Treasures of AthenaGreece
in-depth :
10- Day Tour
|
Louis
Cruise Lines |
First
Class Hotel |
Deluxe
Hotel |
| Outside Category : XA | $
3055 |
$
3465 |
| Outside Category : XB | $
3285 |
$
3535 |
| Outside Category : XC | $
3335 |
$
3685 |
| Outside Category : XD | $
3585 |
$
3835 |
Child
up to 2 years pays : $ 200
Day
1 - Athens-
Saturday ( D)
Our local rep will meet you at Athens Airport & assist with your
transfer to your hotel. Dinner is included at the hotel. Add
an extra day in Athens ?
Day
2 Athens- Private Touring (BLD) Sunday
Half-day private city sightseeing tour will introduce you to the
most important sites, including the House of Parliament, Hadrians
Arch, Acropolis with its outstanding monuments and museum. Lunch is
included at a charming local restaurant .Afternoon walking tour of the
Plaka. Dinner is included at the hotel.
DAY
3 - Monday - MYCENAE, EPIDAURUS & NAUPLIA (BD)
We set forth from Athens to tour classical Greece, passing Corinth and
its steep-walled canal as we go. We stop at Mycenae,
to visit among other things , the famous tomb of Agamemnon.
Mycenae
: the center of ancient Mycenaean civilization
(2800-1100 BC); the legendary home of the Atreides, is situated upon a small hill-top
on the lower slopes of Euboea Mountain, between two of its peaks, on
the road leading from the Argolic Gulf to the north (Corinth, Athens,
etc.).
The site was inhabited since Neolithic times (about 4000 BC) but reached
its peak during the Late Bronze Age (1350-1200 BC), giving its name
to a civilization which spread throughout the Greek world.
During that period, the acropolis was surrounded by massive "cyclopean"
walls, which were built in three stages (ca.1350, 1250 and 1225 BC)
except on its SE flank where a steep ravine provided natural defense.
A palace was built on the summit of the hill while towards the Argolic
plain lay the wall - painted "Cult Center", the main gate
or "Lion Gate" and "Grave Circle A" which contained
the treasures now displayed at the National Archaeological Museum of
Athens. On the NE side, a tunnel leading to a subterranean fountain
was built in "cyclopean" masonry in around 1225 B.C.
More tombs, "Grave Circle B", and large tholoi as well as
houses were discovered outside the walls. Mycenae was occupied without
interruption until 468 B.C. when it was conquered by the city of Argos
and its population banished. It was reoccupied in the 3rd century B.C.
for a relatively short period. It had been abandoned for some time when
Pausanias visited the site during the 2nd century A.D.
On
to Epidaurus, site of the temple of Asclepius. On to Nauplion ( short
stop ) .
We drive through the central Peloponnese , pass by Tripolis and Megalopolis
on our way to Olympia, where we spend the night .
DAY
4 - Tuesday - OLYMPIA (BD)
Tour this ancient site of the Olympic games. We visit the great Temple
of Zeus, one of the Wonders of the Ancient World, and tour the museum.
We drive through Rion, Antirion and Nafpaktos and along the Corinthian
coast on our way to Delphi,where we overnight.
DAY
5- Wednesday - DELPHI
(BD)
Tour Delphi, site of the famed oracle, at the foot of Mount Parnassus.
During the Mycenaean period, the female deity of Earth was worshipped
in the small settlement of Delphi. The development of the sanctuary
and oracle though, began in the 8th century B.C. with the establishment
of the cult of Apollo. Under the protection and administration of the
Amphictyony, the sanctuary continued to be
autonomous after the First Sacred War and, as a result, increased its
panhellenic religious
and political influence. The Pythian Games
were re-organized, the sanctuary was enlarged and it was enriched with
nice buildings, statues, and other offerings. In the 3rd century B.C.
it came under the domination of the Aetolians
and later, in 191 B.C., was conquered by the Romans. During the Roman
occupation the site was sometimes plundered but was also favoured by
some of the emperors. With the spread of Christianity, the sanctuary
lost its religious meaning and was permanently closed down with a decree
of emperor Theodosius the Great.
We tour the ruins of Delphi and its oracle, sacred to Apollo and Dionysus. In the afternoon, we drive via the lovely Kalambaka a small town situated at the foot of the astonishing complex of Meteora , we spend the night at Kalambaka .
DAY
6 - Thursday - ATHENS (BD)
We tour Meteora , perched at
the top of huge rocks which seems to be suspended in mid-air , stand
ageless Monasteries, where you can see exquisite specimens of Byzantine
art , Meteora is from the biggest and most important group of monasteries
in Greece after those in Mount Athos.
We can locate the first traces of their history from 11th c. when the
first hermits settled there. The rock monasteries have been characterized
by Unesco as a unique phenomenon of cultural heritage and they form
one of the most important stations of cultural map of Greece.
On to Athens via Trikala , Lamia , Thermopylae , visit the Leonidas
Monument , and Kammena Vourla. Arrive Athens in the evening where a
comfortable bed and dinner await you at the hotel .
Day
7 - Athens, Cruise*- Mykonos (BLD) Friday
Transfer to Piraeus for the embarkation on your 3 day cruise. Arrival
at the jet-set island of Mykonos at 6:00 PM. You will have the evening
to stroll the narrow streets to the sculpture- like church of Paraportiani,
or along the waterfront to the famous windmills, perhaps stopping at
a picturesque café for an ouzo. The ship departs at 11:00 PM.
Day
8 -Kusadasi (Turkey), Patmos (BLD) Saturday
Arrive 7:00 AM. at Kusadasi, the popular Turkish port and gateway to
the ancient city of Ephesus. Optional tour of Ephesus. Midday departure.
In late afternoon, arrival at the Greek isle of Patmos. Here you can
visit the Monastery of St. John where the book of Revelations was written.
DAY
9 - HERAKLION (CRETE) , SANTORINI (B) -
Sunday
We drop anchor in the port of Heraklion at 7 a.m. You can explore on
your own, or take an optional excursion to the 5000-year-old Minoan
Palace at Knossos and the archaeological museum. We sail late morning
for Santorini, where the lost civilization of Atlantis flourished. You'll
have until 9 PM to explore on your own or join the ship's own optional
tour.
Day
10 Piraeus /ATHENS/DEPARTURE (B) Monday
Morning arrival in Piraeus. Transfer to the airport . Bon Voyage
Tour includes:
Not included:
Combine
Egypt & Athens , or add Italy
Clothing
on shore:
Look forward to warm, even hot
weather with some cooler breezes at night.
Especially for shore excursions, we recommend loose, comfortable cottons
or other lightweight clothing.
Some of the tours involve long bus rides and/or considerable walking, so comfortable shoes are recommended. Please bear in mind that shore excursion coaches are air conditioned and you may wish to bring a light sweater. On tours that include visits to places of worship, shorts and bare shoulders are not permitted.
Extend & stay in your own Villa in Santorini - Your Honeymoon Greek Island
Add a spa Package to your stay in Greece

Sailing the
Aegean on a Sailing Yacht | Melina
and Adrian Honeymoon slides in Greece
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