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The Best of Greece See website for specific tour dates and prices http://davidmcguffin.com I arrived in Athens for the first time in 1977. I was a travel rookie, never having ventured more than 400 miles from my Florida home. I remember waking up that first morning in the Plaka neighborhood to the sounds of the street. All European cities have the same routine and associated sounds… if you are up early enough. Looking down from my balcony, I found shopkeepers washing the sidewalks with buckets of water and old scraggly brooms chatting with one another in a language foreign to me. Old men were sitting at the café down the street with their first cup of coffee of the day. Dogs were wearily wandering around trying to find a morsel left from last night’s dinner and kittens were running to and fro engaged in a skillful game of hide

and seek. I’ve always remembered that first morning in Europe and given the chance, try to allow it to “evolve” naturally wherever I visit. My Best of Greece tour attempts to capture many of those “rookie moment” I experienced all those years ago woven into an itinerary featuring my favorite destinations and experiences gleaned from thirty-five years of travel. You’ll get a solid introduction to the culture, history, art, and architecture made famous by the Greeks. Athens, the Parthenon, Ancient Agora, and Roman-era ruins are essential and we’ll dedicate the better part of two days exploring this capital city. Shaking off the big city, we will spend the remainder of our time visiting relaxing beaches, pristine islands, ancient windswept sites of worship, fishing villages, and laid back towns. My Best of Greece tour provides the perfect mix of sightseeing, education, and relaxation. This IS the way to experience Greece… Your Adventure Starts Here! TOUR ITINERARY DAY 1: Welcome to Athens — Join your group at 5:00 p.m. in the hotel lobby for introductions and a tour orientation. Enjoy an easy stroll through our neighborhood for an orientation to Athens and its rich and varied history. We will end our walk with a group dinner and plenty of time to get acquainted. Sleep 2 nights in Athens. Walking: moderate. No Bus. Dinner. DAY 2: The Acropolis – We will spend the morning with a local guide at the Acropolis learning about the importance of this old rock and its 2500 years of history. Later, your guide will take you through the new Acropolis Museum custom designed to showcase the Acropolis’ rich collection of art. You’ll have the remainder of the afternoon and evening to explore the Agora, Forum, and medieval streets of the Plaka on your own. Walking: strenuous. No Bus.

DAY 3: Greek Treasures and Old Oracles – Before leaving the city, we will visit the National Archeological Museum for a look at treasure troves of ancient art. Then we will leave the city behind and head north to the barren slopes of Mount Parnassus. Here we find Delphi, the 2500 year-old home of fortune-telling oracles, temples of worship, and Olympic-like stadiums and theatres. Enjoy dinner together and an overnight stay in peaceful Delphi. Walking: Streneuous. Bus: 4 hours. Dinner. DAY 4: Cruising to Skopelos Island – We’ll get an early start this morning with a scenic drive through the mountains to the Port of Agios Konstantinos. From here, we will leave our bus behind and board a ferry bound for Skopelos Island. Located in the northern Aegean, Skopelos is a delightful vacation island now famous for the filming site of the 2008 hit movie, Mama Mia! Arriving mid-afternoon in Skopelos Town you’ll enjoy a brief orientation tour and some free time to do a bit of exploring on your own. We will meet later tonight for a group dinner. Sleep 2 nights in Skopelos. Walking: light. Bus: 2.5 hours. Ferry: 4.5 hours. Dinner. DAY 5: Skopelos Island – There are no planned group activities today. Instead, you’ll have the day and evening to enjoy a relaxed vacation on the island. You may want to rent a car or scooter and tour the island, relax at a beach, do some shopping in town, or chill out around the hotel pool. Your guide is available to assist with planning and reservations. Walking: your choice. No Bus. DAY 6: Skopelos and Cruising – Enjoy a leisurely morning and afternoon in Skopelos town before boarding the ferry back to the mainland. We will cruise into Kamena Vourla, a beachfront resort town just around sunset. Enjoy a relaxing evening and dinner on your own. Sleep 1 night in Karmena Vourla. Walking: light. No Bus. Ferry: 4.5 hours. DAY 7: The Gulf of Corinth and Ancient Olympia – Leaving the northeast coast, we will cut diagonally across the mountains and along the scenic Gulf of Corinth. Crossing the Corinth Suspended Bridge at Rio, we arrive on the Peloponnese Peninsula and the heart of Greece. Once at Olympia, enjoy a visit to the temples, theaters, and sporting stadiums that have shaped our competitive athletic traditions. Sleep 1 night in Olympia. Walking: moderate. Bus: 6 hours. Dinner. DAY 8: An Amazing Temple and Kardamyli – Today we will traverse some of the most rugged mountains in Greece enroute to the Temple of Apollo Epicurious. Here you’ll find a perfectly preserved temple constructed around 450 B.C. located in the middle of nowhere. After a look around the temple, we will continue to the seaside village of Kardamyli. Sleep 2 nights in Kardamyli. Walking: moderate. Bus: 4 hours. Dinner. DAY 9: Kardamyli – Today poses another opportunity to enjoy a relaxing vacation. You may want to hike into the nearby hills for a look at ancient sites or relax in the crystal clear waters at a favorite beach. Walking: your choice. No bus. DAY 10: Mycenae and Nafplio – Venturing across the heart of the peninsula we will make our way east towards the Argolic Gulf. The Mycenaeans lived in this part of the world from 1600-1200 B.C., more than 1000 years before the Parthenon was built! We will take a walk through this ancient fortified city seeing the Lion’s Gate, “cyclopean” walls, and huge domed tombs. Then, onward to nearby Nafplio for an evening dinner. Sleep 2 nights in Nafplio. Walking: moderate. Bus: 3 hours. Dinner. DAY 11: Epidavros and Nafplio – We will drive to nearby Epidavros this morning for a look at Greece’s most well preserved theater seating 15,000 + spectators. Returning to Nafplio, you’ll have the remainder of the day to poke around town, hike to the hilltop fortress, or relax at a beach. Walking: moderate. Bus: 1.5 hours.

