Classic Athens City Stay with 4 Day Classical Tour with Meteora

This morning you will be collected from your hotel for your half-day coach tour of Athens and the new Acropolis Museum. This tour gives you an opportunity to observe the striking contrasts that make Athens such a fascinating city. Your expert guide 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 Prime Minister’s residence (ex-Royal Palace) guarded by the Evzones in their colourful 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 place where at last the statues found their home and admire the wonders of the classical era: The new Acropolis Museum. Afternoon at leisure.
Note: Due to certain restrictions in the visiting hours of the new Acropolis Museum the order of the program can be changed. Entrance fees included. This tour does not operate during Greek National Holidays.

This morning you will be collected from your hotel (or from a nearby hotel pickup point) for a four-day tour of some of Greece’s wonderful classical sights. Departing from Athens, head west along the scenic coast to the Corinth Canal, known for its stunning views (short stop). This canal is a key junction for international sea transport, connecting ships from the western Mediterranean and Adriatic to the eastern Mediterranean and Black Sea. Continue along the Saronic Gulf coast to Epidaurus (visit), home to a well-preserved ancient theatre renowned for its exceptional acoustics. After a brief stop in Nafplio, Greece’s first capital in 1829, visit Mycenae, the legendary kingdom of Agamemnon and a major center of the Mycenaean civilization. In the afternoon, depart for Olympia.

Olympia, the most renowned sanctuary of ancient Greece, was dedicated to Zeus and located at the foot of Mount Kronios in a lush landscape between the Alpheios and Kladeos rivers. Despite its secluded location, it became Greece’s leading religious and athletic center, known for hosting the Olympic Games every four years in honour of Zeus. Visit the archaeological site and museum, then drive through Patras to cross the Rion-Antirion Bridge, the longest and most modern suspension bridge in Europe. Pass through Nafpaktos on your way to Delphi.

At the foot of Mount Parnassos, nestled between the twin rocks of the Phaedriades, lies the Pan-Hellenic sanctuary of Delphi, home to ancient Greece’s most famous oracle. Considered the center of the world in mythology, it was here that Zeus’s eagles met. For centuries, Delphi was a cultural and religious hub and hosted the Pythian Games, second only to the Olympics. Visit the archaeological site and museum, where you can see the renowned bronze statue of the Charioteer, dedicated to Apollo by Polyzalos in 478 B.C. Continue to Kalambaka for the last night of your coach tour.

Today, you will visit one of the most incredible places in Greece – the Meteora Monasteries.
Meteora, meaning “suspended in air,” refers to a community of 24 monasteries built on towering rocks, the largest monastic group in Greece after Mount Athos. Originally, there were no stairs, and access was only by nets lifted with ropes or long retractable ladders (up to 40 meters). Monks used these to reach the fertile valleys below to cultivate crops. Each monastery became self-sufficient, and by the late 14th century, the Grand Meteoron was the dominant one. UNESCO has recognized these rock monasteries as a unique cultural heritage site. Return to Athens in the afternoon.

This morning you will be transferred by private vehicle to Athens Airport for your onward flight.

• 24/7 local operator support in Greece
• 6 nights’ hotel accommodation
• Breakfast daily
• 3 x dinners (Olympia, Delphi and Kalambaka)
• Roundtrip transfers by private vehicle in Athens (airport/hotel/airport)
• Group coach tours with professional bilingual guides as follows
  • Half day Athens sightseeing including the Acropolis & Acropolis Museum
  • 4 Day/3 Night Classical Tour with Meteora – (departs every Mon, Tue, Sat – includes 1N Olympia, 1N Delphi, 1N Kalambaka)
• Entrance fees to sites
• Greece Travel Notes – issued by Innovative Travel

• International airfares
• Government Climate Crisis Resilience Tax – to be paid directly to the hotel on check-out (ranges from EUR3-EUR15 – rates subject to change without notice)
• Optional tours and excursions
• Porterage
• Tipping/Gratuities (please refer to tour notes for a recommended guideline)
• Personal Expenses
• Departure taxes
• Hotel charges for minibar or any extra charges
• Visas (unless specified)
• Travel Insurance (compulsory)
• Any other services not clearly mentioned in the inclusions above