We’ll set out after breakfast for a visit to the new Acropolis museum where our local guide will introduce ancient Athenian society through the sculptures and reliefs that provide a window between past and present.

In the later morning we’ll walk through Plaka, Athens’ bustling cobblestone center where we’ll uncover the layers of modern, medieval, Byzantine, Roman, and Greek civilizations before arriving at the ancient agora—the marketplace where democracy was first established and where many of our most precious ideas of science and philosophy were first discussed. Here we’ll see the wonderfully preserved temple to Hephaestus, the god famed as the father of craftsmen and famous for his marriage to the goddess of beauty. Greece is renowned for its mythology, theater, and poetry that recounts the beauty and mystery of what it means to be human. After an introduction to these ancient mysteries, we’ll have a free afternoon to explore Athens on our own.

‍

‍Walking: strenuous, 4 miles

This morning we’ll meet our bus and journey north through the dramatic countryside towards Thebes, the city of Oedipus, before turning west to the hills and the ancient sanctuary of Delphi. Dedicated to Apollo, the god of knowledge, the Oracle of Delphi was considered the center of the world in antiquity. According to legend the spot was marked by the stone Zeus cast down from the heavens, the same stone that was used to trick the monstrous titans, a metaphor for human cleverness and the intelligence of the gods. This pilgrimage site has been famous for it’s purifying waters and the prophetic power of the oracle for more than three thousand years. Nestled below Montparnasus, the birthplace of the muses, the view of the surrounding mountains is truly glorious. Today we’ll see the temple to Apollo, the theater, the place that marked the center of the ancient world, and the archeology museum of Delphi.After a mountain view lunch we’ll drive to Nafpaktos, a beautiful town on the Gulf of Corinth, where we’ll sleep for two nights.

‍

‍Bus time: ~ 4.5 hrs.
Walking: strenuous, 4 miles

This morning we’ll drive to nearby Messolonghi for a truly unique experience with locals. After taking in the spectacular view from the height of the ancient acropolis our local guide will introduce us to a community approach to ecotourism. Messolonghi’s lagoons are famous for their salt flats, for their biodiversity (including the famous flamingos), and for the flat-bottomed fishing boats, the priaria, that collect some of the world’s best caviar. This morning we’ll head out on the priaria with local fishermen in order to learn more about the local culture and to try fishing ourselves. We’ll also join a local environmentalist for an eco-tour..For lunch today, we’ll continue our hands-on experience as we learn the local recipes and cook the catch of the day. We’ll eat and cook today in a pelades, a traditional water-house, and try the local ouzo after lunch.We’ll be back in Nafpaktos in time for a quick dip in the sea, a late-afternoon stroll through town and an evening meal, or a glass of wine enjoying the romantic Venetian harbor.

‍

‍Bus time: ~ 1.5 hrs.
Walking: moderate, 2 miles

After an early breakfast we'll depart seaside Nafpaktos for a drive toward the beautiful sanctuary of Ancient Olympia. The place was sacred from at least the eighth century B.C. and takes its name from the mythic home of the gods. We’re familiar with the games that once took place in this Olympic stadium because they inspired our own modern games and the pursuit of excellence. The Olympic games took place here every four years for a thousand years from 776 B.C. to 393 A.D. After a guided tour of the museum and the massive temple stones now resting in the shade of tall oak trees and the quiet rustling of birds, we’ll enjoy a lunch of local delights.This evening we'll arrive in Dimitsana, a mountain village nestled in the beautiful Arcadia. We’ll sleep here for two nights. After checking into our hotel we’ll be free for dinner.

This morning we’ll meet our local guide to lead us on a pilgrimage-hike through the Lousios Gorge, famous for its stunning beauty and the musical hum of the nearby Lousios river. Throughout our hike we'll visit three monasteries. The oldest and now abandoned, Philosophou, or Philosopher, monastery dates back to the middle of the tenth century and its high sparrow perch on the cliff’s edge is indicative of a life of contemplation. For centuries this was a center of literacy and culture, housing a secret school during the Ottoman empire. Seven Patriarchs and seventy bishops were educated here. We’ll also visit the New Philosophou monastery, built in the middle of the seventeenth century, and frescoed with the colorful lives of the saints. Around noon we’ll arrive at the inspiring Prodromos Monastery built into the cliff's edge. Operating as a hermitage from the twelfth century, Prodromos, or the forerunner, referring to Saint John the Baptist is situated between the silence and indescribable beauty of nature. After lighting a candle for a loved one and contemplating the scenes of the frescoed walls we’ll regroup for a picnic lunch before returning to Dimitsana for a free afternoon. We’ll regroup this evening to a Greek cooking class followed by dinner.

