10 Days Private Tour: North Greece

We will start this magical 10 days tour with a stop at Hosios Loukas Monastery to admire its unique Byzantine frescoes, then we will cross the cosmopolitan Arachova before we reach the centre of ancient world, Delphi. After the archaeological Site we will stop at an unbelievable lookout known for its great scenery, from where you will see the Corinthian Sea, the port of Itea and the valley full of olive trees (olive sea). We will overnight here.

Our first stop is going to be the monastery of Hosios Loukas. The monastery is located in a picturesque valley overflowing with olive trees. Worth noticing are its decorations and fine architecture, they are an excellent example of the second golden age of Byzantine art (11th -12th century). In particular its golden mosaic decoration and fine architecture are protected by UNESCO. 

Our next stop is the mountainous Greek village of Arachova, very close to a ski resort. It is full of traditional houses and shops selling local products. You can walk through the village with its narrow roadways and shops on the central street having a breathtaking view of the mountains full of olive trees literally in front of you.  

This was an ancient Greek sanctuary with a PanHellenic character dedicated to the god Apollo. It functioned as an oracle and was considered ‘the naval’ the center of the world. To this day Delphi is a symbol of Greek cultural unity. The scenic location allows you to view of the Greek mountains along with two more sites the gymnasium and the secondary sanctuary of Athena Pronea. 

Called the centre of the world, Delphi was the most famous ancient Greek sanctuary with a Pan Hellenic character dedicated to the God Apollo. At the site you will visit the temple of Apollo where Pytheia spoke to the oracles, the theater, and the stadium, while a little farther lies the temple of Athena Pronea and the Gymnasium.  

 In the museum you will be able to see some splendid findings such as the famous charioteer and Gold Ivory statues. 

After leaving Delphi we will visit the place where Leonidas and his 300 gave their last battle in Thermopylae. Then we will drive to the unique site of Meteora (suspended), to admire the monasteries hidden on top of massive rocks. Meteora is protected by Unesco. Finally we will head to Kalambaka village, in the shade of the rocks, to overnight.

We will visit the battlefield of Thermopylae’s, travelling through time you will feel the presence of all who died for their freedom against the Persians. 

Next, you will see the statue of Leonidas standing right opposite Kolonos Hill where the persisting Spartans left their last breath.

In the historical center of the site you will enjoy an informative 3D movie, traveling through the time you will feel the presence of all who died for their freedom under a foreign conqueror. 

Following, we will continue with a drive through the mountains, not taking the national highway, to see the real Greek country side. Passing by the cities of Lamia, Trikala and Karditsa we will reach Kalambaka, a beautiful small city that is dominated by the Meteora. You will have time to visit the Merteora Monasteries and enjoy a local dinner after settling at the hotel.

We will visit the monasteries and a closer look at the holy rocks. On the rocks that are like suspended in the air (that’s what Meteora means) there is one of the largest and most important complexes of Eastern Orthodox Monasteries still in use. Meteora combines natural beauty and cultural heritage a fact that make them a unique destination between the world’s monuments. 

The Great Meteoron is the biggest and most impressive monastery of the six.

The Holy Monastery of Agios Stefanos is one of the few female monasteries of Meteora. The exact date of the monastery's construction is unknown but according to some evidence it was built in the 15th century.

Roussanou is is also a nunnery, with great frescoes, hidden in the trees. 

We will drive to the oldest Oracle in Greece, in Dodoni and then to the scenic town of Ioannina to explore some hidden treasures and overnight.

Set on the western shore of the lovely Lake Pamvotis, Ioannina is one of northern Greece's most atmospheric cities, and one of its more cultured and wealthy, as it was famous throughout the Ottoman Empire for its silver artisans. The walls of its old fortified city, the Kastro, enclose a tranquil quarter, spiked with minarets, and an island in the lake is a quiet, car-free escape. Just before Ioannina we will reach the region of Perama. Here you can visit the Cave of Perama, this timeless cave (covering a distance of 1,5 km) is full of openings with beautiful formations of stalagmites and stalactites created 1,5 million years ago.

It is the biggest museum of wax effigies in Greece and also a great heritage in our history. Everything in this museum, from the moment their idea was perceived until the stage of its creation, was handcrafted by a man, who wanted to enliven elements of his country’s history with lots of love and passion.

We will drive to the Ancient Greek Oracle of Dodoni where a huge site is preserved. It reveals where the ancient Greek theater, the Temple and the Oracle of Zeus functioned. The sanctuary of Dodoni was a major spiritual area in ancient Greece. It was the oldest of the Greek oracles and ancient people traveled great distances in order to consult the priests who foretold the future.

