Essence of Greece

Your Greek holiday begins at London Heathrow, where you meet the Tour Manager and the rest of our group before boarding a flight to Athens. On arrival at the Greek capital, we transfer by coach to our hotel on the outskirts of the historic Venetian city of Nafplion, set on the north-eastern Peloponnese coast. Our journey takes around two hours from Athens, and along the way we cross the impressive Corinth canal.

On arrival at our modernist hotel, designed by the famous Greek architect Nicos Valsamakis, there's time to settle in before we enjoy dinner and a selection of drinks this evening.

• Dinner
• Drinks package with dinner

The first excursion of our holiday is to the nearby archaeological site of Mycenae, a fortified city which was once the prosperous and powerful centre of the Mycenaean civilisation. As soon as we enter the Lion Gate entrance to the ancient citadel, you can sense the deep history of Mycenae. The site is strongly connected to Homer's epics which describe the city as the kingdom of Agamemnon, who led the Greeks in conquering Troy.

On a guided tour we are shown highlights of this impressive site, including Agamemnon's tomb and the ruined Cyclopean walls which once protected this mighty fortress where mythology and history intertwine. The term 'Cyclopean' comes from the ancient Greek belief that only the mythical Cyclopes were strong enough to move such massive boulders.

After time to take in this awe-inspiring ancient city, we return to our hotel in Nafplion before sitting down to enjoy dinner with drinks this evening.

• Breakfast, Dinner
• Drinks package with dinner

This morning we set off through mountainous landscape for a picturesque drive to the town of Kalavryta. While its name means good waters in ancient Greek, the town is steeped in history - most notably it was the site of the 1821 Greek Revolution, which started within the walls of the Agia Lavra Monastery. Here we board the renowned Odontotos Rack Railway, which opened in 1896 - on a pretty route from Kalavryta to Diakopto. Our hour-long journey takes us around the scenic Vouraikos Gorge and ends at the Corinthian Gulf shore, in the village of Diakopto. On arrival, there's free time to lunch independently. You could enjoy a lunch of fresh fish and other local ingredient at a small tavern beside the harbour at Diakopto.

On our return journey by coach, we stop for a wine tasting at a winery. Our tasting experience begins with a short tour of the facilities, where we learn about wine production in the Nemea region, considered one of the finest Greek wines. We then sample three different wines, served with breadsticks and local cheese.

• Breakfast, Dinner
• Drinks package with dinner

Today is an opportunity to explore the attractive Venetian city of Nafplion. A coach transfer is provided on free days, or a taxi to the town takes just five minutes. Named by the Venetians as the 'Naples of the East', Nafplion has a charming old town with cobbled streets, neoclassical mansions and flower-filled squares. Although this was the first capital city of modern Greece (from 1827 to 1834) its history spans much further back - from the Ottomans, Venetians and Byzantines to the Bronze Age. The town is known for its three castles, including the Palamidi Fortress which stands over 200 metres above the town, and Akronafplia fortress on a small hill on the edge of the city.

You could wander the pretty streets, among whitewashed buildings, beneath canopies of vibrant bougainvillea, and enjoy lunch at a taverna in a shady square. At the seafront, Syntagma Square is a beautiful marble-paved area, overlooking the Bourtzi Castle, set on a small island.

• Breakfast, Dinner
• Drinks package with dinner

Today brings an excursion to Athens and its magnificent Acropolis - a highpoint of our holiday. After a coach trip to this buzzing metropolis, our tour begins with a steady uphill stroll along a paved walkway to the celebrated citadel. Reaching the beautiful World Heritage site after around 20 minutes, you can feel 2,500 years of history beneath your feet. We view the city's most symbolic monument at the heart of the Acropolis complex - the elegant Parthenon, dedicated to the goddess Athena - the smaller Temple of Athena, and less visited treasures. Following our guided tour, the modern Acropolis Museum adds to our experience by creating a picture of the site in ancient times. Here, you can peer through the museum's glass floor to see the astonishing historic Athenian city buried beneath.

With time at leisure you could wander the lively streets of the Plaka district or walk along the pedestrianised avenue beneath the Acropolis where restaurants buzz with conversation and music from street musicians or traditional Greek recordings. Returning by coach, we reach our hotel with time to relax before dinner with drinks this evening.

• Breakfast, Dinner
• Drinks package with dinner

Today's highlight is a trip to the World Heritage site of Epidaurus - the most popular health centre of ancient Greece, devoted to the healing gods. The site is renowned for its amazing theatre, a marvel of acoustic engineering, which is still used for performances.

Appropriately, following the theme of health - our next stop is for a tasting of olive oil, the golden product which has been treasured in Greece for centuries.

Returning to our hotel, there's time to relax at the outdoor pool or in the palm-filled gardens before dinner and drinks this evening.

• Breakfast, Dinner
• Drinks package with dinner

Another day at leisure provides the perfect counterpoint to our tour, which combines classical sites with a relaxing Greek holiday experience. If you're feeling inspired, you could discover more ancient history today on a trip to Sparta, known for its role in the Trojan War. To learn more about local history, you could view Mycenean artefacts at the Archaeological museum, and admire the Vouleftikon building, an Ottoman mosque that served as the first Greek Parliament.

If you haven't already walked up to the Palimidi Fortress, it is well worth the hike up to see this architectural masterpiece which has panoramic views of the city and the Argolic Gulf. Or make the most of the beautiful city of Nafplion.

In the old town and around Syntagma Square, Nafplion has a good choice of inviting cafés, international restaurants and traditional Greek tavernas for an independent lunch. You could also simply relax at the hotel, enjoy the views from your balcony and take a dip in the swimming pool.

This evening we enjoy the final dinner of our holiday at the hotel.

• Breakfast, Dinner
• Drinks package with dinner

Today, our coach transfers us back to Athens airport where we board our flight back to London Heathrow. On arrival this evening your leisurely tour of ancient Greece, based in the historic city of Napflion, reaches its conclusion and you are free to continue your journey home.

• Breakfast