Ancient Paths of Greece

You fly to Thessaloniki during the day. We will meet you at the airport and drive you to your centrally located hotel. If you arrive early, grab the chance and take a stroll to discover the Greek way of life! Enjoy two nights in a modern hotel in Thessaloniki, within walking distance to the seafront.

On this day, we explore Greece’s second-largest city, which is a modern port metropolis and a city that has remained young at heart at the same time. Outstanding views from the elevated citadel and a walk back down to the center along the old city walls will make you fall in love with the city. We will visit the Rotunda built during Roman times and from there we will head to an atmospheric ceremony in the basilica of Saint Demetrios (UNESCO World Heritage Site). After a visit to the Archaeological Museum, we will admire the White Tower. Tips for the free afternoon and evening: harbor promenade, frappé in a street café, local fish specialties.

On our way to Kavala on day 3, we will stop in ancient Stagira, the birthplace and grave of the most important Greek philosopher, Aristotle. We continue to the Archaeological Site of Philippi, the most important site of its kind in eastern Macedonia. We will visit the fortified walls of the site as well as the acropolis and the Byzantine tower. Later in the afternoon, we will enjoy a city tour of Kavala. Although Kavala doesn’t receive much attention from travel guides, it is one of the most pleasant and beautiful Greek cities to live in. There are plenty of monuments we can visit, such as Agios Nikolas church, the castle, and the old town, the city walls, the Halil bay complex, and the Mohammad Ali Museum.

On this day we will make a wonderful stop on our way to Veria. We will visit the ancient Amphipolis and then onto Pella and Vergina. Pella is the birth city of Alexander the Great and the ancient capital of Macedonia. We will visit the Archaeological sites of Pella, the Archaeological Museum which hosts findings from the ancient market of the city, private houses, shrines, and cemeteries. At the same time, findings from prehistoric settlements and cemeteries of the wider region can be admired. Then we will visit the Museum of the Royal Tombs in Vergina and finally, we will arrive in charming ancient Veria. The impressively large number of Byzantine and post-Byzantine churches gave the city the nickname “Little Jerusalem”. We will spend the night in one of the most authentic boutique hotels in Greece.

We will go on an excursion to visit Mieza. In antiquity, Mieza was one of the most important cities in Macedonia and where young Alexander was taught by Aristotle. We can visit the school of Aristotle which is surrounded by a beautiful landscape. We will also visit the Ancient Theatre of Mieza, which is dated to the Late Hellenistic period, although the form in which it is preserved today belongs to the Roman period. It was built on a hillside with a panoramic view over the valley and its capacity is estimated at 1,500 spectators. Then we will drive back to Naousa, take a stroll, and relax in Agios Nikolaos Park. We can also go on a wine tasting tour in one of the most famous wineries in the area. In the afternoon we may have time to enjoy a walk in Veria and visit the Byzantine Cathedral and the “Tribune of Apostle Paul”.

On our way to Ioannina, we will make a stop to enjoy charming Metsovo, have a coffee along with some Metsovone delicacies, and visit the Averoff Gallery and a vineyard. From there we will continue to Dodoni. Set in a peaceful valley covered in wildflowers and overlooked by the twin peaks of Mount Tomaros, Dodoni with its massive theatre is imposing. The theatre in Dononi is the second largest after Delphi. In the afternoon we will arrive in Ioannina. Ioannina is beautifully spread out around Lake Pamvotida. Depending on the time of the day, we will start with a stroll around the historical part of the city: the citadel, the fortification walls, and its picturesque alleys. Minarets and oriental elements are reminiscent of the Ottoman past. We will then cross the Pamvotida Lake by boat and head to the island of Nissos. We will visit the Byzantine monastery churches and treat ourselves to a grilled trout, a regional specialty, in a taverna.

We will leave Ioannina to start a journey to the underworld… Yes! Our next destination is the Acheron River which has outstanding natural beauty and a worldwide reputation for its mythological content. According to the myth, Acheron was one of the five rivers of the Greek underworld. Are you ready to follow mythology and see the underworld? If not, we can sit in a nice café and enjoy a drink while the crystal waters run beneath our feet and green trees provide us with shade from above. There is still a chance to connect with the underworld if we chose not to go on a journey down the river; we will visit the Necromancer oracle, where believers came to talk to dead ancestors. We will also visit ancient Nikopolis and will then arrive at our final destination for the day, Preveza. Preveza is indeed a gem for those who love beaches, crystal water, and a relaxed way of life. We can stroll along the harbor and the old town and see the beautiful traditional buildings, or walk on the pedestrian street by the seaside, enjoy the island-like atmosphere and taste local dishes in a picturesque taverna or coffee shop.

After a two-hour drive on the morning of day 8, not far from Lake Trichonida, we will make a stop to visit the ancient city of Thermo. Thermo was the capital of the ancient Aetolian league, and the archaic temple of Apollo Thermios was amongst the first Greek temples. The Archaeological Museum of Thermo is very impressive and gives a brilliant overview of its long history from prehistory to Hellenistic times. We will continue our tour with a visit to the ancient city and port of Oiniades. In the evening we will be in Messolonghi, a charming small town with breathtaking beaches and natural beauty which is untouched by international tourists, therefore it’s a nice corner to relax in. Messolonghi is not only famous for its natural beauty, but also for the historical dramatic exit of the besieged inhabitants of the town during the Greek Revolution in April 1826 and their slaughter by the Ottomans. The Garden of Heroes, a beautiful park in the center of the town, is dedicated to this tragic event.

