Delpi-Meteora-Dion-Pella-Vergina-Olympus

Day 1

Starting from Athens in the morning, we follow the coastal National Highway to our first destination.  Enjoy the drive through the picturesque village of Arachova before we arrive in Delphi, the famous cultural and religious center of Greece, also known in the ancient years as the “Navel of Earth.”  Visit the Sanctuary of Delphi (4th century BC), where according to mythology, the priestess Pythia was believed to deliver oracles to humans while the priests of Apollo translated her prophecies.  You will also visit the Temple dedicated to Apollo, the Castallian Spring, the Treasury of the Athenians, the Archaeological Museum and the Ancient Stadium that hosted the Pythian Games.

Following a lunch break, we continue our journey to Kalabaka, where you will spend the night.

Day 2

In the morning begins your tour of the Meteora Monasteries, the second most important monastic site in Orthodox Christianity where you will feel the natural beauty of the landscape combined with the historical and spiritual context of the area.   Admire ageless Monasteries containing historical and religious treasures.  In a region of almost inaccessible sandstone peaks, monasteries were built by monks who were previously hermits in the area and who settled on these “columns of the sky” from the 11th century onwards.  You will have the opportunity to visit 2 or 3 of these monasteries.

We stop for lunch and continue our trip through the Pindos mountains and Grevena, until we reach Vergina, where you will spend the night.

Day 3

Begin your day exploring the archaeological site of Vergina (Ancient Aigai), the first capital of the ancient kingdom of Macedonia.  It was here in 336 BC that Philip II was assassinated and his son, Alexander the Great, was proclaimed king.  See the burial sites of the kings of Macedonia, including the tomb of Philip II.  It is also the site of an extensive royal palace and of many rich ancient tombs.

Next, set out on a journey through time to the glorious kingdom of ancient Pella, where Alexander the Great was born.  Peer into the rich history of the Macedonian state capital, a bustling metropolis of the Classical period.  A number of excavations of the site reveal the ancient city’s majestic grandeur.

Following lunch, we continue to Thessaloniki where you will stay overnight and have leisure time in the evening to enjoy a stroll through the city.

Day 4

A tour of Thessaloniki, where you will have the opportunity to discover the major highlights of the city, including some of the Paleochristian and Byzantine monuments constructed over the period of the 4^th to 15^th century.  If you are the outdoor adventurous type, another option is to spend the day hiking at Mount Olympus, the highest mountain range in Greece and notable in Greek mythology as the home of the Greek gods.  It stands out for its rich flora and fauna and is a favorite destination for nature-lovers.

You will spend the night in the town of Litochoro.

Day 5

Visit the archaeological site of ancient Dion.  Standing at the foot of Mount Olympus, it was the most important sacred city of the Macedonians.  See the great ancient sanctuaries dedicated to Zeus, Demeter, Artemis, Asclepius and the Egyptian goddess Isis.

We begin our return trip to Athens with a lunch break along the way.  We will also stop briefly at Thermopylae to see the heroic monument of Leonidas, King of Sparta.