ATHENS 59ºF - 64ºF

Welcome to Europe!!! Upon arriving at the airport we will be waiting to transfer you to your hotel. You can enjoy free time until your tour starts. Please, check the informative posters placed at the hotel reception area which have all the information about your upcoming services such as meeting place, time and the guide’s name.

ATHENS 59ºF - 64ºF

TODAY´S HIGHLIGHTS: City tour in Athens. Evening transfer.We will enjoy a panoramic tour of the city with a local guide which includes the Presidential Palace, the Panathinaikos stadium where the first modern Olympic games were held, the national library, the bustling squares of the center; the new neighborhoods that emerged after the 2004 Olympic games. The tour will end at the Acropolis site (entry not included). In the evening we include a transfer to the PLAKA quarter, a place full of small Greek taverns where you can also enjoy this country´s folklore.

ATHENS 59ºF - 64ºF - KAMENA VOURLA 59ºF - 68ºF - KALABAKA

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT: Meteora Valley with entrance to a Monastery. Dinner included. We set off in the early morning for the North of Greece. A stop at KAMENA VOURLA, a beautiful tourist centre by the sea amidst magnificent countryside. Continuation northbound. We make a brief stop at the gorge where the battle of Thermopylae took place. We will visit KASTRAKI, a picturesque village with beautiful views over the whole valley. Time for lunch before visiting the Valley of the METEORA, an impressive place declared Unesco World Heritage. We will see the whole of the valley and will have the chance to enter one of the most famous monasteries (entrance included). Dinner and accommodation.

KALABAKA - METEORA - METSOVO 46ºF - 46ºF - CORFU 57ºF - 61ºF - LEUCADA

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT: Corfu, ferry crossing- An exciting day full of beauty. We travel between mountains on our way to METSOVO. A coffee in this city that reminds us of the history and influence of the Slav and Turkish world in the north of Greece, before going on to IGOUMENITSA, where we will embark for the very beautiful island of CORFU. A one and a half hour crossing of the waters of the Ionian Sea in front of the coast of Albania, we suggest lunch on board. On the island of Corfu, the Pearl of the Ionian Sea, we see its capital KERKIRA which preserves its Venetian style historic centre. We also see KANONI a beautiful Byzantine church perched on an island. We embark once more to return to continental Greece, before going on to LEFKADA. Accommodation in the picturesque capital of this small island connected to the continent by a bridge.Note: on some high difficulty dates, some groups can be accommodated in Preveza.

LEUCADA

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT: Day cruise: Islands and Ionian sea. Small lunch included. Today, the main feature is the sea and the islands of the Greek Ionian Sea. We embark on a day’s cruise that will take us to PORTO KATSIKI and its beautiful beach; CEPHALONIA, the largest island of the Ionian Sea, where we can stroll in the picturesque village of FISCARDO; ITHACA, the homeland of Ulysses and a chance to see the village of FRIKES; the boat then enters a hidden grotto in MEGANISI. Our boat also stops at SKORPIOS, the island of Onassis, where we can swim. A small lunch will be included on the cruise. Return to the port of Nydri where we disembark and return to our hotel in Lefkada. Note: on rare occasions, the route of the boat trip might be changed (or completely cancelled or the number of islands visited changed) due to the weather or for operational reasons.

LEUCADA - NAFPAKTOS 57ºF - 61ºF - DELPHI 54ºF - 63ºF - OLYMPIA 70ºF - 70ºF

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT: Archaeologica complex of Delphi. Dinner included. We travel to the south of the Ionian Sea and the Gulf of Corinth. We see NAFPAKTOS, where its castle reminds us that this city is Lepanto, where the famous sea battle between Christians and Turks took place. Amidst very beautiful countryside we go on to DELPHI, where we arrive at the end of the morning. Entrance included to see this beautiful archaeological complex which overlooks the Golf of Corinth with incredible scenery. Time for lunch. We go on to the Peloponnese. Dinner included.

OLYMPIA 70ºF - 70ºF - PATRAS ANCONA - BOAT

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT: Olympia´s archeological site. Patras Cathedral. Overnight voyage from Greece to Italy.We will visit OLYMPIA´s archeological site with a local guide. You will have a chance to visit its museum and archeological site (ticket included) which was the cradle of the Olympic games in ancient times. After this, we cross the mountainous interior of the Peloponnese. We continue to PATRAS where we visit the Orthodox cathedral of the city, the largest in Greece. Time for lunch.At 17.30 (the time may change) we board a very modern ferry, much more like a cruiser. The ship sails along the Greek coast, passing the islands of Ithaca and Kefalonia and making a stop at Igumenitsa. Accommodation in double cabins with bathroom.Notes: Sometimes, due to the weather, the servicing of the ship or changes in times, strikes, or if the ferry is full, we might take a different ferry from Igumenitsa or travel to Rome by plane. Breakfast on the ferry is not included.

PATRAS ANCONA - BOAT - ROME 39ºF - 48ºF

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS: Ferryboat-Loreto. Morning resting on board on our journey through the Adriatic. Arrival in Ancona scheduled at 14 hrs., disembarkation and continuation to LORETO, time to visit the sanctuary of the Holy House, the house of the Virgin Mary, and to tour its beautiful medieval town. After that we cross the Apennines amidst beautiful countryside in the Abruzzos region. ROME -Arrival at the end of the day-.

ROME 39ºF - 48ºF

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS: City tour of Rome. Roman Coliseum (admission price included). Evening transfer to the Trastevere area. In the morning, we have a scenic tour, which will be a great introduction to “The Eternal city”. We will visit the tiny state of the Vatican, the epicenter of Christianity in the world. You will be able to visit St. Peter’s Basilica. We have included admission to the Roman Coliseum, the symbol of Rome. This impressive con­struction dates back 2,000 years and will transport us in time so that we can learn about ancient society in the Roman Empire.At the end of the evening we arrange a transfer to Trastevere area for a stroll in the narrow cobbled streets of the district with hidden treasures, such as some modest medieval churches, small shops with the most peculiar of objects or scenes of daily life. Many trattorias (informal Italian eating establishments) and osterias (inns) imbued with the Italian spirit will be ready to serve you local dishes. Other restaurants serving Indian, Chinese and international food can be found in this area. Return to hotel.

ROME 39ºF - 48ºF - FLORENCE 50ºF - 55ºF

TODAY’S HIGLIGHTS: Tour with a local expert from Florence. View from Piazzale Michelangelo. Today we will leave Rome, heading north. This route has beautiful landscapes. Arriving in FLORENCE, we head straight to the impressive Piazzale Michelangelo. In the evening we take a tour with a local expert, walking through the historic center, taking in places such as the Ponte Vecchio, the Duomo, and Plaza della Signoria. This city is truly an outdoor museum. Enjoy some leisure time to explore. In the evening you will have time for dinner, as, in this district you can find many restaurants serving international cuisine.

FLORENCE 50ºF - 55ºF - VENICE 66ºF - 68ºF

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS: Boat on Venice’s Canal. Visit and admission to the St. Mark´s Basilica. Admire the technique of crafting Murano Glass.Today we enjoy stunning mountain landscapes while crossing the Apennine Mountains. We will arrive in VENICE and take the boat and cross the Giudecca to the Island of Venice. With a local guide, we will visit the marvelous St. Mark´s Square and enter the Basilica (entrance included). Afterwards, we will visit the Murano Glass Factory. It is fascinating to see the technique of how this ancient glass is made. Enjoy some time at leisure to explore. Accommodation in the Mestre district.

VENICE 66ºF - 68ºF

After breakfast, end of our services.