5 Day Tour: Exploring Ancient Greek Paths, Captivating Zakynthos, and Majestic Turtle Gulf
4.8
10 Ratings
Embark on a 5-day adventure through ancient Greek paths, captivating Zakynthos, and the majestic Turtle Gulf. Explore iconic sites, swim with friendly turtles, and marvel at crystal-clear waters.
Duration: 5 days
Cancellation: 3 days learn more
Highlights

Athens - Mycenae - Epidaurus - Nafplio - Olympia

Corinth Canal - Your tour begins with our driver picking you up from your Athens hotel and heading south. We’ll make a brief stop at the renowned Corinth Canal.

The Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus - Next, we arrive at Epidaurus to visit its ancient theatre, which seats 15,000 spectators. Believed to be named after the Argolid Epidaurus and the birthplace of Asclepius, Apollo’s son and a healer, Epidaurus is famous for its sanctuary and theatre, both still in use today. The cult of Asclepius at Epidaurus dates back to the 6th century BC.

Archaeological Site Mycenae - We then proceed to Mycenae. The Lion Gate, the main entrance to the Bronze Age citadel of Mycenae, was built around 1250 BC. It features a relief sculpture of two lionesses or lions and is the only surviving monumental piece of Mycenaean sculpture. This gate is also the largest sculpture from the prehistoric Aegean and the only one described in classical antiquity literature.

Nafplio - Our journey continues to Nafplio, home to the Venetian fortress of Palamidi and the fortified islet of Bourtzi in the bay. Here, you can enjoy a delicious meal.

Olympia - We will arrive in Olympia for an overnight stay.

Olympia - Honey, Olive Oil and Food Tasting - Zakynthos

Archaeological Site of Olympia - At 09:00, our driver will take you to the archaeological site of Ancient Olympia, where the first Olympic Games were held in 776 B.C. Located in the lush valley of the Alfios River, the site includes the temple of Zeus, which once housed one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, the gold and ivory statue of Zeus by Phedias. You’ll also see the temple of Hera, the shrine of Pelops, the Council house, the Treasury houses, the Gymnasium, the Palestra, and the stadium with its original marble starting blocks. Despite its remote location, Olympia was a major religious and athletic center in ancient Greece.

Market of Ancient Olympia - We’ll visit the flea market for a delightful experience of free wine and olive oil tasting, sampling unique blends of olive oil and iconic Greek olives.

Klio’s Honey Farm - Next, we visit a local honey farm where you can relax with coffee or juice and enjoy handmade local desserts made with honey produced on the farm for generations.

Killinis - You’ll be transferred to Kylini port to catch the ferry to Zakynthos.

Zakynthos - Upon arrival in Zakynthos, our driver will take you to your hotel for check-in.

Zakynthos - Cruise to Shipwreck (Navagio) and Blue Caves

Porto Vromi - Our driver will take you to Zakynthos Marina for a local boat cruise, one of the best ways to explore the island. The cruise departs at 09:00 and returns around 17:00. We’ll visit the Blue Caves and the Shipwreck, spending 1.5 hours swimming. There will be a photo stop at Porto Vromi, followed by stops at Agalas Caves and Keri Caves, including a big photo stop at Turtle Island.

Laganas - The gulf of Laganas and Kalamaki is teeming with friendly turtles. If you’re lucky, you might get to swim with them.

Agios Nikolaos - Another major swim stop is in the area of St. Nickolas, Basilikos, where the boat anchors for about an hour.

Keri Village - At the end of the cruise, our driver will take you to the “KERI” area to admire the panoramic sunset and enjoy a delicious dinner before returning you to your hotel.

Zakynthos - Delphi - Meteora sunset tour

Zakynthos - After breakfast, we’ll take the ferry from Zakynthos port to Killini to continue the tour to Delphi.

Delphi - We’ll cross the impressive Rion-Antirion bridge, one of Europe’s largest, to reach Nafpaktos, a charming seaside town where we’ll stop for coffee and admire the Venetian Castle and Port. Then, we’ll head to Delphi to visit the Ancient Oracle, the Stadium, the Ancient Theatre, and the Museum of Delphi, home to the famous bronze statue, the “Charioteer.” Delphi is renowned for its oracle at the sanctuary dedicated to Apollo.

Arachova - Afterwards, we’ll visit Arachova, Greece’s most famous winter resort, for coffee or lunch. This traditional yet modern town sits at an altitude of 1000 meters.

Kalambaka - We’ll leave Arachova and drive to Meteora. Upon arrival in Kalambaka, you can check into your hotel before witnessing the breathtaking sunset at Meteora. Marvel at the natural beauty of the rock formations and the monasteries perched atop the cliffs.

