PRIVATE Odyssia TOUR
15 Days/14 Nights Land Tour

Day 01
ATHENS
Arrive in Athens ’ El Venizelos airport. Meet and transfer to your hotel. Rest of the day is free at leisure. Overnight is in Athens. (D)

Day 02
ATHENS
After breakfast depart to take Athens City Sightseeing Tour, The Classical Tour of Athens. Lunch is in Plaka area. Free time to walk around in the old town of Plaka with traditional Greek style houses, souvenir shops, restaurant and coffee shops. In the afternoon we will leave to visit Cape Sounion. Take a wonderful drive along the scenic coastal road which affords a splendid view of the Saronic Gulf, passing through some of Athens most beautiful suburbs (Glyfada, Vouliagmeni, Varkiza) to Cape Sounion where you will visit the 5th century B.C. Temple of Poseidon with one of the most breathtaking panoramic views in the world (on a clear day you can see at least seven islands). The Doric columns of local marble have 16 flutings instead of the usual 20. The precipice is a sheer 197 feet drop to sea. On the way back to Athens we stop for dinner in the most famous village of Vari with thousand of traditional BBQ lamb restaurants. Overnight is in Athens . (B, L, D)

Day 03
ATHENS – ARGOLIS
After breakfast depart in the morning to visit the Corinth Canal, short stop for picture taking. Pass by Ancient Corinth then visit the Argolis Region, including Mycenae, the Plain of Argos, visit Lion Gate, the Tomb of Agamemnon and the Palace. The Argolida was the heart of Greece from 1600 to 1100 B.C. under the Mycenaeans. With their decline, the Dorians controlled the fate of the region until the conquest of the country by the Romans. During the Byzantine era the Argolida shared the fortune of the rest of Peloponnese . It was ruled by the Franks and surrendered to Turks in 1460, Nafplio, however, remained in Venetian hands until 1540. Nafplio was the capital of the newly formed reek State from 1828 to 1834, when this role passed to Athens . After lunch continue to Bay of Nauplia and the famous for its remarkable acoustics Theater of Epidaurus, we will visit the ancient theater. Overnight is in Argolis . (B, L, D)

Day 04
ARGOLIDA – SPARTI
After breakfast drive to Mistra, visit the Archaeological Site and Museum. The castle of Mistras was built by the franks in 1249 in their attempt to establish their supremacy over the Peloponnese . Their catastrophic defeat at Pelagonia (1259) forced them to hand over Mistra to Greeks. The Frankish prince Guillaume de Villehardouin erected the castle. He built bastions for his knights, houses, dungeons, storerooms, court yards. From up here he ruled over the world of the Evrotas. After lunch drive to Sparti. Two centuries later (1460) the Turks marched against Laconia and finally conquered the district in the mid 17th century. Visit the Archaeological Museum. Overnight is in Sparti. (B, L, D)

Day 05
SPARTI – OLYMPIA
After breakfast depart to Olympia. Ancient Olympia lies 10 km. east of Pirgos, in a valley between wooded Mt. Ktonos , the Alfios River and its tributary the Kladeos. Pisans inhabited this area. Their King was Oinomaus, whose daughter Hippodameia had married to Pelops. Games were being held in honor of the couple. These games attracted to other towns in vicinity. In 776 B.C., the leader of the Eleians, Iphitos, rededicated games to the honor of Zeus. This date marks the first Olympiad; afterwards every four years Pan-Hellenic contests were held attracting athletes from all the Greek, city states. Visit the Archaeological Site. The first building on the left is the Prytaneion, where ceremonies honoring the winners took place. Further south, Philippeion and the next one is Heraion, a Doric temple dedicated to Hera. Visit the Doric Temple of Zeus (472 B.C.). The Bouleuterion or Council House, where the athletes took the Olympic oath, the Leonidaion, used as a hostel for official visitors, the Palaistra (wrestling school), Gymnasium and the Baths. The Treasuries places at the foot of Mt. Kronos . Overnight is in Olympia . (B, L, D)

Day 06
OLYMPIA – KALAVRITA
After breakfast depart to visit Patra, visit the Town of Patra and St. Andrea Church. After lunch drive to Kalavrita. The Patras-Kalavrita roads passes by vineyards, olive groves and small, well-wooded hills. The altitude goes 2250 feet. We will visit Mega Spileon. One can reach this monastery by road from the Village of Trapeza or by footpath from Zahlorou. The monastery museum contains holy relics and treasures, an icon screen of great age, carved wooden crosses, venerable manuscripts, Gospels and the like. Overnight is in Kalavrita. (B, L, D)

