GREECE – LAND OF GODS & HEROES

Arrive Athens, the Cradle of Western Democracy, and proceed to baggage claim. After clearing customs, you will be met by your tour director and transferred to your Kinetta hotel, located between Athens and Corinth Canal, amidst green hills overlooking the crystal blue Aegean Sea. The remainder of the day is at leisure. Relax and take it easy before your welcome dinner tonight. (D)

Begin your day with our Cultural Discovery Series and join our local guest speaker for a discussion on Greece and its relations with European Union. Following lunch at the hotel, depart for an afternoon tour of Athens. Our expert guides will take you to see the Panathenaic Stadium where the first Olympic Games of modern times were held in 1896. Continuing you will pass by 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, and the Constitution Square (Syntagma). On the Acropolis, visit the Architectural Masterpiece – Parthenon, built in the 5th century B.C. as a temple to the goddess Athena. There will be time to explore Athens on your own before returning to the hotel late in the afternoon. (B,L,D)

A unique full day trip in the province of Argolis! Following breakfast, you will head to Mycenae, the citadel of one of the oldest prehistorical civilizations famous all around the world for the story of the Trojan War. This is the place from where the Greeks had set off for the expedition in Troy in order to get back beautiful Helene and where the golden mask of Agamemnon was found. You will see the famous Lion’s Gate, the monumental entrance, the Cyclopean Walls and the Treasury of Atreus, a monumental structure for the burial of the King. After a lunch break, continue to Nafplion, Napoli di Romania, one of the most beautiful cities of Greece. You will stroll around the alleys of the first capital of Greece to admire the local architecture, the great venetian castle of Palamidi and the stronghold of Bourtzi and the cathedral of Saint George. After a short walking tour, you will have free time on your own to enjoy the city. You will then proceed to an olive oil production plant where you can wander through the grounds, uncover captivating history, discover the production process and delight in a tasting of Greek olive oil. (B,L,D)

After breakfast, depart from the hotel for a half day tour to Ancient Corinth with a short stop at the Corinth Canal, one of the 19th Century world’s engineering masterpieces with history that starts as early as 602 B.C., that connects the Aegean Sea with the Ionian Sea. Next, visit the Ancient Town of Corinth, where St. Paul lived and preached for 2 years. The Ancient Corinth Archaeological Site and the remains of the city, which include The Agora (marketplace) and Apollo’s Temple (6th Century BC) clearly show how rich and important Corinth was in ancient times. Visit to a local tavern for sampling of a traditional Greek aperitif Ouzo with local delicacies. Conclude your day with another Cultural Discovery Series lecture at the hotel. (B,L,D)

Following breakfast, depart for a tour of Delphi, Greece’s most breathtaking ancient site. Famous in antiquity as the home of the oracle of Apollo, it is here where the Oracle representing the revered god Apollo presided over the ancient world. Perched on a mountain slope overlooking olive trees and the sea, Delphi continues to radiate as you marvel at the impressiveness of the site even in ruins. Visit the Delphi Museum, which houses valuable pieces of art including the bronze Charioteer, one of antiquity’s greatest statues. Following lunch at a local restaurant, there will be free time to explore. Return to the hotel late in the afternoon. (B,L,D)

Enjoy a day at leisure and relax at the hotel, or take an optional tour to Olympia. A full day excursion will take you to the majestic site of Olympia, where the first Olympic Games took place 2800 year ago. Today, a UNESCO World Heritage site, Olympia is also home to the ancient Sanctuary of Zeus - a vast expanse of well-preserved altars, temples, theaters, and marble statues. Highlights of the site include the Temples of Hera and Zeus, the Council House and the Treasuries, while the Archaeological Museum houses exquisite sculptures such as the statues of Praxiteles and Hermes. (B,L,D) 

This morning you tour the Acropolis Museum, an award-winning collection of artifacts from excavations of the Acropolis, housed in a modern building specially designed for the purpose. After lunch in the city you will have free time to shop, explore independently, or pull up a chair and relax, watching the many moods of the Acropolis as the light changes and the clouds cast their ever-changing shadows. Tonight, enjoy a farewell dinner to Greece. (B,L,D) 

After breakfast, transfer to Athens airport for your return flight home. (B)