Ancient Civilization of Greece

This morning, our professional guide will heartily greet you at the hotel and then lead you to the “Neoclassical Trilogy” —the Academy of Athens, the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and the National Library of Greece. Then the Hellenic Parliament will be admired from exterior, and the Syntagma Square and the Monument of the Unknown Soldier will be visited one after another. In order to commemorate the unknown heroes who lost their lives in war, the Monument was built in Athens in 1928. It’s a relief of a warrior, with helmet on his head and a shield in his hand, lying on the battlefield. The monument is flanked daily by guards in traditional dress who perform enjoyable and solemn changing ceremonies every day over the years and remain meticulous.

Then we will visit the Acropolis, where you can find architectural masterpieces from the Golden Age of Athens: the Propylaea, the Parthenon, the Temple of Athena Nike, and the Erechtheion. The new Acropolis Museum, which was voted the third largest museum in the world by “The Sunday Times”, is also a must-see. Have a close look at the five (originally six) most well-known caryatids, maiden-like figures that once supported the roof of the Erechtheion. In order to better protect these precious pillars, they were moved from the Erechtheion to the Acropolis Museum in 1979. Then, let’s continue to the Temple of the Olympian Zeus and the Panathenaic Stadium where the first modern Olympic Games was held in 1896.

In the afternoon, take about a 1.5-hour drive to the Cape Sounion to visit the Temple of Poseidon. You are sure to be amazed by the sunset over the Aegean Sea. At the end of the day, your private driver will send you back to the hotel.

► Protect Yourself from Pickpockets
Thefts happen quite often in Athens, especially in scenic areas like Acropolis, Syntagma Square, Plaka and Monastiraki. Some thieves dress up as tourists; some may take a map or a camera as a cover, looking for various opportunities to pilfer; and some, taking questionnaires, pretend to do market research to carry out gang theft. Therefore, a few things are recommended: Lock important items such as passports and large amounts of cash in your hotel safe; take as few things as possible when you go to the scenic spots; keep your knapsack in front and always remain vigilant.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Brown Acropol, Athens (4 stars) or similar

Good morning! We will set off from the hotel after breakfast and pass through the agricultural center Beotia Plain along the way before arrive in Delphi 2 hours later. The first sightseeing stop will be the beautiful Monastery of Hosios Loukas, a typical Byzantine church full of exquisite mosaic frescoes. Then we will visit the archaeological site of Delphi. The Temple of Apollo is most well-known and features the oracle proclaimed by the priestess Pitya. Afterwards, we will tour the Delphi Archaeological Museum which displays the famous bronze chariot and many other artifacts.
► Photo-taking Tips in Temple of Apollo
1. Stand next to the beach reef to the right of the stone pillars, taking coconut palms and stone pillars as the background.
2. Stand between the fourth and fifth pillar, with coconut palms and the sea in the background.
3. In front of the stone pillars, taking the panoramic view of the temple site as a background, get as close to the sea as you can and block other tourists with the stone walls. Or blur out people and focus on the site, showing the architectural aesthetics of the ruins.

Then drive for about 3 hours to Kalambaka to visit the monasteries in Meteora. These impressive monasteries are built on high rocks and we will visit one or two of them. Long time ago, for historical reasons and their religious belief in seeking seclusion, some monks had to seek refuge on cliffs. And over the years, 24 monasteries were built on the cliffs of Meteora. Today, there are only six monasteries operating. Due to these monasteries, plenty of ancient culture and traditions were preserved. Imagine that monks could only go up and down by ladders nailed to the cliffs or by hanging baskets pulled by ropes at first because of the extremely poor transportation. And the stone stairs you step on now were not constructed until the 1920s. For visitors, please avoid off-shoulder tops, short skirts and shorts. Besides, photography is not allowed inside the monasteries. In the end, check into the hotel in Kalambaka.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Amalia Hotel, Kalambaka (4 stars) or similar

After breakfast, we will drive to Ioannina, taking about 2 hours. Due to its frequent rainfall, Ioannina is known as the "London of Greece", and it is advisable to bring an umbrella. Follow our private guide to visit the most beautiful and quiet turquoise Lake Pamvotida (Lake of Ioannina), the jewel of Ioannina and home to many water birds such as swans and cormorants. Stroll along the lake promenade to enjoy the gentle breeze. Then take a boat to the small island in the lake, where there are picturesque houses, shops selling local products, and restaurants and cafes serving local specialties. Knock yourself out and enjoy a delicious meal by the lake.

