Category Archive : Tours in Greece

Sacred site of Delphi

Stay in Athens and visit famous Greek cultural sites!

Delphi is Greece’s premier tourist attraction.

The sheer magnificence and grandeur of the location strike you. Below the site, a valley ringed by mountains provides breathtaking views from any location within the site. Delphi was the most sacred place in the ancient world. A temple dedicated to the god Apollo was built there in the 7th c BC. and housed the Oracle of Delphi, the greatest source of income for a thousand years. Delphi became a religious center. Kings and common people came to consult the priestess called PYTHIA. In a secret room below the tripod of the Pythia, the priests of Apollo interpreted her vague and wild cries and put them into ordered language. The marketing idea was: build a treasury house for your city-state. Bring your votives and valuable gifts and we shall keep them in it for you. It was a matter of convincing everybody that Apollo, Zeus, and the rest of the gods controlled their lives.

Today the archaeological site with the treasuries, the ancient temples, and the shrines, is one of the best in Greece, making Delphi one of Greece’s premier tourist attractions. It is a 2.30-hour drive from Athens making the visit to Delphi a comfortable 1-day trip.

The museum in Delphi houses impressive statues, jewelry, and other wares that have been unearthed from the site.

Unless you are a history guy you need a full hour to explore the ancient site. The Sacred Way starts at the ticket booth, winds up past a number of Treasuries and leads to the Temple of Apollo, where the Oracle was sitting.

For mobile users visit: https://www.toursingreece.info

dates & prices


NOV-MAR the tour to Delphi is organized Wed, Fri + Sun
APR-OCT the 1-day Tour to Delphi is organized daily

PRICES: Organizing tours throughout Greece since 1958 we have secured the best deals in all aspects of travel.
We offer our tours at low prices without compromising the quality of our service.

For the One-day tour to Delphi without lunch:
ENTRANCE FEES: NOV-MAR you add 8 €, APR-OCT you add 15 €

DISCOUNTS:
– E.U. juniors under 26 and E.U. students do not pay entrance fees.

Lunch (3-course menu) is served in a restaurant outside the Delphi village and costs 10 € for everybody.
– Clients who take the tour without lunch may spend the lunch hour in modern Delphi village.
Fill in the booking request and start the communication. We shall reply asap.
Bookings during the last 24 hours can ONLY be made in our premises, Stadiou 48, in the centre of Athens.

The tour services include:
– transportation on modern air-conditioned buses, with ample storage space for your luggage.
– the services of the professional tour guide all along the tour
– Pick up/drop off from or near your hotel (See the list of hotels at the foot of this website).
– Shortstop in the picturesque village of Arachova in Greece.

Copied from a client’s Blogspot:
The tour which I joined was organized by G.O. TOURS. Information about the tour can be found on their website at http://www.gotours.com.gr/en/
However, I did not book through their website. I booked it through ASTORIA TRAVEL https://astoriatravel.gr/
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.

 

POPULAR TOURS: Afternoon to Sounion 33 € | 1 day Argolis 59 € | 2 days Delphi-Meteora 120 € | 4 day classical & Meteora | 1 day cruise
 

If our offer sounds interesting, please send us the booking form.

 

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

 

Itinerary

Time Tour Plan Services
7:30 Start the free pick up service, bring the people to the terminal and put them in the different buses to the destinations. Depart from the terminal at +/- 08.30
11:30 Arrival in modern Delphi village On the way, 25 mins break near Levadia
11:45 Visit the ancient site & the museum Entrance fees – See the price you paid
14:00 Drive to a restaurant 3 kl outside modern Delphi Lunch, is optional – See the price you paid.
15:30 Start the return towards Athens Stop at the village of Arachova
18:30 Arrival in the centre of Athens Hotel drop off by 19.30

History

If there is a site to visit in Greece then Delphi is this place. The sheer magnificence and grandeur of the location strike you. God Apollo had chosen the best spot to build his temple. Below the site, a valley ringed by mountains provides breathtaking views from any location within the site.

Delphi was considered to be one of the most important cities of ancient Greece. It was believed to be home to the goddess Gaia, or Earth, and later to Apollo after slaying Gaia’s son, the snake Python. The Pythian games—similar to the Olympic Games—were held here every four years to honour Apollo’s slaying of the Python dragon.

According to the myth, Zeus released two eagles. The one flew east and the other one flew west. They both met over Delphi, determining that the centre of the world was there. A temple dedicated to the god Apollo was built there in the 7th c BC. The Temple of Apollo housed the great Oracle of Delphi, the world’s greatest source of income for a thousand years. The Oracle was the most eminent feature of Delphi, and some of the most important people from all over Greece—including demigods, according to Greek mythology—visited her to seek advice. The oracle of Apollo became a religious center where common people and kings alike, came to consult “Pythia”, the priestess of the sanctuary. In a room, below the Pythia, the priests listened and interpreted her vague and wild cries, and put them into ordered language.

Above the entrance to the temple of Apollo, the visitor reads ‘Know Thyself’ and ‘Nothing in Excess’. These sayings were read and pondered upon by all of the great kings, warriors, and noblemen who came here for advice. The true wisdom of the Oracle lies not within the words of the Oracle’s priestess, but within the walls of the temple itself.

The Pythian Games held in Delphi were one of four Panhellenic games held in ancient Greece, and they attracted competitors from all over the Greek world. Founded in the 6th c. BC and held in honour of Apollo the Games originally centered around the talents the god exemplified – music and poetry. However soon, athletic competitions were added as well. The best known was a great chariot race, held in the stadium of Delphi. The winners of the Pythian Games received a laurel wreath.

The 6th c. BC saw the political rise of Delphi ushering in a golden age that lasted until the arrival of the Romans in 191 BC. Numerous treasuries were built in the Sanctuary of Apollo to house votive offerings of grateful pilgrims. In the 4th century BC, a theater accommodating 5,000 spectators was constructed nearby. It was restored in 159 by king Eumenes II and later by the Romans.

The oracle of Delphi was abolished in 393 AD by Theodosius of Byzantium, the emperor who made Christianity the official religion of the Byzantine Empire. No longer used, the temples fell into disrepair and their materials were plundered for new buildings.

Site & Museum


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 is one of the best 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 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. It is a vigorous hike to the highest parts of the complex, to the theater and the stadium.

The remaining part of the ancient site, bellow 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 included in the guided tours. Select the tour option without lunch and while the group is having lunch you can visit them on your own, without the tour guide. The bus will pick you up on the way back to Athens.

Today, next to the archaeological site, there is an impressive museum, displaying hundreds of votive offerings and 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”, being the sculptured stone that represented the navel of the world, and many others.

When you finish with the sightseeing, you proceed to a local restaurant for lunch (optional). Finding parking for the bus in the Delphi village is not possible. The restaurant with ample parking space is +/- 3km from the village. After lunch returning to Athens, the driver stops for 40 minutes at the nearby(10 km) traditional village of Arachova. The bus finally arrives in the centre of Athens at +/- 18.30.

Testimonials


By Provoensis, United States, 11 posts, 38 reviews. Re: Astoria Travel, Jul 31

My experiences with Astoria Travel have been varied in scope, but ALWAYS extraordinarily positive. I cannot praise Kosta and his team highly enough. From small-scale arrangements for my wife and me to multi-day academic tours for groups of 30+ university students, our experience has always been top-notch.
I regularly travel with a university group to Greece, and other colleagues from my university (in the USA) have been booking arrangements through Astoria Travel since 2003, sometimes 2 – 3 groups per year. Kosta’s heartfelt inclination to provide a high-quality academic experience for our students really shows. Above all, his reliability and his determination to help us provide an affordable program for them are apparent from beginning to end. On each program, he has been constantly calculating how we can shave down costs to the students’ advantage. He really tends to the smallest details.
Trustworthiness may be the most important aspect of a travel agent’s involvement with a group. In the many facets of our several tours arranged by Astoria, I have yet to be surprised by any bill or expenditure. Everything has been transparent and anticipated.
I recommend to all my colleagues at my university to work their Greek travel arrangements through Astoria Travel. For us Greece means Kosta.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________

Re: Astoria Travel Meteora trip Reviews.
Hi SomeGirl111. All the bus tours in Greece are organized by three Tour operators. The travel agents do not organize, they sell these guided tours at discounted rates. So, whoever you decide to buy your tour from, you will end up sitting in one of the T.O. buses. All three T.Os. use modern, air-conditioned buses., and knowledgeable professional tour guides. You travel on the same bus as visitors that paid the full brochure price. Astoria Travel was established in 1958 and is still operating and prospering. So, your question should be: is the price that they sell the tours organized by G.O.Tours, CHAT, or KEY Tours, good? What differs between the travel agents, is how fast they reply to you, and the way they answer your request. Being in the travel trade for such a long time, I am sure that they know the way to satisfy their clients.

ALL THE GUIDED TOURS that start from Athens. Detailed information.

 

The famous ancient theatre of Epidaurus

The tour to Mycenae, Nafplion, and Epidaurus is a popular one-day tour.

Mobile users visit: https://www.toursingreece.info

Argolis is one of the longest-occupied regions in Greece, with evidence of Neolithic settlements. It’s no surprise that Mycenae, mentioned in Homer’s Iliad, today is an essential step in every trip to Greece. Attractions such as Agamemnon’s fortress with the hilltop acropolis and Agamemnon’s Palace, the famous Lions’ Gate, the royal cemetery, the Treasury of Atreus, the sanctuary of Asclepius, the god of medicine with the amazing theatre of Epidaurus, and the elegant city of Nafplion, draw huge crowds of people.

