There are a lot of things to do while you’re in Greece. Athens have some of the most famous sights like the Acropolis, the National Archaeological Museum and the Benaki Musem. You can also visit the Kallimarmaron stadium where the ancient Panathenaic Games were held.

During summer, the beaches should be on the top of the list. Beaches in Crete, Santorini and Mykonos offer the best beach parties in Greece and are one of the top places to be in Europe.

Aside from swimming and soaking during summer, there’s also the Hellenic Festival.  It celebrates the performance arts , theatre, musical and dance. Here, you get to experience the recreation of Greek tradegy in the heart of Athens.

Greek wine is steadily gaining popularity. On the island of Santorini, the volcanic-rich soil makes some of its wines a unique taste. On Crete, wine production can be traced back to the Minoan civilization.  There are tours conducted in wineries, these tours enable you to experience the mountains and beaches of Crete.

Aside from wine tours, Greek cuisine is something that tourists should not miss. There are restaurants and tavernas located in magnificent places. They offer traditional Greek food and the famous ouzo.

Greece has eleven wetland areas that are of international importance.  Aside from this, there are also 190 important areas for birds.  Several top places for birdwatch are the Nestos Deltas and Prespa Lakes.  Some of the birds that can be encountered are eagles, storks, pelicans and herons.  There are turtle doves, peregrine falcons, magpies, red-rumped swallows that can also be seen.

Most people don’t think that it’s possible to ski in Greece, but it is! The season for skiing starts in December and ends in April.  There are 14 ski areas of which Parnassos is the largest and most popular.

There are many options for tours in Greece. There are outdoor tours that can be arranged. Greece is a country with dramatic landscapes featuring soaring mountains and gorges. There can be bike tours on the island of Crete, rock climbing in Meteora or jeep tour in some of the unknown but magnificent gorges.

Taking part in sport events in Greece create special feeling since you are playing in a place where Olympics started. There are marathons where you can participate.  Or at least, try to run the route where Olympic athletes ran the last time they were in town.

Don’t forget to do a good deed, even if you’re on a vacation. There are a lot of volunteer causes that you can get involved with, an environmental organization.  For the young and funky spirits, there is a Rockwave Festival of music. Here, for three days, audiences can listen to heavy metal, rock and roll or good old fashioned dance music.

By balancing your time between educational and free-spirited activities that you can join, surely your Greece vacation would take a lifetime before you forget it.

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Greece consists of a mountainous peninsula mainland jutting out into the sea at the southern end of the Balkans, the Peloponnesus peninsula far from the canal of the Isthmus of Corinth, and numerous islands (1400, 227 of which are inhabited).  Four fifths of Greece consist of mountains or hills, making the country one of the most mountainous in Europe. Western Greece contains a number of lakes and wetlands.

The range continues through the western Peloponnese, crosses the islands of Kythera and Antikythera and find its way into southwestern Aegean, in the island of Crete where it eventually ends. The islands of the Aegean are peaks of underwater mountains that once constituted an extension of the mainland.

Pindus is characterized by its high, steep peaks, often dissected by numerous canyons and a variety of other karstic landscapes. Most notably, the impressive Meteora formation consisting of high, steep boulders provides a breathtaking experience for the hundreds of thousands of tourists who visit the area each year.

In the early days of the summer of 2007 Greeks awoke to find their country burning with forest fires. Within a week or two they had also erupted with unparalleled fury across wide areas of the Peloponnese, Evia and even as far north as Epiros. Satellite pictures showed a pall of billowing smoke drifting skyward, ash covered many neighbourhoods of Athens, thousands lost their homes and 66 hapless souls their lives.

The culture of Greece has evolved over thousand of years. Greek cuisine which is a part of the Mediterranean diet is an example of a healthy diet. There are variety of dishes like moussake, stifado, Greek salad, spanakopita and the world famous Souvlaki.

