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Greece and Crete Anniversary Tour

YOUR TOUR INCLUDES:

Day 1, 11 May (Athens)

Welcome to this moving tour in the footsteps of the Diggers of 1941. We will come together in Athens this evening and enjoy a welcome drink and dinner in our hotel, an opportunity to get to know our fellow travellers, Tour Manager and Historian better. (D)

STAR INCLUSIONS: Welcome drink – Welcome dinner

Day 2, 12 May (Athens)

This morning we will explore Athens as a group. We will begin by enjoying a half-day sightseeing tour of some of the city’s most famous sites, including the Acropolis, Syntagma Square, the Olympic Stadium and more. After free time for lunch, we will visit the Phaleron War Cemetery, the final resting place of many of the men who were killed during the fighting in Greece in 1941. Tonight we will enjoy a traditional Greek dinner in the vibrant Plaka area. (B, D)

STAR INCLUSIONS: Athens sightseeing tour – Visit to Phaleron War Cemetery – Dinner in the Plaka

Day 3, 13 May (Athens to Navplion)

This morning we will depart Athens and travel west along the coast of the Gulf of Saros, visiting the evacuation beaches from which the British and Australian troops were forced from Greece in April 1941 and the airfields the Luftwaffe used to launch the world's first-ever airborne invasion. We will then visit the spectacular Corinth Canal, site of one of the desperate battles of the Greek campaign. Later we will drive on to Navplion where we will enjoy dinner in our hotel. (B, D)

STAR INCLUSIONS: Touring of the Corinth Canal – Dinner

Day 4, 14 May (Navplion to Olympia)

Today we will drive through the Mountains of Arcadia to Olympia, where the first Olympic Games were held in 776 BC. We will visit the ancient Olympic stadium and the ruins of the Temples of Zeus and Hera. Tonight we will enjoy a special traditional Greek dinner. (B, D)

STAR INCLUSIONS: Touring ancient Olympia – Temples of Zeus and Hera – Traditional Greek dinner

Day 5, 15 May (Olympia to Delphi)

This morning we will depart Olympia and drive north towards Patras and cross the Gulf of Corinth on the spectacular Rion-Antirion Bridge, the world’s longest cable-stayed bridge and a marvel of modern engineering. We will then drive to Delphi on the slopes of mighty Mount Parnassus to see the home of the legendary Oracle. We will walk the Sacred Way to the Sanctuary of Apollo and enjoy a tour of this ancient archaeological site. Tonight we will enjoy dinner in our hotel. (B, D)

STAR INCLUSIONS: Crossing the Rion-Antirion Bridge – Ancient sites of Delphi

Day 6, 16 May (Delphi to Athens)

This morning we will depart Delphi for the battlefield at Brallos Pass. This was the scene of a determined delaying action which was fought by Australian troops in 1941. We will enjoy lunch in a restaurant in a nearby village overlooking the Aegean Sea. In the afternoon we visit to the site of the ancient Battle of Thermopylae in 480BC. This evening we will return to Athens and enjoy dinner in our hotel. (B, L, D)

STAR INCLUSIONS: Touring the Brallos Pass and Thermopylae battlefields – Lunch – Dinner

Day 7, 17 May (Athens to Crete)

This morning we depart Athens for the island of Crete. We will fly into the town of Chania and on arrival enjoy lunch on the waterfront of the Venetian harbour. Our afternoon and evening will be free to explore this charming town. (B, L)

STAR INCLUSIONS: Flight from Athens to Crete – Lunch – Free time in Chania

Day 8, 18 May (Chania)

Today we will explore the battlefields around Chania, scene of some of the toughest fighting of the Crete campaign. We will visit Maleme Airfield, Hill 107, the Second World War German cemetery and Tavronitis Bridge. We will enjoy lunch in Galatas followed by a visit to the Prison Valley battlefield. Our evening is free. (B, L)

STAR INCLUSIONS: Touring of the Chania battlefields – Lunch

Day 9, 19 May (Chania to Rethymnon)

This morning we will depart Chania for Rethymnon, scene of a famous Australian action during the campaign. We will travel around Souda Bay visiting the site of the Battle of 42nd Street, Souda Bay Commonwealth War Cemetery, the Malaxa escarpment and Vrisis. We will enjoy lunch in Vrisis and then travel on to Rethymnon. On arrival we will visit the Australian Memorial in Rethymnon and tour the harbour and the fortress. Our evening is free. (B, L)

STAR INCLUSIONS: Touring of the Souda Bay area – Lunch

Day 10, 20 May (Battle of Crete Anniversary)

Today we will spend the full day touring the Rethymnon battlefield stopping at Missyria Beach, St Georges Church in Perivolia, Wadi Bardia, Hill A and the Australian Memorial at Stavromenos. We will also take part in anniversary services commemorating the beginning of the battle in 1941. Our evening is free. (B)

STAR INCLUSIONS: Touring of the Rethymon battlefields – Battle of Crete anniversary commemorations

Day 11, 21 May (Sfakia)

This morning we will farewell Rethymnon and travel over the White Mountains to the south of Crete and visit the Sfakia Memorial in the Chora Sfakion village. This was the place where the Allies evacuated Crete after being defeated by the Germans. Later we will enjoy a tour along the beautiful south coast to the village of Plakias. In the afternoon we will return to Chania passing the narrow Kotsifou Gorge and the small villages of Kali Sikia, Velanado and Argiroupolis. We will enjoy dinner on arrival in our hotel. (B, D)

STAR INCLUSIONS: Touring the Sfakia area – Dinner

Day 12, 22 May (Crete to Athens)

Our tour of the battlefields of Crete ends today with a morning flight back to Athens. On arrival in Athens we will have time at leisure to further explore the city. This evening we will be transferred to a traditional restaurant for a farewell dinner. (B, D)

STAR INCLUSIONS: Flight from Crete to Athens – Farewell dinner

Day 13, 23 May (Athens)

Sadly our tour of the Greece and Crete battlefields ends this morning after breakfast. The journey may be over but the memories will last a lifetime. (B)

STAR INCLUSIONS: Assistance with hotel check-out


WHAT ARE STAR INCLUSIONS?: 'Star Inclusions' are the extra things we provide each day that make your tour really special. You don't pay extra for Star Inclusions - they are included in the tour cost, and many of them are exclusive to Mat McLachlan Battlefield Tours.

Spend some more time in Athens before or after your tour! Pre- and post-tour accommodation is available at discounted rates.

*Per person, twin share, land only. Single supplement: $1097. Ask about our airfare deals, which offer great discounts when booked in conjunction with our tours.