Self Drive - Exploring Beautiful Greece 9 Nights/10 Day

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GREECE: Enjoy this slow paced itinerary though some of the most beautiful villages of Greece. Traverse the Peloponnese and on to the amazing island of Zakynthos. With time at leisure for you to enjoy the small Greek villages and to take in the local culture and experiences.

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Day 1 - Arrival in Athens
Welcome to Athens and pick up your car from the airport to start this wonderful tour. It is approximately a 45-minute drive to your hotel in Athens. Time at leisure to discover the city. Redolent with history and mythology, Athens is a vibrant city, enlivened by bustling outdoor cafes, pedestrian streets that wind through the city's ancient sites and its fair share of urban eccentrics, a city full of contrasts.

Day 2 - Athens at leisure.
Optional sightseeing
This morning enjoy a city tour of Athens. Your guide will reveal to you the secrets of the Acropolis & the Parthenon, the Temple of Zeus, Hadrian's Arch and the Kallimarmaro Stadium, built of marble for the first modern Olympic Games in 1896. Experience the ancient wonders, relive the birthplace of democracy, twist, turn through the Plaka's narrow streets, and find ancient sites, cafes and shops full of history and character.

Day 3 - Athens to Mycenae, Epidaurus and Dimitsana
Set off from Athens, drive to the Corinth Canal, and see this incredible feat of engineering. The canal that divides mainland Greece from the Peloponnese peninsula..
Optional sightseeing
In Mycenae, a mighty kingdom of ancient Greece, see the Beehive Tombs, the Treasury of Atreus, the Lion Gate and the remains of Agamemnon's Royal Palace. Travel further to the Sanctuary of Aesculapius- the benevolent God of Medicine and visit the amphitheatre, probably the largest of ancient Greece with world renound acoustics.
Your drive today will end in the beautiful village of Dimitsana for your overnight. On the way to Dimitsana, a stop at the village of Vitina is a great idea for a local lunch. Both villages of Vitina and Dimitsana are known for their local produce and do offer very good dining (local and low-key) possibilities.

Day 4 - Dimitsana at leisure
Today enjoy the beautiful village of Dimitsana. Dimitsana, beautifully set on two hills and at the beginning of the Lousios Gorge is considered one of the prettiest of Greek villages. It offers good hiking and exploring options from spring to autumn - even rafting the Lousios River is a day tour option.

Day 5 - Dimitsana to Olympia
A drive of approximately 2 hours, traversing the Peloponnese from East to West. Passing scenery, which is typically Greek; through mountainous terrain and small villages. As the drive time is short, it is best if you set off from Dimitsana in the afternoon so you have more time to explore the Lousios Gorge.

Day 6 - Olympia to Zakynthos
Optional sightseeing
In the morning, visit the ancient Olympic stadium and the Temples of Zeus king of the Gods and Hera's temple - wife of Zeus, goddess of marriage and birth in Greek mythology.
Drive from Olympia to Zakynthos.
The route from Olympia to the island of Zakynthos is via the small port of Kilini. Ferryboats have regular daily schedules and the boat ride is about one hour. Beautiful Zakynthos, also known as Zante, is one of the prettiest of the Ionian island. Once you leave the long sandy beaches of those regions behind, however, and set off to explore the rest of the island, you will discover plenty of forested wilderness and traditional rural villages.

Day 7 - Zakynthos at leisure
A full day to explore Zakynthos, which offers so many different options to experience. From some of the most amazing beaches to the beautiful inland there is a huge offering of things to do on the island.

Day 8 - Zakynthos to Arachova
Set off from Zakynthos to the mainland of Greece, your destination being the picturesque village of Arachova. You will take the Ferry from Zakynthos to Kilini and from there set off towards Arachova. Crossing the new suspension bridge connecting the Peloponnese peninsula to the mainland. With many beautiful villages (Nafpaktos, Galaxidi, and Itea) on the way should take the opportunity to stop for lunch in one of them before reaching Arachova for your overnight. Depending of the ferry schedule for departure from Zakynthos, you can delay and set off later in the day so you have the morning to take in more of Zakynthos. Keep in mind that from Kilini to Arachova it is about 4 hours driving.

Day 9 - Arachova to Athens
Optional sightseeing
Spend your morning walking along the Sacred Way lined by the treasuries of the ancient city-states to the Temple of Apollo dating back to the 4th century B.C. Then climbing even higher on to the ancient stadium, here every four years athletes competed in the Pythian Games a precursor of the modern Olympic Games.
Do not miss the opportunity to have lunch in Delphi or Arachova - both offer very good options for dining, and definitely taste the locally produced cheese the area is known for. A pleasant drive (about 2 and half hours) brings you back to Athens in the early evening. On your last night in Athens, definitely walk in the Plaka area (old Athens), or alternatively you could drive to the Attica Riviera to see the areas of Glyfada and Vouliagmeni (good upmarket dining options).

Day 10 -Departure from Athens
As your tour ends, say farewell to the vibrant city of Athens. Enjoy a nice breakfast at the hotel. Time at leisure until your flight. You will leave the car at the Athens airport.

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What's Included

• FLY-IN PACKAGE INCLUDES:

• Return flights from Johannesburg to Athens including airline levy

• 10 Days car rental in a Peugeot 208 or similar

• 3 Nights' accommodation at the Divani Palace Acropolis in Athens

• 2 Nights' accommodation at the En Dimitsana Hotel in Dimitsana

• 1 Night accommodation at the Arty Grand Hotel in Olympia

• 2 Nights' accommodation at the Palatino Hotel in Zakynthos

• 1 Night accommodation at the Amalia Hotel in Arachova

• Breakfast daily

• ITINERARY:

• Day 1 / 2 - Athens

• Day 3 / 4 - Dimitsana

• Day 5 - Olympia

• Day 6 / 7 - Zakynthos

• Day 8 - Arachova

• Day 9 / 10 - Athens

Duration: 9 Nights

Travel Dates: 1 May - 31 Oct 2018

Offer Ends: 31 Oct 2018

Ref: TH1959848

Departs from: Johannesburg

9 nights from onlyR27 523 per person sharing