Archaeology holiday in Greece
Our bestselling Greece archaeology holiday takes place in the non-touristy Peloponnese region, home to the company behind this trip. Led entirely by handpicked expert local guides, you will discover some of Greece’s greatest and lesser-known ancient wonders.
Ancient Olympia Delphi Acropolis Epidaurus Corinth Canal Tripoli Ancient Tegea Alea Athena Kapsia Cave Lousios gorge monasteries Dimitsana Filosofou and Prodromou monasteries Ancient Gortys Sparta Mystras Mycenae Nafplio
Price
€1390 excluding flights
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More info
Price includes: Accommodation for 7 nights with breakfast for double, triple, quad room or apartment, transportation, 3 meals, tickets for sights, museums, Kapsia Cave, wine tasting Optional archaeology guides €300pp.
Single supplement €125.
Single supplement €125.
Description of Archaeology holiday in Greece
If you’ve always been fascinated by the past and are curious about archaeology tours, Greece is without question the first, and probably the last, country that you need to head to.
The birthplace of science, democracy and many of the arts which we know and love today, Greece archaeology tours pull back the curtain of time to unveil 3,500 years of historic relevance with Athens, Delphi, Olympia and the Peloponnese region all renowned for their importance to the past.
Further sites, including the theatre at Epidaurus, Mycenae, Nafplio, Sparta, ancient Tegea, and the monasteries of Loussios Gorge, are all equally significant on archaeological tours Greece and lead travellers on an immersive journey interlinked with the myths and legends of the ancient world.
Aside from treading in the sandal-strapped footsteps of the past this eight day archaeology holiday in Greece also incorporates the rural lifestyles of Greeks today with sun-kissed beaches, picturesque vineyards and sites like the Corinth Canal all offering a unique glimpse of life as seen by locals.
Day trips, excursions and activities can all be tailored to suit the length of time that you’re staying in Greece and what you like to do with additional costs depending on how many people want to take part and the length and structure of the experience.
For the majority of this Greece archaeology holiday we’ll be based in Tripoli which places travellers within the heartlands of the Peloponnese and offers easy day trip access to all of the destinations mentioned within the eight day itinerary.
Tripoli is a small city within the Acadia area and has managed to avoid the temptations of mass tourism and maintain an authentic and local-orientated pace of life that will really appeal to responsible travellers looking to experience the real Greece away from the tourist hot spots.
We will also spend a couple of nights in the village of Galaxidi which is situated next to the sea, within close proximity to Delphi, as well as a final night in Athens within the shadow of the world-famous Acropolis.
Archaeology holidays in Greece can be taken throughout the year with the heat of summer providing tan time on the beach and never-ending evenings whilst the rest of the year offers a chance to explore the ancient sites without the threat of crowds or overheating.
Itinerary
| Day 1: | Arrive at Athens International Airport and meet your fellow group members before transferring to this evening’s hotel accommodation in Tripoli via one of the world’s greatest feats of engineering, the Corinth Canal. Upon arrival in Tripoli you’ll be welcomed with a traditional homemade Greek meal and drinks before settling into your first night away from home. |
| Day 2: | Today starts with a guided tour of Tegea (Tegeatis) one of ancient Greece’s most important and well-developed cities. Aside from visiting many of Tegea’s most notable archaeological sites you’ll also visit the Byzantine church which sits just above the ancient theatre. Following on from the tour of Tegea you’ll continue to Alea which is a small village containing one of the largest temples on the Peloponnese, Alea Athena, as well as thoroughly absorbing museum. The next stop will take you underground and into the Kapsia Cave which is thought to be over three million years old. An optional two hour cycling expedition leads the more energetic members of the group through several of the surrounding villages before rejoining the rest of the group for wine tasting and homemade pies at the traditional Kalogris winery. Your afternoon has been left free to explore Tripoli which features, amongst many other things, an excellent archaeological museum and Areos Square, one of the largest of its kind in the whole of Greece. Optional excursions to the coastal village of Astros can also be arranged for those who favour beach time and strolls along harbour walls. Overnight stay in Tripoli. |
