|
THE BEST OF GREECE - 2010
11 days incl. air, or 10
days from Athens to Athens (CO-6670)Return to
France, Spain, Portugal and Morocco Vacations & Tours
Vacation Overview
On this vacation,
discover the best of historic and mythical Greece. Begin your trip with
two nights in Athens, Greece’s capital, and a guided sightseeing tour
that includes the Acropolis and its museum, as well as some time at
leisure. Cross the Corinth Canal and marvel at the perfect acoustics of
the Epidauros Theater, an open-air theater that can still seat 14,000
spectators. Tour the remains of the Mycenae city fortress with a Local
Guide. Visit Sparta and see the monument to its King, Leonidas. Then travel
to Olympia, the legendary home of the Olympic Games. An optional
sightseeing tour allows you to learn more about the history of the
Olympic Games. Cross the spectacular Rion-Antirion Bridge and spend some
time in mythical Delphi. Delphi was the greatest Oracle of the ancient
world, where people flocked to seek advice. Visit one of the grandest
sights in Greece: the Temple of Apollo and Delphi theater. Marvel at the
extraordinary Meteora monasteries built on top of rock formations before
returning to Athens. Greece is a country steeped in history, and this
tour through Greece gives you an opportunity to experience Greece’s most
famous sights. A vacation of a lifetime!
Itinerary
Day
1 Fri. BOARD YOUR OVERNIGHT TRANSATLANTIC FLIGHT
Day
2 Sat. ARRIVAL IN ATHENS, GREECE
Check
into your hotel. The rest of the day is free for you to start exploring
the Greek capital. Later, meet your Tour Director and fellow travelers
and maybe join them in an optional evening out.
Day
3 Sun. ATHENS
An
opportunity to see island life from the cruise ship on the optional
three-island cruise, visiting Aegina, Poros, and Hydra. Poros is a lush
island with a maze of narrow streets. Aegina is the main producer of
pistachio nuts in Greece, while Hydra is home to a large artist community
and where beautiful boutiques line the scenic harbor. (B)
Day
4 Mon. ATHENS-NAUPLIA
Join
the included sightseeing tour of Athens, featuring the highlights of this
ancient capital with a visit to the Acropolis. Next, west to the Corinth
Canal. Journey into the Argolis to stop in Epidaurus, located in the
hilly countryside dotted with pine trees and oleanders. In this
magnificent setting you’ll visit the open-air theater that can still seat
14,000 spectators. Head for the coast and overnight in Nauplia. (B,D)
Day
5 Tue. NAUPLIA-MYCENAE-SPARTA
This
morning, enjoy the included excursion with a Local Guide to Mycenae, a
city fortress cursed by the gods but rich in gold and warrior kings.
Motor south in the afternoon deep into the Peloponnese to Sparta for an
overnight. (B,D)
Day
6 Wed. SPARTA-PYLOS
Your
morning highlight will be the included sightseeing of the medieval
Byzantine citadel of Mystra, at one time known as the “Florence of the
East.” In the afternoon, drive to Pylos, located on a quaint bay on the
Messenian Gulf. (B,D)
Day
7 Thu. PYLOS-NESTOR’S PALACE-OLYMPIA Olympia
Drive
north this morning to Nestor’s Palace. Your included visit will help you
imagine the siege of Troy where Nestor commanded a large fleet. A short
stop at Chora Museum will get you acquainted with the splendor of the
past. Later, travel northwest to Olympia, the legendary venue of the
Olympic Games, when every four years the city-states engaged in sport
instead of war. (B)
Day
8 Fri. OLYMPIA-DELPHI Delphi Ruins
Focus
on Olympia, where the athletes of antiquity performed in honor of the
King of Deities. Learn more about the history of the Olympic Games on the
optional sightseeing tour. In the afternoon, drive north to Patras, the
capital of the Peloponnese and the west coast’s largest port. Then,
proceed via the spectacular Rion-Antirion Bridge through the picturesque
fishing villages along the south coast of the mainland to mythical
Delphi. (B)
Day
9 Sat. DELPHI-KALAMBAKA
Optional
morning sightseeing of the archaeological site in Delphi. Once called the
“Navel of the Earth,” Delphi was the greatest Oracle of the ancient
world, where people flocked to seek advice. Now, it’s one of the grandest
sights in Greece; its theater and Temple of Apollo still stand in their
lovely natural setting. In the afternoon, drive north by way of Lamia and
on to Trikala in Thessaly for an overnight in Kalambaka. (B,D)
Day
10 Sun. KALAMBAKA-METEORA-ATHENS
A
short drive to Meteora, which is a cluster of monastic buildings perched
in an unforgettable manner on a set of rising rock formations. Your
included visit is certainly the day’s highlight. Later, drive south to
Athens for an overnight. Why not join the optional Greek dinner? (B)
Day
11 Mon. YOUR HOMEBOUND FLIGHT ARRIVES THE SAME DAY
(B)
AIRPORT
TRANSFERS
Airport transfers
may be included when you make your international flights arrangements.
