Olympia, Delphi, Hosios Loukas, Cheronia

Day 1

Olympia

Meet your chauffeur early in the morning in the lobby of your accommodation. We will drive westwards to Olympia. You will have the chance to enjoy the magnificent Greek coastal scenery along the Saronic coastline.

On the way to our first stop at the Corinth Canal, you will be able to see and hear the intriguing stories hidden behind the war of Salamis Island between the Greek and the Persian fleet, the war that determined the route of the western civilization. Legends and reality merge and help us narrate the lives of the Greek heroes that became famous worldwide for their strategic skills, ingenious ways and courageous character.

After a short and easy ride of 50 minutes, comes our first stop, the engineering marvel of Corinth Canal. After our 30minute stop on the Corinth Canal and of course after taking our time to snap some breathtaking pictures and get some rest on the nearby rest area café, your chauffer will drive you through the winding country local roads through olive trees, vineyards and orange trees that grow in abundance in the area. It will feel as if you stepped into the scenery that one sees only in artistic movies and documentaries.

We will continue to Olympia. Lay back and enjoy the scenic drive till we will reach Olympia. After approx. 3,5hrs driving we reach Olympia. At this point we suggest a break for a lunch in Olympia. After this you can spend about 3hrs in the Archaeological Site of Olympia and its Museum. At this point you can decide if you want to divide your visit of Ancient Olympia in two parts, visiting the Museum on the first day and visiting the Archaeological Site for the following morning.

Ancient Olympia is a place whose beauty and value cannot be fathomed by words and descriptions. It is the place that has been admittedly the most glorified and worshiped sanctuary of the ancient world, dedicated to the father of humans and the Gods, Zeus. The first Olympic Games were held here in honor of God Zeus back in 776B.C. and has become nowadays an international athletic celebration, that exceeds borders and nationalities, begins in this exact place every four years.

You will be able to see the ruins of the Temple of Zeus, of the Temple of Hera, the Stadium with its spectacular capacity of 45000 people. Take your time to explore the ruins of the ancient facilities on site and then continue to the Museum. Finally, the Archaeological Museum, that constitutes the last section of our tour, is filled with remarkable exhibits, including the famous statue of Hermes attributed to the sculptor Praxiteles. Your chauffeur will be waiting for you to drive you to your accommodation in Olympia.

Overnight in Olympia.

Day 2

In the morning you can visit the Archaeological Site of Olympia if you have opted to divide your visit in two parts. You can spent 2hrs for your visit to the Archaeological Site. Depart to Delphi. On our way to Delphi, approx. after 2 hrs driving, we will have a stop at the magnificent town of Nafpaktos where we suggest a lunch. After approx. 1,5 hrs and the wonderful scenic ride we are ready for our visit to the navel of the world, Delphi.

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 see the Temple of Apollo but 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 dated from 475 B.C. You can spend approx. 1,5hrs in the Museum of Delphi, and we will keep the Archaeological Site for the following morning.

Your chauffeur will wait for you to drive you to your accommodation in Delphi.

Overnight in Delphi.

Day 3

Before we leave behind us Delphi, you can visit the Archaeological Site for approx. 2hrs. After our visit to the Site we will depart to the monastery of Hosios Loukas and to Cheronea. On the way we would never miss to stop at the beautiful traditional and picturesque village of Arachova, where you can enjoy a nice stroll in the village. After 45min drive we will arrive at 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.

Driving time to Athens 2,5 hrs