Gems of Greece - 12 days

Why you'll love this trip

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  Athens - An orientation tour of the Greek capital takes in Hadrian's Arch and the Temple of Olympian Zeus, with an optional food tour and a free day later in the tour for an optional climb to the Acropolis

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  Thermopylae - A photo stop beside the statue of Leonidas marks the mountain pass where 300 Spartans held back a Persian army, one of antiquity's most celebrated last stands

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  Meteora - A sunset drive through the rock pillars precedes a free morning with the option to explore the Byzantine monasteries perched hundreds of metres above the Thessalian plain on a locally-guided excursion

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  Delphi - The ancient sanctuary where the Greeks believed the world's navel to be located rewards an orientation tour and an optional deeper visit to the archaeological site and museum tucked into the slopes of Mount Parnassus

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  Trizonia - A ferry crossing to this small Corinthian island offers a rare glimpse of an unhurried corner of Greece before the road turns south towards Olympia

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  Olympia - A locally-guided tour of the ancient site and archaeological museum covers the birthplace of the Olympic Games, its fallen columns and bronze statues telling the story of athletics, religion, and power in the ancient world

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  Nafplion - Greece's first modern capital sits above a horseshoe bay beneath a Venetian fortress, its neoclassical streets and a three-course Greek lunch making for one of the tour's most civilised stops, with an optional visit to the ancient theatre at Epidaurus nearby

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  Mycenae - The Lion Gate and Tomb of Agamemnon bring Homeric myth into sharp relief at this Bronze Age citadel, followed by a stop at the Corinth Canal, where ships pass through a cleft barely wider than their own hulls

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  Mykonos - Two days on the Cyclades' most glamorous island span an orientation tour of Mykonos Chora's whitewashed lanes, free time on sandy beaches, and an optional sailing excursion to the ancient ruins of Delos across the water

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  Santorini - Three nights on the caldera give full time to explore, with an optional highlights tour to a black sand beach, Oia at sunset, and a local winery, plus a boat trip to the active volcano and therapeutic hot springs of the caldera islands

Is this trip right for you?

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  There are some long travelling days on this trip, but it’s all part of the adventure and a great way to get to know your fellow travellers.

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  This trip requires a moderate level of fitness as it involves some walking and swimming, allowing you to really get among nature. Please bring sturdy, comfortable walking shoes, a swimsuit and comfortable clothing.

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  Multiple activities on this trip are subject to weather and water conditions and on occasion, may be cancelled for safety or operational reasons. In the case of cancellation, we will endeavour to find a suitable replacement activity.