Perillo Tours 2024

DAY 1 • USA TO ATHENS FRIDAY: Overnight flight, and back in time to the origins of our Western culture - Classical Greece. DAY 2 • ATHENS » WELCOME DINNER SATURDAY: Arriving at Athens Airport, meet your host and transfer to your hotel for check-in. The remainder of your day is at leisure for your first taste of Athens. Welcome dinner at your hotel and overnight in Athens. DAY 3 • ATHENS SIGHTSEEING SUNDAY: After breakfast, depart for your Athens sightseeing tour including the Acropolis and the New Acropolis Museum. Our expert guide will take you to see the center of the city, the Constitution Square (Syntagma), the House of Parliament, the Memorial to the Unknown Soldier and the National library. On your way to the Acropolis, you will see Hadrian’s Arch, the Temple of Olympian Zeus and have a short stop at the Panathenaic Stadium, where the first Modern Olympic Games were held in 1896. On the Acropolis visit the architectural masterpieces of the Golden Age of Athens: The Propylaea, the Temple of Athena Nike, the Erechtheion and finally the famous Parthenon. Your first taste of Athens would not be complete without a visit to the Acropolis Museum, a modern home for the artistic wonders and architectural masterpieces of the classical era. Returning to your hotel, the remainder of your day and evening is at leisure. DAY 4 VISIT MYCENAE » EPIDAURUS » OLYMPIA MONDAY: After breakfast, depart for your 4-day tour of Classical Greece. Leave Athens by the scenic coastal road and reach the Corinth Canal for a short photo stop. Enjoy the imposing landscape in the Corinth Canal’s protected waters, one of the 19th century world’s engineering masterpieces dating back to 602 B.C. Continue to Epidaurus with its 4th century B.C. theatre, famous for its astonishing acoustics. Next, the town of Nafplion, a modern seaside resort and old town, is crowned by the mighty ramparts at the Palamidi Fortress. The last stop of the day is Mycenae, Homer’s city of Atreides - the city “rich in gold” of the ancient poets. Visit the Lion’s Gate, the Cyclopean Walls and the Royal Tombs. Depart for Olympia through Central Peloponnese, Tripoli and Megalopoli. Arrival at your hotel for included dinner and overnight. DAY 5 • OLYMPIA » DELPHI TUESDAY: After breakfast we’ll visit ancient Olympia, where the idea, and the site of the Olympic Games, were born. Visit the Sanctuary of Olympian Zeus and the Archaeological Museum of Olympia, which hosts the famous statue of Praxiteles, Hermes. Continue through Achaia and Rio-Antirrio towards Delphi, passing through the picturesque towns of Nafpaktos and Itea. We arrive in Delphi to enjoy dinner and overnight at our hotel. DAY 6 • DELPHI » KALAMBAKA WEDNESDAY: Located on the slopes of Mount Parnasus, Delphi was believed to be the center, the “naval” of the Earth! It’s also the home of the Sanctuary of Apollo Pythios. In ancient times Parnassus was sacred to the Dorians and in mythology to Apollo and the Corycian nymphs. At the oracle of Apollo, Pythia, the high priestess of the temple, under the influence of the ancient god Apollo delivered her famous prophesies. You will also visit the Treasury of the Athenians and the Delphi Museum, which hosts valuable pieces of art like the famous bronze charioteer. Depart for Kalambaka. Enjoy your dinner at hotel and overnight. Monastery of St John, Patmos 11 DAYS / 9 NIGHTS FROM $ 3995 ATHENS (2 NIGHTS), OLYMPIA (1) DELPHI (1), KALAMBAKA (1) CRUISING TO: MYKONOS, EPHESUS, PATMOS, CRETE, SANTORINI WESTERN CIVILIZATION? THIS IS WHERE IT ALL STARTED! Today’s architecture, entertainment, medicine, sports, education, and technology all sprung from places like Mycenae, Epidaurus, Olympia, and Delphi. If you’re not a history buff now, you WILL BE after this! The trip is topped-off with a 3-night Aegean cruise aboard a new Celestyal ship. Visiting the island of Mykonos, Kusadasi (Turkey), Patmos island, Crete and Santorini. This is also ONE GREAT VALUE! WHAT’S INCLUDED • Airport and ship port transfers throughout • 6 Nights First Class hotels exclusively • 3 Night Aegean cruise aboard Celestyal Cruises • 3 half-day shore excursions • Porterage at all hotels • Professional Tour Director throughout • Entrance fees for all sightseeing throughout • Welcome cocktail and welcome dinner in Athens • All sightseeing and transportation described in itinerary • Breakfast Daily • 7 Dinners and 2 Lunches • Baggage handling throughout KEY: = Breakfast = Lunch = Dinner 3 7 G R E E C E N EW ! C L A S S I C A L G R E E C E W I T H C R U I S E