Greece in Depth

Welcome to Greece, the self-proclaimed birthplace of civilisation.

Our tour begins in the port city of Thessaloniki in the country's north, Greece's second largest city. Thessaloniki is home to some of Greece's best restaurants and ouzeries, beautiful waterfront areas, as well as an abundance of museums and historic Roman and Byzantine sites nearby.

We don't want you to miss out on any aspect of your small group tour. To ensure that you don't, we recommend you arrive at your starting destination by 7.30pm.

Meet your fellow travellers and Tour Director this evening for a welcome drink.

We begin the day with a panoramic tour where we will see the famous White Tower, Aristotelous Square and Basilica of St Dimitrios. From there we will walk through the local markets, experiencing the mix of traditional and modern atmosphere.

We continue by coach towards the upper districts to see the Theodosian walls and enjoy stunning views over the city.

Leaving the city behind, we'll visit a local farm known for producing vine leaves with which the famous Greek ‘dolmadakia' (stuffed vine leaves) are made.

Special Experience: Visit a local farm to learn about producing vine leaves and to indulge in a taste of the famous 'dolmadakia’

Today we journey to Volos, a port city at the northern end of the Pagasitikos Gulf. Home to the University of Thessaly, it is quite a lively town which is known for its delicious Greek gastronomy.

Our first stop is the town of Pella, birthplace of Alexander the Great, we'll visit the museum and see the exquisite floor mosaics from the 4th century BC.

Next we'll stop in the town of Vergina to tour the Macedonian Royal Tombs that were discovered here, including the impressive tomb of King Philip II, father of Alexander the Great.

We'll also have some free time to explore the beautiful restored mountain village of Palaios Panteleimonas and wander through the cobblestone squares and laneways, admiring the stone architecture.

This evening we'll arrive in the city of Volos.

Today we discover the beautiful villages of the Mt Pelion region. We'll travel by coach to the village of Milies and continue the journey

stopping in the picturesque villages of Portaria and Makrinitsa. Discover the impressive stonework of the buildings, quaint shops selling local products, tavernas and cafes.

We'll make our way back to Volos this afternoon.

This evening we'll visit a traditional tsipouradika tavern to try the famous Greek ‘tsipouro', a strong pomace brandy produced in the area.

Tsipouro is usually served in shot glasses with a side of meze. We'll also enjoy a group dinner here tonight.

Today we discover the UNESCO World Heritage-listed clifftop monasteries of Meteora. Monks have been settled on these ‘columns of the sky' since the 11th century. Since early Christian times, Meteora's cliffs have been regarded as the perfect place to attain absolute isolation in order to achieve peace and harmony. The tallest of these incredible rock formations reaches 400 metres high.

After visiting two of the remarkable monasteries we'll stop in the town of Kalambaka and have some free time for lunch.

We'll then travel back to Volos where the evening is free for you to enjoy at leisure.

We continue to Nafpaktos today, a tiny fortified port city. The town is flanked by beaches on either side, and has a trendy harbour area dotted with cafes and restaurants.

This morning enjoy a scenic drive through the mountains of central Greece as we make our way to Delphi, considered by the ancient Greeks to be the centre of the world and the place where people from around the world would visit in order to receive an oracle from ‘Pythia'. We'll enjoy a guided tour of the archaeological ruins including the Sanctuary of Apollo and the Treasury of Athenians and visit the museum, home to the famous ‘Bronze Charioteer'.

We'll then travel towards the Corinthian Gulf, stopping in the small village of Glyfada. Here we'll take a short caique (boat) ride out to the beautiful islet of Trizonia for a late lunch at a local fish tavern and continue to the scenic town of Nafpaktos this afternoon.

This evening we'll discover picturesque Nafpaktos on a short walking tour.

We venture to the scenic town of Nafplio today. A romantic town with Venetian architecture and Ottoman structures, the Old Town is a maze of narrow streets where you'll discover hidden squares and beautiful buildings.

On the way we'll explore Olympia, the home of the Olympic Games. Built on the banks of the River Alfios, the site of Olympia is lush, green and calm – the perfect venue for the original Olympic Games which began in 776BC. We'll explore the ancient site including the Temple of Zeus, the Palaestra, and Phidias' Workshop, and tour the archaeological museum, one of the richest in Greece.

After lunch we cross the Peloponnese Peninsula and make our way to the charming seaside town of Nafplio.

Admire the best-preserved theatre of Ancient Greece, the Sanctuary of Asklepios in Epidaurus this morning. The theatre is thought to have been built in two stages – the first in the 4th century BC, the second corresponding to the 2nd century BC. Its geometrically perfect design can be thanked for the venue's exceptional acoustics.

Special Experience: Take a tour of a local olive farm where we'll explore the olive groves, learn about production of olive oil, and enjoy a tasting and light lunch.

Capital of Greece, Athens is one of the oldest cities in the world. Athens was named after Athena, the Greek Goddess of Wisdom, who according to mythology won the city as a prize after a duel against Poseidon.

Mycenae is one of Greece's most important archaeological sites and birthplace of the culture that dominated during the late Bronze Age. We visit the site on route to Athens and see the Tomb of Agamemnon and the famous Lion's gate.

Our next stop is ancient Corinth, one of the major cities of antiquity where St Paul is believed to have lived and delivered the letter to the Corinthians. Here we'll tour the ancient city and explore the Agora marketplace and the Temple of Apollo.

