Day 1: Drive from Athens to Corinth Canal (short stop). Visit Epidaurus and the famous Theatre. Short stop in Nafplio (photo stop) and proceed to Mycenae. Visit the Tomb of Agamemnon and the Archaeological Site and drive on to Olympia. Dinner & overnight.

Day 2: OLYMPIA. Visit the Archaeological Site with the Sanctuary of Olympian Zeus. See the temple of Zeus, the temple of Hera, the spot where the torch of the modern Olympic Games is lit, the Stadium, and the Archaeological Museum.
Continue to Delphi crossing the Corinthian Bay, driving on the bridge to Antirion. Drive by the beautiful towns of Nafpaktos(famous Lepanto for the Spaniards), Galaxidi and the port of Itea. Dinner and overnight in Delphi.

Day 3: Visit the famous oracle and see the Temple of Apollo, the Treasury of Athenians and the Museum with great sculptures such as the Sphinx monster, the athlete Aghias and the bronze Charioteer.
After lunch depart for Kalambaka the town at the foot of the gigantic sandstone rocks of Meteora.

Day 4: METEORA, meaning “suspended in the air”. You will visit 2 Monasteries and see unique specimens of Byzantine art.
Depart from Kalampaka to Thessaloniki, the second largest city of Greece (dinner & overnight).

Day 5: THESSALONIKI. In the morning explore the city that during the Byzantine Empire was the “co-reigning” city. Visit the Museum of Byzantine Culture and the most characteristic churches of the Christian world. The rest of the day you are free to see more of the city. Dinner & overnight.

Day 6: Departure for the historical Greek Macedonia. Visit Edessa, the city with the waterfalls. Second stop at Naoussa where Aristotle, the great philosopher, taught morals and politics to Great Alexander.
Continue to Vergina (ancient Aigai). Visit the royal tombs of King Philip, Alexander’s father, and the unique museum.
Last stop is Veria (Biblical Berea). See the Bema of St Paul. Stroll through the old Jewish neighbourhood and the market area and return to Thessaloniki for dinner & overnight.

Day 7: Today you visit Pella, the birthplace of Great Alexander. In the museum you see the exquisite floor mosaics of the 4th c.
Next stop is in the Archaeological Park of Dion, at the foot of Mt Olympus, residence of the 12 Olympian Gods. Return to Athens arriving late in the afternoon.

In 4* hotels sharing a double/twin bedroom, 990.00 € per adult.
Single travellers in a single 4* star hotel bedroom is 1190.00 €.

The price includes:

* 6 nights accommodation in 4 star hotels
* 6 Dinners & 6 breakfasts
* The services of the professional tour guide throughout the tour
* Entrance Fees to the sites and the museums visited
* Pick-up service from or near your hotel (see the list of hotels in the footer)
* Transportation by modern air-conditioned coach
* All taxes except the hotel overnight tax

Astoria Travel,
48 Stadiou street, Athens 10564, Greece.
Tel. +302103250380, +306932888585.
Click here and send us a message

Day 2: The morning is free to explore the ancient site of Delphi. After lunch depart for Kalambaka through the town of Lamia. On the way, a shortstop in Thermopylae, the place where the 300 Spartans (fought against the Persians) to see the Monument of Leonidas, is in the plan. Arrive in Kalambaka at +/- 19:00. Overnight.

Day 3: Visit Meteora, meaning “hanging from the sky”. It seems to be “suspended in the air”. You will visit two ageless Byzantine Monasteries and you will see unique specimens of Byzantine art. After lunch, return to Athens via Trikala, Lamia, and arrive in Athens at +/- 19:30

POPULAR TOURS: Afternoon to Sounion 31 € | 1 day Argolis 59 € | 2 days Delphi-Meteora 135 € | 4 day classical & Meteora | 1 day cruise
 

HOW TO BOOK A TOUR | BOOKING FORM | PAY ONLINE | CONTACT US

The Delphi and Meteora tour operates April – October: Sundays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays & selected Fridays. CLICK and see the dates.

