaka.
• Shopping for your friends and family in Monastiraki flea market or Plaka.
• Visit the remarkable Ancient Agora, the heart of ancient Athens, the focus of political, administrative, commercial, social, religious, cultural and seat of justice.
• Visit the Acropolis (Sacred rock) and glorious Parthenon enjoying breathtaking sunset views.
• Please note: You have the option to visit the remarkable Acropolis museum or the National Archaeological Museum.
• Drive to Cape Sounion

• Drive by the Athens Riviera, the coastal road past the wonderful beaches of Glyfada, Vouliagmeni ,Voula and Varkiza.
• Be captivated by the crowning jewel,Cape Sounion dominated by the spectacular Temple of Poseidon built during 444 – 440 BC, one of the major monuments of the Golden Age.
• Enjoy your refreshments at the snack bar overlooking the temple and the sea.
• Drive to Kavouri where you will treat your taste buds to delicious Greek delicacies by the Saronic sea.
• Return to your chosen location in Athens