Highlights of Greece

Welcome! Athens awaits you with open arms. At the airport, meet with the local driver who will organize your transfer to the hotel. Check-in and enjoy the rest of the day on your terms.

Join our experienced tour escort for an expedition across the medieval treasures of Athens, this morning. One after the other, tick off the Panathenaic Stadium, the Temple of the Olympian Zeus, Hadrian’s Arch, the Parliament Building, Constitution Square (Syntagma), and the Cenotaph of the Unknown Soldier, off your bucket list. Proceed to see the trilogy of neoclassical buildings including the Athens University, the National Library, and the Academy. Swing by Acropolis to marvel at the magnificence of the ancient architecture and art even in ruins and later, the Acropolis Museum to feed your eyes on relics of Greek history and civilization, before your tour ends. Spend the rest of your afternoon as you deem fit.

After breakfast, you’ll join our bus for a day’s trip to Delphi, which was regarded as the center of the world because it was home to Apollo, the famous oracle of ancient Greece. In Delphi, you’ll climb the slopes of Mount Parnassus to get to the sanctuary of Apollo Pythius. You’ll also visit the Treasury of the Athenians, the Theatre, the Stadium and the Museum, housing the famous sculpture of Antinoos and special bronze sculpture of the Charioteer of Delphi dating back to 470 BC; and, the statue of Aghias of Pharsala, a champion of Panhellenic games in the 5th Century. As the tour bus drives through the beautiful towns of Amphissa, Lamia, and Trikala on your return trip to Kalambaka hotel, let your eyes roam and admire all the picturesque views of Thessalian fields. Dinner will be available at the hotel before you retire for the day.

Enjoy breakfast at the Kalambaka hotel, before proceeding on today’s trip to Meteora. Designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988, Meteora is a rocky formation in Central Greece, home to over two dozen monasteries – sitting at the cliff or in natural caves on the rock –bearing invaluable historical and religious significance. Some of the monasteries are seated highly at the top of the mountain, while others occupy the natural caves on the rock. Meteora is a representation of historical and religious gems rolled into one and it offers an amazing picture of the town surrounding it. On your trip back to Athens, stop by the coastal town of Thermopylae, close to Lamia, and take a dip into the town’s history, particularly, the battle between the Greek Spartans and Persians. You’ll arrive in Athens later in the evening.

Day at leisure. Take full advantage of this free day to savor the beautiful views, the black sandy beaches, and the lovely sunset scene in Santorini. We recommend that you join the optional half-day tour (with extra charge) to the tiny volcanic islands of Nea Kameni and Palea Kameni located in the middle of the Santorini Caldera and swim in the orange-colored warm springs there. If you travel with a partner, seize the chance to treat your lover to a romantic dinner at the edge of the Caldera, looking over what might be the most astonishing scenery in the world.

Depending on your flight schedule, you will check out of the hotel at the due time and transferred to the Athens airport, where you will join a flight back home. But you won’t be leaving alone, you’ll be carrying the remarkable memories of Greek historic monuments and elegant cities.