16-Day Greece, Heart of Italy and Sorrento Tour from Rome: Brindisi, Igoumenitsa, Kalambaka, Osios Loukas, Poros, Olympia, Patras, Naples | Ticket Admission Included |

Welcome to Rome! Upon arrival at the airport, we will be waiting for you to transfer you to your hotel. Free time.

19:00 hrs. - Meeting at the hotel reception. We will transfer you to the Esquiline area, one of the most typical areas of Rome, amidst the great basilicas and Roman archaeological sites. Back to the hotel.

Notes:

- Remember that the hotel check-in is usually at 2:00 p.m. If you require more hours of room availability, consider booking an additional night at the beginning of your trip

The schedules that you will find in this itinerary are indicative. The guide, depending on the situation or the season of the year and in order to improve the development of the trip, may adjust the schedules.

- All the following hotels are for your reference only, you may check-in other similar hotels.

08:30 hrs. - In the morning we include a city tour with a local guide of approximately two and a half hours. Our bus tour adapts to the rigid control system of tourist buses, established by the city council of the city, that circulate in Rome. In the sightseeing visit you will see ancient Rome, the so-called Imperial Rome with the Imperial Forums (entrance included), an impressive architectural complex made up of monumental buildings and squares, the center of political activity at that time. We will pass by the Arch of Constantine, Marcellus Theater, Capitol Hill, Circus Maximus, Church of St. Maria in Cosmedin with the mouth of truth, Republican Temples, Baths of Caracalla, Aurelian Wall, Basilica of Santa María Maggiore and San John Lateran , Church of Santa María in Domnica (Navicella), Cestia Pyramid, St. Paul Gate, Lungo Tevere avenue with the Babylonian-style Jewish Synagogue, Tiber Island, passage in front of the Castle of St. Angel. Our city tour will finish in St. Peter´s Square in the Vatican, where you will have free time to attend, if you wish, the mass in the Vatican.

Free time in the afternoon.

Free day. You can enjoy the charm of this city. Free time to explore and discover memorable places.

Scenery: we cross the Apennines to the coast of the Adriatic Sea. Beautiful landscapes on the coast.

Note: from May to mid-October, if the weather is good, passengers, who would like to, will be able to enjoy a swim at Termoli beach. If so, remember to bring bathing clothes and a towel with you.

08.00 hrs. - Rome. Departure. Today we travel towards the Adriatic Sea, the landscapes of the Apennine Mountain range are magnificent.

12.00 hrs- S. Giovanni in Venere Abbey. On a hill facing the Adriatic Sea and among landscapes of vineyards and olive trees, we stop at this beautiful Benedictine abbey from the eleventh century built on the ruins of an ancient Roman temple dedicated to Venus.

12.45hrs- Abbey S. Giovanni in Venere- Departure.

13.45 Termoli, arrival in the charming seaside town where the walled old town, its thirteenth-century castle and Romanesque cathedral stand out. Time for lunch and for a stroll. Do you fancy a swim in the sea?

15.30 hrs- Termoli, departure, we follow the Adriatic coastal road to the south.

17.30 hrs- Trani- Arrival at "the Pearl of the Adriatic" magnificent city that embraces the sea, famous for its pink Romanesque cathedral and its historic center with palaces that are a stand out.

18.30 hrs- Trani, departure.

19.30 hrs- Bari- arrival and free time to get to know this beautiful with its important port and promenade with a historic center of narrow streets surrounded by walls and its Norman castle, one of the symbols of Apulia.

20.30 hrs- Transfer to the hotel.

Scenery: Adriatic coast, plains, olive groves.

Note: Remember to bring some warm clothing, so you can enjoy the ferry deck during the beautiful journey.

After breakfast we have time to walk through the old town of Bari, a port city inhabited since before Roman times. Its narrow streets, its churches, its lively life make it a very special city.

10.00 hrs. - Bari, departure. We continue along the coast of the Adriatic Sea.

11.30 hrs. - Brindisi. Arrival and boarding on a modern ferry with which we will cross the Ionian Sea, passing from Italy to Greece. Scheduled departure at 13:00 hrs.

21:00 hrs. - Arrival in Igoumenitsa and transfer to the hotel.

Note: on some occasions, due to the limited accommodation options in this city, the hotel may be located in a nearby town.

Landscapes: High mountains in northern Greece. Fantastic landscapes in the Meteoras region.

Notes: We will visit Orthodox monasteries. Provide appropriate clothing (women will have to wear skirts that will be provided to them upon arrival at the monastery). Also plan comfortable shoes... You´ll have to climb a lot of steps!!

09.00 hrs- Igoumenitsa- After breakfast we travel through high mountains through Epirus

10.30 hrs- Metsovo. Arrival in this picturesque and touristic Balkan village between mountains. This area, isolated by the mountains from the rest of Greece, retains its distinct culture strongly influenced by the Slavic and Turkish. Time for a stroll through its streets with its traditional architecture of stone houses, red tile roofs and carved wooden balconies.

