GNT’s new Tourstarter tours not only allow you to help build the tour that you want to go on, but also puts money back in your pocket via profit sharing. As the tour grows – tour participants will enjoy a reduction in their fare. Of course, pricing is not fixed as we have yet to build the tour together, but based on past tours tour participants can expect a price reduction at 20 participants of $125.00 USD, at 25 participants that reduction increases to $200.00 USD and at a sell out of 30 tour participants expect a tour reduction of $250.00 USD.
Further, the tour pricing is based on past tour research. It may fluctuate while we build the tour but hopefully will remain close to the indicated rate.
Spread the word and help us put some money back into your pocket (or a history book on to your shelf)…
About this TourStarter Tour
WE HAVE YET TO BUILD THIS TOUR! We are itching to get to it however, and thus have it listed as a Tourstarter project (see the Special Notice notes above and the “I’m Interested” notes to the right)… The dates have not been settled on nor have tour details been arranged.
Here are some tourstarter questions to get you thinking of the tour you would like to go on…
A) Shall we alter the tour dates? Perhaps we should go in the spring or mid-summer?
B) Are there any Sparta destinations that you feel should be included in the tour?
C) Shall we take in some of Greece’s other sites from different periods like the island town of Monemvasia or the Mystras Castle?
YOU decide….
In 2027 Geek Nation Tours will be headed off to Greece to see the land of Sparta and to visit its battlefields, drink Greek wine, eat well and to game. There will be time to take in Greece’s stellar natural beauty and even have time for a long walks on the beach, so bring your Non-Geek Spouse! This tour will be perfect for everyone. Further, GNT has contacted good family friends in Greece and thus we can expect this to be a spectacular tour. We will often head to areas and restaurants not frequented by tourists and if uncle Nikos is not there with us he will most certainly be guiding us every step of the way from afar….
We will start our Greece tour just outside of Athens on the Athenian Riviera and thus we will be headed straight for the beach. A Historical tour to Marathon, Thermopylae, Delphi, Plataea and Elefsian will follow. Of course no visit to Athens can be complete without a visit to the Acropolis so that will be included as well… Then we will be on the road to visit the Acrocorinth, the Epidaurus Theater, Ancient Mycenae, the Palace of Agamemnon for just a start. We will even end up in Sparta! We will stop there and see the outdoor museum of Mystras, the local Archaeological Museum and of course even pose for a photo with the King Leonidas statue. Our final destination will bring us to Ancient Olympia and the history of the Olympic Games. We might even force you to run the ancient marathon track for more prizes from Red Republic Games. Throughout we will be privileged to see the stunning countryside and beautiful harbours of Greece.
Day 1 - Athens, Greece (Wednesday, Sep. 1, 2027) / Arrival Day
Today we will arrive from all around the world to Athens. You will be given detailed instructions on how to meet up with the rest of the tour participants at our beach hotel in Vouliagemni (note that you’ll always be in constant contact with our representative). From there you will have a free day to head back and explore all that Athens has to offer, or to just take it easy and hang out at the beach taking in the beauty of the Athenian waters.
You will want to return from your explorations to the hotel by mid-evening – or arrive from all places international – as Geek Nation Tours will host our Welcome Dinner. It will be a great opportunity to meet your fellow tour participants and discuss what we are doing in the coming days. We will dine at our beach hotel to better enjoy the surroundings and we might even get some late night gaming in.
We will be staying at our beach hotel the Divani Apollon Palace right in Vouliagemni. Trip Advisor Review
Overnight Location: Athens, Greece
Day 2 - Athens, Greece (Thursday, Sep. 2, 2027) / Acropolis, Parthenon, Agora, Erechtheion, Athen Nike, Temple of Hephaestus, Acropolis, Temple of Olympian Zeus and the Acropolis Museum
Today we will visit perhaps the most famous archeological site in Greece and the most fantastic view of all of Athens. We will spend the full day exploring the Acropolis (if we can we will even try to get a game in while we explore… Perhaps everyone should bring a gladiator – but more on that later). We will visit the Parthenon, the North and South Slopes and the Agora (plus the Agora museum), Erechtheion, Athena Nike, and the Temple of Hephaestus. Plus, we will see at least two sites outside of Acropolis – the Temple of Olympian Zeus and the Acropolis Museum. We will have a local guide that will help us explore the area and allow us to get a better understanding of Ancient times and the importance of this site.
