43004GRE
This day replaces the Saronic Gulf Cruise in the winter and occasionally in the spring (check your teacher itinerary).
- Guide is with the group the entire day, pays entrances and conducts the visits. Give guide list of pax names and birthdates.
- All under 18s should have passports/copies with them.
- Remind group to wear sturdy shoes and be prepared with motion sickness medication for road in between Corinth and Epidavros.
- Check tipping guidelines in advance for the guide and driver tip: you always tip the guide and usually the driver. If you need clarification, call the TM Office.
- The guide will deal with scheduling.
Athens – Corinth – circa 80kms (1.5hrs)
Corinth – Epidavros – circa 60kms (1hr)
Epidavros – Mycenae – circa 40kms (1hr)
Mycenae – Athens – circa 150kms (2.5hrs)
07.30 Departure time from the Athens hotel. You will make a short (20 minute) stop at the Corinth Canal en route to Epidavros (canal is 1-1.5hrs from Athens depending on traffic-there are toilets and refreshments). Walk group onto pedestrian bridge to half-way point over canal for great photos (watch out for pickpockets).
19.00 Approximate arrival time back at Athens hotel. Dinner will be late enough to accommodate this.
Epidavros About 1 hour visit
- Visit of the theatre and free time for the small museum and/or photos.
- The guide will demonstrate the acoustics of the theatre. Get the group to spread out over the seating, even from the very top you can hear a match being struck. Silence is asked for those entering the theatre. Performance no longer permitted.
- Toilets marked in between coach park and ticket office (off pathway).
- Small canteen at coach park.
- Small site shop (close to canteen and bathrooms) is limited.
Mycenae About 90 minute visit
- The ticket is a 2-part ticket and valid for entry to the Tomb/Treasury of Atreus and the site itself; pax must hold on to the stub. The order of visits will be determined by the amount of traffic at the sites, though we usually start with the Tomb/Treasury of Atreus.
- Visit of the site and the Tomb of Atreus (Beehive Tomb) – no toilets.
- Visit of Mycenae site (Lion Gate, shaft graves and citadel). Guided part usually ends at the shaft graves right inside the Lion Gate. Free time to go up to the top of the citadel (and entry to underground cistern on back side). Path is concrete and easy to manage, but you need a good 30-45’.
- Toilets past the site entrance to the left down a small ramp; there is also an on-site museum (free entrance) below the toilets. If the group are visiting the National Archaeological Museum as part of the trip then the museum is not necessary as it only houses copies of what is there.
- Parking lot: a canteen (usually operating from late spring through to early fall), a mobile post office.
Lunch
- Included at a nearby restaurant, either before or after the visits of Mycenae.
Ceramics Workshop
- This is a 15 minute drive from the lunch stop. It is good fun as the students get very messy and are asked to make a figurine which invariably ends up looking like a phallus! There is a sizable ceramics and olive oil shop attached to the venue which is good for shopping. Commission to split three ways with guide and driver.
Ancient Corinth
- Photo stop from panoramic view point (time permitting)
- NB Make sure to confirm this stop with Evi and also with guide beforehand; it adds about 45 minutes to the day
Travelling on to Olympia
- With some itineraries, you will be travelling on to Olympia (after leaving lunch near Mycenae) to overnight before visiting the site the next morning. This is a 3hr drive, including a toilet stop. Dinner will be in the hotel in Olympia.