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Nick [email protected]
08 93364135 (from within Australia)+61 893364135 (outside Australia)
ULTIMATE GREECE 2015
With Nick Melidonis and Eva Cass
ULTIMATE GREECE 2015Nick Melidonis Spirit of Place
A Celebration of Eye, Mind and Spirit2
“Everything here speaks now as it did centuries ago, of illumination. Here the light penetrates directly to the soul, opens the door and windows of the heart, makes one naked, exposed, isolated in a metaphysical bliss which makes everything so clear without being known”~Henry Miller, The Colossus of Maroussi
OVERVIEW
Myth laden Greece has fascinated travellers for thousands of years. Come and experience soaring spires capped with imposing monasteries in Meteora; striking temples and the site of the oracle in sacred Delphi
and the perfection of the Parthenon in Athens. Across a sea of deepest blue, the Greek Islands are strewn like jewels as they capture the essence of light and space. Mythology and history has shaped this ancient land lapped by the Aegean Sea where the legendary Odysseus once sailed.
Our journey commences in classical Athens in the Kingdom of Theseus, from where we travel to Delphi, with its evocative ruins surrounded by breathtaking mountain scenery, surely the most beautiful ancient site in Greece. From Delphi; the Oracle and Temple of Apollo we journey north through the mighty chasms of the Eastern Pindus as they plummet abruptly onto the Thessalian plain. Here we will marvel at the massive grey coloured pinnacles with the monasteries of Meteora perched on top. We return to Athens along a stunning coastline with a visit to historic Thermopylae where Leonidas and the 300 Spartans fought the Persians in 480 BC.
Our journey continues to the best of the Cyclades Islands scattered over a dark blue Aegean Sea. Tinos is the ‘Lourdes’ of Greece with the imposing Church of Our Lady; one of Greece’s most holy sites. The Island is a beautiful, relaxing introduction to the famed Cyclades Group. Continuing with the legend of Theseus, we explore Naxos which is where he lost Ariadne to Dionysus, the God of wine. A highlight here is an evening of cultural dancing; music and wine tasting in a Venetian castle as guests of the owner, a direct descendant of the 12th century Duke of Naxos. We visit cosmopolitan Mykonos with its stunning harbour and windmills and the nearby sacred island of Delos, birthplace of Apollo.
Surely the icon in the Cyclades is the unique and spectacular volcanic island of Santorini, a photographer’s paradise. As our journey nears its end, we sail towards Piraeus, passing Cape Sounion. This is where King Aegeas fell into the sea thinking that his son Theseus was dead, thus giving his name to one of the most beautiful seas in the world, the Aegean Sea.
ULTIMATE GREECE 2015Nick Melidonis Spirit of Place
A Celebration of Eye, Mind and Spirit3
About Your Tour LeaderNick Melidonis, Master Photographer and three times winner of the Australian Landscape Photographer of the Year and Eva Cass, lover of Cuisine and Dance, will take you on a personal, visual journey sharing his passion of his homeland Greece and in creatively seeing the landscapes and people from these exciting destinations with a taste of the rich culture and cuisine of Greece.
Dates and Cost• An 18 day/17 night photographic and cultural tour.• Commences Athens Monday May 11th - Thursday May
28th, 2015.• Land content per person twin share AU$7,250. Unshared
Accommodation Surcharge $990 • A deposit of AU$750 is required to secure your place.• Payment of the balance is required seventy five days prior
to the Commencement of the tour.
EARLY BIRD OFFER, book before Jan 25th 2015 and receive $500 off twin share price.LOYALTY DISCOUNT, if you have been on any of Nick’s tours in the past, you will receive a further discount of $250 off the early bird price.
What’s Included• All accommodation, breakfasts and farewell dinner.• Ferries, coach transport and day tours as per itinerary.• Pre-tour travel advice and a comprehensive tour pack
on Greece.• Greek speaking tour guides and presenter.• Entry fees to monuments, museums and activities
as per itinerary.• Photography and other workshops on tour.
What’s Not Included?• Travel to and from Greece. Our Travel Agent can assist
you with booking suitable flights.• Any tours/activities/admissions not specifically included
in the itinerary• Travel Insurance, which is a requirement for this tour.
Our Travel Agent can arrange a suitable policy for you.• Dinners and lunches other than those mentioned in
the itinerary.• Personal expenses such as tips, drinks, laundry etc.
Cancellation Policy• Our Cancellation Policy is detailed on the tour booking
form available from our Travel Agent.
Need to Know• This tour starts and concludes in Athens.• Itinerary may be subject to change due to weather, ferry
timetable changes and other factors. A significant change in exchange rates or other cost factors may necessitate a variation in price.
• A current Travel Insurance Policy is a requirement for this tour
• We require a minimum of five participants to run this tour.
