From Alexander the Great to Mamma Mia
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Highlights:
Often neglected by foreign tourists in favor of the Greek Islands, Northern Greece offers ancient history, superb food, spectacular beaches and a bit of Hollywood Magic.
Thessaloniki is Greece’s second largest city and prides itself on having a more diverse cuisine. It's a university town so the nightlife is also lively. Use it as a base to visit Pella, the birthplace of Alexander the Great before moving to a beautiful beach in Halkidiki.
A ferry ride takes you to Skiathos, which along with the nearby islands of Skopelos and Pelion served as the location for the movie version of “Mamma Mia.”
Often neglected by foreign tourists in favor of the Greek Islands, Northern Greece offers ancient history, superb food, spectacular beaches and a bit of Hollywood Magic.
Thessaloniki is Greece’s second largest city and prides itself on having a more diverse cuisine. It's a university town so the nightlife is also lively. Use it as a base to visit Pella, the birthplace of Alexander the Great before moving to a beautiful beach in Halkidiki.
A ferry ride takes you to Skiathos, which along with the nearby islands of Skopelos and Pelion served as the location for the movie version of “Mamma Mia.”
SKU:
Explore: Historical Greece
Customizable Itinerary - 12 Days (from $3,987 / person)
Day 1: Depart USA
Today you depart the USA on an overnight flight bound for Athens, the Cradle of Civilization.
Day 2: Welcome to Greece
You will arrive in Athens in the afternoon. You will be met by one of our drivers who will deliver you to your hotel. After the long journey you may want to stay in the hotel and have dinner at the roof top restaurant as you gaze up at the illuminated Acropolis.
Day 3: The Acropolis and the flight to Thessaloniki
After breakfast you will get a guided tour of the highlights of contemporary Athens including Constitution Square. You will then ascend the Acropolis to admire the Parthenon and the other temples. You descend and tour the relatively new acropolis Museum, a treasure trove of Greek statuary and other artefacts. You have time for lunch then you are transferred to the airport for the flight to Thessaloniki which will take about an hour. Upon arrival you will be met and taken to your hotel. Have dinner at the hotel this evening. Breakfast and Dinner
Day 4: Mount Olympus and the Market
In the morning you leave the city for a visit to Mount Olympus, the “Home of the Gods”. Have lunch in the area then return to the city where you have time to explore the Bezesteni market built in the late 15th Century. Thessaloniki prides itself on its cuisine and we will have several suggestions for places to dine this evening.
Breakfast and Lunch
Day 5: The Legacy of Phillip and Alexander
After breakfast you will be picked up and taken to Pella, the birthplace of Alexander the Great. You tour the archeological museum and then drive to Vergina. Here you find the remains of the palace of Phillip of Macedonia, the father of Alexander. Visit the museum with many artifacts including the shield and armor of Phillip and the famous Golden Larnax found in the sarcophagus of the king. After your visit return to the city.
Breakfast
Day 6: The Drive to the Sithonia Peninsula
Today your driver will waiting to take to Halkidiki on the Sithonia Peninsula located in Macedonia, It has three separate branches and you hotel is located on the quieter section but still with spectacular beaches. If you are traveling with children we can certainly adjust the location.
Breakfast and Dinner
Day 7: Day at Leisure
This day has been left open to allow you to relax around the pool or on the beach.
Breakfast and Dinner
Day 8: A Cruise around Mount Athos
You will board a boat for a cruise around Mount Athos which has been an autonomous region dating back to the middle ages. As such it is not part of today’s Greece or any other country. Its 20 monasteries currently hold about 1,400 monks and women and children are prohibited from visiting. Even men require advance permission. Return to your hotel and the beach.
Breakfast and Dinner
Day 9: Ferry to Skiathos
In the morning you are transferred to Thessaloniki where you board a ferry for Skiathos, famous for its sandy beaches, lush greenery and vivid nightlife. It is also, along with neighboring Islands Skopelos and Pelion, the location for the movie ‘Mamma Mia’. If you saw the movie you will recognize the old port from the ‘Dancing Queen’ sequence. Check in to your hotel and then enjoy some of the noted dining and nightlife opportunities.
