Premium Greece
Trip Code: ZVPG
Why we love it
Step back in time as you travel with your local leader to the Athens Acropolis, the Temple of Olympian Zeus and the Prodromos monastery, where you’ll enjoy a coffee with a local monk during a Premium Exclusive Experience., Visit monasteries and the ancient rock pinnacles of Meteora and learn about the natural and cultural history of one of Greece's most extraordinary sights., Experience the romantic side of Greece when you stay in a gorgeous and traditionally decorated stone mansion in the medieval village of Dimitsana – your Feature Stay for this trip., Visit the legendary theatres of the very first Olympic Games – the stadium, gymnasium, wrestling school, priest houses, temples and hippodrome., Get an insider’s look at Greek produce during an Exclusive Experience. Visit a family of beekeepers in Itea to learn about the craft and taste honey fresh from the hive.
Is this trip right for me?
Pickpocketing can be an issue in Athens, especially on public transport. If you keep your valuables concealed and secure while travelling on the metro or bus, you should have no problems.
Summer temperatures in Greece can reach up to 40°C, so you will need to be able to cope with the heat if you're visiting during the warmer months. Please consider the time of year and your suitability to visiting during that season.
Important information
What to bring/pack
What you need to bring will vary according to the trip style you have chosen, the countries you are visiting and when you are travelling. We recommend you pack as lightly as possible, ensuring that you are able to carry and lift your own luggage and walk with it for short distances or up or down a flight of stairs. Help will be on hand in most locations, but there may be times you need to handle your own luggage, for example in airports and train stations.
A lockable suitcase with wheels is ideal for this trip. It is recommended that you keep your main luggage weight around 15kg and certainly no more than 20kg. A small or medium-sized backpack (45-50 litres) is another good option.
You'll also need a day pack/bag to carry water, camera, jacket, etc. when you’re exploring during the day.
Below is a link to our ultimate packing list, a guide to get you started:, https://www.intrepidtravel.com/packing-list, WATER BOTTLE
Please bring your own water bottle to refill along the way. Although it can be difficult to avoid bottled water when travelling, please use the water dispensers which are provided on some of our vehicles and at some of our accommodation. Your group leader or local representative will advise whether tap water is safe to drink in your destination, and if it is, you can simply refill it with tap water. When unable to avoid bottled water, it is better to buy the largest available and distribute it into your smaller bottle for the day. If you are walking or trekking as part of your trip you will need to carry at least 2L of water with you.
Physical rating
This trip can be enjoyed by just about anyone with a reasonable level of fitness. Some trips may have individual inclusions that may be of a higher physical rating compared to the overall rating of the trip. Please read the day-to-day itinerary carefully to find out more details on each day's activities, and whether they are suitable for you. Activities can be opted out of if you don't want to participate.
Joining your group
The Athenaeum Hotel, 4, Vouliagmenis Avenue & Kallirois street,, Athens, Athens, GR 11743, GREECE, Phone: +30 2121071800
The Athnaeum hotel is located within walking distance of the Acropolis and the temple of Olympian Zeus. It features 52 rooms & suites some with view to the Acropolis or Temple of Olympian Zeus,
Roof Garden Restaurant , Plunge Hydromassage Pool (12 sq.m)
Fitness Area, Sauna, Eco-friendly construction, 24-hour reception
24-hour room service at extra charge,, Air conditioning and heating, Wi-Fi internet access, Luggage Room, Laundry & dry cleaning services at extra charge
Alternate Joining Point
Joining instructions
Pre booked arrival transfer from Athens Airport: Please provide your flight details at the time of booking, or at a minimum 14 days prior to travel, as we may not be able to confirm a request made within 14 days of travel. Your transfer driver will be waiting in the arrivals hall, holding a board with the Intrepid Logo or your name. In case of flight cancellations, changes, if you experience severe delays at immigration, baggage collection or customs, or if you are not able to find the driver, please contact the emergency number : +30 6987417670
Taxis are readily available outside the arrivals hall at Athens International Airport (airport code ATH). The journey to central Athens takes approximately 30 to 45 minutes and costs around EUR 50, depending on the time of day. You can also take metro line 3 directly to Syntagma square and switch to metro line 2 in the direction of Elliniko and get off at Acropolis Metro station. The hotel is located approximately 450 from Metro station. Trains run every 30 min from 06:35 till 23:35, and the journey takes about 55 minutes. Please mind your personal belongings at all times, as pick-pocketing is not unheard of.
