Hi there!
My name is James Darragh and I'm a Sales Manager here at Go Ahead Tours. I went on this tour myself in November 2007 and it was fantastic. The itinerary is very busy, but there are a lot of great things to do in Athens if you do not do the trip to Cape Sounion and on Day 12 after you return (if you don’t do the cooking class). Definitely go to the Archeological Museum of Athens – it houses most of the ancient Greek artifacts from throughout the country and you will learn about the origins and history of a lot of the pieces during the tour. Also, the Placa is a great area for shopping and eating; there are rows and rows of restaurants and cute shops where you can find great souvenirs and traditional food – just be sure to bargain with the shopkeepers!
The town where you stay near Delphi is fairly small, and the excursion does not leave until the evening. If you don’t go to the Convent of Prophet Elias, there are some restaurants near the hotel but most of the shops will be closed by that time of day and some of them will be closed for the season. I would not miss the Tripa Tavern evening! It was a highlight for the whole group and so much fun. The hotel in Corfu is very fun (there is a casino and a bowling alley!) but the evening excursion is great so I would definitely recommend that.
My group had 18 people on it, but the maximum for your departure is 45. However, in the off season, when you are going, you would anticipate a smaller group size. Be sure to bring some warm clothes because it will get chilly in the mountains!
Most of the hotels will have maps of the areas, and the tour director normally has one as well. The tour director will also go over all of the details of the upcoming days a few days in advance so you will have time to plan your days out accordingly (i.e what time the tour leaving and end on each day, when you need to meet for dinner, etc.). The tour directors are great and will make it very easy for you.
I would recommend not planning too much in advance because often something interesting can happen along the way or the tour director will recommend a special site or restaurant to visit, and it’s great to be able to take part in these opportunities. Have a great trip!
James