Greece May 2007

TOUR DATES: 07 May 2007 - 19 May 2007

GROUP NAME: University of Central Oklahoma
TOUR TITLE: Ancient Civilizations in Greece
TOUR AIRPORT: Oklahoma City
ITINERARY OUTLINE
DAY 1 DEPARTURE FROM OKLAHOMA CITY
DAY 2 ARRIVE ATHENS - DELPHI (1 NIGHT)
DAY 3 DELPHI - OLYMPIA (1 NIGHT)
DAY 4 OLYMPIA - TRIPOLIS - NAUPLIA (2 NIGHTS)
DAY 5 NAUPLIA, EPIDAURUS & MYCENAE
DAY 6 NAUPLIA - CORINTH - ELEUSIS - ATHENS - LATE FLIGHT TO CRETE (3 NIGHTS)
DAY 7 CRETE (KNOSSOS AND GORTIS)
DAY 8 CRETE - MATALAN BEACH & FREE TIME
DAY 9 CRETE - HYDROFOIL TO SANTORINI (2 NIGHTS)
DAY 10 SANTORINI
DAY 11 SANTORINI - AM FLIGHT TO ATHENS - CAPE SOUNION - ATHENS (2 NIGHTS)
DAY 12 ATHENS
DAY 13 DEPARTURE FROM ATHENS
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
(ADMISSION COSTS INCLUDED)
DELPHI: Sanctuary of Apollo, The Sacred Way, Temple of Apollo, Archaeological Museum
OLYMPIA: The Altia
TRIPOLIS
NAUPLIA
EPIDAURUS: Theatre
MYCENAE: Palace Complex
CORINTH: Acrocorinth
ELEUSIS: Ancient Eleusis (Greater & Lesser Propylaia, Telesterion, Anaktoron), Museum
CRETE: Palace of Knossos, Gortis, Archaelogical Museum, Matalan Beach
SANTORINI: Walking Tour of Thira Town, Akrotiri Excavations,
National Archeological Museum in Thira
CAPE SOUNION: Temple of Poseidon
ATHENS: National Archaeological Museum,The Plaka, Acropolis, The Propylea, Temple of
Athena Nike, The Parthenon, The Erectheion, Ancient Agora,
The Acropolis Museum

ANCIENT CIVILIZATIONS IN GREECE ,

07 May 2007:
DAY 1 DEPARTURE FROM NORTH AMERICA
Enjoy full meal service on your scheduled wide-bodied flight to Greece. The cradle of Western Civilization, Greece is a land where the glories of antiquity blend with a vibrant modern culture to form a fascinating mixture of the old and the new.

08 May 2007:
DAY 2 ARRIVE ATHENS - DELPHI (1 NIGHT)
You will be met at the airport by your tour manager/ guide, who will accompany you to Delphi, set on the southern slope of Mt. Parnassus which towers 2,457 meters over the Gulf of Corinth. The land forms a deep cavity, with a natural stone amphitheatre facing the sea and harboring at its base the Sanctuary of Apollo, for many centuries antiquity's largest center of pilgrimage.

Delphi, Sanctuary of Apollo

09 May 2007:
DAY 3 DELPHI - OLYMPIA (1 NIGHT)
We continue our visit to Delphi as we travel The Sacred Way, which winds up the hill to the Temple, flanked on either side by treasuries and monuments of many states commemorating great events. The large Doric Temple of Apollo dominates the entire landscape. Here, too, was the home of the Oracle Pythia who, seated on a tripod above a deep crevasse would deliver her prophecies as god's truth and advice. After exploring the sacred site we visit the treasures housed in the Archaeological Museum. We travel on to beautiful, green and placid Olympia, built on the banks of the River Alfios. Taking a walk through the ancient Altia, it is easy to make out the buildings as they once were: the Palaestra and Gymnasium, the Temple of Hera and the magnificent temple of Zeus which housed the gold and ivory statue of the god, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

Olympia

10 May 2007:
DAY 4 OLYMPIA - TRIPOLIS - NAUPLIA (2 NIGHTS)
Before leaving Olympia, there will be free time to browse for ancient Olympic souvenirs. We continue our journey as we drive through Megalopolis and Tripolis, across some spectacular mountain gorges before arriving at Nauplia, one of the loveliest towns in all Greece. The old city with its neoclassic houses, picturesque streets, wooden balconies with cascading flowers, Turkish fountains and fascinating mosques and outdoor cafes, is like a typical picture postcard.

