Trip Schedule
Day 1: On arrival in Athens, you will be met and transferred to hotel. The rest of the day is free to head out and explore the city, an incredible contrast of the ancient and the modern.
Day 2: Today we will learn about Ancient Town of Athens, the cradle of Western civilization. We will visit UNESCO recognized symbol of Greece, Acropolis Rock and Museum. On the Rock we will admire the Parthenon, Temple of Athena Nike, Erechtheion and we will continue with visit to the Acropolis new Museum. Later we will finish our day with a walking tour at area of Plaka and Psyrri neighborhood, home to artisan shops. Continue on through Monastiraki, a historic neighborhood centered on a famous flea market. Navigate its packed streets, and see if you can spot any of its Greco-Roman ruins. Stop to taste authentic Greek bites as you amble on, and get a feel for the pace of Athenian life. Enjoy free time in Athens.
Day 3: Today we will board on flight to Dodecanese Island of Kos. A beautifully bright Aegean Island known for its Greek and Roman historical sites, as well as its picturesque beaches. Settlement at hotel.
Day 4: Today we will spend our day exploring the island, a place influenced by over 5,000 years of Ottoman, Roman, and Venetian history. We will begin with the ruins of the Asklepios, an ancient medical center and healing temple built in honor of one of Kos’ most famous sons: Hippocrates himself. Head into town to see Neratzia Castle, built in the 14th century by the Knights of Saint John; the Loggia Mosque, one of two Ottoman-era mosques on the island that still hold prayers; and the Tree of Hippocrates, a plane tree under which Hippocrates taught his students. Return at hotel. Free time.
Day 5: Early in the morning we will take the ferry and head south to Rhodes. The largest of the Dodecanese islands and the former site of an ancient wonder of the world: the Colossus of Rhodes. During our stay we will visit the harbor to view the site of the Colossus of Rhodes. Originally built in 290 B.C., this hulking bronze-and-iron statue of the Greek sun god Helios stood until an earthquake felled it just 54 years after it was first erected. It laid in disrepair, in fulfillment of an oracle, for centuries until invading forces melted it down. We will see the traditional windmills of the Old Town before walking to the UNESCO-listed Medieval City, where Gothic and Ottoman architecture beautifully coexist. Learn how the walled city was built by order of Saint John of Jerusalem and how various groups, from Italians to Ottomans, have called it home over the centuries. We walk up the cobbled Street of the Knights to the Palace of the Grand Masters: an enormous structure adorned with towers, arched gates, and statues. Hear how it was restored during the 20th century by the Italians, and how it became the holiday home of politicians like King Victor Emmanuel III and Benito Mussolini. Rest of the day at disposal.
Day 6: Early in the morning we will depart for the port where we will board to the boat for Symi. The Venetian island is rightly considered one of the most beautiful of the Dodecanese with its unique architecture. In Symi we observe the traditional houses built next to each other on the steep hillsides. Walking through the alleys and visiting the sponge shops is something that should not be missing from your experience. Next stop is the port of Panormitis with the Holy Monastery of Taxiarchis of Panormitis with its wonderful frescoes, the library, the folklore museum inside and an impressive wood-carved iconostasis. Return to Rhodes. Free time.
Day 7: Free morning in Rhodes and transfer to Airport for flight back to Athens.
Day 8: Check out and flight back home.
Gallery