Throughout Greece, small dishes such as meze, grilled octopus, small fish, feta cheese, dolmdes, olives and cheese are being enjoyed. Olive  oil is used in almost every dish.  Sweet dessert such as galaktoboureko and drinks like ouzo are also widely accepted and enjoyed even by non-Greeks.

Greek cuisine is always different. They change and vary depending on the location and what island they are from.

Greece is often called the birthplace of European civilization. Greece offers a heady mix of ancient archaeological sites. Greece offers a heady mix of ancient archaeological, chic design hotels, rustic lanterns, rustic tavernas and other family oriented sea side resorts.

Ancient Greece reached its zenith in the fifth century BC when Athens became the cultural and artistic centre of the Mediterranean, producing magnificent works of architecture, sculpture, drama and literature.

There is no denying that the historical and cultural heritage of Greece continues to resonate throughout the modern Western world — in its literature, art, philosophy and politics. In fact, many travellers come here specifically to explore Greece’s ancient wonders, from Athens’ Parthenon and Delphi’s Temple of Apollo, to the ruins of the Minsan city of Knossos on Crete.

Scattered throughout the calm blue waters of the Aegean and the Ionian are Greece’s 1,400 islands — each with its own special story. The serenity of islands like Kefalonia and Amorgos contrasts with the hedonistic party islands such as Mykonos and Paros. Those interested in architecture should visit the medieval fortified towns of Rhodes and Corfu (both UNESCO World Heritage sites), and the whitewashed cubic houses of Thira and Oia on Santorini, typical of the Cyclades.

Greece is a beautiful country and a dreamer paradise. To make your Greece vacation a worthy and educational experience, it pays to know something about where you are going.

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Samos Archaeological Museum is regarded as one of the most interesting provincial museums in Greece. Its collection rivals Delos in its splendour with a magnificent statue rescued from the temple of Hera towering above its visitors. Located close to the Town Hall and the Central Park of Vathi the museum is housed in two parts across a courtyard.

Various items dating back to the Hellenistic, Prehistoric, Geometric and the archaic period can be seen. Samos Archaeological Museum is the most interesting and well though out exhibitions we’d seen. It’s treasure trove of interesting artefacts and insightful publications provided in-depth detail on many aspects of Greek history.

In the garden outside we rested from the heat whilst fresh water from fountains in the garden cooled the air. Sitting under a canvas canopy we wait for our coach to arrive. We found this holiday far from frantic, a steady themes of archaeology at a pace to enjoy, there was no rush to move on, or any need for encouraging words as we were all engaged.

Big sky, blue sea and clear horizons greeted our ancient sailors leaving the harbour of Pythagorean and so too the guests of the Turkish Gulet ‘Almira’. Our brilliant white sails silently pushed us south to the Island of Patmos and the Archaeological discoveries of John the Apostle. If you would like furter information about our holiday follow this link… 

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The weather and sea state is always changeable in Greece.  Hours before whilst crossing from Patmos to Leros. Our rigging began to groan in rhythm with the sea; outside the shelter of the Islands a rolling sea had enveloped ‘Almira’. Although our sails held us steady our hull rocked back and forth, a motion that was not uncomfortable.

I’ve always hated ferries in a blow! they pivot all over the place! A yacht sail stops sideways motion and makes life on board more comfortable. Standing next to the wheel I’m told by our skipper “Yachts plain rock where motorboat rock & roll.” His gyrating hand motions depicting a motorboat soon convinced me, the merits of a sailing boat in a confused sea.

We’re heading for Lakki a town on the southwest coast of Leros, where its deep-water harbour was the strategic location for sheltering capital ships during World War Two.

Whilst on this sailing Archaeological tour of the Greek Island I found Henrich Hall (Our guide) a real source of additional information that far surpassed his archaeological subject.

For example…On 12 November 1943, after almost fifty days of air strikes, a German invasion fleet landed troops at Pandeli Bay, near to Leros town. This was called ‘The Battle of Leros’ and considered one of the last German invasion victories of World War Two. The Guns of Navarone by Alistair MacLean drew heavily on this historical event.

