Excellent
Grand Tour of Greece
Embark on your own grand tour of discovery on this 10-day journey of Greece, taking us from ancient Athens to Thessaloniki through the sanctuaries, monasteries, monuments, and stunning landscapes at the heart of this cradle of Western civilization.
For a detailed itinerary and information about visas, money, weather and more download our Trip Notes
Tour Overview
Duration
10 daysStarts
AthensEnds
AthensRange
HandpickedTour Guide
Yes - escorted by a tour guideGroup Size
Min 10 / Max 45Minimum age
15 yrs, accompanied by an adultDeparts
May - SeptemberHotel Rating
3-4 star hotelsCountries
GreeceArrival Transfer
Yes - one transfer per bookingDeparture Transfer
Yes - one transfer per bookingMeals included
Breakfast: 9, Dinner: 6Excellent
4.4 out of 5 based on
275 reviews
Tour Highlights
Included
Not Included
Itinerary
Day 1 - Arrival in Athens
Day 1 - Arrival in Athens
Welcome to Greece! Transfer to your hotel upon arrival at Athens airport, where you may spend the rest of the day at leisure.
Day 2 - Athens City Tour
Day 2 - Athens City Tour
Today we embark on a tour of Greece's vibrant capital city, named after the goddess Athena and thought to be over 3000 years old. We visit various sites of interest including the Panathenaic Stadium (where the first modern Olympics were held in 1896), Hadrian's Arch, and Syntagma Square. Afterwards we go back in time with a guided visit of the Acropolis, the ancient hilltop sanctuary housing the architectural masterpieces of Classical Athens: the Parthenon, Propylaia, Temple of Athena Nike, and Erechtheion. This is followed by a guided tour of the Acropolis Museum, recently voted one of the best museums in the world. Enjoy the afternoon at leisure in the old Plaka neighbourhood and maybe shopping for souvenirs on Ermou street.
Itinerary Alteration - please note:
The order of excursions may vary from the outlined itinerary, depending on the departure date.
Day 3 - Across the Peloponnese
Day 3 - Across the Peloponnese
Athens - Epidaurus - Mycenae - Olympia. After breakfast, we depart towards the Peloponnese, the rocky peninsula home to many of Greece's greatest archaeological sites. First we stop at the gaping Corinth Canal, a narrow waterway separating the Peloponnese and Greek mainland. We continue to Epidaurus, a hub of ancient healing with a theatre famed for its acoustics.
After a short seaside stop in Nafplion, we visit Mycenae, the ancient civilization described by Homer as "rich in gold" and excavated by Heinrich Schliemann. The site includes the towering Cyclopean walls, the beehive tomb of Agamemnon, and the famous Lion's Gate. In the afternoon, we cross the mountains of the Peloponnese to arrive in Olympia for dinner.
Day 4 - Olympia
Day 4 - Olympia
Olympia - Delphi. Built on the banks of the River Alfios, the lush green sanctuary of Olympia once housed the original ancient Olympic Games, held every four years in honour of Zeus. Today we enjoy a tour through its remains, including the Temple of Zeus, the Palaestra, and Phidias's workshop. We continue onto the local museum which houses the impressive statue of Hermes of Praxitelis. In the afternoon, we head north around Patras, over the Rio-Antirio bridge, to Delphi for dinner.
Day 5 - Delphi
Day 5 - Delphi
Delphi - Kalambaka. The sanctuary at Delphi was revered in antiquity as a center of pilgrimage, home to the Pythia (Oracle) in the Temple of Apollo. We walk along the Sacred Way - the path followed by ancient visitors through the sanctuary. We then visit the local museum, where we'll find the bronze Charioteer statue and the omphalos stone. Afterwards, we cross the mountains of central Greece back to the mainland, to arrive in Kalambaka.
Day 6 - Meteora
Day 6 - Meteora
Kalambaka - Thessaloniki. This morning, we visit the UNESCO World Heritage site of Meteora. Incredible rock formations stand ageless on the landscape, hiding a number of Eastern Orthodox monasteries which have provided sacred retreat for monks over the centuries. We continue driving north through the plain of Thessaly and Valley of Tempi, and under Mount Olympus, home to the 12 gods of Greek mythology, before arriving in Thessaloniki, the capital of northern Greece.
Day 7 - Thessaloniki
Day 7 - Thessaloniki
We spend the morning exploring the city of Thessaloniki, visiting its most important landmarks and monuments to get a sense of its rich Byzantine past. The afternoon is yours to explore at leisure.
Day 8 - Macedonian Memory
Day 8 - Macedonian Memory
Today we explore the history of Greek Macedonia. First, we stop at the town of Edessa, framed by several beautiful waterfalls. Our next stop is Aristotle's School, where the great philosopher educated a young Alexander the Great. We then find the royal Macedonian tombs at Vergina, where Alexander's father Philip II is buried. Our final stop will be at Veria, where we'll see the Bema of St. Paul, colourful market, and Jewish neighbourhood. We return to Thessaloniki for dinner.
Day 9 - Pella & Dion
Day 9 - Pella & Dion
Thessaloniki - Pella - Dion - Athens. Our journey through Macedonian history continues with a visit to Pella, the ancient capital of Macedonia and birthplace of Alexander. The site at Pella is known for its exquisite floor mosaics and features a new museum. We then drive to the archaeological park of Dion, an ancient Macedonian sanctuary at the foot of Mount Olympus. We return to Athens for our final night, stopping at Thermopylae, where Leonidas and 300 Spartans made a heroic last stand against the Persians in 480 BC.
Day 10 - Goodbye
Day 10 - Goodbye
Today marks the end of our grand tour of Greece. A transfer to the airport for your departure flight is included after breakfast.
Tour Reviews
Extras and add-ons
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Pre and Post Tour Accommodation
Extend your tour with us by booking pre and post-accommodation, available at a per-person, per-night rate.
Pre-Tour Accommodation - Athens (From price)
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Post-Tour Accommodation - Athens (From price)
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Hotels
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