Alternative Historic Grand tour (1-3 pax)

Visit Mycenae, the mythical citadel and
UNESCO World Heritage Site

Discover the charming coastal town of Nafplio,
the first capital of independent modern Greece

Explore ancient Olympia, the original
birthplace of the Olympic Games

Admire the grandeur of ancient Greece’s most sacred site, the Oracle of Delphi

Stand atop incredible rock formations and
admire the great Greek Orthodox monasteries of Meteora that
perch there

Lose yourself in natural beauty of the Forest of the White River

Explore the flavors of northern Greece in a fun-filled food tour!

Get to know the real Greece, by immersing yourself in local
Greek life, meeting people in their homes, on
their farms, and at their workshops

Get to know craftsmen (icon painters,
tanners, bellmakers, loom weavers, potters, pasta makers) farmers (olive oil, honey & wine producers),
and local residents

Day 1: Mycenae & Nafplio

The fabled Homeric city of Mycenae, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and capital of one of
the oldest civilizations in the world, is where you’ll start your adventure
into antiquity, by walking under the famed Lion Gate into ruins that are part
history, part myth. While you’ll be literally walking in the steps of King
Agamemnon, your expert guide will reveal every story, myth and legend that hide
behind the imposing ruins of the citadel.

You’ll then head towards the historic seaside city of Nafplio, where a scrumptious lunch awaits you in
one of the best tavernas in town only locals know of. This romantic,
picturesque town, the old capital of modern Greece, is crowned by Venetian
fortifications and embraced by a beautiful seafront.

You’ll visit local craftspeople, including a potter and a weaver at work in their workshops, to discover how
they carry the traditions of the past into the present. You’ll also see a
number of other local crafts and goods and a confectionery where the traditional almond
pastries are still made the way they were generations ago.

From Nafplio, your trip will take you through the beautiful Peloponnesian
countryside towards Ancient Olympia;
along the way, you’ll stop at a beautiful honey farm,
where you’ll learn the secrets of the world-renowned Greek honey firsthand from
a working beekeeper. You’ll also see her mother making “diples”, a traditional
dessert drizzled with honey, cooked just for you in an outdoor kitchen under
the trees!

You will spend the night near Ancient Olympia.

Day 2: Ancient Olympia & Galaxidi

The next morning belongs to Ancient Olympia,
the most important athletic, religious and political center of the ancient
Greek world. Here your top-rated guide will let you into the secrets of the temples, the training area and the original stadium where the ancient Olympic Games were born, and held for
centuries. The on-site Archaeological Museum holds
world-class masterpieces and treasures like the breathtaking statue of Hermes
and the infant Dionysus, sculpted by Praxiteles.

Then it’s time for an unusual off-road adventure and
an exciting lunch break: after an easy guided walk through a stunning gorge, you’ll discover two impressive waterfalls where your lunch will be
served, right by the river picnic-style, with home-made local specialties,
cooked by local women. For the bravest of you, you’ll have the chance to swim there too!

After leaving the waterfalls, you’ll travel to one of the most picturesque
seaside villages of Greece, Galaxidi, where you
will spend the night.

Day 3: Delphi & Amfissa

We’ll start the day by exploring Galaxidi, once a thriving port and home to
some of the most powerful families of seafaring merchants in the Mediterranean
Sea. Then we’ll head to the regional capital of Amfissa,
where Greece’s last hand-made bell-maker will
show you how livestock bells have been forged by hand in his family for
generations; then you’ll stroll through the cobbled streets of the old
leather-tanning district. Here, in one of the last remaining tanning workshops
in Europe, you’ll see what a tanner’s working
life was, almost unchanged from a century ago up to today, and
listen to the tanners’ stories –
father and son – to understand what life is like today in this part of Greece.

You’ll then enjoy your lunch under the shade of the large plane tree in the
town square, where you will taste local delicacies prepared
for you by women of the village.

After lunch, it’s off to Delphi, sacred
oracle of the ancient Gods. There you’ll marvel at the ruins of the Temple of Apollo and the Athenian Treasury. You’ll have
plenty of time to soak in the magical scenery, after which it’ll be time to
visit the Delphi museum, where some of the finest
examples of ancient Greek art are on display – including the world-famous
bronze statue of the Charioteer of Delphi.

From Delphi, you’ll then head north across the mainland towards Meteora. A few miles before reaching your
destination, you will have dinner in a traditional
family-run taverna in the foothills of Mt Koziakas. The food
there is superb, sourced from local farms and gardens! You will spend the night
in a charming family-run guest house in the pretty village of Kastraki, right
under the towering rocks of Meteora.

Day 4: Meteora

Meteora is a stunning natural
phenomenon, featuring enormous sandstone columns,
formed millions of years ago, all pointing heavenward. These
remote rock skyscrapers became dwelling-places for Christian Orthodox monks
and, by the 14th century, large monastic communities were flourishing on the
summits of many of these rocks. Today, six monasteries are still
functioning, of which you will visit two. You’ll also walk around
and drive among the rocks, to make sure you soak in the sights and the
awe-inspiring landscape before enjoying lunch in a nearby Kalambaka.

After lunch, you’ll visit a local icon painter from
a family of artists linked for generations to the monasteries here. In his tiny
workshop you’ll have a chance to learn about his art and try out your skills in customizing an orthodox icon to take back home
with you!

Then it’s a stop at the small but original Book
Museum, where you’ll get to try your skills in Greek
handwriting and find out about Greek classrooms of the past.
The owner is a fascinating personality, a collector of rare books that decided
to turn his passion into a private museum!

You’ll then leave the Meteora towards the south, to the little-known Forest of the White River, a group of
small mountain villages hidden in the depths of a massive forest. Here, at
a mountain lodge in perfect harmony with its surroundings, you’ll
have the chance to enjoy a Greek pie cooking lesson, dine
and spend the night under the warm hospitality of Mrs Eleni, the owner who fell
in love with the region some 40 years ago.

Day 5: Greek mountain scenery

The next day you’ll start exploring the beauties of the region with a swim at a beautiful river spot known only to
locals. Close by is a fascinating small monastery
rarely visited by tourists, which you will also visit.

Then you’ll embark on a food tour to discover the local
specialties and flavors of Northern Greece! 

Afternoon Greek coffee will be at a
charming rustic outpost with far-reaching valley views. Here you will also
taste Greek yoghurt and traditional ‘spoon sweets’ that
Mrs Soula, the owner’s mother, makes year-round.

Then it’s off to a nearby winery to taste the area’s best
wines, cheeses and cold cuts, before lunch at a local tavern. Here,
you’ll eat like locals, savoring wild mountain greens, juicy lamb ribs and other local
specialties. With this wonderful meal in a village that isn’t
featured in any tourist map or guide, you’ll finish our mountain odyssey,
satisfied in body and soul and ready for the ride back to Athens.

Ideal starting time 07:30 -08:30

Return time: 19:00-19:30 ( Last day)