10 days from $ 3,490.00 plus air
2009 Itinerary

April 11th & 22nd
May 2nd, 13 & 23rd
June 3rd, 13th & 24th
September 5th, 16th & 26th
October 7th & 17th

Indulge yourself on a Greece tour that captures the heart and soul of this ancient land on an extraordinary journey through time. Delve into the world of the Byzantine Empire in fascinating Thessaloniki and visit the ancient Royal Macedonian Tombs in Vergina, where you’ll view treasures of the family of Alexander the Great. Marvel at the geological phenomenon of Méteora and visit inside two of the inspiring, centuries-old monasteries sitting high atop soaring towers of stone. See the legendary home of the god Apollo and the site of the oracle at Delphi. Explore the pleasures of the beautiful Peloponnese, where you’ll attend a tasting at Greece’s oldest winery, and spend two nights at a resort on the shores of the Ionian Sea. Walk through the playing fields and temple ruins of Olympia, birthplace of the ancient Olympic Games, and travel along the scenic Straits of Corinth. You’ll be awestruck by the glories of ancient Athens at its archaeological sites and museums – as well as by the Athens of today – during a two-night stay at a five-star luxury hotel where you can dine with views of the Acropolis… on a Greece tour that engages the mind, the senses, and the imagination!

Tauck’s Greece tour begins at 6:00 PM at the Electra Palace Hotel. A transfer is included from Thessaloniki International Airport to the Electra Palace Hotel, situated in Aristotle Square in the heart of the city. Please join us for a welcome cocktail reception and dinner overlooking the square and the Thermaic Gulf.
Meals: Dinner
Lodging: Electra Palace Hotel, Thessaloniki, Greece

Day 2: The Nymph of the Thermaic Gulf
Called “the Nymph of the Thermaic Gulf” by some, Thessaloniki was founded around 315 BC and named for the sister of Alexander the Great. Begin the first full day of your Greece tour in this capital city of Macedonia with a walk through the nearby market. See the influence of many cultures at some of the city’s most famous monuments and sights, such as the Romans’ Triumphal Arch of Galerius, the 15th-century White Tower built by the Turks, and the 7th-century Agia Sophia, one of Europe’s most significant Byzantine structures. Discover many facets of the Byzantine period in the art and culture showcased at the impressive Museum of Byzantine Culture, which received the prestigious Council of European Museums Prize in 2005. The afternoon is yours to explore more of Greece’s “second city” on your own; tonight, sample regional Greek cuisine during dinner at a popular local restaurant. Note: On Saturday departures of this Greece tour, day 2 and day 3 sightseeing is reversed.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Lodging: Electra Palace Hotel, Thessaloniki, Greece

Day 3: Traces of a saint and a king
There are over 45 barn-like Byzantine-era churches, many of which feature extensive frescoes, in the small city of Veria, where you’ll see the historic Steps of St. Paul, at a spot where tradition has it that the saint once preached. Then, continue on to Vergina, the ancient first capital of the Kingdom of Macedonia. Formerly known as Aigai, it was the seat of King Philip II, father of Alexander the Great, who was assassinated in 336 BC. Your Greece tour is enhanced by a visit to the Royal Macedonian Tombs – a UNESCO World Heritage Site preserving the tombs of the king and other members of his family, and displying antiquities found at the site, considered to be among the greatest treasures in Greece. After lunch, take in the beauty of the Greek countryside on a journey to Kalambaka, for an overnight stay close to the rock-top monasteries of Meteora.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Divani Meteora Hotel, Kalambaka, Greece

Day 4: Monastic marvels of Meteora
Travel to the amazing geological phenomenon of Meteora, whose name literally means “hovering in the air,” today. As incredible as it may seem, these soaring stone towers have been the homes of monks since 985 AD. The earliest monks lived in caves in the rock and eventually 24 monasteries were built atop the towers, accessible only by ladders and baskets raised and lowered by ropes until the 1920s. Legend has it that a traveler about to be hauled aloft in a basket asked a monk if the ropes were ever replaced. “Of course,” replied the monk, “every time one breaks.” Today, six of these miraculous monasteries – now reached by steep steps instead of baskets – remain in active use; a visit to two of them reveals what monastic life is like there today. Viewing the religious treasures and artifacts they contain, as well as the stunning views seen from their lofty perches, is indeed an inspirational experience during your Greece tour, which continues on across the heart of the country en route to a two-night stay in the village of Arachova on the slopes of Mount Parnassus, near the archaeological site of Delphi.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Santa Marina Arachova, Greece