| Day 3: | Your third day in Greece finds you touring the secret rock carved monasteries of Lousios Gorge and the traditional Dimitsana settlements in the mountains of Arcadia. En-route we’ll also have a chance to visit the Hydromovement open-air museum that explains the relationship between local people and renewable energy as well as traditional industry, including exhibits of machinery and equipment used within the tannery, watermill and powder shop. More monasteries await including the ancient Greek Byzantine Filosofou Monastery and the historic Prodromou Monastery, which also played an integral part in sheltering Greek fighters during the war against the Ottoman Empire in 1821. Today’s tour comes to a climax within the ancient city of Gortys which is known for being the 2,500 year old resting place of the Spartans as they headed to Olympia in order to compete in the Olympic Games. Throughout the day it’s possible to reach all of the monasteries on foot over the course of a two and a half hour hiking trail which culminates in an alfresco picnic lunch by the river within the shade of the trees. Overnight stay in Tripoli. |
| Day 4: | Today your Greece archaeology holiday continues as you travel from Tripoli to Sparta which is situated within the foothills of the region’s highest mountain, Mt Taygetos. This is one of the world’s best preserved and most significant Byzantine sites with the city of Mystras featuring some fine examples of churches, monasteries and a highly impressive fortified castle. The city of Mystras is easily accessible on foot but does contain plenty of steps so refreshments and rest stops are advisable as you make your way to sites, such as the statue of Leonidas, the acropolis and one of the largest theatres in the whole of ancient Greece. Throughout the tour your guide will be able to explain everything that you’re experiencing with references to typical Sparta lifestyles and notable architecture helping you put together the pieces of one of the ancient world’s most revered fighting forces. This afternoon is free for you to explore or take part in a traditional Greek cooking course back at the hotel in Tripoli prior to settling down to your evening meal an overnight stay in Tripoli. |
| Day 5: | Today’s excursion takes you on a guided tour of Mycenae to unveil the ruined acropolis, the Gate of Lions and the palace of King Agamemnon as well as the unique archaeological museum which exhibits many of the area’s most notable finds. After the guided tour of Mycenae your group will be whisked off to the medical centre of antiquity, Epidaurus, which was founded by Asclepius within the site of the revered ancient theatre. Taking a seat in the kilon allows you to experience the theatre’s fabulous acoustics which are still highly considered even by today’s standards. This afternoon is yours to relax at leisure at the seaport town of Nafplio where you’ll find plenty of opportunities to swim or just laze on the beach prior to trying a few of the local delicacies or climbing the 999 steps to the Venetian castle of Palamidi. Overnight in Tripoli. |
| Day 6: | This morning you’ll wave farewell to Tripoli as you pack your bags for the sites of ancient Olympia. A guided tour of Olympia helps the Olympic Games come to life with the stadia, gymnasiums, workshops, museums and temples, such as those to Zeus and Hera, enabling complete immersion within one of the world’s best loved and most important archaeological sites. Further highlights include the Hermes of Praxiteles, the Nike of Paionios and the pediments of the Temple of Zeus with free time to explore always welcome prior to continuing the tour north to the coastal village of Galaxidi by way of the impressive Rio- Antirio Bridge. Overnight in Galaxidi. |
| Day 7: | After this morning’s breakfast you’ll make the short journey from Galaxidi to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Delphi where a guided tour of the ancient Greek sanctuary reveals the importance of the oracle and why Delphi was considered the centre of the known world. The Temple of Apollo, the stadia and the theatre will all feature within this morning’s guided tour culminating in a visit to Delphi’s highly impressive archaeological museum which is considered to be one of the best in the whole of Greece. After an ascent to the mountain town of Arahova you’ll be invited to take lunch in one of the local taverns just off the main square or just pause to people watch over a well-earned glass of something refreshing before continuing onwards as you return to Athens for your final night’s stay in Greece. |
| Day 8: | Your final morning in Greece is extremely well spent as after breakfast you’ll be treated to a guided tour of Athens including both Acropolis and the corresponding museum. After the tour is finally over you’ll transfer back to the airport in time to meet your scheduled departure. Eis to epanidein! See you again! |
Map
Price information
€1390 excluding flights
Convert currency:
Price includes: Accommodation for 7 nights with breakfast for double, triple, quad room or apartment, transportation, 3 meals, tickets for sights, museums, Kapsia Cave, wine tasting Optional archaeology guides €300pp.
