GREECE

Surrounded by miles and miles of clear blue Aegean Sea waters, Greece lies along the eastern edge of Europe- a tiny country, jam-packed with everything a tourist destination could boast of. Oodles of history and culture; towering mountains and golden beaches; wooded hills and ancient ruins: not much is missing in Greece. The land of Socrates and Plato, Greece was the abode of fabled gods and mythical goddesses and home to some of the most brilliant architectural works of all times, Greece is today a revelation of history. No, you won’t have Greeks quoting from Plato and Aristotle at every street corner, but you will see vibrant dancing, you will eat sinfully delicious Mediterranean food and you will- like thousands of other visitors- gaze in awe at the majesty of temples which were built before the birth of Christ. Greece is a land rich in culture, a culture which continues to enthrall long after you’ve returned from your trip. From the ageing splendor of the Acropolis and the Parthenon, all the way to the vineyards of Crete to the ancient Temple of Delphi, to the whitewashed buildings in Mykonos, Greece will be a voyage that is an explorer’s delight and will never cease to overwhelm you. Capital: Athens Best time to visit: 1.If you want the beaches of Crete and the archaeological monuments of Athens all to yourself, consider a trip between the end of April (after Easter) and late June. 2. The crowds are smaller, the weather is warm but not hot and the infrastructure is still running well. 3. September and October offer about the same advantages. 4. Tourist season is June to September and that’s when you’ll get great weather, lots of activity and lots of crowd! Some of Greece’s most lively events are held during the tourist season. 5.Of these, the Athens Festival is among the most prominent- it hosts drama and music performances in Greece’s ancient amphitheatres, giving the tourist a dazzling cultural experience. 6.The winters are damp and cold – plus the quality of the tourism services takes something of a nosedive in winter. Seems like this is vacation time for the Greek tourist industry, although the situation is slowly improving Minimum days required: 5 days Places of Interest: 1) Athens – Acropolis of Athens, Partheneon, Plaka, Acropolis Museum,Ancient Agora of Athens 2) Santorini– Caldera, Thirassia, Hot Springs SulphurBeach,Skaros,Kamari 3) Crete –The Gorge of Samaria,Ancient Lappa, Argiroupoli, Lake Kournas, Loutro, Chania Old town 4) Mykonos-Panormos Beach, Archaeological site of Delos, Matoyianni Street, Little Venice 5) Cyclades Islands 6) Heraklion – Knossos, Heraklion Archeological Museum, Historical Museum of Crete Climate: 1.You will find a distinctive weather pattern in every different Greek region you visit. For the typical Mediterranean hot, dry summer followed by wet mild winters, you need to be in the south and central part of the country. 2.The months of May, June, September and October are pleasant while July and August can be scorching. Northern Greece, on the other hand, has a more continental climate. 3.The natural barrier of the Pindus ensures major rains for the western part of the country, but much less for the east. Snow is common in the mountains Currency: Euro Things to carry: 1.For the summer – Shorts, t-shirts, capris, tank tops, jeans, sweatpants, sweat shirts, long sleeve shirts, skirts, dress shirts, sweater, dress shoes, sandals, slip on shoes, sneakers, comfortable hiking shoes, lots of sunscreen, sunglasses, hats. 2.For the winters, pack woolens as well as light clothes, weather in Greece in unpredictable How to get there: Air 1.Being the major tourist destination that it is, Greece has 16 international airports, which is a lot for a country of its diminutive size. 2.The busiest airport is Athens International Airport, which has frequent flights connecting it to major destinations across Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia and America. 3.The national airline, Olympic Airways, is the chief carrier on Greek routes, although a number of other international airlines- including Delta, Alitalia, KLM, Lufthansa and British Airways also fly to Greece. 4. Other than Athens International Airport, the other major airports in Greece include Thessalonica, Heraklion (Crete) and Rhodes.