Centaurs, Achilles, Alexander, stunning beaches, beautiful Athens, religion, myth, history, fine dining in neighborhood establishments - fun. These are the ingredients of "Off the Beaten Path."

Day 1 - Board our plane for Thessaloniki. 

Day 2 - Arrive at our first-class hotel in this beautiful city by the sea. Stroll the promenade and enjoy the sunset before dinner in our hotel.
 
Day 3 - Thessaloniki is famous for its beauty, history, and restaurants. Today we will tour the city including the famous archaeological museum. This evening, feast on local delicacies.

Day 4 - Philip, Alexander, and Aristotle will be our subjects as we visit the ancient Macedonian capital of Pella and the royal tombs at Vergina.

Day 5 - Today is free for a cruise around Mt. Athos, the monks’ republic.

Day 6 - This morning we board our high-speed train for the four-hour ride to Athens, passing on our way Mt. Olympos, the Vale of Témpe, Thebes, and other sites famous in myth and history. Upon arrival we will travel to eastern Attica to visit the Amphiaraion, ancient center of dream interpretation. Carl Jung had nothing on these folks. On to Marathon, site of the most significant battle of the Persian Wars and name-sake of the famous Olympic race. On to Athens.

Day 7-10
After breakfast we board our hydrofoil for the beautiful island of Poros,situated in the Saronic Gulf. The island is quiet and beautiful,rich with hospitality, beaches, and great local food. From our hotel on the sea we are strategically situated to explore not only Poros, but also the neighboring islands of Aegina, Hydra, and Spetses. It is also quite easy to have a day excursion to the Peloponnesos to visit the Late Bronze Age site of Mycenae, and the 4th century BCE theatre of Epidauros, the best preserved ancient theater. The evening sunsets over the sea are breathtaking, and the mom & pop tavernas are still uncorrupted by tourism.

Day 11
This morning we take our hydrofoil back to the gem of classical civilization, “violet-crowned” Athens. The rest of the day is free for shopping or for visiting any of the famous museums of Athens, a trip to the Parthenon, or just enjoying the ambience of the newly remodeled city.





Day 12 - Today, a walking tour around the ancient agora (center of ancient Athenian democracy), Plaka, cathedral, Syntagma Square, and the old open-air to market in Athinas Street. This city, always a delight, is newly beautified from the 2004 Olympics.

Day 13 - The day is free, but the tour leader invites you to join him for a 14-mile ride by public bus out to the sanctuary of Demeter at Eleusis. This site was extremely important to ancient religion – those initiated into its rites looked forward to the promise of immortality of the soul.

Day 14
We drive past Mt. Hymettos out through the vineyards of Attica to the airport, bringing with us a notion of our
own connection to Greece.

4-17 May 2013

Cash discount rate from CMH: $ 4146
Single supplement: $550

Credit cards please add 9%. Rates are subject to change.

Included as part of the tour: 

• Roundtrip air from CMH
• First Class hotels
• Discussions of Greek myth, art, literature, history, thought, culture
• Expert Guiding
• Admissions as mentioned
• Breakfasts
• Transfers
• Porterage of 1 bag
• Tips to Guides & Drivers

Not included with the tour:

•  Items of a personal nature