Single supplement €125.
Single supplement €125.
Check dates
2024: 21 Sep, 28 Sep, 5 Oct, 12 Oct, 19 Oct, 26 Oct
2025: 6 Sep, 13 Sep, 20 Sep, 27 Sep, 4 Oct, 11 Oct, 18 Oct, 25 Oct
2025: 6 Sep, 13 Sep, 20 Sep, 27 Sep, 4 Oct, 11 Oct, 18 Oct, 25 Oct
Travel guides
Old archaeologists never die. They just wish you bone voyage.
History holidays suffer from an image problem. They conjure up a picture of a sedate older crowd crammed into coaches, ticking off a list of antiquity...
Holiday information
Small group tour, ideal for solos & couples:
Small group travel is not large group travel scaled down. It is modelled on independent travel – but with the advantage of a group leader to take care of the itinerary, accommodation and tickets, and dealing with the language. It’s easy to tick off the big sights independently – but finding those one-off experiences, local festivals, travelling markets and secret viewpoints is almost impossible for someone without the insider knowledge gained from years in the field. Those with a two-week holiday, a small group tour will save valuable planning time.
Our top tip:
This is not in any way a ‘Greece from a minibus’ site seeing tour. Bring good walking boots, and a big refillable bottle of water.
Trip type:
Small group holiday. Max. 20 people.
Solos:
Solo travellers welcome
Accomm:
3* hotel or apartments.
Included:
Accommodation, all breakfasts, some meals, transport, wine tasting, local guide.
Meals:
Plenty of fine taverna treats and local wine toasts.
Reviews
63 Reviews of Archaeology holiday in Greece
4.5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed on 27 Aug 2024 by Elizabeth Hart
Every day was wonderful: wine tasting, rain, ruins, sea... Benefited local people, guides all lived near where we were based. Absolutely amazing, I can't recommend this enough. Read full reviewReviewed on 27 May 2024 by Nagarakshita Andrews
Excellent informative well guided by Dimitris Read full reviewReviewed on 07 Apr 2024 by Gaby Smyth
It was excellent....The ancient sites were amazing, and the guides sourced by the operator were very good indeed. Read full reviewReviewed on 06 Apr 2024 by Philippa Clark
The comprehensive nature of the tour - great range of archaeological sites, cultural experiences. Also travelling in a small group with everything well organised & good guides everywhere were the best bits. Read full reviewReviewed on 05 Nov 2023 by Elliot Schwartz
Our holiday could not have been better. We had a terrific guide and the experience was great. Highly recommended. Read full reviewReviewed on 28 May 2023 by Elaine Blatchford
One of our best ever holidays. We both learnt so much both from our experience, visits and from chatting to Dimitris. Read full reviewReviewed on 03 May 2023 by Suanne Klahorst
Our group was very small and we could say places that big groups couldn’t. Our guide knew all the locals at each stop. I can’t imagine doing it any other way. Read full reviewReviewed on 30 Apr 2023 by Graham Smith
Great. Our expectations were exceeded, the hotels very good and Dimitris was one of the best driver/guides we have ever experienced. Read full reviewReviewed on 13 Nov 2022 by Winifred Hammarstrom Menezes
Overall we were very satisfied with the holiday and arrangements. High-lights were of course the hiking, visits to well known archeological sites as well as the monastery and Mysters. Read full reviewReviewed on 15 Oct 2022 by Teresa Bradley
Fantastic holiday. The tour operator, Cristoa, Catherine and Mike were so helpful. Mike was a great driver and well informed guide and we thouroughly enjoyed the week with him. Read full reviewReviewed on 30 May 2022 by Terry Wood
It was a great experience, we visited some wonderful sights and saw a lot of Greece. Read full reviewReviewed on 08 Sep 2021 by Malcolm Jack
Highly recommend. It was all good, but I particularly enjoyed staying in a very pleasant but non-touristy town like Tripoli. All of the sites were terrific, especially Olympia and Delphi, plus Messene (see below). Read full reviewReviewed on 17 Oct 2020 by Sayan Soselisa
