9-Day Ultimate Greek Experience: Peloponnese, Delphi, Zagori, Meteora, Vergina
9-Day Ultimate Greek Experience: Peloponnese, Delphi, Zagori, Meteora, Vergina
Would you like to experience "real Greece"? Set your itinerary to include unique sites, mountains and coastline, the best Greek villages, real food & drink, people, amazing accommodation, and all the popular sites you've already Googled.From the Mythical Peloponnese limitless off-the-beaten-path sites to Delphi and Meteora. From the unique villages of northwestern Greece to Alexander the Great's Macedonia with the Vergina and Dion.☼ What to expect?
Corinth, Mycenae, Epidaurus, Monemvasia, Mani, Mystras & Sparta, Olympia, Galaxidi, Delphi, Ioannina City, Zagorochoria, Metsovo, Veroia, Vergina, Meteora, Thermopylae.☼ Overnight at beautiful top-class locations & hotels taking full advantage of your evenings.☼ Enjoy the special moments that we plan for you but not show in the itinerary.☼ It's private; it's personalized and very flexible; it's about real Greek hospitality and authenticity. We blend in but also avoid the crowds!A dream-come-true-tour even for the local Greek traveler.
Book This ExperienceA glimpse of the journey
Your Itinerary
A curated journey through the experience
Corinth Canal
The Corinth Canal connects the Gulf of Corinth with the Saronic Gulf in the Aegean Sea. It cuts through the narrow Isthmus of Corinth and separates the Peloponnese from the Greek mainland, arguably making the peninsula an island.
Archaeological Site Mycenae
The home of King Agamemnon and the Mycenean civilization.
2 minutesNafplio
One of the most beautiful towns in the area of Argolis (in eastern Peloponnese) as well as one of the most romantic cities all over Greece
2 hoursThe Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus
The oldest theater in the world with the amazing acoustics.
1 hourPalamidi Castle
Day 2: Monemvasia via the Coastline & Mountain range of East Peloponnese
40 minutesTyros
We'll enjoy a coffee next to the ocean before climbing up the mounatin range of Parnon.
20 minutesMonastery of Panagia Elona
A quick stop at the cliff-hanging monastery of Elona.
30 minutesKosmas
Instead of taking the motorway route to Monemvasia, we'll enjoy the beautiful coastline after leaving Nafplio and then climb the mountain range of Parnon; with Greek coffee by the water and lunch in the mountain villages.
1 hour 30 minutesMonemvasia Fortress
Day 3: Mani peninsula, Diros Caves, Mystras & Sparta
15 hoursMani Peninsula
One of the most wild and beautiful areas of Greece.
1 hourCaves of Diros
A vast cave structure which is experienced from an expertly guided boat. The lighting and variety of rock formations and formations of stalagmites and stalactites lit with sympathetic lighting makes you appreciate the passage of time.
1 hourAreopoli
One of the typical stonebuilt towns where Pirates were a permanent threat.
1 hourArchaeological Site of Mystra
Day 4: Ancient Olympia & mountain villages of Arcadia
2 hoursArchaeological Site of Olympia
After a great breakfast in one of the best hotels of your tour we head of Ancient Olympia that hosted the original Olympic Games, founded in the 8th century B.C. Its extensive ruins include athletic training areas, a stadium, and temples dedicated to the gods Hera and Zeus.
1 hourArchaeological Museum of Olympia
You will also visit the world-famous Olympia museum and get the chance to see some unbelievable sculptures such as the sculpted decoration of the marble temple of Zeus, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, and the famous Hermes carved by the ancient Greek sculptor Praxiteles.
45 minutesArcadia
Day 5: Cave of Lakes, Odontotos Rack Railway, Delphi
2 hoursKastria Cave of the Lakes
We climb down one mountain range only to climb up another and visit THE MYTHICAL 'CAVE OF THE LAKES'. It has something exclusively unique that does not exist in other well-known caves. A rare creation of nature with mysterious galleries and strange stalactite formations.
1 hourOdontotos Rack Railway
You will first enjoy one of the best lunches of this tour, and hopefully you will stay awake during the train ride.
2 hoursRion-Antirion Bridge
Heading towards Delphi we shall cross the Rio–Antirrio Bridge. One of the world's longest multi-span cable-stayed bridges and the longest of the fully suspended type. It crosses the Gulf of Corinth linking the Peloponnese peninsula to the mainland Greece by road.
10 minutesDelphi
The sanctuary of Delphi, where the oracle of Apollo spoke, was the site of the omphalos, the 'navel of the world'. Blending harmoniously with the superb landscape and charged with sacred meaning, Delphi in the 6th century B.C. was indeed the religious center and symbol of unity of the ancient Greek world.
1 hourDelphi Archaeological Museum
Day 6: Ioannina city, Castle & Lake
45 minutesIoannina Region
This is a long trip to reach the northwest of Greece and Ioannina city, the Jewel of North/Western Greece. There will be many locations to enjoy a coffee break and stretch your legs before arriving at Ioannina. This is an elegant town with a long multicultural history.
2 hoursIoannina Castle
You will immediately be captivated by the legends of Ali Pasha – the onetime Ottoman ruler of the city, by the narrow streets of the Castle district, and by the beauty of the lake.
