7 Days • 6 Nights
Peloponnese & Meteora: Ancient Sites & Cliff Monasteries
Tour Includes
About the Trip
Trip Highlights
- The astonishing cliff-top monasteries of Meteora are the spectacular heart of this journey. Meteora, in central Greece, is one of the most extraordinary sights in the world, where six medieval Orthodox monasteries perch impossibly atop soaring pinnacles of dark rock that rise hundreds of metres from the plain, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Built by monks seeking isolation from the fifteenth century, once reached only by rope ladders and nets, they are places of breathtaking beauty, spirituality and Byzantine art. You visit several of the monasteries, taking in their frescoes, icons, treasures and dizzying views, and marvel at the whole otherworldly landscape, magical at sunset.
- Mighty Mycenae and the theatre of Epidaurus are a legendary highlight of this journey. In the Peloponnese stand two of the most evocative sites of antiquity. At Mycenae, the citadel of Agamemnon and heart of the Bronze Age Mycenaean civilisation sung by Homer, you pass through the famous Lion Gate into the ancient fortress, seeing the royal grave circles where the Mask of Agamemnon was found, and the great beehive tomb known as the Treasury of Atreus. At nearby Epidaurus you marvel at the best-preserved ancient theatre in Greece, where a whisper on the stage carries perfectly to the highest of its fourteen thousand seats.
- Sacred Delphi, the oracle of Apollo on Mount Parnassus, is a spectacular highlight of this journey. Set on the steep, pine-clad slopes of Mount Parnassus above a vast sea of olive groves, Delphi was the most sacred place in the ancient Greek world, home to the famous oracle where the priestess delivered the cryptic prophecies of Apollo, and considered the very centre of the earth. With your expert guide you walk the Sacred Way up through the sanctuary, past ancient treasuries to the great Temple of Apollo, the theatre and the stadium, and visit the superb museum with its magnificent bronze Charioteer.
- Olympia, birthplace of the Olympic Games, is a moving highlight of this journey. In a beautiful green valley of the western Peloponnese, amid pine and olive trees, lies Olympia, the sanctuary of Zeus and birthplace of the Olympic Games, held here every four years for over a thousand years from 776 BC. With your expert guide you explore the sacred site, the great Temple of Zeus that once held one of the Seven Wonders, the Temple of Hera, and the original stadium, where you can stand on the ancient marble starting line where athletes once raced. The superb museum holds masterpieces of sculpture.
- Elegant, romantic Nafplio and the beautiful mainland scenery add charm to this journey. Nafplio, set on a beautiful bay of the Peloponnese beneath towering Venetian fortresses, was the first capital of modern Greece and is widely considered its most elegant and romantic town, with an enchanting old town of neoclassical mansions, marble squares, bougainvillea and welcoming cafes and tavernas. Between the sites you travel through spectacular mainland scenery, olive groves, vineyards and mountains, crossing the great Corinth Canal and the Rio-Antirrio bridge. The elegance, beauty and scenery are captivating. Resting in elegant, romantic Nafplio, Greece's most beautiful town.
- Above all, this journey combines the ancient sites of the Peloponnese with the astonishing monasteries of Meteora. Beyond Athens and the islands lies a mainland Greece of spectacular scenery, ancient citadels and living Byzantine tradition, and this journey combines its greatest treasures. Over seven days you explore mighty Mycenae, the theatre of Epidaurus and elegant Nafplio, stand in the stadium at Olympia, walk sacred Delphi on Mount Parnassus, and marvel at the cliff-top monasteries of Meteora, all guided by expert guides amid beautiful landscapes and warmed by Greek hospitality. The combination of ancient citadels, sacred oracles, Olympic sanctuaries.
Day by Day
A detailed day-by-day plan for this 7-day journey.