This was an amazing holiday, with the freedom to make our own plans, with lots of valuable tips from locals that got us to places we would otherwise have missed. Read full reviewReviewed on 02 Nov 2019 by Elaine Williams
The Greek people were extremely friendly, the food was fabulous and the scenery and historical sites were amazing. Read full reviewReviewed on 24 Oct 2019 by Grady Aronstamm
Excellent, can’t say enough good things about our tour guide, Dimitris, who obviously loves Greece. Particularly good at selecting outstanding restaurants. Read full reviewReviewed on 22 Sep 2019 by Helen Middleton-Stewart
There were so many highlights. Olympia was breathtaking and the hotel in Galadixi was such a special place to stay Read full reviewReviewed on 18 Aug 2019 by Nick Whillis
Staying in three different places was exciting. Having guides at the sites was great. Saw places we’d never see if we were travelling alone. Read full reviewReviewed on 14 Jul 2019 by Victoria Giari
This tour is up there with one of the best experiences of my life. It's difficult to single out one memorable/exciting moment because I enjoyed everything we did. Read full reviewReviewed on 17 Jun 2019 by Madeleine Weingarten
Seeing Mycenae and feeling the weight of history was memorable. Read full reviewReviewed on 05 Jun 2019 by Kate Jay
Highlights of the trip were the hike in the Lusios Gorge - stunningly beautiful and the Olympia site - the site is a lovely park, with lots of trees and fascinating ruins and the museum is quite brilliant. Read full reviewReviewed on 03 Jun 2019 by Terry White
The hike in the mountains and the delicious lunch by the beautiful river were the most memorable parts of our holiday. Olympia was my favourite site. Read full reviewReviewed on 04 Jun 2019 by Joan Kwok
The special guides we had at Olympia and the Acropolis did a remarkable job to further our appreciation of the two sites greatly. Read full reviewReviewed on 23 Nov 2018 by Don Grant
The Acropolis and the amazing new Museum of Greek history in Athens would be up there with the best. On a less well-known example, the (also new) museum of history and prehistory in Tegea Read full reviewReviewed on 02 Nov 2018 by Peter Jeffery
Just excellent. This is the second small group tour we have done... It is definitely the way to see lots and have the burden of organisation taken off of you. I don't think I could have fitted as much in if I had tried to organise it myself... Read full reviewReviewed on 01 Nov 2018 by Mindy Bell
The Greek people we met were the most authentically friendly people I have ever met on my travels. The restaurant and site recommendations were excellent...Excellent tour. Read full reviewReviewed on 08 Oct 2018 by Patrick IRLINGER
Les hôtels étaient bien choisis et de bonne tenue. Le tour à vélo, le cours de cuisine, le pique-nique, les visites du vignoble et de la grotte étaient bien sympathiques pour varier les plaisirs. Circuit très agréable que nous recommandons vivement. Read full reviewReviewed on 01 Oct 2018 by Nigel Howarth
The most exiting part of our holiday was visiting the ancient archaeological sites and learning from the professional guides how they were organised and functioned. Particularly memorable were visits to Delphi and Olympia and the museums. Read full reviewReviewed on 24 Sep 2018 by Gerard Ronay
...Is there anything we did not enjoy? The answer is ABSOLUTELY NOT. It was an unforgettable holiday, for all the right reasons! Read full reviewReviewed on 26 Jun 2018 by Mike Dance
A very memorable holiday that will remain in the memory for many years, would definitely do something like this again. Read full reviewReviewed on 03 Jun 2018 by Ida Swearingen
Visiting the ancient site of Delphi was the highlight. This was an excellent holiday - helpful staff, great hotels and good logistics. Read full reviewReviewed on 21 May 2018 by Carol Sargent
Cycling along the quiet roads to Tegea was a high point was the most memorable. Read full reviewReviewed on 01 Oct 2018 by Peter Granger
