Cape Sounion Private Tour

The Greeks chose their temple sites with great care, taking into consideration the natural beauty of the location and its appropriateness to the god in question. Nowhere is this more apparent than the Temple of Poseidon at windswept Cape Sounion.

After meeting with your driver, begin your journey to the Cape with a leisurely drive down the Saronic coast (the Attica Riviera), past the beaches of Glyfada, Vouliagmeni and Varkiza. As you approach Cape Sounion, it rises like a sheer cliff out of the sea. The headland is shaped like an axe-head with cliffs on three sides. Homer knew it as the “sacred cape” when he described it in his poem the Odyssey in the 8th century B.C., and when Nestor describes the journey home from Troy, he mentions “Sounion, the sacred promontory of Athens”.

The current Temple of Poseidon, built upon an earlier temple, dates from around 440 B.C. and stands majestically on a jagged spur atop the Cape. Gleaming white when viewed from the sea, it gave great comfort to sailors in ancient times who knew they were nearly home. The view from the temple is equally spectacular. Land masses to the west stand out in sharp profile: the bulk of Aegina backed by the mountains of the Peloponnese. Your private guide will tell you more of this sites prominent place in Greek history and mythology and how it played a part in the Aegean Sea getting its name.

Built in the time of Pericles, the architecture and dimensions of the building are identical to those of the Hephaisteion in the Agora of Athens. The beauty of the surviving Doric columns has inspired many poets, including Lord Byron who carved his name on one of the columns. Even great poets can’t resist a bit of graffiti!

After your visit to Sounion, you will return to Athens or your intended destination along the same coastal road.

2-Day Private Tour Delphi and Meteora

Day 1:

Our services will arrive at your hotel at approximately 8:30 a.m. to begin your journey to the Delphi area. Along the way, you will see the plain of Beotia, an agricultural center and you will also pass by the city of Theva, the birthplace of King Oedipus. Our first stop that it is worth to visit will be at the wonderful Byzantine Monastery of St. Loukas or at the Monastery of St. John Theologos.

Continuing we will visit Castalia Spring, visit at the archaeological site and view the monument of the Argive Kings, the treasury of the Athenians, the Athenian Stoa, the Polygonal Wall, the monument of Platea and the Temple of Apollo famous for its oracle and Delphi museum, with it’s spectacular exhibits include the frieze of the Treasury of the Sifnians, the Naxian Sphinx, the Statue of Antinoos the metopes of the Athenian treasury, the famous bronze Charioteer, originally created to commemorate a victory during the 476 B.C. Pythian Games, and many other artifacts.

Afterwards, you can choose (as it is your private tour!) the next place that we can visit, for coffee or lunch break, the village of Arachova (at 1000 meters altitude), the best winter resort of Greece, or the small town of Itea, a beautiful and traditional place next to the sea! Depart from Delphi and driving through Central Greece and the cities of Lamia, Trikala (quick stop), we arrive in Kalambaka, a small traditional town that is built at the foot of the majestic grey rocks of God, at the shadow of the great Meteora Monasteries.

The conclusion of first day will be an overnight stay in Kalambaka (Meteora) at one of our recommended hotels.

Day 2:

After your breakfast, we will visit the first great monastery of Varlaam, founded on on 16th century and located on the top of a rock at 380m height! Our second visit will be at the Monastery of St. Stephan, of the 15th century, also built on the top of the top of another huge rock where you will admire a small treasure of Byzantine and Christian items, at the museum inside the monastery!This wonderful tour will be completed at the picturesque villages of Kalambaka or Kastraki, where you will have a traditional Greek lunch! Afterwards, Return to Athens passing by the small towns of Domokos, Kamena Vourla at the seaside and Thermopyles where there is the statue of Leonidas as a memorial of the battle of the 300 Spartans against thousands of Persian soldiers of the Persian Empire.

After lunch in Kalampaka, our departure back to your hotel in Athens will begin. The tour should conclude in the late afternoon.