Nauplia, town and castle

11 May 2007:
DAY 5 NAUPLIA, EPIDAURUS & MYCENAE
This morning we take the road to Epidaurus, which passes through vineyards and age-old olive groves with views of the mountains looming hazily in the distance. On a hillside lies the Theater of Epidaurus (3rd BC), the most famous and best preserved of all the ancient theaters in Greece. The theater could accommodate 14, 000 spectators and the acoustics are still a marvel of engineering. We will continue to Mycenae, once the capital of the civilization that Homer celebrated in his epic poems. We will pass through the famous Lion Gate and inside the walls of the acropolis where excavations have uncovered the Palace Complex, with six royal tombs, courtiers' houses, sanctuaries and other buildings.

Epidaurus

Mycenea, entrance to palace complex

12 May 2007:
DAY 6 NAUPLIA - CORINTH - ELEUSIS - ATHENS - LATE FLIGHT TO CRETE (3 NIGHTS)
We commence the day as we arrive in Corinth, which was one of the largest and most prosperous cities in ancient Greece and was later the site of an important Roman colony, we visit the ruins that are spread out at the foot of the huge rock fortress of Acrocorinth. It was first a Greek acropolis, then a Roman citadel and later a Byzantine Fortress. Taking the short journey to Athens, we visit Ancient Eleusis, which was a center for religious devotion that culminated in the Annual Eleusian Mysteries. Existing from the Mycenaean period, thousands of people from around the world would come to be initiated. Our visit to the ancient sight will be highlighted by: the remains of the Greater Propylaia, the Ploutonion, the sanctuary of Hades; the Lesser Propylaia; the Telesterion, a 5th century temple; and the Anaktoron, the holiest portion of the sight. We also visit the small Museum with artifacts from the ancient sight. Finally we arrive at the airport to take the evening flight to Crete.

Acrocorinth Ancient Eleusis

13 May 2007:
DAY 7 CRETE (KNOSSOS AND GORTIS)
This morning we will drive to Knossos to see the maze of corridors, passages, rooms and stairways that make up the Palace of Knossos. The palace, which was excavated and partially reconstructed by the British archaeologist, Sir Arthur Evans, was the first of the Minoan palaces to be discovered and proved to be the largest. Crete was described by Homer as “The island of the Gods.” The wild grandeur of the island landscape has not been spoiled by the numerous visitors and the inhabitants have retained their traditional qualities of pride, honesty and hospitality. Today we will visit the Archaeological Museum, where almost all the finds from the Minoan era are exhibited. Pottery, stone carvings, sealstones, statuettes, gold, metalwork, the marvelous frescoes from the Royal and Little palaces and villas of the wealthy and finally the unique painted limestone sarcophagus from Agia Trias.

Palace of Knossos

Museum Frecesoes Museum Pottery

14 May 2007:
DAY 8 CRETE - MATALAN BEACH & FREE TIME
This morning will take us to the extensive ruins of Gortis, a city that flourished particularly during the Roman era, Gortis was the capital of the Roman province of Crete and Cyrenaica. During our visit we will see St. Titus’ Basilica, thought to date from the 7th century and the Odeon where the famous inscription with the laws of Gortis was found.Today we spend time visiting the beach at Matalan and have free time to enjoy the local area.

Gortis Roman theater Gortis St. Titus church

15 May 2007:
DAY 9 CRETE - HYDROFOIL TO SANTORINI (2 NIGHTS)
Making an early departure, this morning we take the Hydrofoil (or Ferry if necessary due to weather conditions or sailing time) departing Heraklion and crossing to the Island of Santorini. The rest of the day will be free to settle in and explore your new location.

Santorini

16 May 2007:
DAY 10 SANTORINI
The island of Santorini is one of the most spectacular islands to be found in the Greek Cyclades. We will take a walking tour of the ancient town of Thira, viewing the Ancient Ruins, at Akrotiri. The Minoan City, including The Agora, the Temple of Apollo and the Terrace, has gradually been unearthed and many discoveries made of the civilization. Streets, squares with houses, all have been partially restored and its famous frescoes can be found in the National Archeological Museum in Thira.