Our prices


NOV-MAR Organized on Tue, Thu, Sat, BUT… Sites/museums close at 15:00
APR–OCT the 1-day tour to Argolis is organized on Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Sat

PRICES: Organizing tours throughout Greece since 1958, we have secured the best deals in all aspects of travel. Our prices are not matched.
Special price for ISI card holders’, NO lunch / NO entry fees = 49 €.
CLICK and see what we call “ISIC” price.

Send us the booking request and start the communication. We shall get back asap.

DISCOUNTED entrance fees:
– Juniors under 26 and E.U. students do not pay entrance fees.
– Students from other countries and E.U. seniors over 65 pay 12.00 €

– Lunch (3 course menu) is served in Mycenae for 10.00 € extra per person.

The prices are per person, and include:
– transportation on modern air-conditioned buses
– Pick up / drop off from or near your hotel (See the list of hotels at the foot of the website)
– The services of the professional tour guide all through the tour.

 

POPULAR TOURS: Afternoon to Sounion 33 € | 1 day Delphi 59 € | 2 days Delphi-Meteora 120 € | 4 day classical & Meteora | 1 day cruise
 

If our offer sounds interesting, please send us the booking form.

 

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

 

Trip advisor review us 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. 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 https://astoriatravel.gr/
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.

Highlights

The Corinth canal

The canal of Corinth – the mythical fortified city of Mycenae with the Lions’ Gate, the palace of Agamemnon, and the tomb of Atreus – The Epidaurus, with the sanctuary of Asclepius (the god of medicine), and the famous for its amazing acoustics theatre of Epidaurus & a short photo stop at the romantic and beautiful “Venetian” old town of Nafplion.

Ancient Mycenae

Mycenae was the kingdom of mythic Agamemnon. 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 founded and excavated the site of Troy. You enter the citadel through the famous Lions’ Gate.

Beautiful NAFPLION

Modern architecture hasn’t spoiled the old town of Nafplion, which is a feast for the eye. It was the capital of the Greek state in the early 1830s. Here, is the first residential place for the young Bavarian Prince, Otto, the first king of the new country after the revolution against the Turks. The old town is beautiful, with old mansions and paved roads. The town’s fortresses, the Palamidi and the Acronafplia played a key role during the war of independence. The Venetian influence is everywhere justifying the town’s name as the “Greek Venice”.

Sanctuary of God Asclepius and the amazing theatre of EPIDAURUS

The priests of the sanctuary of Asclepius were excellent surgeons. Today, next to the sanctuary of Asclepius, there is a small museum, displaying the instruments and tools used by the priests to perform even brain operations.
The administration of the sanctuary decided to build a theatre on the grounds of the sanctuary, to entertain the patients.

Itinerary

Time plan of the day tour to Argolis

07:30 Start the pick up from the hotels. Departure from the terminal at 08.30
10:00 Arrival at Corinth canal. Short photo stop
11:15 Arrival in ancient Mycenae Visit the ancient site & museum
13:00 Lunch in a local restaurant Lunch is optional. See the price paid.
14:15 Drive on to “Venetian” Nafplion Short photo stop at Nafplion
15:15 Arrival at the site of Epidaurus Visit the museum & the theatre
18:30 Arrival in the centre of Athens Drop off at your hotel by 19:30

After Nafplion, we continue to EPIDAURUS and visit the ancient theatre. The UNESCO’S world heritage listed monument is the birthplace of Apollo’s son Asclepius, the healer, and was the most popular healing centre in the classical world. Epidaurus is most famous for its theatre, one of the best-preserved classical Greek buildings and still used today due to its amazing acoustics.

Map


Map for one day tour to Argolis (Mycenae-Nafplion-Epidaurus)

One day tour to Argolis (Mycenae-Nafplion-Epidaurus)

One day tour to Argolis (Mycenae-Nafplion-Epidaurus)

Ancient Mycenae


Mycenae, the home of   the Atreid’s royal family,   is situated on a hill-top on the road leading to Corinth and Athens. The site was inhabited since Neolithic times (about 4000 BC) but reached its peak during the Late Bronze Age (1350-1200 BC),   giving its name to a civilization that spread throughout the Greek world.   During that period, the acropolis (= highest point of a city) was surrounded by massive “cyclopean” walls which were built in three stages (1350, 1250, and 1225 BC). The outer fortifying walls are large stones and must still look similar to 3500 years ago when they were built.

We enter the citadel of Mycenae through the famous Lions’ Gate, because of the two lions above the entranceway, the first monumental sculpture in Europe (13th century BC). Immediately on to our right, we come to Grave Circle A, a royal cemetery in which Schliemann found six shaft graves, 19 skeletons, and the incredibly rich burial furnishings which made his discovery one of the great archaeological finds of all time. This is where Schlieman found the ancient mask, which he called “the Mask of Agamemnon” but turned out to be the face of an unknown king from a period 300 years earlier. That mask is probably one of the most recognized ancient artifacts in the world and is still unofficially known as “the mask of Agamemnon”.

The rest of the site is interesting if you know what you are looking at, so take the time to read the material available in guidebooks. A ramp and stairs lead up from the grave circle to the palace on the top of the hill; unfortunately, little remains of the palace except for a Great Court and a megaron (a room with a central hearth and inner columns). The view when you get to the top of the hill is spectacular. You are really commanding the valley all the way down to Argos and Nafplion. From here you can follow a path down the back of the site to the Postern Gate and the Secret Cistern, a pitch-dark tunnel leading down some 80 steps through the solid rock. We can then return to the Lion Gate around the north side of the hill.

Outside the city walls, and across the road from Mycenae is the  Royal grave or a treasury of Atreus,   which is one of the most impressive parts of ancient Mycenae. You walk through a passageway into an enormous bee-hive tomb dug into the ground. This is known as “a Tholos tomb” and this was the way the ancient Mycenaeans began to bury their dead after the 15th century BC. The size of this tomb is incredible, and the stones are so massive that it’s believed that engineers who built Egyptian pyramids must have served as consultants when the Mycenaeans began constructing these “treasuries.”

A second tholos near the grave of Atreus was excavated by Schliemann and is called the Tomb of Klytemnestra; it is one of the latest and most finely constructed of the tholoi. The third one is called the Tomb of Aegisthus. is much earlier and its roof has collapsed. Returning down the modern road about a km we come to the most famous tholos, the Tomb of Agamemnon; the half-columns, which decorated its doorway, are in the Mycenaean Room of the National Museum.

Do not leave the site without a visit to the museum of Mycenae. Of the jewelry found in the graves, some are displayed at the site’s museum and some in the Athens Archaeological Museum.

Agamemnon


In myth, Mycenae was the home of Agamemnon, commander of the Greek army, which fought against Troy, and historically it was the most powerful Greek state during the last third of the Bronze Age (1600-1100 BC), which is why this period is called Mycenaean. Heinrich Schliemann excavated here in 1874-76 and found in Royal Grave Circle A the  rich treasures which prove that Agamemnon really lived and that Homer’s story of the Trojan War was history, not myth.

The myth of Mycenae  is the story of the Pelopid dynasty. Pelops, who gave his name to the Peloponnese (=Island of Pelops), had two sons, Atreus and Thyestes. Atreus, being the older son, became king of Mycenae but later he punished his brother, who had an adulterous affair with Atreus’ wife Europe, by forcing him to eat his two sons for dinner.

Atreus had two sons, Menelaus and Agamemnon, who married 2 sisters; Menelaus married Helen(the beautiful Helen of Troy) and Agamemnon married Clytemnestra. When Helen ran off with the Trojan prince Paris, Agamemnon and Menelaus became commanders-in-chief of the great expedition, which fought and won the Trojan War. When Agamemnon returned from the war, Clytemnestra was not overjoyed to see him; she had taken a lover (Thyestes’ son Aegisthus) and Agamemnon, who had earlier, at the beginning of the Trojan war, sacrificed his daughter Iphigeneia so that favourable winds would blow his fleet to Troy, now drove up to the palace with his new concubine, the Trojan princess Kassandra. Clytemnestra, therefore, invited Agamemnon to come in and take a bath; she gave him a garment to put on (with no holes for his head and arms) and while he stood there with this bag on his head, she killed him with three blows of an ax. Later Orestes, the exiled son of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra, returned to Mycenae and killed his mother to avenge his father; for his crime of matricide, he was driven mad by the Furies (mythic emblems of guilt) until finally, in the Attic version, he was acquitted at the first Areopagus trial, under the Acropolis.

 

CLICK here and see ALL THE GUIDED TOURS that start from Athens. Detailed information on each tour is included.

 

1 day cruise from Athens

Let a local tour expert organize a day cruise and swim in the clear sea waters of the Saronic gulf islands near Athens.

3 islands for 110 €

Explore 3 islands – Hydra, Poros, Aegina.

PRICE: Adults 110 € | Children 85 € | Infants up to 4 y. o. are free.
Lunch is included in the price
Transfers from your hotel to the marina and back are optional and cost 12 € per person.

Join us, and enjoy a popular cruise, delicious food, live entertainment with Greek music, popular Greek songs, and Greek dancing in fully air-conditioned cruise ships.

