Athens to Delphi and Thermopylae

Athens to Delphi and Thermopylae battleground Tour

Duration

10 - 11 hours

Availability

Daily

Group Type

Private & Small Groups

PRICE

Sedan car: 520€ (up to 4 pax) Minivan: 550€ (up to 8 pax)
SUV Car: Ask for price (up to 4 pax)

In Brief

Take a day trip to visit the battleground of one of the most important battles ever recorded in the Greek and International military history, where a handful of brave and heroic free men, determined to make a stand against the huge Persian army, fell to the last defending their homeland and the ideal of freedom thus becoming a bright example of selflessness, sacrifice and obedience to both Law and Duty.

Then hit the road to Delphi. Life here is attested from the 9th c. B.C. The impressive landscape that surrounds Apollo’s shrine, combined with the imposing ruins will leave you utterly impressed! undoubtedly make you realize why the Ancient Greeks chose that location to erect Apollo’s sanctuary and created a mystic aura around Pythia and the Delphic oracle.

The evocative sceneries, the remote wilderness and the divine spirit of the Delphian landscape attest that Delphi deserves to be on your bucket list. The genuine colors and the perfect harmony of culture and nature, lift in the fantasy world of the Olympian Gods.

From the verdant slopes of Mountain Parnassus to Apollo’s shrine and the oracle, Delphi will go beyond the expectations of your imagination. Prepare yourself to unravel the mysteries of one of the most secret and occult sanctuaries of the Ancient Greek World. Enjoy a private guided tour around the archaeological site of Delphi and the Original location of the battle of Thermopylae.

Our services offer a flexible schedule, so you can do what you enjoy the most during your trip: indulge to the tastefull suggestions of the Greek kitchen, or even having a stroll to the traditional stone-built village of Arahova! It’s up to you to decide!

Know before you go: Tours with a licensed expert guide

As we want to offer the best service to our guests, we have carefully

selected expert licensed guides to ensure the best experience possible.

Our team consists of a group of young professionals of high-expertise

in the fields of Archaeology, History, History of Arts or graduates

of the official 'Greek State School of Tour Guides'.

Hence, they are well-trained to share their knowledge with the public

in an interesting and fun way. Their academic background works as a

springboard, immersing you into the wealth of Greek culture and holding

your undivided attention for the whole duration of the tour. Despite the

aforementioned assets though, it is their enthusiastic character and

passion about their field of study that unquestionably guarantees you a

memorable tour experience.

Highlights of this Tour:

Enjoy a full-day trip to Delphiwith a fun licensed tour guide by your side. Ideal for spiritual travelers!
Thermopylae's Innovative Centre of Historical Information
Leonidas Bronze Statue
Feel the energy that the place exudes and be awed by the mystical archaeological site of Delphia UNESCO's World Heritage Site.
the Athens Treasury
theDoric temple of Apollo
the Hippodrome
The Delphi Archaeological Museum (the Charioteer is a MUST- see!)
the picturesque village of Arahova

Our Route:

This trip will set off from Athens and passing through the basin of Boeotia we will take you to the actual battleground of Thermopylae where Leonidas and the 300 confronted the mighty Persian army.

Continuing our route, after a while we will arrive at the Archaeological site of Delphi, which spreads along the slope of Parnassus Mount. The Delphic landscape is of an extraordinary natural beauty. The imposing mountain massifs, rising like castles observe the silver-colored olive groves of Amfissa. Just a glimpse away, over the olive groves, the blue hues of the Corinthian Gulf will stimulate your sensations. In Delphi, Greek Mythology comes alive. You might even feel overwhelmed by hearing the echoing whispers of Pythias’s prophesy. Let yourselves enter mystical and divine ambience of the navel of the earth.

After visiting the museum you can have lunch either in the quaint and traditional village of Arahova, or in the town of Delphi, tasting local dishes of the Greek kitchen. After resting for a while we will commence our trip back to the city of Athens.

Visit the Thermopylae's Innovative Centre of Historical Information which consists of three halls, the applications of which have been curated by the Foundation of the Hellenic World.

