Compare Best of Greece by G Adventures vs Wild mountains and rivers adventure by Trails Beyond
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| Trip |
5 | Excellent
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5 | Excellent
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| Duration | 15 days | 7 days |
| Price From | $ 2,799 | $ 1,038 |
| Price Per Day | $ 187 | $ 148 |
| Highlights |
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| Trip Style | Small group tour | Small group tour |
| Lodging Level | Standard | Standard |
| Physical Level |
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| Travel Themes |
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| Countries Visited | ||
| Cities and Attractions |
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| Flights & Transport | Ground transport included | Ground transport included |
| Activities |
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| Meals Included | 13 breakfasts, 1 dinner |
6 Breakfasts, 6 Lunches and 3 Dinners |
| Description |
When you saddle a trip with a moniker as lofty as "Best of Greece," you’d better make sure it lives up to the hype. This one does. Compiling the top moments from our best-selling trips in the region, this comprehensive tour through the cradle of Western Civilization brings the distant past and vibrant present into sharp focus. Between the must-see historical sites of Athens and Delphi, the rugged plateaus of the fabled Samariá Gorge, personal encounters in isolated Cretan villages and the breezy sway of Santorini at sundown, you won’t have a moment to waste. Witness Greece — in all her timeless glory — with us. |
Have you even been to a place, unknown to most of the world, but so beautiful and magical, that you want to keep it secret for yourself, yet, at the same time, scream it out to the world? Have you ever thought of Greece as a place with wild and steep mountains, deep gorges and wild rivers, ideal for adventure holidays? You simply have to join us on our “Wild Mountains & rivers” adventure and discover the secret beauty of the Greek mainland! Traditional stone-made villages untouched by time, lush fir forests, alpine landscapes, magical lakes and rivers, arch stone bridges, delicious local food and the hospitality of the local people are waiting for you to explore them! Take advantage of Greece’s mild weather and enjoy a week long adventure beyond the beaten path. |
Day 1 Athens
Arrive at any time.
We recommend arriving a day or two early to fully explore this world-renowned city. There are no activities planned until an evening welcome meeting.
Day 2 Athens
Take an orientation walk in Athens with the rest of the day free to explore. Opt to visit the Acropolis site, the new Acropolis Museum, the Ancient Agora and the National Archaeological Museum. Afterwards, be enriched and refreshed with drinks and a tour of local non-profit cafe, Shedia Home. Later in the evening attend a cooking class with a local chef and enjoy a dinner of your creations.
Day 3 Athens/Meteora
Travel to Kalambaka, a good base for visiting the monasteries of Meteora.
Day 4 Meteora
Spend a full free day in the area. Opt to take the public bus and visit the stunning mountaintop monasteries of Meteora.
Opt to take a bus up to see several monasteries in the area situated at 613m (2011 ft) above sea level, on a precipitous rock pinnacle. The day is yours to choose which monasteries to visit or perhaps take a hike in the scenic local area.
Day 5 Meteora/Delphi
Visit Ancient Delphi and the Temple of Apollo.
Travel through mountain scenery around Mt Parnassos to Delphi. Enjoy a visit to the ancient city of Delphi and the Temple of Apollo, then spend the evening exploring the charming little town or relaxing in a small café enjoying the views of the nearby valley.
Day 6 Delphi/Náfplio
Travel to Nafplio and explore the beautiful cobblestoned streets. Opt to climb the Acronafplia to soak in the views.
Described as one of Greece's prettiest towns, the narrow pedestrian streets of old town are begging to be strolled upon. Opt to climb to the Acronafplia and Palamidi Fortresses. The views from the top are phenomenal.
Day 7 Náfplio/Chaniá
Spend a free day enjoying the area. Opt to visit Epidavros, as well as the nearby site of Mycenae before an overnight ferry to Crete.
There is a wealth of ancient sites within easy reach of Nafplio. Opt for a guided tour of Epidavros, which is highly regarded as one of the most renowned of Greek ancient sites. Opt to visit the famous Mycenae, also close by, with its spectacular treasury and ruins, or for another lesser-known Mycenean site, visit Tiryns, just in the suburbs of Nafplio itself.
