Kalimera! Welcome to Greece. After clearing Immigration and Customs procedures, travelers arriving the group flight (or same time) will be met by your Guide. 

Transfer to your hotel for check-in with lunch on your own depending on your arrival time today.

The N.J.V. Athens Plaza Hotel is a luxury hotel with first-class amenities. They offer three unique dining venues, including a fine dining option, a cozy casual place for coffee and pastries, as well as a British-style bar with tasty snacks and excellent views. The hotel has 24-hour room service, dry cleaning, free Wi-Fi, access to nearby spa, concierge desk and more.

Relax and freshen up, before venturing out for a welcome dinner in the local’s neighborhood, Kypseli. Enjoy traditional Greek music, dancing and of course fabulous local food and wine. 

Overnight: 5 Star NJV Athens Plaza (or similar)

Included meals: Dinner

After breakfast professional members of the group will meet with a local medical professional at a local hospital or from an organization like the Hellenic Society of Gastroenterology. Talk with your counterparts about topics of mutual interest including physician training, access to care in Greece, medical tourism, common issues they treat in internal medicine, biggest challenges they are facing and role of the doctor vs. other allied healthcare professionals.

Accompanying Guests: Head out after breakfast with a local guide to explore local boutiques from high end fashion and jewelry to a local deli to see what traditional foodstuffs are sold locally. Stop for a coffee and explore a museum gift shop that promotes new designers through exhibiting and selling their work. You’ll also explore pioneers in cosmetics – a company run by former pharmacists that combine Greek philosophy with natural ingredients to produce goods that are, in fact, good for you, body and soul.

After some time to grab a snack on your own, late this afternoon you will join instructors to show you just how traditional Greek dishes are made right at home, where real cooking happens. You might find out how to make Greek Gyros (the so-called 'Souvlaki Wrap'), for instance, a meal that’s as tasty as it is fun to put together, or learn to master patsavouropita, a sweet rag pie in crispy phyllo pastry along with the yummy custard that may quickly become your favorite dessert. Enjoy your creations for dinner this evening. 

Overnight: 5 Star NJV Athens Plaza (or similar) 

Included meals: Breakfast & Dinner

Your local guide leads the way this morning as you spend the day learning about ancient Greek civilization and culture. Your guide will point out sites like Hadrian’s Arch and the Temple of Zeus, Constitution square called “Syntagma”, the Greek parliament and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on your way to Panathenaic Stadium that was originally built in 329aC, and where the first Olympics of the modern era in 1896 were held. 

Next, visit one of the most recognizable sights in Athens: The Acropolis (Greek: “city at the top”). At the Acropolis visit the Propylaea, the Temple of Athena Nike, the Erechtheion and finally "the harmony between material and spirit", the monument that "puts order in the mind", the Parthenon. Continue onward to see The New Acropolis Museum where many statues found their home as you admire the wonders of the classical era.

After lunch you will head to the small town of Kalampaka Town (3.5-hour drive), which is situated in the foothills of the giant cliffs of Meteora. For thousands of years people have found refuge in the steep cliffs and surrounding area. 

Upon arrival you will check into your local hotel and have the evening free with dinner on your own. 

Overnight: 4* Divani Meteora Hotel (or similar)

Included meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Head out this morning after breakfast to the nearby town of Larissa (1 hour drive). Enjoy a walking tour of the town stopping at the Hippocrates monument and tomb. We will explore having a professional guide and archeologist join the group for a lecture on the life of the Father of Medicine while you are visiting his modest monument. The tomb was found accidentally after the Pineios River flooded in 1826 and a statue was later erected by the sculptor Georgios Kalakalas in his honor.

After lunch at a local restaurant, visit the Diachronic Museum and Museum of Flour & Wheat. The Diachronic Museum permanent exhibits come primarily from excavations conducted in Thessaly during the 20th century. Among the exhibits, a renowned Neolithic collection stands out, in addition to archaic, classical, but also Ottoman tombstones, early Christian mosaics, numerous coins, and jewels as well as a menhir. Opened in 2015 it showcases 10,000 years of history in the region. 

The Museum of Flour & Wheat is a cultural heritage museum and a living part of the city's history. Today the mill hosts a multitude of cultural activities including a dance school, visual arts workshops, a small theater, the Philharmonic of the City, and a puppet theater. Dating back to 1893 it was a watermill, windmill, and roller in successive phases up until the 1980s when it was shut down officially and repurposed as a public space opening back up in 2014. 

Return to Kalampaka where dinner is on your own this evening.

Overnight: 4* Divani Meteora Hotel (or similar)

Included meals: Breakfast & Lunch

After breakfast head out to go truffle hunting in Meteora! This experience will not only include looking for truffles with trained dogs, but also lunch prepared by a local chef that will include a truffle pasta dish and mushroom tasting with a glass of local wine. Continue onward to their Mushroom Museum. A guided tour is provided, with an emphasis on mushrooms and especially on their nutritional and therapeutic value. Finally, you can peruse their shop which offers seventy traditional mushroom and truffle products created onsite.