‍

Bus time: ~ 1 hr.
Walking: strenuous, 5 miles

After saying goodbye to Dimitsana and the mountain views of Arcadia we’ll head east towards Nafplio, the former capital of modern Greece. By late morning we’ll arrive at the ancient sanctuary of Epidaurus, the legendary birthplace of the famous healer, Asclepius, the son of Apollo. In antiquity, it provided respite to those seeking a cure, similar, in some ways, to modern hospitals today. It also houses one of the best preserved and most impressive theaters from antiquity. In its day, 12,000 spectators could enjoy performances here with the marvelous acoustic that allows voices from the stage to be heard at even the highest seats at little more than a whisper. After our guided tour through the sanctuary, we’ll head towards the romantic town of Nafplio where we’ll sleep for two nights. After checking into our hotel we’ll have a free evening to enjoy this charming seaside town, a one time capital of modern Greece.

‍

Bus time: 3.5 hrs.
Walking: easy, 1-2 miles

This morning we’ll meet our local guide for a visit to the ancient hill-top city of Mycenae, founded according to legend by the hero Perseus. Here the size of the stones of the wall and the Lion Gate are so impressive that in later times they were said to be built by the one eyed-giants, the Cyclopes. It was from this Bronze Age civilization that King Agamemnon of Homer’s Iliad set out at the head of ten-thousand ships to besiege Troy. The civilization of Mycenae was so prosperous in its day that its name became eponymous with an age of heroes and a closeness to the Olympian gods. After a tour through the ancient ruins and envisioning an age of poets and heroes we’ll return to Nafplio for a free afternoon and evening. Consider exploring a few of Nafplio’s precious gems or climbing the 999 steps to enjoy the spectacular view from Palamidi Castle.

‍

Bus time: 1 hr.
Walking: moderate, 2 miles

This morning we’ll depart from Nafplio to fly from Athens to Naxos.

After arriving in Naxos mid-afternoon, and dropping our bags at our hotel we will stroll through town for a brief orientation before taking the afternoon to slow down, relax at the beach,shop, or hike the nearby hills.

‍

Walking: moderate

‍

This morning our journey will show us the agricultural and traditional side of Naxian life. As the birthplace of Dionysius, the god of wine, and home to the Temple of Demeter, the goddess of agriculture, Naxos has always been a place of farming and shepherds. It's one of the few self-sufficient Cycladic islands. Our day will be dedicated to experiencing those traditions. We'll spend time hiking with experts in plants and herbology, we'll taste traditional products after a tour of a local farm, and we'll have a cooking lesson and lunch in the home of a local shepherd.

In the late afternoon, we will return to our hotel for a free evening, in time for a quick swim or dinner by the sea.

‍

Walking: moderate

This morning we will immerse ourselves in Naxos island life. We'll take a tour through the villages and mountains where we'll experience traditional island life. We'll visit a ceramics workshop and see the  creation of objects traditionally used in everyday life. We'll be introduced to the art of weaving still practiced by local women and visit villages where the traditional way of working and farming still persists. We'll visit the temple of Demeter, the goddess of agriculture, and we'll enjoy the fruits of Dionysius, the god of wine as we conclude our morning with a lunch of local cuisine and locally produced wine.

This afternoon after returning to town we'll be free to relax on the beach or enjoy an afternoon of shopping for artisan goods in town.

‍

Walking: moderate

‍

After a free morning, we’ll arrive in Santorini. Famous for its beauty even in ancient times, the Phoenecians who settled here in the thirteenth century B.C. called the island Kallisti, ‘the most beautiful’. Created by the volcanic craters that gave way to its existence, the Caldera of Santorini is unique in the Aegean.

We’ll arrive around noon and meet our local guide directly. Together we’ll explore the archeological site of Akrotiri. Like a Greek Pompeii, this city was destroyed when the volcano erupted in the sixteenth century B.C. and is a window in time to observe the daily lives of bronze-age Greeks

For lunch this afternoon we’ll enjoy a tasting of its world-famous wines paired with a light Greek lunch that create a sommelier’s journey through the ages.

And after checking into our hotel, we’ll be free for the evening to stroll through Oia and conclude with a spectacular view of the sunset over the Caldera.

‍

Walking: moderate

‍

After breakfast in our hotel, we'll be free this morning to hike the path towards Fira or to relax and explore the cobbled streets and classic view of Oia.

We will regroup in the early afternoon and head to the port to embark on a spectacular sailboat cruise around the island. During our last evening together we'll sail through the caldera and have dinner on board while observing the sunset and sea of the Greek mariners.

‍

Walking: moderate

‍

Breakfast is included today,  but there are no planned activities. Catch a boat to Crete, Folegandros and other easily reachable Greek islands or head to the airport to connect to your next destination or to fly home. Your Alithea guide will be available to help with travel plans throughout breakfast.