Educational private tour in Greece

Nine to Ten days Educational tour

Educational Tour

Corinth Canal, Nemea, Mycenae, Tiryns,

Nafplion, Palamidi, Epidavros, Sparta, Mystras,

Mani, Olympia, Delphi, Meteora, Vergina, Thessalon�ke

Let Us Take You To Hidden & Known Places

Optional day: Arrive in Athens, Transfer from the airport to your hotel by the Acropolis. We'll visit the Acropolis and the highlights of Athens. Optional tour Athens by night.

1st day: Starting from Athens we drive westwards along the scenic coast of the Saronic Gulf, until we reach the Corinth canal with its breathtaking views (short stop). Shortly after we reach the Ancient town of Corinth (visit) where St. Paul lived and preached for two years. Back in ancient times Corinth was one of the richest cities and this is quite evident by its remains, including the huge Agora (market place) and Apollo's Temple(6th c. B.C.)

Then drive on to Mycenae, the Homeric city of the Atreides - the city "rich in gold" of the ancient poets. (Visit the Lions Gate, the Cyclopean Walls, the Royal Tombs e.t.c.) Continue for Nafplion through the fertile plain of Argolis and ancient Tiryns, (Set on a bluff in the centre of a plain, the fortress of Tiryns is a Cyclopean structure dating from the 13c BC, a well preserved masterpiece of ancient military architecture.) Overnight in Nafplion, in a traditional hotel, located on the top of the old city, just under the castle.

You can view our portfolio of photos at http://www.panoramio.com/user/45649/tags/Nafplion

2nd day: Nafplion (first capital city of Greece in modern time) the picturesque town nestling at the foot of a cliff crowned by the mighty ramparts of the Palamidi Fortress.

After breakfast in a beautiful veranda with the best view over the city, visit the castle of Palamidi and the acropolis of ancient Tiryns. Time for shopping in Nafplion, where you will find many traditional shops and boutiques or enjoy a swim in the crystal waters under the castle. Later the afternoon leave for the hinterland of Epidavros to visit the sanctuary of Asklepios, the most brilliant centre of healing in the ancient world and the theatre (4th century B.C.) one of the most perfect and the best preserved of the ancient Greek theatres, famous for its acoustics.

You can view our portfolio of photos at http://www.panoramio.com/user/45649/tags/Epidavros

3rd day: Leave Nafplion in the morning, through Central Peloponnese. We'll drive south by the scenic coast of the Argolis Gulf, from the town of Astros we will turn to Central Peloponnese, (Arcadia), through the village of Agios Petros, (3000 ft. high -short stop -the village became capital city of Greece for 24 hours, short stop) and Karies on the slopes of the mount. Parnon.

Shortly we will arrive in Sparta, the modern town was developed in the reign of King Otto after 1834. Visit the archaeological site, the Acropolis and the theatre of Ancient Sparta and then on to visit the Medieval state of Mystras.

You can view our portfolio of photos at http://www.panoramio.com/user/45649/tags/Sparta

Continue for Mani an undeveloped rocky wild area strewn with 15th 16th c. stone tower houses. Areopolis: This is a large village (with taverns) in the typical Maniot style with tradesmen's workshops (bakery), tower houses and churches (Overnight / Pyrgos Kapetanakou, tower house built in 17th c.)

You can view our portfolio of photos at http://www.panoramio.com/user/45649/tags/Mani

4th day: Leave after breakfast, down the west coast of Mani, opening into Diros Bay are two caves which were explored after the Second World War. The largest, Glifada, is one of the most spectacular natural sights in Greece. We'll visit the Caves and Museum of Diros. The cave is well organized for visitors with floating lights and colored light projectors. The guided tour consists of a boat trip (about 2km/1.25mi) along both arms of the river which splits in two in the cave. Daily 8a.m to 5p.m (2.30p.m winter) Entrance fee 12 Euro child (under 12) 6 Euro. Return to Arepolis and drive through the scenic coast and via Kalamata to Olympia/overnight (Hotel with a swimming pool ).