Your journey through the ancient and Byzantine heart of Greece begins as your flight arrives at Athens International Airport, where you are met and transferred to your hotel. Athens, the cradle of Western civilisation, is a captivating blend of the ancient and the vibrantly modern, crowned by the floodlit Acropolis. Spend the rest of the day settling in and relaxing after your journey, perhaps taking a first stroll through the atmospheric Plaka quarter beneath the Acropolis, or up to a rooftop with views of the Parthenon glowing above the city. This evening, a welcome dinner introduces you to the delicious flavours of Greek cuisine and to the spectacular journey ahead through the Peloponnese and Meteora. As you settle in, the magic of Greece begins to work. Rest well, for tomorrow you cross to the Peloponnese to explore mighty Mycenae and elegant Nafplio.
Today you cross to the Peloponnese to explore two legendary ancient sites and reach elegant Nafplio. You drive from Athens, pausing at the impressive Corinth Canal cut through the isthmus, to Mycenae, citadel of Agamemnon and heart of the Bronze Age civilisation sung by Homer, passing through the famous Lion Gate into the ancient fortress, seeing the royal grave circles and the great beehive Treasury of Atreus. You continue to Epidaurus, marvelling at the best-preserved ancient theatre in Greece, whose acoustics are so perfect a whisper carries to the highest row. In the evening you arrive in Nafplio, Greece's most elegant town, on its beautiful bay. The myth and grandeur are captivating. As the day ends, you settle into romantic Nafplio. This evening, savour a taverna dinner in its marble squares. Rest well, ready to explore more tomorrow.
Today you enjoy elegant Nafplio and journey to the Byzantine wonder of Mystras. In the morning you may explore Nafplio's enchanting old town of neoclassical mansions, marble squares and bougainvillea-draped lanes, take in the little island fortress of Bourtzi in the harbour, and admire the mighty Palamidi fortress. You then journey south through the beautiful mountains of the Peloponnese to Mystras, near Sparta, a spectacular fortified Byzantine city rising up a mountainside, a UNESCO World Heritage Site of ruined palaces, churches and monasteries adorned with beautiful frescoes, once a great capital of the Byzantine world. The elegance, scenery and Byzantine beauty are captivating. As the day ends, you return to Nafplio through the mountains. This evening, savour a final Nafplio dinner. Rest well, for tomorrow you journey to Olympia.
Today you journey across the Peloponnese to Olympia, birthplace of the Olympic Games. You travel west through beautiful countryside of olive groves, vineyards and mountains to Olympia, in its green valley near the Ionian coast. With your expert guide you explore the sacred sanctuary of Zeus, the great Temple of Zeus that once held one of the Seven Wonders of the World, the Temple of Hera, the workshop of the sculptor Pheidias, and the original stadium, where you can stand on the ancient marble starting line where athletes once raced. The superb museum holds masterpieces of ancient sculpture. The history and atmosphere are deeply moving. As the day ends, you settle into your hotel near Olympia. This evening, savour local Peloponnesian cuisine and wine. Rest well, for tomorrow you journey north via Delphi towards Meteora.
Today you journey north to sacred Delphi and on towards astonishing Meteora. You cross the Gulf of Corinth by the spectacular Rio-Antirrio bridge and climb into the mountains to Delphi, set on the pine-clad slopes of Mount Parnassus above a vast sea of olive groves, the most sacred place of the ancient Greek world. With your guide you walk the Sacred Way through the sanctuary to the Temple of Apollo, the theatre and stadium, and visit the superb museum with its bronze Charioteer. You then continue north through beautiful mountain scenery towards Meteora, arriving in the evening. The sacred setting and mountain scenery are captivating. As the day ends, you settle into your hotel beneath the astonishing rock pinnacles of Meteora. This evening, savour dinner in the village of Kalambaka. Rest well, ready to explore the cliff monasteries tomorrow.