We are on our way to the Corinthian Gulf and it’s time to listen to some Greek music, which can be surprisingly diverse, and cross one of the longest cable-stayed bridges in the world to reach the Peloponnese and our destination for the day, Olympia.
Olympia is the birthplace of the Olympic Games in antiquity. We will first visit the museum with its excellently preserved statues, then the excavations of the ancient stadium, the Temple of Zeus, the father of the gods, as well as huge pine trees and green hills – this is where the athletes of antiquity fought.
We will spend our first night in the Peloponnese in its second-largest city, which is famous worldwide for its olives, Kalamata. A perfect combination of long beaches, fabulous restaurants, nightlife, magnificent museums, and monuments catches the eye of all visitors.

In the morning we will visit ancient Messini, which is picturesquely situated on a hillside below the village of Mavromati. The ancient sites consist of a theatre, a marketplace (agora), and a massive Sanctuary of Asclepius, as well as one of the most impressive ancient Greek stadiums. From there we continue to Monemvasia, the fantastic medieval town entirely carved on the slopes of rocks, offering a breathtaking sea view from the highest location. The old town is actually the main attraction of the city. Monemvasia is a perfect place for relaxation. It is a delight to swim on its beaches. Hiking can also be enjoyed in this area.

We drive to one of the most beautiful towns in eastern Peloponnese as well as the most romantic city in Greece. Nafplio was the first capital of Greece between 1823 and 1834. There is a lot to do and visit in this charming town. Nafplio offers a diverse landscape that consists of medieval castles, fortified islets, and breath-taking beaches. In order to familiarise yourselves with the history of the town, we can visit the Archaeological Museum of Nafplio, as well as the War Museum, which was the first military school in Greece.
The Palamidi Castle, the Bourtzi Fortress, the Akronafplia Fortress, walking around in the old town, and visiting Peloponnesian folklore museums are among the many activities that we can enjoy in this city.

On the morning of day 12, we will visit one of the Greek ancient theatres in Epidaurus.
This theatre was constructed in the late 4th century BC to host religious ceremonial events in honour of god Asclepius, whose healing centre was located a few steps away. Famous for its symmetry and incredible acoustics, this classical theatre is surrounded by lush greenery and offers nice views of the valley below. In the summertime, it hosts performances of ancient Greek tragedies. Afterward, we will drive to the largest city and the capital of Greece, and the historical capital of entire Europe, one of the world’s oldest cities; where art, democracy, philosophy, science, and western civilization flourished. Its Mediterranean climate and sunlight, its historical sites and modern buildings, its rich culture and fine cuisine make Athens a perfect place to stay for days, and also to end an astounding trip in Greece.
Athens receives its name from the god Athena, who gifted culture and civilization to the city and became its protector.
We can spend this afternoon walking in the centre of the city, from Syntagma Square to Monastiraki, to get acquainted with the rhythm of the city centre. We can sit in one of the many cafes for a drink while admiring Acropolis from our table.

We spend the whole day visiting the most important monuments and museums of the city, such as the Acropolis, Parthenon, the Acropolis Museum, the National Archaeological Museum, the Temple of Zeus, the Ancient Agora of Athens, and the Benaki Museum. There will be some hours of free time, for relaxing and walking around the city.

On day 14 we depart from the capital. For anyone that wants to, there is the option to finish the tour at this point and fly back home from Athens, but why miss the rest? From here we will drive to Delphi, home to the world-famous oracle, the only true horoscope in this world.
The place where Pythia was receiving the divine will of Apollo and gave advice to mortals who came to seek her prophecy. The oracle was not only visited by Greeks, but also by foreigners who needed to make important decisions on state affairs.
There are plenty of important sites to visit in Delphi. On days 14 and 15 we will visit the Temple of Apollo, the Delphi Archaeological Museum and site, the Treasury of the Athenians, the Temple of Athena Pronaia, the ancient theatre of Delphi, the ancient stadium of Delphi, and, finally before we arrive in Delphi, Arachova village.

On our way to Litochoro, we can make a short stop in Thermopyles.
After that, we will visit Dion, the sacred site of ancient Macedonia. This open-air archaeological site attracts not only history lovers, but nature lovers as well. The Archaeological Park of Dion is the most important site at Mount Olympus. The site consists of the remains of Roman and Greek ancient theatres and is also home to several sanctuaries.
We will spend the night in Litochoro.
In one sense Litochoro means the city of gods; no wonder as it is the gateway to Mount Olympus, which we are going to visit the following day.

On this day we will hike the legendary Mount Olympus.
Mt. Olympus is the highest mountain in Greece and home to the 12 Olympian gods of ancient Greece, as well as the site of the throne of Zeus.
Hiking Mt. Olympus contains not only fascinating beauty but is also a link to ancient Greece. The hike will be very enjoyable but may become challenging at some point; we should only make sure to not provoke the wrath of the gods!
We’ll spend the night in Litochoro.

For our last hours, the schedule depends on the time of the flight. We may decide to spend some time sitting in one of the nice cafes at “Cosmos Shopping Mall” before heading to the airport.