In the second hall, which is named 'Dienekis', the visitor wears special glasses to watch a virtual- reality 15-minute-film, with historical facts about the Battle, the Greek armory, the ascendance of the Anopecia Way and the end of the Battle. In that specific scene the viewer feels as if he is present and watches Efialtes, the traitor, leading the Persians in the night through the Anopaia Way to the West Gate and to Kolonos Hill. In the third hall, named 'Thermopylae', the visitor can use touch screen interactive tables to retrieve general historic information and facts about the Battle and the causes of the Persian Wars, watch the Naval Battle of Artemision, learn about the leading Generals and the 300 Spartan Warriors, their weapons and armor and the strategic moves of the two opposing armies.

Let’s get Practical:

Prices include

Transport by A/C, smoke-free luxury vehicle to/from the sites.
An English-speaking driver
Hotel /apartment pickup and drop-off (only for downtown Athens).

Car fuel
Tolls
Car parking

All legal taxes.

Not included

Gratuities (optional)
Meals and drinks
Licensed expert guide (can be arranged)
Hotel/apartment pick-up / drop off, around Athens area city center (can be arranged)
Tickets for the archaeological sites and Museums
Anything not mentioned above

Duration

10-11 hours

Activity Level

Moderate-Hard

Group type

Private or Small related member Groups

Notes

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Children must be accompanied by an adult
Infant seats available on request
Wheelchair accessible (only for the Acropolis)
Most travelers can participate

Post Covid 19 Policy:

Vehicles will be sanitized before every pick up. Hand sanitizing done before departure and after every major stop. There can be maximum 6 clients in an 8 seater minivan to secure social distance among participants (for shared small group tours only). Face masks available for clients. Guides will wear facemasks. Fresh trash bag will be place in every vehicle and waste will be destroyed at the end of the tours.

The above Covid-19 Protocols are subject to change according to the Greek State guidelines and the course of the pandemic.

Cancellation policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 48 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

Departure details

Traveler pickup is offered.

Pick up and drop off is included from all centrally located Athens hotels and apartments. Just inform us during the booking of the hotel you are staying at, or apartment address. If the hotel /apartment is not accessible (e.g narrowness, pedestrian area) we will appoint a nearby meeting point for picking you up. You will receive an email or text msg from us with the exact pick up time the day before the start of the tour.

Return details

Returns to original departure point

Languages

English

FAQs:

What is the spoken language?

The spoken language is English. More languages are available upon request subjected to availability.

What should I bring with me?

Since your visit includes a fair bit of walking, it is recommended that you

Wear light hiking shoes or comfortable, rubber sole shoes
During the summer months, bring along with you a hat, sun glasses, sunscreen and wear light-colored clothing
Waterproof jacket/membrane (for the rainy days)
Your own personal water bottle. As part of our environmental policy and actions, we are committed to eliminating the use of plastic water bottles.
Prepare yourself for an exciting experience & bring along your camera so you can capture the best moments of the activity and the impressive landscapes of Fokis prefecture.

Can you pick us up from our hotel?

We offer a pick-up, free of charge, for hotels or apartments that are located in downtown Athens.

For hotels or apartments outside Athens center we offer pick-ups at additional cost with a 10% discount.

Please send us an inquiry!

Is it difficult for older people to follow the group?

Not at all! The tour is private and totally customized to your needs. Should you chose so, you will be assigned an excellent, flexible guide and the walk will follow a moderate pace, in order to be a pleasant experience for everyone. We will also make several stops to admire and discuss the fascinating monuments and sites along our way. However if someone faces health or mobility issues that prevents him/her to visit Delphi archaeological site, he/she can always spend time visiting the extraordinary museum of Delphi located at the same area with the site and regroup with the rest later on.

Is it child friendly?

Very much so! The 3D 15-minute-film presenting the battle, plus the use of touch screen interactive tables to retrieve general, fascinating historic info and facts about the Battle itself will make this tour an unforgettable experience for your little ones!

What are the acceptable payment methods?

Via Athens Quality Tours and Transfers accepts the following payment methods:

Bank to Bank Wire / Transfer to a bank account
Payment via PayPal

for all services booked through the website of viaathenstours.gr. Please read in our Terms of Service, under the Modes of Payment section for detail information.

What happens in case of bad weather?

Fortunately, the weather in Greece is mild and warm during the most time of the year. In case of rain, though, you will be timely notified about any changes in your scheduled walk.

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