Antiquity to Byzantium 2024

DAY 1 Athens - Palaia Epidaurus
Welcome to Athens! Please make your way to Marina Zeas for embarkation between 2-3 pm. Meet your crew and fellow travellers and enjoy a welcome drink before setting sail towards Palaia Epidaurus. After an evening arrival, enjoy dinner on board.

Meals included: Dinner

DAY 2 Palaia Epidaurus - Nafplion
Early in the morning, you can opt for an optional Ancient Epidaurus tour. Epidaurus was well-known throughout the Greek world as a healing sanctuary. The sanctuary was looted by the Roman general Sulla, by pirates, and later by Goths in 395 AD, and little remains of it today. Used as a therapeutic and religious centre dedicated to Asklepios, the god of healing, and it's one of the most popular archaeological UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Greece.
After lunch on board, enjoy an afternoon sailing to Nafplion.

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

DAY 3 Nafplion - Mycenae - Monemvasia
After breakfast, join your guide for a short optional walking tour of Nafplion, and drive through the colourful city and the beautiful countryside of Argolis towards Mycenae. The importance of the city, which Homer calls "rich in gold" begins in 1650 B.C and ceases around 1100 B.C with the fall of the civilisation to which it gives its name. Visit the remains of the glorious ancient city including the Lion’s Gate, the Palace, the so-called Agamemnon Tomb, and the museum. Lunch on the ship and afternoon sailing to Monemvasia. Overnight at sea.

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

DAY 4 Monemvasia - Gythion
Early morning arrival in Gythion. Once here, there’ll be an optional excursion to the Mani peninsula and Cape Tenaro, the spectacular Dirou Caves with their stalactites and stalagmites. Ancient Gythion was inhabited during prehistoric times, and later the Spartans enlarged the port and used it as their naval base.

Leave Gythion behind and cross the scenic Mani Peninsula to reach Diros and visit the spectacular caves discovered around the 60s, considered perhaps one of the most important natural Greek sites. After visiting the cave, drive to nearby Areopolis for a short stroll through the town. Mani is at the top of the Peloponnese, a distinctive area in Greece. A desolate region of underground lakes and rivers, windswept landscapes, and towers that is strangely beautiful. Overnight at sea.

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

DAY 5 Gythion - Pylos
Wake up today at Pylos, a picture-perfect seaside town on the southwest corner of the Peloponnese. Pylos was built in the form of an amphitheatre at the southern opening of Navarino Bay, where the historic battle took place, and defined by the island of Sfaktiria.
After breakfast, join an optional city tour including a drive up the road to Nestor’s Palace. The remains of the prehistoric Palace occupy a scenic hilltop setting north of Pylos.
A few highlights include the well-preserved royal apartments and a bathtub that archaeologists have speculated belonged to the old king himself. Following a visit to the remains of the Palace, make a short trip to Hora. A town where a superb archaeological museum holds thousands of artefacts recovered from the site. Overnight at sea.

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

DAY 6 Pylos - Katakolon - Itea
Early morning arrival in Katakolon’s port. You will disembark around 7:00 am. If you opt for an optional tour, you’ll meet your guide and take the bus to Olympia, one of the most famous and significant sites in the ancient world. Olympia is revered as the birthplace of the Olympic Games and the greatest Pan-Hellenic sanctuary for the worship of Zeus.
Following your tour, you will also explore the Temple of Hera and visit the Olympia Museum. Enjoy lunch in Olympia town followed by a visit to the History of the Olympic Games of Antiquity Museum. The Olympic Games were the most significant religious festival in honour to the Olympian Zeus, the father of the gods and humans. It was held every four years at the Sanctuary of Olympia, one of the most influential Sanctuaries of the ancient world.
Enjoy some time at leisure, perhaps travel overland to Patra before departing for Itea in the Gulf of Corinth. Overnight in port.

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

DAY 7 Itea - Delphi - Corinth Canal - Marina Zeas
An optional excursion to Delphi this morning is on offer. Meet your guide and proceed to the ruins complex. Delphi was built on the side of the mountain. This ancient Greek sacred place is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with a long history and beautiful natural surroundings such as the Tholos of Delphi, and the Temple of Apollo, discovered in 1892. A half-day walk around the ruins and a visit to the adjoining museum are included in your optional tour. Afterwards, head back to the ship and cruise through the Corinth Canal. Enjoy a farewell Captain’s dinner as you sail to Marina Zeas.

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

DAY 8 Marina Zeas
After breakfast, your cruise ends on disembarkation at approximately 09.00 at Marina Zeas.

Meals included: Breakfast

*Itineraries can be changed at the discretion of the Vessel's Captain and Port Authorities, particularly in case of adverse weather conditions.