The most memorable part was: Mystras, Epidaurus Theatre, Olympia. Read full reviewReviewed on 28 Sep 2018 by Sally Frohlich
Most memorable was the hike up into the mountains to visit the monasteries in the Lousios Gorge...It was excellent. It was varied. The guides were good. The cycling and the hiking (optional) were both really enjoyable. Read full reviewReviewed on 27 Oct 2017 by Katherine Hall
The whole thing really was memorable. From start to finish I was so well looked after by Dimitri our driver and guide. It literally was a dream holiday, and even four months later, I still think about it everyday. Read full reviewReviewed on 07 Oct 2017 by Janet March
The visits to Ancient Olympia and Delphi. But everything was fascinating so it's hard to name one thing! Read full reviewReviewed on 16 Aug 2017 by Elizabeth Drummond Young
The whole trip was fab! We saw a number of major archaeological sites and took part in other activities. Difficult to choose the best day really - they were all excellent. Sparta, Ancient Tegea, Mistras, Olympia, Delphi.... Read full reviewReviewed on 23 Jul 2017 by Gail Phillips
Difficult to isolate one part as it was all so memorable. The ruins at Epidaurus were particularly spectacular. Read full reviewReviewed on 15 Jun 2017 by Wendy Brodribb
We had a fabulous time and would highly recommend it to others Read full reviewReviewed on 13 Jun 2017 by Darlene Juschka
We had a wonderful tour of ancient Greek archaeological sites throughout the Peloponnese and Attica. Everyday was filled with activities of visiting archaeological sites, a cave, mountain monasteries, biking, climbing, and walking around Greece. The entire trip was memorable and I loved it. Read full reviewReviewed on 23 May 2017 by Maria Martin
Excellent. Informative. Fun. well organised. I'd consider doing it again - the sights, the walks, the archaeological exposure were fantastic. Read full reviewReviewed on 17 May 2017 by Jessica Shapiro
Seeing all the ancient sites, especially "Agamemnon's tomb" at Mycenae, theatre at Epidaurus, all of Delphi, Olympia, also the Byzantine city of Mystras. Also loved the activities, e.g. cycling, walking in the gorge, visits to cave, winery, and fish dinners at Astros and Galaxidi. Read full reviewReviewed on 03 Oct 2017 by Beth Cook
Visiting archaeological sites that I had only read about previously. As I was the only one on this tour, I was given very special attention by my tour guide/driver, Mikhalis and the other guides at the sites. Read full reviewReviewed on 11 Aug 2017 by Mandy Newport
I really enjoyed visiting Olympia and Galaxidi. Hotel Ganimede was very memorable! Read full reviewReviewed on 17 Apr 2017 by Maryam Al-Khudhairi
The friendly people, the rich and fascinating history and the lovely weather. Read full reviewReviewed on 01 Jan 2017 by Nicholas Millersmith
The most memorable moment was standing in 'Agamemnon's tomb' in Mycenae and seeing the perfectly preserved theatre at Epidauros. An enjoyable and efficient way of visiting many major archaeological sites, and also of participating in other activities such as local wine-tasting. Read full reviewReviewed on 17 Oct 2016 by Jackie Hutchison
This holiday exceeded my expectations, it was well paced. Thanks to everyone involved, including my fellow holiday makers who were great company. Simply one of the best holidays I have ever been on. Read full reviewReviewed on 25 Sep 2016 by Kevin Costello
Extremely enjoyable, very educational, drivers/guides are very knowledgeable and kind, give you your own space when needed and do their very best to help everyone on the trip! The locations visited are beyond beautiful! Read full reviewReviewed on 19 May 2016 by Jan Fisher
I would give this tour the highest rating. My husband and I felt totally taken care of, with never a worry. Read full reviewReviewed on 20 Apr 2016 by Brynnen Ford
Loved traveling with the guides--they treated us like family. Read full reviewReviewed on 12 Jul 2016 by Jane Anthony
