Wonders of Mainland Greece:
3 Days Delphi & Meteora tour
Unlike most of Europe, Greece’s traditional and rural culture is still very much alive, particularly in its mountain villages. Discover the awe-inspiring sites of Delphi and Meteora, where you will experience one the most spectacular combination of nature, history and culture in the world!
Embark on a journey of discovery through mainland Greece that will take you to the famed archaeological site of Delphi and the world-famous Meteora monasteries -both UNESCO World Heritage sites- but also to roads less traveled, like the Koziakas mountain range and the forest of the White River. Although Greece is inextricably tied to the sea, few people know that it is the mountains that dominate its landscape. With the help of a fun and knowledgeable private guide, during this Delphi & Meteora tour you will discover an unknown side of Greece and learn how these mountains shaped the local folks’ life, culture and traditions.
Day 1: Delphi Tour
After a morning departure from Athens, the ancient past meets the present in this spectacular exploration of the breathtaking site of Delphi, navel of the ancient World and oracle of the Gods. Here, you’ll marvel at the ruins of the Temple of Apollo and the Athenian Treasury. You’ll have plenty of time to soak in the magical scenery, after which it’ll be time to visit the Delphi Museum, where some of the finest examples of ancient Greek art are on display – including the world-famous bronze statue of the Charioteer of Delphi.
Then you’ ll head to Amfissa, the regional capital of Phocis, where Greece's last hand-made bell-maker will show you how livestock bells have been forged by hand in his family for generations; then you'll stroll through the cobbled streets of the old leather-tanning district. Here, in one of the last remaining tanning workshops in Europe, you’ll see what a tanner’s working life was, almost unchanged from a century ago up to today, and listen to the tanners’ stories – father and son – to understand what life is like today in this part of Greece.
You’ll then enjoy your lunch under the shade of the large plane tree in the town square, where you will taste local delicacies prepared for you by women of the village.
From Amfissa, you’ll then head north across the mainland to continue towards our Meteora tour. A few miles before reaching your destination, you will have dinner in a traditional family-run taverna in the foothills of Mt Koziakas. The food there is delicious, sourced from local farms and gardens, and the tavern itself looks like a setting from a Middle Earth fantasy, featuring a giant tree right in its middle! You will spend the night in a charming family-run guest house in the pretty village of Kastraki, right under the towering rocks of Meteora.
Day 2: Meteora Tour
Meteora is a stunning natural phenomenon, featuring towering sandstone columns, formed millions of years ago, all pointing heavenward. These remote rocky skyscrapers became dwelling-places for Christian Orthodox monks and, by the 14th century, large monastic communities were flourishing on the summits of many of these rocks. Today, six Meteora monasteries are still functioning, two of which you will visit. You’ll also walk and drive around Meteora, to make sure you soak in the sights and the awe-inspiring landscape before enjoying lunch in a nearby Kalambaka.
After lunch, you'll visit a local icon painter from a family of artists linked for generations to the monasteries here. In his tiny workshop you’ll have a chance to learn about his art and try out your skills in customizing an orthodox icon to take back home with you!
Then it's a stop at the small but original Book Museum, where you'll get to try your skills at Greek handwriting and find out about Greek classrooms of the past. The owner is a fascinating personality, a collector of rare books who decided to turn his passion into a private museum!
After the Meteora tour, we'll be heading south, to the little-known Forest of the White River, a wild area of small mountain villages hidden in the depths of a massive forest. Here, at a mountain lodge in perfect harmony with its surroundings, you’ll dine and spend the night under the warm hospitality of Mrs Eleni, the owner who fell in love with the region some 40 years ago.
Day 3: Greek mountain life tour
The next morning, you’ll embark on a Greek food tour to discover the local specialties and flavors of Northern Greece! First, you'll join a local shepherd and help him milk his sheep and goats before hitting a local kitchen for a quick cooking lesson: Pie making is on the menu today!
After work comes play; a swim at a beautiful river, a spot known only to locals. Close by is a charming small monastery rarely visited by tourists, which you will also visit.
Afternoon Greek coffee will be offered at a charming rustic outpost with far-reaching valley views. Here you will also taste Greek yoghurt and traditional ‘spoon sweets’, or fruit preserve, that Mrs Soula, the owner’s mother, makes year-round.