Afterward head out to explore a couple of the hilltop monasteries including St. Stephens Monastery. The monastery of Agios Stefanos or St. Steven is by far the most accessible monastery, where instead of steps you simply cross a small bridge to reach the entrance. Dating back to the early 12th century and the first hermit monks who settled on the cliffs. Next explore the Holy Monastery of Varlaam including the cellar, tower and museum enjoy photo stops at points with panoramic views and historical interest. Dating to 1350 when an ascetic named Varlaam ascended the rock building three churches, a small cell and water tank. **For the visit to monasteries ladies need to wear a skirt and gentlemen long trousers.**

Make the drive back to Athens late this afternoon where dinner is on your own.

Overnight: 5 Star NJV Athens Plaza (or similar)

Included meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Today you will head out on a daytrip to explore the Argolis region via the coastal road along the Saronic Gulf to the Corinth Canal, which connects the Aegean Sea with the Ionian Sea. 

Drive to Mycenae the city "rich in gold" of the ancient poets to visit the Lion's Gate, the Cyclopean Walls, and the Royal Tombs. 

After lunch head onward to Nauplion for a short photo stop in route to explore the Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus (dating to the 4th century BC). Considered one of the greatest ancient Greek theaters due to its excellent acoustics it is also one of the best preserved. Originally the theatre had 34 rows of seats divided into 34 blocks by stairs and walkways. It was built by the architect Polykleitos on the side of a mountain and overlooking the sanctuary of Asklepius.

Return to Athens by the National Road connecting Epidaurus with Corinth with dinner on your own.

Overnight: 5 Star NJV Athens Plaza (or similar)

Included meals: Breakfast & Lunch

After breakfast, check out and head to the airport for your morning flight to the island of Kos. Note that the flow of the day is subject to change based on final flight times.

You will enjoy a tour of the most important archaeological site on the Island - The Asclepion. It is the sanctuary dedicated to Asclepius who was in the ancient times regarded as the God of the healing. Then, drive to “Platanos’s tree of Hippocrates” and the Castle entrance. This fortress was one of the most stalwart defenses of the Knights of St. John against the Ottomans. 

Next visit Hippocrates Garden. The Garden Cultural Center in Mastihari is dedicated to the ancient Greek physician and father of medicine, Hippocrates of Kos. This private philosophical and cultural center was created in 2008 by Mrs. Julie Zafeiratou and showcases a replica of a 5th century BC ancient Greek settlement. Their facility also has a Philosopher's Arcade and a stone-built theater that seats 80. The center is surrounded by a beautiful garden with herbs, cedar trees, vineyards, and fruit trees and hosts seminars and theater performances.

Lunch will be provided this afternoon.

Explore the city with your guide after lunch starting out in the main square of town, Platia Elefteria (Freedom Square). You will have some free time to explore. Head onward with your guide to the House of Europa has the best-preserved mosaic depicting the abduction of Europa by Zeus (transformed into a bull).

Check in at your local hotel this evening. The Diamond Deluxe Hotel is an adult only luxury hotel in Kos, ideally located on the beach with high end facilities. They have onsite dining, an American style buffet daily along with a lobby bar. Enjoy the pool or beach and other amenities at their spa. Guest rooms have a king size bed, coffee and tea making facilities, beach towels, robes, bathroom amenities and slippers for your convenience.

Dinner will be provided at a local restaurant this evening. 

Overnight: 5 Star Diamond Deluxe (or similar)

Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

After breakfast, head for your daytrip via one-hour boat ride to explore the nearby volcanic island of Nisyros. This is one of the most beautiful but lesser-known Aegean islands that mythology tells was created during a battle between Poseidon and a giant. Poseidon pursued the Giant Polyvotis up to Kos, cut a part of it off and threw it at his enemy, sinking him to the bottom of the Aegean Sea.

Upon the arrival, take a walk through the village of Mandraki where your guide will share information about the town and its famous monastery. Head via bus to the volcano. You will visit the crater "Stefanos", the largest on the island (27m. deep, 350m long) and can descent into it for a closer look. We suggest you wear comfortable walking shoes, as the descent to the crater is rocky and the ground of the crater can be quite warm so closed toes shoes are needed today.

Return to Mandraki for some free time and a chance to visit the Monastery of Panagia Spiliani (Virgin of the Cave). This small church is dedicated to the Presentation of the Virgin Mary, and it is built inside a large cave. The church hosts a marble icon of the Virgin Mary that is considered miraculous.

You will have time to grab lunch on your own and do some perusing of the island’s small shops. 

Late this afternoon you will return via boat to Kardamena Harbor and be transported back to the hotel for some time to relax and change for dinner which will be provided. 

Overnight: 5 Star Diamond Deluxe (or similar)

Included meals: Breakfast & Dinner