Day 5: And, the Oracle says…
Visiting Delphi with an open mind can be an intriguing experience on any Greece tour. Considered the center of the known world by the ancient Greeks, mystical Delphi is perhaps best known as the home of the oracle of Delphi and its guiding spirit, the god Apollo. In the ancient world, supplicants sought advice from the spirit of Apollo via the oracle… just as some people still do today. “Walk with the gods” as you explore the Sanctuary of Apollo, the home of the priestess who “channeled” the oracle, the Gymnasium and the Castalian Spring, where pilgrims tidied up before consulting the oracle. A visit to the Delphi Museum provides further insights into this fascinating place. The afternoon is free for you to sample the recreational facilities available at your hotel, or enjoy the mountain village of Arachova.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Lodging: Santa Marina Arachova, Greece

Day 6: Pleasures of the Peloponnese
As your Greece tour continues, a drive along the coast of the Gulf of Corinth reveals olive groves and delightful resort villages en route to the Straits of Corinth and the modern engineering marvel of the new Rio-Antirio Bridge. The renowned Achaia Clauss Winery, where the Imperial cellars hold casqued wine dating from the 1880s – the second-oldest in the world – awaits with a tasting which features Mavrodaphne, a fortified dessert wine used for communion in Greece’s Orthodox churches. Wind your way along the Peloponnese to your beach resort and spa, inspired by Kyllini’s thermal springs, for a two-night stay on the shores of the Ionian Sea.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Olympia Riviera Resort, Kyllini, Greece

Day 7: And the games began…
While, in antiquity, it was considered to be a sacred site and known as the Sanctuary of Zeus, ancient Olympia is better known today as the birthplace of the Olympic Games. A visit to Olympia’s treasure-filled Archaeological Museum begins this remarkable day on your Greece tour. Then experience the wonders of this archeological site with a local guide on a “walk through time,” viewing the Palestra (the training facility for ancient athletes), and the remains of Doric temples, council houses, treasuries, workshops, and playing fields. Although women were not allowed in ancient Olympia at all during the ancient games (which began around 776 BC), the site was the venue for the women’s shot put competition during the Athens Olympic Games in 2004. Complete your exploration by discovering the history of the Games at the Museum of the Olympics, before returning for this evening’s memorable cooking demonstration by one of the resort’s fine chefs, followed by dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Lodging: Olympia Riviera Resort, Kyllini, Greece

Day 8: Corinthian capers en route to Athens
Drink in lovely views as your Greece tour continues with a drive along the gorgeous coastal route through the northern Peloponnese – past mountainous landscapes dominated by rugged peaks and azure seas – to the beautiful Straits of Corinth, en route to Athens. View the impressive Corinth Canal, built between 1881 and 1893, that cuts through the Isthmus of Corinth connecting the Gulf of Corinth and the Saronic Gulf in the Aegean Sea. Upon arriving in the Greek capital, Athens, this afternoon, visit the city’s new Acropolis Museum. Your home for the next two nights is a true Athens landmark, a five-star luxury hotel in the heart of the city, not far from the Acropolis and other places you read about in school!
Meals: Breakfast
Lodging: Hotel Grande Bretagne, Athens, Greece

Day 9: Amazing Athens
The Athens of antiquity and the Athens of today are an intriguing contrast on your Greece tour today, beginning with a guided walking tour up to the center of one of the greatest civilizations on earth, whose treasures have survived for more than 2,000 years – the Acropolis, home to the Parthenon! Centuries intermingle on a city sightseeing tour including Constitution (Syntagma) Square, the House of Parliament, and the Presidential Palace. Take a look inside the Panathenaic Stadium; originally built in 330 BC and remade in marble in 140 AD, it was refurbished for the first Olympic Games of the modern age in 1876 and served as the venue for the archery competition at the 2004 Athens Games. Then, view some of the many treasures exhibited at the National Archaeological Museum of Athens, and have lunch on your own in the famous Pláka before exploring more of the city as you please. Celebrate the conclusion of your memorable Greece tour when you join us tonight for a gala farewell cocktail party and dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Lodging: Hotel Grande Bretagne, Athens, Greece

Day 10: Homeward Bound
Your Greece tour ends in Athens. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from the Hotel Grande Bretagne to Athens’ Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport. Please allow at least 2 1/2 hours for check-in formalities. We wish you a safe and pleasant journey home!
Meals: Breakfast

Experience the wonders of this ancient land on Tauck’s truly extraordinary Greece tour in 2009!