Ancient Epirus and beyond

This is a Greece tour with a difference, focusing not only on the great poleis or city-states of the south but on some of the fascinating sites of the regions of Acarnania, Epirus and Boeotia. The Epirus landscape is characterised by mountain chains, gorges and jagged coastline, providing a spectacular backdrop to the history of this mesmerizing region. Accompanied by Greek historian, Carolyn Perry, you will see where the Battle of Actium between Octavian and Antony and Cleopatra took place.

The Epirus region is located in the north-west part of Greece, between the mountain range of Pindos and the Ionian sea. It combines impressive mountains and charming seaside scenery. The villages and cities have always been connected via a number of trails carved through the many mountains. Later, this contributed to the flourishing of trade and the development of the region.

Begin in Athens, journey down to Patras, the largest city in the Peloponnese. From here, visit Dodona the city of Olympias, mother of Alexander the Great and capital of King Pyrrhus. Explore the incredible UNESCO city of Nikopolis, the largest ancient city in Greece. Continue onto the UNESCO World Heritage site of Meteora to marvel at the Eastern Orthodox monasteries which cling to the spectacular rock formations that seem to rise miraculously from the plain. In Boeotia pass by the site of the battle of Thermopylae, where the legend of the 300 Spartans was forged, before returning to Athens.