We will stop for lunch sometime during the day’s adventures and when we return to our hotel we will gather for a group dinner.
Overnight Location: Athens, Greece
Day 3 - Marathon, Greece (Friday, Sep. 3, 2027) / Marathon & the Temple of Poseidon at Sounio
We will start today’s explorations at Marathon where the Persian Empire was met and defeated and what would eventually lead to Xerxes invasion 10 years later. We will discuss how a small democratic city-state opposed an empire many times its size and allowed for the development of much of Western civilization. But that is not all, we will explore the battlefield in detail and visit the tombs of the Athenian soldiers who died at that battle.
We will lunch near Marathon, and then make our way to perhaps one of the most romantic places in all of Greece – the Temple of Poseidon at Sounio. The drive itself is worth the trip as we will see incredible views of blue sea, cliffs, secluded beaches, and at the end of the road, the temple of Poseidon! The view of the Aegean Sea from this southernmost tip of Attica is breath taking in and of itself, however, we hope to be there at sunset to see a truly wondrous sight.
We will round off the day with a authentic Greek meal in the small village of Fokaia before returning to our hotel for a final night at our beach hotel for a glass or wine and perhaps some gaming.
Overnight Location: Athens, Greece
Day 4 - Plataeae, Greece (Saturday, Sep. 4, 2027) / Plataeae & Thermopylae
Today we will depart Athens early for Plataeae. Here we will see the final battlefield of the Persian Wars where the united Greek city-states defeated the Persian empire at the battle of Plataeae.
From here we will travel to Thermopylae to discover where king Leonidas led the 300 in a stoic last stand to curb the Persian advance into Greece. While the land has changed greatly since the battle we will get as close as we can to where the Hot Gates where held and see the Leonidas Monument. We will then leave Thermopylae and have some time in Kamena Vourla to perhaps take in the healing waters of the local thermal Hot Springs. When we leave the area we will take the route to Delphi which Ephialtes offered to the Persians as a way around the 300 and their allies.
We will be staying right in Delphi at the Kastalia Hotel. Trip Advisor Review
Overnight Location: Delphi, Greece
Day 5 - Delphi, Greece (Sunday, Sep. 5, 2027) / The Oracle of Delphi, Temple of Apollo Pythios, the Treasury of the Athenians, the Gymnasium and the Sanctuary of Athena Pronaea
The Oracle of Delphi will be the first stop of the day and we will see the natural beauty of what was once thought of as the center of the world and where heaven and earth met. Where the son of Zeus, Apollo, was worshiped and the oracle or Pythia was asked for the god’s guidance of matters of politics, love and war. We will discover Mount Parnassus and its stunning natural beauty. We will visit the Temple of Apollo Pythios, the Treasury of the Athenians, the Temple of Apollo and a local museum which exhibits the Bronze Charioteer and the famous statue of Aghias. From here we will explore the Gymnasium and the Sanctuary of Athena Pronaea prior to departing for Nafpaktos and our ferry on our journey to Olympia.
When we arrive in Olympia there will be time for many of us will game, but you are welcome to explore the city of Olympia on your own or to travel to the many beaches in the area. Geek Nation Tours will be happy to help you with whatever you decide to do with your day. We will however, gather for a group hotel’s garden for a Greek Barbecue and continue gaming well into the night.
