Ancient Greece Uncovered with Hydra Island

Upon arrival, meet your friendly tour manager and transfer to your hotel. This evening, you’ll have time to explore the many bars and restaurants of the renowned Plaka district of this cosmopolitan city.

This morning, you’ll tour Athens, which contains a wealth of treasures for its visitors. You’ll start with a visit to the famed Acropolis, the ancient citadel and its surrounding monuments sprawled across a rocky outcrop overlooking the city. Next, you’ll visit the Acropolis Museum, one of the most important museums in the world, which houses the findings of the archaeological site, Athenian Acropolis. Finally, you’ll enjoy a walking tour of Plaka, the neighbour that is situated at the base of the Acropolis and the oldest and most beautiful neighbourhood in Athens. The guide will lead you around its narrow-cobbled stone streets, family-run tavernas and sidewalk cafés.

After a leisurely morning, you’ll say a temporary goodbye to Athens as you continue your journey to visit the Argolis region. The first highlight of this fascinating day will be the Corinth Canal and hopefully you’ll get to see how ships navigate this man-made wonder. Next up is Epidaurus, a small city famed for its temple and theatre. Dating back over 2,600 years, the theatre was built with outstanding acoustics, which allows for people seated at the top of the theatre to perfectly hear sounds from the stage. It is also here that modern medicine first developed its theories and there’s an excellent museum dedicated to this.

Following breakfast, you’ll visit of the day is the UNESCO World Site of Mycenae, among the most important archaeological sites in Greece. According to mythology, this was the town of the legendary king Agamemnon, the leader of the Greeks during the Trojan War. This was also the setting of many myths in ancient Greek tragedies, especially the tragedies connected to Agamemnon and his family.

At the end of the day, you'll return to your hotel.

Today, you’ll visit the site of Olympia, the home of the Olympic Games movement. Before entering the main site, you’ll tour the museum of Olympia, which contains the remains of one of the Seven Ancient wonders of the world, the Temple of Zeus. During your visit of Olympia, you’ll learn the origins of the Olympic movement and perhaps for the more adventurous travellers, practice your 100m spirit at original racetrack, which dates back over two millennia. Often overlooked by most visitors, are the picturesque gardens which contains a wide variety of flora and fauna. In the evening, you'll return to the hotel.

Today, you’ll leave the Peloponnese to return to the mainland with your journey to Delphi. One of the highlights of this journey is to cross on the Rion-Antirion Bridge, which is one of the world’s largest bridges. There’ll be time to stop at the picturesque town of Nafpaktos, which has excellent views across the Gulf of Corinth. With its peaceful and tranquil atmosphere, you can enjoy a coffee or an ice-cream before continuing to Delphi for one night.

This morning, you’ll explore one of Greece’s most iconic sites, Delphi and its renowned museum. Containing a wide variety of ancient friezes, statues and ancient artefacts, this museum also houses the 5th century bronze sculpture of the Charioteer. From the museum, you’ll continue to visit the main site of Delphi, which dates to the era of Apollo and Zeus and the fabled oracle. A guide will take you around the magnificent treasury houses, the theatre and the ruins of one of the ancient world’s most holy sites. After your visit, you’ll drive through the picturesque Greek countryside back to Athens. There’ll be opportunity for you to sample typical Greek cuisine and hospitality with a final night in the Greek capital.

On your eighth day in Greece, board a ferry from Athens and cross the Saronic Gulf to Hydra, a charming island refuge on the Aegean Sea. Check into your charming hotel which prides itself on offering guests a taste of traditional Greek hospitality, this morning ahead of a relaxing three-day stay on the island’s pristine beaches and vibrant towns.

For history buffs, Hydra’s rich history promises wish-list-topping discoveries. Entirely pedestrianised and still lined with traditional Greek architecture, the island’s main towns are also dotted with a collection of historic houses and well-preserved mansions which proudly display its colourful past. Sharing the island’s cobbled streets is a charming sprawl of cafés, independent shops and seafront eateries which offers the perfect way to unwind and watch the world go by.

Why not embrace Hydra’s laid-back way of life with visits to the Mandraki Beach resort, the island’s only sandy bay, or along the imposing sea cliffs that overlook the pristine Aegean Sea.

Another day at leisure awaits on idyllic Hydra, and you'll be free to make the most of your time however you see fit.

It's your final day on the Aegean Sea and you'll have one last chance to tick off any remaining experiences you might have on your wish-list. Whether you're relaxing by the beach, or taking in the charming rural towns that dot the island, the choice is yours for ways to spend your day.

As your stay on Hydra draws to a close, make the most of a final evening in Greece ahead of your return flight.

Today, you’ll be transferred to the airport to begin your journey home.