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THE
WONDERS OF GREECE
Country
visited: Greece |
 |
Greece – one
of the wonders of Europe and that of the ancient world. Greece
offers to us the background to the history and culture that
has led to the current civilisation. Our 13-day Wonders of
Greece has been specifically tailored to bring out the different
wonders that Greece is all about. This tour, starting from
Kusadasi (Ephesus) in Turkey, allows you to combine this
journeys with our Discover Asia Minor – another journey
that covers the history of Europe at it’s best.
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Tour
Summary
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Map |
Day
|
Place
|
|
01
|
Athens |
|
02
|
Athens
- Corinth Canal - Epidaurus - Nafplion - Mycenae -
Olympia |
| 03 |
Olympia
- Delphi |
|
04
|
Delphi |
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05
|
Delphi -
Kalambaka |
|
06
|
Dion
- Thessaloniki |
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07
|
Pella
- Vergina - Berea |
|
08
|
Thessaloniki
- Athens |
|
09
|
Athens
city tour |
|
10
|
Piraeus |
|
11
|
Kusadasi
(Ephesus), Turkey - Patmos, Greece |
|
12
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Heraklion
Crete, Greece - Santorini, Greece |
|
13
|
Piraeus
Arrival - Athens Departure |
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|
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UNESCO
World Heritage Sites Visited
This tour has been tailored to include the following World
Heritage Sites |
| Greece |
|
|
Archaeological Site of Delphi (1987) |
The
pan-Hellenic sanctuary of Delphi, where the oracle of Apollo
spoke, was the site of the omphalos, the 'navel
of the world'. Blending harmoniously with the superb landscape
and charged with sacred meaning, Delphi in the 6th century
B.C. was indeed the religious centre and symbol of unity of
the ancient Greek world. |
| Acropolis, Athens (1987) |
Illustrating
the civilizations, myths and religions that flourished in
Greece over a period
of more than 1,000
years, the Acropolis, the site of four of the greatest masterpieces
of classical Greek art - the Parthenon, the Propylaea,
the Erechtheum and the Temple of Athena Nike – can be
seen as symbolizing the idea of world heritage. |
| Meteora (1988) |
In
a region of almost inaccessible sandstone peaks, monks settled
on these 'columns of the sky' from the
11th century onwards. Twenty-four of these monasteries were
built, despite incredible difficulties, at the time of the
great revival of the eremetic ideal in the 15th century. Their
16th-century frescoes mark a key stage in the development of
post-Byzantine painting. |
| Paleochristian and Byzantine Monuments of Thessalonika
(1988) |
Founded in 315 B.C., the provincial capital and sea port
of Thessalonika was one of the first bases for the spread of
Christianity. Among its Christian monuments are fine churches,
some built on the Greek cross plan and others on the three-nave
basilica plan. Constructed over a long period, from the 4th
to the 15th century, they constitute a diachronic typological
series, which had considerable influence in the Byzantine world.