We will be staying at the Europa Hotel just outside of Olympia. Trip Advisor Review
Overnight Location: Olympia, Greece
Day 6 - Olympia, Greece (Monday, Sep. 6, 2027) / Ancient Olympic Games Museum & the Archaeological Museum and the Museum of the History of the Excavations at Olympia
Today we explore Ancient Olympia and the history of the Olympic games with a visit to the Ancient Olympic Games Museum. We will also take in the Archaeological Museum and the Museum of the History of the Excavations at Olympia – one of the most important museum sites in all of Greece. The Archaeological Museum even boasts the beautifully reconstructed statues – including the metopes – of the Temple of Zeus and one of the wonders of the ancient world – the statues of Hermes by Praxiteles and the Nike by Paeonius. Plus, we will also, of course, visit the Temple of Hera and Temple of Zeus. After we explore the ruins we will run the track where ancient Greeks started the games. Not sure if you are counting but this is the last of the seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites that we will visit while in Greece. Gamers will have a special treat at this site as we will even see a model of the ancient grounds in miniature.
You will be free for lunch this day to visit one of the Olympia taverns for a some Greek wine and a local meal. On our way back to our hotel we will stop at the small out-of-the-way village of Miraka for a dinner with the locals.
Overnight Location: Olympia, Greece
Day 7 - Kalamata, Greece (Tuesday, Sep. 7, 2027) / The Temple of Apollo Epicurius at Vasses
We will leave Olympia today to discover the first site of Greece’s great monuments to be named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The Temple of Apollo Epicurius at Vasses is remote and often not visited but will make the important journey here. This temple is one of the most studied ancient Greek temples because of its multitude of unusual features with a combination of Doric, Ionic and Corinthian elements. Its single Corinthian capital is the oldest known in the world.
From here we will proceed to the small village of Karitena for another locally made lunch, and then to Kalamata for a group meal and some gaming.
Once in Kalamata we will be staying at the Pharae Palace Hotel. Note that the hotel has thrown in 8 pounds of free laundry service this day! Trip Advisor Review
Overnight Location: Kalamata, Greece
Day 8 - Sparta, Greece (Wednesday, Sep. 8, 2027) / Caves of Diros & King Leonidas
Today we will travel to Sparta and but first we will visit the Caves of Diros. We will travel this underground maze of caves via boat and float down the river to see its Stalagmites and stalactites. We hope that you all come back however, as this is the fabled entrance to the underworld. Hopefully Hades does not have his eyes on you….
We will then explore Sparta but while not much remains of the Spartan civilizations – the warriors were not much for monuments – we will dive into the history and principles of their warrior culture. We will talk about how they prepared for war and how they came to the battlefield. All along we will remind you that we will be very close to where the 300 left from for their fateful last stand. We will have some fun also however, and start the day with a photo op with the King Leonidas Statue outside the local football stadium. We hope to see some of the ruins of ancient Sparta on the way to the Museum of Olive and Greek Oil. We will also visit the biggest historical site in the area the Byzantine outdoor museum of Mystras. We will explore its Byzantine church and fortress and explore the history behind this marvelous architectural wonder.
We will gather together to game tonight, but you will be on your own to explore Kalamata and its many restaurants for dinner.
Overnight Location: Kalamata, Greece
Day 9 - Messini and Nemea, Greece (Thursday, Sep. 9, 2027) / The ruins of ancient Messini
Today we will travel to the ruins of ancient Messini who were noted war enemies of the Spartans. These local rivals build a network of fortifications under the leadership of Epaminodas which encircled its city and enough land and springs so the city could withstand any siege. The fortifications are among the longest in Greece and one can also not only see a functioning Cyclopean gate, sanctuaries, public buildings, homes and tombs, but also a well preserved ancient stadium.
From Messini we will continue to Nemea for a wine tasting and lunch at a local winery. We will then head south and stay overnight in Nafplio – one of the most beautiful harbour towns of area and touted as one of the most romantic places to visit while in Greece. We hope to have time to stroll the harbor area or perhaps even roll some dice in the evening.