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Looking up from our rooftop Taverna. The Monastery of St John the theologian (named after St John the last living Apostle of Christ) can be easily seen overlooking the town of Skala.  Its courtyard lights provide accents of colour across its darkened walls.

Travelling on an architectural tour by Peter Sommer Travels we’d arrived in Patmos in the late afternoon. This was our first meal together (Eleven guests) off our yacht the Turkish Gulet the ‘Almira’ and an opportunity to get to know everyone better. Our tour guide and Archaeologist ‘Heinrich Hall’ had scouted ‘Hiliomodi Fish Restaurant’ as the place to eat, and from our point of view he’d hit the nail on the head.

Looking around local Greek families and friends can be seen frequenting most of the tables. Behind on the walls, fishnets are drape with shells hanging within. In one corner a collage of photographs displayed in a frame, depicts the generations of family that ran this taverna over the years.

From below the odour of spices and lemons permeated the air leaving us ravenous for our meal (Sailing always leaves you hungry). Yet our desire to eat is tempered in traditional Greek style. Food will be ready when its ready and not before. In Greece eating out is a social occasion a gathering of friends and family and an opportunity to catch up on gossip. That’s why there’s no time limit on tables in Greece, you’re expected to stay till closing and socialise.

Hiliomodi Fish Restaurant’ is no different waiting for our meals to arrive and dipping heavily into the mezes. I’m introduced to a drink called Tsipouro (called Raki by the Cretians).  Similar in taste to schnapps it’s made from the skins and stems of grapes.

“Tsipouro!” I’m informed by Enrique, one of eleven guests on this cruise, “Gives you fair warning when to stop drinking, its purity allows the body to respond to the alcohol appropriately without it being disguised by additives.” Enrique (from Spain) became our unofficial advisor on all things Mediterranean outside of Greece. A connoisseur of healthy living (We’re told with a knowing grin) Enrique had plenty of stories to tell, only later did we discover he was the son of the first elected Mayor of Madrid after General Franco.

Our large collection of square little tables strung together was looking chaotic. Despite our waiters best efforts the food disappeared as it arrived leaving empty plates piled up in the middle for easy transportation below. Plates of squid, fish, octopus tentacles, horta (spinage type greens) shrimps and dolmades (rice wrapped in vine leaves) pass before our eyes and readily filled our stomachs, interspersed with the local red & white wine.

Our rooftop location would normally have given a grand panorama of Skala town; however sitting here at night bathed in our own pool of artificial light, only the sounds of the island reach us. Looking across the rooftops subtle shadows with the occasional streetlight can be seen.

The absence of nightlife outside our little world was the perfect location, the perfect antidote to our busy day. Only the occasional scooter could be heared resonating along a narrow alleyway. No neon lights, no discothèque music or even touristic bouzouki. A restrained life surrounded our happy taverna long into the evening.

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Something that particularly caught my eye there, was a fragment from a fresco, showing a Minoan woman with a beautifully made-up face, red-painted lips and long, wavy hair.  She is a priestess from a fresco at the Palace of Knossos, dated 15th century B.C; to me she looks like a princess.  The fresco was found when the Minoan capital of Knossos (which is a fascinating place to visit) was excavated in the early 20^th century.  She was nicknamed “La Parisienne” because of her sophisticated, chic good looks.

La Parisienne

The restaurant’s setting is very romantic, surrounded by palm-fringed gardens, with the sea in the distance.  It is beside a pool, shaped like a small lake, with part of the restaurant as an ‘island’ in the lake.  A silken-voiced musician provided live music.  It was obvious how much he enjoyed performing.

Our taste buds discovered the secrets of fine Cretan cuisine.  The food was excellent, so was the wine.  The conversation flowed, in between five different courses.  All during the meal, I couldn’t help thinking of the fresco and marvelling at the striking resemblance, sitting across the table from me.

