Best of Greece

Our tour of Greece's history and islands starts in Athens. Combining the ancient and modern world, the centre of Athens is surprisingly compact. If your flight arrives earlier in the day, you might like to visit one of the cafes in the colourful Psyrri district which offer traditional Greek cuisine such as scrumptious aubergines, tomatoes and cheese washed down with ouzo or raki. There are traditional rustic tavernas in the well-known Plaka area at the foot of the Acropolis, too.

For those arriving in time our tour leader will meet you in the hotel reception at 7pm and for those that wish, there'll be the chance to go out for dinner. Due to a number of flights arriving into Athens later in the evening, our welcome meeting will take place on day two - details will be left in the hotel reception.

There are no other activities planned today, so you're free to arrive in Athens at any time. If you'd like an airport transfer today, you'll need to arrive into Athens International Airport (ATH), which is about a one-hour drive from the hotel. Stay: Arion Athens Hotel (Comfortable)

This morning, our tour leader will hold a welcome meeting before we head out to explore the capital. We'll take a short walk to Monastiraki Square and continue walking towards Syntagma, home of the Hellenic parliament where we'll watch the changing of the guard at the tomb of the unknown soldier.

From the crowds of Syntagma Square, we'll head into the green oasis of the National Gardens for a stroll through the pristine park down to the Temple of Olympian Zeus, a former vast temple complex with well-preserved columns and great views of the Acropolis behind it.

We'll then head to the vibrant Plaka quarter (one of the oldest neighbourhoods in Athens) and the markets around Monastiraki. The streets are brimming with atmospheric tavernas, their tables spilling out onto the narrow, cobbled streets, and small traders selling all kinds of specialties. It's the perfect place to break for lunch with a wide choice of eating spots offering traditional Greek fare including Tiropita, Kolokithopita or Spanakopita (a delicious spinach and feta-filled snack).

We'll continue our walk and head for a guided tour of the Acropolis, deservedly named one of the wonders of the ancient world. Climbing up from Plaka to the Acropolis, we'll pass through the Anafiotika district, where the architecture is more in keeping with Cyclades than the Greek capital. We'll have a guided tour of the site including the Temple of Athena Nike, Pericles and the Parthenon Tower and the Erechtheion.

Making our way back to our hotel, the evening is free to further explore the city and our tour leader can make recommendations for dining spots.

For those wishing to see more of Athens, it is well worth visiting the highly acclaimed Acropolis Museum to see the layers of history painstakingly excavated right beneath your feet. It's now possible to see the ruins of the ancient Athenian neighbourhood that stood on this very site millennium ago, following a comprehensive refurbishment of the museum in 2019. Stay: Arion Athens Hotel (Comfortable) (B)

A scenic drive northwest of Athens this morning takes us through the largest olive grove in Greece to reach Delphi. Perched on the rocky slopes of sacred Mount Parnassos, Delphi was the perfect setting for mystery and religious prophecy and was known throughout the ancient Greek world as the sanctuary of Apollo.

We'll make a brief stop before Arahova for photos and also stop in Delphi for a quick lunch. Eventually, we'll descend to Chrysso where the coach will pick us up at the Café Pinakothiki in the village center.

In the late afternoon, we'll make the short 15-minute drive into Delphi to visit its acclaimed museum and archaeological site accompanied by a guide. The museum contains the 'charioteer', widely regarded as one of the finest Bronze sculptures in the ancient world.

Tonight, we'll have dinner at the hotel. Stay: Anemolia Hotel in Arachova (Comfortable) (B/L)

Continuing our journey, we'll have a quick stop in the beautiful town of Nafpaktos, known for the Lepanto battle. Then, we'll cross the impressive Rion-Antirion Bridge, that spans the Gulf of Corinth, into the Peloponnese peninsular and onto Diakofto, where we'll board the historic rack railway to Kalavryta. Travelling across the dramatic Vouraikos Gorge through tunnels, over heady ravines and past rushing waterfalls, it's a train ride to remember.

Our destination is Kalavryta, a small village with a gigantic history; it was here that the Greek revolution began in 1821. In more recent times, it was the setting of one of Greece's most tragic encounters in WWII. On December 13th, 1943, in retaliation against the Greek resistance guerrillas who had been fighting around the area, the German troops invaded Kalavryta. After looting and setting fire to much of the village, they rounded up the town's entire male population of 451 men and boys and executed them. Only 13 survived, after hiding under the bodies of the dead.

