Experience Overview
Explore the ancient Acropolis in Athens and indulge in an authentic cooking demonstration in Olympia, as a local chef prepares a feast from locally farmed produce. Replete with lashings of olive oil and Greek cheeses you’ll master moussaka and tzatziki, before experiencing Greece in all its glory. From the Temple of Athena and the Arch of Hadrian in Athens, the gargantuan pinnacles of Meteora near Kalambaka beckon. Guided by your Travel Director, you'll ascend the ancient rock formations of this UNESCO World Heritage Site and visit one of the historic monasteries at the top. Explore where the Olympic Games began in 776 B.C at the Temple of Zeus and in the city of Mycenae, take in the giant Cyclopean stones before discovering traditional Greek pottery methods at the Mycenae Pottery Studio.
Highlights
Dining Summary
- 5 Dinner (D)
- 6 Breakfast (B)
Choice Highlights
- Athens: Get up close and personal with ancient Greece as you explore Athens with your Local Expert. With your Local Expert, visit the monumental Temple of Olympian Zeus and the Arch of Hadrian. Then, ascend to the iconic Acropolis, where the Parthenon offers commanding views of the city. Discover the intricacies of the Temple of Athena Nike, also known as the Temple of Wingless Victory, and admire the six exquisite Caryatids supporting the Porch of the Maidens on the Erechtheion.
- Athens: Stroll through the ancient streets of Plaka, known as the "Neighborhood of the Gods" under the guidance of your Travel Director. Nestled beneath the Acropolis, explore Plaka’s timeless charm, discovering the historical treasures and hidden corners, before enjoying time at leisure along Adrianou, a bustling pedestrian hub, brimming with vibrant shops and traditional cafés.
Additional Included Highlights
- Personal radio headsets give you the freedom to wander during visits to famous highlights, without missing any of your Local Expert's fascinating commentary.
- Hotel and restaurant tips are included - you'll never have to worry about how much to give, nor search for foreign currency. We also include all taxes and porterage charges at hotels.
- We carry your bags for you and promptly deliver them to your hotel door.
- From time to time, your Travel Director will delight you with an Insight Flourish, which is a local specialty representing the destination.
- Stay connected with friends and family with our complimentary coach and hotel Wi-Fi (where available).
- If your arrival and/or departure flights are as per the itinerary start and end dates, then transfers are available at scheduled times. If your flights are outside these times, or you have booked additional nights accommodation with Insight Vacations, you may purchase transfers or make your own way from/to the airport.
- Enjoy the comfort of Insight's luxury, air-conditioned coach.
Authentic Dining
- Athens: Indulge in local specialties with your fellow travelers as you savor dinner in one of the city's historic neighborhoods.
- Olympia: Taste unique Greek flavors and savor regional specialties over dinner.
- Athens: Toast the culmination of your travels with dinner in true Greek style at a local restaurant.
Insight Choice
- Athens: Get up close and personal with ancient Greece as you explore Athens with your Local Expert. With your Local Expert, visit the monumental Temple of Olympian Zeus and the Arch of Hadrian. Then, ascend to the iconic Acropolis, where the Parthenon offers commanding views of the city. Discover the intricacies of the Temple of Athena Nike, also known as the Temple of Wingless Victory, and admire the six exquisite Caryatids supporting the Porch of the Maidens on the Erechtheion.
- Athens: Stroll through the ancient streets of Plaka, known as the "Neighborhood of the Gods" under the guidance of your Travel Director. Nestled beneath the Acropolis, explore Plaka’s timeless charm, discovering the historical treasures and hidden corners, before enjoying time at leisure along Adrianou, a bustling pedestrian hub, brimming with vibrant shops and traditional cafés.
Insight Experiences
- Olympia: Join a local chef who will share their passion for local ingredients and high-quality products. Learn how to make tzatziki and other regional dishes during a fun and immersive cooking demonstration.
Make Travel Matter
- Nafplio: Experience the timeless craft of hand weaving by visiting a traditional workshop. Immerse yourself in the ancient art and discover the intricate techniques passed down through generations. This experience advances United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities.
