Our post-conference tour will be visiting the island of Lesvos, the home island of Eugenia Mitrakas, Chairman of the Greek Conference. This seven day tour will visit the most noteworthy historical and natural settings of the island. A highlight of the tour will be an al-fresco lunch at the village home of Eugenia who together with her late husband David restored the house to its traditional Mytilene style. For those wishing to take up the option, an extension tour is also being offered to Turkey and Gallipoli, (see below).
Chairman's Post-Conference Tour - Lesvos
26 September - 2 October 2014 (6 nights / 7 days)
Day 1: Athens
Friday, 26th September
Overnight at the Sofitel Hotel at Eleftherios Venizelos Airport, Athens preceded by welcome dinner.
Day 2: Mytilene
Saturday, 27th September
Flight Departs: 08.45
After breakfast, walk to the domestic terminal and check in on Aegean Airways 8.45am flight to Mytilene. First, visit the Theophilos Museum. We then visit the archaeological museum and other main attractions in the town. Following the city tour, we will depart for Kalloni stopping for lunch in the area of Ancient Pirra. Check in at the Hotel Aeolian Gaea in Skala Kalloni. Kalloni is situated in the middle of the island and is easily accessible to most parts on the island.
Dinner at leisure.
Day 3
Sunday, 28th September
Departs: 09.00, Returns: 19.00 (approx.)
Following breakfast we visit the villages of Agia Paraskevi, Mantamados, Skala Sykamnias, Molivos and Petra. Agia Paraskevi has been declared by law to be a protected area of archaeological interest.
We continue to the village of Mantamados known for its monastery of Archangels Michael. We then visit Skala Sykamnias a picturesque fishing village facing Asia Minor. The next stop is the fishing village of Molivos, a magnificent picturesque village and with a Byzantine castle, one of the best preserved castles in the eastern Mediterranean. The last stop is Petra.
Evening free.
Day 4
Monday, 29th September
Departs: 09.00, Returns: 18.30 (approx.)
Following breakfast, we visit the Temple of Messa and tour the archaeological sites. We then continue our tour to the southern part of the island and visit the villages of Achalderi, Agiasos, Vrissa, Agios Fokas and Lisvori.
The drive from Achalderi by the sea is spectacular. We then visit the traditional mountain village of Agiassos which has the church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. Then we visit the village of Vrissa and the museum. Lunch is at Vatera and following lunch we visit the port of Agios Fokas, visit the ruins of the Christian Basilica. The last visit is Lisvori Hot Springs, the hottest springs in Europe.
Day 5
Tuesday, 30th September
Departs: 09.00, Returns: 19.00 (approx.)
Following breakfast, we depart for the Monastery of Agios Ignatios. The Monastery includes a Folk Museum with a library dating back to 1498. We continue to Skala Erresos, a seaside village with a large sandy beach and the birth place of the Lyric poet, Sappho. Following Skala Erresos we visit a Monastery built on the top of Mt. Ordymnos and the petrified forest of Sigri, a natural monument of global geological heritage. Our last stop is Anemotia, a traditional mountain village located in the north western part of the island which belongs to the former municipality of Kalloni. Anemotia is the birth place of the chairman, Eugenia Mitrakas and in her view, the most idyllic village in Greece. Barbeque lunch including lamb on the spit will be at Eugenia's home which boasts magnificent views of the village. Eugenia and David recently renovated this house in the traditional local style.
Day 6
Wednesday, 1st October
Ayvalik - Pergamon
Departs: 07.30, Returns: 21.00 (approx.)
Following breakfast we have an early transfer to the port of Mytelene and take the ferry to Ayvalik town in Turkey. We will have a bus transfer to Pergamon and a guided tour of the archaeological sites of the Acropolis and Asclepeion.
