Ancient Greece Uncovered with Hydra Island

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To book or for more information please call: 0303 330 0892 and quote RTA

Ancient Greece Uncovered with Hydra Island

A fascinating journey that brings to life the wonders of the Classical Greek civilisation and the histories of the Byzantine and Roman periods. This wonderful week-long odyssey features stays in ancient Olympia and the bustling metropolis of Athens. Enjoy escorted tours of some of the most fascinating and absorbing sites of Classical Greece, including the staggering Temple of Apollo at Delphi and the 5th-century Acropolis of Athens. After a busy week’s exploration of Greece’s classical treasures, unwind on the picturesque island of Hydra, a coastal retreat which has been a popular haunt among artists, musicians, and novelists for centuries. Planning to explore more of Greece during your trip? Our Greece travel guide highlights top destinations, seasonal travel tips, and ideas

Holiday Highlights

Discover Athens and its treasure chest of archaeological sites
Explore the UNESCO World Site of Mycenae, among the most important archaeological sites in Greece
Discover historic Delphi, the home of the Temple of Apollo
Experience Greece’s rural way of life with three-days in the charming towns of Hydra
Wander around the site of Olympia, the home of the Olympic Games movement
Stop off at the picturesque town of Nafpaktos, overlooking the Gulf of Corinth
Visit the Corinth Canal and Epidaurus, a small city famed for its temple and theatre

What's Included

10 nights’ carefully chosen bed and breakfast accommodation in Athens (3 nights), Nafplion (2), Olympia (1), Delphi (1) and Hydra (3)
Two evening meals
Guided city tour of Athens
Visit to Mycenae
Day trip to the site of Olympia, the home of the Olympic Games movement
Visit to Delphi
Tour of Nafpaktos
Travel along the Corinth Canal
Flights to and from Athens, with coach travel and transfers throughout
Fully escorted by a friendly, experienced tour manager on Days 1 to 7. Our local representatives will transfer and assist you on Days 8 to 11.
All mandatory local taxes and charges

Itinerary

Day 1

Arrive and transfer to your hotel in Athens - Upon arrival, meet your friendly tour manager and transfer to your hotel. This evening, you’ll have time to explore the many bars and restaurants of the renowned Plaka district of this cosmopolitan city.

Day 2

Included tour of Athens - This morning, you’ll tour Athens, which contains a wealth of treasures for its visitors. You’ll start with a visit to the famed Acropolis, the ancient citadel and its surrounding monuments sprawled across a rocky outcrop overlooking the city. Next, you’ll visit the Acropolis Museum, one of the most important museums in the world, which houses the findings of the archaeological site, Athenian Acropolis. Finally, you’ll enjoy a walking tour of Plaka, the neighbour that is situated at the base of the Acropolis and the oldest and most beautiful neighbourhood in Athens. The guide will lead you around its narrow-cobbled stone streets, family-run tavernas and sidewalk cafés.

Day 3

Transfer to Nafpilo via Corinth Canal - After a leisurely morning, you’ll say a temporary goodbye to Athens as you continue your journey to visit the Argolis region. The first highlight of this fascinating day will be the Corinth Canal and hopefully you’ll get to see how ships navigate this man-made wonder. Next up is Epidaurus, a small city famed for its temple and theatre. Dating back over 2,600 years, the theatre was built with outstanding acoustics, which allows for people seated at the top of the theatre to perfectly hear sounds from the stage. It is also here that modern medicine first developed its theories and there’s an excellent museum dedicated to this.

Day 4

Included visit to Mycenae - Following breakfast, you’ll visit of the day is the UNESCO World Site of Mycenae, among the most important archaeological sites in Greece. According to mythology, this was the town of the legendary king Agamemnon, the leader of the Greeks during the Trojan War. This was also the setting of many myths in ancient Greek tragedies, especially the tragedies connected to Agamemnon and his family. At the end of the day, you'll return to your hotel.

Day 5

Included visit to the site of Olympia - Today, you’ll visit the site of Olympia, the home of the Olympic Games movement. Before entering the main site, you’ll tour the museum of Olympia, which contains the remains of one of the Seven Ancient wonders of the world, the Temple of Zeus. During your visit of Olympia, you’ll learn the origins of the Olympic movement and perhaps for the more adventurous travellers, practice your 100m spirit at original racetrack, which dates back over two millennia. Often overlooked by most visitors, are the picturesque gardens which contains a wide variety of flora and fauna. In the evening, you'll return to the hotel.

