In just five days, this diverse itinerary takes you to some of mainland Greece's top highlights. Spend a day in Athens exploring the antiquities of the Acropolis before touring Mycenae, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the historic seaside city of Nafplio. Then move on to the ethereal rock formations of the Meteora, a series of ancient monasteries, a family-run winery, and more! You'll hike in the hills, sample regional delicacies, sleep in a mountain lodge, and learn all about Greek history and culture before returning to Athens, where the trip starts and ends.

Highlights

  • Tour the Parthenon and the Acropolis
  • See the dazzling rock formations of the Meteora
  • Discover the site of the original Olympic Games
  • Visit the studio of a Greek icon painter
  • Sleep in a mountain lodge surrounded by quiet scenery
  • Taste wines at a family-run winery

Brief Itinerary

Day Highlights Overnight
Day 1 Arrive in Athens & Sightsee Meteora
Day 2 Visit Mycenae & Nafplio Olympia
Day 3 Tour Olympia & Hike to Waterfalls Galaxidi
Day 3 See the Monasteries of the Meteora  Kranea
Day 5 Explore Mountain Scenery & Sample Local Delicacies  

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Athens & Sightsee

The Parthenon at the Athenian Acropolis
Welcome to Greece! Your private driver will be waiting at the airport to transport you to your hotel in Athens. After checking in, get ready to start exploring. The afternoon hours — when crowds thin out — are the best time of the day to visit the greatest landmark in Athens, the world-famous Acropolis. Learn about Greek gods and heroes on a guided tour. Then have dinner in a Greek restaurant and get some rest before the tour continues.

Day 2: Visit Mycenae & Nafplio

The Lion Gate in Mycenae
Today you'll tour the fabled Homeric city of Mycenae, a UNESCO World Heritage Site — and once the capital of one of the oldest civilizations in the world. Start your adventure into antiquity by walking under the famed Lion Gate into ruins that are part history, part myth. Follow in the steps of King Agamemnon as your guide explains the stories behind the imposing ruins of the citadel. You'll then head towards the historic seaside city of Nafplio, where a delicious lunch awaits you in one of the best restaurants in town. This romantic town, the old capital of modern Greece, is characterized by Venetian fortifications and a beautiful waterfront. After lunch, 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 traditional almond pastries are still made the way they were generations ago.
 
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From Nafplio, the trip will take you through the beautiful Peloponnesian countryside towards ancient Olympia. Along the way, you’ll stop at a honey farm to learn about world-renowned Greek honey from a working beekeeper. Spend the night in Olympia before heading out to tour the city on day three. 

Day 3: Tour Olympia & Hike to Waterfalls

The Millenia Tour: Ancient Olympia & Galaxidi Day 2
Walking around the ancient ruins of Olympia
This morning is devoted to Ancient Olympia, the most important athletic, religious, and political center of the ancient Greek world. Here your guide will let you into the secrets of the temples, the training area, and the original stadium where the ancient Olympic Games were held for centuries. The Archaeological Museum onsite displays world-class masterpieces and treasures, like a breathtaking statue of Hermes and the infant Dionysus sculpted by Praxiteles.

Then it’s time for an outdoor adventure and a memorable lunch. After an easy guided walk through a stunning gorge, you'll arrive at a pair of waterfalls. Your lunch will be served picnic-style, right by the river. You’ll have the chance to swim 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 4: See the Monasteries of the Meteora 

The Meteora at sunset

Today's highlight is a visit to the Meteora, a stunning natural phenomenon featuring enormous sandstone columns formed millions of years ago. These remote rock skyscrapers became dwellings for Christian Orthodox monks; by the 14th century, large monastic communities were flourishing on the summits of many of these rocks. Today, six monasteries are still functioning, and you will visit two. 
 
After lunch, you'll visit a local icon painter. In his tiny workshop, you’ll have the chance to learn about the tradition and make your own miniature painting. Then it's a stop at the small but original Book Museum, where you'll get to try your hand in Greek penmanship and hear out about Greek classrooms of the past. Continue onward to the little-known Forest of the White River, a group of small mountain villages hidden in the depths of a massive forest. You'll spend the night here at a mountain lodge.

Day 5: Explore Mountain Scenery & Sample Local Delicacies

Vineyards at a Greek winery

On the last day of the trip, start with a swim in the nearby river and a tour of a fascinating small monastery rarely visited by tourists. Then you’ll embark on a food tour to discover the local specialties and flavors of Northern Greece! The tour starts with Greek coffee and traditional pastries at a local home overlooking the valley. Then it's off to a nearby winery to taste the area’s best wines, cheeses, and cold cuts. Have lunch at a local tavern, sampling wild mountain greens, juicy lamb ribs, and other regional specialties. Ride back to Athens to catch your flight out in the evening. Safe travels!

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