Please note that accommodations on your overnight ferry will consist of 4-berth, mixed gender cabins with a private bathroom and air-conditioning.
Day 8 Chaniá
Arrive on Crete and enjoy the day relaxing at one of the many harbour-side cafés. Wander the streets of the old town with its fascinating blend of ancient and modern Turkish and Venetian architecture, reflecting the diverse history of the island.
Day 9 Chaniá/Agia Roumeli
Hike the famous and rugged Samariá Gorge.
Travel by private transfer and ferry to hike in the Samariá Gorge. Spend the night in Agia Roumeli, a remote fishing village. Connected with neighbouring towns by sea or footpaths, the town has retained its charm. Enjoy time for swimming or relaxing on the beach.
Please bring a day pack with any essentials needed during the hike, and ensure to wear proper hiking attire.
Day 10 Agia Roumeli/Loutro
Travel by ferry to Loutro. Enjoy a free day. Opt to rent a kayak and explore secluded beaches and coves.
The majestic scenery, crystal-clear Mediterranean water, friendly people and peaceful atmosphere all make Loutro an ideal place to relax after all the distance travelled.
Day 11 Loutro
Take advantage of a free day for exploring the area. Head out for a swim and savour tasty seafood meals at secluded restaurants, or choose to hike Aradine Gorge.
Day 12 Loutro/Heraklion
Travel to Heraklion. Enjoy a visit to Knossos, site of a Minoan palace and residence of King Minos. Enjoy the rest of the day on your own with free time.
Day 13 Heraklion/Santorini
Hop a ferry to beautiful Santorini. Enjoy two nights on the island.
Fira, the main town, sits perched on the edge of the caldera with breathtaking views of multi-coloured cliffs, sugar-cube architecture, and great shopping.
Day 14 Santorini
Enjoy a free day to explore. Opt for a half-day volcano tour, shopping, relaxing on the beach, or make your way to the crater's rim to savour the breathtaking view.
Opt to pre-book the "Santorini Sunset Cruise" activity on the checkout page ahead of time, to include this optional on your tour.
Day 15 Santorini
Depart at any time.
Day 1: Arrival in Athens – Exploring the city
Accommodation: 3* Hotel in Athens
Upon arrival in Athens International Airport, you are met and welcomed by our team. You transfer to your hotel and, since your fellow travel companions arrive in different times of the day, you have the day free to explore the city of Athens and its numerous cultural and historical places of interest, such as the Acropolis, the temple of Zeus, the unique Acropolis museum, the Ancient and Roman Agora. You can also walk around Filoppapou hill, visit the flea market in Monastiraki and enjoy a cup of coffee/tea in one of the beautiful cafes in Thisio.
*If you wish to enjoy a guided walking or bike tour of the city, please contact us.
Day 2: Athens – Lake Plastira – Elati
Meals: Breakfast and Picnic Lunch
Accommodation: 3* Hotel in Elati
Activity duration: approx. 1.5 hour, level of difficulty: easy
Early in the morning, we depart with direction the dreamy Lake Plastira, a destination that harmonically combines serenity with adventure (approx. 4 hours driving distance). Upon arrival at the lake, we will enjoy picnic lunch by the lakeside, before we set off on exploring the lake on a hydro-bike or canoe/kayak.
Later in the afternoon, we will depart for the beautiful mountainous traditional village of Elati. On our way there, we will make a stop at the beautiful arch stone bridge of Saint Vissarion, built in the 1527. You are free to enjoy a walk by the riverside, a refreshing tea/coffee by the bridge or buy herbs, honey and traditional drinks by local vendors. Once in Elati, you can explore the village, admire the traditional architecture of stone-made houses and enjoy the delicious local cuisine in one of the village’s family run tavernas.
Day 3: Elati – Pertouli – Vitsa
Meals: Breakfast, Snack lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Traditional Guesthouse in Vitsa
Hike duration: 1 hour, level of difficulty: easy
After breakfast, we will drive to Pertouli meadows, a beautiful plateau, surrounded by mountains with dense forests, rivers and enormous fir trees, which we will explore while riding our horses! Coffee break, before we board our car with destination the stunning area of Zagori (approx. 2:30 hr driving).
