Alexander Adventure in 13-day Exploding Greece Private Tour

Greece welcomes you and presents its glorious past and fascinating present with an enjoyable 13 days tour to Northern Greece, including Argolis and Corinth in Southern Greece. This private tour is designed for people who want to know the history of Greece, and wish to indulge in the famous Modern Greek lifestyle.

Itinerary of the 13 days private tour to South and Northern Greece

Athens, Corinth, Mycenae, Nafplion, Epidaurus, Sparta, Gytheio, Caves of Diros,  Messene, Olympia, Rio Antirio bridge, Delphi, Meteora, Meteora Monasteries, Vergina, Pella, Thessaloniki, Zagori, Gorge of Vikos, Papingo, Perama Cave, Ioannina,  Igoumenitsa, Preveza, Nafpaktos, Athens

Highlights of the Alexander Adventure in 13-day Exploding Greece Private Tour

• The breathtaking scenery of Diros Caves & Sparta in the Peloponnese
• The sanctuary of God Apollo in Delphi
• The beautiful towns of Nafplion and Nafpaktos with their picturesque architecture and style
• The complex of Monasteries in Meteora
• The natural phenomena of Vikos Gorge and Perama Cave
• The typical and traditional cuisine of Greece with characteristic tastes from both South and Northern Greece

Description of the 13 days tour to Northern Greece

Day 1: Athens, Corinth, Epidaurus, Mycenae, Nafplion

We set off early in the morning from Athens via the coastal road of the Saronic to Corinth Canal. It connects the Ionian with the Aegean Sea and the two pieces of land, Central Greece with the Peloponnese.

After a short stop for pictures, we head to the nearby city of Corinth, one of the major stops in St Paul’s journey in Greece, and a great rival of Athens in the ancient years.

In Corinth, you will have the chance to admire the numerous ruins and remains from antiquity.

The next stop of the tour is Mycenae, the capital of the Mycenaean civilization whose most famous representative is King Agamemnon, the chief of the Greek army in Troy.

Visit the Royal Tombs, admire the impressive Lion’s Gate and Cyclopean Walls, and then head towards Epidaurus, to admire a marvel of architecture; the best-preserved ancient theatre with the great acoustics that holds numerous theatrical and musical plays every summer.

We then head to Nafplion for dinner and overnight.

Day 2: Nafplion, Sparta, Gytheio

The morning of the second day is at your leisure to enjoy the beautiful city of Nafplion and discover its little hidden treasures.

Later on, we drive to Sparta famous for their fighting skills, and King Leonidas and his brave 300. Drive to beautiful Gytheio, a little town on the water.

Enjoy dinner and a free evening in Gytheio.

Day 3: Gytheio, Diros cave, Messene

On the third day of the tour, we will be visiting Diros Caves, one of the highlights of this tour. Diros caves are among the most beautiful caved lakes in the world, with an impressive array of fossils, stalagmites, and stalactites, dating 2 million years back.

Messene, an ancient city-state of the 4^th century BC, with well-preserved remains that prove its interesting past. The modern city of Messene is a contemporizing city, with all the amenities and facilities required by a traveler.

After lunch, we will head towards a nearby town of modern Messene, on the water resort, for a free evening, dinner, and overnight.

Day 4: Ancient Olympia

The fourth day of the tour is a day for Olympians! We head to the birthplace of the Olympic Games, the beautiful site of Ancient Olympia in the western part of the Peloponnese, where we will visit the place where the Games were held every four years to honor Zeus, the original stadiums and the starting line of the race track.

In the archaeological site of Olympia, you can also see the Altis, where the flame of the modern games is born, before it starts its journey to the final destination, the city that holds the Olympic Games every four years.

The tour also includes a visit to the Museum of the Games and the Archaeological Museum of the town that houses important artifacts from the games and the excavations that took place in the entire region.

Dinner & overnight in Olympia

Day 5 : Olympia, Patras, Rio, Antirio, Delphi

The 5^th day is also an interesting and very busy day, starting in the morning from Olympia towards Central Greece. We will pass by Patras, and cruise for approx 20 minutes the Rio Antirio to admire the impressive bridge of Rio – Antirio, that connects the Peloponnese with Central Greece.

We will have a short stop in Nafpaktos, the very picturesque little coastal town, and then head to Delphi, one of the highlights of this tour.

Free evening and overnight in Delphi or the nearby town of Arachova, the picturesque small village located at the feet of Mt Parnassus.

Day 6: Delphi

The 6^th day of the tour is dedicated to Delphi. Delphi was the sanctuary of God Apollo, where God was giving his prophecies to men seeking his help. Delphi was once known as the navel of the earth, the center of the known world in antiquity.