Meteora - Athens

Meteora - At 09:00, our driver will take you to visit Meteora, where you’ll see ageless monasteries containing priceless historical and religious treasures atop huge rocks. We’ll visit the Varlaam Monastery, founded in the 16th century, and the Monastery of St. Stephan, built in the 15th century, both offering stunning views and valuable artifacts.

Thermopylae - We’ll return to Athens, passing through the towns of Domokos and Kamena Vourla, and stopping at Thermopylae to see the statue of Leonidas, commemorating the battle of the 300 Spartans against the Persian Empire. We’ll arrive in Athens, concluding our tour and dropping you off at your hotel.

Athens - In the afternoon, we’ll drop you off at your hotel, marking the end of our services.

What's Included
  • Complimentary Goody Bag upon meeting
  • Roundtrip ferry tickets between Kyllini and Zakynthos ports
  • Travel in comfort with a private air-conditioned vehicle
  • Professional English-speaking driver knowledgeable in Greek history
  • Breakfast included
  • Scenic day cruise around Zakynthos
  • Convenient hotel pickup and drop-off
  • 4 nights’ accommodation provided
What's Not Included
  • Tour Guides (Available with extra cost)
  • Hotel City Tax
  • Gratuities
Additional Information

Join our unique 5-day best-selling tour in Classical Greece, featuring an excursion to Zakynthos, celebrated as the Turtle Island. This tour presents a golden opportunity to explore the most highly sought-after sites in Greece and take a dip in the charming island of Zakynthos where, if you’re fortunate, you’ll share a swim with a massive, yet affable turtle!
Experience the majestic Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus, recognized globally as one of the finest. Explore the historically rich town of Mycenae. Embark on a journey around Nafplio, the most romantic coastal town in Greece. Immerse yourself in the spirit of the inaugural Olympic Games with a tour of ancient Olympia.
Venture into Zakynthos (Zante), with its spell-binding transparent water and unwind on the sandy beaches. Take a scenic boat cruise to marvel at the breathtaking Blue Caves and the Navagio Shipwreck.
Relish a visit to Delphi, once considered the nexus of the world. And finally, pay a visit to the architectural wonders of the Meteora monasteries, majestically poised ‘between Earth and Sky’.

  • All of our drivers have high experience and will gives general information for each site and many suggestion for restaurant etc. But are not licensed guide. So we strongly suggest you to book local tour guides in each place
  • Note that we arrange double sharing room, for 2 persons & a triple room for 3 persons, if you wish other type of rooms please ask it with extra cost
Cancellation Policy

If you cancel at least 4 day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a full refund.
If you cancel within 3 day(s) of the scheduled departure, you will receive a 0% refund.