Finally, at the end of the meal, I leaned forward and plucked up the courage to tell her, Valia, how much she looks like a Minoan princess.  “I know what you mean,” she said, “It’s my hair,” pointing to her long hair falling in large, loose waves, “and my nose”, turning to show her profile.

It was more than that.  It was also the eyes, the eyebrows, and perhaps even her earrings.  There seemed to be no distance in time between that portrait painted 3,500 years ago, and the present.  Valia exuded the aura of a Minoan princess and could so easily be “La Parisienne’s” daughter.

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In 95 AD during the reign of the Roman Emperor Domitian the Apostle John (the last living disciple of Christ) was exiled on this Island of Patmos. It was here that St John wrote the book of Revelation.

The Book of Revelations’ depicts St John’s vision of historical events yet to take place. His banishment to the Island was far from comfortable, believed to have been in his late 70’s at least.

He lived in a cave above the Islands capital of Skala as a hermit. Today this cave is one of the most revered locations for all Christians. Not only is it revered as a place where one of the Disciples lived in exile.  It’s also a place where God revealed himself to a human being. In theological terms it is an extremely blessed spot. According to our guide and Archaeologist ‘Heinrich Hall’

Just below the Monastery of St John founded by St Christodoulos in 1095 Ad is the Katholikon of the Monastery of the Apocalypse and the location of the Cave of St John. It’s here that the holy evangelist dictated to his disciple ‘Prochoros’ the Book of Revelations.

Listening to our guide a profound reverence is given in the description of the cave itself. “When entering” says our guide Heinrich Hall. “You’ll be struck on how small this cave is. According to belief there is a little niche in the wall where St John laid his head during the night. There’s also a little recess in the wall that was used as a handle when he got up in the morning after all he was a very old man and another hollow that looks like a pulpit where his disciple Prochoros sat taking St John’s dictation.”

The cave is extremely small, no bigger than an average size living room. The granite-like volcanic formation wraps from below our feet into the Cave and flows back above our head within reach of my fingers. Soot from candles long ago can still be seen in the crags in the walls and ceiling. Today a building’s wall doubles the size of the original cave. This is the ‘Katholikon Chapel’. Only a very faint smell of incense is in the air but the atmosphere, the reverence it inspires, is quite humbling. St John’s exile only lasted 2 years on the Island, in 96 AD after the assassination of the Emperor Domitian St John returned to Ephesus to life out the rest of his days.

Above the ‘Katholikon Chapel’ is: The Monastery of St John the Theologian, giving its full title. It  is a fortified Monastery founded by St Christodoulos in 1095 Ad at the beginning of the Crusades (1095 –1291). This is when the Byzantine Empire was under attack from the east and the west hence its fortifications. Over time a town developed outside the Monastery walls. Now called Chora mostly for protection its 16^th & 17^th century style buildings has a striking resemblance to hill towns in Tuscany. Narrow alleyways with the occasional parked scooter outside it’s owners door can be seen yet the similarity ends there, where in Italy the walls are clay brown in Chora brilliant whitewashed walls dazzle us in the sunlight. Cobbled squares in every shade of white with accents of green (vines) and red (bougainvillea) attract the eye.

Inside the Monastery the fresco paintings outside the Chapel of Panayia are a must see. Wall paintings in vivid colours portrays various miracles of St John can be seen with rare depictions of images of the anti-Christ on the walls outside. Inside the Chapel of Panayia (The Virgin) built in the 12th century and the oldest in the Monastery, ornate frescos undiminished over time are everywhere. Rich purples and gold depict the Madonna and child with the Archangels Michael & Gabriel wingless and dressed in military-imperial uniforms either side.

Listening to Heinrich’s revered enthusiasm is infectious “The Monastery has the best medieval library in Europe with 10s of thousands of documents showing the running of the Monastery and its property. Its archives are used to study the Mediterranean economy from the Middle Ages to the present.” says Heinrich Hall. Sadly access to the archive is by written permission however the Monastery Museum displays the most choice pieces in its collection.”

