DAY 1 - DEPART USA     

Depart on your overnight flight to Athens.

DAY 2 - ARRIVE ATHENS     
HOTEL GRANDE BRETAGNE

Arrive Athens and transfer to the historic Hotel Grande Bretagne, located on Syntagma Square. Take a walking tour of the Acropolis including the Parthenon, sacred temple of Athena, Theater of Dionysos and Acropolis Museum. Stroll into the Ancient Agora. Return via the Plaka, a quaint area with wonderful architecture, historical importance and interesting shops.

DAY 3 - ATHENS     
HOTEL GRANDE BRETAGNE

From Lycabettus Hill there are marvelous views of Athens. See Marathon where the Athenians defeated the Persians in an epic battle in 490 BC. End your day at Cape Sounion for sunset by the spectacular temple of Neptune overlooking the Saronic Gulf, a glass of Greek wine in hand! (B)

DAY 4 - ATHENS                                         
HOTEL GRANDE BRETAGNE

Tour the National Archaeological Museum with one of the largest collections of ancient Greek Art. Lunch on your own at the Benaki Museum’s charming rooftop café. Dinner at Dionyssos Restaurant highlighted by a Sound & Light Show at the Acropolis. (B,D)

DAY 5 - ATHENS/CRETE     
ELOUNDA MARE

Morning flight to Heraklion, Crete. Tour the wonderful ruins at Knossos, the capital of Minoan Crete. The vibrant frescoes and mighty columns date to 1900 BC. Be sure not to miss the throne room, Griffin Fresco, and Hall of the Double Axes. Your visit ends at the Heraklion Museum. After lunch on your own at a traditional taverna in Heraklion, continue to Elounda Bay. (B)

DAYS 6-7 - CRETE     
ELOUNDA MARE

Spend the next two days relaxing in this wonderful place. Many years ago, Elounda was a small fishing village with tavernas. Now there are restaurants, boutiques, music bars and fabulous beaches. At the entrance of Elounda Bay is the small island Spinalonga with a Venetian fortress built in 1579. (B)

DAY 8 - CRETE/ATHENS/METEORA     
DIVANI KALAMBAKA

Morning flight to Athens. Drive to Meteora stopping for lunch at a traditional Greek taverna along the way. (B,D)

DAY 9 - METEORA/DELPHI     
HOTEL AMALIA DELPHI

The strange and beautiful landscape of Meteora is only exceeded by the paradox of building monasteries atop massive pinnacles of rock. Spend the morning visiting these unusual monasteries, built from the 14th century onwards for defensive purposes. Depart for Delphi, built on the slopes of Mt. Parnassos. Walk the Sacred Way to the Temple of Apollo. (B)

DAY 10 - DELPHI/OLYMPIA     
HOTEL EUROPA

Delphi amassed incredible wealth as you will see during your visit to the Delphi Museum. Drive to the village of Trikorfo and the monastery of St. Augustin, known as the famous ‘Free Monks’ monastery or the Rock & Roll Monastery. Here the monks literally dance to a different drummer! (B,D)

DAY 11 - OLYMPIA/NAFPLION     
NAFPLION PALACE

The site of the first Olympic Games, which ran from 776 BC to 393 AD, Olympia still serves as the inspiration for the modern Olympic Games. Visit the Temples of Zeus & Apollo, Nero’s villa, sanctuary and the famous museum. Continue your journey to Nafplion. (B,D)

DAY 12 - NAFPLION     
NAFPLION PALACE

Nafplion is one of Greece’s prettiest towns. The narrow streets of the old town are lined with elegant Venetian houses and gracious neo-classical mansions. Proceed to Epidaurus with its ancient theatre, one of the finest classical Greek buildings. Continue to the mighty ruins of ancient Mycenae, the kingdom that for 400 years (1600-1200 BC) was the most powerful in Greece. This is Homer’s legendary “well-built Mycenae, rich in gold.” (B,D)

DAY 13 - NAFPLION/ATHENS     
HOTEL GRANDE BRETAGNE
Morning return to Athens. The balance of the day is free for independent exploration, shopping and dining in the nearby Plaka District. (B)

DAY 14 - ATHENS/USA     

Depart on your return flight home. (B)