This trip is the perfect combination if you wish to learn all about Greece’s Culture and Agriculture!

Itinerary:

DAY 1: ARRIVAL FROM YOUR POINT OF ORIGIN TO ATHENS
Arrival at the airport “Eleftherios Venizelos” Athens. Welcome by our tour guide and transfer to hotel. Information sessions, Welcome drink, program presentation. Evening: opportunity for a Greek night with folklore show. Early in the evening we visit the port city of Piraeus and then, we head to a hearty tavern in the world-famous old town of Athens – at the foot of the Acropolis we spend the evening with varied folklore festival dances, folk music, etc. Meals will be offered. Around midnight ride to the hotel, overnight stay (Charge including 4 course menu + wine).

DAY 2: DAFNI BOTANIKOS, SPATA, CAPE SOUNION
After breakfast we drive to Dafni Botanikos and firstly visit the agricultural school of the University of Athens. We have the opportunity to see the different plants that are on the Greek vine, grape, vine breeding as well as the silkworm, beekeeping and honey. We are shown a greenhouse. (The group can determine the topics on which they are interested in.) Then we go to Messoghia (Middle land) to the vines Attikas. Here in the town of Spata, we will stop briefly and visit a small wine-maker, where the famous folk wine Retsina is produced. Late in the afternoon we visit the traditional vineyard of Mina Fragou (wine tasting) Continue through the vineyards of Messoghia to Cape Sounion – the southernmost tip of the Attica peninsula projecting into the Aegean Sea, we may see the sunset at the temple of Poseidon, leading to an unforgettable impression of a trip to Greece. Return to the hotel.

DAY 3: DELPHI
In the morning we leave Athens and Thebes to go to the town of Delphi.The most famous oracle of ancient Greece in honor of the god Apollo, god of music and art. In Delphi, we will visit the archaeological site and the museum, where you can admire, among other things the famous statue of Iniochos. Time for a stroll, a short break in Delphi. Then we transfer to the hotel in Itea.

DAY 4: LEARN ABOUT OLIVE TREES, PELOPONNESE
Today our program continues with farm visits. Here when you visit the olive groves you have the opportunity to see an olive tree up close and hear all about the Greek Olive Tree, Greek olives and olive oil. Next on the agenda is a visit to an oil press, where extra virgin olive oil is produced. Afterwards we visit a small plant where the olives are processed and packaged food. Of course, if we have the time, we can visit an olive farm house. There we can have a shot, and then we are shown and explained about how the farmhouse runs now, and how it was run before. Late afternoon we drive over Rion – Antirion to our hotel in Niforeika. Dinner, overnight stay.

DAY 5: ACHAIA CLAUSS, AEGION
After breakfast we drive to Achaia Clauss. A point of interest here is the winery of the factory, the oldest in all of Greece with old barrels and wine from the 19th century. We have a guided tour of the facility and visit the imperial cellar, where the famous Greek dessert wine (Mavrodaphne) is stored. The oldest Mavrodaphne dates from 1901. We then drive to Aegion, a small port city on the Gulf of Corinth. In Aegion we visit a raisin packing factory, raisins farmers’ co. and raisins farmhouse where we have a shot of brandy. We have a small guide, and hear all and see about the Greek raisins. If we have the opportunity, we could go to an orange juice factory. In the afternoon, we continue to our hotel in Loutraki. Dinner and Overnight stay.

DAY 6: KALAVRITA, VURAIKOS GORGE
In the morning we drive from our hotel in Loutraki to Kalavrita. We visit the historic monastery Mega Spileon and the monastery of Aghia Lavra – in the early 19th century the Greek liberation struggle against the Turks began here. The view from the monastery of the Valley of Vuraikos gorge is breathtaking. On the way back we visit the Cave of the Lakes. Then ride on the legendary cog railway from Kalavrita after Diakofto through the wild and romantic gorge Vuraikos. Ride to our hotel in Loutraki.

DAY 7: CORINTH; MYCENAE, EPIDAURUS
In the morning after breakfast we drive to the Corinth Canal (world famous, built at the end of the 19th century as an artificial connection between the Saronic Gulf and the Gulf of Corinth). 15 minutes stop for photos. We continue the trip to Epidaurus, the shrine and Treatment Centre of Asklepios. Passing by vineyards and ancient gnarled olive trees we reach Mycenae. We visit the well-preserved Cyclopean walls, the Royal Tombs, the magnificent Lions Gate, the earliest evidence of monumental sculpture in Europe. Here, the archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann began (in 1874) its excavation and discovered the Royal Tombs of the House of Atreus and their huge hoards of gold. Continue to Nauplio. Stop for photos. We drive to the village of Kandia in Nauplio. We visit a Vegetable cultivation operation. Return to the hotel. Dinner and overnight stay.

DAY 8: Free Day.

DAY 9: ATHENS, ACROPOLIS, CITY TOUR
In the morning we have a city tour in Athens with a visit to the world famous Acropolis, the symbol of Athens. Ride and tour of the modern and ancient city of Athens (Temple of Zeus, University, National Library, Royal Palace, Kalimarmaron stadium). Some time for shopping in the old town of Athens, Plaka. Then drive to the Airport “Eleftherios Venizelos”, and return to your point of origin.