Day 6

Included visit to Nafpaktos and transfer to Delphi - Today, you’ll leave the Peloponnese to return to the mainland with your journey to Delphi. One of the highlights of this journey is to cross on the Rion-Antirion Bridge, which is one of the world’s largest bridges. There’ll be time to stop at the picturesque town of Nafpaktos, which has excellent views across the Gulf of Corinth. With its peaceful and tranquil atmosphere, you can enjoy a coffee or an ice-cream before continuing to Delphi for one night.

Day 7

Included visit to Delphi - This morning, you’ll explore one of Greece’s most iconic sites, Delphi and its renowned museum. Containing a wide variety of ancient friezes, statues and ancient artefacts, this museum also houses the 5th century bronze sculpture of the Charioteer. From the museum, you’ll continue to visit the main site of Delphi, which dates to the era of Apollo and Zeus and the fabled oracle. A guide will take you around the magnificent treasury houses, the theatre and the ruins of one of the ancient world’s most holy sites. After your visit, you’ll drive through the picturesque Greek countryside back to Athens. There’ll be opportunity for you to sample typical Greek cuisine and hospitality with a final night in the Greek capital.

Day 8

Travel to Hydra and day at leisure - On your eighth day in Greece, board a ferry from Athens and cross the Saronic Gulf to Hydra, a charming island refuge on the Aegean Sea. Check into your charming hotel which prides itself on offering guests a taste of traditional Greek hospitality, this morning ahead of a relaxing three-day stay on the island’s pristine beaches and vibrant towns. For history buffs, Hydra’s rich history promises wish-list-topping discoveries. Entirely pedestrianised and still lined with traditional Greek architecture, the island’s main towns are also dotted with a collection of historic houses and well-preserved mansions which proudly display its colourful past. Sharing the island’s cobbled streets is a charming sprawl of cafés, independent shops and seafront eateries which offers the perfect way to unwind and watch the world go by. Why not embrace Hydra’s laid-back way of life with visits to the Mandraki Beach resort, the island’s only sandy bay, or along the imposing sea cliffs that overlook the pristine Aegean Sea.

Day 9

Day at leisure in Hydra - Another day at leisure awaits on idyllic Hydra, and you'll be free to make the most of your time however you see fit.

Day 10

Day at leisure in Hydra - It's your final day on the Aegean Sea and you'll have one last chance to tick off any remaining experiences you might have on your wish-list. Whether you're relaxing by the beach, or taking in the charming rural towns that dot the island, the choice is yours for ways to spend your day. As your stay on Hydra draws to a close, make the most of a final evening in Greece ahead of your return flight.

Day 11

Fly back to the UK - Today, you’ll be transferred to the airport to begin your journey home.

Special requirements

If you have notified us of any special requirements, please check that they have been noted and acknowledged. This is especially important with any dietary needs you may have.

Disabled access

The majority of our tours involve a certain amount of walking, including a short walk from the coach stop to the town, attraction or venue you're visiting.

For this tour specifically, it is important to note:

- There is walking involved on most days with some steep access to some of the archaeological sites.

- The tour of Athens is approx. 6 hours long (with breaks), is done on foot and does include some cobbled streets.

If you are bringing a wheelchair, please let us know at the time of booking so that appropriate arrangements can be made.

If you would like any further information on the suitability of this tour, please call us for a chat prior to booking.

Combining hotel transfers

We sometimes need to combine transfers to and from your hotel. We always try to keep any wait to a minimum, but you may be asked to wait at the airport for up to an hour, while other incoming flights arrive, before the transfer to your hotel. Similarly, we may need to transfer you back to the airport up to three hours before your flight home departs.

Itinerary changes

Occasionally, for operational reasons, we may have to change the order of the excursions on your holiday. The final day-by-day itinerary will be confirmed on your Final Travel Documents, which you will receive approximately three weeks prior to your departure.

Foreign Office Travel Advice

Visit www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice to find out the latest Foreign And Commonwealth Office travel advice for your holiday destination, as well as information about passports and visas.

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