Itinerary
Day 1: Delphi, Center of the Ancient World
Stop At: Monastery of Hosios Loukas, Distomo 32005 Greece
At the time of your choice, your informative & professional Tour driver will be at your Hotel reception or other residence promptly to escort you on your tour. Heading out of Athens an optional first stop is the UNESCO site and well preserved Byzantine Monastery of Hosios Loukas set in beautiful countryside where you can explore its 1100 year old Architecture along with its unique & impressive fresco's
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Delphi, Delphi, Phocis Region, Central Greece
Inset on wide terraces along the hillside we are fortunate that the landslides of previous centuries preserved much of the ancient remains for us to witness including the 4th century BC temple of Apollo from where the Oracle spoke her prophecies along with the Castilian spring of Mythology, theatre, treasury buildings, temples of Athena and Gymnasium where athletes gathered before the Pythian games to bath in the sacred waters. During your visit to Delphi, see the physical structures associated with this incredibly long history, and learn about their rich mythology. A beautiful addition to the site is the modern museum dedicated to the finds which stretch back in time to at least 1500 BC, as well as those notably which adorned the temples & streets of the ancient city at its peak around the 4th century BC with outstanding pieces such as the Naxos Sphynx, the twin Kouroi and famous Bronze Charioteer among others.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Arachova, Arachova, Boeotia Region, Central Greece
Lunch Stop. Spend time enjoying the local craft shops and wonderful views over the olive filled Pleistos river valley before your trip following the coast road towards Meteora
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Stop At: Kalambaka, Kalambaka, Trikala Region, Thessaly
In the evening you will arrive beneath the 'rock forrest' at the town of Kalambaka where you are free to explore its squares, cafes & traditional restaurants.
Duration: 10 minutes
No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Overnight in Kalambaka
Day 2: Meteora. The rock forest & its Monasteries
Stop At: Meteora, Meteora, Trikala Region, Thessaly
After breakfast we ascend towards the monasteries above. Built on a natural formation of sandstone rock pillars up to 1,312 feet high, the six remaining monasteries date from the 14th century and form a remarkable and awe-inspiring combination of nature and spiritual significance. We visit at least two of the most outstanding monasteries, normally the Grand Meteora Monastery, Varlaam or Agiou Stefanou, and learn about their long history and the hermits and monks that lived there alongside the majestic landscape views.
Duration: 3 hours
Stop At: Kalambaka, Kalambaka, Trikala Region, Thessaly
A relaxing & refreshing lunch stop in one of the central squares of the town before continuing
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Thermopylae 350 09, Greece
After our visit to the Monastaries we return south towards Athens for approximately 90 minutes to the site of Thermopylae, stopping to see the monument and enter the newly built Visitor’s Center which recreates the ancient battle where King Leonidas led the 300 Spartans in 480 BC. After pausing for lunch or a break by the sea in one of the many local villages we finally continue to your onward destination with the memories and images from these wonderful experiences.
Duration: 1 hour
No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.
See Availability.
Traveler pickup is offered
o Pick up time flexible on request
o Airport pickup and/or return is free if the arrival/departure dates coincide with your tour
o For Airbnb's please provide the exact address
o If you have luggage please provide details of quantity so we may provide the appropriate vehicle. A supplement may apply for a larger vehicle.
o Pick up from Thessaloniki & other areas of Greece possible. A supplement may apply
Airports
2 days(approx.)
Not wheelchair accessible
Stroller accessible
Service animals allowed
Near public transportation
Infant seats available
Most travelers can participate
LUNCH OPTION: You may add this later on request, or choose one of the booking options including lunch. Includes your choice of traditional menu in one of the best local restaurants. Vegetarian dishes available.
GUIDING/LICENSED GUIDES: Please note your knowledgeable tour driver can inform you en-route but can not enter Archaeological sites. You may add a guide for one or more sites on request, or choose one of the booking options that includes a guide.
VEHICLE: Groups of 1-3 with Sedan Car; 4-7 with Mercedes Minivan; 8-19 with Mercedes Sprinter
LUNCH OPTION: If your booking option has lunch included, please inform us of any allergies or related conditions
This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Posted By : Katie_K
We had an absolutely amazing 2 days touring Greece with Petros! It was so relaxing to be able to explore the sites on our own without having to worry about navigation and time tables. Petros was excellent company and provided lots of helpful information and background for our sightseeing. We appreciated his perspective and his wonderful recommendations. He also sent us recipes to try at home! We had delicious meals at the restaurants he arranged for us and the platinum package accommodations near Meteora were very charming and unique. We had lunch by the sea before heading back to Athens. Thank you Petros for a memorable tour!!
