Tour of mainland Greece

Good morning! Welcome to Greece, to Athens! We are in the birthplace of Western civilization, Athens has an extraordinary range of historical sites to explore; an ancient history that spills over into the modern city, most dramatically represented by the ancient Acropolis. There is much to see in the ancient capital of Greece, vibrant and refreshed after the 2004 Olympics, but still retaining so much history. After the welcome meeting at 6:00 PM, free time is available and overnight stay at the hotel.

The day begins with a visit to the Acropolis of Athens, one of the most important historical testimonies of the Western world: a photo stop in front of the Parthenon, the largest Doric temple in the world, is a must. In the afternoon, we board a train that takes us to Thessaloniki, the second-largest city in Greece known for its vibrant nightlife.

Free day at your disposal in the cultural capital of Greece. Walk along the promenade to the White Tower, visit the Church of St. Nicholas and try to spot the Mount Olympus on the horizon; we will also visit the Ecumenical workshop for refugees. Alternatively, take part in the optional excursion to the archaeological site of Pella.

This morning we reach Kalambaka by public transport (about a 3-hour journey). Once we arrive at our destination, we take part in a short scenic city walk; free afternoon available to continue exploring Kalambaka and Meteora at one's leisure.

Day dedicated to exploring Meteora. We climb to the top of these impressive rock formations, which are 400 meters high, to visit the 24 monasteries from the 14th century located atop the pinnacles; along the rock walls, it is still possible to see caves that were once inhabited by hermits.

This morning we reach Delphi aboard a private vehicle (about a 4-hour journey). Along the way, we stop at a farm for a tasting of typical olive oil from the region. In the summer months, the afternoon is free to swim in the nearby waters; in the winter months, we take a scenic walk in the city of Delphi: the sanctuaries of Apollo and Athena and the oracle of Delphi are just some of the monuments we encounter along the way.

This morning we return to Athens by bus, where we arrive in the late afternoon (about 3.5 hours of travel). Free time available for souvenir shopping at the Flea Market of Monastiraki, watch the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and visit the Panathenaic Stadium which hosted the first Olympic games in 1896.

Mattinata libera a disposizione o possibilità di partecipare alle numerose escursioni opzionali proposte: Atene al crepuscolo; mercati, rovine e Atene antica; assaggi di Atene. Veniamo accompagnati all'aeroporto di Atene per il volo di rientro.