Today you explore the astonishing cliff-top monasteries of Meteora, the highlight of your journey. Amid one of the most extraordinary landscapes on earth, where soaring pinnacles of dark rock rise hundreds of metres from the plain, you visit several of the six medieval Orthodox monasteries that perch impossibly atop them, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. With your guide you climb to monasteries such as the Great Meteoron and Varlaam, taking in their beautiful Byzantine frescoes, icons, treasures and the old winch-towers and rope ladders by which they were once reached, and marvel at the dizzying views over the whole otherworldly landscape. The scale, beauty and spirituality are captivating. As the day ends, you watch the pinnacles glow at sunset, magical and unforgettable. This evening, savour a final mainland dinner. Rest well, reflecting on the wonders you have seen, ahead of your return to Athens tomorrow.
This morning you journey south from Meteora back to Athens, travelling through beautiful mainland scenery, perhaps pausing at the evocative pass of Thermopylae, where the three hundred Spartans made their legendary stand, before arriving in Athens and being transferred to the airport for your onward journey. You leave having explored the ancient and Byzantine heart of mainland Greece, mighty Mycenae, the theatre of Epidaurus and elegant Nafplio, Byzantine Mystras, Olympia in its green valley, sacred Delphi on Mount Parnassus, and the astonishing cliff monasteries of Meteora. The images stay vivid long after you land, the Lion Gate of Mycenae, the temples of Delphi and Olympia, and above all the monasteries of Meteora perched atop their soaring pinnacles at sunset. Mainland Greece offers ancient wonder, Byzantine beauty and spectacular scenery in abundance, and you depart already dreaming of return.
Where You Will Travel
What's inside the package?
Inclusions
- 6 nights accommodation
- Daily breakfast, a welcome dinner
- Private airport, port and land transfers in air-conditioned vehicles
- Touring and sightseeing as per itinerary with expert licensed local guides
- Entrance fees to archaeological sites and museums as per itinerary
- Private touring with an expert licensed guide and air-conditioned vehicle, guided visits to Mycenae, Epidaurus, Olympia, Delphi and the Meteora monasteries, and all archaeological site, monastery and museum entrance fees
Exclusions
- International airfare
- Visa or tourist card fees where applicable
- Travel insurance (strongly recommended)
- Most lunches and dinners beyond the welcome dinner
- Optional experiences and tips for guides and drivers
- Meals not mentioned in the itinerary or inclusions
- Drinks unless specifically stated
- Optional excursions and experiences
- Personal expenses and gratuities
- Anything not specifically mentioned under Package Inclusions
Know when to go.
- Visa & entry: Greece is part of the Schengen area, and travellers from the US, UK, Canada, Australia and many other countries can enter visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period; a passport valid for at least three months beyond your stay is required, and the EU's ETIAS travel authorisation is being introduced. Requirements can change, so we confirm the exact process for your nationality before you travel
- Currency: The currency is the Euro (EUR); cards are widely accepted in hotels, restaurants and shops in Athens, the larger towns and resort areas, but carry some cash for tavernas, small island shops, markets, tips, kiosks and rural areas. ATMs are plentiful in cities and on the larger islands, though smaller islands may have only one or two
- Best time to visit: April to June and September to October are ideal across Greece, with warm, sunny days perfect for the ancient sites, islands and beaches, and fewer crowds; July and August are hot and lively, the peak beach season, especially on the islands; winter is mild, quiet and green on the mainland, and lovely for Athens, Delphi and Meteora, though many island services wind down
- Language & etiquette: The language is Greek, and English is widely spoken in tourism, making travel easy; Greeks are famously warm, generous and hospitable, and a little politeness goes a long way. Dress modestly at monasteries and churches, especially the monasteries of Meteora and Mount Athos region, where covered shoulders and knees are required and women are given wrap skirts at the entrance
- Getting around: Touring the mainland is by private air-conditioned vehicle with your guide or driver, with some long but scenic drives through beautiful mountains and coast; the islands are linked by frequent ferries and fast catamarans, and by domestic flights, all of which we arrange, timing connections carefully. Sturdy, comfortable shoes are essential for the ancient sites and Meteora
- Health & safety: Greece is one of the safest countries in Europe, and travel here is relaxed and rewarding; we monitor conditions and follow official advice. Bring sun protection, a hat and water for the open-air ancient sites and beaches, as summers are hot; ferry schedules can occasionally shift with the weather, so we build in sensible connections and keep you informed
- Ancient sites & museums: Greece's archaeological sites, from the Acropolis to Delphi, Olympia, Mycenae and Knossos, are mostly open-air, so wear good shoes, a hat and sunscreen and carry water; some sites and museums adjust their hours seasonally and may close earlier in winter or on certain days. Our expert licensed guides bring the ancient world vividly and unforgettably to life
- Power & plugs: Power is 230V with European type C and F two-pin plugs, so bring an adapter for UK, US and other devices. Tap water is generally safe to drink in Athens and much of the mainland, while on some islands bottled water is recommended; your guide advises at each stage, and hotels provide bottled water
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I know about visiting the Meteora monasteries?