In the afternoon, we’ll continue to the historical center of Ioannina. Our experienced local guide will take you to admire the beautiful exterior of the Castle of Ioannina. Then go to the Archaeological Museum of Ioannina to discover the archaeological discoveries from all over Epirus (the region where Ioannina is located), including Paleolithic tools and bronzes. One of the most important finds came from the archaeological site of Dodona (an oracular site in Epirus). In addition, the Municipal Art Gallery of Ioannina with rich collection, the Byzantine Museum of Ioannina, and the Hagioi Anargyroi Church will be visited one by one. In the end of the day, have a nice dream in Ioannina.

► Dinner Recommendation: Traditional Tsipouradiko "Thomas"
Turn right from the hotel and you’ll find the restaurant, which is popular with locals for traditional Greek cuisine, good prices and warm atmosphere. The snowy-mountain-shaped choriatiki, soupies krasato, potato salad, and saganaki gemisto are all good choices. Don’t miss Ioannina's oldest and most classic anise spirits it serves. With every alcoholic drink, a small portion of delicious meze is included. It charges €10-15 per person and can be paid by card.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Centro Hotel Ioannina (4 stars) or similar

At the beginning of the day, our local driver will escort you to Lefkada by an around 3-hour drive. We’ll visit the Lefkada Town first and then go to a nearby beach. The beaches near Lefkada town are mostly gravelly and you are advised to bring water shoes. In the afternoon, we’ll continue with another 3-hour drive to Patras. Then visit the Archaeological Museum of Patras, where you can appreciate the exhibits on the themes of trade, war and funerary traditions. After that, head to the Cathedral of Saint Andrew, the largest church in Greece and the second largest Byzantine church in the Balkans. You can see a 5-meter-long gold-plated cross on the central dome of this majestic church and 12 smaller crosses on other domes, symbolizing Jesus and his apostles. And marvel at the beautiful jewelry mosaics and religious murals in the church. Cast a look at the relics of Jesus' disciple St. Andre, including his little finger and part of the top of his skull. Then take a walk on the beach promenade before checking into the hotel.

► Patras Carnival
Do you know Patras is the birthplace of Carnival? Patras Carnival is a grand traditional religious festival held annually in this city. It marks the beginning of Lent and is held a week before Lent each year, usually in February or March, lasting 40 days. During the carnival, people wear colorful costumes and grotesque makeup and take part in various parades and celebrations. You might be lucky to see the interesting parades if you happen to be there then.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Airotel Achaia Beach, Patras (4 stars) or similar

Today we will drive 2 hours to Nafplio. Upon arrival, we will pay a visit to Palamidi Castle. If energetic, climb up the fort to enjoy the beautiful view of the old city and the sea. Please wear comfortable walking shoes to avoid sprained feet, as the road is full of uneven and slippery stones. The walls in some areas of the castle are relatively low and lack of security measures, so be sure to keep a safe distance from the edge. Then take a walk along the wide and clean Nafplio Promenade. Later, explore the Archaeological Museum of Nafplio, which is located in a medieval Venetian building and displays excavations from this area.

In the afternoon, drive for 30 minutes to visit the Ancient Theater of Epidaurus, the largest ancient theater in Greece. The theater has been described as "the apotheosis of ancient Greek architecture in the use of acoustic principles". Actors on stage need no microphone to transmit their sounds to every corner of the theater. The stepped seating rows, unfolding in a semicircle shape, provide perfect sound filtering, transmitting high-frequency sounds of the performers while suppressing low-frequency sounds of background noise. Have a try to toss a coin on the stage, and you can be heard clearly from the top seats of the theater.

Then we will drive 2 hours back to Athens. The Corinth Canal can be seen on the way. Check into the hotel after arriving. If you are still energetic or with the hope of bringing back home some souvenirs, take a 10-more-minute walk south to Monastiraki Square. You’ll find the square itself a bustling market with a wide variety of vendors and shops selling handmade crafts and souvenirs, as well as freshly baked food shops, cozy cafes and shops selling traditional Greek snacks.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Brown Acropol, Athens (4 stars) or similar

It comes to the end of your trip. Our local driver will pick you up from the hotel and escort you to the airport on time. If you are longing to explore more spots, please feel free to contact us to tailor another hassle-free tour for you.

► Recommendations for Later Flight
If time permits, pay a visit to the Ancient Agora of Athens, about a 15-minute walk southwest from your hotel. Admire sculptures of Socrates and Confucius communicating through time and space. Besides, if you are interested in the traditional cuisine of Athens, take a 3-4 hour cooking class to bring home the culinary skills of Greece.

Meals: Breakfast