 

During the tour, you will have the chance to visit the archaeological site, the theater, and the Museum of Delphi, which houses some of the most impressive artifacts and statues from ancient Greece, such as the Eniochos (the Bronze Charioteer) and the Naxian Sphynx.

After free time for lunch in Delphi, we will drive to Meteora. Overnight.

Day 7: Meteora, Vergina, Pela, Thessaloniki

On the seventh day of the tour, we will head to Meteora, the complex of monasteries built on the top of the suspended rocks in the heart of Central Greece.

Meteora is considered a UNESCO protected site where you can visit the Meteora Monasteries built in the Byzantine Era during the 11th century AD, providing a safe retreat to monks and nuns.

After Meteora, we will head

to Vergina, free evening, and overnight.

Day 8: Vergina, Veria, Pella, Thessaloniki

Vergina, where you can visit the Tombs of the Kings and more specifically the tomb of King Philip, Alexander’s Father, as well as the Royal Treasures.

Via Verria we will head to Pella the capital city of Alexander’s Macedonia, visiting on the way the academy of Aristotle,  teacher of Alexander the great, visit the archaeological site of Pela and the impressive museum. Drive to Thessaloniki, crossing the valley of the area.

We will reach Thessaloniki in the late afternoon, for a free evening and of course to enjoy its famous nightlife. Overnight.

Day 9: Thessaloniki

The ninth day of the tour is also dedicated to the Macedonian Empire; after breakfast, we will, like the byzantine church of Ag. Dimitrios, the Rotonda, the white tower (trademark of the city), the statue of Alexander the great and drive along the coastal road of the city.

We will continue to Thessaloniki for overnight & free evening.

Day 10: Thessaloniki, Zagori, Papingo

The 10^th day includes a visit to the picturesque complex of Zagorochoria, known for its amazing architecture and great cuisine. They are located in the northwest part of the country and feature cobblestone paths and bridges over small river- lakes. You will overnight at Papingo, where you will enjoy the local cuisine and the refreshing air of the mountains.

Day 11: Gorge of Vikos, Perama cave, Ioannina

Starting from Papingo, we will head to Vikos Gorge, one of the natural phenomena of this tour. It is the deepest gorge in Europe and definitely one of the most spectacular sceneries you will ever see.

The next stop is at the Cave of Perama, in Ioannina, the largest cave in Greece and one of the largest in Europe, with a total area of 14,000 sq. meters. You will see the fossils, and remains found from the prehistoric era in the caves.

After the visit to these natural beauties, it is time for another picturesque mountainous town, Ioannina. Enjoy your dinner by the lake of Ioannina and overnight in this beautiful city.

Day 12: Ioannina, Igoumenitsa, Parga, Preveza, Nafpaktos

The morning of the 12^th day is at your leisure to enjoy this gorgeous town before heading back to southern Greece.

We will pass by beautiful coastal towns such as Igoumenitsa, Parga, Preveza, and we will arrive in Nafpaktos for a leisure evening and overnight.

Day 13: Nafpaktos, Rio, Antirio, Corinth canal, Athens

Enjoy your breakfast in Nafpaktos and then head back to Athens, for the end of the tour. We will return to the city late in the afternoon.

NOTE. You can customize your private tour at any time along with your professional driver.

Important notes

Tour Type

• Shore Excursion - Private tour
• Activity level: Moderate

Included in the tour

• Car and Driver
• A professional English-speaking driver or escort with good knowledge of the history and culture of Greece, to guide you till you enter archaeological sites and museums. Tour drivers are not licensed to companion you inside the archaeological sites and museums. If you'd like to have a licensed state tour guide to escort you inside the sites and museums, we can arrange it for you at an additional cost. Licensed by the state tour guides are freelance and it is subject to availability on bookings day!
• Transport by air-conditioned Mercedes-Benz vehicle or similar appropriate for the size of your group
• Accommodation is based according to availability (for multiple-day tours only)
• Pick-up from and return to your hotel
• Pick-up from the Port of Piraeus
• Private tour, Road tolls and local taxes
• Our terminal: Leof. Andrea Siggrou 37, 117 43 Athina, Greece.

Excluded from the tour

• Entrance fees to the archaeological sites and museum
• Wine tasting fee (wine tours)
• Olive oil tasting fee (olive oil tasting tours)
• 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. Read more for the difference between a STATE LICENSED TOUR GUIDE and a TOUR DRIVER GUIDE in Greece!

Additional info

• Dress: religious and marmoreal sites: shoulders and knee must be covered
• Terms & Conditions and Frequent Questions
• 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-solid walking shoes, sunglasses, and sunscreen.

Restrictions:

• Please note that on this tour, your tour driver is not licensed to accompany you on your climb. If you want this service you may book a licensed by-state tour guide for an extra cost.
• In case a group is followed by a licensed tour guide or an English speaking tour-escort the professional driver is not obliged to speak English!

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