• REGION OF CENTRAL GREECE - REGIONAL UNIT OF VIOTIA - Departing from Athens, the journey will take us through Sterea Ellada until reaching Delphi. Known locally as Ρούμελη (Roúmeli), the Region of Central Greece is one of the thirteen administrative regions of Greece. It encompasses the eastern half of the traditional Central Greece region, including the island of Euboea. To the south, it borders Attica and the Peloponnese, to the west, West Greece, and to the north, Thessaly and Epirus. Lamia serves as its capital. Geographically, it is divided into East and West by the southern part of the Pindos mountain range. The route will pass through Thebes, Livadia, and Arachova, leading to Delphi to explore the archaeological site!
• Karakolithos - Mnimio Pesonton - On April 25, 1944, ELAS (Greek People’s Liberation Army), the largest Resistance organization in Greece, captured 17 German officers on the road connecting Livadia with Distomo, the site of a notorious Nazi atrocity that occurred a month and a half later.

The ELAS members sent a letter to the German headquarters in Livadia, demanding the release of 32 Greek prisoners. The Nazi response backfired: within hours, 136 Greek prisoners, mostly in their 20s, were transported to Karakolithos and executed.

This monument commemorates the unjustly executed Greek patriots of that day in Karakolithos (meaning Black Stone in Greek).

The lower section of the monument features metal figures of men, pierced by bullets, symbolizing the foundation upon which the Greek Resistance was built.

• Arachova - Arachova is a picturesque mountainous village nestled at the foot of Mt. Parnassos in Viotia, Southern Greece.

It is Greece’s most cosmopolitan winter destination, popular among ski enthusiasts, celebrities, and first-time visitors seeking relaxation in a dreamy mountainous setting with modern tourism amenities.

Its modern ski resort, proximity to Athens, and stunning mountainous landscape are compelling reasons to visit.

Beyond mountain activities, Arachova is renowned for its vibrant nightlife and is a favorite mountain retreat for Athenians. It is located 35 km west of Livadeia.

In November 1826, Georgios Karaiskakis (1780-1827) defeated the Turkish army led by Moustafabei in Arachova.

Today, visitors can discover the village’s traditional character by strolling through its narrow cobblestone streets. Enjoy hot and sweet or soft and fruity drinks in cafés or traditional kafeneia (coffee shops).

• Delphi - Explore the Navel of the Earth! At the base of Mount Parnassos lies the Pan-Hellenic sanctuary of Delphi, the most renowned oracle of ancient Greece. Delphi was considered the center of the world. According to mythology, it was here that Zeus’s two eagles, sent from the universe’s ends to find the world’s navel, met. For centuries, the sanctuary was the cultural and religious hub and symbol of unity for the Hellenic world. Delphi’s history dates back to prehistory. Initially, the site was sacred to Mother Earth and guarded by the fearsome serpent Python, slain by Apollo. Apollo’s sanctuary was established here by Cretans who arrived at Kirrha, Delphi’s port, accompanied by the god in dolphin form. This myth was preserved in plays performed during various Delphic festivals, such as the Septerion, Delphinia, Theophania, and the famous Pythia, which celebrated Python’s death and included musical and athletic competitions.
• Temple of Apollo - The Temple of Apollo, the most significant building in the sanctuary of Apollo at Delphi, commands the temenos from its central location. This is where statues and other offerings to the god were housed, and where cult rituals, including divination, were conducted. The chresmographeion, or archive, destroyed in 373 BC, was also located here and contained lists of Pythian games victors.

Legend has it that the first temple of Apollo at Delphi was made of laurel branches, the second of beeswax and feathers, and a third of bronze, while the fourth was constructed by the legendary architects Trofonios and Agamedes with Apollo’s assistance. This was likely the stone temple destroyed by fire in 548 BC. Its replacement, funded by both Greeks and non-Greeks, was completed around 510 BC by the Alkmaeonid family of Athens. This was a Doric peristyle temple, with six columns at the ends and fifteen along the sides.

• Delphi Archaeological Museum - The Archaeological Museum of Delphi, one of Greece’s most important, showcases the history of the Delphic sanctuary, home to the most famous ancient Greek oracle. Its extensive collections primarily consist of architectural sculptures, statues, and minor objects donated to the sanctuary. These reflect its religious, political, and artistic activities from its early years in the eighth century BC to its decline in Late Antiquity.

The museum is housed in a two-story building with a total area of 2270 square meters, featuring fourteen exhibition rooms, 558 square meters of storerooms, and conservation laboratories for pottery, metal objects, and mosaics. A new lobby, cafeteria, and gift shop were added during the museum’s latest renovation.

• Delphi - After visiting the archaeological site of Delphi, the journey continues to the modern village of Delphi. Here, visitors can optionally savor local cuisine at a restaurant with breathtaking views of Itea and the Ionian Sea, surrounded by a vast olive grove. Just a stone’s throw from the archaeological site, present-day Delphi town lies at the foot of Mt. Parnassus, near Arachova town. It’s an ideal location for winter holidays due to its proximity to the Parnassus ski center, or visit any time of the year to explore the natural beauty and nearby beaches. It’s conveniently located near the mountain, woods, world-famous archaeological sites, and beautiful beaches.
• Tholos of Athena Pronaia - The tholos of the sanctuary of Athena Pronaia, clearly visible from above, is perhaps the most iconic monument at Delphi and the most significant building of this small sanctuary. Situated between the later temple of Athena and the Treasury of Massalia, this circular building of unknown purpose is a masterpiece of Classical architecture. It is believed to have been associated with chthonic cults, although Pausanias, who saw its ruins in the second century AD, did not refer to it as a temple.

According to Vitruvius, this impressive structure was erected in 380 BC based on plans by the architect Theodoros of Phocea or Phocis, who even authored a book about its construction. The tholos is a synthesis of various Classical architectural styles. It rests on a three-stepped podium, and the twenty Doric columns of the outer peristyle supported a Doric frieze of triglyphs and metopes with relief decoration. Inside the cella were ten engaged Corinthian columns.

• REGION OF CENTRAL GREECE - REGIONAL UNIT OF VIOTIA - After visiting the archaeological site of Delphi, the return journey to Athens will follow the same route. End of service.

• Professional English-speaking guide
• Piraeus port transfers
• Air-conditioned group transport
• Athens hotel pickup and drop-off

• Entrance fees to the archaeological sites and museum
• Gratuities
• Option for a professional tour guide with a state license at an extra cost
• Food and drinks

Key features of our exclusive shore trip to Delphi

• Enjoy a private full day journey accompanied by an English-speaking driver from Athens to Delphi
• Enjoy the scenic drive through the beautiful Central Greece landscape
• Traverse through Arachova, a well-known skiing destination
• Savor a customary Greek lunch featuring local delicacies that you’ll relish
• Visit the historical site of Delphi including the Museum and the Temple of Apollo
• The itinerary of the tour is flexible and can be tailored to the traveler’s preferences!

• Dress code is formal
• At time of booking, Cruise ship passengers must provide the following information at time of booking: ship name, docking time, disembarkation time and re-boarding time
• Athens International Airport transfers can be arranged on request at an extra cost!
• Important note: You will have a professional English-speaking driver with good knowledge of the history and culture of Greece, to guide you till you enter archaeological sites and museums according to the program. Tour drivers are not licensed to companion you inside the archaeological sites and museums. If you’d like to have one, we can arrange it for you at an additional cost. Licensed by the state tour guides are freelance and it is subject to availability on bookings day!
• We suggest that you have your admission tickets pre-purchased as there is a chance not to find availability, please note that we can buy the tickets for you in advance -under a small service fee

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.