Akrotiri Thira museum

17 May 2007:
DAY 11 SANTORINI - AM FLIGHT TO ATHENS - CAPE SOUNION - ATHENS (2 NIGHTS)
Taking a morning flight, arriving on the mainland, we will journey to Cape Sounion along the scenic Apollo Coast Road. Homer called the Cape “the sacred headland,” and we will visit the ruins of the Temple of Poseidon where 15 of the original 34 Doric columns still stand, an impressive sight silhouetted on the summit of the rocky peninsula. Following your tour, we return to Athens visiting the National Archaeological Museum, one of the world’s most important museums, which houses treasures collected from many small museums in and around Athens. After checking in to your hotel, we will enjoy the atmosphere of the Plaka District, where the narrow, winding streets are lined with interesting shops and tavernas.

Temple of Poseidon, Sunion
Athens Plaka District

18 May 2007:
DAY 12 ATHENS (BIRTHPLACE OF WESTERN CIVILIZATION)
Our morning commences with a visit to the Acropolis, which has dominated the skyline of Athens for over 2,000 years. A citadel was built on the rock in Mycenaean times, and was the first of a series of temples that honored Athena, the city’s divine patroness. In 480 BC the Persians captured the Acropolis, and the Athenian leader Pericles rebuilt the site according to his plan of unsurpassed beauty and grandeur. During our tour of the Acropolis, we will view: the Propylaia, the monumental entrance to the complex; the Temple of Athena Nike; the Parthenon, the temple to Athena which crowns the Acropolis; the Erectheion, dedicated to Poseidon and Athena; and the Theater of Herodes Atticus, originally built in AD 161. Our time on the Acropolis concludes with a visit to the Acropolis Museum, featuring a superb collection of treasures excavated from the area. Our day continues as we view Hadrian’s Arch, an enormous triumphal arch built by the Roman Emperor, which is still a symbolic entrance to Athens. The Temple of Olympian Zeus is the largest temple in Athens, and we will get a sense of its enormous size on our visit when we view the 15 columns that remain of the original 104. This evening we take a Walking Tour through the Monastiraki, the old area that takes its name from a sunken monastery. This section of Athens is highlighted by: the Fethiye Mosque, Tsistaraki Mosque, the Roman Agora, the remains of Hadrian’s Library and the unique Tower of the Winds.

Acropolis Monastiraki

Hadrian Arch & Temple of Zeus, 19 May 2007:

DAY 13 DEPARTURE FROM ATHENS
Your enjoyable and rewarding tour will come to an end as your tour manager/guide accompanies you to the airport for the return flight home.

$3180*
*Based or 40 participants

Subject to Final airfare confirmation

Your currency level is guaranteed up to 1 Euro = $1.25 and once final payment has been acknowledged, we guarantee there can be no price increase for any reason whatsoever.

What is Included:
* Round trip airfare with a major carrier on scheduled flights and guaranteed dates
* All airport taxes (currently $200.00 but subject to change prior to time of ticketing)
ð Accommodation in 3 Star and Superior 2 Star tourist class hotels with private facilities guaranteed
Throughout
ð there are no registration fees, optional excursions or adult supplements to be added. Rooming will be two to a room (with an occasional triple).
* Continental breakfast and dinners throughout your touring program
* A Casterbridge Tour Manager/Guide to accompany your group 24 hours a day from arrival to departure
* All excursions, cultural activities and (several pre-booked) admissions as per your itinerary
* Transportation by private coach for airport transfers and touring, except in the capital city, where public transport is used (and the cost included) for group sightseeing
* The expertise and perspective of 6 local guides during your tour
* Free places in twin rooms for group leaders (as per number of full paying participants stated above)
* All Taxes

This Does Not Include:
* Lunches or beverages with meals
* Visas (if required)
* Travel insurance - Each passenger must be covered by Health Insurance while on a Casterbridge tour. Casterbridge offers a comprehensive Travel Insurance Policy which includes full Health, Cancellation and Property coverage costing $65 for those 18 years or below on tours of 6-10 days ($95 for 11-18 days) and $90 for those aged 19-60 on tours of 6-10 days ($130 for tours of 11-18 days). Rates can also be provided for those over 60 years of age. Student Insurance available through International Student Identification Card.