Bookings and InformationFor bookings and enquiries please contact the sole booking agent:
Our World Travel East Perth (License Number 9TA00049)
Nick Missikos (Owner/Manager) Shop 1/113 Royal Street East Perth
Ph: 08 9221 9977 Fax: 08 9221 5577 (outside Australia +61 89221 9977)
Email: [email protected]
ULTIMATE GREECE 2015Nick Melidonis Spirit of Place
A Celebration of Eye, Mind and Spirit4
Day 1: Athens, Mon May 11th 2015Arrive in Athens and meet your fellow passengers at the Titania Hotel. Later this afternoon (about 5.00 pm), we will meet in the lobby and walk to Syntagma Square to see the changing of the guard after passing some of the classical, historic buildings of Athens. Following this, we stroll to Monasteraki area where you may wish to dine in a traditional restaurant next to the ancient Agora or market place near the foot of the Acropolis. Overnight - Athens
Day 2: Athens, Tue May 12th In the morning we will visit the stunning Acropolis with the imposing Parthenon on top with our own guide. We then visit the ancient Agora, one of the most important sites for ancient Greek society. It was the centre of political, social, religious and commercial activities and was situated at the foot of the Acropolis. In Greek, the word agora means a gathering place, or market-place. Not only did the ancient Agora at Athens serve as a gathering place where people traded goods, it was also used as a site in which people exchanged news, gossip, discussed the latest political matters, and even criticized the government. This was also the place where prominent Greek philosophers such as Socrates, Aristotle and Plato exchanged thoughts and ideas. You may wish to join us this evening at dinner in a traditional taverna.
Overnight - Athens
Day 3: Athens – Delphi, Wed May 13th We start our day with a visit to the breathtaking New Acropolis Museum. After taking a scenic drive through Levadia with our private coach from Athens, we lunch at the beautiful, traditional mountain village of Arachova and arrive in Delphi around noon. Delphi was considered the centre of the universe by the ancient Greeks and played a central role in the classical Greek world. This is the site of the Oracle of Apollo, where the priestess Pythia foretold the future. We’ll tour the archaeological site and its museum of treasures, including the unique bronze Charioteer; proceed along the Sacred Way to the Athenian Treasury, visiting the famous Temple of Apollo and the Castalian Spring.
Overnight - Delphi
Day 4: Delphi - Meteora, Thu May 14th From classical Delphi, we journey to the mystical Greek Orthodox Monasteries of Meteora. En route we travel through the scenic Plain of Thessaly to Kalambaka through the central towns of Amphissa, Lamia and Trikala and arrive in Kalambaka where we settle into our hotel. Nick will offer a photographic workshop in the afternoon in the hotel. An option is to see some of the old caves with remnants of monasteries and ladders. This evening, we catch a sunset over the monasteries seemingly hanging on top of spires of conglomerate rock. For centuries these towers of sandstone provided inaccessible retreats for the monks.
Overnight - Kalambaka
ULTIMATE GREECE 2015 ITINERARY
ULTIMATE GREECE 2015Nick Melidonis Spirit of Place
A Celebration of Eye, Mind and Spirit5
Day 5: Meteora, Fri May 15th This morning we’ll capture a sunrise over the impressive cliff-top monasteries with photographic guidance, returning to our hotel for a late breakfast. We spend a relaxing day visiting and photographing the iconic monasteries and the spectacular natural rock formations. Meteora in Greek means “suspended in the air” and this is considered to be one of the most beautiful areas of mainland Greece. It will be an unforgettable day.
Overnight – Kalambaka
Day 6: Athens - Piraeus, Sat May 16th We say farewell to mystical Meteora and travel by coach through interesting countryside towards the bustling port of Piraeus. On the way we have a brief stop at historical Thermopylae where Leonidas and the 300 Spartans fought the Persians in 480 BC and we have lunch at scenic seaside village. We spend the night in the old, historic port of Piraeus, the setting for the iconic Greek song, ‘Never on Sunday”
Overnight - Piraeus
Day 7: Piraeus to Tinos, Sun May 17th This morning we transfer early to the port and board our large ferry for the island of Tinos, also known as the ‘Lourdes” of Greece. We are invited to participate in an unforgettable lunch by the water’s edge on arrival. In the afternoon we will visit the Church of our Lady, the famous pilgrimage site. Capture the waterfront sights of the harbour with an introduction to the old town and the history of Tinos.
Overnight – Tinos
Day 8: Tinos, Mon May 18th Today we explore the island with our own bus, visiting the unique Valley of the Dovecotes and the picturesque villages of Volax (basket weavers) and Pyrgos, known for its School of Sculpture. A special stopover will be made for lunch at the pristine fishing village of Panormos, one of the Cyclades most beautiful ports. There are lots of photo opportunities that will present themselves with tuition and guidance.
