Christmas at the foot of Olympus – Litochoro | Christmas 2024 & New Year
Mount Olympus, Christmas with the Gods
Stunning Scenery: Litochoro is nestled at the base of Mount Olympus. The snow-capped peaks create a picturesque backdrop for festive celebrations.
Traditional Celebrations: The town embraces Christmas with local customs. Streets are adorned with lights and decorations, creating a warm holiday atmosphere.
Culinary Delights: Local bakeries offer delicious holiday treats. Traditional sweets and pastries add a unique flavor to the Christmas experience.
Each of these elements contributes to a magical holiday season in Litochoro, making it a perfect destination for Christmas festivities.
Duration: 4 days / 3 nights
Destinations: Mout Olympus, Litochoro
Region: Attica, Thessaly
Accommodation: 3 nights in Litochoro
Tour Language: English
Age Range: 1- to 99-year-old
Available: All Year Round
Departures: Daily
Highlights of Christmas at the foot of Olympus – Litochoro | Christmas 2024 & New Year
- Flexible private groups. We avoid our groups of 40 and 50 people for greater flexibility and travel enjoyment.
- Visit to the villages ornaments of Ampelakia and Livadi, which are not particularly well known, but are beautiful and have their own story.
- A tour of the archaeological site of Dion.
- Pilgrimage to two magnificent and particularly monasteries of our country, the Holy Monastery of Saint Ephraim of Syros and the Holy Monastery of St. Dionysius in Olympus.
- Visit to Paleo Panteleimonas, Makrinitsa and Volos.
- Accommodation at the excellent hotel Olympus Mediterranean 4* in the center of Litochoro.
- Half board including the festive dinner on Christmas Eve with live music.
Welcome to Greece, Welcome to home of Gods, Olympus!
Early morning departure from Athens and after intermediate stops, we will head to Litochoro.
Intermediate stop in Ampelakia Larissa. A traditional settlement on the slopes of Mount Ossa. It is known for its well-preserved stone-built mansions, as the village was economically prosperous in the past due to the processing of the rice plant and the red dyeing of yarn produced from it. We will walk between the mansions, the traditional stone fountains and its picturesque alleys.
We will continue to the city that will host us, Litochoro, famous for its location, at the foot of Olympus, the highest mountain in Greece, with the impressive massif towering over its houses and at the same time only 5 km. from the sea. Its rich history is lost in the depths of the centuries, as the cult center of the Muses existed there since ancient times, while the current city is said to have started to be created in the 14th century. Arrival and check-in at our hotel, dinner and overnight stay.
Discover Olympus
After our rich breakfast, we leave for a beautiful route! Today we will literally circumnavigate Olympus.
Our first stop in Dion, in the ruins of an ancient city of strategic importance and one of the most famous Macedonian states. We will be guided to the archaeological site and then a visit to the women’s Monastery of Saint Ephraim of Syros, the only pilgrimage of the Saint in Greece. The monastery stands out for its beauty and its view. You can see from Olympus to Mount Athos. In the monastery there is a copy of the Holy Icon of the Virgin of Tears from Mount Athos and the Holy Relics of Saint Ephraim of Syros.
We will continue with our visit to Livadi, hometown and birthplace of the great fighter of 1821 and Friendly Georgakis Olympios, it is built on the slopes of Mount Titarios at an altitude of 1200m. Picturesque, particularly well-known holiday center in the 50s due to its climate, where we will have time to visit the Georgakis Olympiou museum, but also to walk the cobbled streets and enjoy a coffee under the plane tree in the village square.
Then, via Elassona and Tyrnavos and making a big circle around the mythical Olympus we will return to our hotel. In the evening we will have a celebratory dinner with live music and traditional flavors. Overnight.
Breakfast and tour of the city that hosts us. We will move between the old stone houses and “captain’s houses” that bear witness to the past of the inhabitants with the sea and the old, traditional settlement.
Then we will depart for the new Holy Monastery of Agios Dionysios in Olympus. Inside the monastery, the new sacristy operates where ecclesiastical relics of great artistic and historical value are kept. The Monastery tries and follows almost to the letter the standard of Saints and the women worship in the external catholicon of the Monastery (because the Monastery maintains the avato).
Our day will continue with a visit to the marked traditional settlement, as it is one of the best examples of traditional Macedonian architecture in northern Greece, Paleo Panteleimon. We will have time to enjoy nature and walk the streets of this wonderful settlement. Return to Litochoro, dinner and overnight.
Makrinitsa, Pilio, Volos
Breakfast and departure from Litochoro for our return. And we will make the most of this day.
Our first stop is the wonderful Makrinitsa, the “balcony of Pelion” as they call it. We will have time to enjoy our walk and a coffee overlooking Pagasitikos gulf.
Then we will descend to beautiful Volos where we will have free time for a walk or lunch (individual expenses).
Arrival in Athens in the evening via intermediate stops, full of beautiful images.
Considerations
During wintertime, there will be adjustments to the itinerary since archaeological sites close earlier, usually at 3 pm, compared to the extended hours of 5-7 pm in the summer. These changes might affect the timing of visits and require planning ahead to ensure all sites are explored within the limited daylight hours.
Included
- Transfers/transfers by air-conditioned coach during the tour.
- Three nights at Pantelidakis Hotel 3* in Trikala or Grand Meteora, Kastraki Kalambakas (choice of accommodation or similar).
- Rich breakfast and dinner daily (3 breakfasts and 3 dinners).
- Christmas and New Year’s Revival (part of half board) with music and drinks package (wine, beer, soft drinks).
- Transportation & guided tours as detailed in the program.
- Experienced driver leader/attendant of our office.
- Liability insurance.
Not included
- Entrances to caves, archaeological sites, museums, etc. are not included. In Greece there are special discounts according to age etc. they are paid individually locally and you should have an ID or proof with you with which you can get a discount.
- Entrance to museums, parks and attractions
- Meals not described in the program Drinks during dinners (with except for the New Year’s Eve only)
- Personal expenses Accommodation tax payable locally
- Anything not mentioned in the program and included Important observations
- With your reservation you need to send a photocopy of your ID.
- With your reservation, please tell your travel advisor if you want a double bed or two singles so that it can be requested from the hotel (we request it from the hotel, it is entered as a priority and given upon availability).
- The office bears no responsibility.
- You also inform us if there is any allergy or dietary habit or anything else we need to know for the best execution of the program, e.g. a mobility problem, etc.
- In case of any special dietary requests, e.g. lactose-free, gluten-free, etc., it is not certain that the hotel or the restaurant can provides it.
- Limited number of single & triple rooms, please contact your travel advisor first.