The Meteora monasteries are active Orthodox monastic communities, so modest dress is required, covered shoulders and knees for all, and women are given wrap skirts at the entrance if needed. Reaching them involves climbing steps carved into the rock, though the effort is richly rewarded by beautiful frescoes, treasures and dizzying views. Each monastery has its own closing day, so we plan the visit carefully to see several of the finest, and time it for the magical light of late afternoon.
Is this a lot of driving, and can it be shortened or extended?
The journey covers beautiful and varied country, with some long but scenic drives between the Peloponnese, Delphi and Meteora, all in a comfortable private vehicle with your guide, and the landscapes themselves are a pleasure. We can shorten the circuit (for example, focusing on the Peloponnese, or on Delphi and Meteora), add nights in Nafplio or at Meteora, or extend with Athens, the islands or Crete, tailoring the pace and balance to your interests, so the journey suits you perfectly.
What meals are included?
Daily breakfast is included, along with any meals named in the itinerary (typically a welcome dinner and selected tastings or half-board stays). Greek cuisine is one of the great pleasures of a visit, from fresh fish, grilled meats, salads and mezes to olive oil, feta, honey and wine, and we usually leave most lunches and dinners free so you can explore the tavernas, seaside fish spots and family kitchens we recommend at every stage of your journey.
Are the tours private or in a group?
Your journey is private by default, with your own expert licensed local guide and air-conditioned vehicle on the mainland, and carefully arranged ferries or flights between the islands, giving you flexibility, depth and a pace tailored to you; small-group and escorted options can be arranged if you prefer. Greece's knowledgeable guides bring the ancient sites, monasteries, museums, villages and island life vividly to life, greatly enriching every day of your journey.
Do I need a visa for Greece?
Greece is in the Schengen area, and travellers from the US, UK, Canada, Australia and many other countries can enter visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period, with the EU's ETIAS authorisation being introduced. We confirm the exact, current requirements for your nationality, advise on the best option, and help with any paperwork, so entry is smooth. A passport valid for at least three months beyond your stay is required.
Is Greece safe to visit?
Greece is one of the safest and most welcoming countries in Europe, and travel here is relaxed, easy and deeply rewarding. We continuously monitor conditions, use trusted local guides and drivers, and follow official guidance at all times, timing ferry and flight connections carefully. The genuine warmth and hospitality of the Greek people, on the mainland and the islands alike, are among the great joys of any visit.
When is the best time to visit?
April to June and September to October are ideal across Greece, with warm, sunny days perfect for the ancient sites, islands and beaches, and thinner crowds than the peak. July and August are hot and lively, the height of the beach and island season, while winter is mild, quiet and green on the mainland, lovely for Athens, Delphi and Meteora. We advise on the best timing for your interests and the regions and islands you wish to see.
Can the itinerary be customised?
Absolutely. We can adjust the balance of Athens, the ancient sites, the mainland and the islands, add or swap islands, extend beach time, include a sailing or cruising leg in the Aegean, add Meteora, Delphi or the Peloponnese, and tailor the pace, comfort and focus to you. Every itinerary is a flexible starting point for your ideal journey through the ancient sites, islands and beautiful landscapes of Greece.
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