As we continue towards Athens we'll stop to admire the Corinth Canal, cutting through the Isthmus of Corinth, separating the Peloponnese from mainland Greece.

We'll set out on a panoramic city tour to discover the diversity of Athens this morning.

Highlights include the magnificent Parthenon, the Greek parliament and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier guarded by the ‘Evzones', and the Panathinaikon marble stadium, where the first modern Olympics took place.

We'll also see Hadrian's Arch and the temple of Olympian Zeus, before visiting the ancient sacred rock of the Acropolis and museum. Next we continue on foot to the Thisio district before enjoying lunch in a local restaurant.

After lunch we'll stroll through the Monastiraki and the lively Plaka districts to get a taste of the local atmosphere.

The rest of the day is at leisure for you to relax or explore at your own pace.

Challenging Day: Today is a particularly challenging day, where there will be extended periods of walking time, often across uneven ground and in areas of high altitude or heat and humidity.

Enjoy the day at leisure to explore Athens at your own pace.

Enjoy the morning at leisure to relax or explore before our afternoon visit to Cape Sounion and the Temple of Poseidon.

The incredible structure perches high on the edge of a cliff that plunges 65 metres to the sea. On a clear day the area also affords views to the islands of Kea, Kythnos, Serifos, Aegina and the Peloponnese.

Tonight, we'll transfer to the port of Piraeus to board an overnight ferry to the island of Crete.

Welcome to Crete and the port of Chania, the island's second largest city.

Today we discover the delightful city and surrounds, including a walk through the Old Town port, the Venetian Harbour, a short walk through the local market and a visit to Souda Bay and the WWII Commonwealth Cemetery.

We'll also stop by an 18th century olive and oil museum, the Dermitzaki Folklore Collection, enjoying a tour to understand local traditions.

Special Experience: Visit a family owned winery in the village of Vatolakkos. Learn about the 4,000 year old tradition of winemaking and enjoy a tasting.

Enjoy a day at leisure to relax in the sun.

Why not visit the area of Tabakaria known for its old leather processing houses, or visit the Maritime Museum of Crete?

After breakfast we depart for Heraklion, Crete's largest city. Heraklion is well known for its archaeological museum and the nearby Palace of Knossos.

Along the way, we'll stop at Preveli Monastery which once served as a hiding place for allied troops during WWII. The monks of the monastery helped save many soldiers from the 6th Australian division unit and the monastery now hosts the Australian Memorial.

In the town of Rethymnon we'll stop at ‘Fortezza', the Venetian castle that presides over the town, and admire the amazing views over the sea and town. We'll then enjoy a panoramic city tour and have some free time for lunch along the seafront promenade.

This afternoon we continue to Heraklion, making a short stop at the Stavromenos Australian War Memorial along the way.

This morning we'll make the short drive to Knossos for our visit to the famous Minoan Palace. Knossos was undoubtedly the ceremonial and political center of the Minoan civilisation and culture, and in mythology it housed the labyrinth of the mythical Minotaur.

We return to the hotel, stopping along the way at the nearby Archeological Museum of Heraklion for a guided visit. The museum brings together archaeological finds from all over Crete, covering over 5,500 years of the island's history. Pride of place is given to the treasures of Minoan civilization. Justly regarded as the home of Minoan civilisation par excellence, the museum houses the most important collection of Minoan antiquities in the world.

In the early evening we will take a leisurely walking tour of Heraklion town, joined by our Tour Director.

Board the high-speed ferry to the breathtaking island of Santorini, which some say is the most beautiful island of the Aegean. With its impressive whitewashed towns clinging to rugged cliffs, and some of the most incredible sunsets you'll ever see, it's so easy to fall in love with Santorini.

Upon arrival we'll take a short tour to the villages of Megalochori and Pyrgos and travel up to the monastery of Profitis Ilias at the island's highest point to enjoy the stunning views.

We'll also stop at a local winery to sample some Santorinian wines, before heading to the sea-side village of Kamari which boasts a famous black sand beach.

This afternoon we'll check into our hotel and enjoy some time to refresh before heading to the beautiful town of Fira, which we'll explore on a walking tour. We then have the evening at leisure to enjoy dinner at one of the many restaurants looking out at the volcano. We recommend ordering a ‘gyros' from one of the local vendors. Traditionally made with lamb in Greece, chicken and pork are also commonly offered these days. Combined with tomato, onion, French fries and tzatziki, and encased within a fluffy flatbread, it's a cheap and delicious meal.

The morning is at leisure before our afternoon visit to the site of Akrotiri. Covered in ashes during the Great Eruption, the city has been unearthed almost completely intact.

We'll also visit the famous Red Beach and the black-sanded beaches of Perissa and Perivolos.

Special Experience: Explore Oia, Santorini's most famous and picturesque village, and witness an incredible sunset over the Aegean.

Enjoy the day at leisure to explore and relax in beautiful Santorini. Why not take a stroll along the caldera walkway which runs all the way from Fira, the islands capital, to Oia, the stunning town located at its northern tip. Even a short walk can be visually astounding.

Tonight we'll enjoy a farewell dinner in a local restaurant.

Our tour concludes after breakfast this morning. Today marks the end of our adventure across fascinating Greece. We hope you leave with fantastic memories!