PRICES: All travel agents, in Greece and worldwide, offer the same tour at different prices. We are sure that our price is not matched. Organizing tours throughout Greece since 1958, we have secured the best deals in all aspects of travel.

The price per person in 3-star hotels is:
– in a double room with 2 breakfasts, 249.00 € p.p.,
– in a double room with 2 dinners and 2 breakfasts, 285.00 € p.p. (Htl Hermes and Htl Orfeas)

The price per person in 4-star hotels (Htl Amalia and Htl Grand Meteora is:
– in a double room with 2 dinners and 2 breakfasts, 335.00 € p.p.

The “City TAX” for hotel accommodation is not included. This tax is payable by the guests to the hotel upon check-in: 4* hotel: 3 € per night, per room, 3* hotel: 1,50 € per night, per room.

The price includes:

– 1 night in Delphi and 1 in Kalambaka.
– Meals according to the price paid.
– The services of a professional tour guide.
– The entrance fee to the site and the museum in Delphi is included.
– The entrance fee in 2 monasteries at Meteora is included.
– Pick-up service from or near your hotel (see the list of hotels at the footer)
– Transportation on a modern air-conditioned coach
– Taxes, except the hotel overnight city tax.

* The traditional village of Arachova.
* The sanctuary of Apollo and the Archaeological Museum of Delphi.
* Overnight in modern Delphi.
* The monument of Leonidas, the Spartan King, in Thermopylae.
* Overnight in Kalambaka, the city below the rocks of Meteora.
* 2 monasteries are visited. One of them is the nunnery of St. Stephen.

ORACLE OF APOLLO in DELPHI-the center of the universe

According to the myth, Zeus released two eagles. One flew east and the other one west. They met over Delphi, determining that the center of the world was there. A temple dedicated to the god Apollo was built there in the 7th c BC. The Oracle of Apollo became a religious center where common people and kings alike, came to consult the priestess of the sanctuary. Delphi was the most sacred place in the ancient world and thousands of pilgrims visited here, from kings and philosophers to common people to hear the prophecies of the Oracle and to watch and compete in the ancient games held here, the Pythian Games, similar to the Olympics.

The ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE consists of the temple of Apollo, the treasury houses, the theatre, and the stadium. DELPHI is one of the best archaeological sites in Greece with ancient temples and shrines placed along the sacred way, making Delphi one of the best places to visit all year round. The site consists of the temple of Apollo, the treasury houses of the City-States, the ancient theatre, the stadium at the top of the hill, the gymnasium, and the Hippodrome. The sanctuary was built in an imposing location, on the slopes of Mt. Parnassus. The Temple of Apollo, the treasury house of the Athenians, the Polygonal Wall, the treasury houses of the different city States — where treasures from all over Greece were kept, and the Theatre are some of the most important buildings.

The remaining part of the ancient site, below the road, with the temple of Athena Pronaia, the Tholos (a circular structure with 3 of its original 20 Doric columns restored), the gymnasium, and the sports facilities, used for training for the athletes that took part in the “Pythian or Delphian Games”, is not visited in the guided tours. Choose the tour without lunch and when the group is having lunch you can visit them on your own, without the tour guide.

Today, next to the archaeological site, there is an impressive museum, displaying findings from the local excavations, that started in 1892, masterpieces of Ancient Greek sculpture. The highlights are offerings by the oracle visitors, such as the famous bronze statue of the Charioteer, the statue of Antinoos, the famous athlete Aghias, the two “kouros” statues, the Roman “omphalos”, the sculptured stone that represented the navel of the world, and many others.

