Two day trip involving a visit to Delphi and Meteora including the amazing surrounding area. The tour is on Halfboard Basis.
| TOUR CODE NUMBER | CHT-Tour#8A | |
| MEETING POINT | Departure from Hotel Amalia Athens (in Amalias Avenue number 10 in the centre of Athens, opposite to the National Garden). Please be at the meeting point by 08:20 AM. |
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| DEPARTURE TIME | 08:30 AM
Important Note: Please be there at 08:20 AM |
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| RETURN TIME | 19:00 PM (2nd day) | |
| COMPLIMENTARY PICKUP |
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| LANGUAGE | English | |
| HOTEL ACCOMMODATION | First Class Accommodation based on single, double and triple occupancy
(*) In case 2 adults + 2 children are selected, in the booking form, two rooms will be allocated. |
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| TOUR PRICES |
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| OPERATION DATES |
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| BOOKING ORDER | Please fill in all the requested fields of the tour booking form and press the “Book Now” button to proceed with your Booking Order (Your Reservation).
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1st DAY DELPHI: Soon after we leave Athens, we pass Levadia and then on to Arachova (which is known for its multi-coloured carpets), and finally arriving at Delphi.
Delphi is one of the most important archaeological sites in Greece, comparable only to the Acropolis of Athens.
The Pan-Hellenic sanctuary of Delphi, located in an impressive landscape, was for centuries the cultural and religious centre and unity for the Hellenic world, having the most famous Oracle of Ancient Greece.
According to Greek mythology, Zeus sent two eagles from the ends of the universe to find the naval of the world, and this is the place where they met.
The history of Delphi begins with the myths of ancient Greeks, that in the beginning the site was sacred to Mother Earth, guarded by a serpent Python. Apollo later killed the serpent and in gratitude a sanctuary was built there to honour him.
The importance of Delphi for the ancient world cannot be forgotten, many important political decisions were made after consultation at the Oracle, while no new colony was founded without its consent.
Due to its increasing influence, it grew from a small village to a place where Architecture and the Arts flourished, beginning back in the Mycenaean Period (1600-1100 BC). Between the 6th and 4th centuries BC, the Delphic oracle being the most reliable was at its peak. The Pythia (priestess) delivered while the priests of Apollo interpreted.
The oracle was consulted by many, ranging from ordinary people to rulers asking for its advice. Delphi, over the centuries started to include other events, the most important being the Pythian Games held every 4 years and many different cultural events.
The sanctuary expanded, and soon after included many Temples, theaters and a stadium that were constructed.
The most important monuments to see are the:
- Temple of Apollo
- Treasury of the Athenians
- The Polygonal wall of Delphi
- The Stoa of the Athenians
- Ancient Theater of Delphi
- The Sacred Way
- Ancient Gymnasium of Delphi
- The Tholos of Athena Pronaia
- Ancient Stadium of Delphi
The Delphi Archaeological Museum, one of the most important museums in Greece exhibits the history of the area, comprising statues (including the unique bronze statue of the Charioteer), sculptures and other objects found on the sanctuary.
After the visit we depart for KALAMBAKA, where we will have a short visit in the village once we arrive, later dinner and an overnight stay. (B.D)
2nd DAY METEORA: We will be visiting one of the most beautiful places in Greece. Meteora, which means “suspended in space” is one of the main groups of monasteries, second only to Mount Athos in importance in all of Greece.
The first monks arrived on the cliffs in the 11th century, and in the following centuries several monasteries were built by the only way materials could be carried up the 400 metre cliffs – by pulling up the material in baskets.
Till 1920 this was the only way of getting material up, while the monks had to climb up the steep rocks to reach the top.
Now you can reach the top by following the steps which have been cut into the rock.
The monasteries have been classified by UNESCO as a “unique phenomenon of cultural heritage”.
The most important Monastery is the Great Meteoron which was built in the middle of the 14th century.
Meteroa is a blend of natural beauty, history, manmade scenery and man’s desire for spiritual elevation where the visitor can enjoy one of the best panoramic and majestic views possible of the Plain of Thessaly.
It has been estimated that the rock formation was created approximately 60 million years ago, earthquakes and weathering helped to give their present shape.
After the end of our visit, we start the return trip to Athens, passing through THERMOPYLAE, where Leonidas and the 300 Spartans fought the Persians in the Greek / Persian war of 480 BC. (We will stop to take photos here).