Then it's off to a nearby local winery to taste the area’s best wines, cheeses and cold cuts, before lunch at a local tavern. Here, you'll eat like locals, savoring wild mountain greens, juicy lamb ribs and other local specialties. With this wonderful meal in a village that you won't find in any tourist map or guide, your 3-day Delphi & Meteora Tour will be reaching its end, and satisfied in body and soul, you'll be ready for the ride back to Athens.
What's included
Top rated licensed guide to escort you (3 full days)
Long distance transfers with driver, luxury vehicle, gas, tolls (3 full days)
Two accommodations at traditional guest houses on the 4* scale
Delphi & Delphi museum guided tour
Meteora monasteries guided visit & hike
Holy Trinity guided visit
Visit to an old traditional village in Amfissa and local craftsmen (tanner, bell-maker)
Greek pie cooking class
Visit to a painter's workshop & byzantine painting activity
Greek language mini-course & exhibition visit
Food tour (Greek coffee, yogurt, traditional sweets, wine tasting, local cheeses & cold cuts)
Two traditional meals
Two traditional Greek breakfasts
Escorting guide’s and driver’s accommodation and expenses.
Hotel pick up & drop off
Taxes, 24/7 on-the-ground support, all travel planning and revising.
Not included
Entry fees to archaelogical sites
Dinner at Mt Koziakas (day 1) & lunch in Kalambaka (day 2)
Any food or drinks not mentioned in the tour's inclusions
The millennia Tour
5 Days Olympia, Nafplio, Mycenae, Delphi & Meteora
This five-day exploration takes you across thousands of years to the most awe-inspiring destinations in Greece, combining the wonders of Classical Greece with the amazing achievements that followed, all set against the country's peerless natural beauty. This journey throughout the scope of Greek history includes beautiful Delphi, ancient Olympia, mythical Mycenae, knightly Nafplio and mystical Meteora.
Day 1: Mycenae & Nafplio
The fabled Homeric city of Mycenae, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and capital of one of the oldest civilizations in the world, is where you’ll start your adventure into antiquity, by walking under the famed Lion Gate into ruins that are part history, part myth. While you’ll be literally walking in the steps of King Agamemnon, your expert guide will reveal every story, myth and legend that hide behind the imposing ruins of the citadel.
You'll then head towards the historic seaside city of Nafplio, where a scrumptious lunch awaits you in one of the best tavernas in town only locals know of. This romantic, picturesque town, the old capital of modern Greece, is crowned by Venetian fortifications and embraced by a beautiful seafront.
You'll visit local craftspeople, including a potter and a weaver at work in their workshops, to discover how they carry the traditions of the past into the present. You’ll also see a number of other local crafts and goods and a confectionery where the traditional almond pastries are still made the way they were generations ago.
From Nafplio, your trip will take you through the beautiful Peloponnesian countryside towards Ancient Olympia; along the way, you’ll stop at a beautiful honey farm, where you'll learn the secrets of the world-renowned Greek honey firsthand from a working beekeeper. You’ll also see her mother making “diples”, a traditional dessert drizzled with honey, cooked just for you in an outdoor kitchen under the trees!
You will spend the night near Ancient Olympia.
Day 2: Ancient Olympia & Galaxidi
The next morning belongs to Ancient Olympia, the most important athletic, religious and political center of the ancient Greek world. Here your top-rated guide will let you into the secrets of the temples, the training area and the original stadium where the ancient Olympic Games were born, and held for centuries. The on-site Archaeological Museum holds world-class masterpieces and treasures like the breathtaking statue of Hermes and the infant Dionysus, sculpted by Praxiteles.
Then it’s time for an unusual off-road adventure and an exciting lunch break: after an easy guided walk through a stunning gorge, you'll discover two impressive waterfalls where your lunch will be served, right by the river picnic-style, with home-made local specialties, cooked by local women. For the bravest of you, you’ll have the chance to swim there too!
After leaving the waterfalls, you’ll travel to one of the most picturesque seaside villages of Greece, Galaxidi, where you will spend the night.
Day 3: Delphi & Amfissa
We'll start the day by exploring Galaxidi, once a thriving port and home to some of the most powerful families of seafaring merchants in the Mediterranean Sea. Then we'll head to the regional capital of Amfissa, where Greece's last hand-made bell-maker will show you how livestock bells have been forged by hand in his family for generations; then you'll stroll through the cobbled streets of the old leather-tanning district. Here, in one of the last remaining tanning workshops in Europe, you’ll see what a tanner’s working life was, almost unchanged from a century ago up to today, and listen to the tanners’ stories – father and son – to understand what life is like today in this part of Greece.
