Complete Peloponnese – Delphi Meteora

Highlights

Corinth Canal, Ancient Corinth, Epidaurus Theater, Mycenae, Palamidi, Nafplio, Ancient Olympia, Galaxidi, Delphi, Arachova, Thermopylae, Kalambaka, Meteora

DAY 1

Starting our journey, our first stop will be the Corinth Canal, an artificial canal connecting the Corinthian Gulf with the Saronic Gulf. Its construction was initially considered by the tyrant Periander but abandoned due to technical difficulties and completed in 1893. Continuing to Ancient Corinth, one of the most important city-states of antiquity, inhabited since the Neolithic era, with a rich history due to its strategic position and fertile land. With a professional guide, you will enter the archaeological site where the countless ruins bear witness to the city’s prosperity from antiquity to the Roman era. Next is the famous Epidaurus Theater, renowned for its remarkable acoustics, hosting the annual Ancient Drama Festival with prominent Greek and foreign actors and directors. Moving on to one of the greatest centers of civilization between 1600 and 1100 BC, Mycenae, a powerful military fortress with legendary walls known as Cyclopean. The royal tombs, the Lions’ Gate, and the exhibits in the museum will amaze you. As the day unfolds, we head to our last destination, the Palamidi Fortress, an impressive Venetian fortress built in 1687, offering a panoramic view of Nafplio, a beautiful city that will host us tonight.

You can book your accommodation in Nafplio through our website (with an additional cost) in a 4-star hotel or a small boutique hotel, depending on availability.

DAY 2

Our day starts by heading to Ancient Olympia, the most celebrated sanctuary of ancient Greece dedicated to Zeus, hosting the ancient Olympic Games from their inception until their suspension in 392 AD by the Byzantine Emperor Theodosius I. Even today, the sacred flame of the games is lit in Olympia and relayed to the country hosting the games. With a professional guide, you will explore the magnificence of Ancient Olympia, visiting the Temple of Zeus, the Heraion, the stadium, and the museum where you can admire Praxiteles’ Hermes, the pediments of the Temple of Zeus, and more. Afterward, we proceed to Galaxidi, a picturesque town that will host us for the rest of the day.

You can book your accommodation in Galaxidi through our website (with an additional charge). The stay is in a boutique hotel, depending on availability.

DAY 3

We start early in the morning for Delphi, the most significant religious center and monument of ancient Greece, believed to be built at the center of the earth. There, our professional guide will accompany you to the archaeological site dedicated to Apollo and the archaeological museum. You will have the opportunity to admire the Oracle of Delphi, the Temple of Apollo, the Athenian Treasury, the Tholos of Athena Pronaia, and the famous statue of the Charioteer of Delphi. We won’t miss the Castalia Spring, where Pythia, the priests, and visitors would cleanse themselves. We stop at the picturesque and beautiful village of Arachova, ideal for relaxation or a stroll through its charming narrow streets. Before leaving for Thermopylae, don’t forget to try its traditional products. Thermopylae is a site where 300 Spartans and 700 Thespians, led by King Leonidas of Sparta, faced the numerous Persian armies, leaving behind a legacy of bravery and self-sacrifice known throughout the ages worldwide. Continuing to Kalambaka, where, after settling into the hotel and resting, we will go to an idyllic place called ‘the balcony of Meteora’ to admire the sunset and the view of the monasteries we will visit tomorrow.

Overnight in Kalambaka-Meteora at a four-star hotel or a small boutique hotel, depending on availability. You can book through our website (with an extra charge).

DAY 4

The day begins by waking up and witnessing the imposing and breathtaking landscape of Meteora. After breakfast, we meet the professional guide who will guide us to at least two of the three monasteries (the monasteries visited depend on the excursion days – Great Meteoro, Varlaam Monastery, Holy Trinity Monastery, Roussanou Monastery). We then take the road back in the late afternoon, making a stop for food in a picturesque intermediate village.

*The starting Tour Price includes up to 2 people