Self-drive tour of Greece

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De 3100$ à 3565$ CAD

Self-driving tours

18D / 16N

3/5 (Comfort level)

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Self-drive tour of Greece

Discover Greece in all its glory on this superb self-drive tour: from the wonders of Athens to the unique landscapes and enchanting atmosphere of Olympia, “Cradle of the Olympics”. Though these magnificent sites are still worthy travel destinations, mass tourism has left its mark – so much so that such sites can no longer be said to represent this country’s unique personality. On this self-drive tour of Greece, we have combined these must-see destinations with a “Greekish” pause, so you can calmly sit back and relax at the kafenion and watch the hours go by, slowly, peacefully.

On this self-drive tour of Greece, you visit the highlights of this country, but you also discover its true identity. Be warned: this discovery could have a profound impact on your life: Greece is a country from which many never really return…

Historical Landmarks of Greece is a self-drive tour that blends together culture, history, and nature. Discover Athens’s legendary exuberance and its brand new Acropolis Museum. Travel through time at great historical and archeological sites, including the Mycenae, Epidaurus, Delphi, and Olympia. Visit Greece’s more recent history and witness the impact of the Ottoman occupation. Marvel at this country’s depth and authenticity. And let’s not forget the mountains and wild forests of the north, close to the Bulgarian border. One thousand landscapes, one thousand colors, one thousand pleasures – in one country!

Contact our Greece specialists today for more information on this self-drive tour of Greece!

Day 1| (preferably a Sunday) Montreal - Athens
Departure from Montreal – International flight

Day 2| Athens
Arrival at Athens airport, private transfer to your downtown hotel. You have the rest of the day to explore the area. Overnight in Athens.

Day 3| Athens
This morning, breakfast is followed by a guided tour of the capital (as part of a group). Enjoy leisure time in the afternoon and feel free to make your own discoveries (we suggest Plaka and Monastiraki districts).

Day 4| Athens - Nafplion
Breakfast. Rental car pick-up at your hotel and departure for Peloponnese. Today’s destination is Nafplion bay (180 km, approx. 2 hrs driving). On your way you can stop by Corinth Canal or ancient Corinth, once beloved city of the apostle Paul, where you can visit the Acropolis that towers 1700 feet above the ruins, the market square, whose layout hasn’t changed since the times of the Great Apostle, the Bema, where Paul preached, the Agora, the temple of Apollo and the fountain of Peirene. Overnight in Tolo.

Days 5 and 6| Nafplion region
These days are a great opportunity to discover this region. You can head to the Mycenae, Agamemnon’s mythical kingdom, or to Epidaurus and its sanctuary, known across the world for its theatre’s acoustics, where many performances take place throughout the summer. Make sure you visit the small museum here. In Nafplion you’ll have no shortage of options: take a stroll around in the city’s ancient streets, visit the Palamidi, or enjoy some downtime at the beach. Overnight in Tolo.

Day 7| Nafplion - Olympia
After breakfast, head for Olympia (173 km – 3 hours). To reach Olympia, you will cross one of the Peloponnese’s most beautiful regions: Arcadia, with small mountain roads and unique landscape. Olympia was Greece’s religious centre. Here once stood the Temple of Zeus, and the sanctuary of Altis (sacred woods). This is where the Olympic flame is traditionally lit. Overnight in Olympia.

Day 8| Olympia - Delphi
Breakfast. Visit the archeological site and museum of Olympia. Head for Delphi, approximately 224 km away, passing the Rion-Antirion Bridge on the way. You should have enough time to visit the small fishing ports of Nafpaktos and Itea. Overnight in Delphi.

Day 9| Delphi - Pelion region
Breakfast. Visit the archeological site and museum of Delphi. In ancient Greece, Delphi was the site of an important Pan-Hellenic sanctuary dedicated to the Pythian god Apollo. We strongly recommend the museum. Head for Portaria in the Pelion region (215 km – 3 hours drive time). Overnight in the Pelion.

Day 10| Pelion region
After breakfast, visit the Pelion, land of the centaurs, stronghold of Greek nationalism during Ottoman occupation. Here, the mountains drop right into the sea. The vegetation is very diversified, thanks to this region’s fresh and humid climate. Overnight in the Pelion.

Day 11| Pelion - Thessaloniki
After breakfast you drive to Thessaloniki (220 km – 2 hrs 40 min drive). Day of Leisure in Thessaloniki, once the capital of a Macedonian province in 168 BC, now Greece’s second largest city. Not to be missed: the fortifications, beautiful byzantine churches, the arch of Galerius, and some Turkish monuments, such as Hamza Bey and Ishak Pasha mosques. Overnight in Thessaloniki.

