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| Day 1 |
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Depart US
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Depart on your overnight flight(s) to Greece.
Note: If you are participating in Glorious Greece, see that trip itinerary for the day's activities.
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| Day 2 |
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Arrive Athens * Travel to Tolo * Guided walk of Assini (Asine)
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Arrive at the airport in Athens, Greece where your group leader for this program will meet you, and take you to your bus for the trip west. You will cross the amazing Corinth Canal, stopping to see this engineering wonder and have lunch. Then turn south to travel through orange groves to the small seaside village of Tolo, at the top of the Argolic Gulf. Arrive in Tolo where your 3-star hotel is located on the beach and your room will have a balcony overlooking the sea. Enjoy time to unpack, settle into your room and perhaps take a stroll down the beach or through the village. Later in the afternoon, take a guided walk to, mentioned by Homer in the Iliad, with its Cyclopean walls still seen at the edge of the village of Tolo. Dinner at the hotel's seaside restaurant. D Hotel Romvi (3-star)
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| Day 3 |
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Nauplia * Epidaurus * Visit a Greek theater
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Take a short trip to nearby Nauplia (also known as Nauplion or Nafplion), a delightfully situated coastal town on a rocky peninsula jutting into the Argolic Gulf. See the 17th century Palamedi Fort that crowns the hill above the town, walk through the Old Town and along the seafront, and visit the excellent Museum of Greek Folklore. Later, travel to the much-praised sanctuary of Epidaurus (WHS). Pilgrims from all over ancient Greece came here to consult the oracle of Asklepios, the god of medicine. Learn about the mythical and human history of this place, and visit the fine museum here. You will be amazed by the superb acoustics in the best preserved of all Greek theatres, seating 14,000 and still used for performances. Return to Tolo. B/L/D Hotel Romvi (3-star) |
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| Day 4 |
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Mycenae * Ancient Cornith * Temple of Apollo * Tiryns
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Excursion to Mycenae (WHS), the almost 4000-year-old city that Homer described as "rich in gold," the center of the great Mycenaean civilization and the site of King Agamemnon's death, at the hands of his Queen, Clytemnestra. Pass through the famous lion gate and climb the steps to the palace ruins; enter the amazing domed tombs where the golden masks were found (they can now be seen in the National Archaeological Museum in Athens).Later, visit Ancient Corinth, where St. Paul preached to the licentious Corinthians. Walk along the stoa and through the agora to the Temple of Apollo, one of the oldest temples in Greece. See the Fountain of Peirene, the Julian Basilica and much more of one of the most important cities of the Ancient World. Continue on to Homer's "wall-girt" Tiryns (WHS), with its massive Cyclopean walls, secret stairways and vaulted galleries. Dinner with music and Greek dancing.Hotel Romvi (3-star)
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| Day 5 |
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Athens * Parthenon * Acropolis * Naxos
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Leave Tolo and travel to Athens. Those who visited Athens during the preceding program (Glorious Greece) will have the option of free time in the city to visit some of the city's museums or to go shopping on the Plaka. Those who are participating only in this program will have the choice of a guided visit to the Parthenon situated on the Acropolis (WHS), overlooking the city. After lunch go to the Athens Airport for your flight to the island of Naxos where you will stay for the next two nights. Check into your 4-star hotel. Hotel Grotta (4-star)
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| Day 6 |
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Guided walking tour of Naxos * Bourgos * Sanudo's Ducal Palace
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Spend the day touring the scenic island of Naxos, where mythical Dionysos met the lovely goddess Ariadne and where Mt. Zeus, the archipelago's highest peak dominates the landscape of mountains and valleys, covered with olive and citrus trees. Stroll the meandering lanes of Medieval Kastro, then descend to seaside Bourgos.Stop in the Archaeological Museum now housed in the school of author Nikos Kazantzakis (Zorba the Greek), then visit Sanudo's Ducal Palace, the lovely Cathedral and the legendary Temple of Apollo.Return to your hotel. Hotel Grotta (4-star)
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| Day 7 |
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Ferry to Santorini * Fira
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Enjoy a free morning in Naxos exploring this lovely island. After lunch, take an afternoon ferry to Santorini. As your ferry winds its way among the Greek isles to this beautiful island, delight in the balmy breezes and slower pace of life. Check into your 4-star hotel where you will stay for the next two nights. Marvel at the incredible views (and sunsets) from the picturesque town of Fira, with its winding, narrow streets, charming white houses and the still-active volcano that has shaped the island's history. In the evening, dine on delectable Greek specialties.Santorini Palace Hotel (4-star)
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| Day 8 |
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Guided tour of Naxos * Akrotiri * Harbor cruise * Wine tasting
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Today tour the marvelously preserved ruins of the ancient Minoan city of Akrotiri and its Museum of outstanding discoveries. Have a harbor cruise, stop at a local winery for a tasting and then enjoy some free time in Fira. Santorini Palace Hotel (4-star)
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| Day 9 |
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Depart Santorini * Arrive home
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After breakfast, depart from Santorini on your flight to Athens where you will transfer to your flights home. B
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