You can view our portfolio of photos at http://www.panoramio.com/user/45649/tags/Olympia

5th day: Olympia. The ruins of Olympia in the idyllic Alfios Valley testify to the grandeur of the ancient sanctuary which through the Olympic Games was a symbol of Greek unity - the cradle of the Olympic Games. After breakfast we'll visit the archaeological area of Olympia, the Sanctuary of the Olympian Zeus the Archaeological Museum (one of the biggest and nicest in Greece) and the Museum of the Olympic games. Overnight in Olympia (Hotel with a swimming pool)

6th day: Departure, drive on through the plains of Elias and Arcadia, and take the Car-Ferry across the "Little Dardanelles - Half hour" from Rio to Antirio. Crossing the picturesque town of Nafpactos

This charming little city at the northwest end of the Gulf of Corinth was fortified by the Venetians in the 15C. Under its medieval name of Lepando it recalls the famous naval battle which took place in 1571 between the Christian fleet from Spain, Genoa, Naples, Malta and Venice with the Turkish fleet of Sultan Selim.- (short stop) and from there through the scenic new road along the coast we'll arrive in Delphi. Visit in the evening the Sanctuary of Apollo Pythios and the Museum.

Overnight in Delphi or Arachova (Hotel with a swimming pool ) one of the most traditional villages in Greece.

You can view our portfolio of photos at http://www.panoramio.com/user/45649/tags/Nafpactos and http://www.panoramio.com/user/45649/tags/Delphi

7th day: Further sightseeing of Delphi, visit Castalia Spring and the Sanctuary of Athena Pronaea. Continue for Meteora, passing through, Lamia, typical towns and numerous picturesque villages of Central Greece. Stay overnight in Kastraki, the closest village to Meteora with the best view.

You can view our portfolio of photos at http://www.panoramio.com/user/45649/tags/Meteora-Monasteries

8th day: Visit Meteora, among striking scenery, perched on top of huge rocks which seem to be suspended in Mid - Air, stand ageless Monasteries, where you can see exquisite specimens of Byzantine Art. Of the 24 monasteries that grew up between the 13^th and 16^th centuries only six are still inhabited: The Great Meteoron, Agia Triad, Agios Nikolaos and Varlaam by monks: Agios Stephanos and Roussanou by nuns.

9th day: Visit Macedonia / Vergina. A highly important ancient city, certainly to be identified with Aegae, the ancient capital of the kingdom of Lower Macedonia, spreads over the low hills in the northern slopes of' the Pierian range, between the modern villages of Palatitsia and Vergina.

This city was the most important urban centre in the region until the 4th c. BC. Here were to be found the ancestral sanctuaries of the Macedonians, and the palaces and the tombs (with their famous treasures) of the Argead dynasty, which traced its origins to the mythical hero Herakles and gave Greek history its most captivating figure, Alexander the Great: Stay overnight in Thessalonica.

10th day: Return to Athens via Larissa, Lamia, Thermopylae (where in 480 B.C. a battle between the ancient Greeks and Persians took place, visit the Leonida's Monument) and Kammena Vourla (last stop for coffee brake by the sea). Arrive in Athens in the evening.

DEPARTURE

PRICE

HIGHLIGHTS

Daily: Nine to Ten days tour.

Comment: See the main cultural archaeological, historical and religious highlights of Greece. Time is allowed for gentle walks, swimming and coastal relaxation. Most of the driving is on mountain and coastal roads.

Closed on Holidays January 1st., March 25th, May 1st, Easter Sunday, Christmas Day and Boxing Day. On Good Friday, the sites are open 12.00- 17.00.

Corinth Canal - Ancient Corinth - Nemea - Lion Gate of Mycenae - Tomb of Agamemnon - Ancient Tiryns - Nafplion - Ancient theatre of Epidavros - Sparta -

Medieval State of Mystras - Epicurus Apollo, - Ancient Olympia - The longest Suspension bridge in Rio/ Antirio - Delphi, - Arachova, - Levadia, - Meteora - Pass of Thermopylae.