This tragedy is still very much alive in Kalavryta's collective memory, and on arrival, we'll take a walk to the poignant site of the town's WWII holocaust memorial. Stay: Hotel Filoxenia (Comfortable) (B)

Our destination today is the monuments of ancient Olympia, the birthplace of the Olympic games and one of Greece's most renowned historical sites. We'll learn about the site and its history with a guided tour.

The site lies in an enchanting valley setting close to the modern-day town of Nea Olympia. The first monuments to be constructed were in the Altis, or sacred grove, and date back to the 10th - 9th century BC. Estimates indicate the games first began in 776 BC, after the worship of Zeus was established. Initially, all the principal Greek cities took part in the Olympiads, which were held every four years. As well as wandering through the remains of the gymnasium, wrestling school, stadium, and the Temple of Zeus, we'll visit the excellent Archaeological Museum which has many remarkable exhibits on view.

Our hotel for today is on the outskirts of Olympia, offering fine views of Alfeios River and Kiparissia Bay and featuring a large terrace and swimming pool. Dinner is included tonight. Stay: Olympian Asty Hotel (Premium) (B/D)

Taking the scenic coastal road, we'll travel to Nafplion, the first capital of modern Greece and one of the most beautiful coastal towns in the Peloponnese. Guarded by two imposing Venetian castles, the old town of Nafplion is a jumble of red-roofed houses overlooking its expansive bay.

After checking in to our centrally located hotel, we'll head out for an orientation walking tour of this charming town including the first Greek parliament and fine examples of Byzantine and Venetian churches and buildings. There'll also be ample time for a leisurely lunch.

Later in the day, we'll visit a family-run ouzo distillery to learn about the liquor most closely associated with Greece. Now in their fourth generation, the Karonis family have proudly produced ouzo for 145 years with ingredients produced locally, they also produce a lemon liquor sourced from produce in the Arcadia region. After our distillery tour, we'll have the chance to taste some of the produce.

Ouzo tested, we'll head to our hotel in Nafplion, which is ideally located within close walking distance to the town waterfront promenade. You might like to enjoy a late afternoon stroll and watch the sunset followed by dinner at one of the many harbourfront restaurants. Stay: Hotel Agamemnon (Comfortable) (B)

We have more ancient greats to tick off today, starting with Epidavros, home to one of the greatest and best preserved of all ancient Greek theatres. With its backdrop of rolling hills, this 14,000-seat arena merges perfectly into the landscape, so much so that it was rediscovered and unearthed only in the last century. The acoustics of the amphitheatre are so incredible, it's said that even those sat on the highest tier will hear a coin drop on stage.

Dedicated to Asclepius, the healing god and legendary son of Apollo, the sanctuary here was one of the most important in the ancient world, and it remained a site of pilgrimage from the sixth century BC to Roman times.

Our next stop is the mighty ruins of ancient Mycenae. Perched on a hilltop overlooking the valley of Argos, Mycenae is connected to the legend of King Agamemnon who commanded the ten-year-long expedition against Troy.

The site was unearthed by the archaeologist Schliemann in the 1870s and is prized for its Lion Gate and Royal Tombs. Equally impressive are the 'beehive tombs' which include the Treasury of Atreus, the lintel over the monumental Atreus door weighs over 120 tons. Inside, the structure is impressive. The principal chamber dates from about 1350 BC and emulates the grandeur of the Egyptian pharaohs.

We'll round the day off with a visit to a Greek winery near Argos, set amongst rolling hills the Skouras winery boasts a cellar of over 1000 barrels. The tour starts by heading out into the vineyard to learn about the different types of vines used and the yearly rhythm of production, we'll then head back into the winery to see the grape pressing and bottling area, finishing the tour with a tasting session.

After a tipple, we'll finally head back to Nafplion to enjoy our last night on the Peloponnese peninsular. Stay: Hotel Agamemnon (Comfortable) (B)

After breakfast, we'll drive back to the capital where we'll have some free time before our ferry to Naxos. We'll depart at 5.30pm and the crossing to the island takes around five hours. Onboard, we have reserved seats but feel free to head out on deck to take in the sea air or grab a drink at the bar.

Naxos is the largest and most fertile of the Cyclades Island group, covering an area of around 430 square kilometres, with tranquil beaches, ancient ruins and mountainous villages. Stay: Hotel Grotta (Comfortable) (B)

The morning is free to relax at our hotel. Read a book in the garden courtyard, take a dip in the jacuzzi, or take a stroll on Agios Georgios Beach.