DAY 12: Hydra – Another scenic coastal drive will take us to the end of the peninsula and the boat to Hydra. After a short twenty-minute ride across the gulf we will step onto traffic-free Hydra. Enjoy the afternoon getting to know the little town. Tonight we will eat dinner together at a local tavern featuring fresh local products. Sleep 2 nights on Hydra. Walking: light. Bus: 2.5 hours. Dinner. DAY 13: Hydra – Enjoy the last day of your vacation! No group plans means you can shop in the village, sit at the harbor with a drink and “people-watch”, take a donkey ride, hire a boat, or bask in the sun at a nearby beach. Walking is up to you. No bus. DAY 14: Back to Athens – We will catch a ferry to Piraeus, the port of Athens, and catch our bus to the city center hotel. In Athens, enjoy the afternoon to finishing up your sightseeing and shopping in the Plaka. Later, we will meet for a grand farewell dinner to share our travel memories of Greece. Sleep 1 night in Athens. Bus: 1 hour. Dinner. DAY 15: Your tour ends after breakfast – Breakfast is included this morning at our hotel but there are no planned group activities. The Athens airport and cruise terminal are easily connected by taxi. We wish you safe travels to your next destination! Walking and Physical Activity: We have planned this trip to Greece to provide maximum tour experiences by foot, boat, and vehicle. The basic nature of Greece does require some degree of physical activity to get out and see the sights, especially in the countryside. To help you plan, we’ve included a daily projection of physical activity. Here is our “key” to walking activity ratings:

• Light – Walking done on level surfaces with some small hills and elevation gains. In most cases, the bus will drop-off and pick-up at nearby locations. Two miles or less of required walking during the day.

• Moderate – Walking done on paved and gravel surfaced paths. To enjoy the full tour experience, some up and down hill walking is to be expected. Four miles or less of walking per day.

• Strenuous – Walking done on rugged and rocky paths with some steps and stairs. Up to six miles of walking per day.

• Your Choice – No matter what your walking ability, we will help you find alternative ways to enjoy and experience all Greece has to offer. To get the most out of our tours you should be able to operate at the light level everyday with spurts of moderate and strenuous activity.

David McGuffin established David McGuffin's Exploring Europe, Inc. in 2001 to formally offer European tours. Since then, he has taken several thousand satisfied customers on memorable and educational tours to Europe. This Essence of Greece Tour is a product of David’s meticulous planning and time-tested travel strategies which ultimately produce a well-planned, fun, educational, and worry-free tour experience. WHAT’S INCLUDED

• Transportation by coach and/or mini bus from your first hotel in Athens to your final hotel in Athens. • 14 nights accommodation in well-appointed hotels. All rooms have private en-suite baths. • All tips and gratuities to guides, drivers, restaurant and hotel staff. • A guaranteed Small Group consisting of no more than 26 participants. • All breakfasts and eight of your dinners. • Traditional and gourmet dining experiences at some of David's personal favorite restaurants. Eating

well is a priority and you’ll enjoy fine regional fare featuring the best the locale has to offer. • All tours and admissions at no extra cost: Athens Plaka walking tour ▪ Acropolis tour ▪ Acropolis

Museum tour ▪ Ancient Agora entrance ▪ National Archeological Museum tour ▪ Delphi tour ▪ Skopelos orientation ▪ Ancient Olympia tour ▪ Temple of Apollo Epicurious entry ▪ Kardamyli orientation ▪ Myceanae tour ▪ Epidavros entry ▪ Nafplio orientation ▪ Hydra orientation ▪ wine tasting ▪ and more (itinerary specifics are subject to change).

• A fulltime Exploring Europe guide and local experts dedicated to bringing to life the art, history, and culture of the tour destinations.

• David’s printed tour handouts detailing each day’s historical and cultural experiences. • Free luggage tags and David’s custom designed drawstring backpacks. • Our Unconditional Tour Price Guarantee that once locked in, will never change. • Comprehensive Travel Insurance providing full coverage for emergency medical, baggage loss, and

trip delay from the moment you depart for your tour. • $50 Tour Alumni discount for each McGuffin tour you’ve taken prior to 2015 (only one discount per

year). • $100 discount if making all payments by check, cash or bank draft. The $400 initial deposit may be

made by credit card and still qualify for this discount. • Single rooms for solo travelers are available for an additional fee.

SPECIAL FEATURES Small Group: Only 26 or fewer passengers. 15 Day Tour: Visiting major tourist destinations and some of David’s choice villages. Island Vacations Days: 2 days on Skopelos and 2 days on Hydra. Gourmet Dining experiences that will leave a life-lasting impression on your tastebuds. Plenty of opportunities to slow down and experience Greece! Great Guides with a passion for teaching art, history, and culture experiences. Visit the major tourist sites and off-the-beaten-path destinations.