DAY    1            DEPARTURE FROM NORTH AMERICA
Enjoy full meal service on your scheduled wide-bodied flight to Athens.

DAY    2            ARRIVE ATHENS - ELEUSIS - NAFPLIO (3 NIGHTS)
We will be met at the airport by our tour manager/guide who will accompany us to the Greek Peloponnese. En route, we will stop for a visit to Ancient Eleusis, which was a center for religious devotion that culminated in the Annual Eleusian Mysteries. Existing from the Mycenaean period, thousands of people from around the world would come to be initiated. Our visit to the ancient sight will be highlighted by: the remains of the Greater Propylaia, built by the Roman Emperor Antoninus Pius; the Ploutonion, the sanctuary of Hades; the Lesser Propylaia; the Telesterion, a 5th century temple; and the Anaktoron, the holiest portion of the sight. Our visit will also include a visit to the small Museum with artifacts from the ancient sight. We continue to Nafplio, our base for the next three evenings. Nafplio is one of the loveliest towns in all Greece, and the old city features neoclassic houses, picturesque streets, Turkish fountains, fascinating mosques and magnificent outdoor cafes.

DAY    3            MYCENAE, CORINTH & EPIDAURUS
We will make an early start, as we travel to Mycenae, a fortified Palace Complex uncovered by archaeologist Heinrich Schielmann in 1874. The complex is one of the earliest examples of sophisticated citadel architecture, and only the ruling class would have inhabited the hilltop palace. Highlights of our visit will include: the 13 century BC Lion Gate; Grave Circle A, with six royal family shaft graves; the Royal Palace situated at the acropolis summit; and the Secret Stairway, a flight of 99 steps dropping to a cistern deep beneath the citadel. We continue outside the palace complex, where will visit the Treasury of Atreus, the most outstanding of the tholos tombs. Dating from the 14th century BC, it is one of only two double-chambered tombs in Greece. We continue to Corinth, one of the largest and most prosperous cities in ancient Greece and the site of an important Roman colony. The ruins of the ancient city rare spread out for miles, but we will focus on the site known as the Acrocorinth, beyond the main city. We will explore the remains of the huge rock fortress, which could withstand lengthy sieges due to the presence of the upper Peirene spring on the southeast side of the ramparts. In addition to the fascinating remains of the Acrocorinth, we will also be afforded one of the most sweeping views in all of Greece. Our panoramic views stretch over 35 miles in all directions, from the Geraneia range in the northeast to the peaks of the Ziria in the southwest. We conclude our afternoon with a scenic drive to Epidaurus, an extensive therapeutic and religious center, dedicated to the healing god Asklepios. We will visit the Theater of Epidaurus, the most famous and best-preserved of all the ancient theaters in Greece. The theater could accommodate up to 14,000 spectators, and the acoustics are still a marvel of engineering. We return to Nafplio for the evening.

DAY    4            TRIPOLIS, MYSTRAS & SPARTA
This morning, we travel to Tripolis, where we will visit the Menelaion, the shrine honoring Helen of Troy's long-suffering husband, Menelaus. Our day continues to majestic Mystras, which occupies a panoramic site on a spur of the rugged Taygetos range. Founded by the Franks in 1249, it was later the seat of the Despots of Morea and became the last major Byzantine cultural center by the 15th century. Before exploring the site, we will stop for a fine view of the entire site from the Kastro (Castle). We will enter the site from the castle, and explore the monasteries, churches, palaces and houses that line the narrow, winding streets. We will visit the Despots' Palace, a rare example of Byzantine civic architecture, highlighted by the Throne Room of the rulers of the Cantacuzene and Palaiologgos dynasties. Our final stop today will be in Sparta, home of one of the most powerful of the Greek city-states. We will explore the remains of the Acropolis, including the cavity of the Roman Theater and the Artemis Orthia Sanctuary, where young Spartan boys were whipped to learn courage and endurance. Our afternoon concludes with a visit to the Archaeological Museum, highlighted by: a fine collection of Roman mosaics, a classical marble head of a warrior, possibly Leonidas I, and bas-reliefs from the Sanctuary of Apollo at nearby Amykles. We return to Nafplio for the evening.