The Acropolis was built for the Kings of Pergamos during the Hellenistic period. The famous library of Pergamon which contained 200,000 books was situated here. These books were gifted by Mark Antony to Cleopatra as a wedding gift. The theatre of Pergamon is one of the steepest theatres in the world with a capacity of 10,000 and was constructed in the 3rd century BC. We will continue to the Asclepeion in the name of Aesculapius, the God of health and medicine built in the 4th century BC. Following lunch, we return to Ayvalik and after a short visit in the town, we drive to the heart of Ayvalik and take the ferry back to Lesvos. We return to the hotel approximately 21:00.
Evening free.
Day 7: Return to Athens
Thursday, 2nd October
Departs: 08.00
Following breakfast we transfer to the airport of Mytilene for Aegean flight to Athens. Tour ends at Athens airport.
Day 1: Athens
Friday, 26th September
Overnight at the Sofitel Hotel at Eleftherios Venizelos Airport, Athens preceded by welcome dinner.
Day 2: Mytilene
Saturday, 27th September
Flight Departs: 08.45
After breakfast, walk to the domestic terminal and check in on Aegean Airways 8.45am flight to Mytilene. First, visit the Theophilos Museum. We then visit the archaeological museum and other main attractions in the town. Following the city tour, we will depart for Kalloni stopping for lunch in the area of Ancient Pirra. Check in at the Hotel Aeolian Gaea in Skala Kalloni. Kalloni is situated in the middle of the island and is easily accessible to most parts on the island.
Dinner at leisure.
Day 3
Sunday, 28th September
Departs: 09.00, Returns: 19.00 (approx.)
Following breakfast we visit the villages of Agia Paraskevi, Mantamados, Skala Sykamnias, Molivos and Petra. Agia Paraskevi has been declared by law to be a protected area of archaeological interest.
We continue to the village of Mantamados known for its monastery of Archangels Michael. We then visit Skala Sykamnias a picturesque fishing village facing Asia Minor. The next stop is the fishing village of Molivos, a magnificent picturesque village and with a Byzantine castle, one of the best preserved castles in the eastern Mediterranean. The last stop is Petra.
Evening free.
Day 4
Monday, 29th September
Departs: 09.00, Returns: 18.30 (approx.)
Following breakfast, we visit the Temple of Messa and tour the archaeological sites. We then continue our tour to the southern part of the island and visit the villages of Achalderi, Agiasos, Vrissa, Agios Fokas and Lisvori.
The drive from Achalderi by the sea is spectacular. We then visit the traditional mountain village of Agiassos which has the church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. Then we visit the village of Vrissa and the museum. Lunch is at Vatera and following lunch we visit the port of Agios Fokas, visit the ruins of the Christian Basilica. The last visit is Lisvori Hot Springs, the hottest springs in Europe.
Day 5
Tuesday, 30th September
Departs: 09.00, Returns: 19.00 (approx.)
Following breakfast, we depart for the Monastery of Agios Ignatios. The Monastery includes a Folk Museum with a library dating back to 1498. We continue to Skala Erresos, a seaside village with a large sandy beach and the birth place of the Lyric poet, Sappho. Following Skala Erresos we visit a Monastery built on the top of Mt. Ordymnos and the petrified forest of Sigri, a natural monument of global geological heritage. Our last stop is Anemotia, a traditional mountain village located in the north western part of the island which belongs to the former municipality of Kalloni. Anemotia is the birth place of the chairman, Eugenia Mitrakas and in her view, the most idyllic village in Greece. Barbeque lunch including lamb on the spit will be at Eugenia's home which boasts magnificent views of the village. Eugenia and David recently renovated this house in the traditional local style.
Day 6
Wednesday, 1st October
Ayvalik - Pergamon
Departs: 07.30, Returns: 21.00 (approx.)
Following breakfast we have an early transfer to the port of Mytelene and take the ferry to Ayvalik town in Turkey. We will have a bus transfer to Pergamon and a guided tour of the archaeological sites of the Acropolis and Asclepeion.