12.30 hrs- Metsovo, We continue to the region of Thessaly.

14.00 hrs- We stop in Kastraki, a picturesque village with beautiful views over the valley of the Meteoras. Free time for lunch. After lunch, we visit the Meteoras, an impressive place declared a World Heritage Site. The word "Metéora" comes from the Greek and means "suspended in the air" or "in the sky." The presence of monasteries on top of some of the immense rock formations is impressive. For centuries, monks and hermits sought tranquility and solitude in these isolated places. We´ll get to see the whole valley and include the entrance to one of the most famous monasteries. Arrival in Kalambaka. Dinner included.

Scenery: Pleasant Mediterranean. Very beautiful landscapes in the Delphi region.

Note: the order of the program of the day may vary, with the Osios Loukas Monastery taking place first and then Delphi.

08.00 hrs.- Kalambaka –departure-. We travel through Thessaly towards Central Greece. Spectacular landscapes over the sea, arriving in Delphi.

11.30 hrs.- Delphi –Arrival-. We include admission to the beautiful archaeological complex that overlooks the Gulf of Corinth, a place full of magic. Time for lunch.

14:30 hrs.- Delphi –departure-. We travel amidst mountains; Mount Parnassus dominates the landscape.

15:15 hrs.- Osios Loukas Monastery. Arrival at one of the most beautiful Byzantine monasteries in Greece, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its magnificent 11th century mosaics are incredible.

16.30 hrs.- Osios Loukas – departure.

19:15 hrs. – Athens –Arrival.

We will enjoy the city tour with a local guide which includes the Presidential Palace, the Panathinaikos stadium where the first modern Olympic games were held, the national library, the bustling squares of the center; the new neighborhoods that emerged after the 2004 Olympic games. The tour will finish at the Acropolis site (entry not included).

In the evening we include a transfer to the PLAKA area, which is full of small Greek bars and where you will be able to enjoy the rich folklore of this country.

Free day.

Scenery: Most of today's traveling will be by boat. Welcome to the Aegean.

Note: Please, bring some warm clothes with you if you want to enjoy the ride on the ferry's deck.

Note: the bus will not travel with us on the ferry (we will reencounter it at our arrival at Galatas). Please, do not forget to carry your documents with you, as well as everything you may need during the day.

Note: Although the departure of the scheduled ferries that are taken during this day is usually as planned, the definitive information on the schedules of these is only confirmed by the ferry company less than a week in advance. In case of variation, the program of this stage, schedules and services must be adapted to the existing ferries. Sometimes, it is even possible to change one of the planned islands for another with very similar characteristics.

Our journey is very special today. Greece has almost 6.000 islands, of which more than 100 are inhabited. Several ships connect the islands with the continent.

07:00 hrs. - Athens. We leave early in the morning to take the ferry, whose expected departure time is at 8:00 h from the Port of Piraeus and which will take us to one of the Saronic islands.

08:40 hrs. - Aegyna. We will arrive in less than an hour to this island which has been inhabited for more than 4.000 years, being one of the first maritime cities of ancient Greece and a notable rival to Athens. You will be able to walk around its picturesque port, its typical quarters of little houses and old churches, or go to the Temple of Apollo.

10:15 hrs. - Aegyna, departure. We board another ferry to sail to a second island.

11:30 hrs. - Arrival at the mountainous island of Poros. Free time in this charming place, full of life; its old houses climb to the clock tower. Free time for walking around and lunch.

14:30 hrs. - Poros, departure. After lunch time, we will make a 15-minutes way to Galatas, a small harbor in the Peloponnese. We then continue by road across beautiful landscapes of hills.

15:15 hrs. - Epidaurus; free time to discover its old theater (admission included), which was built 2.400 years ago and has been perfectly preserved. It still holds performances nowadays and has capacity for 14.000 people.

16:45 hrs. - Epidaurus, departure.

17:30 hrs. - Nauplia. Arrival at this charming coastal city dominated by the citadel and the Venetian fortress. Free time to walk around. Dinner included.

Note: the schedules of the ferries are subject to change. During the low season, the ferries between Aegyna and Poros may not operate. In this case, Aegyna island will be replaced by the island of Hydra.

Scenery: Strong presence of the sea and the Mediterranean landscapes. Mountains and hills in the hinterland of the Peloponnese.

Note: We recommend that you use sunscreen and take a small bottle of water during the hottest months of the summer.

08.30h- Nafplio, departure. We travel through the mountains across the Peloponnese hinterland.

09.45h- Tripoli. Stop in the lively capital of the Arcadia region. There will be free time to walk around the Areos Square, its cafes and restaurants.

10.45h- Tripoli, departure.

12.45h- Olympia. Free time for lunch and exploring the archeological site (admission and visit with a local guide included). This is the place where the first Olympic Games were held in the year 776 BC. Athletes from all over Greece and its colonies participated. The Temple of Zeus, the stadium, the gymnasium, and the arena are outstanding landmarks. There will be free time during the visit; if you wish, you will be able to visit the museum on your own.

