Greek Mythology Odyssey

Day 1: Arrival  
Upon arrival in Athens, you have a  transfer to the hotel. The rest of the day is at your own leisure.
Please note: We recommend to start this tour on Thursday to enjoy all authentic activities.   

Day 2: Discovering the City of Wisdom - Athens  
Following breakfast in the hotel, meet your guide and driver to make your way to Kerameikos, the biggest and most important necropolis in Athens.
The walls of Athens, which were constructed in the 5th century B.C. by Themistokles, divided the area into two sections: The Inner Kerameikos which was the potter's quarter of the city and τhe Outer Kerameikos of an important cemetery and numerous funerary sculptures erected along the road out of the city towards Eleusis.
After, you will make your way to The Temple of Olympian Zeus & Hadrian's Arch (short visit). This colossal ruined temple was dedicated to Zeus, king of the Olympian gods.
Your next stop is the Panathenaic Stadium, also known as the Kallimarmaro (meaning the "beautifully marbled"), which is an athletic stadium in Athens that hosted the first modern Olympic Games in 1896. Continue on to the highest hill of Athens Lycabettus, which appears in various legends.
Witness the Royal Palace and today's Parliament, with the elite unit known as the Evzones in their picturesque uniforms guarding the Memorial of the Unknown Soldier.  Drive along Panepistimiou Avenue to get a glimpse of the beauty of the most famous Athenian Neo­Classical buildings before arriving at our next destination the Ancient Agora.
After the tour, you are transferred back to your hotel.  

Day 3: Tour of Acropolis and Temple of Athena, Parthenon
Following breakfast in the hotel, meet your guide and start a 4­-hour tour with your private guide.
Walk along Dionisiou Areopagitou street one of the most impressive streets of Athens, offering an extraordinary view of the southern slope of the Acropolis, where some of the most significant monuments stand. You will enter the archeological area of the Acropolis on the southern slope to avoid the crowds and just to your right is the most ancient theatre in the world, the Theatre of Dionysus.
Your next stop is the Odeion of Herodes Atticus and before reaching Acropolis top point, you pass through Beule Gate, part of the Roman fortifications of the Acropolis. See the Temple Of the Athena Victory also known as Temple of Athena Nike, a small, elegant, Ionian, amphiprostyle temple, built by the architect Callicrates in 426 - ­421 B.C. in commemoration of the victory of the Greeks against the Persians.
Reach The Propylaea one of the masterpieces of classical architecture. Left of the Parthenon lies the Temple of Erechtheion built from 420­ - 406BC at the holiest site of the Acropolis, where the goddess Athena planted the olive tree, her sacred symbol. Climbing down the Acropolis hill you will reach the New Acropolis museum one of the most important contemporary works of architecture in Athens. The last level (The Parthenon room) has the dimensions and the direction of the Parthenon and it is been rotated by 23 degrees in relation to the rest of the building so that the visitor would have an immediate view of the monument.

Day 4: Cape of Legends - Sounion
After breakfast in the hotel, meet your guide and start this day with a trip to Sounion to visit the Temple of Poseidon together with your private guide and driver. Visit the magical cape full of legends about King Menelaus who stopped briefly at Sounio on his way back from Troy, or about the unfortunate King Aegeus who drowned himself on that spot and the Aegean Sea got named after him, or about the people who built a temple using local marble to honor the god of the sea and safeguard the profits from the neighboring Lavrio mines.  

Day 5: Ferry to the Land of Myths - Mykonos  
Following breakfast in your hotel, you check out and depart from Athens. Your private driver takes you to Piraeus Sea Port to board a ferry to the famous island of Greek Cyclades, Mykonos.

Day 5: Ferry to the Land of Myths - Mykonos
Upon arrival at Mykonos in the morning, you have a transfer to the hotel. After a couple of hours of rest in your hotel, meet your private guide for a full day island tour.

Start with a walking city tour of Mykonos and stroll through the narrow streets and whitewashed buildings of the town, which is full of picturesque settings. Some of the highlights of the tour include stops at The Windmills, Little Venice and the iconic church of Paraportianni. 
Continue with a driving tour along the coastline and enjoy local sandy beaches. You also have a stop in the small village at the center of the island called Ano Mera. Here you witness the 16th-century cathedral monastery of Panagia Tourliani.

After the tour, you are taken back to the hotel.

Day 6: Day Trip to Delos, Birthplace of Artemis and Apollo
Following breakfast in your hotel, meet your private guide and embark on a fascinating tour to the archaeological site of Delos. 