We will drive to the mountainous Zagorohoria (Villages of Zagori) to admire the incredible landscape. Then we will drive back to Ioannina to explore the Lake and the castle before we overnight.

Continuing our tour we will depart from Ioannina for a day tour in Zagorohoria. This is a group of picturesque, elevated villages and small bridges above the river. There you will have a traditional Greek lunch before we return back to Ioannina to spend the rest of the day.

The lake is also one of a kind as it is the only one in the world that has a small inhabited island and it’s just across from the city.

Enter the castle’s big gate bearing the coat of arms of Ali Pasha (the area’s Ottoman ruler during the late 18th – early 19th c.); it was a period when Ioannina was the administrative centre of western and central continental Greece, then a part of the Ottoman Empire. Read about his great love for Kira Vasiliki, a Christian lady who became his wife, and the story about killing Kira Frosini, his son’s lover. During his rule, the town of Ioannina developed into a major educational, political and cultural hub.

Firstly we will visit Metsovo, a small mountainous town with traditional architecture. Then we will visit Vergina (Aigai), the first capital of the Macedonian Empire with the Royal Tombs protected by Unesco before we arrive at Pella, the birthplace of Alexander the Great. Finally we will head to Thessaloniki to overnight.

This tree-shaded village, retaining its traditional character, dots the mountain side below Katara Col in the Mountain Range of Pindos. Metsovo is full of life throughout the year generously offering you its natural surrounding beauties. Particularly during winter, the famous vlach village, birthplace of various national benefactors, is Epirus’ beloved tourist destination. 

The city of Aigai, the ancient first capital of the Kingdom of Macedonia, was discovered in the 19th century near Vergina, in northern Greece. The most important remains are the monumental palace, lavishly decorated with mosaics and painted stuccoes, and the burial ground with more than 300 tumuli, some of which date from the 11th century B.C. One of the royal tombs in the Great Tumulus is identified as that of Philip II, who conquered all the Greek cities, paving the way for his son Alexander and the expansion of the Hellenistic world.

You will be able to visit the museum that developed around the original location of the Royal Tombs full of their golden belonging and more importantly you will face the imposing tomb of Philip II, father of the Alexander the Great.

Pella is one of the most important sites of the Hellenistic Period. It was chosen to be the capital of the huge Macedonian Empire in the end 5th century BCE. The archaeological site consists of public baths, sanctuaries, villas of wealthy Macedonians with unique mosaic decoration and of course the Agora of the city. The city originally covered an area of 400 hectares and it gradually became the cultural and commercial center of the empire. Most important, Alexander the Great was born in Pella. 

The museum of Pella is a modern museum that opened in 2009 and has nothing to envy from other Greek museums located in big cities. 

We will drive to Thessaloniki to overnight. Thessaloniki is the second largest city of Greece and the most important centre of the area. Built near the sea (at the back of the Thermaïkos Gulf), it is a modern metropolis bearing the marks of its stormy history and its cosmopolitan character, which give it a special beauty and charm. If you visit it once, you always return.

We will drive around this beautiful city to see all the highlights of the co-capital. The White Tower, the Arch of Galerius, the Rotunda, the Roman Agora and the Cathedral of the Patron Saint Demetrius, the city wall and the Ano Poli (upper City) that offers you a breathtaking view of the city and the Aegean Sea.Then we will have a traditional northern Greek lunch at the region of “Ladadika”. The rest of the day will be free to enjoy more of the city at your own pace visit museums, walk in Aristotelous Square or visit the central commercial streets.

The White Tower of Thessaloniki is a monument and museum on the waterfront of Thessaloniki. The present tower replaced an old Byzantine fortification, known to have been mentioned around the 12th century, that the Ottoman Empire reconstructed to fortify the city's harbour sometime after Sultan Murad II captured Thessaloniki in 1430. The tower became a notorious prison and scene of mass executions during the period of Ottoman rule.

The emblematic monument of Thessaloniki, was constructed in the early 4th century AD, on the turning point between the pagan with the Christian world, probably as a temple for ancient cult worship or as a mausoleum for Constantine the Great (306-337). 

One of the most characteristic monuments is the Arch of Galerius, located on the upper side of the Via Egnatia, a short distance from the Rotunda. 

The Arch of Galerius is a glorious monument, whose purpose was not practical, but memorial and honorary. It is a triumphal arch built shortly before 305 AD to honor the Roman Emperor Galerius, after the final victory over the Persians. The triumphal arch that was positioned perpendicular to the ancient Egnatia, which crossed the city (west to east) forming a part of the Roman Palace of Galerius, which was developed through the current squares of Navarinou and Hippodrome.

