3 NIGHTS NAFPLIO | 1 NIGHT OLYMPIA | 2 NIGHTS DELPHI | 4 NIGHTS ATHENS

Marvel at the 2,400 year old Parthenon • Sample ancient wine varietals at a countryside family vineyard • Stay in a shipping magnate's former mansion on the car-free island of Hydra • Visit a mountainside nunnery on horseback for morning coffee with the nuns • Gaze at the golden death masks of Homeric kings • Dine seaside accompanied by folk musicians • Sit in the best preserved ancient Greek theater overlooking the breathtaking Peloponnese landscape • Shop in the artisan boutiques of the Venetian built port of Nafplio • Embrace the land that has been the soul and inspiration of Western Civilization for over 5,000 years

Dear Friends and Family,

Yiasas! We are honored to have you joining us on this unforgettable journey through Greece. Our family personally invites you to share our favorite Greek experiences, from sailing the crystal clear waters of the Aegean Sea to standing in the world’s best preserved ancient theater to hearing the Apostle Paul’s words in their original context to the matchless pleasure of dining seaside late into the evening. Together we’ll explore a culture that has inspired the world for millennia and appreciate the generous hospitality of the modern Greek people. We look forward to sharing our beloved country of Greece with you.

Kalo taxidi,

Adam, Blake, David, and Elizabeth Sparks

12 DAY ITINERARY

Day 1 and 2 - Arrival
Depart USA, arrive Athens and transfer to Nafplio, Greece. Check in to our seaside hotel steps away from the historic main square of Nafplio, Greece’s first capital, and enjoy the stunning sea views from every room. After a welcome reception, we gather together for an authentic dinner at a local taverna. (D)

Day 3 - Nafplio | Epidavros
In the morning, we begin with an introductory meeting and a cultural orientation to life in Greece. We then set out to the ancient healing center of Epidavros, home to the magnificent Theater of Epidavros, the best preserved from the ancient world. After learning about the origins of Greek drama and comedy, we explore the adjoining Asklepion healing complex where doctors like Hippocrates first established western medicine. We’ll take a leisurely seafood at a seaside family run taverna. Return to the hotel to rest or wander the streets of Nafplio before we gather for drinks and dinner later in the evening. (B,L,D)

Day 4 - Mycenae | Peloponnesian Vineyard
Our day begins high above Nafplio at the haunting Palamidi Fortress. Built by the Venetians and subsequently taken by the Ottomans and Greeks, this ruined fortress offers stunning views of the blue waters of the Aegean Sea. We then visit the palace citadel of King Agamemnon, leader of the Trojan War, at Mycenae. We tour the Bronze Age site, including the underground cistern and beehive tomb of Clytemnestra, as we hear the words of the Athenian playwright Aeschylus who most famously told Agamemnon’s story. We then visit a countryside, family-run vineyard for a tour of the complex, a sampling of the wines, and a sumptuous feast. Enjoy a free evening in Nafplio with time to shop in the designer boutiques and relax along the cafe-lined harbor promenade. (B,L)

Day 5 - Ancient Corinth
Today we visit the biblical site of ancient Corinth as we explore the year and a half that the Apostle Paul spent in this community and the letters he addressed to its citizens. We visit the archaeological museum and the remains of the city center, which was the most important Roman city of the region, before celebrating communion among the ruins of this great city. In the evening, enjoy free time in Nafplio before we gather by the harbor for a festive dinner accompanied by local musicians at an outdoor seafood restaurant. (B,L,D)

Day 6 - Spetses | Hydra
Departing Nafplio, we set out on the most quintessentially Greek experience: sailing the beautiful waters of the Aegean Sea. Our first stop is the picturesque island of Spetses, home to the naval commanders that fought in the Greek War of Independence. After time for a carriage ride and a coffee in the serene old harbor, we set sail again, this time stopping in a hidden cove for swimming and enjoying the natural beauty. In the late afternoon, we arrive in unforgettable Hydra. This small island—an important naval harbor in the 18th century—has never allowed motorized transportation, making the quaint harbor the perfect place to watch the sunset and enjoy a quintessentially Greek evening of fresh seafood, plentiful wine, and good company late into the evening. We check into our hotel—the former mansion of an 18th century shipping magnate—for three blissful nights. (B,L,D)