16.00h.- Olympia –departure-. Mountainous landscapes, some picturesque villages in our way.

18.00h- Patras. Arrival at the third city of Greece in terms of population. It is a port city with an active city life, a medieval fortress which overlooks the city, and the biggest cathedral in Greece. Both the cathedral and the small Saint Andrew’s church are pilgrimage destinations. Dinner included.

Scenery: way across Central Greece. Ferry across the Ionian Sea.

Note: Please, consider taking some warm clothes with you to enjoy the crossing on the ferry's deck.

Indications: Please, do not forget your passport; you will need it when crossing the border.

It is an hour earlier in Italy: when it is 12:00h in Greece, it is 11:00h in Italy.

Note: on the way from Greece to Italy, the bus will not travel in the ferry; therefore, you will have to carry your luggage with you.

08.00h- Patras. After breakfast, we will cross over the Rio-Antirrio bridge, a spectacular cable-stayed bridge which connects the Peloponnese with the Greek continent. We travel across Central Greece and Epyrus.

11.45h- Igoumenitsa, arrival at this port city; free time for a walk.

13.30h- Transfer to the port to get on the ferry (departure time expected at 14:00h) on which we will cross the Ionian Sea to Italy. We recommend enjoying the crossing on the deck.

21.00h (local time, one hour earlier than Greece)- Brindisi- Arrival, transfer and lodging.

Scenery: today we will visit two spectacular and authentic towns.

Note: wear comfortable shoes, especially for Matera.

09.00 hrs. - Brindisi, departure.

10.15 hrs. – Alberobello - Time to discover this charming town famous for its unique conical-shaped houses known as "trulli". These unique structures, with their stacked stone roofs, are a World Heritage Site and are considered an outstanding example of Italian rural architecture.

11.15 hrs. - Alberobello, departure. We continue to the Basilicata region.

13:00 hrs. – Matera – We will make a stop to see this spectacular city known for its ancient historic center with its "Sassi di Matera", a complex of ancient houses and buildings carved into the rock that date back thousands of years. This town is a World Heritage Site and is one of the oldest continuously inhabited human settlements in the world. Time for a walk and lunch.

15:30 hrs. - Departure. We continue through Basilicata and Campania, admiring their beautiful mountain landscapes.

19:00 hrs. - Naples, arrival in the evening. We recommend you having a walk through this impressive city.

Scenery: Very beautiful landscapes in the Bay of Naples and Sorrento.

Notes: Part of this trip is by boat, we recommend that you bring some warm clothes during this day. Do not forget to bring your camera as the landscapes today are very beautiful. Due to weather conditions, in some cases the ships that connect Naples with Capri or Capri with Sorrento do not operate; in these cases the route would be modified arriving at Sorrento by highway and visiting Amalfi instead of Capri.

A time to stroll in Naples before taking our ferry (departure scheduled at 09:30 hrs). The boat trip to the Isle of Capri lasts about 50 minutes, with beautiful scenery.

10.40 hrs. CAPRI.- Free time for lunch on the island. Optionally you can take a boat to visit the White Grotto and cliffs or take the funicular to go up to Capri.

15.15 hrs- We take a ferry (schedules variable), this time, towards Sorrento; Beautiful scenery while arriving to Sorrento.

16.00 hrs - SORRENTO - We are in a small very picturesque and lively town, with the port located in the lower area, and the town at the base of a cliff.

18.00hrs-. Sorrento, departure.

19.45 hrs. - SALERNO. Accommodation. Would you like to take a stroll through this active southern italian city?

Note: During the winter months the schedules will be modified (leaving earlier from Naples) in order to take advantage of the sunlight.

Scenery: Pleasant landscapes.

Note: We recommend comfortable shoes for walking around Pompeii.

08:00 hrs. Salerno, departure

08:45 hrs. - Pompeii -arrival.- The Roman city that two thousand years ago was covered by the ashes of the Vesuvius volcano. Entrance an visit inside with local guide to know the history of this place included.

11:30 hrs. - Pompeii - departure.

12:00 hrs. - Naples. Arrival in one of the most fascinating cities in Italy and one of the oldest and most continuously inhabited in Europe. The old town of Naples is one of the largest in Europe and has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Time to have lunch and walk through its narrow streets full of life and clothes hanging out to dry.

14:30 hrs. - Naples - departure.

16:00 hrs. - Cassino. - Arrival. In this place the largest battle in Italian lands of the Second World War took place. We will visit the immense abbey, with its magnificent views.

17:30 hrs. - Cassino - departure.

20:15 hrs. - Rome - arrival.

After breakfast, end of our services.

Note: Remember that hotels check-out time is usually at 10.00 hrs. In most cases, you can leave your luggage at the hotel reception at check-out time, so you can enjoy the city and pick it up at the time you require that same day. If you need more time to use your room, please consider booking an additional night at the end of your tour.