7-days Grand private tour to Peloponnese and North Greece

Explore Greece into a unique private tour from  Athens to  Corinth canal | ancient Corinth | Mycenae |  Nafplion | Epidaurus | Olympia | Patras | Nafpaktos | Arachova | Delphi | Kalampaka | Meteora | Larisa | Mount Olympus | Dion |  Tempi | Katerini | Pela | Vergina | Thessaloniki

Highlights of the 7-days Grand private tour to Peloponnese and North Greece

• The famous Corinth canal
• Temple of Apollo in ancient Corinth agora
• Epidaurus theater
• The longest cable bridge in Europe of Rio-Antirio
• The oracle of Delphi
• The impressive Meteora
• Mount Olympus home of the 12 Gods
• Pela the capital of ancient Macedonia
• Experienced English-speaking tour driver

Tour Description

Day 1: Athens, Corinth Canal, Ancient Corinth, Mycenae, Epidaurus, Nafplion, Olympia

Splendid Greece Tours private chauffeur will drive you along the coastal road of the Saronic Gulf until we reach the Corinth Canal with its breathtaking views (shortstop). Shortly thereafter we reach the ancient Corinth city (visit) where St. Paul lived and preached for two years. In ancient times Corinth was amongst the richest cities and this is quite evident by its remains, including the huge ancient agora (market place) and Apollo’s Temple (6th C.B.C), visit Isthmian at the site of the ancient port of Kechreai where St. Paul disembarked. We’ll visit EPIDAURUS and its ancient Epidaurus theater, famous for its remarkable acoustics. Splendid Greece Tours will drive you to the pretty town of Nafplion, the first capital of Modern Greece for lunch. After visiting the castle of Nafplio and will then drive you to MYCENAE through ARGOS, we’ll visit the archaeological site, the remains of the ancient city, including the lionesses gate, the tomb of Agamemnon, and the Palace. Continue our private tour driving to Olympia through Tripolis & megalopolis. Overnight in ancient Olympia.

Day 2:  Olympia, Patras, Rio, Antirio, Nafpaktos, Arachova, Delphi

Start in the morning, and your Splendid Greece Tours private chauffeur will drive towards the city of Ancient Olympia, the birthplace of the Olympic Games. In 776 BC, Iphitos, king of Elis, Kleosthenes of Pisa, and Lykourgos of Sparta reorganized the Olympic Games in honor of Zeus and instituted the sacred ekecheiria, or truce and, very fast the quadrennial festival acquired a national character. Its fame rests upon the Olympic Games, the greatest national festival and a highly prestigious one world-wide, which was held every four years to honor Zeus. Olympia has been the center of attention during the ancient years, and still, today is the starting point of the Olympic Flame that is born here, every four years prior to the new festival. Run to experience the starting line is still visible in the original Olympic stadium, take your position, and run this historical course, competing with the athletes of the past, or simply the tourists that flock to this area. The Olympia Archaeological Museum and the Museum of the Olympic Games, where artifacts and collections related to both ancient and modern Games are not to miss. Splendid Greece Tours will take us now from Olympia through Patras to Rion, we’ll cross the Corinthian bay to Antirion via the bright new bridge, the biggest in Europe. Drive to picturesque Nafpaktos and via the new road along the coast, to Delphi. Visit in the afternoon the picturesque mountain village of Arachova for dinner. Overnight in Delphi or Arachova.

Day 3:  Delphi, Klamabaka, Meteora

In the morning our Splendid Greece Tours private tour continues visiting DELPHI, the ancient sanctuary of Apollo. We will visit the Museum in Delphi where one can see among other archaeological treasures, the unique bronze Charioteer, then proceed through the sacred way to the Athenian treasury. Visit the Temple of Apollo, and Splendid Greece Tours will depart for KALAMBAKA a small city by the feet of Meteora. You will be traveling through the towns of Central Greece (AMPHISSA, LAMIA, and TRIKALA) crossing the Thessalian plain, the granary of GREECE, to reach KALAMBAKA late in the afternoon. Overnight by the feet of Meteora.

The 6 monasteries of Meteora are:

• The Monastery of Great Meteoron. It is the biggest of the Meteorite monasteries.
• The  Monastery of Varlaam is the second, after the Great Meteoro, big in size monastery.
• The Monastery of Rousanou. It is dedicated to ‘The Transfiguration’ but honored to Saint Barbara.
• The Monastery of St. Nicholas Anapausas. It is the first to meet on our way from Kastraki to Meteora.
• The Monastery of St. Stephen. It is one of the most attainable as we don’t have to cope with innumerable stairs to reach it.
• The Monastery of Holy Trinity is very difficult to reach. The visitor has to cross the valley and continue high up through the rock before we arrive outside the entrance.

