Glories of Greece
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 BC 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:
- 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:
- 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: 35188
Tour Type: Group Tour
Accommodation: Deluxe
Transport: Private
Guide Language: English
Travel Styles:
Family, 55+, Luxury
Tour Operator:
Insight Vacations (CA)
Supplier Code: 80.787A
Starts: Athens, Greece
Finishes: Athens, Greece
Duration: 7 days
Departures: Not Guaranteed
Physical Rating:
Easy
Includes
Price
Price per person: (Double Occupancy) CAD $3,215 ($459 /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
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
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,' rumored 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
Similar Tours
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
Reviews
Anonymous - Traveled, May 2025
The itinerary, the Tour Director Kryssa and Driver Alexis were excellent, however, when we arrived in Greece we were not happy with the transfer to the hotel. The cost of the Airport Transfer was around $114.00 each for my partner and I. For that price we presumed it was a private transfer. We travelled business class, which meant we were first out and the luggage was there shortly after. It was a full plane and we had to wait for a 3rd person to be transferred with us. We were transferred by a cab. It would have been much cheaper for us to catch a cab to begin with, had we known. I have travelled many times Interstate in Australia as well as overseas and have never been transferred with any other party. I believe that under the circumstance a 50% refund would be in order, and ask that you refer to the appropriate Insight Department to consider this request. This is our 4h Insight Vacation Tour. We just did the Best of Spain and Portugal, then the Glories of Greece. Last year we did Easy Pace Italy, then the Best of Ireland and Scotland, organised through Flight Centre.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 05/07/2025
Peter B. - Traveled, November 2024
Some accommodation was not as good as should have been especially on Island of Corfu. The accommodation in Corfu was too far away from where we could walk to town or anywhere for that point. The room was small and not inviting. We should have had queen double beds in all locations but a few we had single beds. Another couple got double and wanted single beds. In most accommodations there were no tea or coffee caddies to make own in room. This was poor. A fantastic Tour Director. Ever tour was interesting and worth going to see.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/09/2024
Anita T. - Traveled, October 2024
This is my 3rd tour with Insights and found everything from the buses, drivers, activities, hotels, knowledge and quality of the tour directors to be of high quality. I recommend Insights to all my friends as a bus tour gives you a view of the interior of a country, a feel for the culture and locals more than a cruise where you only see a port city. I am planning my next tour location and will be using Insights againI. I found the customer service team very helpful when I added my flight information so I had transfers to and from the airport. Enjoyed my time in Greece but it could have been a longer trip so we didn't have some very long days. Was a fountain of knowledge and made sure that we had very good local guides to explain what we were seeing and the history of the sites and archeological findings of the ancient temples. The hotels could have been better, but they were possibly the best the area had to offer. Made great suggestions for lunch and some dinners. I found the food at these locations to be well worth the visit. Made sure that I was okay after I had a fall in Turkey and it affected my ability to climb stairs. Purchased a cane for me to use in case I needed assistance walking at various temples. She truly is a star.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 10/09/2024
Anonymous - Traveled, August 2024
To notch services. This is our 4th trip. Never disappoints. We had a great time. made this a wonderful experience. Highly recommend this trip.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 08/09/2024
Anonymous - Traveled, December 2024
The service is average, the experience is in the details. Definitely the overall experience could be done by private tours and no need to have to use mediocre accommodations and below average food.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/09/2024
Anonymous - Traveled, December 2024
Great variety in options to see sights- superb tour director ( Lisa) whose passion brought not only the sights but culture of Greece to life. She went out of her way to give us interesting insights and experiences. Excellent local tour guides who brought what could be just a bunch of stones to life with their stories. Appreciate breaks from long bus rides. Hotel accommodations excellent. As an aside, good opportunity to meet people from different places.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/09/2024
Anonymous - Traveled, December 2024
Service experience excellent. The hotels we stayed at were all centrally located to walking distance to towns. Bus clean and comfortable. Our tour director, Lisa, WAS EXCELLENT!!! She as well as the local tour directors on our excursions, brought Greece alive in my heart. They all had much knowledge of any question asked, it was well-paced. I often felt I was transformed in time, with their very descriptive narrations. They made looking at a "rock" a complete picture of history in my mind. Food and entertainment excellent too. Highly recommend this tour.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/09/2024
Anonymous - Traveled, December 2024
It was great to be met at the airport and taken directly to the airport.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/09/2024
Anonymous - Traveled, November 2024
Lots of steps Late dinners.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/09/2024
Russell H. - Traveled, October 2024
Service was very good but the 2 long drives Athens to Kalambaka and Kalambaka to Olympia need to be reduced. The sites visited were great but the drive to Kalambaka after sightseeing in Athens was long and the drive from Kalambaka to Olympia much too long. This trip needs at least one extra night probably at Delphi to cut out a very long day in the bus.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 10/09/2024
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