Day 7 - Hydra
In the morning we are introduced to beautiful Hydra as we learn about its impressive history on a walking tour of town. Visit the beautiful cathedral and Orthodox Museum, the Historical Archives with their amazing collection of 18th and 19th century naval artifacts, and the preserved house of the Greek painter Panagiotis Tetsis. In the early evening, we gather together for a drink as we watch the sun set over the endless waters of the Aegean. (B)

Day 8 - Hydra
The day is at leisure to enjoy magical Hydra. For an unforgettable experience, sign up to take a horseback ride on ancient paths high above Hydra town. At the end of the journey, visit a 150 year old convent and potentially share a coffee with the two elderly nuns who still care for the nunnery. Spend the day shopping in the local boutiques, admiring the island’s famous art displays, or soaking up the sun on a pristine beach. Overnight Hydra. (B)

Day 9 - Athens | Piraeus, Athens, Acropolis Museum
Departing Hydra, we arrive in the port of Piraeus, home to the main Greek naval fleet since ancient times. After lunch in a refrubished traditional stoa, we take a quick journey to Athens, the greatest city of both ancient and modern Greece, as we check in to our hotel at the foot of the Acropolis. Our exploration of this city’s matchless heritage begins at the impressive Acropolis Museum, as we examine the world famous Parthenon Marbles up close. In the evening, we gather on our hotel’s wonderful roof garden for drinks and the world’s best views of the Parthenon before heading to the Plaka traditional marketplace district for dinner. (B,L,D)

Day 10 - Athens | Acropolis, Parthenon, Areopagus, Plaka
We begin our exploration of the Acropolis at the Theater of Dionysus, the birthplace of all drama and comedy. As we ascend the dramatic rock of the Acropolis, we pass the Odeon of Herod Atticus, Propylaea, and Temple of Athena Nike before standing in the shadow of the architecturally stunning Parthenon. After admiring its optical refinements and the panoramic views of Athens, we continue to the Areopagus and hear the words of the Apostle Paul’s 1st c. sermon to the Greek pagans in its original setting. We continue to lively Monastiraki Square for lunch before free time to shop in the festive Plaka traditional marketplace. The afternoon and evening are free to continue exploring this cosmopolitan city. (B,L)

Day 11 - Athens | National Archaeological Museum, Cape Sounion
The morning is free to shop in the boutiques of the Plaka, tour one of Athens’ amazing museums, hike on the nearby Hill of the Muses, admire the grandiose Temple of Athenian Zeus, watch the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, or simply enjoy a coffee at one of the myriad streetside cafes. In the afternoon, take a visit to the National Archaeological Museum, home to the world’s single greatest collection of ancient Greek antiquities. We then head out to unforgettable Cape Sounion, where we enjoy a festive final dinner and closing meeting at a seaside taverna. We then visit the beautiful Temple of Poseidon, located on a promontory high above the Aegean Sea at the edge of mainland Greece, as we watch the stunning sunset over the distant waters of the Aegean Sea. (B,D)

Day 12 - Depart
Depart for stunning Santorini for an optional 4 day extension, or depart Greece as lifelong lovers of this legendary land!

OPTIONAL POST TOUR EXTENSION

Santorini Island

Rightly considered one of the most beautiful places on the planet, the island of Santorini is the crown jewel of the legendary Greek islands. Enjoy three unforgettable nights in world famous town of Oia at your traditional cave house perched high on the rim of an ancient volcano with breathtaking views of the picturesque whitewashed chapels, and take a catamaran cruise over the crystal clear waters of the Aegean Sea.