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Posted On : 2024-05-15
Posted By : 916aparnar
We started our trip with this itinerary and it was amazing. The best part was our guide Petros. He just made it all the more special. He is so knowledgeable, kind and engaging. Gave us great insights to all the places we went to and gave us extra tidbits on great spots. Took so much care in making sure were happy, were able to get vegetarian options at all spots we ate, just made the whole experience all the more enjoyable.
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Posted On : 2023-08-27
Posted By : catalinar667
This is one of the best tours we ever have been taken. We also took the half day tour in Atenas. Our guide/driver, Petros was amazing! He has a huge knowledge about Greece history and You can see how he really enjoys his job and loves his country. Our guide for the Acropolis was excellent!! We really enjoyed al the visit by her side.
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Posted On : 2023-08-27
Posted By : Juan_B
Wonderful experience! Excellent service, our driver Petros was incredible, he told us all the information about the places we went, all the history and stories. He really knows about the greek history! He recommended us a lot of beautiful places to eat. The hotel for the night was amazing. We loved the archeological sites, the food, the service and everything on this tour. We highly recommend the experience!
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Posted On : 2023-08-21
Posted By : KaciSTravels
Warmpenguin is top-notch. We searched for private tour that would allow us the best photography and cultural options and be easy to accomplish with a family of four. Warmpenguin was an excellent choice that we booked after reading reviews for all their tours and visiting their website. (Note that the price listed does not double with each member as other tour do, and for four there is plenty of space in the vehicle.) They are very responsive to questions and worked with us to get optimal sunset viewing at Meteora, our priority. If you are nervous in cars or have a family, please ask for Elias. He is an amazing person, so considerate, and without a doubt a professional driver. He has more than eight years experience with this company I believe and was ALWAYS safe and smooth in the driving. Since he is a family man himself, he understood when we needed to stop for snacks, an extra bathroom break, and even a pharmacy run. We laughed a lot together, and since he has done this tour many times, he knew how to make it "easy" such as the perk of dropping us off at an entrance and picking us up at an exit to save uphill walking in the heat. He also knows all the photo spots and was willing to take us to multiple places to get differing views as the sun changed. Since the roads are narrow, it is amazing to have a private driver who can edge into and out of the turnouts. I highly recommend him and hope he becomes your friend too. Delphi is a must see, and Varlaam was our favorite in Meteora. For those of you wondering about a group tour vs. a private tour, I can tell you that we would arrive at places before a crowd and could leave as wanted. This meant some sites we stopped quickly and moved on rather than having to wait for other tour members to load up or for a guide to buy and distribute tickets. At sunset we arrived an hour earlier (best time with the karst landscape) and stayed after the crowds left to get the orange glow. Perfect pacing, flexibility, and no bus schedules to worry about. I can't imagine not getting a chance to feel the calm serenity of this sacred area. For Delphi we hired a Warmpenguin guide for the fabulous museum who also kept us in the shade at the ruins. We loved all the chosen restaurants, and the owners gave us personal attention. Private drivers pick you up right outside your lodging, wait with the car during museum and site visits, and have their own meals separately at restaurants while also ensuring you never have to worry about tickets, bills, parking, tour guides, waters, proper air conditioning in the car, hotels, etc. All that means no organizing fatigue and better family harmony. I recommend booking an early departure to avoid traffic and have a chance to see the sunset, carrying day packs so your suitcases can remain in the back untouched, and using the trip as a way to transfer hotels if you need to save on that hassle. The distance between cities and even between monasteries in Meteora is farther than it looks on maps and their opening times vary so plan ahead for drive times if you have a particular goal in mind. Then know that you can trust Warmpenguin to get you there safely and with expertise.
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Posted On : 2022-07-13
Posted By : 882gerip
This company very easy to work with. Driver, Vasilis, is a walking encyclopedia for Greek culture. His English was perfect and always looking for ways to make our trip perfect. He fully explained to sites and their significance to the culture. A bucket list day for sure
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Posted On : 2020-02-21
Posted By : mtmartin10
Our trip was informative and beautiful, the driver was polite, helpful, and full of great information, and the ride was smooth and easy. We had a wonderful two days visiting amazing historic sites. We highly recommend this excursion!
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Posted On : 2019-11-09
Posted By : Irene B
Vasilios is a super tour guide. He is generous with his time, knowledgeable, charming and thoughtful. You are lucky if you get this guy as your guide. The trip to meteora was beyond our greatest imagination. He took us to superb, picturesque restaurants, little towns and unforgettable beach. One of a kind experience!!! Thank you so much.
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Posted On : 2019-10-02
Posted By : Tracy F
We just enjoyed the most amazing tour of Delphi, Meteora, and Thermopyhylae with our tour guide Yanis. He was extremely knowledgable and made our trip so enjoyable. The restaurants that he picked out for us were also outstanding. We can't say enough great things about this company. We will definitely book with them again!
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Posted On : 2019-06-03
