Athens-Rhodes-Kalamata 10 Days

• Tips
• Accommodation tax for the Hotels which will be paid upon arrival by the guests at the reception at each Hotel
• Porterage service

Day 01: Welcome to Athens!

Arrival at Eleftherios Venizelos Airport, welcome to Athens! According to the Greek mythology, the name “Athens” came from the goddess of wisdom, Athena. Our transfer will be waiting for you at the airport and after boarding our luxurious vehicle, we will sit back and relax as the driver transports you to the Hotel for check in. Then we will have an illuminated night tour at Athens. First we will see the Panathenaic Stadium where the first Olympic Games of modern times were held in 1896. Then we will continue and pass by the Prime Minister's residence (ex-Royal Palace), which guarded by the Euzones in their colorful uniform, next we will see the Temple of Olympian Zeus - one of the largest in antiquity, the Hadrian's Arch - the symbolic entrance to the city, the Parliament, the memorial to the Unknown Soldier, the Academy, the University, the National Library and the Syntagma (Constitution Square). Then we will have Indian dinner and transfer to the Hotel. Overnight at Athens.

Day 02: Athens – City Tour - Acropolis Museum

Breakfast and get ready for the most amazing city tour through history, which gives you an opportunity to observe the striking contrasts that make Athens such a fascinating city!! We will start our tour with Acropolis, the Architectural Masterpieces in the world of the Golden Age of Athens: The Propylaea, the Temple of Athena Nike, the Erechtheion and finally "the harmony between material and spirit", the monument that "puts order in the mind", the Parthenon. Then we will visit the New Acropolis Museum which is only 300m. away from the sacred rock of Acropolis and where at last 4000 priceless statues found their home and admire the wonders of the classical era. We will have Indian lunch and then we will walk to the ancient Agora (Market) of Athens. The Ancient Agora, where the place that ancient Greeks used to do their trades, but also used to gather to discuss city matters, thus, creating the idea of Democracy. It’s a magnificent walking tour, there we will see the Stoa of Attalos, originally erected during the 2nd cent. BC as a gift of the king of Pergamon, Attalos II, to Athens and was one of the world's first shopping malls, which was 116 meters in length and two floors high, supported by Doric, Ionic and parchment columns. Then we will see the temple of Hephaestus, more widely known as Thisio, which is probably built around 460-420 B.C. by an unknown architect. Then we will have free time at Plaka, which is the oldest neighborhood in Athens the picturesque quarter of the city, where there are little shops with handmade crafts and Monastiraki, the Flea Market, where you can have a pleasant walk. Indian dinner. Return at the Hotel. Overnight Athens.

Day 03: Athens - Delphi - Athens

Breakfast and we will immerse ourselves in the myths and monuments of classical Greece on this trip to Delphi. Explore the UNESCO-listed archeological site of Delphi and learn how the city was considered the ‘Center of the World’ in ancient Greece. According to mythology, it is here that the two eagles sent out by Zeus from the ends of the universe to find the navel of the world met. The sanctuary of Delphi, set within a most spectacular landscape, was for many centuries the cultural and religious Centre and symbol of unity for the Hellenic world. First stop is a tour of the Delphi archeological site – a UNESCO World Heritage Site and easily one of the most important digs in Europe. As you walk around the evocative ruins with your guide, see famous monuments like the monument of the Argive Kings, the treasury of the Athenians, the Athenian Stoa, the Polygonal Wall, the monument of Platea and the Temple of Apollo famous for its oracle. Second stop is Delphi museum, with it's spectacular exhibits include the frieze of the Treasury of the Sifnians, the Naxian Sphinx, the Statue of Antinoos the metopes of the Athenian treasury, the famous bronze Charioteer, originally created to commemorate a victory during the 476 B.C. Pythian Games, and many other artifacts. Be sure to check out the bronze Charioteer of Delphi and the Sphinx of Naxos. At the foot of Mount Parnassos, within the angle formed by the twin rocks of the Phaedriades, lies the Pan-Hellenic sanctuary of Delphi, which had the most famous oracle of ancient Greece. Then we will have Local lunch and transfer back to Athens. Indian dinner. Overnight Athens.

Day 04: Athens - Rhodes

Breakfast and transfer to the airport to take morning flight to Rhodes, which is called “the island of the Knights”. Rhodes has a long history and has developed a significant culture throughout the years. The island has a rich collection of historical sites and monuments that represent the Greek history. Arrive at Rhodes airport and then we will discover the old town of Rhodes, which is like an open-air museum, as every street, square or building evokes a story about the city's ancient times. On this walking tour we are going to see the main highlights of the Old City. Our tour starts by visiting the Old Town of Rhodes - the biggest inhabited medieval town in Europe. It was built in 1300s from the knights of the order of St. John. The Medieval Town of Rhodes is inscribed in the World Heritage Sites List of UNESCO. We will walk the Street of The Knights, which is located in upper Old Town. It is one of the most popular, famous and historical streets in this part of the city. It runs for about 600 meters, and it was where knights lived and worked in years past. The Palace of the Grand Master is certainly the highlight of the Old Town. The Palace, originally a Byzantine fortress built at the end of the 7th century A.D., was converted in the early 14th century by the Knights of the Order of Saint John into the residence of the Grand Master of the order and the administrative headquarters of their state; now it has been turned into a museum. Local lunch. Next stop is Kallithéa, a cosmopolitan holiday resort bustling with hotels lining Faliráki beach. In Kallithéa the main attraction is the Roman baths – a unique example of orientalised Art Deco from 1929 – and the long sandy beach of Faliráki. Then we will see the ancient city-state of Líndos, which was one of the three major towns of ancient Rhodes thanks to its great naval power. The remains of the acropolis of Líndos, a natural watchtower facing the open sea built on a steep rock 116 metres above sea level, bear eloquent witness to its long-standing power and wealth. At the foot of the acropolis lies the traditional village of Líndos with its cubic whitewashed houses, mansions, Byzantine churches and narrow cobbled streets. Then transfer to the Hotel and have dinner. Overnight Rhodes.