This afternoon, we'll head out to explore Naxos town on foot. At the entrance to the harbour sits the grand Portara marble gate, the doorway of the Temple of Apollo, that has greeted visitors for over 2500 years. The town itself is a mix of whitewashed houses and medieval Venetian mansions, with the fortified 'kastro' (castle) occupying a prominent position overlooking the bay. Our tour leader will show us around the network of alleyways and courtyards, as well as making recommendations for eating out in town. We'll return to our hotel along the promenade alongside Grotta beach. Stay: Hotel Grotta (Comfortable) (B)

Heading inland, this morning we'll drive to a small chapel at the foot of Mt. Zas. Situated at over 500 meters, the air here is noticeably cooler and is a welcome escape from the summer heat.

We'll explore on foot, heading to the village of Apiranthos along the foothills of Mt. Zas (also known as Mount Zeus), the highest mountain in the Cyclades Island group. Along the way, we'll make a stop at the amazingly well-preserved Fotodoti Monastery before continuing to Apiranthos. In total we'll cover just over five kilometres but if you\ d rather not walk, there's the option to drive to Apiranthos and re-join the group for lunch.

Apiranthos is a charming village, far removed from the crowds of the beaches along the coast; with the most Cretan influence of all the interior villages of the island. The village square is surrounded by cafes and tavernas looking out to the terraced valley below, making it an idyllic spot to have a leisurely lunch. After we\ ve refuelled, there should hopefully be time to visit the village museum.

Returning to Naxos town, this afternoon we'll make a stop at the Vallindras distillery, known for its distinctive citron liqueur. Now in their fifth generation, the Vallindras family continues the tradition of producing their fragrant liqueur, which is made from the leaves of citrus fruits grown on the islands' fertile slopes. We'll have a tour of the distillery followed by a tasting. Stay: Hotel Grotta (Comfortable) (B)

This morning is free to relax or explore a little more of Naxos at your own pace. Once we\ ve checked out of our hotel, we'll head back to the port of Naxos to catch the lunch-time ferry to Santorini - a crossing of two and a half hours.

The posterchild of Greece's tranquil islands, Santorini (or Thira as the island is also known) is renowned for its natural beauty. It's the most southerly of the Cycladic Islands and is perhaps most famous for its whitewashed churches with blue-domed roofs. It's also an area of particular interest to those keen on the Lost Atlantis legend.

Formerly a huge volcano, Santorini's centre disappeared in an enormous explosion in around 1450 BC. The area of the explosion now forms a lagoon where some believe that the city of Atlantis remains, having been destroyed by the eruption and swept into the waters. Records show that the eruption did overwhelm the Minoan settlements at Akrotiri as well as those on Crete.

We'll check in to our hotel and the rest of the day is at your leisure. Our hotel is on the beachfront and has a large swimming pool to cool off in. It's located in the village of Kamari, which is around a 20-minute drive from Santorini's main town, Fira. Local buses depart frequently from the hotel if you\ d like to head into town. Stay: Kamari Beach Hotel (Comfortable) (B)

This morning, we'll take in the island's natural beauty on a coastal walk from Thira to Oia. We\ ve graded the walk as moderate and it's expected to take us around three to four hours, covering ten kilometres.

We'll hop on a local bus to our starting point before joining the path which goes along the lip of a caldera, giving great views out to sea and of the surrounding countryside. Halfway through the walk, there's the option to stop at a coffee shop for refreshments.

The town of Oia, on the northwestern tip of Santorini, is built along a rocky stretch of coastline and is one of the most photogenic spots on the island. It has an age-old seafaring culture and there are two types of houses here - the whitewashed cave houses that are dug into the volcanic rock in the cliffside and the captain houses above ground where the upper-class ship owners once lived.

Oia has a host of taverns and cafes and it's well worth spending time here before getting the bus back to our hotel in time to witness the famous Santorini sunset. Stay: Kamari Beach Hotel (Comfortable) (B)

This morning, we'll enjoy a local wine tasting at Artemis-Karamolegos Winery in Exogonia, the island is best known for its delicious white wines. The middle of the day is left free to explore the island a little more at your own pace.

In the late afternoon, we'll head to the port of Athinios and board a shared sailing boat. The captain will take us to the best spots to enjoy the vistas of the Caldera and the Volcano. A delicious buffet dinner is served onboard and, before the sun starts to dip into the water, the captain will bring the boat to the prime viewing spot to capture it in all of its glory. After the sunset we'll sail back to Athinios port, where we'll be met and taken back to our hotel. Stay: Kamari Beach Hotel (Comfortable) (B/D)

The trip ends after breakfast at our hotel in Santorini.

There are no activities planned today, so you\ re free to depart from Santorini at any time. If your flight is departing later in the day, luggage storage facilities are available at our hotel. If you\ d like an airport transfer today, you need to depart from Santorini Airport (JTR), which is about a 15-minute drive, depending on traffic. (B)