Greece, from the northern mountains to the Acropolis

Mayever International / 11 days

Greece, from the northern mountains to the Acropolis

Nature, culture and hands-on experiences  a small-group journey through the Greece most travelers never see.

Eleven days that move between wild landscapes and deep history. We walk Ioannina’s old town and its Romaniote synagogue, hike the Vikos Gorge, stand beneath the cliff-top monasteries of Meteora and soak in the Loutraki thermal springs. Along the way, local makers welcome us in cheese-makers in Metsovo, a stonemason in Zagori, a dance teacher in Thessaloniki, a cook in Athens. We trace Jewish heritage in Ioannina, Veria and Thessaloniki, stand at Delphi and the Parthenon, and end each day with fine hotels and memorable tables.

Price per person

$5,450

Twin or double room. Single supplement $950.

Group

6–14 travelers

Escorted throughout by a guide from the LET International team.

Stays

4–5★ hotels

Breakfast and dinner every day (half board).

Getting around

Private midi-bus

Air-conditioned throughout, plus the domestic flight to Ioannina.

Lakeside Ioannina

Day 01 Athens – IoanninaIn town, on foot

Lakeside Ioannina


A short morning flight takes us north to the capital of Epirus, where the old town, the lake and the legend of Ali Pasha set the tone for the journey.

The flight departs Athens at 10:40 AM — we suggest arriving in Athens the night before.

  1. MORNING Flight from Athens to Ioannina
  2. AFTERNOON Old town and the Romaniote synagogue, coffee by the lake, boat to Ioannina Island
  3. EVENING Modern Greek fine dining
  4. STAY Grand Serai Congress & Spa ★★★★★, Ioannina

Day 02 - Zagori

Stone bridges & the Vikos Gorge

The Zagori villages are a lesson in mountain architecture. We walk them, then hike one of the deepest gorges on earth relative to its width — and learn how the region’s bridges were built from a stonemason who still works the craft.

  1. MORNING Kipi and Monodendri villages
  2. AFTERNOON Guided Vikos Gorge hike, optional canyoning, stonemason workshop
  3. EVENING Traditional Greek dishes at an authentic local spot
  4. STAY Grand Serai Congress & Spa ★★★★★, Ioannina

Day 03 - Metsovo – Prespa – Kastoria

Cheese, lakes & frescoes

In wooden-roofed Metsovo we make — and taste — the village’s smoked Metsovone cheese. Then the Prespa Lakes, a quiet boat ride to a frescoed monastery, and on to Byzantine Kastoria on its own lake.

  1. MORNING Cheese-making workshop at a Metsovo dairy
  2. AFTERNOON Boat to the Monastery of St. Mary, Prespa; drive to Kastoria
  3. EVENING Taverna in Kastoria’s old town
  4. STAY Esperos Palace Hotel & Spa ★★★★, Kastoria

Day 04 - Edessa – Loutraki – Thessaloniki

Waterfalls, hot springs & wine

A slow day for body and palate: the falls at Edessa, the healing thermal pools of Loutraki Pozar, and a tasting at a nearby winery before we arrive in Thessaloniki.

Massage or wellness treatments can be added at the springs for a longer spa afternoon.

  1. MORNING Kastoria lakefront, Edessa Waterfalls
  2. AFTERNOON Loutraki thermal springs, local winery tasting
  3. EVENING Greek mezze
  4. STAY Superior One Boutique Hotel ★★★★★, Thessaloniki

Day 05 - Vergina – Veria – Thessaloniki

Royal tombs & a night of dance

At Vergina we stand in the burial place of Philip II, father of Alexander the Great. In Veria, the community opens its synagogue and its stories. Back in Thessaloniki, a local teacher gets everyone on their feet for traditional folk dances.

  1. MORNING Royal Tombs of Vergina
  2. AFTERNOON Veria Synagogue, Greek dance workshop
  3. EVENING Taverna BBQ with live music
  4. STAY Superior One Boutique Hotel ★★★★★, Thessaloniki

Day 06 - Thessaloniki

Thessaloniki, layer by layer

A full day in the north’s great port city — from the top of the White Tower to Roman and Ottoman Thessaloniki, the lanes of the Upper Town, and the story of its once-vast Jewish community.

