ITINERARY GREECE

Day 1 - Depart UK Airport to Arrive Athens International Airport (built for 2004 Olympics to include Archaeological Museum). Courier Assisted Coach Transfer to Athens Hotel for Dinner. Evening in Psiri, a small up and coming area with pavement cafes and small shops.

Day 2 - Early morning walk to Areopagus Hill (site of St. Paul’s Sermon) via Apostolou Pavlou (passing Agora, Hephaestion, Pnyx and Areopagus) for daily 0800hrs official opening of Akropolis with formal Military Retreat and Presentation of Arms. Visit Sanctuary of Athena (Propylaea, Parthenon, Erechtheion, Nike and Museum) before descending to walkway, Roman Odeon and Stoa en route to Theatre of Dionysus and Dionysiac Sanctuary now dedicated to the Virgin. Coffee Break in Small Square by Theatrical Lysikrates Monument in Plaka, before visiting Hadrian’s Arch and Temple of Olympian Zeus. Lunch in Plaka. Afternoon at National Archaeological Museum. Return to Athens Hotel for Dinner. Evening walk via shopping district of Ermou, to Syntagma Square to view Metro Station and in-situ Archaeological Display, Changing of the Guards (Evzones) outside Boule Government Buildings and finally ice creams and drinks in Kolonaki to people-watch the ‘rich and beautiful’ Athenian Café Society.

Day 3 -  Early start for drive through Attica to Thorikos (unique rectangular Theatre of Demeter and Ergasterion),  Lavrion Silver Mines Museum and Sanctuary of Artemis at Brauron. Marathon Museum and Toumba of Athenians and Plataeans (the latter complete with glass topped skeletons of battle victims – key by private arrangement only). Return transfer via Sanctuary of Poseidon, spectacularly set on the edge of Cape Sounion, site of suicide of King Aegeus, father of Theseus after the latter’s successful victory over the cannibalistic Minotaur in Crete. Sunset Dinner at Taverna in Bay below opposite ship sheds. Athens Hotel.

Day 4 – Full Day Excursion (via Piraeus Museum) to Aegina. Aphaea Temple and Museum, Aegina Town, Apollon Temple and Museum – time for beach relaxation, shopping, ice creams and even a horse drawn carriage ride. Return to Athens Hotel. Evening at ‘Greek Night Out’ – Dinner, music, singing and dancing. Rather Touristy – but Staff may wish for an evening of some relaxation. All areas are secure. Bar staff will refuse alcohol to pupils if insisted by Teaching Staff.     

Day 5 - Morning at Agora (Ancient Market Place and Political Centre) and Museum. Kerameikos (Ancient Cemetery) and Museum. Early Afternoon Transfer to Delphi via working Byzantine Monastery of Ossos Loukas and short stop at Mountain Village of Arakhova, parking permitting. Delphi Hotel and Dinner.

Day 6 – Very early rise to climb foothills of Parnassos, passing Rock Cut Chamber Tombs to view sunrise over Delphi and Port of Itea. Return to Hotel, having bought seasonal fruit at outdoor market to supplement breakfast. Visit archaeological display and site model in main street before descending to Athena Pronaos and Gymnasion. Retrace steps to purificatory Castalian Spring (and inevitable water fight!) before entering Temenos of Apollon (and Pythia). After Museum, Coach Transfer to beachside Taverna in Port of Itea for lunch.  Short stop at Heritage Port of Galaxidi (parking permitting) before Olympia Hotel and Dinner.

Day 7 – Site of Olympia (and now FOUR Museums). Sprinting Compulsory!  Lunch at Family Restaurant before afternoon drive to Apollon Bassae and mountain village of Andritsina. Hotel and Dinner at Tolo.

Day 8 - Medical Sanctuary of Epidavros, Site, Museums and 1800 seater Theatre to Apollo with excellent acoustics. Mycenae Sites and Museum – Agamemnon’s Bronze Age Citadel “Rich in Gold” where he was murdered by his “she-man” wife. Lunch and free time at Nafplion, the beautiful Venetian First Capital of Modern Greece, overlooked by Fortress Palamidi. Return to Hotel and Dinner. Evening walk to Assine to climb a Mycenaean Staircase, spot a Megaron hearth place and identify a Drafted Margin. Evening at leisure.

Day 9 – Day Cruise and BBQ. Return to Hotel and Dinner. Evening at leisure.

Day 10 – Nemea (Site of Herakles’ slaughter of the Lion) Museum, Temple to Zeus, unique Greek Spa Baths and only extant Stadium complete with Propylaea and vaulted Athletes’ Entrance Tunnel. Corinth Site and Museum. Transfer via Corinth Canal to Elefsina (Eleusis), Site and Museum. Return to Athens International Airport for flight to UK Airport.