Classic Greece & Santorini

Upon arrival into Athens airport (ATH) you'll be met by one of our representatives who will then transfer you to your hotel. The rest of the day is then free for you to settle in, relax after your flight, and have a look around the area independently before meeting the group and starting the first sightseeing tours tomorrow morning.

Our tour of Athens starts this morning at the Panathenaikon (Kallimarmaro) Stadium where we'll learn about the first Olympic Games of the modern era which were held here in 1896. Continuing on we make several other stops to see more of ancient and modern Athens, including the Temple of Olympian Zeus, Hadrian's Arch, the Parliament building, memorial to the Unknown Soldier, the Academy, the University, the National Library, and Constitution Square (Syntagma).In the afternoon we head to one of the most important and famous ancient sites in the world, the Acropolis, which sits on top of a rocky hill overlooking the city, providing great views. You'll see the temple of Erechtheion, the Propylae, the Temple of Athena Nike, and of course the most famous of Greek relics, the Partheno where you'll see the original home of the marble sculptures removed by Lord Elgin that are now held in the British Museum in London.We'll then return to our hotel and have a free evening to find one of the city's famous local tavernas or restaurants, perhaps sampling the bustling atmosphere and winding streets of the Plaka.

We leave Athens early this morning and cross the Corinth Canal en-route to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Mycenae. Here we'll see the home of mythical Agamemnon, the Lions gate, royal tombs and the Cyclopean walls. After touring these sites with our guide we head on to Nafplion which was the first capital of Greece in the region of Argolis. The picturesque town here nestles at the foot of a cliff with the mighty ramparts of the Palamidi Fortress towering above. We'll end the day with a drive to Olympia where we'll spend the night.

We leave Nafplion early this morning and head to Olympia. This is the birthplace of the Olympic Games, which are thought to have begun here in 776 BC as part of a religious festival in honour of the king of the gods, Zeus. We'll visit the archaeological site of Ancient Olympia and learn more about the games' history, taking in the Temple of Zeus and Hera, the Stadium, the altar of the Olympic flame, and the museum which hosts an impressive statue of Hermes of Praxiteles. Later in the afternoon we leave Olympia and head north over the Rio-Antirio Bridge to Delphi.

Delphi was once considered the centre of the ancient world and we'll tour a range of sites here including the remains of the Temple of Apollo which are remarkably well preserved. We also take in the Temple of Athena, the Oracle of Delphi and the Castalian Spring before you can explore the Archaeological Museum of Delphi which hosts some of ancient Greece's best remaining masterpieces such as Eniochos the bronze Charioteer.Later we head further inland through some beautiful villages and towns of Central Greece, seeing some of the traditional local architecture, before arriving at the small picturesque city of Kalambaka which nestles at the foot of the mountains of Meteora.

This morning's tour is truly spectacular, as we explore the unique landscape and rock formations of Meteora. There are towering cliffs here with ancient Christian monasteries built perched on the tops. We will visit some of the monasteries and also enjoy the amazing views to them across the valleys and marvel at how they must have been built.Note: The monasteries at Meteora have a strict dress code. Women need to wear a long skirt, dress or sarong (trousers or shorts covering the knees are not enough). Men must wear long trousers. Sleeveless shirts are not allowed. Please ensure you have appropriate clothing ready for this day.We'll then return to Athens, passing Trikala, Lamia and Thermopylae, taking a short stop on the way to see Leonida's Monument. Finally we back to Athens in the early evening for your final night in the city.

We pick you up from your hotel early this morning and transfer you to the port where you'll board the ferry and head out into the Aegean Sea and the Cyclades islands. Our normal ferry departure is the Blue Star line departing at 07.25 and arriving in Santorini at 14.50 though these times are subject to change. On arrival in the breathtaking island of Santorini we get our first view of the huge underwater caldera (crater) and surrounding cliffs that were created by a huge volcanic eruption in the 16th century. The two main towns of the island, Fira and Oia cling to these cliffs with their whitewashed, cubist style houses overlooking the bay and beaches made up of black, red and white lava pebbles. Its a spectacular setting and our normal hotel is located near Fira which is a vibrant and exciting town to base ourselves for the next two nights. After transferring you from the port to your hotel, the rest of the day is free for you to relax and start exploring. Our local representative will give you a briefing on the island's geography, what you can see and do independently, and what optional activities are available.

Your day is free today, and you can start to explore the island in more depth. There are a range of popular boat trips available to take you around the crater. These include options to hike up to the active volcano, swim in the warm thermal waters of the hot springs, take a therapeutic mud bath, stop at Red Beach and White Beach to swim and snorkel, visit Thirassia and explore its villages. You can also eat lunch or dinner on board, and watch the sunset below Oia on some trips. Other half and full day tours available include winery tours (Santorini has some great wine), cooking classes, and visits to ancient Akrotiri where you can see the ruins of the village left behind after the volcanic eruptions that made the island uninhabitable.There are also many different beaches around the island you can visit, and taking a hike around and between the villages on the edge of the caldera is a great experience. You can walk from 2 to 5 or more hours, and explore tiny winding alleys through different villages higher up or lower on the cliffs. You'll meet great views around almost every corner and finishing in Oia to enjoy a drink and the sunset is a particular highlight. Rental cars are also available if you'd like to explore further afield.If you would like to extend the tour by adding more days on Santorini, or to finish the tour early here and stay on independently, please contact us for details.

We pick you up early from your hotel today and transfer to the port to board the ferry for your journey back to Athens. Our normal ferry is the Blue Star line departing at 06.10 and arriving in Athens at 11.15 though times are subject to change. On arrival in Athens we transfer you to your hotel and you then have the whole afternoon free for some final sightseeing, souvenir shopping, and a last taste of Greek food and wine before you depart tomorrow.

Your tour ends after breakfast today and your time is free until we transfer you back to the airport for your departure flight. Extra nights in the hotel in Athens are available on request.