  1. MORNING White Tower views, Aristotelous Square
  2. AFTERNOON The Rotunda, Ano Poli and city walls, Monastirioton Synagogue
  3. EVENING Seafood and fish restaurant
  4. STAY Superior One Boutique Hotel ★★★★★, Thessaloniki

Day 07 - Dion – Olympus – Kalambaka

In the shadow of Zeus

Ancient Dion was Zeus’s city; Mount Olympus was his home. We explore the sanctuary and theater, take in the mountain’s valleys, then continue to Kalambaka at the foot of Meteora.

  1. MORNING Archaeological site of Dion
  2. AFTERNOON Mount Olympus viewpoints, drive to Kalambaka
  3. EVENING Taverna with a view
  4. STAY Divani Meteora Hotel ★★★★★, Kastraki

Day 08 - Meteora – Pelion

Monasteries in the sky

Morning among the monasteries balanced on Meteora’s rock pillars, learning how the monks have lived up here for centuries. By afternoon we trade cliffs for the green villages of the Pelion Peninsula and a café overlooking the Aegean.

  1. MORNING Meteora monastery visit
  2. AFTERNOON Portaria and Makrinitsa villages
  3. EVENING Krista Hotel Restaurant
  4. STAY Archontiko Naoumidi ★★★★★, Pelion

Day 09 - Pelion Peninsula

The balcony of Pelion

Cobbled Makrinitsa looks down over the Pagasetic Gulf; Tsagarada shelters an ancient plane tree. The afternoon belongs to the sea — kayaks or paddleboards along the turquoise coast at Damouchari.

  1. MORNING Makrinitsa and Agios Nikolaos, Tsagarada and Agia Paraskevi
  2. AFTERNOON Damouchari Beach — kayaking or SUP
  3. EVENING Fresh seafood by the shore, Tsagarada
  4. STAY Archontiko Naoumidi ★★★★★, Pelion

Day 10 - Delphi – Athens

The oracle, then the kitchen

Delphi was once the center of the Greek world — the Temple of Apollo, the theater and Parnassus all around. In Athens we settle in facing the Acropolis, wander Plaka, and cook our own Greek dinner with a local chef.

  1. MORNING Delphi — Temple of Apollo and ancient theater
  2. AFTERNOON Drive to Athens, stroll through Plaka
  3. EVENING Cooking class — moussaka or souvlaki — and the meal we make
  4. STAY Hotel Grande Bretagne ★★★★★, Athens

Day 11 - Athens

The Acropolis & farewell

We close where Western history opens: the Parthenon and its museum, then the Ancient Agora and the Tower of the Winds. The rest of the day is yours before flights home.

  1. MORNING Acropolis and Acropolis Museum
  2. AFTERNOON Ancient Agora, Temple of Hephaestus, Roman Agora; free time and departure
The price includes
  • Domestic flight Athens – Ioannina
  • Four- and five-star hotels as listed
  • Air-conditioned bus or minibus for the whole journey
  • English-speaking guide from the Mayever International team
  • All entrance fees, visits and workshops in the itinerary
  • Breakfast and dinner daily
  • Tips for drivers, local guides, porters and waiters
  • $500 registration fee — charged only once the group is confirmed
Not included
  • International flights to and from Athens
  • Meals beyond those listed
  • Drinks with meals
  • Personal expenses
  • Gratuity for the escorting guide
  • Anything not named in the itinerary

Payments & cancellations

Payment schedule

A $500 deposit per person on registration — non-refundable, but kept as credit for any future trip with no expiry. 50% is due by 22 February 2025, and a further 20% by 22 April 2025.

If you need to cancel

Up to 90 days out: the deposit plus any supplier penalties. 14–8 days before arrival: 70% of the booking. 7 days or less: 100%.

Before you go

What should I pack?

Light, quick-drying layers, something warm for evenings and a rain jacket. Sunscreen, lip balm and a hat. Walking shoes with good grip, a refillable water bottle and a plug adapter.

Cash or card?

Greece uses the euro. Credit cards and ATMs are widely available, but carry cash for drinks, souvenirs and small purchases — debit cards often aren’t accepted for those.

What’s the weather like?

Late May is warm spring: roughly 18–28°C (64–82°F). The mountains around Ioannina, Zagori and Kastoria are milder, with cool nights near 10–15°C and the odd shower. Athens is the warmest stop, up to 30°C (86°F) and dry.

Want a seat on this journey?

6–14 travelers

Send us your details and our team will be in touch shortly.