Top Rated Highlights
- Athens: Ascend the Acropolis with a Local Expert to admire the Parthenon, built in 5th century B.C. Steps away you'll see the Temple of Athena Nike, also known as the Temple of the Wingless Victory, and the six stone-carved caryatids that make up the Porch of the Maidens on the Erechtheion.
- Athens: See the Arch of Hadrian, erected in honor of the Roman Emperor and used as a divider between the ancient city and the new Roman district, along with the remaining columns of the Temple of Olympian Zeus.
- Thermopylae: See the Leonidas Monument dedicated to the brave warrior and his 300 Spartans.
- Kalambaka: Your Travel Director will provide an orientation of this town situated at the base of the extraordinary Meteora rocks.
- Meteora: With a Local Expert, visit one of the remarkable centuries-old monasteries of Meteora, teetering on towers of rock and arguably the most spectacular place to visit in Greece.
- Delphi: With your Local Expert, walk to The Sacred Way once lined with offertory temples. See the reconstructed Athenian Treasury and pass the superb Polygonal Wall to reach the Temple of Apollo, where the people would seek divine wisdom from the mysterious Oracle.
- Archaeological Site of Olympia: The stadium of Olympia hosted the ancient Olympic Games and the Heraia, the women's games in honor of Hera. See the Temple of Zeus, athlete's gymnasium and the stone marker where the sprint began.
- Archaeological Site of Mycenae: Walk through the Lion Gate past the royal beehive-tombs where Schliemann uncovered golden treasure, while hearing tales of Agamemnon.
- Nafplio: Join your Travel Director in an orientation of this beautiful seaport town and see why it is named one of Greece's prettiest spots.
- Corinth Canal: Cross the amazing rock-cut channel dividing the Peloponnese from mainland Greece.
Well-being
- Enjoy the comfort of Insight's luxurious, air-conditioned, 40-seat coach with double the standard legroom and onboard washroom. Our customized luxury coaches are sanitized before the start of your tour and are maintained to very high standards. Physical distancing measures have been implemented on our customized luxury coaches.
- Hand sanitizer is freely available on board for you to use throughout the day.
Trip Details
Product Code: 22491
Tour Type: Group Tour
Accommodation: Deluxe
Transport: Private
Guide Language: English
Travel Styles: Family, 55+, Luxury
Tour Operator: Insight Vacations (CA)
Supplier Code: 80.196B
Starts: Athens, Greece
Finishes: Athens, Greece
Duration: 7 days
Departures: Not Guaranteed
Physical Rating: Easy
Includes
Price
Price per person: (Double Occupancy) CAD $4,404 ($629 /day)
Itinerary
Venture back to a time when great philosophers roamed the halls of the Agora and gods vied for supremacy. Embark on an unforgettable exploration of ancient myths and legends in the vibrant capital of Athens. Upon arrival, your Local Host will meet you and escort you to your hotel, where you can settle in and relax or explore the City of Violet Crown. This evening, join your Travel Director for dinner, savoring local cuisine paired with wine while getting to know your fellow travelers.
Accommodation: Divani Palace Acropolis, New, Athens, Athens Marriott
Meals: Dinner
Begin your journey into ancient Greece today, where the history of this remarkable civilization comes to life. Explore Athens with an Insight Choice experience. Choose to visit the city's renowned ancient sites with a Local Expert, or venture into the dynamic Plaka neighborhood, guided by your Travel Director. Next, venture to Thermopylae, the mountain pass where King Leonidas and his Spartan warriors made their legendary stand against the Persians in 480 B.C. Pay tribute at the memorial honoring their courage before continuing to your hotel in Kalambaka for a delicious dinner crafted from fresh, seasonal ingredients.
Accommodation: Divani Meteora, Kalambaka, Grand Meteora, Kalambaka
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
With your Local Expert, visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Meteora, meaning 'suspended in the air.' The massive pinnacles of smooth rock are ancient, yet could also be the setting for a science fiction tale. Visit one of the monasteries, that adds to the strange and beautiful landscape and enjoy stunning views over the Peneios Valley. The rest of the day is at your leisure. Why not explore with a relaxed walk on the nature trails? Alternatively, you may wish to visit the Natural History Museum.