In a courtyard outside the Monastery we sit drinking frappes (cold Instant coffee) our glass-bottled water advertises ‘Water from Central Greece’ with a marine scene by Alison Reid. We are high amongst the gardens of Chora, our platform shaded by bamboo. To my right silver/green olive branches and eucalyptus trees drape over our balcony Carob trees planted century ago its fruits used for cattle hang within reach of my hands. Fig trees with fleshy leaves and cactus plants with their prickly pears are all around our garden in the trees.

Returning to our boat whilst walking through the port of Skala we are stopped by Heinrich. “This spot marks the location where St John baptised his followers” a small brass plaque purched on a ring of ornate iron fence protects the remains of the original quayside.

Getting there…
David Mutlow travelled with ‘Peter Sommer Travels’ on their North Dodecanese Archaeological tour for seven days visiting Patmos, Samos, Leros, Kos and Halicarnassus (Bodrum) the site of the Mausoleum. One of the seven wonders of the ancient world.

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The recce
It all starts with a ‘recce’, going out to make an on the ground reconnaissance of the sites in a proposed tour area. To me this is like a marvellous adventure, I’m like a child in a sweet shop trying to decide where and what I should start with, perhaps something Greek or maybe Byzantine, perhaps a small but untouched temple standing romantically lost in olive groves or a giant Roman city, like Ephesus, packed with tourists. I love the energy and buzz of visiting new sites, but on a recce I am preoccupied with all the practical things that need to be thought through, especially how to pick and then unite the most special of sites into a compelling and cohesive tour.

Know your way around
I remember the first time I ever led an archaeological tour back in the spring of 1996. I was asked by a UK travel company to step in as tour leader eight days before a trip exploring ancient Caria in Turkey. At first I declined because I hadn’t visited half the sites on the itinerary and wouldn’t dream of taking a group anywhere I hadn’t been. When they called the next day and asked me again, I agreed provided they fly me out the next day and hire me a jeep with driver so I could tear around the sites on a whirlwind recce. It was a baptism of fire, but one that has stood me in very good stead. One of the most important lessons I learned was it doesn’t matter how much you know of a site’s history if you don’t know your way around.

The best approach
In fact the first thing I do when I get to a site is let all the history disappear from my head. For me the first walk around a site is all about practicalities, not least where do I want to begin. More often than not I choose to avoid the specified main entrance and approach a site from a different angle — both physically and historically. I like to enter on an ancient road if possible, like the sacred way leading to the temple of Apollo at Didyma. I like to create a sense of drama, as at Stratonikeia, a Hellenistic foundation in Caria.

A mile away from the main entrance I take groups on a small path through trees, seemingly in the middle of nowhere, which suddenly caves away into a vast theatre with a breathtaking view. If the site is overgrown, and in rural Turkey one goat path looks pretty much like the others, sometimes it’s just a case of finding the best way around.

Round and round
Once I’ve figured out my route around the site, I rewalk the whole route again, and again. Navigation around a site is paramount. When I’m showing a group around I don’t want to be spending my time trying to find my way, and I certainly want my route pre-planned to the best historical and dramatic effect.

Research
After that it’s a case of scouring the libraries to pull out the latest excavation and survey reports. That’s where a top quality tour guide comes into their own, fresh knowledge and a lively perspective, rather than a spiel learned by rote, or material regurgitated from age old guide books.

