Best Of Greece
Best Of Greece
Best Of Greece
12 Days Starting and ending in Hotel in Athens
Visiting: Athens, Thermopylae, Kalabaka, Meteora, Delphi, Glyfada/Trizonia Island, Olympia, Mycenae, Nafplion, Corinth Canal, Athens city tour, Acropolis, Mykonos, Santorini
Tour operator:
Tour code:
EBG
Recommended For:
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
10 - 51
Age range:
10-99
Special diets catered:
Vegetarians
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
Explore the best of Greece on this exciting 12-day tour! Uncover fascinating history and enjoy locally-guided tours of Athens, Olympia and Mycenae. Marvel at the views in Meteora and visit mysterious ancient sites including the Temple of the Olympian Zeus and the iconic Acropolis! Round off this trip to Greece with two nights on the famous island Mykonos and three nights on stunning Santorini. Enjoy exploring islands, chase the sunset and feast on the best Greek seafood. With ancient history, vibrant culture and island hopping, this is a Greek holiday you will never forget!
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Start Of Tour In Athens
Location: Athens
Meals Included: Dinner
Welcome to Greece! Upon arrival this morning, make your way to the hotel for the start of the tour and meet with the tour leader for an overview of the upcoming itinerary. Then, head into the city for an orientation tour of Athens! Get acquainted with this ancient city and its many iconic sites. You’ll even get to see a traditional changing of the guard ceremony! During free time this afternoon, why not sample some delicious Greek food on an Athens food tour? This evening, enjoy an included dinner of authentic Greek cuisine. Get to know your tour leader and fellow travellers before the tour continues tomorrow.
Explore Athens, Greece’s ancient capital city
Enjoy a welcome dinner in Athens
Day 2: Athens - Thermopylae - Kalabaka
Location: Athens, Thermopylae, Kalabaka
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Depart from Athens this morning as the tour makes its way to Kalabaka, an excellent base town from which to visit the famous Meteora landscapes and monasteries. On the way, stop at Thermopylae to admire the statue of Leonidas, King of Sparta. Upon arrival in Kalabaka, visit a Byzantine art workshop to see how locals create exquisite works of Christian Greek art. Then, check into tonight’s accommodation. Finish the day with a mesmerising sunset drive of the Meteora hills and catch panoramic views of the monolithic pillars and hills with its celebrated cliff-top monasteries. It’s truly any photographer’s dream! Enjoy traditional Greek food for dinner this evening at the hotel.
See the statue of Leonidas, King of Sparta in Thermopylae
Visit a Byzantine art workshop
Take a sunset drive of Meteora, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Day 3: Kalabaka - Meteora (Optional) - Delphi
Location: Kalabaka, Meteora, Delphi
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Spend free time in Kalabaka this morning, exploring as you wish. Or, enjoy a guided tour to conquer the hills of Meteora. This excursion will drive through the hills and giant cliffs of Meteora, with scheduled visits and free time to explore the beautiful cliff-top monasteries. Later, cross the mountains for central Greece, arrive in Delphi (also known as DelfÃ) and embark on an orientation tour with your tour leader. Dinner is prepared in the traditional style and served at a local restaurant near the hotel this evening. The rest of the evening is free to spend at your leisure.
Discover Delphi on a driving and walking tour
Day 4: Delphi - Glyfada/Trizonia Island - Olympia
Location: Delphi, Glyfada/Trizonia Island, Olympia
Meals Included: Breakfast
Enjoy some free time this morning. Or, join the optional excursion to discover Delphi with a local guide. Admire the Sanctuary of Apollo, the Treasury of the Athenians and visit the famous museum of Delphi. Then, drive along the Coast of Corinth and take a short ferry to the colourful Greek island of Trizonia. Soak up the culture and experience how life here has remained the same for centuries.? Later, drive to Olympia, the home of the original Olympic Games. Explore this fascinating area on a locally guided tour. Tonight offers the opportunity to join an optional Greek evening of traditional food and dance. The perfect way to end an eventful day!
Discover the colourful island of Trizonia
Explore the Olympia ancient site with a local guide
Day 5: Olympia - Mycenae - Nafplion
Location: Olympia, Mycenae, Nafplion
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
This morning’s activities include a locally guided tour of the Archeological Museum of Olympia. Next, cross the mountains of Peloponnese to arrive at Mycenae for a visit to the tomb of Agamemnon and the famous Lion’s Gate. It’s not only one of the most important archaeological sites in Greece but also the place where many ancient Greek myths originated. Tour the grounds with an expert guide and have an included lunch before travelling to the picturesque town of Nafplion. Nafplion is the first capital of modern Greece, the skyline of which is dominated by Palamidi Castle. This evening offers the opportunity to join an optional evening tour to Epidaurus and see the ancient theatre.