Accommodation: Divani Meteora, Kalambaka, Grand Meteora, Kalambaka
Meals: Breakfast
Travel south, stopping at the foothills of Mount Parnassus. Ascend the Sacred Way of Delphi with your Local Expert. Pass the Parian marble Treasury of the Athenians and Polygonal Wall, with its interlocking stones still perfectly intact after thousands of years. You'll approach the Temple of Apollo, where for 14 centuries the mysterious Oracle of Delphi breathed her enigmatic ‘words,' rumoured to have successfully predicted events related to the Argonauts expedition and the Trojan War. Your travels continue to Olympia, where dinner will be served at your hotel.
Accommodation: Amalia Olympia, Olympion Asty
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
It's all in the name. Ancient Olympia is the site where the Ancient Olympic Games began in 776 B.C., in dedication to Zeus. See the ruined Temple of Zeus that was built to honor the ruler of the gods. Continue your exploration through time to the athletes gymnasium and the Ancient Stadium of Olympia with its characteristic arch. The start and finish points for the sprint track are still marked by stones and there is time to capture your own memory, with a photo at the starting line. In the evening, join a local chef who will share with you their passion for local ingredients and high-quality products with an entertaining and immersive cooking demonstration, showcasing classic Greek cuisine. Experience authentic Greek regional flavors, as you savor dishes prepared for your dinner.
Accommodation: Amalia Olympia, Olympion Asty
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Today you leave the town of Olympia and begin your journey back to the Greek capital. Stop for a visit at the ruined city of Mycenae with a Local Expert. Walk through the Lion Gate, visit the royal beehive-tombs and see the giant Cyclopean stones, used to build the city walls. Travel to the elegant town of Nafplio known for its beautiful architecture, colorful shops and vibrant cafes. Join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience as you meet Maria and her daughter to learn about the ancient techniques of hand weaving. Your journey continues, following the shores of the Saronic Gulf to pass the Corinth Canal, dividing the Peloponnese and mainland Greece, before arriving in Athens. In the evening, enjoy a hearty dinner in true Greek style with good company.
Accommodation: Divani Palace Acropolis, New, Athens, Athens Marriott
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
This morning after breakfast, your Grecian odyssey comes to an end. Take a complimentary transfer to Athens Airport for your onward journey.
Meals: Breakfast
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Tour Operator
Insight Vacations (CA)
Part of The Travel Company (TTC) family of brands, Insight Vacations began operations in 1978 and is based in Cypress, CA. Journeys are featured to destinations, such as the U.S. and Canada, Europe, Latin America, North Africa, Asia, the UK and Ireland. The company offers are a variety of tours under the classifications of Regional Journeys, Country Roads, Discovery Journeys, Easy Pace trips, and Special Interest tours. Insight is the ideal name for the tour operator, as the journeys provided by Insight Vacations allow travelers to gain further insight into whatever destination they wish to explore. For example, Discovery Journeys are the ideal choice for first-time visitors to Europe. Itineraries include Dine-at-Home or Farm-to-Table experiences so travelers can learn more about how locals live and dine. Regional Journeys allow trip-goers to see a specific location in Europe that they have always wanted to see – Poland, Switzerland, Italy, etc. The carefully planned trips enable customers to immerse themselves in one specific region or country and to become acquainted with its culture, traditions, and people. For anyone seeking travel off the beaten track, Insight Vacations offers Country Roads – trips that lead travelers off the well-tread tourist trail to explore hidden gems where visitors can savor the local produce with Farm-to-Table dining. Some trips are offered under the Easy Pace travel style – the ideal trip choice for trip-goers who wish to slow their pace during their vacation. During these tours, vacationers stay at least 3 nights at each destination, giving them some additional time to explore a place and enjoy it. Regardless of the travel style, many of the vacations offered by Insight Vacations begin with Relaxed Starts – giving travelers time to sleep in a little, spend more time at breakfast, or explore an area on their own. The tour company prides itself on providing business class tours that features luxury coaches with 40 seats. While most coach touring operators provide vehicles with 53 seats, Insight Vacations has re-configured its motor coaches to hold up to 40 guests. This gives passengers extra leg room while traveling and offers them more space and privacy.
In Business Since 1978
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