Visit ancient Delphi and Meteora, two legendary UNESCO World Heritage sites, on a 2-day tour from Athens! With a professional guide, explore the archaeological site of Delphi on a walking tour and learn about ancient Greece while admiring the Sanctuary of Apollo and more. Pass through the picturesque towns of the Thessalian plains, and spend the night in a 3 or 4 star hotel in Kalambaka, the gateway to Meteora. The next day, explore two of Meteora's alluring monasteries, perched on the cliffs, before making the return journey to Athens.
1st day: Athens – Livadia – Delphi – Kalambaka (D)
Begin your 2-day tour with pickup from your central Athens hotel. You can also make your own way to Hotel Amalia, near Syntagma Square, to meet your guide. Board your air-conditioned coach, then relax on the journey northwest to Delphi.
Stop in the historic spa town of Livadia to stretch your legs, then continue to Delphi via the large town of Arachova. Dominating the top of a cliff on the site of Mount Parnassus, the village is home to one of the most famous archaeological sites in the country: ancient Delphi. You'll visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site on a XNUMX-hour walking tour and your guide will teach you all about the ancient Greek civilization of Delphi. Built on the spot where the eagles of the Greek god Zeus met after being dropped from two opposite points on Earth, ancient Delphi is dotted with monuments from the era, such as the Sanctuary of Apollo, the highlight of the site.
Enjoy a lunch break in town (own expense), then relax on your afternoon journey through central Greece. Gaze out the window as you cross the Thessalian plains, passing the pretty towns of Amphissa, Lamia and Trikala, before arriving back at your Kalambaka hotel in the early evening. After check-in, explore the city with your guide, then relax over dinner at your hotel.
Overnight: 4-star Amalia hotel in Kalambaka or 3-star Orfeas hotel in Kalambaka
Day 4: Kalambakka – Meteora – Thermopylae – Athens (B)
Enjoy breakfast in your hotel, then set off for Meteora, your first destination of the day! The UNESCO World Heritage Site is home to more than 20 rock-built monasteries, perched precariously atop the towering sandstone cliffs of Meteora or built into the cliffs themselves, inside natural caves.
With your guide, visit two of the incredible monasteries and hear interesting anecdotes and facts about the monks who once lived there. Originally inhabited by hermits in the XNUMXth century, the monasteries later became refuges for monks fleeing massacres at the start of the fall of the Roman Empire. The two monasteries you can visit are subject to change but generally include the Great Monastery of Meteora, Moni Varlaam, or Moni Agiou Stefanou.
After your visit to Meteora, return to your coach for the drive back to Athens. The entire journey takes around four hours, so stop halfway in the coastal town of Thermopylae, near Lamia. Take advantage of this break for lunch (own expense), and stretch your legs as you learn all about the historic Greek battle of Thermopylae, between the Spartans and the Persians.
Continue to the Greek capital, and end your 2-day tour with drop-off at the starting point (your hotel or central Athens) in the early evening.
Special Offer – Travel before June 30, 2014 and enjoy a 4-star hotel for the price of a 3-star. - Reserve now!