METEORA-THE ART OF NATURE

Beautiful rocks from another world embrace Kalambaka. The monuments are under the protection of UNESCO and are recorded as the second-largest Monastic community after the Holy Mountain.
It’s a region of inaccessible sandstone peaks where the monks found protection and settled on these “columns of the sky” from the 10th c. onwards. 24 monasteries were built, despite incredible difficulties at the time of the great revival of the monastic ideal in the 15th c. Their 16th c. fresco mark a key stage in the development of post-Byzantine painting.
The monasteries at Meteora grew out of the need to avoid Turkish persecution during the occupation in the 14th c. Monks lived in caves in the rocks of Meteora since the 11th c. but the inaccessible peaks provided safety for Greek Orthodox monks. Over time a large number of hermitages and monasteries were built on these rocks, making Meteora the second-largest monastic complex in Greece after Mount Athos.
Seeing the beautiful stone structure, surrounded by mist, is enough to make you understand why the monks and nuns selected this area for unceasing prayer. Today, of the many monasteries that existed, only six are open to the public: The monasteries of St. Nicholas Anapafsas, Grand Meteoro, Varlaam, Roussanou, Holy Trinity, and St. Stephan. It is worth noting that the religious monuments mostly visited in Greece are the Holy Meteora.

“Here at these barren rocks, thousands of orthodox monks learned wisdom, humility, and morals“

Almost two million people visit the area of Meteora every year and admire this “unique” natural phenomenon.

Astoria Travel (est. 1958)
48 Stadiou Street, Athens 10564, Greece.
Tel. +302103250380, +306932888585.
Click here and send us a message

NOVEMBER-MARCH this tour is organized ONLY on Mondays
APRIL-OCTOBER Click and see details and prices for this tour organized between April – October.

Highlights: Corinth canal-Epidaurus-Mycenae-Olympia(o/n)-Delphi(o/n)-Thermopylae-Kalambaka(o/n) and a short photo stop in Nafplion.

A free pick-up/drop-off service is included (See the link in the footer of this website).
The pickup service starts at 07:30 on Monday, brings the people to the terminal, and returns on Thursday at +/- 19:30

PRICES: The guided tours are organized by 3 big tour operators. Our discounted prices are not matched.

* ENTRANCE FEES (must be added): NON – MAR = 24.00 € | APR – NOV = 48.00 €

HOTELS at Olympia: NEDA, KRONION, or similar (3*) OLYMPIC VILLAGE, EUROPA, ARTY GRAND (4*)
HOTELS in Delphi: FEDRIADES, HERMES, PARNASSOS (3*) and AMALIA (4*)
HOTELS in Kalambaka: Hotel KOSTA FAMISSI, ALEXIOU, ORFEAS (3*), Hotel GRAND METEORA or AMALIA (4*)

* If our offers sound interesting follow the instructions”https://astoriatravel.gr/useful-stuff/steps-to-book/” and start communication.
* Fill the booking request.

The tour services include:
– Modern air-conditioned buses
– 3 nights accommodation with 3 breakfasts & if you choose half board plus 3 dinners.
– Pick up/drop off from or near your hotel (See the list of hotels at the footer of the website), and
– The services of the tour guide along the tour.
– The applicable entrances to sites and museums visited.
– All taxes except the “city tax” (1.50 – 3.00 € per room, per night). This city tax is paid extra by the client to the hotel.

Special discounts: (One option of 5% discount is applicable).
* Persuade a friend, share a triple room with your friend, and save 5%
* Persuade your friends, make a team of 5 or more adults and save 5%
* Take advantage of our PAY IN ADVANCE 5% discount (see in the footer)
* Combine it with the 1-day cruise and pay a discounted price for the package.

WRITE A REVIEW ON OUR SERVICES. Your feedback helps us offer a better service.

Copied from a client’s blogspot:
The tour which I joined was organized by G.O.TOURS. However, I did not book through their website. I booked it through ASTORIA TRAVEL
After browsing through the web, I found that ASTORIA TRAVEL offers the cheapest tour packages in Athens. Initially, I was quite skeptical. How can this tour agent offer such a low price (20% cheaper) compared to the travel company’s price? Is this a scam? Well, believe it! It was not a scam. I even booked my first two nights in Athens at Hotel Arethusa (next to Syntagma Square) at a very cheap price through ASTORIA TRAVEL. Read more in the testimonials section….

This tour includes nearly all of the most important archaeological sites, ­and museums on mainland Greece. It gives a complete picture of ancient Greek civilization beginning with the Mycenaean, the Greek Bronze Age, the Archaic, Classical, the Hellenistic, and Roman Greece. It also provides a glimpse of Byzantine art and architecture.