The mosaics of the rotunda, St Demetrius and St David are among
the great masterpieces of early Christian art. |
| Archaeological Site of Epidaurus (1988) |
In
a small valley in the Peloponnesus, the site of Epidaurus
sprawls out over several levels. The cult
of Asclepius first
began there in the 6th century B.C., but the principal monuments,
particularly the theatre - considered one of the purest
masterpieces of Greek architecture – date from the 4th
century. The vast site is a tribute to the healing cults of
Greek and Roman times, with temples and hospital buildings
devoted to its gods. |
| Archaeological Site of Olympia (1989) |
The
site of Olympia, in a valley in the Peloponnesus, has been
inhabited since prehistoric times. In the 10th century
B.C., Olympia became a centre for the worship of Zeus. The
Altis - the sanctuary to the gods - has one of
the highest concentrations of masterpieces from the ancient
Greek world. In addition to temples, there are the remains
of all the sports structures erected for the Olympic Games,
which were held in Olympia every four years beginning in 776
B.C. |
| Archaeological Site of Vergina (1996) |
The city of Aigai, the ancient first capital of the Kingdom
of Macedonia, was discovered in the 19th century near Vergina,
in northern Greece. The most important remains are the monumental
palace, lavishly decorated with mosaics and painted stuccoes,
and the burial ground with more than 300 tumuli, some of which
date from the 11th century B.C. One of the royal tombs in the
Great Tumulus is identified as that of Philip II, who conquered
all the Greek cities, paving the way for his son Alexander
and the expansion of the Hellenistic world. |
| Archaeological Sites of Mycenae and Tiryns (1999) |
The archaeological sites of Mycenae and Tiryns are the imposing
ruins of the two greatest cities of the Mycenaean civilization,
which dominated the eastern Mediterranean world from the 15th
to the 12th century B.C. and played a vital role in the development
of classical Greek culture. These two cities are indissolubly
linked to the Homeric epics, the Iliad and the Odyssey, which
have influenced European art and literature for more than three
millennia. |
| Historic
Centre (Chora) with the Monastery of Saint John "the
Theologian" and the Cave of the Apocalypse on the Island
of Pátmos (1999) |
The
small island of Patmos in the Dodecanese is reputed to be
where St John the Theologian wrote both
his Gospel and the
Apocalypse. A monastery dedicated to the 'beloved disciple'
was founded there in the late 10th century and it has been
a place of pilgrimage and Greek Orthodox learning ever since.
The fine monastic complex dominates the island. The old settlement
of Chora, associated with it, contains many religious
and secular buildings. |
| Detailed
Itinerary |
|
DAY 1 WEDNESDAY-ATHENS
ARRIVAL
Upon your arrival transfer to the hotel.
Overnight: Hotel Stanley (1 night)
DAY 2 THURSDAY: ATHENS – CORINTH CANAL – EPIDAURUS-
NAFPLION- MYCENAE- OLYMPIA
In the morning we leave Athens by the coastal road to the Corinthian
Canal (short stop for pictures). We then drive Epidaurus to
see the Sanctuary of Asclepeios, dedicated to the god of healing.
We visit the best-preserved ancient theater in all of Greece,
famous for the harmony of its design and the perfection of
its remarkable acoustics, with a seating capacity of 12,000
people. We then drive to Nauplia for a short stop and then
continue to Mycenae to visit the remains of the pre-historic
citadel fortified with the cyclopean walls, the Lionesses'
Gate, the Mycenaean Palace and the Tomb of Agamemnon. We then
continue to Olympia, drive to Olympia, the birthplace of the
Olympic Games and the most important Sanctuary of Zeus.
Overnight: 4 star hotel (1 night) (B, D)
DAY 3: FRIDAY: OLYMPIA – DELPHI
After breakfast we will visit the archaeological site and museum
of Olympia. The museum contains most interesting exhibits such
as the pediments and the metopes of the Temple of Zeus, the
statue of Hermes by Praxiteles. We then drive to Patras, the
third largest city-port of Greece, to Rion where we cross by
car-ferry to Antirrion. Driving through Nafpaktos, we arrive
in Delphi, the Sanctuary of Apollo, home of the oracle. Check
into the hotel.
Overnight: 4 star hotel (2 nights) (B, D)
DAY 4: SATURDAY: DELPHI
In the morning we visit the archaeological site of Delphi.
We proceed onto the Sacred Way to the Athenian Treasury, the
Stoas (arcades), the Temple of Apollo, the Theater and the
remains of the Stadium. After our visit, we see below the road
the ruins of the gymnasium and of the Temple of Athena Pronoia
with the famous 4thth c. BC Tholos. We then visit the archaeological
museum, in which we can see among other treasures, the unique
bronze Charioteer. We then enjoy the rest of the day at leisure
in Delphi. (B, D)
DAY 5: SUNDAY: DELPHI-KALAMBAKA
In the morning we start our drive through central Greece passing
through the towns of Amphissa, Lamia and Trikala to Kalambaka.
