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Sailing the Peloponnese - Athens, Mycenae, Epidauros, Olympia, Delphi
10
days
from
£6,710
Book today with a deposit of
£1,007
1st - 10th September 2027
Cruise highlights
- Private evening access to the Acropolis Museum — with two nights in Athens to immerse yourself in the city before we set sail.
- Seven nights aboard the Variety Voyager — a 4-star mega yacht chartered exclusively for our group.
- Two experts on Classical Greece bring the ancient world to life on board and on site.
- The greatest sites of Ancient Greece – Mycenae, Epidauros, Olympia and Delphi, among the most resonant places in Western civilisation.
- A maximum of 60 – travelling as two groups on site, each accompanied by an expert.
This is a voyage to the heartlands of Greece: mythical and historical, sacred and political, places embedded in the formative centuries of Western civilisation. Mycenae, Epidauros, Olympia and Delphi are among the sites that resonate in the collective consciousness — and all feature in this exceptional opportunity to sail around the ‘isle of Pelops’, the Peloponnese. It is a land mass encompassing snow-peaked mountains, orange groves and vineyards, the pastures of Arcadia, and many millions of olive trees. Entire villages survive unchanged since the establishment of Christianity. Yet the Peloponnese is known above all for its breeding of heroes: Pelops, Herakles, Nestor, Agamemnon, Menelaus — and those who fought for Greek independence in the 19th century.
As prelude, we acclimatise culturally in Athens, the model city of Classical antiquity — even when it was losing wars. Our first port of call is Nauplion, first capital of modern Greece and gateway to the Bronze Age strongholds of Tiryns and Mycenae. Passage south takes us to Laconia, territory of the ancient Spartans, and Monemvasia, where Byzantine, Frankish, Venetian and Ottoman occupation has left its successive mark. The Mani Peninsula — rugged, invariably and accurately — leads us onward to Olympia, where excavations continue to reveal the original epicentre of organised sport. Another epicentre beckons: the great sanctuary of Apollo at Delphi, once deemed the navel of the world.
We return to Athens through the Corinth Canal, that superb engineering feat first envisioned by the emperor Nero.
Videos
Brochure
Itinerary
We offer a morning flight from London Heathrow to Athens. The tour begins at 7.00pm with drinks, an introductory talk and dinner in the hotel. First of two hotel nights in Athens.
Morning visit to the Acropolis, the foremost site of Classical Greece. Built during the apogee of Athenian power 447–438 bc and dedicated to Athena, the Parthenon temple is unequalled for sophistication of design, quality of craftsmanship and beauty of sculpture. Other architectural masterpieces here are the Propylaia (monumental gateways) and the exquisitely wrought Erechtheion with the Karyatid (‘maidens’) porch. Free afternoon followed by a dinner and a private evening visit to the Acropolis museum with superb Archaic and Classical sculpture.
This morning visit either the National Archaeological Museum (subject to renovation works) or the Benaki museum, both fine collections of Greek art and artefacts. Alternatively opt for free time - Plaka and Anafiotika are charming old quarters on the slopes of the Acropolis with a scattering of ancient remains including the Library of Hadrian and the Tower of the Winds. In the afternoon take the coach to Lavrion and board Variety Voyager for the first of 7 nights. Sail in the early evening to Nauplion.
Today’s theme is the Mycenaean civilisation of the Argolid Plain, the Greece of Homer’s heroes (16th–13th centuries bc). Visit Tiryns, a citadel with massive Cyclopean walls of enormous blocks of masonry. In the afternoon visit Mycenae, reputedly Agamemnon’s capital, with the Treasury of Atreus (finest of beehive tombs) and Acropolis (Lion Gate).
Morning excursion to Epidauros, centre for the worship of Asclepios, god of medicine, where popular magical dream cures were dispensed. Includes the best-preserved of all Greek theatres. Free afternoon in Nauplion, among the most attractive towns on mainland Greece. There are spectacular views of the town from the 18th-century Venetian Fortress of Palamidi and the archaeological museum has an eclectic collection of artefacts from all over southern Argolis. Sail overnight to Monemvasia.
