Self-Drive: Classical Greece

Today depart the UK on your international flight to Athens. Since you will not collect your hire car until Day 3, you will be met on arrival and privately transferred to your hotel in Athens. The remainder of the day you are at leisure.

Capital of the Hellenic Republic, what makes the city of Athens special is the juxtaposition between old and new. Effortlessly combining ancient history with contemporary creativity, twenty-first century Athens is immersed not only in history and mythology but with a vibrancy befitting of a city that has been inhabited for over 3000 years. From ancient architecture to innovative street art, bustling food markets to classic taverna cuisine and easy access to both the Attica peninsula and Greek Islands, Athens is unlike anywhere else in Greece. (N)
Accommodation in Athens: Herodion Hotel (or similar)

Today enjoy a half-day city tour of Athens – a highlight of which is the visit to the world-famous Acropolis. With your guide, start the morning at the Acropolis. The embodiment of ancient Athens, this UNESCO protected complex is a magnificent site, was the religious centre of classical Athens and has dominated the city for over 2,500 years. See the Parthenon, Propylaia, Erechtheion and Temple of Athena Nike before visiting the excellent Acropolis Museum. On the return to your hotel brief visits will also be made to the Panathenaic stadium, used to host the first modern Olympic Games in I896, Greek parliament, National Library and the University of Athens. For the remainder of the afternoon you are at leisure or, if interested, we can arrange a private optional boat trip from the city. (B)
Accommodation in Athens: Herodion Hotel (or similar)

This morning collect your hire car and, following the coastal road towards the Corinth Canal, cross the bridge that connect the mainland with the Peloponnese. Arriving in Mycenae, meet your guide, and explore this important ancient city. Highlights include the Lion Gate, Acropolis, Palace and Tomb of Agamemnon. Leaving Mycenae, continue on by road to Epidaurus. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, this grand ancient city was once the most important healing centre of the Classical world and was said to be the birthplace of Asclepius, the god of medicine. There are a number of impressive structures with the magnificent theatre, still used for plays and performances to this day, considered one of the masterpieces of ancient Greek architecture. Following your visit continue to beautiful Nafplion where you will stay for the next two nights. (B)
Accommodation in Nafplion: Amalia Hotel (or similar)

Today you are at leisure to explore historic Nafplion under your own arrangements. We can also assist in arranging a number of different optional tours including kayaking in the Argolic Gulf or a guided culinary walk through Nafplion’s historic centre. (B)
Accommodation in Nafplion: Amalia Hotel (or similar)

Leaving Nafplion, this morning travel through the picturesque mountains of Arcadia to Olympia, birthplace of the Olympic Games. With your guide explore what is considered to be one of antiquity’s most important sites with highlights of your visit being the Temple of Zeus, the gymnasium where the athletes trained, the nymphaeum and the stadium in which the games were held. There is also an informative museum with finds from the different excavations that have taken place here. From Olympia cross the Gulf of Corinth, entering mainland Greece, before ending your day at Delphi where you will stay overnight. (B)
Accommodation in Delphi: Amalia Hotel (or similar)

Spend the morning with your guide at the ancient sanctuary of Delphi. Home of the legendary oracle and the most revered site of ancient Greece, Delphi was considered to be the navel of the world. The archaeological remains of the precinct cover a vast area and there is much to see including the Temple of Apollo within which the famous oracle once operated. After enjoying the views and spending time in the museum continue by road to Kalambaka stopping en-route in Thermopylae where Leonidas and his three hundred courageous Spartans made their heroic defence against the invading Persians. (B)
Accommodation in Kalambaka: Amalia Hotel (or similar)

This morning you are at leisure to enjoy Kalambaka. A number of different optional activities can be arranged including a hike to visit the six surviving Monasteries of Meteora which today a UNESCO World Heritage Site or a gastronomic adventure which includes both a truffle hunt and cooking lesson. Later return by road to Athens where you will stay overnight. (B)
Accommodation in Athens: Herodion Hotel (or similar)