Athens & Ancient Greece

Board your overnight flight to Athens today.

Welcome to Greece! Meet your fellow travelers at a welcome dinner tonight.

A local guide introduces you to the highlights of this bustling ancient capital, home to the world’s first democracy.

• Pass by the Olympic Stadium, Syntagma Square, and the Arch of Hadrian
• View the sixth-century Temple of Zeus
• See the classically inspired Old Royal Palace, home of the Hellenic Parliament, and drive through the Plaka district
• Set off on a walking tour around the ancient Acropolis, site of the Parthenon, Temple of Athena Nike, and Erechtheion

Enjoy a free afternoon in Athens or add an excursion.

Travel to the Delphi region for a guided tour of the legendary home of the mystical oracle. You’ll visit the Temple of Apollo where according to legend, the god once communicated with mortals.

Spend a free evening in Delphi or add an excursion.

Today, travel to the remote village of Kalambaka at the foot of the Pindus Mountains. Discover Meteora’s stunning architecture: Pinnacle Monastery and St. Stephen’s Monastery, two Byzantine structures perched atop 1,000-foot-high pinnacle rocks.

Cross the Pindus Mountains and make your way to the lakeside town of Ioannina, whose beautiful mosque and Ottoman fortress are evidence of four centuries of Turkish rule. This afternoon, board a ferry bound for the island of Corfu.

Later, sit down to an included dinner with your group.

Discover Corfu with a local guide. Once ruled by the Venetians, this island has retained much of its Italian charm.

• See the city’s Italian influence on display at the Spianada, arguably the most impressive square in Greece
• Visit the regal Achillion Palace, once the palatial summer residence of German Kaiser Wilhelm II
• Enter the Church of St. Spyridon, where you’ll uncover the sacred relics of the island’s patron saint

Enjoy a free evening in Corfu or add an excursion.

Board a ferry back to the mainland from Corfu. Then, follow the dramatic Ionian coast, making stops on your way to Rio.

• Visit the fishing village of Amfilochia
• Stop in historic Missolonghi to visit the Garden of Heroes

In Rio, sit down to an included dinner with your group.

This morning, tour the legendary city of Olympia with a local guide.

• View the ruins of the Temple of Zeus, known as one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World
• See the ancient Gymnasium and site where the first Olympic Games took place
• Step inside the Archaeological Museum of Olympia and enjoy free time to explore the exhibits

Explore the historic region that has been occupied by the Turks, Venetians, Franks, and Byzantines.

• Stop in Nemea to tour a vineyard and taste a selection of red and white wines accompanied by snacks
• In Nafplio, your Tour Director leads an orientation walk through the town that was the first capital of independent Greece

This evening, sit down to an included dinner with your group.

Explore the landmarks of Epidaurus and Mycenae on guided sightseeing tours.

• In Epidaurus, discover Greece’s best-preserved open-air theater
• In Mycenae, explore the mysterious beehive-shaped Treasury of Atreus and the magnificent Lion Gate, one of the oldest monumental sculptures in Europe
• Visit the burial ground of Agamemnon and his followers in Mycenae, where archaeologists unearthed incredible treasures

Travel back to Athens, stopping along the way to admire the Corinth Canal. Later, enjoy a farewell dinner with your fellow travelers.

Transfer to the airport for your return flight home or continue your Greek adventure in Santorini.