GREECE & THE
MEDITERRANEAN
ANCIENT GREECE
A 13 Day Tour of Greece Including a 3-day Island Cruise. Cabin availability is limited
April 11 - 23, 2024
$5720.00
based on double occupancy.
$500 deposit required to book and lock in this price.
Welcome to Athens, the birthplace of democracy, arts, science, and philosophy. Home of Plato, Socrates, Pericles, Euripides, Sophocles, Aeschylus and many others. Athens was founded some 3500 years ago. Journey with us as we discover and explore this wonderful land and the people that inhabited it through the ages.
ITINERARY
Day 1: Thursday April 11, 2024
overnight flight from USA to Athens.
DAY 2: Arrive Athens; Overview coach tour of Athens.
Overnight Athens
DAY 3: Guided tour of Athens to include Acropolis and other important sights; dinner included.
Overnight Athens
DAY 4: Today we begin an amazing 4 day journey through Peloponnese and the Central Mainland. We meet our local guide at Corinth for a 2 hour tour of this ancient city where Paul preached and was forced to flee for his life. After lunch we continue onto Mycenae for a fascinating tour of that ancient city and civilization.
Overnight Nafplio
DAY 5: We depart our hotel at 9 AM for the drive to Epidaurus, a prominent Greek city dating from 500 BC. There we meet our guide and tour the ancient amphitheater of Epidaurus, the Temples of Asklepios and Artemis, the Greek Baths and the museum. After lunch we are on the road to Olympia. Along the way you will notice the rugged countryside that is so typical of Greece-away from the modern cities-and magnificent coastline of the Ionian Sea.
Overnight Olympia
DAY 6: This morning we embark upon a truly fascinating tour of Olympia. This ancient city-state, best known for being the site of the Olympic Games from 900 BC to 500 BC is a sprawling city of ruins including the open air stadium where the games took place. After our tour and lunch, we begin our drive to Delphi where you can consult with the famous Oracle. Along our route we will pass through Patras, the seaport that connects Peloponnese to mainland Greece and Europe. We will check into our hotel and have diner on our own. You will certainly want to wander the town and take in all the surrounding beauty after dinner.
Overnight Delphi
DAY 7: This morning our guide will lead us to the top of the mountain and visit ancient Delphi. After the Acropolis, Delph is the most popular archaeological site in Greece. In ancient times Delphi was considered the center of the known world, the place where heaven and earth met. Once all our questions have been answered by the Oracle, we will return to Athens. After a short rest, we will enjoy a provided dinner and show.
Overnight Athens
DAY 8: This morning we will get a little later start. We will attend an authentic Greek cooking class where we will prepare and cook our own lunch. After enjoying the fruits of our labor we will take a short walking tour through another part of Athens and then return to our hotel.
Overnight Athens
DAY 9, 10, & 11:
In the morning of day 9 we board the Celestyal Olympia for a 3 day cruise through the Mediterranean Sea with ports of call at Mykonos, Ephesus (one of my favorite places to visit in Europe), Patmos, Crete, and Santorini.
DAY 12: We arrive back at our home port, Athens, this morning. We will return to the Plaka, where you will want to explore on your own. There are numerous wonderful restaurants here and shops offering locally made goods as well as touristy items. Tonight, we will say goodbye to Greece at a provided farewell dinner.
Overnight Athens
DAY 13: Our Greek adventure comes to an end as we head to the airport for our flight home.
WHAT’S INCLUDED
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Round trip flight originating from Charlotte International Airport
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All ground transportation, 12 nights in 3-4 star hotels,
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A full buffet style breakfast every morning
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Our personal coach
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Private guided tours
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Admission to major attractions,
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3 three course dinners
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3 day/night cruise to Ephesus and 4 Greek islands
WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED
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Passport
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Travel protection – strongly recommended; quote available upon request.
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Personal purchases
COST: 5720.00
Travel insurance will be available for purchase at any time up to 5 days prior to departure. To qualify for the pre-existing medical condition exclusion waiver, the policy must be purchased within 3 days of making payment, including a refundable deposit. Insurance policies are non-refundable.