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.
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 taste “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 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.
After Delphi , we will 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, you’ll head north across the mainland towards Meteora. 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: Greek mountain scenery
The next morning you'll start your day with a a triple exploration of the most enchanted forest of Central Greece, the White River Forest: wild nature, local culture and traditional food.
First, you'll embark on a Greek food tour to discover the local specialties and flavors of Northern Greece! Greek coffee will be offered at a charming rustic outpost with far-reaching valley views. Here you will also taste Greek yoghurt and traditional ‘spoon sweets’, or fruit preserve, that Mrs Soula, the owner’s mother, makes year-round.
Close by is a charming small monastery rarely visited by tourists, which you will also visit.
Then it's off to a nearby local 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.
After this wonderful meal in a village that you won't find in any tourist map or guide,you will return to Kastraki for a magic sunset driving tour of the Meteora Rocks, with plenty of pportunities for photos as the sun hides behind the mountains.
Overnight in Kastaki village in Meteora.
Day 5: Meteora
Meteora is a stunning natural phenomenon, featuring towering sandstone columns, formed millions of years ago, all pointing heavenward. These remote rocky 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 Meteora monasteries are still functioning, two of which you will visit. You’ll also walk and drive around Meteora, 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 at Greek handwriting and find out about Greek classrooms of the past. The owner is a fascinating personality, a collector of rare books who decided to turn his passion into a private museum!
After this last visit, you'll finish our mountain odyssey, satisfied in body and soul and ready for the ride back to Athens.