It is a full itinerary, but the pace is manageable. Plenty of time is available on the sites and in the museums, allowing time both for adequate exposition by the tour guide and time for further exploration on your own.

The Amazing open THEATRE OF EPIDAURUS The priests of the sanctuary of god Asclepius were excellent doctors. The administration of the Asclipieion, in order to entertain the patients, decided to build a theatre. The small museum displays the instruments and tools used by the priests who were excellent surgeons, to perform even brain operations.

NAFPLION – “The town of the Venetians” in Greece. (Short photo stop). Modern architecture hasn’t spoiled the old town of Nafplion, which is a feast for the eye with Venetian influence everywhere. Nafplion was the capital of the new Greek state in the early 1830s. Here, is the first residential palace of the Bavarian Prince, Otto, the first king after the revolution against the Turks. The old town is beautiful, with mansions and paved roads. The two fortresses, the Palamidi and the Akronafplia played a key role during the war of independence.

MYCENAE – “the City in gold”, the kingdom of Agamemnon controlled the land and sea routes. Myths related to history have inspired poets and writers over the centuries from Homer and the Greek tragedies of the classical period.
The site was uncovered in 1874 by Heinrich Schlieman, who also excavated the site of Troy.
You enter the citadel through the impressive Lions’ Gate.

OLYMPIA & the OLYMPIC GAMES The site of Olympia, was the location of the ancient Olympic Games, with the first recorded win in 776 BC. In addition to the numerous temples and sanctuaries, there are remains of sporting structures, such as the ancient Stadium, the Gymnasium, the Palaestra, and others.

DELPHI – The famous “temple bank”. The pan-Hellenic sanctuary of Delphi, location on the oracle of Apollo, was the spiritual centre of the Greek world. Situated in a spectacular natural setting on the mountain of Parnassus, it was the symbol of Greek cultural unity from the 8th century BC onwards.

Driving from Delphi to Kalambaka you take a short stop at Thermopylae, the place where Leonidas and the 300 Spartans fought the Persians. Overnight in kalambaka.

KALAMBAKA – The unique “ART OF NATURE”. Travel on the rocks of Meteora and visit 2 monasteries that are open on the day that you visit Meteora. Return to Kalambaka for lunch and after lunch start the return and arrive in Athens at +/- 19:30

08:30 The pick-up starts at 07.30 am and the bus departs from the terminal at 08:30.
10:00 Arrival at Corinth canal. 20 min. short stop for photos
11:15 Arrival at the sanctuary of Epidaurus. Visit the museum & the theatre
12:30 Proceed to the restaurant for lunch. Lunch is optional. It’s not included in the price.
13:45 Drive on to Nafplion. Short photo stop.
15:15 Arrival at legendary Mycenae. Visit ancient sites & museum
18:30 Arrival at modern Olympia town. Check-in the hotel of your choice
09:15 Visit the museum & the site of ancient Olympia. Departure and drive towards Patras
13:00 Stop for lunch at a local restaurant. Lunch is optional.
14:30 Drive to Delphi. Cross the Rio – Antirio bridge to the mainland
18:15 Arrival and check in at the hotel of your choice in Delphi.
09:00 After breakfast visit the museum and the site. Optional lunch at a local restaurant.
15:15 Depart for Kalampaka. A short stop at Thermopylae. Arrival in Kalampaka at 19.00
08:30 Drive to Meteora and visit 2 monasteries. Return to Kalampaka at 12:30. Optional lunch
14:00 Departure for Athens with a short stop near Lamia. Arrival in Athens centre at 19.30

More info & Map
– These tours are organized by 3 Tour Operators. All the Travel Agents sell the same tours at discounted rates.
– Start the communication, and choose the travel agent that suits your budget.

* In the footer of the website find the “4 steps 2 book” and we look forward to receive your request.
* When we receive the message from the bank that the money has been deposited, we’ll send you the voucher.
* There is a deadline and the bookings are canceled if they are not paid on time.