Breakfast
Day 10: Beach time or Movie Time
If you are not a Mamma Mia fan you can stretch out on one of the great beaches like Koukonaries or Agia Paraskevi. If you liked the show or just like movie making we can set up a full day tour covering the major locations on both Skiathos and Skopelos including the arched gateway to “ Villa Donna” and the church at the top of the peninsula where the wedding took place.
Breakfast
Day 11: Return to Thessaloniki
You have a free morning to enjoy one more visit to the beach. In the afternoon you take a ferry back to Thessaloniki where you are met and taken to your hotel.
Breakfast
Day 12: Return to USA
You will be transferred to the airport for the flight to Athens where you connect to your USA flight arriving back the same afternoon.
Breakfast
Today you depart the USA on an overnight flight bound for Athens, the Cradle of Civilization.
Day 2: Welcome to Greece
You will arrive in Athens in the afternoon. You will be met by one of our drivers who will deliver you to your hotel. After the long journey you may want to stay in the hotel and have dinner at the roof top restaurant as you gaze up at the illuminated Acropolis.
Day 3: The Acropolis and the flight to Thessaloniki
After breakfast you will get a guided tour of the highlights of contemporary Athens including Constitution Square. You will then ascend the Acropolis to admire the Parthenon and the other temples. You descend and tour the relatively new acropolis Museum, a treasure trove of Greek statuary and other artefacts. You have time for lunch then you are transferred to the airport for the flight to Thessaloniki which will take about an hour. Upon arrival you will be met and taken to your hotel. Have dinner at the hotel this evening. Breakfast and Dinner
Day 4: Mount Olympus and the Market
In the morning you leave the city for a visit to Mount Olympus, the “Home of the Gods”. Have lunch in the area then return to the city where you have time to explore the Bezesteni market built in the late 15th Century. Thessaloniki prides itself on its cuisine and we will have several suggestions for places to dine this evening.
Breakfast and Lunch
Day 5: The Legacy of Phillip and Alexander
After breakfast you will be picked up and taken to Pella, the birthplace of Alexander the Great. You tour the archeological museum and then drive to Vergina. Here you find the remains of the palace of Phillip of Macedonia, the father of Alexander. Visit the museum with many artifacts including the shield and armor of Phillip and the famous Golden Larnax found in the sarcophagus of the king. After your visit return to the city.
Breakfast
Day 6: The Drive to the Sithonia Peninsula
Today your driver will waiting to take to Halkidiki on the Sithonia Peninsula located in Macedonia, It has three separate branches and you hotel is located on the quieter section but still with spectacular beaches. If you are traveling with children we can certainly adjust the location.
Breakfast and Dinner
Day 7: Day at Leisure
This day has been left open to allow you to relax around the pool or on the beach.
Breakfast and Dinner
Day 8: A Cruise around Mount Athos
You will board a boat for a cruise around Mount Athos which has been an autonomous region dating back to the middle ages. As such it is not part of today’s Greece or any other country. Its 20 monasteries currently hold about 1,400 monks and women and children are prohibited from visiting. Even men require advance permission. Return to your hotel and the beach.
Breakfast and Dinner
Day 9: Ferry to Skiathos
In the morning you are transferred to Thessaloniki where you board a ferry for Skiathos, famous for its sandy beaches, lush greenery and vivid nightlife. It is also, along with neighboring Islands Skopelos and Pelion, the location for the movie ‘Mamma Mia’. If you saw the movie you will recognize the old port from the ‘Dancing Queen’ sequence. Check in to your hotel and then enjoy some of the noted dining and nightlife opportunities.
Breakfast
Day 10: Beach time or Movie Time
If you are not a Mamma Mia fan you can stretch out on one of the great beaches like Koukonaries or Agia Paraskevi. If you liked the show or just like movie making we can set up a full day tour covering the major locations on both Skiathos and Skopelos including the arched gateway to “ Villa Donna” and the church at the top of the peninsula where the wedding took place.
Breakfast
Day 11: Return to Thessaloniki
You have a free morning to enjoy one more visit to the beach. In the afternoon you take a ferry back to Thessaloniki where you are met and taken to your hotel.
Breakfast
Day 12: Return to USA
You will be transferred to the airport for the flight to Athens where you connect to your USA flight arriving back the same afternoon.
Breakfast