Today we will stay at the beautiful Amfitrion Hotel… Please check it out. Trip Advisor Review
Overnight Location: Nafplio, Greece
Day 10 - Ancient Mycenae, Greece (Friday, Sep. 10, 2027) / Epidauros Theater, Stadium and Asklepios plus Epidaurus Archaeological Museum, Ancient Mycenae and the Palace of Agamemnon
Today we will take a short ride to the Epidauros Theater, Stadium and Asklepios plus Epidaurus Archaeological Museum. This area was once dedicated to Asklepios the god of medicine and is considered one of the purest masterpieces of Geek architecture. We will take our time at this site and relax on the seats of the theater. Oh and there is again an awesome view….
We will then be off to Ancient Mycenae and the Palace of Agamemnon. This fortified city was said to be founded by Perseus and was the centre of the Mycenae civilization. Mycenae was described in Homer’s Iliad and was the home of Agamemnon who was instrumental in the Trojan War to recapture Helen.
As the city was said to have been built by the Cyclops perhaps we will even see one to do battle with….
We will end the day’s journey across the Peloponnese a final free evening in Nafplio.
Overnight Location: Nafplio, Greece
Day 11 - Corinth, Greece (Saturday, Sep. 11, 2027) / The Acrocorinth and Ancient Corinth
Today we will leave Nafplio to travel to Corinth to visit and hike to the Acrocorinth and Ancient Corinth (and of course the Temple of Apollo) with Local Guide. This often forgotten archeological site is one of the Greece’s best preserved sites and has a more relaxed feel then the Athens Acropolis. The site has a huge history from Ancient Greece to Roman and Medieval times and we will learn of its long history. Plus, we will get yet another stunning view of the countryside – with olive groves, modern Corinth and the Aegean stretching out to the horizon.
We will then return to Athens proper for our final night in Greece. Once we arrive you will be able to explore the city as this time we will have a hotel right near the Acropolis. Return from your final explorations by the early evening however, as we will host our Farewell Dinner and hand out prizes and maybe roll the dice one last time prior to heading out to a Greek pub or two for a glass of the local wine.
We will stay right in Athens today at the Athenaeum Intercontinental. Trip Advisor Review
Overnight Location: Athens, Greece
Day 12 - Athens, Greece (Sunday, Sep. 12, 2027) / A Journey Home
All good things must end, unfortunately, and today we return to the airport and depart for home. The photos, memories and friendships you made are yours to keep forever!
Tour Notes
NOTE: Attendance of special guests and celebrities is subject to change due to scheduling conflicts and professional obligations.
NOTE: COVID-19 has changed both our geek and our real worlds. Some things may never be the same and others may not be able to be offered on our tours or will have to be altered in a new post Covid world. With that said, please understand that GNT is moving forward as if the disease is already conquered, but all tours are now subject to change.
Gaming while on tour – there will be many chances for spontaneous gaming throughout the tour. In the past the hotels have supplied us with tables and gaming areas and we were happy to be able to game to our hearts content after returning to our hotel in the evening.
What's Included
All accommodations, all transfers, all breakfasts, “Welcome Dinner” and many others as per above. All Museum Entrance fees and all taxes.
What's Not Included
Flights not included. Some small local fees may apply.
Estimated TourStarter Price
Don’t have a friend to get the double occupancy rate? That is what Geek Nation Tours does. Book as a double occupancy and we will match you up a roommate. This way you get the best of both worlds – some one to BS about the tour with – and more cash to spend!
Airfare Note: Geek Nation Tours does not offer air to and from our tours. We are more than happy to help you with your itinerary however, so please feel free to contact us about this for advice on air travel. Further please note that this tour requires three air “legs”. You must purchase air to the UK and departing home from Athens from your city of origin as well as air from London to Athens.
Please Note that the above pricing is just an estimate and the final price will be determined upon settling our itinerary and coming to a collaborative decision on all details. Pricing is based on previous estimates however, and thus is a good estimate of the final price.
Additional Options
Want a few extra days in the UK or Greece to chill out or want to go to other places in Europe after the tour? Geek Nation Tours will be more than happy to arrange it for you.
Non-Geek Spouse Argument
“But think of the historical sites…and the beaches. We can take long walks on the beach between gaming.”