FLY & DRIVE CLASSICAL GREECE

Classical Greece – The Treasures of Atreus

Day 1

Arrival in Athens – collect your car and check-in to the hotel. Balance of day at leisure. Overnight.

Day 2

Breakfast. In the morning start city tour of Athens which will give you the opportunity to observe the striking contrasts that make Athens such as fascinating city. Visit the city centre: Constitution Square, the House of Parliament, the Memorial to the Unknown Soldier. Then driving down Herod Atticus Street you will see the Evzones in their picturesque costume and the Presidential Palace.  On your way to the Acropolis you will see the Panathenaic stadium (where the first Olympic Games of the modern era were held in 1896) and the Athens of the 2nd century A.D., the temple of Olympian Zeus and the Adrian’s Arch. On the Acropolis visit its museum and the architectural masterpieces of the Golden Age of Athens: the Propylea, the temple of Athena Nike, the Erechthion and finally, the “harmony between matter and spirit”, the monument that puts “order in the mind”, the Parthenon. Afternoon at leisure to explore, visit museums, shop etc. Overnight.

Day 3

Breakfast. In the morning depart for the classical tour. Leave by the coastal road along the Saronic Gulf to the Canal of Corinth which connects the Ionian Sea with the Aegean Sea (short stop). After the ancient Corinth visit drive on to Mycenae, the Homeric city of the Atreides – the city “rich in gold” of the ancient poets. See the Lions’ Gate, the royal tombs, the Cyclopean walls. Depart to Nafplion, through the fertile plain of Argolis, the picturesque town nestling at the foot of a cliff crowned by the mighty ramparts of Palamidi Fortress. In the afternoon leave for Epidaurus to visit the theatre (4th century B.C.) famous for its astonishing acoustics. Overnight in Nafplion.

Day 4
Breakfast. In the morning departure to Olympia through the central Peloponnese, passing by the towns of Tripolis and Megalopolis. Arrival in Olympia, the cradle of the Olympic Games.

Visit the ruins of the most important monuments in the archaeological site such as the temple of Zeus, the sacred Altis, the temple of Hera, the Gymnasium, the Philippeion and so many others. Afterwards visit the museum which contains the famous Hermes of Praxiteles. Overnight in Olympia.

Day 5

Breakfast. In the morning drive to Patras, the capital of Peloponnese and then to Rion to take the ferry boat across to Antirion. Continue your journey to Nafpaktos, a small picturesque town with a Venetian fortress (short stop) and drive on to Delphi, the centre of the Ancient World – the “Omphalos” (navel) of the Earth – whose prestige extended far beyond the boundaries of the Hellenic world. In a landscape of majesty and unparalleled beauty lie the ruins of the temple of Apollo Pythios, the various treasure houses and votive offered by ancient cities, the Castalian Spring and the theatre. Overnight in Delphi.

Day 6

Breakfast at the hotel. In the morning visit the museum in Delphi which contains masterpieces of sculpture such as the athlete Agias and the famous bronze Charioteer. Continue your trip to Kalambaka village which is located under Meteora rocks. Overnight in Kalambaka.

Day 7

Breakfast at the hotel. Visit Meteora, particularly impressive scenery, ageless Monasteries, containing priceless historical and religious treasures, stand suspended between earth and sky, on top of granite rocks. Return to Athens via Trikala,
Lamia & at Thermopylae area, stop to see across the road the Leonida’s Monument. Overnight in Athens.

Day 8

Breakfast. Drop off car at the airport for flight back home.

Overnights: Athens (2 overnights) – Corinth/Mycenae/Epidaurus/Nauplia (1 overnight) – Olympia (1 overnight) – Delphi (1 overnight) – Meteora/Kalambaka (1 overnight) – Athens (1 overnight).

Notes:

*Price is per person & it includes 7 nights on Bed & Breakfast basis in 2 & 3 star hotels (in double or triple room) & 1-week car rental.

**Please note that Pick up & Drop Off of the car will be at the airport or at the downtown offices in Athens.

Formalities

1. Driver’s license: International held at least 1 year
2. Driver’s age: minimum 23 years old
3. Holder of a credit card