A stunning, medieval fortress town, peppered with Byzantine and Venetian architecture. Either take a guided walk or wander at leisure through the cobbled streets. Continue sailing in the mid-afternoon to Gythion.
All-day excursion to the incredibly well-preserved, fortified city of Mystras with a complex history. Occiped by the Franks, Byzantines, Turks and Venetians over the course of c.600 years, it flourished as a political and administrative centre of the Byzantine state, becoming a unique intellectual, cultural and artistic centre in the 13th and 14th centuries. Left behind is an impressive complex of palaces, mansions and painted churches. Sail overnight to Katakolon.
Nestling in a verdant valley, Olympia is one of the most evocative of ancient sites; never a town, but the principal sanctuary of Zeus and site of the quadrennial pan-Hellenic athletics competitions. Many fascinating structures remain, including the temples of Hera and Zeus, the workshop of Phidias and the stadium. The museum contains fragments of pediment sculpture, among the most important survivals of Classical Greek art. Sail overnight to Itea.
Clinging to the lower slopes of Mount Parnassos, Delphi is the most spectacularly evocative of ancient Greek sites. Of incalculable religious and political importance, the Delphic oracle attracted pilgrims from all over the Hellenic world. The Sanctuary of Pythian Apollo has a theatre and Athenian Treasury, and the Sanctuary of Athena has a circular temple. The museum is especially rich in Archaic sculpture. Sail in the afternoon through the 6km-long Corinth Canal whose near vertical walls rise to almost 90m high. Return to Lavrion in the late evening.
Disembark by 9.00am. Coaches drop at Athens airport in time for the British Airways flight to London at c. 1.20pm.
Expert speakers
Dr Nigel Spivey
Senior Lecturer in Classical Art and Archaeology at the University of Cambridge and Fellow of Emmanuel College. Among his publications are Understanding Greek Sculpture, Greek Art, Enduring Creation, The Ancient Olympics and Classical Civilization: A History in Ten Chapters. He presented the BBC2/PBS series How Art Made the World.
More tours led by Dr Nigel Spivey
Dr Peter Haarer
Dr Peter Haarer is a lecturer at Keble College, University of Oxford, who has tutored students in the history and archaeology of Archaic and Classical Greece for more than twenty years. He wrote his doctoral thesis on the development of iron during the Early Iron Age (the latter stemming from a brief spell in the modern steel industry) before developing an interest in the emergence of the Greek alphabet. He has directed the Practical Epigraphy Workshop for eighteen years and has taken part in a number of fieldwork projects in Greece.
More tours led by Dr Peter Haarer
Practicalities
Lower deck – Category C
Single occupancy: £8,120
Not available for double occupancy
Lower deck – Category B
Two sharing: £6,710 per person
Single occupancy: £8,830
Main deck – Category B
Two sharing: £6,710 per person
Single occupancy: £8,830
Main deck – Category A
Two sharing: £8,090 per person
Single occupancy: £11,470
Upper deck – Category P
Two sharing: £8,620 per person
Not available for single occupancy
Upper deck – Owners Suite
Two sharing: £9,310 per person
Not available for single occupancy
Category B cabins on the lower deck are slightly bigger than those on the main deck, and have porthole windows. Category B cabins on the main deck are slightly smaller than those on the lower deck and have larger, rectangular windows.
Flights: if you would like to add flights to and from London to your booking, there is an additional cost of £360 per person.
– Hotel accommodation (5-star) in Athens for two nights.
– Ship accommodation on board the 4-star mega-yacht, Variety Voyager, exclusively chartered for our group of a maximum 60 participants and staff.
– Most meals, from dinner on the first day to breakfast on the last with wine, beer and soft drinks. Four meals are in restaurants ashore. There are just two independent lunches in Athens.