The Heptapyrgion is a Byzantine and Ottoman-era fortress situated on the north-eastern corner of the Acropolis of Thessaloniki. Despite its name, which means "Fortress of Seven Towers", it features ten, and was probably named after the Yedikule Fortress in Constantinople. It served as the major redoubt of the city's acropolis, as well as the seat of its garrison commander in Ottoman times, until the late 19th century.

The Church of Saint Demetrius is the main sanctuary dedicated to Saint Demetrius, the patron saint of Thessaloniki, dating from a time when it was the second largest city of the Byzantine Empire. It is part of the site Palaeochristian and Byzantine Monuments of Thessaloniki on the list of World Heritage Sites by UNESCO since 1988.

Underneath the Church is the place where St Demetrios, along with other Christians of the early Roman period, were martyred.

After breakfast we will head to the most important archaeological site of North Greece, Filippi and then to Kavala to overnight. Kavala is amphitheatrically built on the slopes of Mt. Symvolo forming one of the most picturesque cities in Greece. The city’s breeze sweeps through its historic buildings, which perfectly reflect the city’s modern character. 

Philippi used to be the most important Roman Colony in eastern Macedonia. It is also a popular religious destination known for Saint Paul visit around 50 A.D. And above all it was here that Paul founded the first Christian Church in Europe. You will have the opportunity to explore the Roman City with its agora, theatre and basilicas as well as the archaeological museum of Philippi. 

You will have free time in the city to see the Acropolis and the old castle, the archaeological museum, the tobacco museum, the historical buildings or just have an evening walk by the sea.  

We will drive towards the site of Dion following the national highway, reaching the village of Dion we will find the site and the archaeological museum of Dion, an ancient Greek city named after Zeus (in Greek Dias) that preserved its importance in the Macedonian Period. Then we will head to Litohoro to overnight in the shade of mount Olympus.

Here Philip II and his son Alexander the Great made sacrifices to the Gods after conquering the Ancient Greek world and from there Alexander The Great started his expedition towards to Asia. It was a city with of a huge strategic importance according to the Macedonian Kings. Today you can visit sanctuary of Isis and other Egyptian Gods, the oldest sanctuary of Goddess Dimitra, a Hellenistic theater, a roman theater and a stadium, the mansion of Dionysos with its wonderful mosaic decoration and many more public and private buildings. 

Located in the present-day settlement of Dion, only 500 meters from the entrance of the archaeological space, the museum displays finds from various excavations over the years. The finds have been organized according to the areas from which they were excavated on the site, and include discoveries from ancient Pydna and other archaeological spots in Pieria. In the basement visitors can watch an educational film titled «Daily Life in Ancient Dion», and screenings of audiovisual materials related to ancient Dion and Olympus.

We will drive on the foothills of mountain Olympus to reach the mountainous, scenic village of Litochoro where we will stay the rest of the day. Litochoro is the closest location to Mt Olympus at sea level making it a popular destination for people that want to start climbing up the mountain. So we will stay on the foothill of the highest mountain in Greece, of the mountain were the 12 Gods of Olympus lived according to the Greek Mythology.

We will drive up to Pelion, the legendary mountain towering above Volos. The mountain that, according to mythology, was the summer residence of the Olympian Gods and the land of the Centaurs. Pelion is considered to be one of the most beautiful parts of Greece. Full of small villages with unique architecture and great views.

Then we will drive to Volos to overnight. Volos is a beautiful city with an ancient and rich history but also a cultural, flourishing city, with intellectual creation that harmoniously incorporates the neoclassical with the modern.

Pelion is a mountainous peninsula sitting in Thessaly. Thanks to its diverse natural landscape, it is a wonderful destination for both summer and winter holidays. If you manage to peel yourself away from the beautiful Pelion beaches, you should go sightseeing to discover the stone-made churches in the area. And, of course, don’t miss to taste the local delicacies at the delightful traditional taverns of Pelion. Mount Pelion is a popular destination for hiking lovers and weekend mountain climbers. Near Hania, there is also a ski resort for skiing lovers, whereas an abundance of mountain routes and trails are ideal for mountain biking and horseback riding. 

Tsagkarada lies 500m above sea level on the eastern side of Mt. Pelion, along a densely wooded area, looking out to the Aegean. Here, nature is dominant with chestnut and plane trees, being twisted around every single old and new construction of the sparsely-populated village. Treat yourself a cup of coffee at the central square of Agia Paraskevi, where the great Plane Tree counts a life of at least 10 centuries.

While in the city don’t miss out on the famous “tsipouradika” of Volos, the area where you will enjoy the standard tsipouro accompanied with wonderful seafood dishes. The city has over 350 tsipouradika. 

After breakfast you will have free time to wander around the sea side enjoying a coffee or mayby swim before we return to Athens.

We will drive back to Athens.