Overnight – Tinos
Day 9: Tinos, Tues May 19th Join in another photographic workshop this morning to maximise your photo opportunities on this adventure. Demonstrations and theory (beginners to advanced) will be followed by a practical, relaxed session in the port. As always, these sessions are voluntary and will be tailored to the group’s requirements. Afternoon at leisure. Enjoy a visit to the nearby Cultural museum (included) and relax in the village atmosphere of this iconic island. This evening, you may wish to catch a sunset over the harbour and then on to a taverna with Nick to enjoy some of the islands culinary delights.
Overnight – Tinos
ULTIMATE GREECE 2015Nick Melidonis Spirit of Place
A Celebration of Eye, Mind and Spirit6
Day 10: Tinos to Naxos, Wed May 20th We enjoy a leisurely ferry ride to the largest and greenest island of the Cyclades, Naxos, entering the port guarded by the ancient Apollo’s Gate. We transfer to our resort hotel near St Georges Beach. The Naxos port area boasts one of the finest old Venetian Castro quarters next to the historic Bourg market area. This labyrinth of ancient buildings with classic tavernas and specialty shops will delight all who visit. In the afternoon we explore the exciting old port and castle. This evening we enjoy a relaxing program of traditional music and dancing with drinks at the castle in Naxos as a guest of its owner, a direct descendent of the Duke of Naxos (the day we do this may vary depending on the music itinerary of the castle). Overnight – Naxos
Day 11: Naxos, Thurs May 21st Subject to availability, this morning we board the ferry for our day tour of the trendy and magical island of Mykonos with its brightly painted balconies, geraniums and bougainvillea, Mykonos creates several photo opportunities. The ‘Little Venice’ area, the famous windmills and the historic church of Panagia Paraportiani, are featured on many postcards of Mykonos. This tour includes a visit to the sacred island of Delos, the mythical birthplace of Apollo to explore the ancient archeological sites. Delos is one big open-air museum, with many of the ancient monuments and buildings remarkably intact. If you are interested in archaeology and/or Greek mythology, this will be an unforgettable day.
Overnight – Naxos
Day 12: Naxos, Fri May 22nd Today we take our own bus tour of the impressive hilltop villages and ports of Naxos, including Chalki, with its Venetian towers, and we stop at the old family owned Kitron liqueur factory, alternatively, we will visit the hill town of Filoti. Our next stop, the impressive village of Apiranthos is made almost entirely of stone and marble from the nearby quarries. The road then winds through spectacular mountains to the attractive port of Apollonos for lunch. Photo tuition and guidance as well as cultural highlights of the island will be offered. Stops will be made on the way to capture images of the amazing mountain scenery.
Overnight – Naxos
Day 13: Naxos, Sat May 23rd A day at leisure to explore this exciting island or to relax at the pool or the seaside near our hotel. Naxos has many beautiful villages and spectacular mountain scenery and as it is the biggest island in the Cyclades Group. An option today is to hire a small vehicle to explore and photograph on your own re-visiting some of the villages from our bus tour. The island also has a good bus service which visits the many villages and ports
Overnight –Naxos
Day 14: Naxos to Santorini, Sun May 24th We board the ferry for the most stunning island of the Cyclades, Santorini, and the legendary site of Atlantis. We are transferred to our resort hotel and explore the chic galleries, shops and charming Santorini architecture set on numerous levels on the caldera’s edge. After a stroll to experience the million dollar views on the caldera’s edge, we catch a Santorini sunset. Dinner at leisure.
Overnight – Santorini
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Day 15: Santorini , Mon May 25th A highlight of our Santorini visit is a leisurely walk with stunning photo opportunities along the dramatic Caldera’s edge. View the unique architecture on the way to the capital, Thira, with its bustling shopping squares. Along the way Nick will provide a history of the island and guidance in capturing the unique seascapes for that perfect shot. A visit to the pristine village of Oia; Santorin’s most photogenic icon; will be arranged this afternoon and evening to catch a sunset and enjoy dinner before being transported back to our hotel.
Overnight – Santorini
Day 16: Santorini, Tues May 26th A day at leisure to relax, explore and enjoy this stunning island. Optional activities can include a visit to the nearby volcano by boat, a return visit to Oia or a tour to the excavations of the ancient Minoan City of Akrotiri, devastated by the cataclysmic eruption over 2000 years ago. This evening we will enjoy our farewell dinner in the Islands.
Overnight – Santorini
Day 17: Santorini to Athens, Wed May27th Day at leisure. We board our ferry for a relaxing trip back to Athens. On arrival at Piraeus, we transfer to our hotel in Athens.
Overnight – Athens
Day 18: Depart Athens, Thurs May 28th The tour concludes after breakfast. Some participants will connect with flights back to Australia while others will continue with alternative travel plans.