Explore the Olympia Museum
Uncover Greek myths in Mycenae
Wander the picturesque streets of Nafplion
Day 6: Nafplion - Corinth Canal - Athens
Location: DAY 6: Nafplion, Corinth Canal, Athens city tour, Acropolis, Mykonos
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Depart Nafplion this morning and enjoy a photo stop at the Corinth Canal en route. Arrive in Athens and embark on a locally guided city tour. See top attractions like the National Library, Greek parliament, Panathinaikos marble stadium, Hadrian’s Arch and more. After, there is an option to join a guided tour of the Acropolis site. During this optional excursion, walk to the sacred rock of the Acropolis and visit the Propylaea, Erechtheion, Temple of Athena Nike and Parthenon. Please note, this excursion is extremely popular and must be booked prior to the start of the tour. The rest of the evening is free to spend as you wish.
See the Corinth Canal
Embark on an Athens city tour
Day 7: Athens - Mykonos
Location: Mykonos
Meals Included: Breakfast
After breakfast, hop aboard a ferry towards the dreamy island of Mykonos! Admire the views as you cruise and watch as the mainland disappears into the horizon. Arrive in Mykonos and embark on an orientation tour with your tour leader. The evening is free to relax at one of Mykonos’ beaches, snap a pic of the iconic Mykonos windmills at sunset, grab some dinner or check out the island’s famous nightlife!
Enjoy two nights on the iconic Mykonos island
Day 8: Mykonos: Free Day
Location: Mykonos
Meals Included: Breakfast
Today offers a full day at leisure to soak up some sun, explore the bustling town of Mykonos or enjoy the facilities of your hotel. Alternatively, join the South Coast Boat Trip optional excursion. This day at sea begins with a cruise in a traditional Greek Kaiki boat as well as swimming, snorkelling and a picnic at Frangias beach. Then, visit Kalafatis. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant by the sea and explore the town. Later, end the trip with visits to Paradise beach, Plati Yialos beach and Orlos beach.
Day 9: Mykonos - Santorini
Location: Mykonos, Santorini
Meals Included: Breakfast
After breakfast this morning, transfer to the port to catch the local ferry to Santorini. Arrive in Santorini in the afternoon and transfer to the hotel for the next three nights. The rest of the day is free to explore Santorini at your own pace or simply settle in and relax at the hotel. Santorini is famous for its exceptional views, world-class winemaking and whitewashed houses perched on caldera cliffs!
Spend three nights on Santorini island
Day 10: Santorini: Free Day
Location: Santorini
Meals Included: Breakfast
Wake up on the gorgeous island of Santorini and look forward to a full free day to relax and wander around this picture-perfect island. Today also offers the opportunity to join the Santorini Highlights optional excursion to learn more about what makes this island so special. This full-day tour begins with a visit to the island’s unique black and red sand beaches followed by a visit to the prehistoric city of Akrotiri. Later, sample Santorini’s famous wines at a local winery! The optional excursion ends with a tour of the stunning village of Oia. Watch the sunset before heading back to the hotel for the evening.
Day 11: Santorini: Free Day
Location: Santorini
Meals Included: Breakfast
Enjoy another free day to explore this magical island at your own pace. Alternatively, join the optional boat excursion to the caldera islands. This tour will visit the volcano, the hot springs, little Thirassia island and will end at Amoudi Bay, the little port of Oia. Climb up to Oia village and admire one of the best sunsets of the Aegean Sea islands! Later, head back to the hotel and make the most of the last night in Santorini.
Day 12: End Of Tour In Athens
Location: Athens
Meals Included: Breakfast
Early this morning, transfer to the airport of Santorini to catch a local flight back to Athens. This flight is included in the cost of the tour package. Arrive at Athens airport where this memorable 12-day Greece tour will come to an end. Don’t forget to swap details with your new travel buddies before travelling onwards!
What's Included
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Accommodation
11 nights in 2, 3 & 4* hotel accommodation in twin rooms with private bathrooms
Single travellers have the option to pay a single supplement to ensure a private room (subject to availability) -
Transport
Modern air-conditioned coach with reclining seats and toilet onboard
Public ferry between Athens, Mykonos and Santorini
Domestic flight from Santorini to Athens
Any public transport used as part of the tour (excludes free days) -
Meals
11 Breakfasts, 2 Lunches, 3 Dinners*Vegetarian options available for all meals on request
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Tour Leader
Fully guided tour with experienced tour leader
Tour leader will accompany group throughout and manage all logistical details
What's Not Included
International flightsTravel to the start point and from the end point is not included. We recommend using Skyscanner to find the best deals on international flights.Travel insuranceFor a relatively small price, travel insurance provides you with peace of mind so that you can enjoy your tour without any worries.
All passengers travelling on an Expat Explore tour are required to have valid travel insurance cover and you are responsible for arranging your own insurance.