The optional tour to the temple of Aphaea costs 28 € per person and is sold on board from the ship’s excursion desk.
Aphaea was worshipped at this sanctuary but the myth can be traced back to the 14th c. BC. and according to Greek mythology, she was a beautiful young lady, another illegitimate child of Zeus. King Minos of Crete had fallen in love with her. Trying to escape from him she jumped into the sea but was caught in the net of fishermen. They took her on their boat. A fisherman, captivated by her beauty, fell in love and wanted to keep her for himself. Aphaea escaped, got out in Aegina, and asked for help from her half-sister, goddess Artemis. She vanished in the woods of the island. When the fishermen arrived on the spot, they found only a statue. “Aphaea” in Greek means ‘invisible.’
The temple of Aphaea is in very good condition. The location together with the Acropolis of Athens and the Temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounion, form a “Sacred Triangle” between North, East, and South.

Let's talk about it!!

The boat sails from marina Flisvou.

06.50 am, the pick-up service starts from hotels in the centre of Athens.
07.45 am the orchestra welcomes you on board. The boat departs at 08.00
After departure, the hostesses will familiarize you with the islands that you will visit. The order in which you will visit the islands may change but this does not affect the time of stay on the islands. Each of the picturesque islands has its own charming and distinct atmosphere. There will be plenty of time for exploration, at your own pace.

POROS Island
is the smallest of the three islands. A green island, with a plentiful supply of freshwater, sandy beaches, and a famous lemon forest. Your time on Poros, almost 50 minutes, is just enough for a short walk to the highest point for a nice view from the clock tower. Sailing to Hydra, you may relax in the lounge or enjoy the sun on the ship’s decks.

HYDRA Island
is your next stop in an hour and 20 minutes, later. It is the island favoured by artists worldwide, has narrow, whitewashed streets, and exquisite mansions. The architecture of the island is striking. The stone mansions have a long history, while the stone-paved streets are waiting to be explored on foot or on the saddled donkeys that are waiting to be hired. Hydra island is world-famous.
You will have one hour and 45 min. to enjoy the charms of the island and upon your return on the boat, the tables will be ready for your lunch. After your meal, the orchestra, the singers, and the dancers will invite you to join them and dance to well known Greek songs.

AEGINA Island
is the last, but largest of the 3 islands. Aegina is known for its neoclassical buildings, its busy harbour, and its pistachio nuts. The harbour with the old mansions invites you to explore the island further: An optional Tour is organized to visit the Aphaia Temple.
The well-preserved temple in Greece is one of the 3 temples in the “Sacred Triangle” of the Greek antiquity. Your tour guide will tell you the story of the site and thereafter the tour proceeds to the Byzantine Church of St Nektarios. Tickets for the above recommended optional excursions can be purchased onboard the ship.

An alternative choice is to stay by the port of Aegina and enjoy a walk or horse-carriage ride around the town or relax in one of the harbour’s coffee shops.

Onboard again, a “Traditional Greek Folk Show” with dancers in traditional Greek costumes will entertain you until the ship docks, at 19:45 and back at your hotel 20.45

ITINERARY
You get on board the ship at 07:50 and depart at 08:00. The order that you will visit the islands may change but the time of stay on the islands will be the same.

 

Time Tour Plan Services
8:00 The boat departs from the pier Hotel pick up starts from 06.50
10:10 Arrive in Poros Island 50 minutes, short stay
11:00 Depart for the island of Hydra Relax in the lounges or the sun decks
12:45 Arrival in Hydra Lunch, on board. 1st sitting
14:45 Departure from Hydra Lunch, on board. 2nd sitting
16:30 Arrival in Aegina Optional guided tour to Aphaea Temple
18:30 Return to the port and sail to Piraeus Live entertainment and floor show
19:45 Arrival at the pier Transfer to your hotel

 

HIGHLIGHTS
Islands of Hydra, Poros, Aegina, Temple of Aphaea and the St. Nektarios Monastery, delicious food, live entertainment and Greek folk dancing show.

Departure daily from the marina of TROKANTERO at 08:00 am. Duration: 12 hours.
Return Time: 19.45, and transfer to the pick-up point in the centre of Athens.

Please, read carefully the rules on HOW TO BOOK AND SECURE a booking. Fill the data on the INSTANT confirmation form, make your booking and get your confirmation After receiving our confirmation, and whenever you feel comfortable, please, proceed with the PAY ONLINE website

Press on the INSTANT confirmation link 48hrs before departure, make the booking and get the confirmation in a minute.
For bookings made in the last 48 hours, you must visit our office

Video

The cruise is organized daily, weather conditions permitting.

Bookings during the last 48 hours can ONLY be made in our premises.

Click and SEND US your booking request and we shall get back to you asap.

Meteora monasteries

Appropriate clothing is required for everybody that visits the monasteries.

Organized on... + prices

NOVEMBER-MARCH The tour is organized only on Mondays.
APRIL-OCTOBER: The tour is organized on Mon, Tue, Sat & selected Thursdays.

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

Free pick-up/drop-off service is included (See the link in the footer of this website).
The pick-up starts at 07:30 am brings the people to the terminal and departs at 08:30.
The tour returns on Thursday evening +/- at 19:30

PRICES: The guided tours are organized by 3 big tour operators and are offered by travel agencies at different prices. People tell us that our prices are the best. Organizing tours throughout Greece since 1958 we have secured the best deals in all aspects of travel. Our prices are not matched.

Three choices Price in double room Price in single room
Option 1: 3* hotel with breakfast 320.00 + entry fees 385.00 + entry fees
Option 2: 3* hotel with half-board 375.00 + entry fees 440.00 + entry fees
Option 3: 4* hotel, 3 dinners + 3 breakfasts 435.00 + entry fees 530.00 + entry fees
and arrival transfer offer

* ENTRANCE FEES to be added: NOV-MARCH + 24 euro | APR-OCT + 48 euro
* Child (4 – 12 y.o.) pays 75% of the tour price (Entrance fees depend on Nationality.)
* E.U. Nationalities under 25 y.o. enter free. Other Nationalities pay full entrance fees.
* Infants up to 4 y.o. travel free of charge when they share the parents’ double bed

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 read the “4 steps to book” in the footer.
* Submit the booking request and start the communication. We shall get back asap.

The tour services include:
– Modern air-conditioned buses, with ample storage space for your luggage
– 3-night hotel accommodation with 3 breakfasts
– 3 dinners (if you choose 4* hotels)
– Pick up/drop off near your hotel (See the list of hotels at the footer),
– The services of the tour guide throughout the tour.
– Complimentary arrival airport transfer wherever it is offered.
– The applicable entrances to sites and museums visited.
– All taxes except the “city tax” (1.50 – 3.00 € per room, per night). This small tax is paid 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%
* Combine it with the 1-day cruise and pay a discounted price for the package.

Trip advisor review us 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….

Description


Visit Epidaurus, Mycenae, Olympia, Delphi, and Kalambaka

This tour includes nearly all of the most important archaeological sites, ­and museums in 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 Asklepion, in order to entertain the patients, decided to build a theatre. The small museum displays the instruments and tools used by the priests, and 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 the Venetian influence everywhere. Nafplion was the capital of the new Greek state in the early 1830s. Here, is the first 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 Palestra, 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

Itinerary

Day 1
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. shortstop for photos
11:15 Arrival at the sanctuary of Epidaurus. Visit the museum & the theatre
12:30 Proceed to 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

Day 2
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 into the hotel of your choice in Delphi.

Day 3
09:00 After breakfast visit the museum and the site. Optional lunch at a local restaurant.
15:15 Depart for Kalambaka. Shortstop at Thermopylae. Arrive in Kalambaka at 19.00

Day 4
08:30 Drive to Meteora and visit 2 monasteries. Return to Kalambaka at 12:30. Optional lunch
14:00 Departure for Athens with a short stop near Lamia. Arrival in Athens center at 19.30

Highlights


Short photo stop at Corinth canal
Visit the sanctuary of Asclepius and the Epidaurus Theatre
Visit the Mycenae Archaeological site & Tomb of Atreus
Visit the Olympia Archaeological site & Museum
Visit the Delphi Archaeological site & Museum
Visit 2 of the Meteora monasteries that are open on the day you visit Meteora
Shortstop at Nafplion town

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

Testimonials


ESP4525, Bozeman, Montana, 62 Reviewed November 26, 2017
wonderful Athens’s experience
Just completed a 4-day 3-night tour of the major archaeological sites in Greece that we booked through Astoria travel. We could not have been happier with the service they provided. The personal service we received from Kostas was more than we could have hoped for. We will definitely use them again if we get the opportunity.
___________________________________________________________________________
From: https://travelbunny8.blogspot.com/2016/07/greece-4-days-classical-greece-tour.html
(Visit the excellent blog site, read the description and comments)

If you wish to see the major sights of mainland Ancient Greece including 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 Site 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 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 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 center 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.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
Emo, 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 decided 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!!! : )

contact us

Astoria Travel (est. 1958)
48 Stadiou street, Athens 10564, Greece.
Tel. +30 210 3250380, +30 6932888585.
Send a message to: bookings@astoriatravel.gr


In the footer of this website you find the “4 steps to make a booking”. If our offer looks interesting, please send us the booking form.

CLICK here and see ALL THE GUIDED TOURS that start from Athens. Detailed information on each tour is included.