The sense of journey
Back in the office maps are pulled out and it all comes down to matching up the sites, the story, and the logistics. Many of the tours I arrange are archaeological cruises in Turkey aboard handbuilt wooden gulets. They’re a marvellous way to step back in time, not only do you avoid the hotel changes, the roads, and traffic, but it’s often the best means of exploring ancient civilisations, like the Lycians, who were essentially maritime, geared to the sea.
Gulet cruising along Carian coast, Turkey
What finer way to visit a city like Knidos, where Praxiteles infamous naked statue of Aphrodite once stood, than to sail straight into its old commercial harbour and drop anchor beside its ancient mooring stones. Travel is a key element in the stories I tell, and whether a tour is based on roads or the sea I always try and make a virtue of the transport, by drawing on ancient parallels — be it shipwrecks, travel writing, or the classical tourists and pilgrims who visited the same sites and even bought tacky souvenirs.

A story unfolds
When creating the final tour itinerary, geography and logistics often carry the deciding vote, but if possible I love to start small and build. I think our Lycian cruise works that idea almost perfectly. The first few sites are in breathtaking locations, but in themselves the ruins are scant. They give everyone a chance to get their bearings, to settle into the landscape, and perhaps marvel at one broken tomb, a few inscribed stones, or the odd piece of sculpture lying on the ground. As the days go by, the sites get bigger and more impressive, one has a Byzantine church, the next has a theatre, another has a baths… so each location adds another layer of understanding, another facet of ancient architecture and city life. By the time we reach some of the greatest sites in the world — Aspendos, with one of the best preserved Roman theatres and aqueducts, Perge, a city with great boulevards and agoras lined with columns and baths swathed in marble — the group has already seen the basics and can revel in such size and magnificence.

Timing
Perhaps the other essential element in creating an archaeological tour is timing. Above all don’t cram in too much. I’d much rather give everyone a chance to sit in a theatre and savour the scene, nevermind the view, the birdsong, and the atmosphere, than cram in three sites a day on a whirlwind mission. Don’t travel in the hottest months, and even when it’s a cooler season, avoid the heat of the day, for a start the light is all the better early in the morning and later in the afternoon.

Always more to see
Whether it’s getting to a restaurant for lunch, making sure the drives aren’t too long, or something unique like swimming at Patara where St Nicholas was born, as the sun sinks like an orange orb into the sea, timing is paramount. If that means leaving some great sites out of a tour itinerary, that’s fine, I always think it’s a good rule of thumb to leave some places unexplored so there’s always something special to come back for.

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Here’s a few top tips when looking for an archaeological holiday.

Who’s the Guide?
They can make or break your trip so find out a bit about them. Some local guides are excellent but many have no real training and simply follow a dull repetitive spiel. Academics may be the leading light in their profession, but that doesn’t mean they are effective, enthusiastic, and passionate communicators. If the tour guide is all these things and knowledgeable to boot, you’re probably in for a marvellous trip.

Examine the itinerary
Some tours try to cover too much ground and can be quite exhausting. Is it a case of long drive, out of the coach, into the site, back on the coach…a veritable check list of ancient landmarks that customers can tick off? Is there time to pause, take in the scenery, and soak up the atmosphere? Look for an itinerary that has been carefully thought out and that doesn’t try and cram in too many sites and too much driving.

How big is the group?
Cheap might mean large group sizes where you’re just one in a large herd ferried around like cattle, barely able to hear the tour guide. If this is the case, it’s unlikely that the guide will have the time or energy to listen to you, talk to you personally, or make you feel special in any way. I think 16 maximum seems to work best.

Find out about the company
Make sure that they are reputable and that they comply with the Package Travel, Package Holidays, and Package Tours Regulations 1992, which ensures they offer protection for customers’ money. What’s the company’s history? Some of the bigger travel companies, used to dealing with large numbers, now run cheap ‘cultural’ tours. Compare what these trips have to offer with those run by smaller companies that may be more passionate about archaeology and experienced with escorted tours.

You pay for what you get
The old adage is often true, so it’s not necessarily best going for the cheapest option. Cheaper packages often use big faceless hotels and involve charter flights with departures in the middle of the night. Take the time to choose the right archaeological tour for you. Many travel companies offering archaeological tours are true specialists, so talk to them. Then sign up for what will almost certainly be a unique and exceptional holiday.

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