Ancient Greece - Islands, Myths and Legends

17 days
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14 reviews  
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Small Group Tour
Journey into the realm of the Gods... Athena, Apollo, Hercules, Poseidon and the mighty Zeus. Bring the mythology and legends of ancient Greece to life in an epic journey taking you from the impressive Parthenon in Athens’ Acropolis, to Olympia, the birthplace of the Olympic games, to the stunning Greek islands. We visit a myriad of ancient sites including ...
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Overview

Trip type
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Highlights

    • 5 UNESCO World Heritage Sites
    • The Parthenon
    • Journey to Cape Sounion
    • The rugged beauty of the Peloponnese
    • Visit Olympia - the birthplace of the Olympic Games
    • Explore the Byzantine monasteries of the Eastern Pindus Mountains
    • Explore Tinos, Mykonos and Delos
    • Athens Archaeological Museum

What's this trip about?

    Journey into the realm of the Gods... Athena, Apollo, Hercules, Poseidon and the mighty Zeus. Bring the mythology and legends of ancient Greece to life in an epic journey taking you from the impressive Parthenon in Athens’ Acropolis, to Olympia, the birthplace of the Olympic games, to the stunning Greek islands. We visit a myriad of ancient sites including the Parthenon, the Panathenaic Stadium and the Temple of Poseidon. Drive through the central Peloponnese, before arriving in Olympia, where the games began in 776 BC. The impressive Temple of Zeus was built here to honor the great god.

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Details

Itinerary focusClassic Highlights
Group sizeSmall Group - max of 16 people
Age range50 years and up
Flights and transportN/A
Start CityAthens
End CityAthens

Travel Themes

  • 50 plus
  • Cultural

Destinations

  • Europe
  • Greece

Attractions

  • Athens
  • Mykonos

Activities

  • Culture
  • Game drive
  • Hiking
  • Historic sightseeing
  • History
  • Mountaineering
  • Nature
  • Ruins & Archaeology

Trip includes

    • All accommodations throughout
    • All meals, starting with dinner on day 1 and finishing with breakfast on departure day (i.e. the last day of the ElderTreks tour)
    • Bottled drinking water throughout the trip
    • All internal transportation
    • Airport transfers on day 1 and departure day (i.e. the last day of the ElderTreks tour)
    • All day trips and entrance fees as outlined in the itinerary
    • Tips for hotels (porterage), bus driver, restaurants and spot guides
    • Services of a trip leader.

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Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Athens
You are met upon arrival and transferred to the hotel. The remainder of the day is at leisure. Dinner tonight will be at a local restaurant in the Plaka district. Overnight in Athens.  

Day 2: The Parthenon and Cape Sounion
Other than the pyramids in Egypt, the Parthenon of Athens has probably received more attention from archaeologists, historians and architects than any structure from the ancient world. Built in the 5th century BC during the Golden Age of Greece, the Parthenon was dedica...
Day 3: The Byzantine City of Mystras
After an early breakfast we drive to Mystras via Corinth and Sparta. Once in Mystras we take a light hike to the Byzantine Citadel. After lunch continue via Gythio to Deep Mani, a region of rugged beauty. For centuries the area has been protected from many invaders, res...
Day 4: Cape Tainaro - Entrance to the Underworld
After breakfast our journey takes us to Cape Tainaro. On our way, we will stop for a short visit to the partially restored village of Vathia. The basic settlement of Vathia was formed mainly after the 18th century. It flourished in the 19th century and began to decline i...
Day 5: Diros Caves, Kardamyli
This morning we travel to the picturesque village of Kardamyli. On the way we visit the Diros Caves, which were places of worship in Paleolithic and Neolithic times. They are part of a huge underground river system and are filled with stalagmites and stalactites. On arri...
Day 6: Travel to Olympia - Birthplace of the Olympic Games
Today we drive through the Central Peloponnese before arriving in Olympia, the birthplace of the Olympic Games. Here we visit the archaeological site of ancient Olympia, the archaeological museum and the monument of Cubertin. The games began in 776 BC to honor Zeus and according to mythology, Pelops, the King of the Peloponnese was their founder. Overnight in Olympia.  

Day 7: The Handmade Textiles,
Olives

and Vineyards of Arahova
We depart from Olympia this morning crossing over the newly constructed Rio-Antirio Bridge and drive along the Corinthian Gulf. On our way to the picturesque fishing village of Galaxidi, we will stop for lunch in Nafpaktos. We continue out drive to the nearby village of...
 

Day 8: Delphi - The Center of the Ancient World
In the morning we are guided to the center of the Ancient World - the Omphalos (Navel) of the Earth. On the slopes of Mt. Parnassus, in a landscape of unparalleled beauty and majesty, lie the ruins of the Sanctuary of Apollo. We visit the Treasury of the Athenians, the ...
Day 9: Meteora
The name Meteora, meaning "suspended in air" encompasses the 24 monasteries set in the canyons of the Eastern Pindus Mountains. The Byzantine Monasteries dating back to the 14th century were constructed on the tops of huge rock pillars, and are one of the most memorable ...
Day 10: To Athens, Ferry (catamaran) from Rafina to the Island of Tinos
After breakfast, we start our journey back to Athens, and specifically Rafina port, from where we will catch our ferry to Tinos island. Many Greek Orthodox make pilgrimages to Tinos' religious sites. The town of Tinos also has a bustling waterfront with many shops. Tonight we dine in a local restaurant in the main town. Overnight on Tinos.  

Day 11: Tinos, Chora
After an early breakfast, we depart for the village of Exomburgo, where a stunning view of the Aegean awaits us. Explore the Venetian Castle, situated on top of an overgrown hill. This fortress was built on the ruins of Psofida, an ancient acropolis of the islands. Conti...
 