For participants booked on the add-on tour ‘HIGHLIGHTS OF THE PELOPONNESE’ , we depart today for the magical town of Nafplio, Greece’s old capital.
Tour itinerary, ferry schedules and activities may change due to weather and local conditions.
Nick Melidonis Spirit of Place
A Celebration of Eye, Mind and SpiritULTIMATE GREECE 2015JEWELS OF THE PELOPONNESE add-on tour
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Dates and Cost• A 5 days/4 nights photographic and cultural tour.• Commences Athens Thurs May 28th – Mon June 1st, 2015.• Land content per person twin share AUD$1,390 • Unshared accommodation AUD$150 • A deposit of AU$250 is required to secure your place.• If booked with early bird offer (by Jan 25th 2015),
$200 discount
JEWELS OF THE PELOPONNESE ITINERARY
Day 1: Athens, Corinth, Epidaurus, Nafplio, Thurs May 28th 2015We depart Athens after breakfast with our own private coach and make a stop at the famous Corinth Canal. The Corinth Canal connects the Gulf of Corinth with the Saronic Gulf in the Aegean Sea. It cuts through the narrow Isthmus of Corinth and separates the Peloponnesian peninsula from the Greek mainland, thus effectively making the former an island. We then continue to one of the greatest monuments of Greek Antiquity, the famous theatre at the Asklepieion of Epidaurus, the finest of its kind. It combines perfect acoustics with style and elegance in design and is still in use today. We finish today’s journey in Nafplio, one of the most beautiful and romantic cities in Greece. Nafplio was the first capital of modern Greece. Nafplio flourished during the Byzantine times and Frankish, Venetian and Turkish conquerors left their mark in the town and strongly influenced its culture, architecture and traditions during the centuries. Ancient walls, medieval castles, Ottoman fountains, Venetian buildings and a lively old quarter will make your stay a delight.Overnight - Nafplio
Please Note: add-on tour must be taken together with main tour. Tour requires a minimum of 6 participants to run.
JEWELS OF THE PELOPONNESE add-on tourThe Peloponnese is an area of stunning beauty and rich culture. Ancient sites include the fabulous Greek Theatres of Epidaurus; the Homeric palaces of Agamemnon at Mycenae; Olympia which hosted the Olympic Games for a millennium; the captivating Frankish, Turkish and Venetian castles and old quarter in picturesque Nafplio and the site of Corinth and its canal.
Nick Melidonis Spirit of Place
A Celebration of Eye, Mind and SpiritULTIMATE GREECE 2015JEWELS OF THE PELOPONNESE add-on tour
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Day 2: Nafplio, Mycenae Fri May 29th We have a leisurely morning exploring this beautiful, historic town with its many shops, cafes, tavernas and the stunning waterfront with the castle of Bourtzi in the main harbour. We are then taken by our bus to visit the massive castle of Palamides high above the town with spectacular views of the town and the surrounding countryside. Later in the day we visit the ancient site of Mycenae; ‘Rich in Gold’. This is the kingdom of mythical Agamemnon, first sung by Homer in his epics, and the most important and richest palatial centre of the Late Bronze Age in Greece. Its name was given to one of the greatest civilizations of Greek prehistory, the Mycenaean civilization, while the myths related to its history have inspired poets and writers over many centuries, from the Homeric epics and the great tragedies of the Classical period to contemporary literary and artistic creation. We will see the royal grave circles and the massive beehive tombs. Relax in the evening in the tastefully lit streets of the old quarter to finish off a perfect day.
Overnight - Nafplio
Day 3: Nafplio, Olympia Sat May 30th After breakfast, we drive East through the beautiful valley of the Alpheios river to Ancient Olympia, the most celebrated sanctuary of ancient Greece. Olympia became the most important religious and athletic centre in Greece. Its fame rests upon the birth of the Olympic Games, the greatest national festival which was held every four years to honour Zeus. Olympia has cultivated ideals since ancient times. It was never just the games, but also the honour, the peace, the struggle and the body - all in one. We will also visit the museum and get the chance to see some unbelievable sculptures such as the sculpted decoration of the temple of Zeus, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, the famous Hermis of Praxiteles and the statue of Nike of Paionios. This evening, we will relax in the tree-lined streets of the village for some shopping and enjoy a farewell dinner in one of the authentic tavernas offering traditional Greek dishes.
Overnight - Olympia
Day 4: Olympia to Athens, Sun May 31st After a leisurely breakfast, we board our bus for a relaxing drive with stops through the scenic countryside returning to Athens to our hotel. You may wish to join Nick for a stroll and a meal in the Plaka area of Athens this evening.
Overnight - Athens
Day 5: Athens., Mon June 1st Day at leisure. The tour concludes after breakfast. Some participants will connect with flights back to Australia while others will continue with alternative travel plans.
Tour itinerary and activities may change due to weather and local conditions.
