Athens 8 Day Winter Getaway 8 Day Tour

Price Per person double occupancy

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Price Includes: All motor coach and land transportation, sightseeing, admissions, services of tour director and driver, lodging, meals as specified in tour itinerary, taxes, gratuities to bellhops and waiters at included meals.

Not Included: Cost of obtaining passports or visas, laundry, meals, beverages or sightseeing not included in the itinerary, travel insurance, gratuity to guide, driver, communication charges, & excess baggage fees. Port charges and gratuities to crew are not included on cruises.

Day 1: USA to Athens

Our tour begins with an overnight flight to Athens.

Day 2: Arrival in Athens

Upon our arrival in Athens we will be met by a Pilgrim Tour representative and enjoy a private transfer to our hotel. Our hotel will be at either the Divani Palace or the Grecotel. Both hotels are ideally located in central Athens and offer superior first class lodging. The remainder of our afternoon will be free for our leisure until we meet this evening for special welcome dinner reception.

Day 3: Athens Morning Tour, Excursion to Cape Sounion

After breakfast we will enjoy a morning city tour of Athens. This tour gives you an opportunity to observe the striking contrasts that make Athens such a fascinating city. Our expert guides will take you to see the centre of the city, Constitution square (Syntagma), the House of Parliament, the memorial to the Unknown Soldier and the National Library. Driving down Herod Atticus Street, you will see the Evzones in their picturesque uniform and the Presidential Palace. On your way to the Acropolis, you will see the Panathenaic stadium (where the first Olympic Games of the modern era were held in 1896), the Temple of Olympian Zeus and Hadrian's Arch. On the Acropolis visit the Propylae, the Temple of Athena Nike, the Erechtheion and, finally, "the harmony between material and spirit", the monument that "puts order in the mind", the Parthenon. This afternoon will be free for our leisure or an opportunity to take an optional excursion to Cape Sounion. Our excursion to Cape Sounion will include a visit to the Temple of Poseidon as well as time to view the beautiful coast of Greece.

Day 4: Free Day or Optional Excursion to Aegina Islands

After breakfast those interested can opt for a full day cruise/tour of Aegina Island. We will ferry from Athens port to Aegina. Upon our arrival in Aegina we will enjoy a guided tour of Temple of Apahia Athena and St. Nektarios Monastery. The Temple of Apahia Athena is part of the triangle of perfection along with the Parthenon and the Temple of Poseidon. The Monastery of St. Nektarios is famous for being the last "Modern Saint" of the Greek Church. We will return to Athens later this afternoon.

Day 5: Free Day, Mycenae, Epidaurus and Corinth Canal

After breakfast those interested can opt for a full day tour of Mycenae and Epidaurus. We will drive to Mycenae, the Homeric city of the Atreides, which is known as the city "rich in gold" of the ancient poets. Once there we will visit the Lion's gate, the Cyclopean Walls, and the Royal Tombs. We continue on to Nafplion through the fertile plain of Argolis, the picturesque town nestling at the foot of a cliff crowned by the mighty ramparts of the Palamidi Fortress. After our time in Nafplion, we continue on to Epidaurus to visit the theatre (4th century b.c.) famous for its astonishing acoustics. As we return to Athens we will stop and for time to view the famous Corinth Canal.

Day 6: Free Day, Excursion to Delphi

After breakfast those interested can opt for a full day tour of Delphi. Delphi is known to be the center of the ancient world - the "Omphalos" (Navel" of the Earth - whose prestige extended far beyond the boundaries of the Hellenic World). On the slopes of Mount Parnassus, in a landscape of unparalleled beauty and majesty, lie the ruins of the Sanctuary of Apollo Pythios. We will also take time to visit the treasury of the Athenians and the temple of Apollo before heading back to Athens late afternoon.

Day 7: Free Day, Museums of Athens

After breakfast those interested can opt for a full day tour of Athens most famous museums. We will first visit the Cycladic Art Museum known as an ancient Greek art dating from the 3rd millennium BC to the 4th Century BC. We continue on to visit the Benaki Museum famous for its Greek history exhibits from the prehistoric period to the 20th century. Our last Museum will be The National Archaeological Museum as it is the most important archaeological museum in Greece and one of the richest in the world concerning ancient Greek art. Its collections are representative of all the cultures that flourished in Greece. The museum contains collections of; Prehistoric items, Sculpture, Pottery and Minor art, Bronzes and Egyptian Art. This evening we will enjoy a special farewell dinner at the Plaka and as well as a folklore dancing and music show afterwards.

Day 8: Athens to USA

After breakfast we will say goodbye to Greece and take a private airport transfer in time to catch our departing flight to the US. Various meals and movies will be served in flight.