Day 12| Thessaloniki - Halkidiki region
After breakfast you drive to Halkidiki region (83 km), a large peninsula south of Thessaloniki that splits into three smaller peninsulas: Kassandra, Sithonia, and Mount Athos. This is where you’ll find Greece’s most beautiful beaches. Overnight in Afitos (you can sign up for Greek cooking classes here or in Ouranoupolis, schedule permitting).

Day 13| Halkidiki
After breakfast, you have the whole day to discover the area in complete freedom. Overnight in Afitos or Ouranoupolis

Day 14| Halkidiki - Ioannina
Enjoy breakfast and then head for Ioannina (356 km – 4½ hours drive time), capital of Epirus, built on the shores of lake Pamvotis. Close by, you can visit the antique theatre of Dodona. 22 km away from Ioannina, Dodona is an oracular sanctuary dedicated to Zeus and to the mother goddess known as Dione. Herodotus claimed this site was the site of the first ancient Greek oracle. Perhaps going back as far as 2,000 BC, priests and priestesses from the holy copse came here to interpret the rustling of the oak leaves in the wind. The great amphitheatre located next to the entrance was built in the 3rd century and expanded upon by the Romans. Overnight in Ioannina.

Day 15| Zagorohoria
Enjoy your breakfast and then drive for about 29 km towards the small traditional villages of the Zagori region, Zagorohoria, where you find exceptional natural landscapes and well preserved architecture. Overnight in Zagoria or surrounding village.

Day 16| Zagorohoria – the Meteora
Breakfast and then it’s off to Kalambaka, where you enter a completely unique site at the foot of the Meteora (141 km, about 3 hours on the road). Monasteries perched on rocky peaks, balanced between earth and sky – this unique place’s atmosphere borders on the mystical. Overnight in Kastraki or Kalambaka.

Day 17| Meteora- Athens
Enjoy breakfast, visit one or two monasteries, and then head to Athens (350 km – 4 hrs 40 min). Rental car drop-off before 7 pm at your hotel. Overnight in Athens.

Day 18| Athens - Montreal
Breakfast and transfer to the airport for your flight to Montreal.

Fares (on-site)
Price per person	3100$CAD

** Budgets displayed on this website are provided for information purpose only and do not have any contractual value, Uniktour cannot be held responsible for any consequences related to this information (departure dates are not indicated). Fares are led to change on a regular basis, depending on exchange rates and the fluctuation in the hospitality industry. For a precise quotation, you may click here.

** Fares applying to the on-site itinerary are not subject to applicable GST (TPS) & QST (TVQ). The displayed budget does not include 0.1% FICAV contribution (The Compensation fund for customers of travel agents)

Other fees
International Flight	Contact us
Deluxe travel insurance (estimated cost)	246 $
Deposit required for land portion.	936 $
4-Star supplement	761 $
Supplement for a "C" category car	188 $

The budget for the land portion of this trip includes: :
- 3-Star accommodation, double occupancy, breakfast included
- All private transfers
- Class B rental car (Opel Corsa or similar), all insurance included. Pick-up and drop-off at the hotel.
- All relevant travel documents
- Support and assistance from our local partners

The budget for the land portion of this trip does not include:
- International flight
- Meals
- Tips and personal expenses
- Travel insurance
- Anything not mentioned in the “The budget for the land portion of this trip includes” section above

Next departure dates for this travel

4-Star Supplement
Prices for the above program are based on 3-Star accommodation. Please note that for those looking for a little extra comfort, it is possible to follow this itinerary while staying in higher-end 4-Star accommodation. Should you choose this option, the following are the hotels where you will be staying (subject to availability):

Athens: Hotel Herodion www.herodion.com
Nafplion area: Hotel Ippoliti www.ippoliti.gr
Olympia: Hotel Europa www.hoteleuropa.gr/fr/index.html
Delphi: Hotel Anemolia (Arachova) www.anemolia.gr
Pelion: Hotel Archontiko Naoumidis (suite) www.naoumidishotel.gr
Thessaloniki: Hotel Anatolia www.anatoliahotel.gr
Halkidiki: Hotel Petrinos (junior suite) www.petrino-hotel.gr/en/index.html
Ioannina: Hotel Krikonis suites www.beehappyhotels.com
Zagarohoria: Hotel Archontilo www.archontiko-zarkada-monodendri-zagorohoria.focusgreece.gr
Kalambaka: Hotel Meteora Kastraki www.meteora-hoteltsikeli.clickhere.gr/kalambaka.htm