DAY    5            NAFPLIO - OLYMPIA - DELPHI AREA (1 NIGHT)
This morning we will travel across the Peloponnese to ancient Olympia. Built on the banks of the River Alfios, Olympia is beautiful, green and placid and was the home of the original Olympic Games, begun in 776 BC. We will enjoy a tour through the remains of the Ancient Olympia Complex, including the Temple of Zeus, the Palaestra and Pheidia's Workshop. After participating in a few running events in the ancient complex, we conclude our time with a visit to the Olympia Archaeological Museum, one of the richest museums in Greece, which displays the treasures excavated from the area. We continue to our hotel in the Delphi area for the evening.

DAY    6            DELPHI AREA - THERMOPYLAE - LAMIA AREA (2 NIGHTS)
Today we explore Ancient Delphi, which to the Greeks was one of the most sacred spots in their world. Its setting is dramatic, a natural amphitheater that faces the sea and lies under the shadow of Mt. Parnassus. At the center of Delphi stands the Sanctuary of Apollo, for many centuries antiquity's largest center of pilgrimage. Our exploration of ancient Delphi will include the following: a walk up the Sacred Way, which winds up the hill to the Temple; the treasury buildings of the various ancient city-states; and the spectacular ruins of the Doric Temple of Apollo, the home of the Pythia, the oracle who would deliver the prophecies of the gods. After exploring the sacred site, we will visit the Delphi Museum, with a collection of sculptures and architectural remains of an importance second only to those of the Athenian Acropolis. This afternoon we will journey to Themopylae, where one of the most famous battles in history was fought in 480 BC, during the Persian King Xerxes's attempt to conquer Greece. We will stop to view the massive Statue of the Spartan King Leonidas, before continuing our scenic drive through the Pass of Thermopylae to our hotel in nearby Lamia.

DAY    7            DAY TRIP TO METEORA
This morning we will make an early start and journey into northern Greece for a visit to the natural sandstone towers of Meteora, which means "suspended rocks." Our day will include visits to: Megalo Meteoro, the first and highest monastery founded in the region; Varlaam, including its magnificent church, Katholikon, which features beautiful frescoes; and Rousanou, the most spectacularly located of all the monasteries. This afternoon we return to Lamia.

DAY    8            LAMIA AREA - THEBES - CAPE SOUNION - ATTIC COAST
                          (1 NIGHT)
This morning we leave central Greece and travel south to the spectacular Attic Coast, just south of Athens. En route, we will stop in Thebes, which was the most powerful city of Greece in the 4th century BC. Today it is known for its spectacular collection in the Archaeological Museum, highlighted by the collection of Mycenaean sarcophagi similar to those found on Crete. After our visit to the museum, we will walk over the bridge to the site which marks the traditional site of the Fountain of Oedipus. It is here that the legendary King Oedipus is said to have washed blood from his hands after unwittingly killing his father on the way to the city. We continue south to Cape Sounion, on the coast of the Aegean Sea. Here we will visit the Temple of Poseidon, a beautiful site set back from the sheer cliffs which tumble into the Aegean Sea. The site was chosen because of its ideal position for worship of the powerful god of the sea. The present temple, built in 444 BC, stands on the site of older ruins. It features an Ionic Frieze made from Parian marble, and 15 of the 34 original Doric columns survive.

DAY    9            ATTIC COAST - PIRAEUS - ISLAND CRUISE (4 NIGHTS) -
                          MYKONOS
This morning we make an early departure and travel to the port city of Piraeus, where we will board our cruise ship and begin our four-night Aegean Cruise. Our first port of call will be the Island of Mykonos, where we will be free to explore the labyrinthine alleys of Hora. Hora is the quintessential Cycladic town, and features: the remains of a small Venetian Kastro (fortress); the Panagia Paraportiani, island's most famous church; the Alefkandra Quarter, better known as Little Venice for its cluster of homes built overhanging the sea; and the famous Windmills of Kato Myli, featuring stunning views back towards Little Venice. We return to the ship late this afternoon and set sail for the western coast of Turkey. We will sleep in cabins and have the opportunity to eat all of our meals on board the cruise ship.

DAY    10            ISLAND CRUISE - KUSADASI (TURKEY) & PATMOS
This morning we arrive in Kusadasi, Turkey, where we will take an excursion to the ancient city of Ephesus. One of the best-preserved Roman cities in the world, our visit will include: the Amphitheater, where St. Paul preached to the Ephesians; the Library of Celsus and a stroll along the ancient Roman streets, with original mosaics still intact. We return to the ship and sail to Patmos, where our afternoon will include an excursion to the foreboding St. John's Monastery. Late this afternoon we re-board the ship and set sail for Rhodes.