After a short boat ride, you arrive in the birthplace of Artemis and Apollo. The island's vast expanse of ancient ruins marks the existence of what was once one of the most important spiritual, economic and commercial centers of its time. During the tour you visit the marble remains of the Temple of Apollo, the sanctuary of Artemis, walk the celebrated Avenue of Lions and stand at the center of the dramatic amphitheater. Continue to the archaeological museum which houses a collection of Archaic, Hellenistic, Roman and Classical sculptures and mosaics. Beautifully painted pottery and small bronze items that were used in everyday life are also on display. 

Once the tour is finished you are taken back to the hotel.

*Note: The site of Delos is explored on foot, please wear low heeled comfortable shoes, and bring water and a hat.

Day 7: Departure to Heraklion, Crete Island
Following breakfast in your hotel, you check out and depart from Mykonos. Your private driver transfers you to Mykonos Seaport for a ferry trip to Crete Island.

Day 7: Arrival in Heraklion, Crete Island
Upon arrival at Crete, you have a  transfer to the hotel. The rest of the day is at your own leisure. 

Day 8: Finding Your Way in Knossos Palace and Archeological Museum of Heraklion 
Following breakfast in your hotel, meet your private guide and driver for a 5.5-hour tour.

Together your unveil the history of Minoan civilization and capital of Minoan Crete, you visit and The Palace of Knossos, which is the most important archeological site on the island. 

Continue to the Heraklion Archeological Museum, the best in the world regarding the Minoan art as it contains the most notable and complete collection of artifacts of the Minoan civilization of Crete, like the Bull's head Rhyton, the snake goddess and the disc of Phaistos. The museum displays idols made of terra cotta, marble and alabaster, collections of gold, jewelry, ivory, figurines, sarcophagi and frescoes will give you an insight into this artistic-minded civilization and complement your visit to Knossos.

After the tour, you are taken back to the hotel to rest for a couple of hours.

In the evening get ready to travel in time and become a guest of a traditional Minoan Night full of dances and singing. Buffet Dinner of Greek cuisine is included. Your private driver takes you to the Minoan Theater and after the show back to your hotel in Heraklion.

Please note: Minoan Traditional Show is available only on Thursdays.

Day 9: Stepping down into the Cave of Zeus
Meet your private guide in the morning and leave Heraklion for a day trip to Lasithi Plateau. Before you reach the main attraction of this tour, pay a visit to the Monastery of Panagia Kera, where you get to see the finest-preserved Byzantine-era frescoes in Crete. Once you arrive at Lasithi Plateau with fantastic views of this flat land surrounded by mountains, go down to the Cave of Zeus, where according to the Greek Mythology, the god of sky and thunder, king of the gods of Mount Olympus was born. After visiting the cave your guide takes you to the other side of the mountains to visit the beautiful town of Aghios Nikolaos for some spare time and optional lunch. 

Once you are back to Heraklion, you are transferred to your hotel to rest after a day of Greek Mythology. 

Please note that a moderate hike for 20 min is required for the Cave of Zeus. Non-slippery shoes required.

Day 10: Flight to Thessaloniki
Following breakfast in your hotel, you check out and depart from Crete. Your private driver takes you to the local airport for a short flight to Thessaloniki.

Day 10: Arrival in Thessaloniki & City Tour
Upon arrival you are taken to the hotel for check-in.

Later today you meet your private guide and start a 3-hour walking city tour to discover the most important sites of the city. 

Together you see a Roman forum (Agora), monumental constructions with a unique character such as the Rotunda, an arch immortalizing military triumphs, palace ruins, medieval towers, modest Byzantine churches hiding rare treasures, and streets, legendary squares, points and corners associated with major historical events.

After the tour you return to the hotel and have the rest of the day at your own leisure.

Day 11: Climbing Mount Olympus
Meet your local professional guide in the morning and make your way out of the city towards the highest mountain in Greece and also according to the Greek Mythology - home of the Olympic Gods. 

At first, you drive up to Christakis refuge. A mixture of tarmac and dirt road lay ahead of you until the refuge at an altitude of 2,430 meters is reached. From here you start hiking ascend (approx. 60-70 min.), initially on an uphill, part of the European Trail, traversing the peak of Skolio - reaching Skala, from where you will continue this hiking adventure towards the most demanding part of the ascend. You then follow “Kakoskala”, enjoying a scramble climb until the peak of Mytikas (2,917m) where Zeus used to observe the whole of Greece! The total duration of this thrilling journey may last between 8-10 hours (including transfers).

After the tour, you return to the hotel and have the rest of the day at leisure.

Day 12: Departure
This is the final day of your amazing Greek Mythology tour! After breakfast you check out from your hotel and your private driver takes you to the airport for your flight back home. 

We hope you've enjoyed exploring Greece and return home with lifelong memories and unforgettable impressions. We wish you a safe flight and hope to work on your future trips!