 

Olympia stadium

Organizing tours throughout Greece since 1958 we have secured the best deals and offer the 3 day classical tour at a price that cannot be matched.

Operating Days

NOVEMBER – MARCH the tour ONLY on Mondays
APRIL-OCTOBER CLICK HERE and see prices + details

Pick-up/drop-off from or near your hotel starts at 07:30, departs from the terminal at 08:30 and returns at 18:30

HOTELS at Olympia: (3*) NEDA, KRONION, or similar | (4*) OLYMPIC VILLAGE or EUROPA or ARTY GRAND
HOTELS in Delphi: (3*) FEDRIADES or HERMES or PARNASSOS and (4*) AMALIA or APPOLONIA

prices

PRICES Nov-Mar: These tours are organized by 3 big tour operators and are offered by travel agencies at different prices. We secured the best deals in all aspects of travel.

Three choices Double room Single room
Option 1: 3* hotel with breakfast 275.00 + entrance fees + entrance fees
Option 2: 3* hotel – dinners & breakfasts + entrance fees + entrance fees
Option 3: 4* hotel – dinners & breakfasts + entrance fees

+ entrance fees
includes transfer bonus

* Entrance fees to be added: Nov-Mar = 24€. Apr-Nov = 48 €
* Child (4 – 12 y.o.) pay 75% of the tour price (No entrance fees apply)
* Infants up to 4 y.o. travel free of charge when they share the parents’ double bed.

* If our offers sound interesting read the “4 steps to book” in the footer and start communication.
* Fill the booking request and start the communication. We shall get back asap.

The tour services include:
– Modern air-conditioned buses
– Entrance fees to sites and museums visited
– 2 nights hotel accommodation
– 2 breakfasts (Olympia + Delphi)
– 2 dinners in the 4* hotels
– Pick-up/drop-off from or near your hotel (See the list in the footer of the website), and
– The services of the professional tour guide.
– All taxes except the “city tax” (1.50 – 3.00 € per room, per night).
– The arrival airport transfer wherever mentioned.

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 special price for the package. See our combo prices in the footer.

Trip advisor review us 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. 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 https://astoriatravel.gr/
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 details in the testimonials section…

Description


Visit Epidaurus, Nafplion, Mycenae, Olympia & Delphi

The Amazing open THEATRE OF EPIDAURUS
The priests of the sanctuary of god Asclepius were excellent surgeons. On the ground of the sanctuary, the administration of the Asclipieion, in order to entertain the patients, decided to build a theatre. Today, next to the sanctuary of Asclepius, there is a small museum, displaying the instruments and tools used by the priests, 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. The town was in the hands of the Venetians for 200 years and when they gave it back to the Greeks they also left their signature on the old charming town. Nafplion was the capital of the Greek state in the early 1830s. Here, is the first residential palace for the young Bavarian Prince, Otto, the first king of the new country after the revolution against the Turks. The old town is beautiful, with old mansions and paved roads. The town’s fortresses, the Palamidi and the Akronafplia, played a key role during the war of independence. The Venetian influence is everywhere justifying the town’s name as the “Greek Venice”.

MYCENAE – “City in gold”
Mycenae, the city that controlled both the land and sea routes, was the kingdom of mythic Agamemnon. Myths related to history have inspired poets and writers over the centuries from Homer and the Greek tragedies of the classical period to contemporary literary and artistic creations. 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 Olympic stadium, the Gymnasium, the Palaestra, and others. See the Temple of Zeus, the Temple of Hera, the altar of the Olympic flame, the seven echo stoa, and the archaeological Museum where between the other exhibits you will see the statue of Nike and the beautiful Hermes of Praxiteles.

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.

Highlights

Short photo stop at Corinth canal
Visit the sanctuary of Asclepius and the Epidaurus Theatre
Short photo stop in Nafplion town
Visit the Mycenae Archaeological site & Tomb of Atreus
Visit the Olympia Archaeological site & Museum
Visit the Delphi Archaeological site & Museum

More info & Map


* Read the 4 steps to book that you find in the footer and we look forward to receiving your request.
* When we receive the message from the bank that the money have been deposited, we’ll send you the voucher.

MAP – ROUTE OF THE TOUR

Testimonials


From Trip advisor comments on Astoria Travel Athens.

rnohr, Boston, Massachusetts 3116, Reviewed October 15, 2017
Underrated travel agent service
I don’t know if people know about this gem of a service, but I would HIGHLY recommend using it for booking tours in all of Greece. Kosta is extremely serviceable and offers a GREAT deal on the tour.
I booked a 3-day classical Greece tour with Kosta and he was able to arrange it for a price that was cheaper than what the tour agency actually offered. He always responded promptly to emails and got back to me within 24 hours. Everything was arranged as it would be expected.
Would recommend using this company for any needs before other people find out how great of a gem this is.
________________________________________________________________________________________

Re: Astoria Travel Meteora trip Reviews.
Hi SomeGirl111. All the bus tours in Greece are organized by three Tour operators. The travel agents do not organize, they sell these guided tours at discounted rates. So, whoever you decide to buy your tour from, you will end up sitting in one of the T.O. buses. All three T.Os. use modern, air-conditioned buses., and knowledgeable professional tour guides. You travel in the same bus with visitors that paid the full brochure price. Astoria Travel was established in 1958 and is still operating and prospering. So, your question should be: is the price that they sell the tours organized by G.O.Tours, CHAT, or KEY Tours, good? What differs between the travel agents, is how fast they reply to you, and the way they answer your request. Being in the travel trade for such a long time, I am sure that they know the way to satisfy their clients.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
From: https://travelbunny8.blogspot.com/2016/07/greece-4-days-classical-greece-tour.html
(Visit the excellent blog site, read the description and comments)

If you wish to see the major sights of mainland Ancient Greece including 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.

5 UNESCO World Heritage Site in 4 days. I have to warn you that 4 out of the 5 World Heritage Site 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 center while the First Class hotels were located at quieter locations outside the towns providing small luxuries (swimming pools, good dinners, and 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.

contact us

Astoria Travel (est. 1958)
48 Stadiou street, Athens 10564, Greece.
Tel. +30 210 3250380, +30 6932 888585.
Click here and send us a message


In the footer of this website you find the “4 steps to make a booking”. If our offer looks interesting, please send us the booking form.

CLICK here and see ALL THE GUIDED TOURS that start from Athens. Detailed information on each tour is included.

 


The famous ancient theatre of Epidaurus

The tour to Mycenae, Nafplion, and Epidaurus is a popular one-day tour.

Argolis is one of the longest-occupied regions in Greece, with evidence of Neolithic settlements. It’s no surprise that Mycenae, mentioned in Homer’s Iliad, today is an essential step in every trip to Greece. Attractions such as Agamemnon’s fortress with the hilltop acropolis and Agamemnon’s Palace, the famous Lions’ Gate, the royal cemetery, the Treasury of Atreus, the sanctuary of Asclepius, the god of medicine with the amazing theatre of Epidaurus, and the elegant city of Nafplion, draw huge crowds of people.

Mobile users visit: https://www.toursingreece.info

Our prices


NOV-MAR Organized on Tue, Thu, Sat, BUT… Sites/museums close at 3:pm
APR–OCT the 1-day tour to Argolis is organized on Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Sat

PRICES: Organizing tours throughout Greece since 1926, we have secured the best deals in all aspects of travel. Our prices are not matched.
1) NOVEMBER-MARCH: No lunch included = 69 + entrance fees per adult
APRIL – OCTOBER No lunch included = 69 + entrance fees per adult

2) The child’s price for the tour = 55 € (entrance fees on request)

Send us the booking request and start the communication. We shall get back asap.

DISCOUNTED entrance fees:
– Juniors under 26 and E.U. students do not pay entrance fees.
– Students from other countries and E.U. seniors over 65 pay 12 €

– Lunch (3 course menu) is served in Mycenae for 15 € extra per person.

MORE OFFERS and DISCOUNTS (only one discount allowed – the highest one):
The prices quoted are per person, and include:
– transportation on modern air-conditioned buses
– Pick up / drop off from or near your hotel (See the list of hotels at the foot of the website)
– The services of the professional tour guide all through the tour.

 

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

If our offer sounds interesting, please send us the booking form.

 

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

 

Trip advisor review us 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. 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 https://astoriatravel.gr/
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.

Highlights

The Corinth canal

The canal of Corinth – the mythical fortified city of Mycenae with the Lions’ Gate, the palace of Agamemnon, and the tomb of Atreus – The Epidaurus, with the sanctuary of Asclepius (the god of medicine), and the famous for its amazing acoustics theatre of Epidaurus & a short photo stop at the romantic and beautiful “Venetian” old town of Nafplion.

Ancient Mycenae

Mycenae was the kingdom of mythic Agamemnon. 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 founded and excavated the site of Troy. You enter the citadel through the famous Lions’ Gate.

Beautiful NAFPLION

Modern architecture hasn’t spoiled the old town of Nafplion, which is a feast for the eye. It was the capital of the Greek state in the early 1830s. Here, is the first residential place for the young Bavarian Prince, Otto, the first king of the new country after the revolution against the Turks. The old town is beautiful, with old mansions and paved roads. The town’s fortresses, the Palamidi and the Acronafplia played a key role during the war of independence. The Venetian influence is everywhere justifying the town’s name as the “Greek Venice”.