Day 12: Tinos, Pyrgos village
This morning visit the picturesque village of Pyrgos. The largest village on the island, famous for its top quality white and green marble. On our walk through the village, we will see small marble workshops, as well as the museum and cemetery of the island. Continue wit...
Day 13: Ferry to Mykonos
This morning we leave Tinos by local ferry to the cosmopolitan island of Mykonos. According to Greek Mythology it's said that both Poseidon and Hercules had a hand in destroying some of the Giants that opposed Zeus on this very island. Later, as the story goes, the islan...
Day 14: The Sacred Island of Delos - the Temple of Apollo
Today we take a small boat over to the sacred Island of Delos, which is believed to be the birthplace of Apollo, the son of Zeus. With the arrival of the Mycenaeans around 1500BC and the Ionians in 1100BC, Delos was recognized as a place of worship. In order to acquire ...
Day 15: Return ferry to Athens
After breakfast we will take a midday ferry back to Athens for an evening free to enjoy this historic and exciting city. Overnight in Athens.  

Day 16: Exploring Athens
This morning we visit the National Archeological Museum. Afternoon is free to visit the Temple of Zeus or take the funicular to the top of Lycabettus Hill for views of Athens and the Aegean Sea. We have our farewell dinner at a local restaurant in the Plaka. Overnight in Athens.  

Day 17: Depart Athens
Today we transfer to the airport for our departure flights.

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Dates & Availability

Price From $6,895
Price per day$406
Last Updated: 8/2/2018

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with ElderTreks.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

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ElderTreks Reviews & Ratings

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Darlene

Apr 2020

Provided byElderTreks

VERY unhappy and unsatisfied traveller.

Our family booked a tour Nov 2018 and paid the balance in full Jan 2020. Mar 2020 rec'd an email saying that the tour is cancelled-COVID. ONLY choice is a 50% refund...

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Darlene Davy

Apr 2020

Provided byElderTreks

VERY unhappy and unsatisfied traveller

Our family booked a tour Nov 2018 and paid the balance in full Jan 2020. Mar 2020 rec'd an email saying that the tour is cancelled-COVID. ONLY choice is a 50% refund...

L

Lia

Sep 2019

Provided byElderTreks

Excellent trips!

My husband and I took our first trip with Eldertreks in 1999. We just completed our 15th Eldertreks trip in April 2017. All 15 trips have been 5-star trips. Each tr...

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Tour Operator

ElderTreks

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ElderTreks is the world's first adventure travel company designed exclusively for people 50 and over. Established in 1987, ElderTreks offers active, off-the-beaten-path, small-group adventures by both land and sea in over 100 countries. ElderTreks offers wildlife and tribal African safaris, active hiking trips to the Rockies, Himalayas and Andes, expeditions by icebreakers to the Arctic and Antarctic and cultural journeys throughout Asia, South America and much of the world. We invite you to browse through our website, request a catalogue or give us a call. A real person will always answer during business hours. We hope you can join ElderTreks on one of our small group adventures for travelers 50 plus.

Here are some of great reasons to travel with ElderTreks:

Small group experience: Maximum group size on our land adventures is 16 - guaranteed.

Expedition ships, not cruise ships (Capacity of 8-200 passengers): On our ship-based adventures, we use expedition ships - not cruise ships. Smaller vessels allow for more personal interaction and reduce our impact at the sites we visit.

Experts with first-hand knowledge: When you book a trip with ElderTreks, you have access to people who have been where you are going. You may deal directly with people who are able to answer your questions.

Genuine travel experiences: ElderTreks takes you off the beaten path on carefully crafted itineraries that are unique and thoughtfully planned. We do not support conveyor-belt tourism, where groups are pushed through a rigid itinerary at the expense of spontaneity.

Sustainable, responsible travel: We support a number of development projects throughout the world, and we make sure you have close contact with local people. During some of our adventures, you have the opportunity to visit schools and orphanages.

Comfortable, charming accommodations: We select hotels based on comfort, location and charm with private washrooms. Shared facilities are only used where there is no alternative, and such exceptions are clearly noted.

Great value: Our many repeat travelers tell us that we consistently deliver high caliber journeys at an affordable price. You will find our adventures eventful, stimulating and great value for your money.

What they’re known for
Small group tours offered exclusively for travelers aged 50+ with a focus on active and adventurous experiences.

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Logistics

What's excluded

    • International flights
    • Tips to ElderTreks tour leader
    • National guide
    • Alcoholic drinks
    • Visa’s and travel insurance.

Accommodation

,Comfortable, well-located accommodations. Some places overlooking the Agean sea, others are located in beautiful alpine areas. Please note: some of our hotels are small and do not provide porterage service.

Transportation & Flights

All local transportation is included in the land price of the trip. We travel by bus, boat/ferry and foot. ,
Cancellation policy

Participants booked on all land-based adventures may receive a refund for a cancelled trip, subject to a cancellation fee, as follows:

Cancellation made Cancellation Fee (days before departure)

More than 100 days: deposit amount*

31 – 99 days:  50% of tour price

0 – 30 days : 100% of tour price

Please note cancellations for Heli-Hiking in the Canadian Rockies and Polar Bears of Churchill between 0-70 days is 100% of tour price.

Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance alongside your travel package to safeguard against unforeseen circumstances such as medical expenses, trip cancellations, and other contingencies. It offers you peace of mind and ensures you are prepared for unexpected events that may occur before or during your journey
Visa requirements
Visa requirements vary depending on your country of origin and your country of destination. It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with the relevant requirements. For a handy tool that can help you quickly find the requirements, please visit this link .
Meals Included

All meals.

Age Requirements
50 years and up
Additional Information
Trip ID
eldert-AncGreEld

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