Greece was the preeminent power of the ancient world and its impact on civilisation, both culturally and socially, is immeasurable. Fortunately, many of the country’s most significant ancient sites remain for the modern-day visitor to discover and this journey incorporates a selection of the very finest.
This tour commences in the Greek capital Athens and includes ample time at the magnificent UNESCO protected Acropolis. Prior to leaving Athens, collect your hire car to begin a five-day exploration of classical Greece. Highlights include Mycenae, Epidaurus and charming Nafplion, the renowned ancient remains of Olympia and Delphi, the former the birthplace of the Olympic Games and the latter home of the legendary oracle, and Kalambaka where a visit to the Monasteries of Meteora can be arranged.
thens – Nafplion – Olympia – Delphi – Kalambaka – Athens
Trip Highlights
- In Athens explore the world-famous Acropolis which towers over the Greek capital
- Discover the spectacular theatre of Epidaurus which is still in use to this day
- Birthplace of the Olympic Games, visit Olympia’s ancient stadium and gymnasium
- Visit the legendary Delphi, home of the ancient world’s most renowned oracle
- Praised by Homer and capital of legendary Agamemnon, visit historic Mycenae
- Marvel at the extraordinary Monasteries of Meteora, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Itinerary
Day 1
UK to Athens
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.
Herodion Hotel
Day 2
Athens
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.
- Breakfast
Herodion Hotel
Day 3
Athens to Nafplion via Mycenae and Epidaurus – 140kms
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.
- Breakfast
Amalia Hotel Nafplio
Day 4
Nafplion
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.
- Breakfast
Amalia Hotel Nafplio
Day 5
Nafplion to Delphi via Olympia – 370kms
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.
- Breakfast
Amalia Hotel Delphi
Day 6
Delphi to Kalambaka – 225kms
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.
- Breakfast
Amalia Hotel Kalambaka
Day 7
Kalambaka to Athens – 350kms
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.
- Breakfast
Herodion Hotel
Day 8
Athens to the UK
After a morning at leisure drive back to Athens Airport and return your hire car. Later board your international fight back to the UK.
- Breakfast
Extending your stay...
Discover beautiful Paros, one of the lesser-visited islands of the Cyclades. Set in the heart of the Aegean, Paros is an archetypal Greek island of whitewashed homes and domed churches, atmospheric cobbled lanes, authentic tavernas, sandy beaches and crystal-clear seas.
Medieval Monemvasia is a morning’s drive south from Nafplion. This perfectly preserved fortress town, hugging precipitous cliffs and connected to the mainland by a causeway, was not only a significant Byzantine stronghold but also inhabited by Crusaders, Venetians and Ottomans.
Relax in charming Limeni, a picturesque coastal village. With a strategic location that made it a vital regional port, Limeni is known for its traditional stone tower houses which served to protect its inhabitants from the pirates and Ottoman forces that once roamed this wild coast.
Fly from Athens to Crete, the largest of the Greek islands with a proud and independent identity. Relax by the sea, there are a host of excellent beach options here, or discover the island’s history from Chania’s picturesque Venetian harbour to the ancient Minoan capital of Knossos.
Guide to Price
8 days from £2600 per person
What's Included
- International flights
- Hotel accommodation and taxes
- Car hire as specified
- Sightseeing with local English speaking guides
What's Not Included
- Visas
- Travel Insurance
- Expenses of a personal nature
- Meals unless specified
from £2600
Travel Information
Getting There
British Airways fly direct from London to several Greek cities including Athens, Thessaloniki and Kalamata. They also offer services to several Greek islands including Corfu, Crete, Kefalonia, Kos, Mykonos, Rhodes, Santorini, Skiathos and Zakynthos. Budget airlines such as Ryanair and EasyJet also have a wide range of flights available between the UK and mainland Greece and the islands.
Flying Times From UK
Depending on where in Greece you are flying to, flights average between 3 to 5 hours. London to Athens takes around 3.5 hours.
Time Zone
Greece is +2 hours ahead of GMT.
Visa Requirements
British citizens do not require a visa for travel to Greece for up to 90 days within a 180 day period.
Do’s & Don’ts
Try to avoid cheap souvenir shops that sell imported goods at a low price. Instead try to ‘buy local’ and support Greek craftspeople and small businesses.
When taking photographs, permission should always be asked before taking someone’s picture.
Make sure you pack suitable clothing so that you can dress respectfully for visits to religious venues. Knees and shoulders should be covered when entering churches and places of worship.
If you manage to learn a few words in Greek it will be greatly appreciated.
Money
The local currency in Greece is the Euro. Both cash and card payments are commonly accepted throughout the country, however you may find on the smaller islands or villages that only cash will be accepted. ATMs are reliable and commonplace in most towns, cities and larger islands.
