The Classical Ruins of Greece; Athens and the Peloponnese

Itinerary

Day 1

Morning check in at Heathrow for flight to Athens. Late afternoon arrival in Athens and transfer to our hotel. Evening briefing on the tour. Overnight Athens.

Day 2

Morning visit to the Acropolis, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the great hill dominating the city of Athens. It has been occupied since Neolithic times. Visit the Propylaeaum, the Temple of Athena Nike, the Erechtheion, and the Parthenon, built to house the 40-foot high sculpture of the goddess, Athena Parthenos, is one of the world’s most famous buildings. This afternoon we explore the new Acropolis Museum. Overnight Athens.

Day 3

Drive along a historic coast road to Corinth. On the left, as the Saronic Gulf comes into view, lies the island of Salamis, scene of the greatest sea battle of ancient times, and visit Eleusis. We shall stop to stand on the bridge spanning the Corinth Canal and then proceed to ancient Corinth. The Agora is dominated by the columns of the Temple of Apollo. From Corinth proceed to the great theatre of Epidauros and the ruins of the Asklepieion (ancient health centre). Drive to the seaside town of Nauplion, lying in the shadow of a huge Venetian citadel. Overnight Nauplion.

Day 4

Visit the Nauplion Museum, housed in a Venetian warehouse and containing pre-Mycenaean artifacts. Drive to Mycenae. Surrounded by huge fortifications the city contained royal palaces and rich tombs. Walk through the imposing Lion Gate, erected in the 13th century BC, to reach the royal family’s shaft graves and visit the tholoi, (beehive tombs), outside the city walls. Continue to Tiryns, another Bronze Age citadel protected by a circle of cyclopean walls. Overnight Nauplion.

Day 5

Continue to the Sanctuary of Olympia, a religious and athletic centre. The Olympic Games were held here every four years at the late-summer full moon and were the most important of all Hellenic competitions. The massive column bases of the Temple of Zeus show its former size. Visit the Palaestra, the workshop of Phidias, the Temple of Hera, and the vaulted entrance to the stadium. Overnight Olympia.

Day 6

Cross from the Peloponnese to northern Greece via the new Rion-Antirion bridge and drive on to Delphi, home of oracular Apollo. Enter the Sacred Way through the agora and pass the bouleuterion, and the Rock of Sibyl into the heart of the sanctuary. Visit the Sanctuary of Apollo and one of the finest stadiums of the ancient world. Overnight Delphi.

Day 7

After breakfast, leave Delphi and drive to the monastery of Ossios Loukas, one of the most important Byzantine monasteries in Greece and situated at a scenic site on the slopes of Mount Helicon. The monastery preserves fine decoration from the Middle Byzantine period. Continue to Athens. Overnight Athens.

Day 8

Morning visit to the National Archaeological Museum, one of the world’s finest storehouses of ancient art, the Agora, the Roman Forum, and the Temple of Olympian Zeus, and other monuments. Afternoon transfer to Athens Airport for flight to London.

Tour Details

DATE:

3-10 September 2011

PRICE:

£1,995 from London*

INCLUDES:

Airfare from London, twin or double bedded rooms with private bathroom, all excursions with local guides including entrance fees, UK departure tax, transfers, full board, expert leader.

NOT INCLUDED:

Regional connecting flights if not departing from London ((£50 supplement for add-on flights from Glasgow, other regional flights available), airline taxes other than UK Departure tax (these are currently about £80 but will fluctuate until final payment), insurance, drinks, tips to drivers and local guides.

*May be joined without flights. Ask us for the land-only price. Single supplement on request.

ACCOMMODATION:

3-4 star. We shall be using characterful boutique hotels wherever possible, and because they are small, some of the hotels may lack the amenities of very large hotels, making star ratings an imprecise indicator of their true quality, which in terms of charm and location is high. Please ask us for more details.

FITNESS LEVEL:

Moderate - We have graded the fitness level required for participation in this tour as Moderate. This is a relatively full itinerary, with some long days and lots of travelling by road. Much of the sightseeing is on foot. There are no hikes in this tour however many of the sites are large, with steps, an incline or frequent uneven ground. We may be out on site visits for several hours at a time without the possibility of returning to the hotel. Participants need to be able to keep up with the group as some sites may be very busy and we have a lot to see. For these reasons we feel that this tour is unsuitable for the frail or for anyone who routinely uses a walking aid. If unsure whether this tour is for you, please check with us.

Trip Lecturer

This tour is accompanied by Dr Marie Martin lecturer in Classics and Archaeology at the University of Glasgow’s department of Classics.

Marie Martin’s research focuses, primarily, on the Iron Age Greek world. She is particularly interested in archaeologies of place and landscape, especially changing perceptions and re-interpretations of ruined constructions in landscapes. In addition to teaching in the Department of Classics, she also contributes to undergraduate and postgraduate courses in the Department of Archaeology. She has visited Greece many times and is passionate about the sites in this itinerary.

Fast facts

• Sovereignty: Greece is a Parliamentary Republic
• Language: Greek. English is widely understood
• Currency: Euro
• Timezone: Greece is 2 hours ahead of the UK
• Immunisations: NHS Fit for Travel advises that all travellers to Greece confirm primary courses and boosters are up to date as recommended for life in Britain - including vaccines given to special groups because of risk exposure or complications (e.g. hepatitis B for health care workers, influenza and pneumococcal vaccines for the elderly).
• Vaccines sometimes advised: hepatitis A (not normally for package tourists); tick-borne encephalitis (Thessaloniki)
• Yellow fever certificate: required if and over 6 months of age and entering from an infected area
• Visas: A visa is not required by EU nationals and nationals of the USA and Australia. A visa is required for Turkish nationals, most African, Middle Eastern and some Asian nationals, so please check with your local consulate.
• Flying time: 4 hours to Athens from London.
• Will my phone work: Greece uses the 900 and 1800 MHz bandwidth so almost all UK phones will work there as long as your provider has authorised its use abroad. Reception is widespread.

Extensions in Greece

We are able to arrange any number of extensions in Greece on a private basis, from extra nights in Athens, to wonderful beach or island stays. Please ask us for details