Day 4: Meteora, Tempi valley, Katerini, Thessaloniki

This morning you will visit the breathtaking METEORA and its monasteries built on the top of high rocks, standing between winds sky & earth. Visit now one of the biggest and most important groups of monasteries in Greece after those in Mount Athos.  The rock monasteries have been characterized by UNESCO as a unique phenomenon of cultural heritage and they form one of the most important stations of cultural map of Greece. The monasteries belong to a region of almost inaccessible sandstone peaks. On these ‘columns of the sky’ monks have settled from the 11th century onwards where twenty-four of these monasteries were built, despite incredible difficulties, at the time of the great revival of the eremetic ideal in the 15th century. After lunch, Splendid Greece Tours will start the drive through the towns of Central Greece crossing the Thessalian plain, the granary of GREECE, Larisa, Tempbi mountains, Katerini to reach late in the afternoon Litochoron, the entrance to Mount Olympus. Free night and Overnight

Day 5:  Thessaloniki, Dion | Mount Olympus

After breakfast, Splendid Greece Tours will drive us to the famous, sacred Macedonian town of DION and Litochoron, by the foot of Mount Olympus.  Lunch in Katerini in a nice taverna by the sea. Continue our private tour to THESSALONIKI, the largest town in Northern Greece. Visit the museum of THESSALONIKI and sightseeing of the city with its modern unique nightlife. Overnight.

Day 6:  Thessaloniki, Pella, Vergina, Veria

In the morning Splendid Greece Tours will drive us to PELLA, its Alexander the Great capital. Continue to VERGINA to visit the tomb of King PHILIP and the famous ‘’Vergina Treasures’’. We’ll head on to LEFKADIA where you visit the excavations. Return to THESSALONIKI through VERIA. Overnight & free evening.

Day 7: Thessaloniki, Tempi Valley, Larissa, Lamia, Thermopylae, Athens

After breakfast we’ll start the return drive to Athens through the TEMPI VALLEY, LARISSA, LAMIA, THERMOPYLAE famous for the ancient battle between the Leonides & his 300 Spartans, Xerxis & the Persians, that took place there, KAMENA VOURLA, and we’ll end our Splendid Greece Tours private tour in your ATHENS  hotel.

Celebrate now the glory of ancient and new, in this gallery of images to the original fields of dreams ….

Important notes

Tour Type

• Shore Excursion – Private tour
• Activity level: Moderate

Included

• A professional driver with good knowledge of the history and culture of Greece
• Transport by air-conditioned vehicle appropriate for the size of your group
• Accommodation is based on availability (for multiple-day tours only)
• Pick-up from and return to your hotel
• Free Pick-up & drop off from Piraeus cruise port
• First-class transport: By Mercedes E-Class or similar; Mercedes minivan or Mercedes minibus according to the size of your party. All new models with full leather and A/C.
• Road tolls and local taxes
• Our terminal: Leof. Andrea Siggrou 37, 117 43 Athina, Greece.
• The private tour is 100% exclusive for your party

Excluded

• Entrance fees to the archaeological sites and museum
• Wine tasting fee (wine tours)
• Athens Airport transfer:  arranged on request with a surcharge
• Gratuities (optional)
• Food and beverage
• Your private chauffeur/guide will discuss a program best suited to your interest and mobile abilities. Option for a professional tour guide with a state license at an extra cost.

Additional info

• Dress: religious and marmoreal sites: shoulders and knee must be covered
• Terms & Conditions, F.A.Q , Privacy policy & Cookies
• Confirmation will be received at the time of booking
• A voucher will be emailed to you with our contact numbers and all necessary information for your tour.
• This is your ticket and proof of purchase. On the day of the tour please present a paper voucher in order to redeem your tour/activity.

Persons with Disabilities

• Due to uneven surfaces, certain sites are not recommended for persons with walking disabilities or using a wheelchair. Such sites are the Acropolis, the Temple of Poseidon at Sounion, Mycenae, Delphi, and Meteora
• In all cases, we recommend comfortable flat-soled walking shoes, sunglasses, and sunscreen.

Opening hours & Admission fees

• Opening Hours: Summer April 1st to October 31st from 08:00 AM to 07:30 PM
• Winter: November 1st to March 31st from 08:30 AM to 03:00 PM
• Free admission fees: Children under 18 & Students from E.U.
• Reduced admission fees: Citizens of the E.U. aged over 65 & Students from countries outside the E.U.

Free admission days

• March 6: In memory of deceased Minister of Tourism & visionary Melina Mercouri
• June 5: Environment international day
• April 18 : International monuments day
• May 18: International museums day
• September 27: International tourism day
• The last weekend of September annually (European Heritage Days)
• National Holidays
• Sundays in the period between 1 November and 31 March
• The first Sunday of every month, except for July, August, and September
• NOTE: If the first Sunday is a holiday then the second is the free admission day

Holidays in Greece

• January 1: closed
• January 6: 08:30 AM – 03:00 PM
• Shrove Monday: 08:30AM – 03:00 PM
• March 25: closed
• Good Friday: 12:00 PM – 03:00 PM
• Holy Saturday: 08:30 AM – 03:00 PM
• Easter Sunday: closed
• Easter Monday: 08:30 AM – 03:00 PM
• May 1: closed
• Holy Spirit Day: 08:30 AM – 03:00 PM
• 15 August 15: 08:30 AM – 03:00 PM
• October 28: 08:30 AM- 03:00 PM
• December 25 & 26: closed