The Acropolis was built for the Kings of Pergamos during the Hellenistic period. The famous library of Pergamon which contained 200,000 books was situated here. These books were gifted by Mark Antony to Cleopatra as a wedding gift. The theatre of Pergamon is one of the steepest theatres in the world with a capacity of 10,000 and was constructed in the 3rd century BC. We will continue to the Asclepeion in the name of Aesculapius, the God of health and medicine built in the 4th century BC. Following lunch, we return to Ayvalik and after a short visit in the town, we drive to the heart of Ayvalik and take the ferry back to Lesvos. We return to the hotel approximately 21:00.
Evening free.
Day 7: Return to Athens
Thursday, 2nd October
Departs: 08.00
Following breakfast we transfer to the airport of Mytilene for Aegean flight to Athens. Tour ends at Athens airport.
Cost of Lesvos Tour: Twin $AUD 2,900.00 pp, Single $AUD 3,200.00
This tour includes overnight at Sofitel Athens Airport Hotel; dinner; breakfasts; return flight Athens-Mytilene-Athens; entrance fee and English speaking guide on all tours; bus transfers; return ferry boat trip to Turkey; 4 star accommodation for 5 nights; dinner on days 1 and 6; lunch on days 2-5. Some rooms can accommodate up to 4 adults. Excludes tipping and entry visa fee.
NOTE: All prices are quoted in Australian Dollars (AUD)
Optional Extension Tour - Turkey
1 - 4 October 2014 (3 nights / 4 days)
Wednesday, 1st October
Ayvalik - Pergamon - Canakkale
Following tour of Pergamon (see above), drive through Troy continuing on to Canakkale and overnight at the Kolin Hotel. Dinner at the Kolin Hotel.
Thursday, 2nd October
Anzac Cove - Istanbul
Departs: 08.00, Evening arrival
Participants will visit Gallipoli, a site of international military history and national identity. They will visit Anzac Cove, war memorials and battle sites of World War I. After lunch continue to Istanbul and overnight at Marti Hotel or similar.
Friday, 3rd October
Classical Istanbul
Departs: 08.00, Returns late evening
Guided tour of Istanbul including a visit to the Blue Mosque of Sultan Ahmet, the Hippodrome of Constantine and the Hagia Sofia Museum, formerly the Patriarch's Basilica until 1453. We will also visit the Patriarchate, the Topkapi Palace and the Grand Bazaar.
Saturday 4th October
Tour ends after breakfast.
Wednesday, 1st October
Ayvalik - Pergamon - Canakkale
Following tour of Pergamon (see above), drive through Troy continuing on to Canakkale and overnight at the Kolin Hotel. Dinner at the Kolin Hotel.
Thursday, 2nd October
Anzac Cove - Istanbul
Departs: 08.00, Evening arrival
Participants will visit Gallipoli, a site of international military history and national identity. They will visit Anzac Cove, war memorials and battle sites of World War I. After lunch continue to Istanbul and overnight at Marti Hotel or similar.
Friday, 3rd October
Classical Istanbul
Departs: 08.00, Returns late evening
Guided tour of Istanbul including a visit to the Blue Mosque of Sultan Ahmet, the Hippodrome of Constantine and the Hagia Sofia Museum, formerly the Patriarch's Basilica until 1453. We will also visit the Patriarchate, the Topkapi Palace and the Grand Bazaar.
Saturday 4th October
Tour ends after breakfast.
Cost of Turkey Extension Tour: Twin $AUD 1,650.00 pp, Single $AUD 2,100.00
This tour includes overnight at Kolin; entrance fees and English speaking guide; air-conditioned bus transfers; porterage; breakfasts; dinner in Canakkale and lunch in Istanbul. Excludes tipping and entry visa fee.
NOTE: Restrictions apply for Special Passport Holders when entering Turkey. Those wishing to travel to Turkey should make their own enquiries with the DFAT. All prices are quoted in Australian Dollars (AUD)