7-DAYS ‘THE FULL MACEDONIAN’ PACKAGE

• Thermopylae battlefield, museum and statue of King Leonidas
• Monastery of Grand Meteoro
• Varlaam Monastery
• City of Kalambaka

Pick up from Athens and drive to Kalambaka via historic Thermopylae, site of the battle between ancient Greeks and Persians that changed the course of European history. We see the battlefield, the statue of King Leonidas and the museum.

Then we drive to Meteora (where locals are known as ‘Meteorites’) to visit some stunning Byzantine monasteries clinging to rocks and hillside that have been classified by UNESCO as a World Heritage site.

The Monastery of Great Meteoron, built on the most imposing rock, is the largest and most formal of the monasteries and founded in the 14^th century by Saint Athanasios the Meteorite, the first man to organize a systematic monastic community. Nearby, the Monastery of Varlaam is named after its ascetic founder, who lived in a cave as a hermit and built a chapel on top of a rock. In the 16th century the chapel was enlarged and made into the present-day monastery.

Today’s final visit takes us to Kalambaka for lunch in a typical taverna where you can taste the delicious local cuisine.

Overnight near Thessalonika. Dinner at leisure

Info & Facilities

• Duration: approx. 10 hours

Included

• Pick up: from customer’s location
• Bottle of water
• English speaking driver
• Entrance fees for Meteora monasteries
• Typical lunch in the village of Kalambaka

An early departure for Almopia where we visit Loutra Pozar. Located in the foothills of Kaimamtsalan, the Pozar hot springs and thermal baths are the most therapeutic spas in Greece with excellent amenities and services. Here thermal waters gushing from the bowels of the earth and cascading into ancient baths and pools are a miracle of nature. They maintain a constant temperature of 37°C, creating an impressive water and forest landscape. The first observers of these healing springs included the historian Herodotus, and Hippocrates, regarded as the ‘Father of Medicine’.  As early as the 5th century BCE Hippocrates described the beneficial effects of cold and hot baths on the human body, as well as the many kinds of condition which thermal waters can ameliorate. Latter day Greeks have been enjoying this healthy experience for many centuries.

Lunch in the region of Loutra Pozar

Overnight at Thessaloniki. Dinner at leisure

Info & Facilities

• Duration: approx. 7 hours

Included

• Transportation
• Entrance at Loutra Pozar
• Lunch of regional delicacies

Today we travel back in history to the Macedonian Kingdom of Alexander the Great and Philip II and explore Pella. This ancient imperial capital city was where Alexander was born, raised and tutored by the great philosopher Aristotle. It’s a unique place and the perfect opportunity to admire the archaeological treasures of the glorious Macedonian Kingdom of Alexander and his father Phillip II, shining a light on Aigai, the first city of the Macedonians. Indeed the museum of Aigai is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Our tour also visits the new, modern museum as well as the archaeological site where we get to see the ancient market and the unique mosaics of the ‘Abduction of Helen’ and the ‘Amazonomachy’ (the battle of Amazons). There are also many objects and artifacts from daily life that demonstrate the lifestyle in antiquity.

We continue to Vergina and the Museum of the Royal Tombs of Aigai which house the Golden Larnax (funerary casket), an urn containing the ashes of Phillip II. It is marked with a 16-rayed sun, the symbol of Macedonia, known as The Star of Vergina which was the motif of the Argead dynasty. Among other relics on display are the golden oak wreath Phillip II wore on his funeral pyre, armor, and various grave goods  from other tombs and a small sanctuary called the Heroon.

Overnight at Thessaloniki. Dinner at leisure

Info & Facilities

• Duration: approx. 8 hours

Included

• Transportation
• Entrance at Vergina
• English speaking tour guide for the visit to Vergina
• Lunch in a typical regional restaurant

Today we start at the village of Nymfaio, a mountainous settlement (alt. 1,350m) a UNESCO heritage site classified as a preserved traditional settlement. Many travel guides suggest it is one of the ten most beautiful villages in Europe, and it has received the acclaimed Melina Mercouri International Award for excellent management of cultural stock and the natural environment. Surrounded by beech forest, the stone houses and cobbled paths make it a piece of living history.

We also visit the Arcturus environmental centre, which rescues bears that have been mistreated by owners and abandoned by zoos, and wolves which are considered impossible to reintroduce back into the natural environment.

Finally we will drive to the beautiful traditional city of Kastoria, famous for its lake, where we stay for the night. Dinner at leisure.

Info & Facilities

• Duration: approx. 7 hours

Included

• Transportation
• Entrance at Arcturus
• Lunch in a typical regional restaurant

Today we visit Prespa National Park, 327 sq. kms of amazing wetland beauty that has been designated as a ‘Landscape of Special Natural Beauty’. Two lakes here, Great Prespa and Little Prespa stretch along the northwest border of Greece making a water paradise in a dreamy landscape. It is a place of great serenity providing a feast for all the senses.

Perhaps the first thing to do upon arrival is stop talking and simply listen – the melodies of bird song are captivating as 260 species of birds live in this idyllic setting, coexisting harmoniously with over 40 species of mammals, 11 species of amphibians, 15 species of fish and 20 species of reptiles. It’s a great place for pelican spotting, especially the rose pelican and, if lucky, we might also see the rare silver pelican. If the fauna is diverse, the flora is even more impressive with more than 1,300 species of plants on show.

Whilst here we visit:

Agios Achilleios: an island in Little Prespa, reached via a floating footbridge. We’re here for the Byzantine and post-Byzantine archeological monuments, the most important of which is the 10^th century royal church.

Fishing village: a charming place with charming inhabitants who will offer you a first-class tour of the lake to see the impressive murals on the rocks.

Agios Germanos: the old capital of Prespa, located at an altitude of 1,040m, almost on the border with North Macedonia. It’s a real traditional local town.

Overnight at Kastoria. Dinner at leisure

Info & Facilities

• Duration: approx. 6 hours

Included

• Transportation
• Typical lunch in the region

Early morning departure from Kastoria for Athens or Thessaloniki for overnight pre-flight, with lunch en route.

Departure from Hotel to the Airport.