Finishing your trip
The Athenaeum Hotel, 4, Vouliagmenis Avenue & Kallirois street,, Athens, Athens, GR 11743, GREECE, Phone: +30 2121071800
The Athnaeum hotel is located within walking distance of the Acropolis and the temple of Olympian Zeus. It features 52 rooms & suites some with view to the Acropolis or Temple of Olympian Zeus,
Roof Garden Restaurant , Plunge Hydromassage Pool (12 sq.m)
Fitness Area, Sauna, Eco-friendly construction, 24-hour reception
24-hour room service at extra charge,, Air conditioning and heating, Wi-Fi internet access, Luggage Room, Laundry & dry cleaning services at extra charge
Alternate Finish Point
Reception will be able to assist you calling a taxi or transfer to the airport. Alternatively you can take the metro from Acropolis Metro station in the direction of Anthoupolis to Syntagma Square and change on to the blue line to the airport.
Pre-booked departure transfer to Athens Airport: If you have pre booked a departure transfer, you will be collected from your hotel. Please reconfirm your departure transfer with your tour leader. In case of flight cancellations, changes or if you are not to able to find the driver, please contact the emergency phone number listed in this document.
Meals & dietary information
Breakfasts included: 7
Lunches included: 1
Dinners included: 2
While travelling with us you'll experience the vast array of wonderful food available in the world. Your group leader or local representative will be able to suggest restaurants to try during your trip. To give you the maximum flexibility in deciding where, what and with whom to eat, generally not all meals are included in the trip price. This also gives you more budgeting flexibility. As a rule our groups tend to eat together to enable you to taste a larger variety of dishes and enjoy each other's company. If you have dietary requirements and/or food allergies, please let your booking agent know prior to departure.
VEGETARIANS
Vegetarians might find the menu selection in Europe less varied than they would see at home. Vegetarianism is not as common in this region and generally the choices are basic, involving vegetables, soups, salads, bread, cheese, fruit, yoghurt, eggs etc. Vegans and those on gluten-free diets may find this region very challenging and may need to supplement meals with their own supplies from supermarkets and markets. Wherever possible we will cater for dietary needs for any included meals, but there may be times when those with special requirements may need to provide their own.
Climate & seasonal information
HOT WEATHER
Summer temperatures can reach up to 40 degrees Celsius, which can be uncomfortable for those not used to the heat. Please consider the time of the year you wish to travel and your suitability to that season.
In case of emergency
While we always endeavour to provide the best possible holiday experience, due to the nature of travel and the areas we visit sometimes things can and do go wrong. Should any issue occur while you are on your trip, it is imperative that you discuss this with your group leader or local representative straight away so that they can do their best to rectify the problem and save any potential negative impact on the rest of your trip.
We recognise that there may be times when your group leader or local representative may not be able to resolve a situation to your satisfaction - if this is the case, please ask the group leader or local representative to speak to their direct manager.
You may also choose to provide details in your online feedback, which we ask you to complete within 30 days of the end of your trip. Please do be aware that it is very difficult for us to provide any practical help after the trip is completed, so informing us while still travelling will give us the opportunity to resolve the issue in real-time.
For general contact details please use the following page: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/contact-us
If you have booked an arrival transfer, and you experience severe delays at immigration, baggage collection or customs, or if you are not able to find to the driver, please contact the transfer operator directly on the number listed in the joining point instructions in the section above.
In case of a genuine crisis or emergency, you can reach our local office on the numbers below:
Intrepid local operator: Available for phone call on: +49 8024 4679 540
Accommodations
The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline only and may change. On some occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our preferred accommodation. In these cases, we will use a similar standard of accommodation.
Throughout the trip, we request that our properties prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we're arriving prior to normal check-in time. However, this isn't always possible which means we won't be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination or on some trips, have use of shared day rooms until all rooms are available.
OCCASIONAL ALTERNATIVE ACCOMMODATION
The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline. On rare occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our usual accommodation. A similar standard of accommodation will be used in these instances.
TWIN SHARE BASIS
Accommodation on this trip is on a twin/multishare basis. We pair up solo travellers with another traveller of the same gender as per the gender marker on each of their passports. Please note there may be times where facilities will be shared rather than ensuite and rare occasions when you share a room with passengers travelling on different Intrepid trips than your own.
CHECK-IN TIME
Throughout the trip we request that our hotels prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we're arriving prior to normal check-in time. However this isn't always possible which means we won't be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination.
PRE/POST TRIP ACCOMMODATION
If you've purchased pre-trip or post-trip accommodation (if available), you may be required to change rooms from your trip accommodation for these extra nights.
FACILITIES
Your accommodation may not always have private en suite facilities or air-conditioning. European hotels generally don't provide kettles or fridges.