Best of Greece

Athens, Greece

IT
Imprint Tours
  • Email address verified
119 reviews
Oct 19 - 30, 2024
Group size: 12 - 26
Best of Greece
Athens, Greece

Imprint Tours
  • Email address verified
119 reviews

Oct 19 - 30, 2024
Group size: 12 - 26

About this trip

Greece, the cradle of western civilization. For westerners, there is no other place on earth that better represents, symbolically and practically, our roots and history. Around every bend in the road, at every stop along the way, the stones and earth of Greece carry our story. But this alluring land offers more than rich history: great food, great wine, beautiful landscapes and vistas, colorful traditions, music and dance to name but a few. Join Imprint Tours for a sampling of the best this country has to offer. The treasures of Athens - the iconic Acropolis and National Archeological Museum, Delphi - navel of the world, Meteora - mystical monasteries on dramatic spires, charming Naphlio, restful Stoupa, stunning Santorini, the ancient sites of Mycenae, Epidavros, Olympia, Akrotiri and much more. 

Available Packages

Double/Twin

For couples.

Price is per person based on double occupancy.

$3,295
Deposit:$600
Single Traveler

For individuals traveling alone, paying the Single Supplement.

$3,995
Deposit:$600
Single Willing to Share

For the individual who doesn't want to pay the Single Supplement and is willing to share a room with a traveler of the same gender.

Note - If Imprint is unable to find a traveler willing to share you will be required to pay the Single Supplement.

$3,295
Deposit:$600


Itinerary

Best of Greece
Best of Greece

Day 1 Athens
Meeting
Our hotel is near the pedestrian-friendly and centrally-located Monesteraki Square and the Plaka neighborhood. At the end of the afternoon we'll meet on the roof-top terrace for a quick "Welcome to Greece" get-together. Afterward, we’ll spend more time getting to know one another and having dinner together in a traditional Greek taverna.

Day 2 Athens
Acropolis; Acropolis Museum; Agora|
Our morning begins with guided tours of the Acropolis and Acropolis Museum. The afternoon and evening are yours to explore Athens’ many museums and the Plaka's labyrinth of inviting streets, squares, shops and cafés.


Day 3 Naphlio
National Archeological Museum; Corinth Canal; Greek Music & Dance
The National Archeological Museum is our first stop today. We’ll see the famous Mask of Agamemnon and treasures from early Cycladic to Hellenistic sculptures from all across Greece. Then we’ll depart Athens and head for the Peloponnese, stopping for a photo op at the Corinth Canal. We’ll continue to beautiful harbor-side Naphlio in time to explore before dinner. We’ll be accompanied by live music and afterword - Greek dancing.

Day 4 Naphlio
Ancient Mycenae; Traditional Pottery
After breakfast we’ll visit nearby Mycenae with our ace guide where we’ll tour the ruins and walk in the footsteps of Agamemnon. The museum houses a veritable treasure trove of artifacts from the site and we’ll tour a classic “Beehive” tomb. We’ll enter the site through the famous Lion’s Gate. Afterwards we’ll visit a pottery factory/institute where the next generation of Greek masters are being trained in the five traditional styles. We’ll return to Naphlio for a free afternoon and evening to relax or explore. Climb the 999 steps to the mighty Palamidi Fortress ruins that overlook Naphlio or take a boat out to tiny Boursi Fort in the harbor.


Day 5 Naphlio
Epidaurus; Wine Tasting
This morning we’ll  explore the nearby Sanctuary of Asclepius and the ancient amphitheater at Epidaurus. This was a primary hospital site for the ancient Greek world. We’ll learn about their approach to medicine and health before finishing at the famous theater. The acoustics here are simply splendid - an amazing accomplishment of ancient building technology. After a free afternoon we’ll indulge in a wine tasting.


Day 6 Stoupa
Medieval Monemvasia
Today we’ll head into the heart of the Peloponnese, stopping at the town of Monemvasia. Often referred to as Greece’s Gibraltar, this fortified Medieval gem hugs the side of the great rock surrounded by the Aegean Sea. After our explorations we’ll return to the modern world and settle in idyllic Stoupa, a tiny hamlet tucked into a crescent shaped bay on the Mani Peninsula.

Day 7 Stoupa
Free Day
After some orientation, the day is all yours. Stoupa is an ideal place to enjoy a “vacation from your vacation.” Options include relaxing on the beach, hiking in the nearby gorge, and enjoying some grilled seafood at a seaside taverna.


Day 8 Delphi
Ancient Olympia; Museum
We'll make an early departure today and drive north through the mountainous western Peloponnese, often along the coast of the Ionian Sea. It is mostly a travel day but we’ll squeeze in one amazing sight. We’ll break up the drive with a visit to Ancient Olympia. Our guide will make these ruins come alive with tales of the world’s most famous athletic competition.

Day 9 Meteora
Ancient Delphi; Museum
After breakfast we’ll tour the evocative ruins of ancient Delphi and visit its museum. The dramatic location makes it obvious why it became a center of spiritual pilgrimage more than 25 Centuries ago. In the afternoon we’ll drive into the rugged heart of Greece, destination Meteora. We’ll arrive in time for happy hour and dusk views of the magnificent natural spires of this mystical destination.

Day 10 Santorini
Meteora Monasteries; Santorini Flight
Our last day on mainland Greece will begin in spectacular fashion with a guided tour of several of the 14th century monasteries which grace the tops of the dramatically jutting pinnacles and cliffs of this unique geological area. Our afternoon will be spent driving south through Attica, passing such historical sights as Thermopylae and Marathon before being dropped at the Athens Airport for our evening flight to Santorini (flight included).

