8D7N Grecian Explorer

Meet at Athens Airport and transfer to hotel. Remainder of day at leisure. Athens is an amazing city to discover on your own with its numerous museums, archaeological sites, parks, hills and the shopping areas of Kolonaki, Hermou, Voukourestiou street, Monastiraki and Plaka. Overnight hotel in Athens.

After breakfast, we take you from yor hotel by bus, from Athens to Port of Piraeus for your embarkation to the cruise boat. At 8h15 the ship sails for the three beautiful islands of the Saronic Gulf. First stop at Hydra, where we arrive at 11.45 the beauty of Hydra will conquer you forever! You will have about 2 hours to enjoy the unique charms of Hydra. At 13.30 embarkation and sail for Poros, the lunch will be served during the voyage, the smallest of the three islands, separated from the Peloponnese by a narrow strait and offering a most enchanting view of Poros Town. Your time at leisure in Poros will be about 60 minutes. Time will fly quickly, we shall arrive to our last port of call, the island of Aegina at 15.30. Aegina is the largest of the three islands. Apart from its harbor there are numerous interesting sites to discover on the island and therefore we propose. Optional excursion, by bus, to the fine preserved Temple of Afea Athena . But if you stay in Aegina you can enjoy a walk or horse-carriage ride around the town or relax in one of the harbor’s charming waterfront coffee shops. At 18.00 embarkation for the voyage of return to the port of Piraeus. Arrive late in the afternoon tranfer to Athens. Overnight hotel in Athens.

After breakfast, pickup from the hotel for your Half Day morning tour. Our expert guides will take you to see the Panathenaic Stadium where the first Olympic Games of modern times were held in 1896 (short stop). Continue and pass by the Presidential residence (ex Royal Palace) guarded by the Euzones in their colorful uniform, the Temple of Olympian Zeus, the Hadrian's Arch, the Parliament and the memorial to the Unknown Soldier, the Academy, the University, the National Library, the Constitution Square (Syntagma). On the Acropolis visit the Architectural Masterpieces of the Golden Age of Athens, The Propylaea, the Temple of Athena Nike, the Erechtheion and finally "the harmony between material and spirit", the monument that "puts order in the mind", the Parthenon. Continue and visit the New Acropolis Museum the place where at last the statues found their home and admire the wonders of the classical era, and the replica of Parthenon (Mondays closed). Remainder of the day at leisure. Overnight hotel in Athens.

After breakfast, pickup from the hotel. Leave by the coastal road to the Corinth Canal (short stop). Drive on and visit the Theatre of Epidauros, famous for its remarkable acoustics. Then proceed to the Town of Nauplion (short photo stop), drive on to Mycenae (Acording to legent, built by Perseas who brought Cyclopes from Asia). Visit the Lion's Gate, the Cyclopean Walls, and the Royal Tombs of Agamemnon the leader of the Greeks during the Troy war. Then depart for Olympia through Central Peloponnese and the Towns of Tripolis and Megalopolis. Arrive in Olympia, the cradle of the Olympic Games. Dinner Overnight in hotel in Olympia.

In the morning visit the Archaeological Site the cradle of the Olympic Games with the Sanctuary of Olympian Zeus, where there use to be the statue of Zeus one of the seven wonders of the world, the Ancient Stadium and the Archaeological Museum. Then drive on through the plains of Ilia and Achaia until the magnificent Bridge which is crossing the Corinthian Bay from Rion to Antirion. Pass by the picturesque Towns of Nafpactos (Lepanto) and Itea, arrive in Delphi. Overnight and Dinner in Delphi hotel.

After breakfast, in the morning visit the Archaeological Site and the Museum. Depart for Kalambaka, a small town stated at the foot of the astonishing complex of Meteora, gigantic rocks. Overnight and Dinner in Kalambaka (Meteora) hotel.

After breakfast, 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. Return to Athens via Trikala, Lamia, Thermopylae, short stop to see across the road the Leonida’s Monument, the king of Spartans ( the film 300). Arrive in Athens early in the evening.
N.B. Please ladies for the visit of the Monastery you need a skirt and the gentlemen long trousers.

After breakfast Transfer to the Athens Airport included or, extend your stay in Greece.