– Coach travel between airport and ship, and to sites when not reached on foot. If you are booking your flights independently, you may join one of our transfers, so long as they coincide with our group flight arrivals.
– Lectures by Dr Peter Haarer and Dr Nigel Spivey on board the ship and some guiding in situ, alongside local guides.
– Excursions, visits and admission costs.
– All tips for waiters, ship crew, local guides, drivers; all city and port taxes.
– The assistance of experienced Martin Randall Travel staff.
– A printed booklet including practical details, maps and background information.
We offer flights from London with this cruise:
Economy with British Airways
Wednesday 1st September: LondonHeathrow to Athens (BA 628 departing at 9.25 and arriving at 15.20).
Friday 10th September: Athens to London Heathrow (BA 627 departing 13.20 and arriving at 15.30).
Accommodation in Athens, 1–3 September 2027
Royal Olympic Hotel. Rated locally as 5 star, this is a comfortable hotel located a 10-minute walk from the Acropolis. We have booked ‘Athenian Panorama’ rooms with views over Athens. The roof garden restaurant has views of the Acropolis. Décor is traditional in style and there is an outdoor swimming pool (weather permitting).
The Ship
Variety Voyager is a comfortable, 36-cabin mega-yacht, launched in 2012 and renovated in 2023. With facilities equivalent to a 4-star hotel, the multinational crew is dedicated to the highest standards of service.
All cabins have windows to the outside and are equipped with the facilities such as adjustable air conditioning, television, safe and hairdryer. Bathrooms have showers only.
Cabins on the Upper and Main decks have large windows while those on the Lower deck have portholes. There are no single cabins as such but we are allocating some for single occupancy. Cabin sizes vary across decks.
Public areas are generous with an air-conditioned dining room and lounge, both of which open onto a covered terrace. The sundeck has sunloungers.
The size of the ship means we are, more often than not, able to dock in port rather than anchor outside, avoiding the use of tenders or zodiacs.
Cabin sizes – Double occupancy:
Owners suite (upper deck): 4 windows, double bed, 22.5m2
Category P (upper deck): 2 windows, double bed, 15.9–20.7m2
Category A (main deck): 2 windows, double or twin beds, 12.4–16m2
Category B (main deck): 2 windows, twin beds, 12.8m2
Category B (lower deck): 2 portholes, double bed, 14–18.6m2
Cabin sizes – Single occupancy:
Category A (main deck): 2 windows, double or twin beds, 12–13.6m2
Category B (main deck): 2 windows, double or twin beds, 10.7–12.3m2
Category B (lower deck): 2 portholes, double bed, 14m2
Category C (lower deck): 2 portholes, double or twin beds, 12.8–13.5m2
A good level of fitness is necessary for visits to archaeological sites and towns where coaches cannot access the centre. Rough ground, steps, cobbled streets and hills are standard. If you have a medical condition or a disability which may affect your holiday or necessitate special arrangements being made for you, please discuss this with us before booking – or, if the condition develops or changes subsequently, as soon as possible before departure. A good level of fitness is necessary for the visits to large archaeological sites as well as small towns where coaches cannot access the centre. Steps, cobbled streets, rough ground and hills are standard.
Maximum group size of 60 participants and staff.
Before booking, please refer to the FCDO website and Travel Health Pro to ensure you are happy with the travel advice for the destination(s) you are visiting.
Dates & prices
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2027
Date
Speaker
Price
Date:
1st - 10th September 2027
Speaker:
Dr Nigel Spivey & Dr Peter Haarer
Price:
from £6,710
(Based on two sharing)Testimonials
“Even though I had read a lot of material by and about the Ancient Greeks, I learned so much.
”
“A great cruise – excellent and well thought out destination, accommodation, sites and sights, lecturer and tour manager. It was a pity when it ended!
”
“Nigel Spivey has a profound and comprehensive knowledge of his subject with a light touch, which made the trip both intellectually stimulating and hugely enjoyable.
”
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