Customer Ratings
4.8
(10 Ratings)
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P8412fibarbaraa
May 20, 2023
Ancient Greece - What an amazing culture! - My daughter and I enjoyed an amazing 5 day tour of Ancient Greek sites. But it was so much more than that. Aggelos, our driver, gave us insights into Greek culture, politics, everyday life and most importantly, the history of the sights we visited. The car was great and everything was extremely well organised. We had some interesting adventures along the way and Aggelos handled problems with ease. The sites themselves were absolutely mind-blowing and will stay with us forever. To touch the ancient stones at Mycenae, to see the ruined Temple of Zeus, to see the stadium at Delphi were just a few of the many highlights of the trip. I would recommend this company to anyone. We have had the best tour!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Christy
May 13, 2022
Awesome 5-day tour of central Greece - This is a great itinerary for seeing a lot of key sights and countryside. Spyros was a great driver and very thoughtful. He arrived early, and we left Athens on time. We stopped often enough for restrooms and snacks/meals. The sights were awesome. 4*Hotels were nice, and the one in Meteora was very charming. It was nice to have 2 nights on Zakynthos island, to limit the packing/unpacking process. Spyros stays with the van to protect everything so you feel safe leaving your luggage. There were not any guides to hire at the sights when we went, so we read the signs, which were in English and Greek. I recommend taking the smaller private van rather than tour bus, as we controlled the timing, saw more, and stopped for photo opportunities whenever we wanted. The highlight for us was the Zakynthos boat ride to the shipwreck as the water color was intense/rich blues as we have never seen. Ask for Spros as his English is fluent and his humor ….”forget about it” ……He’s got this!!
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Z5903hxcrystalp
Dec 2, 2021
5 Days of Perfection - Private Greece Tours was an excellent experience for our trip to Greece. The booking process was easy with very friendly correspondence. The driver was amazing (Spyros). Always very friendly and professional. Gave us tips on restaurants and commentary throughout the trip. We got the additional guides at sites when possible. This was an excellent choice as well. The guide met us at each site and told us the history and explained what we were seeing. The hotels were very nice and close to town centers for easy walking to get dinner. It was a perfect stress free 5 Days of travel to some amazing sites. We didn't have to worry about anything as far as booking or transportation timetables.
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Joycecalderon
Sep 11, 2021
Memorable tour! - I’d like to thank Dimitra & Effie for both of their help arranging the tour for us. It was supposed to be 5-day Classical but when I told them we only have 4 days left, they happily curate the trip so we can go to those we really wanted to see. Transacting with them was very easy. They assigned Nikolas aka Nikos as our driver & guide and we couldn’t be much happier. Travelling at this point of time, safety & health are so important and this private tour made us feel secured while enjoying Greece. Nikos was always on time, always courteous and very impressionable. He always made sure we were comfortable on our seats and pickup/drop-off locations. You’ll appreciate it since the places we visited required a great deal of walking. He is mindful of time and kindly remind us when needed without feeling rushed. Aside from driving well, he happily shared history stories & facts about certain places we passed by or visited. It was truly a memorable experience and we’d be happy to book with them again next time we go back to Greece. And we’d definitely recommend Nikos for the drive! Efharisto, from our family of three!
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Amaxwelllegacy
Apr 22, 2020
Absolutely The GREATEST Private Greece Tour With SPIROS!!!! - We did a 5 day classical tour across Greece and it was absolutely amazing!!! We booked our trip very last minute (not recommended), literally a week and half before we decided to leave... Private tours Greece by Ioannis K. Tsoros was very accommodating... First they made adjustments to the 5 day tour, and was able to customize it into 4 days because we had to fly out a little earlier than planned. This trip was the absolute best we have ever had with many thanks to SPIROS! He is absolutely amazing! It was our first time in Greece and SPIROS made sure we had the best experience!!! He is very knowledgeable, friendly and inviting, and could not have had a better person provide us with this Tour! We are forever grateful. We are definitely planning another trip to Greece and we would not tour with any other company other than Private tours Greece by Ioannis K. Tsoros and would definitely have to make a special request for SPIROS to provide our next tour. Thank you SPIROS!!!
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Traveler26084
Sep 29, 2019
Excellent 5 Day Classical Tour - We did a 5 day Classical tour across Greece with the very good driver Nikos who provided plenty insights into Greek culture and lots of laughs along the way. The accommodation was excellent, the food amazing and Nikos was professional and punctual. We would highly recommend this tour and Nikos who provided an experience that exceeded expectations. 特别推荐给中国游客们! 如果你不想开车的话这是个不错的选择。
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Joey
Jul 13, 2019
Private Tours Greece is #1 - Let me begin by saying the customer service is excellent. The sales manager, Dimitra, took care of absolutely everything we needed plus more. All tours/tour guides/fees were taken care of before we arrived. The tour guides were excellent and very knowledgeable. The itinerary was planned out perfectly to maximize enjoyment of this beautiful country. While the sites were incredible, the true highlight of our trip was our driver, George. Uncle George was indispensable. His personality, knowledge, humor, kindness, and friendly attitude truly made the trip as good as it could possibly have been. He routinely went out of his way to provide us with the best of everything. He went above and beyond. I can't say enough about how amazing this man is. We met him as a stranger and left him as a friend. He became part of our family. Look no further than Private Tours Greece for anything and everything Greece related. They are the best.
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Dtsafis
Jul 2, 2019
Excellent private tour with Spyros - Our group of 4 took the 5 day classical tour to Olympia, Zakynthos island and Meteora with many other stops and sights in between. From the enquires to booking, this company were very professional and easy to communicate with. The itinerary is very busy but covering many interesting places that we would not have been able to visit on our own. The vehicle was very clean and comfortable and although we had paid for 3* hotels, the ones in Olympia & Zakynthos were 4* - added bonus! But the highlight of our tour was our fantastic driver - Spyros Theodorelos! This young man was not only extremely professional, insisting on opening our doors, but he was very personable and had a good sense of humour. Spyros is a very careful and experienced driver - a very important aspect in Europe. He went above and beyond to ensure we saw the very best of Greece in those few days. We also booked the Athens and Cape Sounion tour and specifically asked for Spyros again. We do not hesitate in recommending Private tours Greece but make sure you ask for Spyros!
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Tracy
Jun 7, 2023
George made the trip!! - 7 of us friends, including 3 couples, took the 5 day tour. It was a great time, and we learned a lot. Having the tour guides at each spot was really helpful to hear about the history without having to read about it ourselves. A warning though…it is A LOT of driving. The last two days are basically all day in the van. Also, due to wind, we didn’t get to do our boat trip to Shipwreck Beach while on Zakynthos. No one’s fault, but I hadn’t really thought about the potential of missing that. But I have to say that our driver, George, was absolutely awesome!!! He was SO much fun and accommodating and you could tell he wanted to give us the best experience possible!! HUGE thanks to George for making the trip great!!
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June 2024
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