Day 07
KALAVRITA – DELPHI
After breakfast depart to Rion, pass by ferry to Antirion, drive through Nafpaktia to Arachove then to Delphi . Visit the Archaeological Site, Mythology and History of the oracle The Cave where the divinity Gaia (Mother Earth) used to utter prophecies guarded by her son, the serpent Python, dates from second millennium BC. After lunch visit the Museum of Delphi. Overnight is in Delphi . (B, L, D)

Day 08
DELPHI – KARPENISSI
After breakfast depart through Central Greece to Karpenissi the capital of Evritania located at the foot of Mt. Timfristos at an altitude of 2880 ft. It names come from Maple Tree; Carpen= maple tree, Carpenis=land of maple trees. It is famous with hand made brass bells for animals. Driving along the Trikerioti River, you will arrive at the monastery of the Virgin Proussiotissa. This Monastery was built in 1754 and is full remarkable icons, wood carvings, sacred treasures and silver utensils. Overnight is in Karpenissi. (B, L, D)

Day 09
KARPENISSI – IOANNINA – MONODENDRI
After breakfast drive to Ionnina. It is the largest town in Ipiros and the capital of the area. There is a Municipal Museum housed in the former Aslan Tzami Mosque, Folkloric Museum and the Archives of the School of Philosophy of the Ioannina University . Visit the Museum of Ioanninon. After lunch continue to Monodendri for overnight. (B, L, D)

Day 10
MONODENDRI
After breakfast depart to drive visit Monodendri village. You will see some small villages of Mikro and Megalo Papingo. You will walk thru the famous fossil rock forest. Overnight is in Monodendri. (B, L, D)

Day 11
MONODENDRI - THESSALONIKI
After breakfast depart toThessaloniki via a small village of Epirus. The capital of Macedonia and the second largest city in Greece . It was first established in 316 B.C. by Kassandros and named after his wife, Thessaloniki , sister of the Alexander the Great. It is here the Paul, Apostle of Nations, first brought the message of Christianity (50 A.D.). After lunch we will visit the Archaeological Museum and the Town of Thessalonica . Overnight is in Thessaloniki . (B, L, D)

Day 12
THESSALONICA - PILIPPI – KAVALA – THESSALONICA
After breakfast depart to visit Pilippi, Archaeological Site and the Museum. This site contains monuments from Hellenistic, Roman and Early Christian periods. After lunch continue to Kavala. Kavala occupies the site of ancient Neapolis. In commemoration of St. Paul ’s visit, neapolis was renamed Christoupolis. Kavala is the tobacco industry in Greece . Overnight is in Thessalonica. (B, L, D)

Day 13
THESSALONICA – METEORA
After breakfast drive to visit Dion and its Museum. We will also visit two Temples dating to 500 B.C., The Asklepion, and the whole Shrine is dedicated to Isis, with its idols standing on their bases. The excavation have exposed Flagstone Streets, Public Buildings, Shops, Workshops, and Houses, Orchestra, Stage and Lower Seats of Dion’s large Theater. Continue to Kalambaka for overnight. (B, L, D)

Day 14
METEORA – ATHENS
After breakfast depart to visit the Byzantine Museum of Meteora. Meteora Monasteries rise at the Center of Greece , where Pinios River emerges from deep canyons of the Pindus Range and Thessalian Plain. The Monasteries, with their wooden galleries and corniced rooftops, crown the summits of these formidable pinnacles. Drive back to Athens . Lunch is en route. On the way we will visit the Monument of Leonidas at Thermopylae . Overnight is in Athens. (B, L, D)

Day 15
ATHENS - END
After breakfast transfer to El Venizelos airport to return home. (B)


INCLUDED FEATURES
• 14 Nights hotel accommodations at 4* or 3* hotels according to your choice.
• Daily American buffet breakfast.
• All transfers as per itinerary.
• All meals are as shown in the itinerary.
• All entrance fees to sites and museums.
• English speaking guide throughout the tour.
• Tolls and ferry fees.
• Travel documents and maps.
• Tips to hotel staff. Service charges and local taxes.
• A Complimentary flight bag from Aegean Tours, Inc.

EXCLUDING
• All drinks.
• Tips to guide and driver.