GRAND TOUR

ITINERARY

1st day:

Leave by the coastal road to the Corinth Canal (short stop). Drive on and visit the Theatre of Epidaurus famous for its remarkable acoustics. Proceed to the Town of Nafplio (short stop) drive on to Mycenae and visit the Archaeological Site and the Tomb of Agamemnon

Depart for Olympia through Central Peloponnesus and the Towns of Tripoli and Megalopolis. Overnight in Olympia, the cradle of the Olympic Games (Dinner)

2nd day:

In the morning visit the Archaeological Site with the sanctuary of Olympian Zeus, the Ancient Stadium and the archaeological Museum. Drive on through the plains of Iliad and Achaia until the magnificent bridge which is crossing the Corinthian Bay from Rion to Antirion. Pass by the picturesque Towns of Nafpaktos (Lepanto) and Itea. Arrive in Delphi. Overnight (Dinner)

3rd day:

In the morning visit the archaeological Site and the Museum. Depart for Kalambaka, a small Town situated at the foot of the astonishing complex of Meteora, gigantic rocks. Overnight (Dinner)

4th day:

Visit Meteora, among striking scenery, perched on the top of huge rocks which seem to be suspended in mid-air, stand ageless the Monasteries, where you can see exquisite specimens of Byzantine art

Depart from Kalambaka, drive through the plain of Thessaly and the valley of Tempi, a

• rrive and visit the Archaeological Park of Dion. Admire also the gigantic figure of Mount Olympus, the highest mountain in Greece and home of the 12 Gods of Mythology

Depart for Thessaloniki, the second largest and the most vibrant city in Greece. Dinner and overnight

5th day:

Depart in the morning for the Macedonian hinterland and the town of Kastoria, renown center of the fur industry and also famous for its Lake and its 75 Byzantine churches. A Neolithic Lake Settlement 7000 years old, was discovered here and you will be able to stroll through and admire the reconstruction of the village which represents the contemporary museological concept

After Kastoria continue driving in the plateau of Western Macedonia and arrive in the picturesque town of Edessa. Here you can see the town’s famous landmark, the Waterfalls

• Proceed to Pella, the capital of Alexander the Great. See the exquisite floor mosaics of the 4th century B.C. villas, in situ as well as in the local Museum. Return to Thessaloniki for dinner and overnight

6th day:

See in the morning the city that throughout the era of the Byzantine Empire was the “co-reigning” city, second in population and prestige only to Constantinople. Visit unique monuments and feel the glorious Byzantine past in some of the oldest and most characteristic churches of the Christian world as well as in the Museum of Byzantine Culture, awarded with the Council of Europe’s Museum Prize for the year 2005.

Rest of the day free, to enjoy time in the lively centre of the city. Dinner and overnight.

7th day:

Drive to Vergina, to live the experience of a visit to the unique Museum, created in the Great Tumulus covering the royal tombs of Macedonia. See the astonishing findings from the tomb of King Philip II, Alexander’s father, and feel the thrill of the greatest discovery of the 20th century

After the visit we shall start driving south and through Thessaly, Lamia, Thermopylae (see the Leonida’s’ Monument) and Thebes

Arrive in Athens late in the afternoon