Sanctuary of God Asclepius and the amazing theatre of EPIDAURUS

The priests of the sanctuary of Asclepius were excellent surgeons. Today, next to the sanctuary of Asclepius, there is a small museum, displaying the instruments and tools used by the priests to perform even brain operations.
The administration of the sanctuary decided to build a theatre on the grounds of the sanctuary, to entertain the patients.

Itinerary

Time plan of the day tour to Argolis

07:30 Start the pick up from the hotels. Departure from the terminal at 08.30
10:00 Arrival at Corinth canal. Short photo stop
11:15 Arrival in ancient Mycenae Visit the ancient site & museum
13:00 Lunch in a local restaurant Lunch is optional. See the price paid.
14:15 Drive on to “Venetian” Nafplion Short photo stop at Nafplion
15:15 Arrival at the site of Epidaurus Visit the museum & the theatre
18:30 Arrival in the centre of Athens Drop off at your hotel by 19:30

After Nafplion, we continue to EPIDAURUS and visit the ancient theatre. The UNESCO world heritage listed monument is the birthplace of Apollo’s son Asclepius, the healer, and was the most popular healing centre in the classical world. Epidaurus is most famous for its theatre, one of the best-preserved classical Greek buildings and still used today due to its amazing acoustics.

Map


Map for one day tour to Argolis (Mycenae-Nafplion-Epidaurus)

One day tour to Argolis (Mycenae-Nafplion-Epidaurus)

One day tour to Argolis (Mycenae-Nafplion-Epidaurus)

Ancient Mycenae


Mycenae, the home of   the Atreid’s royal family,   is situated on a hill-top on the road leading to Corinth and Athens. The site was inhabited since Neolithic times (about 4000 BC) but reached its peak during the Late Bronze Age (1350-1200 BC),   giving its name to a civilization that spread throughout the Greek world.   During that period, the acropolis (= highest point of a city) was surrounded by massive “cyclopean” walls which were built in three stages (1350, 1250, and 1225 BC). The outer fortifying walls are large stones and must still look similar to 3500 years ago when they were built.

We enter the citadel of Mycenae through the famous Lions’ Gate, because of the two lions above the entranceway, the first monumental sculpture in Europe (13th century BC). Immediately on to our right, we come to Grave Circle A, a royal cemetery in which Schliemann found six shaft graves, 19 skeletons, and the incredibly rich burial furnishings which made his discovery one of the great archaeological finds of all time. This is where Schlieman found the ancient mask, which he called “the Mask of Agamemnon” but turned out to be the face of an unknown king from a period 300 years earlier. That mask is probably one of the most recognized ancient artifacts in the world and is still unofficially known as “the mask of Agamemnon”.

The rest of the site is interesting if you know what you are looking at, so take the time to read the material available in guidebooks. A ramp and stairs lead up from the grave circle to the palace on the top of the hill; unfortunately, little remains of the palace except for a Great Court and a megaron (a room with a central hearth and inner columns). The view when you get to the top of the hill is spectacular. You are really commanding the valley all the way down to Argos and Nafplion. From here you can follow a path down the back of the site to the Postern Gate and the Secret Cistern, a pitch-dark tunnel leading down some 80 steps through the solid rock. We can then return to the Lion Gate around the north side of the hill.

Outside the city walls, and across the road from Mycenae is the  Royal grave or a treasury of Atreus,   which is one of the most impressive parts of ancient Mycenae. You walk through a passageway into an enormous bee-hive tomb dug into the ground. This is known as “a Tholos tomb” and this was the way the ancient Mycenaeans began to bury their dead after the 15th century BC. The size of this tomb is incredible, and the stones are so massive that it’s believed that engineers who built Egyptian pyramids must have served as consultants when the Mycenaeans began constructing these “treasuries.”

A second tholos near the grave of Atreus was excavated by Schliemann and is called the Tomb of Klytemnestra; it is one of the latest and most finely constructed of the tholoi. The third one is called the Tomb of Aegisthus. is much earlier and its roof has collapsed. Returning down the modern road about a km we come to the most famous tholos, the Tomb of Agamemnon; the half-columns, which decorated its doorway, are in the Mycenaean Room of the National Museum.

Do not leave the site without a visit to the museum of Mycenae. Of the jewelry found in the graves, some are displayed at the site’s museum and some in the Athens Archaeological Museum.

Agamemnon


In myth, Mycenae was the home of Agamemnon, commander of the Greek army, which fought against Troy, and historically it was the most powerful Greek state during the last third of the Bronze Age (1600-1100 BC), which is why this period is called Mycenaean. Heinrich Schliemann excavated here in 1874-76 and found in Royal Grave Circle A the  rich treasures which prove that Agamemnon really lived and that Homer’s story of the Trojan War was history, not myth.

The myth of Mycenae  is the story of the Pelopid dynasty. Pelops, who gave his name to the Peloponnese (=Island of Pelops), had two sons, Atreus and Thyestes. Atreus, being the older son, became king of Mycenae but later he punished his brother, who had an adulterous affair with Atreus’ wife Europe, by forcing him to eat his two sons for dinner.

Atreus had two sons, Menelaus and Agamemnon, who married 2 sisters; Menelaus married Helen(the beautiful Helen of Troy) and Agamemnon married Clytemnestra. When Helen ran off with the Trojan prince Paris, Agamemnon and Menelaus became commanders-in-chief of the great expedition, which fought and won the Trojan War. When Agamemnon returned from the war, Clytemnestra was not overjoyed to see him; she had taken a lover (Thyestes’ son Aegisthus) and Agamemnon, who had earlier, at the beginning of the Trojan war, sacrificed his daughter Iphigeneia so that favourable winds would blow his fleet to Troy, now drove up to the palace with his new concubine, the Trojan princess Kassandra. Clytemnestra, therefore, invited Agamemnon to come in and take a bath; she gave him a garment to put on (with no holes for his head and arms) and while he stood there with this bag on his head, she killed him with three blows of an ax. Later Orestes, the exiled son of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra, returned to Mycenae and killed his mother to avenge his father; for his crime of matricide, he was driven mad by the Furies (mythic emblems of guilt) until finally, in the Attic version, he was acquitted at the first Areopagus trial, under the Acropolis.

 

See ALL THE GUIDED TOURS that start from Athens. Detailed information is included.

 

https://astoriatravel.gr/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Delphi_by_Albert_Tournaire.jpg
The ancient Delphi site with the treasuries and the temple of Apollo. Photo by Albert Tournaire

We want you to have a memorable time in Greece! Let a local tour expert organize your tours and make your dream come true.

Delphi is one of Greece’s most important tourist attractions. Easy to visit on a One day tour from Athens all year round.

The sheer magnificence and grandeur of the location strike you. Below the site, a valley ringed by mountains provides breathtaking views from any location within the site. Delphi was the most sacred place in the ancient world. A temple dedicated to the god Apollo was built in the 7th c BC. and housed the Oracle of Delphi, the greatest source of income for a thousand years. Delphi became a religious centre. Kings and common people came to consult the priestess called PYTHIA. In a secret room below the tripod of the Pythia, the priests of Apollo interpreted her vague and wild cries and put them into ordered language. The idea was: build a treasury house for your city-state, bring your valuables and we shall keep them for you in it.

The archaeological site today with the treasuries, the ancient temples, and the shrines, is one of the best in Greece, making Delphi one of Greece’s premier tourist attractions. It is a 2.30-hour drive from Athens making the one-day tour to Delphi a comfortable trip.

The Delphi museum houses impressive statues, jewelry, and other wares unearthed from the site.

Unless you are a history guy you need a full hour to explore the ancient site. The Sacred Way starts at the ticket booth. It winds up past a number of Treasuries and leads to the Temple of Apollo, where the Oracle was sitting.

Mobile users visit www.toursingreece.info

Days & prices


NOV- MARCH the tour operates 4 times per week; every Monday-Wednesday-Friday + Sunday
Apr- October the tour operates; every Monday-Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday + Sunday

PRICES: Our discounted prices are not matched. The price of the tour services without lunch are:
1) Nov-Mar: The adult price for the tour = 69.00 € + 8.00 € entrance fees
Apr-Oct : The adult price for the tour = 69.00 € + 15.00 € entrance fees
2) The child’s price for the tour = 55.00 € (no entrance fees apply)

Lunch(3 course menu) is served in a restaurant outside modern Delphi and costs 15.00 € extra for everybody.
Fill the booking request and start the communication. We shall get back asap.

The tour services include:
– transportation on modern air-conditioned buses
– the services of the professional tour guide all along, and
– Pick up/drop off from or near your hotel (See the list of hotels in the footer of this website).
– Shortstop in the picturesque village of Arachova, a popular winter destination in Greece.

MORE OFFERS and DISCOUNTS (only one discount allowed – the highest one):
a) GROUP DISCOUNT: Make a team of 5 full paying or more passengers and gain 5%

The ONE DAY DELPHI TOUR can be organized as a private excursion (cost-shared between the passengers):

In this private tour a) entrance fees, lunch, and drinks are not included in the price, plus
b) a local professional tour guide, can be arranged to meet you in Delphi at an extra cost.

Trip advisor review us WRITE A REVIEW ON OUR SERVICES. Your feedback helps us get better service.

Copied from a client’s blogpost:
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 https://astoriatravel.gr/
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.