In the afternoon we will enjoy a spectacular drive up to visit
Meteora. Colossal symmetrical gray and reddish boulders, as
though pushed upwards from the bowels of mother earth by an
invisible hand, sustain breathtaking beautiful monasteries
perched precariously high above the ground. First built in
the 14th century by monks seeking isolation and salvation,
accessible only by ropes thrown from above. We will climb through
steps built since. They are veritable Byzantine museums exhibiting
superb icons, old manuscripts and unique mosaics and frescoes.
Overnight: 4 star hotel (1 night) (B, D)
DAY 6: MONDAY: DION-THESSALONIKI
In the morning we will drive by Trikala and Larissa to the
famous sacred Macedonian town of Dion where we visit the archaeological
site. Then continue to Thessaloniki, the second largest city
of Greece. We will visit the most interesting museum of Thessaloniki
and enjoy a sightseeing tour of the city. Check into the hotel
in Thessaloniki.
Overnight: 4 star hotel (2 nights) (B, D)
DAY
7: TUESDAY: PELLA – VERGINA - BEREA
In the morning we drive to ancient Pella, the capital
of ancient Macedonia State and birthplace of Alexander
the Great.
In the
4th century BC the city was laid out in the familiar «Hippodameian» pattern
of regular rectangular building blocks with impressive broad
streets and a first class water supply network. The houses
were of the typical Greek style dwelling with a central courtyard
surrounded by a colonnade and open galleries. On the hill to
the West stand the remains of the citadel of the Hellenistic
period. We visit the excavation sites and especially the museum,
which displays sculptures, relief and mosaics of Classical
and Hellenistic times. Then we drive on to Vergina. Here we
visit the most important tomb ever discovered--that of Philip
II of Macedonia, the father of Alexander the Great; this tends
to conform to the hypothesis that Vergina is the ancient Aigai,
the first capital of Macedonia. Here we see the fabulous findings
from the tomb of Philip II, father of Alexander the Great.
Return to Thessaloniki passing by Berea (Acts 17:11) where
the Apostle Paul arrived, and according to his custom went
to the synagogue where, to his pleasant surprise, he discovered
that these Jews were “more noble” than those
he had encountered in Thessalonica. We see the Byzantine
mosaic
in the monument commemorating his preaching. According
to the local tradition, it was at this place where he stood
and delivered
his sermons (Acts 17:10-11). (B, D)
DAY 8: WEDNESDAY: THESSALONIKI- ATHENS
After a satisfying breakfast at the hotel, we will visit
the Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki before we take
the road
back to Athens. We pass through Katerini and gaze upon
the snow-capped Mount Olympus, the home of the twelve Olympian
gods and goddesses. We go through the Valley of Tempe,
Larissa
and Lamia. We stop at Thermopylae to see the statue of
Leonidas. It commemorates the historic battle between the
300 Spartans,
led by Leonidas and the Persian army of Xerxes in 480 BC
composed of thousands. We arrive in Athens in the evening.
Overnight: Hotel Stanley (2 nights) (B)
DAY 9: THURSDAY: ATHENS CITY TOUR
In the morning we will be picked up from our hotel for
our tour of Athens. Our tour begins with the Acropolis,
the site
of four of the greatest masterpieces of classical Greek
art – the
Parthenon, the Propylaea, the Erechtheum and the Temple of
Athena Nike – can be seen as symbolizing the idea
of world heritage. Our tour continues with the highlights
of
modern Athens: we pass by the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier,
Parliament
House, Presidential Palace, Panathenian Stadium, Temple
of Olympian Zeus, the Academy, the University and the National
Library. The rest of the day at leisure. (B)
DAY 10: FRIDAY TRANSFER TO PIRAEUS
At 8:30 in the morning we transfer to the port of Piraeus
for our 3-Day Cruise to the Greek islands and Turkey. Embarkation
and sail for Mykonos at 11:00 a.m. In the afternoon (6:00
p.m.),
call at Mykonos. It combines international jet-set atmosphere
and a very active nightlife. Stroll at leisure through
the whitewashed, flower-decked alleyways, climbing to the
sculpture
church of Paraportiani or along the waterfront of «Little
Venice» to the well-known windmills. Set sail for
Kusadasi at 11:00 p.m.