DAY    11            ISLAND CRUISE - RHODES
This morning we arrive in Rhodes, one of the seven ancient wonders of the world. We will enjoy a relaxing day on this magnificent island, including options to visit either Rhodes Town, home to the Knights of St. John, or Lindos to visit the Acropolis and Citadel. Late this afternoon, we re-board the ship and set sail for Crete.

DAY    12            ISLAND CRUISE - CRETE (IRAKLION) & SANTORINI (FIRA)
This morning we continue our island-hopping as we visit the island of Crete, which holds the glories of the Minoan culture. Crete has layers of at least 4,000 years of continuous inhabitation, including the vibrant heritage of centuries of Orthodox Christianity, and the distinctive imprint left by almost 700 years of Venetian and Turkish rule. Today we will take an excursion to Iraklion, and we begin with a visit to the Palace of Knossos, one of the great archaeological sites of the world. The complex was a combination of a royal palace, the Minoans' chief ceremonial center, their administrative headquarters and royal workshops. Using every possible clue and remnant, large parts of the palace have been rebuilt, including walls, floors, stairs, windows, and columns. During our tour, we will get a good sense of the structure's labyrinthine nature, as we will be viewing the remains of two major palaces plus several restorations that were made from about 2000 B.C. to 1250 B.C. We return to the ship for a short sail to Santorini, one of the most beautiful and unique islands in the world. Upon our arrival, we will take a Donkey Ride to Fira, one of the most scenic towns in the world, with a spectacular location on the edge of the caldera. Fira offers unmatched views down and out to sea, and to the offshore islands. We will have the afternoon to explore Santorini's capital, featuring beautiful buildings, churches and windmills. Be sure to take a Volta (stroll) Along M. Nomikou Street, one of the most exquisite in the Cyclades, which follows the edge of the caldera. We return to the ship late this afternoon and set sail for mainland Greece.

DAY    13            ARRIVE PIRAEUS - ATHENS (2 NIGHTS)
We will arrive at the port city of Piraeus very early this morning and transfer to Athens, the ancient and historic capital of Greece. Our morning commences with a visit to the Acropolis, which has dominated the skyline of Athens for over 2,000 years. A citadel was built on the rock in Mycenaean times, and was the first of a series of temples that honored Athena, the city's divine patroness. In 480 BC the Persians captured the Acropolis, and the Athenian leader Pericles rebuilt the site according to his plan of unsurpassed beauty and grandeur. During our tour of the Acropolis, we will view: the Propylaia, the monumental entrance to the complex; the Temple of Athena Nike; the Parthenon, the temple to Athena which crowns the Acropolis; the Erectheion, dedicated to Poseidon and Athena; and the Theater of Herodes Atticus, originally built in AD 161. Our time on the Acropolis concludes with a visit to the Acropolis Museum, featuring a superb collection of treasures excavated from the area. Our day continues as we view Hadrian's Arch, an enormous triumphal arch built by the Roman Emperor, which is still a symbolic entrance to Athens. The Temple of Olympian Zeus is the largest temple in Athens, and we will get a sense of its enormous size on our visit when we view the 15 columns that remain of the original 104. This evening we will explore and dine in the lively Plaka Area, the historic heart of Athens.

DAY    14            ATHENS
Our morning commences with a visit to the National Archaeological Museum, one of the world's most important museums, which houses treasures collected from many small museums in and around Athens. (Subject to Museum re-opening) Our day continues with a visit to the Ancient Agora, or marketplace, which formed the political heart of Athens from 600 BC. Socrates was indicted and executed here in 399 BC. The theater, schools and stoas filled with shops also made this the center of social and commercial life. We will explore the vast remains of the ancient complex, which have been excavated since the 1930s, including Hephaisteion, the best-preserved Temple, and the Stoa of Attalos, a reconstructed, colonnaded building, which houses a small museum with the finds from the Agora. This afternoon we will take a Walking Tour through the Anafiotika, one of the oldest settlements in Athens, nestled beneath the northern slopes of the Acropolis. This area, with an atmosphere typical of a Cycladic village, features spectacular white-washed houses, cramped streets, and two magnificent churches, Agios Georgios and Agios Symeon. The remainder of the day will be free to shop or explore the Plaka district at our leisure.

DAY    15            DEPARTURE FROM ATHENS
Our enjoyable and rewarding tour will come to an end as our guide accompanies us to the airport for the flight home.