Best of Greece Explorer - 10 Days

Welcome to Athens. On arrival, a pre-arranged chauffeur will meet you and transfer you to your hotel for check-in. The remainder of the day is free for you to spend at leisure.

Today, we join our tour escort for a morning exploration of Athens, discovering some of the city’s most significant historic landmarks. We pass by the Panathenaic Stadium, the Temple of Olympian Zeus, Hadrian’s Arch, the Parliament building, and the Memorial of the Unknown Soldier. We also see the Academy, the University, the National Library, and Constitution Square - the central heart of modern Athens.

No visit to Athens is complete without the Acropolis. We explore this ancient citadel set high on a rocky hill, home to remarkable ruins that represent some of the most important achievements of classical Greek civilisation.

We conclude the tour at the impressive Acropolis Museum, located just a short five-minute walk from the Acropolis. This striking modern building stands alongside the remains of ancient Athens and houses an outstanding collection of artefacts from the site, offering a fascinating insight into Greek history, art, and civilisation. After the tour, the remainder of the afternoon is free for you to enjoy at your own pace.

Athens - Delphi - Kalabaka. After breakfast, we travel by coach to Delphi, once considered the centre of the world in ancient Greek mythology and home to the famous Oracle of Apollo. Set on the slopes of Mount Parnassus, Delphi is one of Greece’s most important archaeological sites, with spectacular views across the surrounding valley.

We explore the Sanctuary of Apollo Pythius, where pilgrims once came to consult the oracle. During our visit, we see key monuments including the Treasury of the Athenians, the Theatre, and the Stadium.

We also visit the Delphi Archaeological Museum, which houses remarkable artefacts from the site. Highlights include the celebrated bronze Charioteer of Delphi dating from around 470 BC, the statue of Antinoos, and the statue of Aghias of Pharsalia, a champion of the Panhellenic Games in the 5th century BC.

Later, we continue our journey to Kalabaka. As we drive through the towns of Amphissa, Lamia, and Trikala, you can admire the picturesque landscapes and wide Thessalian plains along the way. Dinner is included at the hotel.

Leaving Kalabaka, we travel to Meteora - a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its extraordinary rock formations and historic monasteries. More than 20 monasteries were once built here, many perched high on towering rock pillars while others are set within natural caves. Meteora is both a remarkable religious centre and a striking natural landscape, offering impressive views over the surrounding valley.

Later, we begin the journey back to Athens. Along the way, we stop at Thermopylae near Lamia, the historic site of the legendary battle between the Spartans and the Persians. We arrive back in Athens in the evening.

Athens - Santorini. After breakfast and check-out, a transfer will take you to the port of Piraeus to board the ferry to Santorini. On arrival at the island, you transfer to the hotel for check-in. note that from today, you will travel unescorted, without a guide. But all of your transportation is still included!

Today is free for you to enjoy Santorini at your own pace. With its glamorous caldera views, black-sand beaches, and famous sunsets, it is the perfect place to relax.

If you wish, you may join an optional half-day excursion (at additional cost) to the volcanic islands of Nea Kameni and Palea Kameni, located in the centre of the Santorini caldera, where you can swim in the warm, mineral-rich springs.

If travelling with a partner, you may also wish to enjoy a romantic dinner overlooking the caldera - an unforgettable setting with some of the most spectacular views in the world.

Santorini - Heraklion (Crete). You have the morning at leisure. Later, you travel by train to the port to board the ferry to Crete (Heraklion).

On arrival in Heraklion, a transfer will take you to your hotel. The remainder of the day is free for you to spend as you wish.

Today is free for you to explore Crete at your own pace. The largest and most populated island in Greece, Crete is often considered the cradle of Europe’s earliest advanced civilisation.

Heraklion, located on the island’s northern coast, serves as the capital and main gateway to the region. The island is known for its dramatic landscapes - from rugged mountains and deep gorges to fertile valleys and beautiful beaches.

While here, you may wish to visit the Palace of Knossos, the renowned centre of the ancient Minoan civilisation and one of Greece’s most important archaeological sites.

Heraklion (Crete) - Athens. In the morning, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Athens (flight not included). On arrival in Athens, you will transfer to your hotel for check-in and an overnight stay.

You will check out of the hotel according to your flight schedule and transfer to Athens International Airport for your onward journey.