Day 11 Santorini
Island Excursion - Oia; village visit; Akrotiri; Wine Tasting
This is our excursion day for Santorini but there is plenty of time to relax on your caldera-view terrace for the morning. We’ll depart in the morning for a visit to a village and learn about non-touristy everyday life on Santorini. Next up, Ancient Akrotiri, the Minoan era settlement. We’ll make a lunch stop at a classic Santorini beach enroute to art-oriented Oia with the best view on the island. In the evening we’ll gather for a final dinner together.


Day 12 Tour Over After Breakfast
The tour officially ends with breakfast. Imprint will assist with airport or port transfers.


 [Itinerary details & hotels subject to change]

 

What’s Included:
11 nights accommodation; All breakfasts, 5 dinners, 1 lunch; All tour transport (bus, airplane); All tips (Imprint tour manager, local guides, meals, hotel staffs, drivers); Full-time services of a Imprint tour director, local guides; All entrances: National Archeological Museum, Acropolis, Acropolis Museum, Epidaurus, Mycenae, Olympia, Olympia Museum, Delphi, Delphi Museum, Meteora monasteries, Akrotiri; All activities: Corinth Canal, Monemvasia, Santorini island tour - Oia, beaches, village; wine tasting, and more.

Important exceptions:
Tour participants are responsible for the cost of drinks, free-time sightseeing & meals, expenditures of a personal nature, and flight baggage overage fees.

Your Organizer


IT
Imprint Tours
119 reviews
We at Imprint Tours believe travel broadens horizons, introduces new ways to see the world, equips us with a new frame of reference for evaluating our own society, breaks down prejudice, and promotes global understanding. Therefore, we endeavor to “Travel with Intent”: an intention to take a reflective, introspective approach; connect with the cultures we visit; and balance the enjoyment of discovery with responsible travel. We want our “imprint” on the planet to be light and our “imprint” on the local culture to be positive.

Reviews

This trip completed a 15-year bucket list travel dream. We were thrilled to find that Imprint tours would again be offering this combination trip. We were exceptionally pleased with the wide variety of sites and experiences included, which provided a well-rounded experience. We felt safe at all times. The experience of other cultures can be uncomfortable at times, but in our minds, this is what makes a travel experience authentic. Imprint tours provided an organized, detailed, engaging tour. But the true talent of Imprint is the ability and willingness to pivot when plans do not go as expected. In travel that happens, and it is the true professional who cares about their participants who can quickly swivel and provide an equal or better experience. This is where Imprint shines. This small travel company deserves 5 stars for caring for clients.
By Peggy Denise B for Egypt and Jordan on Nov 29, 2024
Fantastic trip! Our tour guide, Reid, is so knowledgeable about history and shared great information throughout the tour. The sites, the views, the food, and our travel group were amazing.
By Susan S for Best of Greece on Nov 08, 2024
Fantastic tour. Reid was an excellent tour guide. The expert guides at the various locations were also very good, especially the ones in Athens, Epidaurus, Delphi, and Olympia. My friend and I arrived 2 days early and stayed at the tour hotel in Athens. It was in a convenient location, had an outstanding breakfast, and a helpful staff. We appreciated the informal history presentations by Reid on the bus, and the regularly scheduled restroom breaks. I think Imprint Tours attracts seasoned travelers who understand the importance of staying on a schedule and following instructions when traveling in a group of 24. We all got along well. We especially appreciated the extra early morning visit to Meteora for picture-taking when there were no crowds or other tour buses. A special thanks to Reid for sharing with us various local snacks. I purchased the sesame “candy” at Duty Free to bring back to the U.S.
By Deborah C for Best of Greece on Nov 08, 2024
Enjoyed the experience- friendly travelers, informative guides, saw lots of the countryside, amazing bus driver, delicious food.
By Susan S for Best of Greece on Nov 08, 2024
LG
I would describe this tour as good, not great. That is mainly because I've traveled to many other countries and have seen a lot that looks like Greece elsewhere. The tour guide at Olympus (Niki?) was fantastic and she made it so much more interesting than I expected. Conversely, the guide in Santorini was fake, forced and not interesting. Santorini was a disappointment - what's the point if you don't see the famed blue domes? It's just another touristy island. The wonderful guide in Athens (Fani?) was excellent and I wish we could have spent MUCH more time with her. The tours of the two museums (Acropolis and Archeological) were much, much too rushed. Those of us who enjoy museums wanted a lot more time there. If it can't be incorporated into the itinerary, we need advance warning that we should plan to spend a day or more before or after the tour to see what we want. If I had known the museums would be so abbreviated, I would have extended my time in Athens. The free day we had (vacation from our vacation) was not good because of the location. The hotel view was spectacular, no doubt, but there was nothing to do. Expecting us to walk up and down the incredibly steep steps (on the shortcut) to the town is not reasonable. Not having a golf cart or some kind of transportation to town is not reasonable. Travelers don't bring heavy books to read so there's nothing to read in English to kill the time. No spa, no massage, no local market, no nothing. At our age, sunbathing is not something we do, either. I don't travel to hike (can do that anywhere in the US). Pick a different town where there's something to do. So, for beginner travelers, I'd say that this tour would have been wonderful but for me as an experienced traveler, it didn't give me anything unique or especially noteworthy.
By Lura G for Best of Greece on Nov 08, 2024
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