Greece: The Parthenon and the Peloponnesian Peninsula

Meet your group at your home airport. Fly together as a group to Greece. Total travel time will depend on your departure location and flight schedule. Be sure to get some rest so you arrive ready for adventure!

Flight Details: Rustic Pathways will be happy to book your flight as an add-on service.

Arrive into Athens International Airport (ATH) and meet your Program Leaders who will be with you for the duration of the program. Head to the hotel and settle in as you join the group for an orientation discussion about the week ahead, expectations for your adventure, and an introduction to the local culture. Enjoy a group dinner upon a rooftop as you get your first views of the ancient Acropolis that still dominates the capital’s skyline after thousands of years.

Flight Details: Rustic Pathways will be happy to book your flights for you as an optional add-on service. 

Overnight: Hostel in Athens, Greece

Be transported back 2,500 years to the height of the ancient Greek Empire as you spend the day exploring the birthplace of modern democracy and western civilization. Take a guided tour of the Acropolis, stopping at the astonishing remains of the Propylaea gateway, Erechtheion, the Temple of Athena Nike, and of course the Parthenon. Dive deeper into the history with a private tour of New Acropolis Museum by a local expert archaeologist. After lunch, walk in the footsteps of Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle as you wander through the ruins of the Ancient Agora, the business and political hub of ancient Athens. Complete the day with a drive north to the town of Kalambaka, which guards the approach to the Meteora monasteries. 

Overnight:  Hostel in Kalambaka, Greece

The word “meteora” literally means “hovering in the air” and is aptly named for one of the world’s most magnificent marvels of nature and architecture. Spend the day climbing into the heavens, as you visit the six ancient monasteries that lie atop 400-meters high rock formations. As mists surround the base of these pinnacles, these houses of worship, built by Orthodox monks in the 14th century, seem to be literally floating on air. While these monasteries originally were only accessed by ladders, thankfully there are now steps. Take in the views from this UNESCO World Heritage site and be amazed at the breathtaking panoramic vistas any way you look. 

Overnight:   Hostel in Kalambaka, Greece

Travel to the city of Delphi, a place the ancient Greeks regarded as the center of the world. Take a guided tour of the Temple of Apollo where the Pythia, or Oracle of Delphi, would give cryptic prediction and guidance to the ancient Greeks. Take a guided tour of the Delphi Archaeological Museum, and see the Charioteer of Delphi. Take time in the evening to discuss and digest the centuries of history you have already encountered in just a few days. 

Overnight:   Hostel in Delphi, Greece

Travel along the Gulf of Corinth and cross into the Peloponnesian peninsula on your way to the city of Olympia. Transport back to the year 776 B.C. and become a champion in the original stadium of the first Olympic games. Visit the sanctuary of Zeus, which became the center of worship to the father of the twelve Olympian gods. Complete a scavenger hunt throughout the Altis to discover the masterpieces of Ancient Greek art. 

Overnight:   Hostel in Olympia, Greece

Continue across the Peloponnesian peninsula and travel to the seaside town of Náfplio. Take a dip in the turquoise waters of the Aegean Sea and relax upon its picturesque shores. Take part in an olive oil workshop and learn the importance that this fruit has held in Greek culture for centuries. Indulge in a Greek dinner with traditional dishes consisting of fresh seafood, grilled meats, and classic dips such as tzatziki, melitzanosalata, and fava. 

Overnight:   Hostel in Nafplio, Greece

Complete your final drive back to the capital city of Athens. Enjoy time at the flea market of Monastiraki to shop for souvenirs. Enjoy a final dinner accompanied by a traditional Greek folk dancing class. Be prepared for a noisy but memorable end to your program! “Opa!”

At the end of each program, students reflect on their experiences and the issues they engaged with, and talk about how to apply this new understanding to their own worlds. During or after their closing discussion, groups participate in Rustic Ties, a unique and powerful activity that allows students to capture the memories and learning moments of their program to process and share with their communities back home.

Overnight:   Hostel in Athens, Greece

Enjoy a relaxed morning in Athens before your flight back home. Your Program Leaders will take you to the airport for your departure as you say goodbyes and reflect on your adventure. 

Flight Details: Rustic Pathways will be happy to book your flights for you as an optional add-on service.