Mode of Transport
Modern air-conditioned coach with reclining seats and toilet onboard
Public ferry between Athens, Mykonos and Santorini
Domestic flight from Santorini to Athens
Any public transport used as part of the tour (excludes free days)
Accommodation
11 nights in 2, 3 & 4* hotel accommodation in twin rooms with private bathrooms
Single travellers have the option to pay a single supplement to ensure a private room (subject to availability)
Traveller Comfort - *COACH* tours
We welcome all travellers on our tours but we would like to ensure that you are as comfortable as possible. In light of this, please ensure that you are happy with the below information and level of fitness required.
Expat Explore tries to be as accommodating as possible, however, our tours are unfortunately not designed for people travelling with wheelchairs or severe mobility issues.
Our tours are fast paced because they are designed for you to see the most a destination has to offer. We also want to ensure that you explore as much as possible, which may require long periods without stops on the coach as we drive to a new destination.
We offer walking tours in most cities (up to 3 hours), and a wheelchair is not always a practical option as there are often cobbled streets and stairs on these tours.
For travellers in wheelchairs, you will only be able to store your wheelchair under the coach with the other luggage. Thus, on the long drives between cities you will not necessarily have access to your wheelchair if we make a quick bathroom stop along the way. Please note that travelling with a wheelchair could prove difficult as our coaches don't have wheelchair lifts, as such you will need to be able to board and alight the coach on your own.
With regards to our accommodation, not all hotels have lifts and this means potentially having to carry bags up and down stairs.
For more information regarding traveller fitness please see our Terms and Conditions.
Health and Fitness
We welcome all travellers on our tours but we would like to ensure that you are as comfortable as possible. In light of this, please ensure that you are happy with the below information and level of fitness required.
Expat Explore tries to be as accommodating as possible, however, our tours are unfortunately not designed for people travelling with wheelchairs or severe mobility issues.
Our tours are fast paced because they are designed for you to see the most a destination has to offer. We also want to ensure that you explore as much as possible, which may require long periods without stops on the coach as we drive to a new destination.
We offer walking tours in most cities (up to 3 hours), and a wheelchair is not always a practical option as there are often cobbled streets and stairs on these tours.
For travellers in wheelchairs, you will only be able to store your wheelchair under the coach with the other luggage. Thus, on the long drives between cities you will not necessarily have access to your wheelchair if we make a quick bathroom stop along the way. Please note that travelling with a wheelchair could prove difficult as our coaches don't have wheelchair lifts, as such you will need to be able to board and alight the coach on your own.
With regards to our accommodation, not all hotels have lifts and this means potentially having to carry bags up and down stairs.
Experiences
Explore Athens, Greece’s ancient capital city
Enjoy a welcome dinner in Athens
See the statue of Leonidas, King of Sparta in Thermopylae
Visit a Byzantine art workshop
Take a sunset drive of Meteora, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Discover Delphi on a driving and walking tour
Discover the colourful island of Trizonia
Explore the Olympia ancient site with a local guide
Explore the Olympia Museum
Uncover Greek myths in Mycenae
Wander the picturesque streets of Nafplion
See the Corinth Canal
Embark on an Athens city tour
Enjoy two nights on the iconic Mykonos island
Spend three nights on Santorini island
Check out our Q&As
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
If you are travelling alone there is no compulsory charge - you will share a twin room with another passenger of the same gender. There is an optional single supplement/private room upgrade available for single travellers who wish to have a private room. This can be added at the time of booking or by contacting our team.
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Children on tour?
Our tours are not suitable for young children which is why we have a minimum age limit of 10 years old. However, at the discretion of Expat Explore we may consider younger children on certain tours if they meet certain criteria and a request is received in writing via email. Minors (between 10 and 18 years of age) must be accompanied by a parent or guardian who accepts full responsibility for them. Unaccompanied minors will not be accepted on tour. Expat Explore reserves the right to decline any booking at our discretion. Any minor (between 10 and 18 years of age) is priced the same as an adult.
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What policies are in place for Covid-19?
The health and safety of our travellers and employees are our top priority. Which means, when you travel with us, our enhanced hygiene protocols will ensure you do so in a safe and responsible way - ask for details of current policies.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Since 2005
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
At Expat Explore we value responsible travel and are committed to exploring the world consciously and kindly. We are proud to make responsible travel possible with a number of our sustainable travel practices!
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Am I contributing to any charity by booking the tour?
Relate is a South African based not-for-profit organisation that Expat Explore supports. The group aims to help those less fortunate create better lives for themselves through a variety of fundraising initiatives. On our South Africa tours, each passenger will receive an Expat Explore branded Relate bracelet. We donate the cost of these bracelets to our chosen Relate charity: the Nelson Mandela Sc
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Free Date Changes
Expat Explore Travel allows you to make 5 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 91 days before the start of the tour.
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Low Deposit
Expat Explore Travel requires a minimum deposit of 10% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 60 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of expat explore travel charges.
Up to 60 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 59 days before tour starts: Forfeit 20% of booking price.
At 44 days before tour starts: Forfeit 40% of booking price.
At 29 days before tour starts: Forfeit 70% of booking price.
At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.