Tipping
Tipping in Greece is left to your discretion and should, of course, be based on the satisfaction of the services you receive. There is no set rule for tipping in Greece, but 5-10% for good service is appreciated. In some restaurants service charge is added to your bill automatically so ensure you check this. Tips in cash are preferred. If your trip includes guides and you believe they have offered an outstanding service, they will welcome any monetary gift at the end of a trip.
Food & Drink
Greece offers an incredibly rich and diverse array of ingredients and dishes making it one of the world’s most loved cuisines. Much like the rest of the Mediterranean, Greek food and wine is focused on simplicity, flavours and local produce. Greece’s climate is perfect for growing olives, lemons, vegetables, fruit and wild herbs. It is also a nation of farmers who produce organic cheese and rear cattle. With hundreds of islands and no part of the Greek mainland more than 90 miles from the sea, fish is also a huge part of the cuisine. Sardines and octopus are common seafood used in Greek cooking, often simply grilled and served with lemon and a salad or vegetables.
Moussaka is the national dish of Greece and other classic dishes include souvlaki (grilled meat skewers), dolmades (stuffed vine leaves), spanakopita (feta and spinach filo pie), gyros (meat and pita kebab), stifado (beef stew) and choriatiki (the traditional Greek salad). Some of Greece’s hilly terrain is also home to rolling vineyards and the country is becoming more well-known for its wine and spirits, most notably ouzo, which is an anise-flavoured liqueur.
Shopping
Greece offers a great selection of shopping ranging from small boutiques and international designers to traditional shops and markets selling local produce and craft goods. Throughout the mainland and islands there are many independent stores and stalls that sell artisanal souvenirs including ceramics and pottery, handmade textiles and natural coral sponges. For produce, local markets are the best option where you can pick up typical products such as honey, olive oil, wine, ouzo and herbs, or you may wish to try a ‘spoon sweet’ which is preserved fruit in jars of syrup.
Suggested Reading
Rough Guides, Lonely Planet and DK Eyewitness have excellent guidebooks on Greece and also offer city, island or regional variations. If you are looking for a Greek classic, try ‘The Iliad’ by Homer, ‘The Histories’ by Herodotus, ‘Antigone’ by Sophocles or ‘Medea’ by Euripides. There are numerous books on the history of Greece; ‘A Concise History of Greece’ by Richard Clogg or ‘Greece: Biography of a Modern Nation’ by Roderick Beaton are both great options on general Greek history. ‘Tales of Greek Heroes’ by Roger Lancelyn Green offers an excellent exploration of Greek mythology and legend. There are also a number of excellent fictional reads set in Greece including:
‘The Flight of Ikaros’ by Kevin Andrews
‘The Magus’ by John Fowles
A Thousand Ships’ by Natalie Haynes
‘The Last of the Wine’ by Mary Renault
‘Zorba the Greek’ by Nikos Kazantzakis
‘Captain Corelli’s Mandolin’ by Louis de Bernieres
‘Little Infamies’ by Panos Karnezis
‘The Island’ by Victoria Hislop
Health
Your doctor is the best person to advise you on staying healthy whilst abroad and precautions necessary for your itinerary and relevant to your personal circumstances. For current information on health advice you may wish to visit the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) website Travel Health Pro on https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/. The Medical Advisory Services for Travellers Abroad (MASTA) website (www.masta.org) is also a useful resource.
Travel Advice
For current information on Ireland the best resource is the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice) which is a comprehensive resource and updated regularly. We would also recommend visiting the Safer Tourism Foundation website (safertourism.org.uk) before you travel and will be happy to address any questions or concerns you may have.
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Our Reviews
What our clients say
All the arrangements worked well
GM - Greece - June 2023
I’m pleased to say all the arrangements of our Peloponnese holiday worked well.
We enjoyed stunning views of the Acropolis from the rooftop restaurant of the Herodion, friendly knowledgeable private guides and comfortable distinctive hotels in lovely seaside villages and towns. Even the driving was very straightforward, better roads than here and quiet.
Getting to know you
A crucial part of our process, discuss your plans with us either by phone, video or in person.
Helping you to design your trip
Entirely tailor-made, there is complete flexibility to incorporate all your requirements.
On-hand support, when you need it
Our team are on hand to answer any questions and ensure you are fully ready, and excited, for your trip.
Full confidence whilst you are away
Enjoy full support from our UK team and trusted local partners throughout your journey.
We’re pleased to confirm that Pettitts Travel will not apply any surcharges to our package holidays when we are operating as a tour operator, regardless of changes in global costs. The price you agree at the time of booking is the price you will pay, a commitment we have proudly upheld for the past 38 years.