Day 05: Rhodes

Breakfast and then we will head to the northern edge of the region, where lies “Epta Piyes” (Seven Springs), a green valley with clear flowing waters and covered with enormous plane and pine trees. The we will see the Valley of the Butterflies, the most fascinating and popular attraction of the region, there we will admire an atmosphere of incomparable beauty with lush vegetation and streams as you stroll along cleverly laid paths. Next stop Kámiros, which was one of the three most powerful cities of ancient Rhodes and flourished during the 6th and 5th century BC. The ruins of the city and the neighbouring necropolis were discovered in 1859; magnificent public buildings, a market, temples, houses and an acropolis on the hill top bear eloquent witness to the splendour and wealth of ancient Kámiros. Local lunch. Then we will have free time at old city of Rhodes. Dinner at the Hotel. Overnight Rhodes.

Day 06: Rhodes - Symi - Rhodes

Breakfast and morning departure with boat to Symi island. Symi island is one of the gems of the Dodecanese island chain! It stands out for its beautiful architecture, colorful houses and relaxed atmosphere. Arrive at Symi and the first stop is at Panormitis Monastery for one hour, which seems to exude its own mystical energy. Famous for its miracles, Panormitis is a major pilgrimage site. The monastery has existed since the 15th century and the icon of the Archangel Michael (the patron saint) is considered miraculous. Around 11:00 we will return to the boat and have a stop at the port of Symi that seems to have popped out of a painting! The first thing that catches your eye as you approach Symi by ferry is the colorful mansions around the port. After arrival we will board on special traditional fishing boats for a magnificent half day island tour and we will stop for BBQ lunch. Return to the port of Symi to catch our boat. Return to Rhodes and transfer to the Hotel for Dinner. Overnight Rhodes.

Day 07: Rhodes – Athens – Ancient Epidaurus - Kalamata

Breakfast and transfer to the airport of Rhodes to take the morning flight to Athens. Arrive at Athens airport and head to Kalamata. FirstIn the way for Kalamata we will stop at the Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus, it is a theatre in the Greek city of Epidaurus, located on the southeast end of the sanctuary dedicated to the ancient Greek God of medicine, Asclepius. View the magnificent amphitheater at Epidaurus known for its acoustics. Local lunch and transfer to Kalamata. Dinner. Overnight Kalamata.

Day 08: Kalamata – Gythio – Monemvasia - Kalamata

Breakfast and we depart to Gythio, which is constructed on the hill slopes around a natural bay, Gythio is the largest town in the region of Mani, a secluded barren place with ghost villages and wild landscape. The most popular beach in Gythio is Mavrovouni, a large beach with clean water. Due to the golden sand and the crystal water, Mavrovouni is preferred by the endangered sea turtles Caretta-caretta to lay their eggs. Then we will depart to Monemvasia. one of the most romantic places in the country. This is a Medieval Castle Town, exclusively carved on the slopes of a rock. This fantastic place was originally constructed in the Medieval Ages and has been continuously inhabited since then. Monemvasia in Greece is an impressive castle town in south-eastern Peloponnese. This town was constructed invisible from the mainland to avoid enemy attacks. It can be seen only from the sea and only a narrow pathway connects it to the mainland. This is how its name came out, meaning a single passage. Local lunch. Dinner. Overnight Kalamata.

Day 09: Kalamata – Pylos - Koroni - Methoni

Breakfast and head to the edge of the Peloponnese, where the last piece of rock touches the Ionian sea from the secret paths of water, come the whispers of the great sea the Greek Nobel prize winner, Odysseas Elitis, the poet of light. Messinia, the place where ancient times and history are adorned by natural beauties, which will take your breath away. There we will see Pylos, where is the Nestor's Palace. The main square of Pylos town will make it hard for you to leave your seat as it is filled with cafés under a nice shadow created by the old plane trees. Stone built houses, unique architectural tradition, picturesque little shops and mesmerising castles will fill your travel itinerary with dreamlike stops. Each impressive big castle has its own story to tell. They all used to protect against pirate invasions. Then we will see Methoni and Koroni. Methoni is one of the most historic small market town of Peloponnese and was very famous for its port because its spot had a great strategic and commercial importance. Methoni’s castle is built on rocks that extend from land into the sea and is especially nice during sunset. Picturesque Methoni overlooking the Ionian Sea and the island comlex of Oinousses, and colourful Koroni, a place with insular atmosphere. Thanks to their strategic position, both town have been important trade and marine centres. But for the very same reason, they have always been coveted by the powerful of the times. That explains the need for building huge fortresses. Local lunch. Dinner. Overnight Kalamata.

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