MAP – ROUTE OF THE TOUR

If you wish to see the major sights of mainland Ancient Greece including the UNESCO-listed ancient sites of Mycenae, Epidaurus, Olympia, Delphi, and Meteora monasteries, then I recommend you to join a 4 Day Classical Greece Tour.
The tour departs from Athens and returns to Athens. You visit 5 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 4 days. I have to warn you that 4 out of the 5 World Heritage Sites are in ruins. The tour which I joined was organized by G.O.TOURS. Information about the tour can be found at their website at http://www.gotours.com.gr/en/

However, I did not book through their website. I booked it through ASTORIA TRAVEL http://www.astoria.gr/price-tours-classical-4day.html that can be contacted at athens@astoriatravel.gr. I e-mailed Mr. Kosta and since I booked the tour through him in 4-star hotels, I got a free arrival transfer offer to my hotel. Actually, Kosta himself came to the airport and took us to the hotel.

After browsing through the web, I found that Astoria Travel offers the cheapest tour packages in Athens. Initially, I was quite skeptical. How can this tour agent offer such a low price (20% cheaper) compared to the travel company’s price? Is this a scam? Well, believe it! I even book my first two nights in Athens at Hotel Arethusa (very near Syntagma Square) at a very cheap price through Astoria Travel.

I took the First Class package as the price difference was not much compared to the Tourist Class package and the complimentary airport transfer sounded attractive. During the tour, some of my fellow travelers took the Tourist Class package. Frankly, I don’t think there was much of a difference compared to the First Class hotels. In fact, the Tourist Class hotels were located nearer to the town centre while the First Class hotels were located at quieter locations outside the towns providing small luxuries (swimming pools, good dinners, breakfasts, etc.)

The tour includes visits to two of the six monasteries of Meteora.

As the tour group was small, we got to know each other pretty quickly.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
Emeo, San Juan, Puerto…, 41 posts, 35 reviews, Re: Astoria Travel Meteora trip Reviews

At the end of April, we joined the G.O. Tour for the Classic 4 days tour in Greece. Due to unexpected medical reasons, we decide not to commit until we had gotten an okay from our doctor.
Finally we confirmed the tour one day before we flew to Athens. We booked with Kosta. He was nice and very prompt. And he has one of the best rates on the internet.

On the morning of the tour day, Kosta even came to the main bus pick-up point to make sure we made it. We had a good time on the tour and made friends with several families and couples from different countries. We compared the prices we had paid and our price was the best.
Remember to print the voucher at home or hotel. The tour operators keep the printed copy. Thank you, Kosta!!! : )

Astoria Travel (est. 1958)
48 Stadiou street, Athens 10564, Greece.
Tel. +30 210 3250380, +30 6972 778899.
Click here and send us a message

If there is one place that you must visit is Meteora in central Greece. This huge Eastern Orthodox monastic complex is unlike anywhere else in the world – and despite how overused this phrase is nowadays, at Meteora it means the exact picture. If the unearthly landscape of massive pillar-like mountains and columns weren’t striking enough, monks went ahead and built huge monasteries ON TOP of them 800 years ago. 6 of them are still working monasteries nowadays and are open to the public if you are willing to make the trek up to them.

A view from Meteora is spectacular no matter where you stand, and it will make even the most seasoned traveler to say “wow”. Greece is full of spectacular sites, but you’d be hard-pressed to find one more unique and with so many fabulous views as in Meteora. The World Heritage monasteries of Meteora, in the middle of Greece, are one of the most extraordinary sights.

Meteora map

Built on top of huge pinnacles of smooth rocks, the monasteries provided monks with peaceful havens from increasing bloodshed as the Byzantine Empire waned at the end of the 14th c. The earliest monasteries were reached by climbing removable ladders. Later, windlasses were used so monks could be hauled up in nets, a method used until the 1920s. Apprehensive visitors enquiring how often the ropes were replaced were told ‘When the Lord lets them break’.

These days access to the monasteries is by steps hewn into the rocks and the windlasses are used only for hauling up provisions.

Don’t miss this unique place at this special price!