ARGOLIS, ANCIENT OLYMPIA, DELPHI, METEORA TOUR

FIRST DAY ITINERARY

We shall start our private tour taking the westward route via coastal line towards Peloponnesus. You will see the Saronic Gulf where the famous Naval Battle of Salamis took place in 480 B.C. between the Greeks and the Persians. Persians defeated under the inspiration of Themistocles General. Our first stop will be the famous Canal of Corinth which, through Isthmus a narrow neck of land connects the Corinthian Gulf (Ionian Sea) with Saronic Gulf (Aegean Sea) and cuts Peloponnesus peninsula from the rest Greek mainland.

We continue our private tour with the visit to Ancient Corinth. Exploring the archaeological area you will meet the Roman Odeon the theater then the Temple of Apollo from 6th century BC the archaeological Museum, the Glauke fountain also the famous “Vema” (tribunal) from which St. Paul sermonized the Corinthians.
Our next visit is the famous Mycenae (the Kingdom of  King Agamemnon). You will admire there the Lions’ Gate, the Cyclopean Walls, the Treasure of Atreus, the Subterranean Cistern and the Archaeological Museum.
Our private tour continues on with our visit to Nafplio, a seaside town which is for many the most beautiful town in Greece. Nafplio was the first capital of Greece after the Greek Revolution in 1821 until 1834. You will enjoy the walk in the picturesque backstreets of the old town admiring old classical buildings, especially in the Constitution Square. You will enjoy also a traditional Greek lunch, while attending the famous Bourtzi castle located in the middle of the harbor of Nafplio.
After Nafplio we continue our driving through the beautiful countryside of Peloponnese peninsula we shall pass traditional villages of Mount Mainalon and finally we arrive in the world–famous city of Ancient Olympia, the birthplace of the Olympic Games. Time for dinner and then you will spend your night in a friendly family run hotel.

SECOND DAY ITINERARY

In the morning, and after having your breakfast, you will visit the archaeological area of Ancient Olympia where the first Olympic Games took place on 776 B.C. You will visit the Gymnasium the Ancient Stadium the Temple of Zeus, the Temple of Hera, the Palestra, the Philipeion, the Prytaneion, the Bouleuterion and the Leonidaion. You’ll complete your exploration with the visit of the archaeological Museum, one of the most important museums in Greece .Time for your lunch and our private tour continues with driving through north west Peloponnesus with the crossing of Rio – Antirio bridge, passing via Galaxidi and Itea (a seaport in ancient times was named Kirha) and finally we’ll arrive in the modern city of Delphi. Time for dinner and then you will spend your night in a friendly family run hotel.

THIRD DAY ITINERARY

Next morning, and after taking your breakfast you will visit the ancient Delphi or the ”omphalos” (means the center of the world) as it was regarded by the ancients. You will wander through the archaeological area admiring the sacred way, the Treasury of the Athenians, the Temple of Apollo, the Polygonal wall, the Treasury of the Siphnians, the Stoa of the Athenians, the ancient theater, the stadium ,the ancient Gymnasium, the Castalian Spring, and the Tholos of Athena Pronaia. Your will complete your exploration with the visit of the archaeological museum .Time for launch and then our private tour continues with driving through the Mount Parnassos. We shall pass via traditional villages such as Gravia, Bralo, Lamia Domokos where you will enjoy your lunch. We continue our driving and in the evening we arrive in Kalampaka town located near to Meteora Rocks (also known as “The Rocks of the God”). Free time for walk and dinner in Kalampaka and then you will spend your night in a friendly family run hotel.

FOURTH DAY ITINERARY

After having your breakfast we will “climb” to the impressive rocks of Meteora in Greek means “middle of the sky” or suspended rocks. Meteora one of the largest and most important complexes of Greek Orthodox monasteries in Greece . In the 9th century AD, an ascetic group of hermit monks moved up to the ancient pinnacles. They were the first people to inhabit Meteora. They lived in hollows and fissures in the rock towers, some of which reach 1800 ft (550m) above the plain. Average elevation is 313 meters (1,027 ft ). The exact date of the establishment of the monasteries is unknown. With the unique phenomenon to have on their top Orthodox monasteries the whole complex of the rocks with the monasteries has been listed on UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites. You’ll have the opportunity to visit and admire the most important monasteries such as the Monastery of Great Meteoron, the Monastery of Rousanou, the Monastery of Agia Triada (Holy Trinity) , the Varlaam Monastery, the Monastery of Saint Nikolaos Anapafsa and the Monastery of Saint Stephanos.
After having lunch and during our way back to Athens we shall have our last stop in Thermopylae where the famous battle between the Greeks and the Persians took place in 480 B.C. There is a modern memorial to King Leonidas on one side of the highway .The memorial shows the Spartan King on the top of a wall with the words “Molon Lavei” written under the statue. The phrase means, “Come and get it”. This is the phrase that Leonidas said to the Persian king Xerxes when he told Leonidas to hand over his weapons. The phrase has become a slogan of defiance all over the world. Across the highway from the modern memorial is the ancient memorial that was placed there shortly after the battle. It is a small carved stone plaque that says, “stranger, tell the Spartans that we lay here obedient to their laws”. This ancient memorial is on the small hill of Colonos across the national road from the modern memorial. Thermopylae is the last spot of our four days tour.

• We use vehicles, legal and licensed by the Greek National Tourism Organization, smoke-free, fully air-conditioned.
• Rates include all tolls, fuel, parking fees, and baggage charges.
• Not included: Drinks, meals, entrance fees, accommodation, licensed guides.
• Tours are private, personal, and flexible just for you and your party.
• Tickets:
  • Ancient Corinth: Full: €8 / Reduced: €4 Tickets for both the Museum and the Archaeological Site
  • Acrocorinth: Full: €8 / Reduced: €4
  • Mycenae: Full: €12 / Reduced: €6 (April-October)
    Full: €6 / Reduced: €3 (November-March)
  • Epidaurus: Full: €12 / Reduced: €6 (April-October)
    Full: €6 / Reduced: €3 (November-March)
  • Olympia: Full: €12 / Reduced: €6 (April-October)
    Full:€6, Reduced: €3 (November-March)
  • Delphi: Museum & Archaeological Site Full: €12 / Reduced: €6
  • Meteora: 2€ per adult
  • Reduced ticket: European citizens over 65 years old, University students
  • Free entrance: Children and young people up to the age of 25, from EU member-states, upon presentation of their ID card or passport for verification of their age and country of origin.
  • Children up to the age of 5, from non-European Union countries, upon presentation of their passport for verification of their age and country of origin.

Vehicle: SUV Volkswagen or Mercedes sedan – Capacity: Up to 3 persons + driver
Price: €1600

Vehicle: Mercedes Minivan – Capacity: 4-7 people
Price: €1800

Museums and Archaeological sites are closed:

• 1 January: closed
• 6 January: closed
• 25 March: closed
• Good Friday: until 12:00 closed
• Easter Sunday: closed
• 1 May: closed
• 25 December: closed
• 26 December: closed

Museums and Archaeological sites are open 08.30-15.00:

• Shrove Monday:
• Holy Saturday
• Easter Monday
• Holy Spirit Day
• 15 August
• 28 October