In the afternoon, we will reach Monodendri village and we’ll first visit the Rizarios School of Handicrafts to find out how local women make traditional handmade carpets and textiles. We will also visit the Rizarios Photo Exhibition, where temporary photography collections are exhibited, as well as the original stereoscopic cameras that British photographers used to capture the first modern Olympic Games in Greece in 1896! We will then take the short hiking path to Agia Paraskevi church and enjoy the impressive views over Vikos gorge! Visit to Oxya viewpoint and the stone forest come next.
In the evening, we will check in at our traditional guesthouse in Vitsa village and enjoy homemade dinner.
Day 4: Vradeto steps, Beloi viewpoint & Zagoria arch stone bridges
Meals: Breakfast, Snack lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Traditional Guesthouse in Vitsa
After breakfast, we will drive towards Kapesovo village. From there, following the beautiful stone trail of Vradeto steps, we’ll reach the highest village of Zagori, Vradeto (1450m) and 2km later at Beloi viewpoint (1650m), where we can enjoy striking panoramic views over the gorge!
(Hike duration: 3-4 hrs, level of difficulty: moderate)
After snack lunch, we will explore hiking some of the most important and beautiful arch stone bridges of the area
(Hike duration: 1.5 – 3 hrs, level of difficulty: easy to moderate).
The tour of the arch stone bridges can be done in many different ways, we may hike to all of the bridges or do parts by car (it depends on the travelers’ fitness level, it is a quite flexible trail)
Dinner and overnight in Vitsa village
Day 5: Crossing Vikos Gorge
Meals: Breakfast and Snack lunch
Accommodation: Traditional guesthouse in Papigko
(Total Hike duration: 5.5 – 6 hours / Level of difficulty: moderate to challenging)
This morning, we will take one of the best and most impressive hiking trails in all the Zagori area! Starting from the village of Monodendri, we’ll hike all the way down into Vikos ravine, one of the deepest canyons in the world. We hike parallel to the stream, and walk right into the heart of the National Park. The surrounding environment is a paradise for nature lovers that can observe the rich flora and fauna. The gorge is shelter for a lot of wild animals, such as pray birds, bears and wild boars. We will have a nice break for snacks at the river’s springs, before the small steep ascend to Vikos village. From Vikos village, we transfer to Papigo village, for dinner and overnight.
If you are on a family holiday with young children (less than 12 years old) or you are not keen in long hikes, we can do shorter hikes in Vikos gorge.
Day 6: Papigo (rafting) – Meteora
Meals: Breakfast, Picknick lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: 3* Hotel in Meteora
Activity duration: approx. 2 hours in the water – 3.5 hrs total, level of difficulty: easy
Prepare yourselves for rafting in one of the clearest rivers in Europe! Starting from the beautiful stone bridge of Aristi, we will cross the National Park of Vikos – Aoos, while rafting across Voidomatis river. This is an easy route, ideal for everyone, yet very impressive because of the river’s crystal clear waters and the surrounding natural landscape.
In the afternoon, we will depart with destination the UNESCO Heritage Site of Meteora, also called the “stone forest”. ). Upon arrival in Meteora, we’ll enjoy a sunset tour for beautiful views and photo shooting, before we check in to our hotel.
Alternative activity: horse riding tour in Zagoria
Day 7: Meteora – Athen
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
(Total Hike duration: 2 – 3 hours / Level of difficulty: easy to moderate/ Total Distance: 6km / Altitude difference: 280m)
What a better way to wake up rather than admiring the spectacular sandstone rocks of Meteora, rising over 400 m above the ground! After breakfast, we will explore this unique landscape and the impressive top-cliff monasteries beyond the ordinary way!
We will follow the ancient paths that the monks used to follow, through the steep rocks, visit some of the monasteries and admire the breathtaking views. In the afternoon, we depart for our way back to Athens. For those of you having a late evening flight from Athens International Airport, you can be transferred straight to the airport or you can enjoy your last night in beautiful Athens, if you continue your vacations in Greece!