 

POPULAR TOURS: 1 day Argolis | 2 days Delphi-Meteora | 3 day explore Meteora | 4 day classical & Meteora | 5 day explore Meteora | 1 day cruise

 

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

 

Itinerary

Time Tour Plan Services
7:30 Start the pick up service and come to the terminal Depart from the terminal at 08.30
11:30 Arrival in modern Delphi village On the way, 20 mins break near Levadia
11:45 Visit the ancient site & the museum Entrance fees – See the price you paid
14:30 Drive to a local restaurant 3 km from Delphi Lunch, is optional – See the price you paid.
15:30 Start the return towards Athens Stop at the village of Arachova
18:30 Arrival in the centre of Athens Hotel drop off by 19.30

History

If there is a site to visit in Greece then Delphi is this place. The sheer magnificence and grandeur of the location strike you. God Apollo had chosen the best spot to build his temple. Below the site, a valley ringed by mountains provides breathtaking views from any location within the site.

Delphi was considered to be one of the most important cities of ancient Greece. It was believed to be home to the goddess Gaia, or Earth, and later to Apollo after slaying Gaia’s son, the snake Python. The Pythian games—similar to the Olympic Games—were held here every four years to honor Apollo’s slaying of the Python dragon.

According to the myth, Zeus released two eagles. The one flew east and the other one flew west. They both met over Delphi, determining that the centre of the world was there. A temple dedicated to the god Apollo was built there in the 7th c BC. The Temple of Apollo housed the great Oracle of Delphi, the world’s greatest source of income for a thousand years. The Oracle was the most eminent feature of Delphi, and some of the most important people from all over Greece—including demigods, according to Greek mythology—visited her to seek advice. The oracle of Apollo became a religious centre where common people and kings alike, came to consult “Pythia”, the priestess of the sanctuary. In a room, below the Pythia, the priests listened and interpreted her vague and wild cries, and put them into ordered language.

Above the entrance to the temple of Apollo, the visitor reads ‘Know Thyself’ and ‘Nothing in Excess’. These sayings were read and pondered upon by all of the great kings, warriors, and noblemen who came here for advice. The true wisdom of the Oracle lies not within the words of the Oracle’s priestess, but within the walls of the temple itself.

The Pythian Games held in Delphi were one of four Panhellenic games held in ancient Greece, and they attracted competitors from all over the Greek world. Founded in the 6th c. BC and held in honour of Apollo the Games originally centered around the talents the god exemplified – music and poetry. However soon, athletic competitions were added as well. The best known was a great chariot race, held in the stadium of Delphi. The winners of the Pythian Games received a laurel wreath.

The 6th c. BC saw the political rise of Delphi ushering in a golden age that lasted until the arrival of the Romans in 191 BC. Numerous treasuries were built in the Sanctuary of Apollo to house votive offerings of grateful pilgrims. In the 4th century BC, a theater accommodating 5,000 spectators was constructed nearby. It was restored in 159 by king Eumenes II and later by the Romans.

The oracle of Delphi was abolished in 393 AD by Theodosius of Byzantium, the emperor who made Christianity the official religion of the Byzantine Empire. No longer used, the temples fell into disrepair and their materials were plundered for new buildings.

Site & Museum


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 is one of the best 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 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, bellow 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”, being the sculptured stone that represented the navel of the world, and many others.

When you finish with the sightseeing, you proceed to a local restaurant for lunch (optional), and after lunch, the driver stops for 40 minutes at the nearby traditional village of Arachova. The bus arrives in the center of Athens at +/- 18.30.

Testimonials


By Provoensis, United States, 11 posts, 38 reviews. Re: Astoria Travel, Jul 31

My experiences with Astoria Travel have been varied in scope, but ALWAYS extraordinarily positive. I cannot praise Kosta and his team highly enough. From small-scale arrangements for my wife and me to multi-day academic tours for groups of 30+ university students, our experience has always been top-notch.
I regularly travel with a university group to Greece, and other colleagues from my university (in the USA) have been booking arrangements through Astoria Travel since 2003, sometimes 2 – 3 groups per year. Kosta’s heartfelt inclination to provide a high-quality academic experience for our students really shows. Above all, his reliability and his determination to help us provide an affordable program for them is apparent from beginning to end. On each program, he has been constantly calculating how we can shave down costs to the students’ advantage. He really tends to the smallest details.
Trustworthiness may be the most important aspect of a travel agent’s involvement with a group. In the many facets of our several tours arranged by Astoria, I have yet to be surprised by any bill or expenditure. Everything has been transparent and anticipated.
I recommend to all my colleagues at my university to work their Greek travel arrangements through Astoria Travel. For us Greece means Kosta.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________

Re: Astoria Travel Meteora trip Reviews.
Hi SomeGirl111. All the bus tours in Greece are organized by three Tour operators. The travel agents do not organize, they sell these guided tours at discounted rates. So, whoever you decide to buy your tour from, you will end up sitting in one of the T.O. buses. All three T.Os. use modern, air-conditioned buses., and knowledgeable professional tour guides. You travel on the same bus as visitors that paid the full brochure price. Astoria Travel was established in 1958 and is still operating and prospering. So, your question should be: is the price that they sell the tours organized by G.O.Tours, CHAT, or KEY Tours, good? What differs between the travel agents, is how fast they reply to you, and the way they answer your request. Being in the travel trade for such a long time, I am sure that they know the way to satisfy their clients.


In the footer of this website you find the “4 steps to make a booking”. If our offer sounds interesting, please send us the booking form.

CLICK here and see ALL THE GUIDED TOURS that start from Athens. Detailed information on each tour is included.

 

If your visit to Greece is too short, this is your chance to visit Meteora.

Upon arrival, you realize why the first hermits chose this location to create their monastic community and seek communication with God. See the 4 monasteries and the 2 nunneries, and visit two of them. Learn about the everyday life of the monks, admire their architecture and gaze at the priceless relics and treasures of the monasteries, cultural heritage to all Christian religions.

Finish your sightseeing return to Kalambaka, have a light lunch, board the train and return to Athens at 21:30

Itinerary


* You collect your tickets from us and settle the account anyday before departure.
* Be at the LARISA railway station in Athens at least 30 minutes before the train departure.
* Your train comes at 07:10 am. Find your carriage and seat.
* 07:20 – The train departs and following a scenic route it travels straight from Athens to Kalampaka(last stop).
* 11:30 – Arrive in Kalampaka and meet our English-speaking driver outside the railway station.
* 11:45 – Drive to Meteora. Visit up to 3 monasteries. See old hermitages and cloisters in the caves.
* 16:45 – Return to Kalampaka. Stop at a local restaurant for a light meal (not included in the price).
* 17:00 – The train departs from Kalampaka and arrives in Athens (LARISA station) at +/- 22.45.

To make a booking you deposit 40.00 euro per person and you settle the balance when we meet in Athens.

CANCELLATION POLICY: 15.00 € p.p. is not refundable. In case of a strike, the full amount is refunded.

Price & Inclussions


The price for the 3.30 hours private tour of Meteora includes your return B class train ticket and the taxi hire from the moment that you arrive until the moment that you tell the driver that you have seen enough and want to get back to Kalambaka and have something to eat.

– 1 passenger: Train ticket (B class), 86.00 € p.p.
– 1 passenger: Train ticket (A class), 98.00 € p.p.
– 2 passengers: Train ticket (B class), 82.00 € p.p.
– 2 passengers: Train ticket (A class), 94.00 € p.p.
– 3 passengers: Train ticket (B class), 76.00 € p.p.
– 3 passengers: Train ticket (A class), 88.00 € p.p.
– 4 passengers: Train ticket (B class), 69.00 € p.p.
– 4 passengers: Train ticket (A class), 81.00 € p.p.

Following the Covid-19 measures the train runs in 50% capacity
resulting to a surcharge of 15 € p.p. that must be added to all prices.

To secure your booking, please, click and see the terms, find the pay online link in the footer, and, deposit 40.00 € p.p.

THE PRICE INCLUDES:

* Return train ticket. Pay 12.00 euro, and upgrade the train ticket to A class (recommended).
* Upon arrival, you meet our bus driver and for 3 hours, you visit up to 3 monasteries.
* Visit hidden beauties & explore the area with a local, English-speaking leader.

NOT INCLUDED in the price:
* No professional tour guide service is included. It’s you and the taxi driver.
* 3.00 euro per person, is the entrance ticket to each monastery, and
* Your lunch and drinks on the train and while you are in Kalampaka.

Olympia stadium

Days & prices


April-October, the tour operates Monday-Tuesday-Saturday & selected Thursdays. CLICK and see which Thursdays.
November-March, the tour operates ONLY on Mondays. CLICK and READ details and prices of tours in low season.

Pick up / drop off from or near your hotel starts at 07:30, departs from the terminal at 08:30, and returns at 18:30

HOTELS at Olympia: (3*) NEDA, KRONION, or similar | (4*) OLYMPIC VILLAGE or EUROPA or ARTY GRAND
HOTELS in Delphi: (3*) FEDRIADES or HERMES or PARNASSOS and (4*) AMALIA or APPOLONIA

PRICES: In Greece the guided tours are organized by 3 big Greek tour operators and are offered by travel agencies at different prices. We believe that our prices cannot be matched. We have secured the best deals in all aspects of travel.

