Trip to Greece History and Culture
DAY 1
Arrival at Athens International Airport. You will pick up your luggage and check-in to your flight to Heraklion. You will arrive in
Heraklion and you will be transferred to your hotel for overnight.
DAY 2
Crete is the largest and most rugged of the Greek islands. It is also the home of the great Minoan Civilization and the
mythological home of Zeus. After a short drive through the town of Heraklion, the tour will
arrive at the Knossos excavations. Here, Sir Arthur Evan’s archaeological discoveries
revealed a civilization dating back to 4000 B.C., when a great empire
flourished on the island of Crete. Based on the wealth of artefacts that
were found, Evans theorized that this was the site of the ancient Minoan
Kingdom. These findings will be viewed in detail, as your guide will lead
you on a journey of discovery to learn about the sophisticated culture
that flourished thousands of years ago on this island. The Palace, decorated with frescoes and shields, houses
the Hall of the Royal Guard, the Hall of the Double Axes, the King’s Chamber with the alabaster throne, the
Queen’s Apartment, beautiful courtyards and shrines. Having visited this remarkable site, your coach will then
take you to a traditional seaside restaurant in the Heraklion area. Taste the Cretan cuisine while you enjoy the
view of the Aegean Sea. Afterwards your guide will take you to the heart of Heraklion where you will be given some free time to
explore its beauty, a combination of a modern city with the unique ambiance of the Greek islands. Transfer to Heraklion’s airport
for your flight to Athens. Arrival at Athens International Airport and transfer to the hotel for overnight.
DAY 3
Begin with a bus tour of Athens to see the landmarks of our capita: Constitution Square with the House of Parliament and the
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the Old Olympic Stadium, the Temple of Olympian Zeus, the Residence of the Greek President
and more. You get acquainted with the city of Athens starting with the world-
renowned Acropolis, where you can see the architectural miracles of the
Golden Age of Pericles and Pheidias: the Propylea, the Nike Temple, the
Erechtheum and, above all, the Parthenon (Temple of Athena). Take in a
panoramic view of the city and observe the Monument of Philopappus, the Pnyka, the Areopagus and more. You will also visit
the new Acropolis Museum which has a total area of 25,000 square meters, with
exhibition space of over 14,000 square meters, ten times more than that of the old
museum on the Hill of the Acropolis. The new Museum offers all the amenities expected
in an international museum of the 21st century. Walk down to the Agora, north of the
Acropolis hill, and explore the excavational site. You will have some free time in Plaka for
a light lunch and walking. Afterwards you will visit the National Archaeological museum.
Spend the rest of the day at the National Archaeological Museum, one of the finest in
the world, whose collections offer a great overview of the long Greek history and of the
ancient civilizations you will come across during your trip. The Cycladic figurines, the
Mycenean treasures and the Santorini frescoes are just a few of the collections that are
not to be missed. Return back to the hotel.
DAY 4
You travel to scenic Delphi, one of the most beautiful places on the face of the earth, which in antiquity
was believed to be the “navel” (omphalos) of the world. Walk on the Sacred
Way to see the Athenian Treasury, the Theatre and the Temple of Apollo where
the priestess Pythia uttered ambiguous prophecies. Also visit the Museum with
splendid collection of ancient works of art including the Sphinx of the Naxians,
the Silver Bull, the Column of the Dancers, the “Omphalos” and the pride of the
museum, the 5 th century B.C. bronze “Charioteer”. Enjoy your lunch in the
Delphi area in at a very nice and traditional restaurant. Afterwards you drive back to Athens. Overnight at your hotel.
DAY 5
Your tour today begins with the scenic drive to the legendary Canal of Corinth where you stop for
pictures. You will continue to the archaeological site of
Ancient Corinth and its museum. Afterwards drive on to
the Homeric city of Mycenae to see the remains of this
prehistoric acropolis, its Palace, the Grave Circles and the
famous beehive Tombs. This was the kingdom of Atreus
and his son Agamemnon, the leader of the Greeks in the campaign against Troy. Continue to
Epidaurus which was known in antiquity as a healing center, a place where the god of medicine Asclepios was worshipped.
Nowadays, thousands of people visit the area to admire its fantastic acoustics. Drive back to Athens for overnight.
DAY 6
Driving along the coastal road past the wonderful beaches of Glyfada, Vouliagmeni, Varkiza and countless coves, you will have a
splendid view of the Saronic Gulf. A crowning feature of the tour, Cape Sounion is dominated by
the spectacular Temple of Poseidon overlooking the Aegean Sea. The sanctuary at Sounion is one
of the most important sanctuaries in Attica. Sporadic finds point to the conclusion that the site
was inhabited in the prehistoric period, but there is no evidence of
religious practice in such an early date. "Sounion Hiron" (sanctuary
of Sounion) is first mentioned in the Odyssey, as the place where
Menelaos stopped during his return from Troy to bury his
helmsman, Phrontes Onetorides. The finds of the 7th century B.C. are numerous and prove the
existence of organized cults on two points of the promontory: at the southern edge where the
temenos of Poseidon was situated, and about 500 m. to the northeast of it, where the sanctuary
of Athena was established. Afterwards you will enjoy a lunch by the seaside close to Cape Sounion. Return to the hotel.
DAY 7
Today experience the charm of the Greek islands by visiting three of the most attractive isles near Athens. Aegina has a lovely
town full of neoclassical buildings and a well-preserved classical temple dedicated to the local goddess Afea. Poros is a small
green island, closer to the Peloponnese than to Attica, which offers a pleasant walk on the promenade near the little shops.
Finally, Hydra is an extremely picturesque place because of its unique architecture of its fortress mansions which belonged to
the shipowners of the island during the Ottoman Rule period. Return to Athens for overnight.
DAY 8
You will be transferred to the airport for your departure flight. Fly back home full of wonderful memories from your journey.