Dates
and Prices
|
Departure
Details
|
Departure
Date
|
Tour
Start Date
|
Return
Date
|
Land/Cruise
Price Only
|
Status
|
|
3/26/2010
|
3/27/2010
|
4/5/2010
|
$1,245.00
|
Available
|
|
Popular
Departure
|
4/2/2010
|
4/3/2010
|
4/12/2010
|
$1,245.00
|
Available
|
|
4/9/2010
|
4/10/2010
|
4/19/2010
|
$1,265.00
|
Available
|
|
4/16/2010
|
4/17/2010
|
4/26/2010
|
$1,265.00
|
Available
|
|
Popular
Departure
|
4/23/2010
|
4/24/2010
|
5/3/2010
|
$1,265.00
|
Available
|
|
4/30/2010
|
5/1/2010
|
5/10/2010
|
$1,325.00
|
Available!
|
|
Popular
Departure
|
5/7/2010
|
5/8/2010
|
5/17/2010
|
$1,325.00
|
Available
|
|
5/14/2010
|
5/15/2010
|
5/24/2010
|
$1,325.00
|
Available
|
|
Popular
Departure
|
5/21/2010
|
5/22/2010
|
5/31/2010
|
$1,325.00
|
Available
|
|
5/28/2010
|
5/29/2010
|
6/7/2010
|
$1,325.00
|
Available
|
|
6/4/2010
|
6/5/2010
|
6/14/2010
|
$1,325.00
|
Available
|
|
6/11/2010
|
6/12/2010
|
6/21/2010
|
$1,325.00
|
Available
|
|
6/18/2010
|
6/19/2010
|
6/28/2010
|
$1,325.00
|
Available
|
|
Popular
Departure
|
6/25/2010
|
6/26/2010
|
7/5/2010
|
$1,325.00
|
Available
|
|
7/2/2010
|
7/3/2010
|
7/12/2010
|
$1,279.00
|
Available
|
|
7/9/2010
|
7/10/2010
|
7/19/2010
|
$1,279.00
|
Available
|
|
7/16/2010
|
7/17/2010
|
7/26/2010
|
$1,279.00
|
Available
|
|
7/23/2010
|
7/24/2010
|
8/2/2010
|
$1,229.00
|
Available
|
|
7/30/2010
|
7/31/2010
|
8/9/2010
|
$1,229.00
|
Available
|
|
Popular
Departure
|
8/6/2010
|
8/7/2010
|
8/16/2010
|
$1,229.00
|
Available
|
|
8/13/2010
|
8/14/2010
|
8/23/2010
|
$1,229.00
|
Available
|
|
8/20/2010
|
8/21/2010
|
8/30/2010
|
$1,229.00
|
Available
|
|
Popular
Departure
|
8/27/2010
|
8/28/2010
|
9/6/2010
|
$1,325.00
|
Available
|
|
9/3/2010
|
9/4/2010
|
9/13/2010
|
$1,325.00
|
Available
|
|
9/10/2010
|
9/11/2010
|
9/20/2010
|
$1,325.00
|
Available
|
|
9/17/2010
|
9/18/2010
|
9/27/2010
|
$1,325.00
|
Available
|
|
9/24/2010
|
9/25/2010
|
10/4/2010
|
$1,305.00
|
Available
|
|
10/1/2010
|
10/2/2010
|
10/11/2010
|
$1,305.00
|
Available
|
|
10/8/2010
|
10/9/2010
|
10/18/2010
|
$1,305.00
|
Available
|
|
Popular
Departure
|
10/15/2010
|
10/16/2010
|
10/25/2010
|
$1,305.00
|
Available
|
Popular
Departure - due to itinerary and time of year, this departure
historically sells out quickly. Early booking is encouraged.
|
