Delphi, Hosios Loukas & Cheronia Tour

Day 1

Delphi

Our tour starts in the morning and by taking a ride following the highway after approx. 2hrs we will arrive at the picturesque traditional village of Arachova, where you can enjoy a nice stroll in the village, look for local products and have a quick coffee. Our short break will revitalize us and get us prepared for our visit to the navel of the world, the Archaeological Site of Delphi.

After a few minutes of driving from Arachova you will reach Delphi. Legend has it that Zeus, sent his two eagles across the world, one from the East and one from the West, and he said that the point where the two eagles would meet would mark the center of the earth, the navel of the world.

Delphi used to be the most important sanctuary dedicated to God Apollo, the place through which the God was believed to be offering his Oracles through Pythia, the Priestess of the Sanctuary, who was always eager to give her advice to everyone from mere citizens to mythical heroes and legendary leaders of cities.

The perpetual inner need of mortals and the endless effort of the human race to foresee and learn about the future but also have the blessing of the Gods gradually converted the Oracle of Delphi into an important information and cultural center and allowed it to collect all the offerings that the cities were sending as donations, which resulted in the creation of a local treasury of immense value.

You will also explore the sanctuary of Athena Pronaia with the renowned Tholos, The Castalia Spring, the Temple of Apollo, the Great ancient theater, the stadium, where the so called Pythian Games and the treasuries that the city state erected in order to express the gratitude towards the Gods.

Inside the archaeological museum of Delphi which is our next stop you will have the chance to admire many important ancient Greek artifacts from the excavations at Delphi, including the famous statue of Antinoos and the unique bronze statue of the Charioteer. You can spend approx. 3hrs on the Site and its Museum. Your driver will be waiting for you to take you to the village of Delphi and escort you to your accommodation.

Day 2

In the morning take your time to enjoy the unique peaceful scenery of the village of Delphi and the breathtaking views it offers to the olive grove before you will depart for the Monastery of Hosios Loukas. Hossios Loukas is the largest surviving monastery of the Middle Byzantine period in Greece, famous for its Byzanitne mosaics, founded in the early 10th century by the hermit Hosios Loukas whose relics are kept in the monastery to this day. You can spend about 1,5hr for your visit to the Monastery.

A traditional restaurant is our next stop and our chance to taste the authentic Greek cousine with local delicacies. After your lunch you will follow the way back to Athens. Driving down the mountain Parnassos and before reaching the highway to Athens, we’ll stop at Cheronia to see the famous “Lion of Cheronia” after a 40 min easy ride.

The “Lion” is a marble monument erected in the battlefield by Phillip, King of Macedonia and father of Alexander the Great, to commemorate his victory there against the Athenian and Thebean armies in 338 B.C. You will have the chance to visit the Site and its Museum there. After your last stop you will take a 1,5hr drive to Athens.