Overnight: Golden Star Cruise – inside D category
(3 nights) (B, L, D)
DAY
11: SATURDAY: KUSADASI (EPHESUS), TURKEY – PATMOS,
GREECE
At 9:00 a.m. we embark on the cruise ship in Kusadasi,
We set sail for Patmos Greece at noon. At 4:00 p.m. we
arrive
at this
beautiful mysterious rocky island in the Dodecanese,
reputed to be where St John the Theologian wrote both
his Gospel
and the Apocalypse. A monastery dedicated to the 'beloved
disciple'
was founded there in the late 10th century and it has
been a place of pilgrimage and Greek Orthodox learning
ever
since. The fine monastic complex dominates the island.
The old settlement
of Chorá, associated with it, contains many religious
and secular buildings. Here we have an optional tour to visit
the Monastery & Grotto and some free time for browsing.
Return to the ship for an evening sailing to Crete at
9:00 p.m. (B, L, D)
DAY 12: SUNDAY: HERAKLION CRETE, GREECE – SANTORINI,
GREECE
At 7:00 a.m. we call at Heraklion Crete, (Acts 27:7-13)
where our optional excursion takes us from the lively bustling
city
to visit the Minoan Palace of Knossos, legendary home of
the Minotaur (half bull and half man). Sail for Santorini
at 11:30
a.m., where we arrive at 4:30 p.m. Take a mule or the cable
car up to the white-washed town of Thera, perched high
on the rim of the ancient volcano, the eruption of which
(1,600 BC)
literally buried a flourishing Bronze Age town which has
now been excavated at Akrotiri. Sail for Piraeus at 9:00
p.m (B,
L, D)
DAY 13: MONDAY: PIRAEUS ARRIVAL – ATHENS DEPARTURE
At 7:00 a.m. arrive at Piraeus. Disembark after breakfast
and transfer with our representative to Athens International
Airport “Eleftherios
Venizelos” for your departure flight. (B)
|
|
B
= Breakfast
|
L
= Lunch
|
D
= Dinner
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Departure Dates |
|
2008
May 14, Jun 11, Sep 03 & 18
Note: The above tour can also be done departing from Kusadasi (Ephesus),
Turkey on May 10, Jun 07, Aug 30, Sep 13 & 27
and ending in Athens (13 days).
The tour cost will be increased by $310.00
extra per person.
|
| Prices |
| Season |
Tour
Price US$ / CA$ |
Single
Sup US$ / CA$ |
| 2008 |
3495
|
1125 |
| Tour
Price Includes |
Tour
Price Does Not Include: |
- Hotels as mentioned or similar
- Meals as mentioned (B-Breakfast, L-Lunch, D-Dinner)
- Golden Star Cruise (D cabin, inside category on full
board starting with lunch and ending with breakfast).
- Port taxes
- Sightseeing and transfers mentioned by seat-in-coach.
- Services of local English speaking guide
- Entrance fees to museums and sites included in the itinerary.
- Visa
Support as required
|
- International
Airfare
- Departure
Taxes
- Travel
Insurances
- Visa
Fees
- Drinks/Beverages
with meals
- Optional
shore-excursion during the cruise.
- Tips/Gratuities
to Drivers & Guides
|
| Estimated
International Airfare(not
included in tour price) |
| East
Coast |
US $ / CA $
1200 |
| West
Coast |
US $ / CA $
1400 |
| Please
note:
This tour operates with a minimum of 02
and a maximum of N/A
participants. |
| Other
Dates / Customized Itinerary / Languages |
In addition to our set programs we are also pleased
to offer customized tours.
Please do not hesitate to contact us to discuss your
individual needs.
Customized tours can be conducted in English, French,
German, Spanish or Italian. Each departure is conducted
in the designated language only. |
| Contact
Information |
|
|
Fax:
+1-604-264-7774
|
| 2068678
Greenall Ave |
Phone:
+1-604-264-7378 |
| Burnaby
B.C., Canada |
Toll
Free (US & Canada): 1-800-663-0844 |
| V5J
3M6 |
Email:
bestway@bestway.com |
|
30
years in small group journeys
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Site
updated April 04, 2008
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