> Winter Escapes > 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 Half Day Tour of Athens with an English Speaking Licensed Guide

Meet your licensed English speaking guide at the hotel lobby. Leave together for the entrance to the Athens Acropolis. Visit the Acropolis and its timeless temples of Parthenon, Erectheion and Athena Nike. A short climb up to the Hill of Philopappus brings you to the imposing Roman period funeral monument and extensive views of Athens and Piraeus. You then descend to the hill of the Pnyx, the area used in Classical Athens as the meeting place for the democratic assembly. You enter the historical Plaka area close to the Thiseion temple, dating back to the 5th century BC, meandering past the ancient Agora with the impressively restored Stoa of Attalus, Hadrian’s Library, and the picturesque Tower of the Winds. The route back leads up over the Areopagus, or Hill of Mars, directly below the Acropolis. Here, in 54 AD, Saint Paul preached his Sermon on an unknown God, as recorded in the Acts of the Apostles. Finally, you pass the Roman period Odeion of Herodes Atticus, which is still used as a summer venue for open-air concerts and theatrical performances.

At the end of the tour you may choose to visit the New Acropolis Museum on your own, or walk even further to the marble Panathenaic Stadium, built to host the first Olympic Games of the modern era and Syntagma Square, or see the changing of the Guards at the monument of the Unknown Soldier.


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)

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. 

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