2-Day Private Trip from Athens to Delphi, Galaxidi and Hosios Loukas Monastery

On this 2-day private tour from Athens, avoid the big group tours and savor three of Greece’s top sights at a relaxed pace. Walk through the ruins of Delphi, and learn about the archaeology that earned this site UNESCO World Heritage status. After a night in Delphi, explore Galaxidi, a captivating seaside village. Admire the intricate Byzantine construction of Hosios Loukas, a monastery and another UNESCO site. Enjoy your own personal expert guide and private chauffeur throughout this extraordinary journey.

Day 1: Athens – Delphi (D)

After morning hotel pickup in Athens, travel with your private expert guide for a 2.5-hour drive northwest to Delphi. Admire the fertile plains of Beotia, learning its history as one of the earliest inhabited regions of ancient Greece, and pass the city of Thebes. When Mount Parnassus looms into view, disembark in its foothills at the Panhellenic sanctuary of Delphi, believed to have been formed by the collision of heaven and earth. Here, the Oracle of Delphi, guided by Apollo, foretold fortunes and advised the village on all types of matters. Stroll by Castalian spring, said to be a source of sacred waters, on your way to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed archaeological site. Once considered the center of the world, Delphi is Greece's most significant site after the Acropolis. See the monuments of the Argive Kings and Platea, the Parian-marbled Athenian Treasury, the Athenian Stoa, the Polygonal Wall and the Temple of Apollo.

Next, head inside the Archaeological Museum of Delphi to see the Treasury of the Sifnians, the Naxian Sphinx, and the Statue of Antinous. Here you also get to see the famous Charioteer of Delphi, a bronze statue considered to be one of the finest surviving sculptures from ancient Greece. After the museum, climb back aboard your private transport and take a short drive to the village of Delphi, where you can purchase lunch and check into your centrally located hotel for the night. Its central location gives you easy access to explore the town’s charming narrow streets and alleys on your own in the afternoon; receive tips from your guide beforehand on where to go and what to see. Top off your full day with a delicious dinner at your hotel (drinks are an additional expense), before tucking in for the night. Overnight: Amalia Hotel in Delphi or similar

Day 2: Delphi – Galaxidi – Hosios Loukas – Athens (B, L)

After breakfast at your hotel, travel with your guide on a 45-minute drive to the seaside village of Galaxidi, located on the Gulf of Corinth. Take a leisurely walk along the waterfront, absorbing the town’s laid-back resort vibe, and admire the neoclassical stone mansions lining the main seaside road. After your stroll, take an early and relaxing lunch break at a local restaurant. Then you’re back in your vehicle en route to Hosios Loukas, one of Greece’s most gorgeous and important monasteries, and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Located on the slopes of Mount Helicon by the town of Distomo, Hosios Loukas offers a stunning example of Middle Byzantine religious architecture from the 10th century. Learn about its cultural role in Greece, admire the two churches adorned with frescoes and mosaics, and capture panoramic landscapes of mountains and a valley studded with olive trees. After enjoying this serene scenery, settle in for the drive back to Athens with drop-off at your hotel in the evening.