You’ll then enjoy your lunch under the shade of the large plane tree in the town square, where you will taste local delicacies prepared for you by women of the village.
After lunch, it’s off to Delphi, sacred oracle of the ancient Gods. There you’ll marvel at the ruins of the Temple of Apollo and the Athenian Treasury. You’ll have plenty of time to soak in the magical scenery, after which it’ll be time to visit the Delphi museum, where some of the finest examples of ancient Greek art are on display – including the world-famous bronze statue of the Charioteer of Delphi.
From Delphi, you’ll then head north across the mainland towards Meteora. A few miles before reaching your destination, you will have dinner in a traditional family-run taverna in the foothills of Mt Koziakas. The food there is superb, sourced from local farms and gardens! You will spend the night in a charming family-run guest house in the pretty village of Kastraki, right under the towering rocks of Meteora.
Day 4: Meteora
Meteora is a stunning natural phenomenon, featuring enormous sandstone columns, formed millions of years ago, all pointing heavenward. These remote rock skyscrapers became dwelling-places for Christian Orthodox monks and, by the 14th century, large monastic communities were flourishing on the summits of many of these rocks. Today, six monasteries are still functioning, of which you will visit two. You’ll also walk around and drive among the rocks, to make sure you soak in the sights and the awe-inspiring landscape before enjoying lunch in a nearby Kalambaka.
After lunch, you'll visit a local icon painter from a family of artists linked for generations to the monasteries here. In his tiny workshop you’ll have a chance to learn about his art and try out your skills in customizing an orthodox icon to take back home with you!
Then it's a stop at the small but original Book Museum, where you'll get to try your skills in Greek handwriting and find out about Greek classrooms of the past. The owner is a fascinating personality, a collector of rare books that decided to turn his passion into a private museum!
You’ll then leave the Meteora towards the south, to the little-known Forest of the White River, a group of small mountain villages hidden in the depths of a massive forest. Here, at a mountain lodge in perfect harmony with its surroundings, you’ll have the chance to enjoy a Greek pie cooking lesson, dine and spend the night under the warm hospitality of Mrs Eleni, the owner who fell in love with the region some 40 years ago.
Day 5: Greek mountain scenery
The next day you'll start exploring the beauties of the region with a swim at a beautiful river spot known only to locals. Close by is a fascinating small monastery rarely visited by tourists, which you will also visit.
Then you’ll embark on a food tour to discover the local specialties and flavors of Northern Greece!
Afternoon Greek coffee will be at a charming rustic outpost with far-reaching valley views. Here you will also taste Greek yoghurt and traditional ‘spoon sweets’ that Mrs Soula, the owner’s mother, makes year-round.
Then it's off to a nearby winery to taste the area’s best wines, cheeses and cold cuts, before lunch at a local tavern. Here, you'll eat like locals, savoring wild mountain greens, juicy lamb ribs and other local specialties. With this wonderful meal in a village that isn’t featured in any tourist map or guide, you'll finish our mountain odyssey, satisfied in body and soul and ready for the ride back to Athens.
What's included
Top rated licensed guide to escort you (5 full days)
Long distance transfers with driver, luxry vehicle, gas, tolls (5 full days)
Four accommodations at traditional guest houses on the 4* scale
Delphi & Delphi museum guided tour
Meteora monasteries guided visit & hike
Mycenae & Mycenae museum guided tour
Ancient Olympia site & museum guided tour
Guided tour of Naplio town
Holy Trinity Guided tour
Visit to an old traditional village in Amfissa
Tannery visit & presentation
Bell maker visit
Pie cooking class
Painter visit & byzantine painting activity
Greek language mini-course, memorabilia & exhibition visit
Visit to local craftspeople (potter, weaver, confectionary)
Countryside bee farm visit & presentation, refreshments and a honey treat
Guided gorge & waterfall walk with professional outdoor guide
Four traditional Greek breakfasts
Food tour (Greek coffee, yogurt, traditional sweets, wine tasting, local cheeses & cold cuts)
Five traditional meals (dinner in hotel in White River area, lunch in Kalambaka, lunch near Delphi, Picnic style lunch by the waterfalls near Olympia, lunch in Nafplio)
Escorting guide’s and escorting driver’s accommodations and expenses.
Vat, 24/7 on-the-ground support, all travel planning and revising.
Not included
Drinks
Entry fees
Any food or drinks not mentioned in the tour's inclusions