We had a fantastic holiday, the tour guides were wonderful, the itinerary is really good. Read full reviewReviewed on 19 May 2016 by Nick Heath
Delphi is extraordinary, as expected. Olympia is a real surprise - much richer than just athletics. Mycenae is beautiful and moving. Lousios Gorge fascinating. Read full reviewReviewed on 04 Nov 2015 by Neil Holt
Most memorable for me, I would probably just go for the trip to Mycenae, as it had been a long-held wish to go there, and it didn't disappoint! Read full reviewReviewed on 10 Oct 2015 by Alan Wallis
This was about the best holiday I have ever been on; with excellent licensed guides informing us of the archaeology in the historical Peloponnese and in Athens. Read full reviewReviewed on 27 Oct 2015 by Malcolm Torry
Really good. Easily lived up to expectations. Read full reviewReviewed on 05 Oct 2015 by Liz LaRocque
We had a wonderful holiday. I highly recommend this trip. Read full reviewReviewed on 08 Jul 2015 by Gary Gleeson
Fantastic, well organised, informative and great fun. Wonderful memories of our visit to the Peloponesse. Read full reviewReviewed on 26 Apr 2015 by Ellen Taylor
The most memorable part of the holiday was our hike along the Lousios gorge that ended with a wonderful picnic among the ruins of Gortys, an ancient healing centre...We would rate the archaeology activity holiday overall as among the best holidays we've had in Europe. Read full reviewReviewed on 26 Apr 2015 by Randi Morrison
The people we interacted with throughout our holiday, including Christos and his father, the drivers, the specialized tour guides, the hotel staff, and restaurant and shopkeepers were extremely warm and friendly. Read full reviewReviewed on 20 Apr 2015 by Chris Thompson
The most memorable moments were unexpected. Our driver / guide took us up into the mountains to one of his favourite sites, ancient Orchomenos, where we stood in the lonely excavated theatre, just the five of us, with the majestic hills as the most perfect backdrop. Timeless! Read full reviewReviewed on 08 Nov 2014 by Genevieve Morris
This was a wonderful holiday: friendly staff; excellent accommodation; knowledgeable and friendly tour guides; and an excellent, extremely interesting itinerary. Read full reviewReviewed on 17 Nov 2014 by Paul Beckett
We enjoyed all of it! Exciting to see the original running track at Olympia, Mystras was spectacular, and the Acropolis Museum is amazing - both the building and the contents. Read full reviewResponsible Travel
As the pioneers of responsible tourism, we've screened this (and every) holiday so that you can travel knowing we've worked to maximise the benefits of your holiday to local people and places, and minimise any negative impacts.
Planet
We are also owners of the small city hotel that you will stay during your holidays here where we recycle paper, glass, plastic and metal. At your arrival here you will be given a Travellers Code of Conduct, where you will get informed about how to apply maximum responsibility during your holidays concerning environmental and socio-cultural factors.People
Choosing our holidays, you choose responsible holidays. As Mr Panagiotopoulos, founder and president of our company, was born and raised here, one of his biggest concerns is to secure that tourism will not affect negatively our area in ecological and socio-cultural way, and also that the locals will mostly benefit from your travel.Our company which is the organizer and operator of this package is local-based and all our guides, drivers and employees are locals too, ensuring not only the economical benefit of our area but also your cultural benefit. In this trip, you will visit so many different places and you will always be surrounded by locals, experiencing the Greek way of living. But the most important thing for us, is that your presence here gives us a strong negotiation card for pressing the local authorities for the development of our area, such us constructing cycling streets in our city or finance and organize better our archaeological museums and sites.
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