2 hoursSilversmithing Museum
Finely-crafted objects with ornate details, such as jewelry, arms and martial gear, household silverware, and personal effects feature amongst this collection.
1 hourLake Pamvotis
Day 7: Zagorochoria: Aristi, Papigo, Monodendri, Stone Forest, Vitsa, Kipoi
1 hourZagorohoria
When we meet the Aristi village bridge we will have the chance to approach the banks of the Voidomatis river.
2 hoursPapingo Rock Pools
Another wonderful hiking area is Kolymbithres (Rock Pools), 500 m from Papigo. It's a small canyon cut by the river Rogovo where the flow of the water has carved the rocky sides of the canyon, creating a beautiful landscape. Some of the water pools are deep enough to dive into.
30 minutesMonodendri
Monodendri is a designated traditional settlement (altitude 1.060 m), with stone houses and picturesque cobble roads, where the Rizario Centre of Handicrafts, with traditional embroidery weavings, operates. The village is located at the entrance of the Vikos gorge. The cobblestone trail leading to the Monastery of Aghia Paraskevi (15th century) and continuing through the gorge is wonderful.
30 minutesStone Forest
But, “Stone Forest” is also the area which is a beautiful spot for breathtaking views of the Vikos gorge.
45 minutesKokkorou ancient stone bridge
Day 8: Meteora, Biblical Veria town and Vergina
1 hourMetsovo
Metsovo is a town in the mountains of Pindus, between Ioannina to the west and Meteora to the east. This tree-shaded village is full of life throughout the year generously offering its natural surrounding beauties. Particularly during winter, the famous village is the beloved holiday destination. The settlement’s heart beats in the central square; the most famous one in mountainous Greece. Metsovo is also well-known for its cheeses – a wide variety of cheeses are available and the cheeses are exported throughout Greece. The town will be our “stepping stone” from Ioannina and it is the ideal place to make a stop for coffee/lunch.
2 hoursMuseum of the Royal Tombs of Aigai (Vergina)
We drive on to reach Vergina and to experience the unique Museum, created in the Great Tumulus covering the royal tombs of Macedonia. Admire the astonishing findings from the tomb of King Phillip II, Alexander's father, and feel the thrill of the greatest discovery of the 20th century.
1 hour 30 minutesVeroia
A few minutes away we approach the Biblical Veria town where we will visit Saint Paul's Bema from which he preached Christianity. Time permitting and depending on the time of year (daylight!) we could visit the old Jewish neighborhood.
1 hourMeteora
Day 9: Meteora monasteries, Thermopylae Battlefield and back to Athens
2 hoursThe Great Meteoron Holy Monastery of the Transfiguration of the Saviour
The Great Meteoron Monastery, built on an imposing rock, is the oldest, the biggest, and the most important among the monasteries of Meteora which are preserved today.
2 hoursVarlaam Monastery
In 1350 a daring ascetic named Varlaam ascended to the rock. The monastery was named after him. He built three churches, a small cell, and a water tank. After his death, the rock remained abandoned for about 200 years until 1517 when the two priest monks started to construct the first buildings from the beginning.
40 minutesMonastery of the Holy Trinity at Meteora
Probably the most photographed monastery. According to historical sources Holy Trinity must have been built between 1458 and 1476.
45 minutesBattlefield of Thermopylae
We take a break at the Thermopylae battlefield location with King Leonidas statue. The Battle of Thermopylae was fought between an alliance of Greek city-states, led by King Leonidas of Sparta, and the Persian Empire of Xerxes I over the course of three days, in 480 BC.
20 minutesSyntagma Square
Accommodation included: We return to Athens with drop off at your hotel. You always have the option to return to the Athens Int airport!
2 hoursIncluded
- Completely private!! No strangers in the same vehicle!
- Brand new 2020-2022 vehicles: For 2-3 people with a 5 door saloon or 3-7 people with a minivan.
- Non smoking vehicle and driver/tour leader.
- A highlight of this private tour is the authentic lunch, treat of your guide on all days.
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- In-car INFORMATION BOOKLET for all tour activities and sites.
- Top quality accommodation/breakfast.
- Bottled Water
- 8x Breakfast
- 9x Lunch
- Accommodation included: 9 nights
- Entry/Admission - Rion-Antirion Bridge
- Entry/Admission - Ioannina Castle
Not Included
- Entrance fees to all the sites
- Dinner (You are on your own... but your guide will let you know the best places to eat/drink out)
- PROFESSIONAL/LICENSED GUIDE (optional)
- Shopping & touristy stops unless required by your group
- Gratuites (optional)
- Each person is allowed one normal size suitcase and one small carry on bag
Good to Know
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Infant seats available
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- We expect you to be healthy before traveling! We are in favor of "adjustive social distancing" and optionally wearing masks in crowded and enclosed spaces. Our guides are like family to us and care about your & our safety! Our tours have always been only PRIVATE and with spotless vehicles.
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
- This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking, unless booked within 5 days of travel. In this case confirmation will be received within 48 hours, subject to availability
Tickets & Cancellation
You can present either a paper or an electronic voucher for this activity.
If you cancel at least 7 day(s) in advance of the scheduled departure, there is no cancellation fee.If you cancel between 3 and 6 day(s) in advance of the scheduled departure, there is a 50 percent cancellation fee.If you cancel within 2 day(s) of the scheduled departure, there is a 100 percent cancellation fee.