Highlights:

* The Monastery of Great Meteoron – It is the biggest of the Meteorite monasteries.
* The Monastery of Varlaam – Second largest monastery.
* The Monastery of Rousanou
* The holly Trinity Monastery (the most difficult to get to).
* The Monastery of St. Nicholas Anapausas

Mycenae Epidaurus Private Tour

During this full one day tour, VIP Athens will take you from Athens to Epidaurus to Mycenae, with a number of beautiful, “must see” sights in between.

To being our tour we depart Athens through the coastal road to reach the impressive Corinth Canal.

We will then continue to Epidaurus,with a brief stop at the site of the ancient port of Kechreae where St. Paul disembarked for his return to Ephessus 52AD. Epidaurus was known in antiquity as a healing center, the place where the god of medicine Asclepius was born and worshipped. The sanctuary was collecting a lot of money from the people that came here to be treated. The management of the sanctuary decided to spend some of the money for the entertainment of the patients. Between 340-330 BC, they decided to assign a local architect, Polykleitos, to build a theatre. The amphitheatre of Epidaurus, famous for its remarkable acoustics and symmetrical beauty, the most perfect theatre of Ancient Greece, is a well preserved monument, still in use today during the ” Summer Athens’ Festival”. It seems that the ancient Greeks, knew about acoustics, much more than we think, that they did.

We then continue on to Mycenae one of the most significant historical monuments of Greek civilization. Mycenae was the kingdom of the mighty Agamemnon, leader of the Greek army during the Trojan war. With the tour guide, visit the remains of the ancient city, see the Lions’Gate, the circle graves, the cult centre, the Palace complex on the summit of the citadel, where Agamemnon was slaughtered by his wife, Klytemnistra, and at the end, visit the treasury of Atreus (the largest and best preserved of the surviving “tholos” tombs). Excavations begun in 1841 but it was 33 years later that the German Archaeologist Heinrich Schlieman unearthed tombs, pieces of Palaces, golden jewelry and other relics that were mentioned by Homer, proving that what Homer was writing, was based on facts and was not just myths.

After lunch in Mycenae,we depart back to your hotel.

Highlights:

Corinth
Mycanae
Naflio
Epidavros
Return to Athens

Ancient Corinth Private Tour

Departing from your hotel or the port of Piraeus and after one hour and fifteen minutes drive you will reach the ancient town of Corinth where Saint Paul leaved and preached for two years. Back in the ancient times, Corinth was amongst the richest cities and this is quite evident by its remains, including the huge Agora (Market Place) and Apollo’s Temple (6th BC century).

Your next stop is the famous Corinth Canal. The Canal is 4 miles long, 70 feet wide and has sloping sides, which reach 170 feet. The depth is at 26 feet. Its construction commenced in 1881, although the idea of connecting the Ionian and Aegean seas in order to provide a short cut seems to date back to at least Roman times.

Following your photo stop at the canal, you will board your vehicle for a drive back to the centre of Athens,to see points of interest such as Constitution Square (Syntagma Square), the Tomb of the Unkown Soldier, the Greek Parliament, Hadrian’s Gate and the Olympic Stadium before arriving to the Acropolis hill. On the sacred rock of the Acropolis the monuments date from the prehistoric period to the end of antiquity. Sights include the Propylaea, the Temple of Apteros Niki, the Erectheum and the architectural triumph of the Parthenon.

After visiting the Acropolis,you will be returned back to your ship or hotel.

Highlights:

Four-hour morning tour to ancient Corinth from Athens
Scenic coastal drive to the Corinth Canal
Pass the beaches of Glyfada, Vouliagmeni and Varkiza
90-minute visit at the archaeological site of ancient Corinth
Short stop at Kehreai
English-speaking guide
Pickup and drop off from selected Athens hotels

Athens City Classical Private Tour

The Athens Classical City tour is approximately 8 hours long. The tours allows you to blend in the centuries-old city that has been the Cradle of Democracy, with its unique combination of ancient and modern elements.

The cradle of democracy, surviving through the centuries with its unique combination of ancient and modern elements, Athens itself is one of our most famous city tour destinations.