Three choices Double room Single room
Option 1: 3* hotel with breakfast 225.00 + 48.00 entrance fees = 273.00 € 285.00 + 48.00 entrance fees = 333.00 €
Option 2: 3* hotel – half board 265.00 + 48.00 entrance fees = 313.00 € 325.00 + 48.00 entrance fees = 373.00 €
Option 3: 4* hotel – half board 320.00 + 48.00 entrance fees = 368.00 €
includes complimentary arrival transfer
395.00 + 48.00 entrance fees = 443.00 €
includes complimentary arrival transfer

* Child (4 – 12 y.o.) pays 75% of the tour price (No entrance fees apply)
* Infants up to 4 y.o. travel free of charge when they share the parents’ double bed

NOVEMBER – MARCH, the entrance fees drop from 48.00 to 24.00 €

The tour services include:
– transportation on modern air-conditioned buses with ample storage space for your luggage.
– entrance fees to sites and museums visited
– 1-night hotel accommodation at Olympia, and 1 in Delphi
– 1 breakfast in both, Olympia and Delphi
– 1 dinner at Olympia, and 1 in Delphi (if you choose to pay half board)
– Pick up/drop off from/near your hotel (See the list of hotels at the foot of the website)
– The services of a professional tour guide.
– All taxes except the “hotel overnight tax” (1.50 – 3.00 € per room, per night).
– If you choose to pay the 4-star price, an arrival airport transfer is included.

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%

Trip advisor review us 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. 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 https://astoriatravel.gr/
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 details in the testimonials section…

Description


Visit Epidaurus, Nafplion, Mycenae, Olympia & Delphi

The Amazing open THEATRE OF EPIDAURUS
The priests of the sanctuary of God Asclepius were excellent surgeons. On the grounds of the sanctuary, the administration of the Asklepion, in order to entertain the patients, decided to build a theatre. Today, next to the sanctuary of Asclepius, there is a small museum, displaying the instruments and tools used by the priests, and 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. The town was in the hands of the Venetians for 200 years and when they gave it back to the Greeks, they also left their signature on the old charming town. Nafplion was the capital of the Greek state in the early 1830s. Here, is the first palace for the young Bavarian Prince, Otto, the first king of the new country after the revolution against the Turks. The old town is beautiful, with old mansions and paved roads. The town’s fortresses, the Palamidi and the Akronafplia played a key role during the war of independence. The Venetian influence is everywhere justifying the town’s name as the “Greek Venice”.

MYCENAE – “City in gold”
Mycenae, the city that controlled both the land and sea routes, was the kingdom of the mythic Agamemnon. Myths related to history have inspired poets and writers over the centuries from Homer and the Greek tragedies of the classical period to contemporary literary and artistic creations. 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 Olympic stadium, the Gymnasium, the Palestra, and others. See the Temple of Zeus, the Temple of Hera, the altar of the Olympic flame, the seven-echo stoa, and the archaeological Museum where among the other exhibits you will see the statue of Nike and the beautiful Hermes of Praxiteles.

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.

Highlights


Short photo stop at Corinth canal
Visit the sanctuary of Asclepius and the Epidaurus Theatre
Visit the Mycenae Archaeological site & Tomb of Atreus
Visit the Olympia Archaeological site & Museum
Visit the Delphi Archaeological site & Museum
A short stop at Nafplion town

More info & Map


* Read the 4 steps 2 book that you find in the footer and we look forward to receiving your request.
* When we receive the message from the bank that the money has been deposited, we’ll send you the voucher.

MAP – ROUTE OF THE TOUR

Testimonials


From Trip advisor comments on Astoria Travel Athens.

rnohr, Boston, Massachusetts 3116, Reviewed October 15, 2017
Underrated travel agent service
I don’t know if people know about this gem of a service, but I would HIGHLY recommend using it for booking tours in all of Greece. Kosta is extremely serviceable and offers a GREAT deal on the tour.
I booked a 3-day classical Greece tour with Kosta and he was able to arrange it for a price that was cheaper than what the tour agency actually offered. He always responded promptly to emails and got back to me within 24 hours. Everything was arranged as would be expected.
I would recommend using this company for any needs before other people find out how great of a gem this is.
________________________________________________________________________

Re: Astoria Travel Meteora trip Reviews.
Hi SomeGirl111. All the bus tours in Greece are organized by three Tour operators. The travel agents do not organize, they sell these guided tours at discounted rates. So, whoever you decide to buy your tour from, you will end up sitting in one of the T.O. buses. All three T.Os. use modern, air-conditioned buses, and knowledgeable professional tour guides. You travel on the same bus as visitors that paid the full brochure price. Astoria Travel was established in 1958 and is still operating and prospering. So, your question should be: is the price of the tours organized by G.O. Tours, CHAT, or KEY Tours, good? What differs between the travel agents is how fast they reply to you, and the way they answer your request. Being in the travel trade for such a long time, I am sure that they know the way to satisfy their clients.
________________________________________________________________________
From: https://travelbunny8.blogspot.com/2016/07/greece-4-days-classical-greece-tour.html
(Visit the excellent blog site, read the description and comments)

If you wish to see the major sights of mainland Ancient Greece including 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.

5 UNESCO World Heritage Site 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 on 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 center 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.


In the footer of this website, you find the “4 steps to make a booking”. If our offer looks interesting, please send us the booking form.

CLICK here and see ALL THE GUIDED TOURS that start from Athens. Detailed information on each tour is included.

 


Ancient Olympia GreeceAncient Olympia Greece

You found the One day tour to Olympia that you are looking for

Itinerary & Prices

Olympia, site of the ancient Olympic Games.

The only way to visit Ancient Olympia in a day is by hiring a self-driven car, hiring a taxi, or, taking our day trip.
With the extra expense of a local tour guide, experience a 3 hours guided tour in the ancient site and the archaeological museum, and, on your own, in the museum of the ancient Olympic Games.

– Starting from your lodging at 06.45 am, we stop at Corinth canal (photo-stop), and arrive at Olympia at 10.45 am.
Meet the tour guide (recommended) and with her, visit the archaeological museum, and the  ancient site.
– When you finish the sightseeing, relax having lunch in the peaceful setting of the modern Olympia town, and
– At +/- 16.00 start the return trip and arrive in Athens before 20.00.

In the ancient site, the stadium, and the Olympia Museum, there is so much to see, that visitors should give themselves at least half a day to explore and experience ancient Olympia.
_________________________________________________________________________

Prices in euro, per person

3 persons 
4 persons
5 persons
6 persons
7 persons
8 persons
1-day trip
100.00
80.00
70.00
60.00
55.00
50.00
2-day trip
160.00
135.00
120.00
On request
On request
On request

The trip is costly and this is the reason that there is no price for 2 passengers. Persuade one or more friends to join you and share the cost of this day trip.
The price includes: transportation and tolls. The entrance fees and the lunch mentioned are not included and are paid locally.
A local professional tour guide can be arranged for an extra fee.

  • Bookings 3 -1 days before departure CAN BE DONE ONLY IN OUR OFFICE (48 Stadiou str. near Omonia square).
  • In order to book the tour you must fill and submit the booking form found in the top menu of this website.
  • Plan a 2-day trip combining ancient Olympia with the Venetian town of Nafplion, Homer’s Mycenae and the sanctuary of Asclepius at Epidaurus, or, with the lakes of Polylimnio, Navarino, and Ancient Messene, an archaeological site generally accepted as the most beautiful site in Greece. We suggest hotels for you to choose.

Visit a similar One-day tour to Olympia and compare services and prices.

OLYMPIA minibus
The minibus seats 9 passengers in 3 rows of seats.

History of Olympia

Listen to Prof. Hale’s excellent lecture, and include Olympia in your itinerary.

Olympia became the most important religious and athletic center in Greece and must be included in everybody’s itinerary. The only way to visit Ancient Olympia on a day trip is by hiring a self-driven car or a taxi, or by taking our private day trip, preferably with the extra expense of a local guide.

Ancient Olympia, the Acropolis of Athens, and the Oracle of Delphi are 3 sites that the services of a professional tour guide are appreciated. There are a lot of myths and interesting stories about Olympia and the Olympic Games that the tour guide will talk about.
The professional tour guide will speak about:
* The four Pan-Hellenic Games, (the Games at Olympia were one of them. The other three were, the Isthmian, the Pythian, and the Nemean Games).
* Ancient Olympia was not a city as such. It was only the sanctuary, the stadium, the sports facilities, the VIP hostel, and the administration buildings,
* The city that was responsible for the organization of the ancient Olympic Games was ILIS, +/- 30kms from Olympia,
* The temple of Zeus, that housed one of the 7 wonders of the ancient world, the statue of Zeus, made by the Pheidias.
* The structures in the “sacred” sanctuary were dedicated to the gods, except the Philippeion and the villa of Nero.
* The Zannes, being the statues of the cheaters. (Emperor Nero was the biggest cheater of the ancient Olympic Games).
* The amazing organization of the ancient Olympic Games, similar and even better than today’s organization.
* The females had their own Games. They called them Heraia Games and were organized in favour of goddess Hera, Zeus’ wife, and sister.
* Learn the story of Kallipateira, the mother that disguised herself as a man in order to watch her son competing and winning in the Games.
* The story of Kinishka, the tomboy Spartan princess, a chariot owner, that became the first female Olympic winner.
* The lighting of the Olympic flame and the torch relay celebrated every year (summer, winter, youth Olympics, etc.).
* Following the Baron’s last wish, his heart was buried at Olympia, at the base of the monument in the I.O.A. grounds.
* The emblems (the five Olympic rings) of the modern Olympic Games, revived by Baron Pierre De Coubertin.

