> Honeymoons  > Athens, Private Tour & Crete : Travel: Year Around (Great Fall/Winter Option)


TRAVEL2GREECE has no fixed departure dates. We plan one of a kind Luxury Travel completely designed for you.
 

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Itinerary and Overviews:

Day 1 - 3 (ATHENS)

> Private transfer to Hotel of your choice for 3 nights. (View Hotel Options)

> Private 1 Day Tour with English Speaking Driver  (View Tour Descriptions)

Athens The city of the Olympic Idea and the majestic Acropolis is the crossroads where east meets west and home to many cultural and fashion events. From her proud temples to the music players in the streets, this city displays her extensive history at every turn. Weave your way from Constitution Square to the beautiful national monuments through lush parks surrounded by preserved Corinthian columns. The new transportation system and pedestrian promenades efficiently interlace the antiquities, parks and many areas rich in nightlife like Plaka, Psirri and Thissio. Tradition, history, and modernity fuse harmoniously. Athens has become a modern city model that other European cities wish to emulate, especially after the 2004 Olympics. The streets have become public art museums where one can find a sculpture exhibition along side the ancient outdoor theater of Herodion, where festivals take place every summer, or a contemporary photo exhibit in the metro station. The beauty, music, art and culture and lively nightlife of Athens make Athenians proud and delighted visitors wish they could stay longer to experience more. While the visitor is sure to visit Plaka, there are many other charming areas of Athens. For example: Psirri, with its boutiques, enchanting tavernas, cafes and bars; where tiny alleys hold centuries of stories like the rembetika-filled nights where the women who inspired the likes of Lord Byron were coaxed from their balconies. Visit Kolonaki to shop the designer boutiques at the Acropolis foothills or have a coffee on the square. Places like the pine clad Lycabettus hill with its chapel of St. George offer a panoramic view of the city, are a visitor's must. The nearby Athens suburbs by the waterfront are also easy to get to and a delight to visit. Athens is filled with wondrous sights and surprises.


Day 4 - 7 (private tour: Four days Sparta, Olympia,  Delphi &  Meteora)

Day 1 - This four-day/three night tour starts by travelling along the Saronic Gulf’s coastal road to the Corinth Canal. The Canal is a structure of great importance, as before it was built, ships sailing between the Aegean and Adriatic Seas had to circumnavigate the Peloponnese, adding about 185 nautical miles to their journey.  Visit Ancient Corinth where St. Paul spoke to the Corinthians. We drive across the Peloponnese until we reach Sparta.  Here you will see the huge statue of Leonidas, in his hometown, made popular by the movie "300".  Also see the remains of the palace and the theatre there.  Next, we move on to Mistras, the capital of the Byzantine Empire, with its churches and monasteries.  After our visit to Mistras we take the road for Olympia, where we will spend our first night. (View Hotel Options)

Day 2 - Our second day begins with Ancient Olympia, which gained its fame as a sanctuary of Zeus and Hera. The site also contains a wealth of other small shrines, gymnasiums and sculptors' workshops. According to tradition, here is where the Olympic games were founded in 776 B.C..  It is from here that the Olympic torch is still lit and carried to whatever corner of the world the modern Olympiads are held in.  In the museum see exhibits of unique sculptural masterpieces, such as Praxiteles' Hermes, Paeoneus' Victory, Apollo and many other art treasures.  We leave Olympia and will also leave the Peloponnese by crossing over the newly built bridge near Patra.  We will now be back on mainland Greece and  journey to the quaint village of Arachova where you will have dinner, have the time to wander through the streets and rest for the night.

(View Hotel Options)

Day 3 - The morning will be spent by seeing  Delphi, once considered to be the center of the universe.  Delphi is probably best-known for the oracle at the sanctuary that became dedicated to Apollo during the classical period.  You will visit the archaeological site dedicated to the god Apollo and will also see the impressive museum there.  We make our way to Kalambaka with a stop at Gravia.  This is where Odysseus Androutsos, with about 100 men, stopped 8 thousand Turks.  Over 400 of the Turks died, while Androutsos lost only 2 of his men.  Now, it’s on to Kalambaka, driving through Lamia.  We make a stop in Domokos for coffee and we end the day at your hotel in Kalambaka.

(View Hotel Options)

Day 4 - This day begins with seeing Meteora; a unique and impressive place with ageless monasteries that are perched on top of huge, monolithic granite rocks. Visit 3 of the monasteries that seem to be suspended between earth and sky containing priceless historical and religious treasures. Many pieces of Byzantine art are also found here.  The view from the monasteries is something that you will never forget.  Making our way back to Athens, we will stop again in Domokos for coffee or lunch.  You will also see the giant statue of Leonidas in Thermopiles made popular recently with the movie “300”.  For 3 days the Persians battled against the vastly outnumbered Greeks.  Although it was clear that the Persians were going to win, Leonidas stayed and fought the final battle with only 300 men from Sparta.  Our last stop is in Arkista, on the water, for a little rest before reaching Athens.

> Transfer to airport for flight to Crete. 

Day 7  - 13 (crete)

> Upon arrival, transfer to hotel of your choice for 6 nights.  (View Hotel & Villa  Options)

The island of Crete could be a country in itself.  With its Minoan ruins, Samaria Gorge, and wonderful beaches and villages, Crete is a different world compared to other parts of Greece. The island of Crete has its own tradition, a distinct character and an island dialect.  

Few travelers need to be sold on the glories of the Minoan culture of Crete. But Crete also offers cities layered with 4,000 years of continuous inhabitation, including the vibrant heritage of centuries-old Orthodox Christianity and the distinctive imprint left by almost 700 years of Venetian and Turkish rule. Not to mention endless beaches and magnificent mountains, intriguing caves and resonant gorges, and countless villages and sites that provide unexpected and unforgettable experiences. Crete is unmatched in the diversity of history, archaeological sites, natural attractions, tourist amenities, and more.

An elaborate service industry has developed to please the thousands of foreigners who visit Crete each year. Facilities are available ranging from luxury resorts to deluxe city hotels to rustic guest rooms in villages that have hardly changed over several centuries.

> Transfer to airport for flight to Athens to meet international flight. 
 

Travel Insurance:

TRAVEL2GREECE highly recommends the purchase of comprehensive travel insurance.  Insurance cost varies based on trip cost and travelers age.

Travel and Visa Requirements:

Greece is most easily reached by international air to Athens.  Domestic flights and ferry service is available for the islands.  Train and bus service, as well as rental car options, are available for travel within the Greek mainland. 

A valid passport is required for US and Canadian citizens to travel to Greece.  A visa is not required for stays up to 90 days. 

When to Go:

Winters in Greece are quite mild.  Athens, Crete, Rhodes and the Mainland are great to visit  year round.

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