We begin our tour in central Athens’ broad avenues and the city’s principal monuments. The Presidential House (ex King Palace), Zapeion, Panathinaikon Statdium (venue of the first modern Olympics 1886) and then see two famous Roman Era monuments: The Temple of Olympian Zeus and the Hadrian Arch, and the National Botanical Gardens.

We then drive to the Houses of Parliament on Constitution (Syntagma) Square. We make a stop for you to visit the monument of the Tomb of Unknown Soldier with its famous Evzone guards.

Directed towards Omonia square we pass out of the Numismatic Museum (Shleman’s House), the Catholic Cathedral and the neoclassical buildings of Academy, University, and the National Library.

Then, passing through the Athens Meat and Fish markets, we drive towards Athens’s old city (Plaka district) and the main city’s attraction, the impressive, world-famous Sacred Rock of Acropolis, with its many landmarks around it: the Ancient Agora, the Temple of Hephaestus and Thission.

And then the site millions of tourists the world-over come to visit: the magnificent Temple of Parthenon and the Propylaea, the Temple of Athena Nike, the Erechtheum with its famous Porch of Maidens and the Herodion and Dionysos Theater. You can also see the dome of the Astronomy Observatory on the nearby Filopapos Hill, where Pericles used to deliver his speeches and then visit the National Archeological Museum, the New Acropolis Museum and the Museum of Cycladic Art.

Our tour continues to the Panathenean Marble Stadium where the first modern Olympic Games where held in 1896, and passing through an elegant residential area with plenty of embassies, museums (War Museum, National Gallery) and the Concert Hall we reach the Lycabettus Hill for a view of the city from its slopes.

There, you will have the chance to view the entire city spanning from the Port of Piraeus and Saronic Gulf to northern Athens, and keep a memory of the city that never sleeps, close to your heart.

HIGHLIGHTS:

Drive through the central Athens’s avenues and the city’s principal monuments with a view of the Presidental House, the house of Parliament, Zapeion, Panathinaikon Stadium, Temple of Olympian Zeus and the Hadrian Arch
A glance at the unique Athens meat and fish market
Athens old district – Plaka Area
Acropolis, Museum, and the Astronomy Observatory
Pass through the residential area with plenty of Embassies, Museums (War Museum, National Gallery)
Lycabettus Hill with a view of the city from its slopes

Delphi Private Tour

Start with a pickup from your Athens hotel, and then travel onward with your private guide along the Greek National Road, through the plains of Boeotia and past Mt Parnassos, to the UNESCO-listed sanctuary of Delphi where your walk begins.

First, pass by Castalia Spring and spend your time viewing its many monuments. With your guide, admire the monument of the Argive kings, the treasury of the Athenians, Athenian Stoa, Polygonal Wall, the monument of Platea and the Temple of Apollo. Enjoy stunning views from the site, once considered by Ancient Greeks as the center of the world. Although your itinerary is planned, the commentary on your private tour can be customized to your interests. Just let your guide know if you have any specific questions!

Continue onward to the Delphi museum and view fascinating exhibits including a frieze of the Treasury of the Sifnians, the Naxian Sphinx, statue of Antinoos and the famous bronze sculpture of a charioteer. The exhibits, coupled with information provided by your guide, complete the picture from the monuments seen earlier on your tour, and give further insight into the role Delphi played in bygone days.

Travel to your next stop: the picturesque and high-altitude village of Arachova. Enjoy a relaxed and unhurried lunch here, at an altitude of roughly 3,117 feet (950 meters) above sea level, tasting products specific to the region and enjoying some original Greek cuisine. Dishes often change, but check out the Itinerary to see a sample menu. Finish the meal with a cup of traditional strong Greek coffee, and then relax in comfort as you travel back to your Athens hotel.

Highlights:

8-hour private tour of Ancient Delphi with lunch in the village of Arachova
Explore the UNESCO-listed archeological site and view the famous Temple of Apollo
See top Delphi landmarks such as the Athenian Stoa and Polygonal Wall
Enjoy the views from this wondrous and historical Ancient Greek site
Visit the Delphi museum and learn about its artifacts from a knowledgeable guide
Relax over lunch in the picturesque village of Arachova