The ancient Olympic Games started about 3000 years ago, when Hippodamia, daughter of the local King, Oenomaus, fell in love and married Pelops. Pelops, a local hero, decided to name the whole peninsula after his name and called it Peloponnesus (= Pelop’s island). However only in 776 BC, the first Olympic Games win was recorded, and that year marks the first Olympiad. Since then, every four years the Olympic Games were held attracting athletes of Greek origin from all the Greek city States. A month before the opening ceremony, until a month after the closing day of the games, the Olympic truce was in effect and all hostilities were suspended, for the spectators to visit Olympia and return safely from Olympia to their city-states. At Olympia, the victors’ prize was an olive branch wreath.

Olympic Games


The first recorded win in the ancient Olympic Games was in 776 B.C. and since then, the Games were held, between August 6 and September 19, every four years for over 1000 years, devoted to Zeus. The four years period between two Olympic Games was called an Olympiad and was used as a meter of chronology. The spirit of sport and friendly rivalry was the ideal of these Olympic games. The “Olympic truce”, that is the ceasing of fighting in the whole Greek world for as long as the Olympic games were on, was strictly observed with one or two exceptions. The Spartans in 420 BC were excluded from the games on the ground of truce breaking. In 426 BC emperor Theodosius II ordered the destruction of the temples and the Altis was burnt.
Taking part in the Games was a great honour for the athlete and his native city. The athletes were men of Greek origin that had not committed the crime of sacrilege(had done something unholy). The athletes competed nude. Women were forbidden to watch the games, with the exception of the priestess of goddess Demeter. Violation of this rule was punishable by death. According to Pausanias, the only time this rule was broken and the death sentence was not carried out, was the case of Kallipateira, daughter of the Olympic winner Diagoras of Rhodes, who came to the stadium disguised as the trainer to encourage her son Peisidorus who was taking part in the games. In her enthusiasm for his victory jumping over the trainers’ enclosure wall, her chiton fell down revealing her feminity. The Hellanodikai spared her life out of respect to her family, the Diagorides, who had three generations of Olympic winners: her father Diagoras, her brothers Eukleas and Kallianaktas nad her son Peisidorus. This incident was the reason for passing the law, which compelled the trainers to attend the stadium naked, like the athletes.

Organization of the Games.
The highest dignitaries of the Games were the 12 Hellanodikai (umpires), responsible for organizing the games and application of the rules. They had the authority to disqualify individuals because of violation of the rules and to impose fines and punish those concerned. They were helped by the alytai( a kind of policeman), the mastigophoroi (whippers), and the ravdouchoi(staff bearers). All of them answered the alytarch(chief of police). Being part of religious ceremonies, there was also, the theokoloi, who conducted the sacrifices, the spondoforoi, assigned to travel throughout the Greek world to announce the Games and the celebrations, the seers that gave prophecies and had special prestige, the priests for special sacrifices, the flute players, the dancers and the head of ceremonies.
Ten months before the beginning of the Games, the Hellanodikai stayed in a special building where they were informed of their duties and learned the rules of the Games. The athletes had to announce to them their participation one year before the Games began. One month before the Games they had to come to Olympia with their trainers in order to prepare themselves.
The Games lasted five days. On the first day, the opening ceremony was carried out. The athletes registered and in front of the Zeus Orkios, they and their trainers took a vow(orkos). They vowed that “they compete fairly and without violating the rules”. The Hellanodikai also took a vow to be honest and fair in their judgments. The second day included horse and chariot races in the hippodrome and the pentathlon. The third day was the most important. It included glorious rites devoted to the worship of Zeus in the morning. There was a large festive procession of priests, athletes, the Hellanodikai, and notables of Ellis and of the other Greek cities. In the afternoon the foot races were held. On the fourth day the so-called heavy events – wrestling, boxing, pankration, and the race in full armour took place. On the fifth and last day, the festive awarding of the prizes was carried out in front of the statue of Zeus. The crowning of the winners took place among the applause, the hymns and songs of the friends and relatives and the celebrations would last until the next morning. The Olympic winner received as a prize an olive tree crown as well as other important prizes in kind and money and the victory gave the athlete great fame during his lifetime and posthumously. A victory ode was written especially for him as well as a statue of the athlete was made. The statue portrayed the ideal of the “good and honest” man. His native city participated in his victory and his proud fellow citizens knocked down part of the city walls through which he made his entry.
The Events: The Olympic Games consisted of 10 events: running, pentathlon, jumping, discus, javelin, wrestling, boxing, pankration, chariot, and horse racing.
The foot – race is the oldest contest that took place in Olympia. The athletes were running nude, in an area around 600 feet (192.27m), called one Stadion. This distance gave its name to the area used for the performance of the event. The stadiums were situated on hillsides or in small valleys, thus enabling the spectators to follow the events. Later and as the crowd of spectators grew, artificial slopes were built and the spectators sat on the ground. The stadium at Olympia had a capacity of 45,000 spectators. There are no records of the achievements of the athletes during Archaic times as there were no means of keeping time.
Pentathlon The pentathlon was a combination of events. It included jumping, running, javelin, discus, and wrestling. The athlete had to combine many qualities and skills of the body.
Jumping Similar to the long jump. The athlete jumped into a pit holding halters in his hands.
Discus An event loved by the Greeks most and known from Homeric poems. A moment of discus throwing is captured in the famous statue of the Discus-thrower, opposite the Panathenaic Stadium, in Athens.
Javelin One of the favorite events of many mythical heroes. We find the “ekevolon” javelin throwing which was judged by the distance the javelin was thrown and the “stohastikon” javelin throwing where the javelin was thrown at a specific target.
Wrestling It is referred to for the first time in Homer’s Labours for Patroclus. One of the pentathlon events but also independent in the Pan-Hellenic games. Even today it is called Greek-Roman wrestling.
Boxing One of the oldest events, as shown by the early reference to the event by Homer and the representation of two children boxing on the mural from Akrotiri in Santorini.
The Pankration A combination of wrestling and boxing, it was considered as the most worthy event for men in the games.
The horse & chariot races Took place in the hippodrome, a space used for the horse races. The horse races comprised of various events and were conducted with horses, chariots, and a quadriga. The most spectacular event was the quadriga race, an event in which the most prominent historic personalities had competed.

Independently of the Olympic games, the HERAIA GAMES, foot races for women only in honour of goddess Hera, was also taking place in Olympia. These games were also held every four years. The women ran having their hair loose, dressed in short tunics. There is a perfect image of a statue in the Athens Archaeological Museum of a girl taking part in the games.

All options

Olympia is still in our lives with the lighting of the flame and the torch relay, ceremonies that every year will bring back memories of this tour.

Despite the damage by the earthquakes and the floods, the site is worth your visit. The setting is magical, making it the most beautiful major site in the Peloponnese. Both, the archaeological museum and the museum of the ancient Games are among the finest in Greece, making your visit to Olympia a must. There is no modern equivalent for ancient Olympia – a religious and at the same time an athletic centre. Men travelled from every part of the ancient World to compete in these Games and the winners became legends. Over 50,000 spectators came to watch the Games every four years and support the athletes.
The area was buried under the alluvial deposits of the two rivers until its discovery in 1852. Since then, millions of people visit Olympia every year and admire its wealth and importance in antiquity. A visit to the original site of the Olympic Games is a moving experience. Running in the original stadium is an unforgettable one.
If your visit to Greece is short and does not allow you to join a longer tour, take our ONE DAY TOUR TO OLYMPIA and visit the huge, but walkable, sacred ancient site.

Ancient Olympia has cultivated ideals. The importance of taking part in the Olympics was a great honour, being an Olympic winner was even greater.
The ancient Greeks visited the sanctuary of Olympia every 4 years. Join one of our tours and visit it once in your lifetime.

The whole region of Olympia is filled with history and beauty, and it is not difficult to imagine the atmosphere of the ancient games so many years ago.
With the Archaeological Museum exhibiting findings from the area, Olympia is generally accepted as one of the most interesting and educational sites you will find in the Peloponnese.

The archaeological site of Ancient Olympia is one of the most popular sites to visit in the Peloponnese. Birthplace to the Olympic Games, and home of the Olympic Flame, Olympia is a site that every visitor to Greece should include in his itinerary.

Join one of the tours below and visit the sanctuary of Zeus at Olympia:

Testimonials


thetis2017, Grantham, United Kingdom. “One day trip to the archaeological site at Olympia”

Kosta gives excellent value for money. He is highly knowledgeable, caring, and courteous. We shall definitely book another trip with him next year.
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GDS_10 Grand Rapids… Re: Astoria Travel

I can highly recommend Astoria Travel and Kosta in particular. He went out of his way to assist my wife and me during our visit to Athens in early May.
First, he got us rates in Athens’s hotels that were significantly lower than any we could book on the web. He gave us excellent advice about what would be open and what would be closed during a national strike on May 7 and booked us for a wonderful one-day cruise that day (at a rate lower than that advertised by other agents).
I had trouble finding someone to take us on a one-day trip to Olympia, Kosta volunteered and drove us there and back. He also accommodated my request to visit the site of the Marathon battlefield-again, driving us personally, explaining the vicinity and the history, and recommending a cafe and several special Greek dishes for lunch.
His English is excellent, he is knowledgeable, highly experienced, and extremely helpful.

 

Ancient Olympia must be included in everybody’s itinerary.