5-Day Percy Jackson Mythology Trip

During your first full day of this Greek mythology tour you will visit the highlights of Athens and also the Temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounion.

Our guide will meet you at your hotel after you have finished breakfast, and explain the day’s events before showing you the highlights of Athens. You will begin by walking to the top of the Acropolis Hill. Along the way you will soon discover that our guide is a lot of fun, and the kids will love the way that they mix together stories from Greek mythology, Percy Jackson, and the history of Athens.

When you reach the top of the Acropolis Hill, you will be met by wonderful views out over Athens. Our guide will also show you the most significant buildings on top of the hill which of course includes the magnificent Parthenon; you and your kids are certain to learn a lot about its role in ancient Greece.

After making your way back down from the top of the hill, your next destination will be the Acropolis Museum. This is one of the most modern museums in Greece, and one the kids are sure to love. Our guide will explain the different artifacts, and create a story about what life was like in ancient Athens. You will discover for example, that the famous Greek statues were not white at all. In fact, they were painted all sorts of different colors! You will leave the museum knowing much more about ancient Greece and its mythology, something you will appreciate as the mythology tour continues over the next few days.

With the tour of the museum over, it will be getting close to lunchtime. There are two options for lunch. One is to have lunch somewhere in the historic center of Athens. The other is to drive towards Cape Sounion and stop off at a local tavern that specializes in seafood. Whichever choice you decide to make, we’re sure that the delicious Greek cuisine will appeal to everyone.

After everyone has finished eating and is rested, the tour continues on to Cape Sounion. If there is time, you might even be able to stop for a swim along the way during the summer or an hour-long visit to Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center during the winter. Eventually, you will arrive at Cape Sounion and the Temple of Poseidon later in the afternoon. This Temple has stood here for several thousand years and occupies an incredible viewing point.

If your kids are Percy Jackson fans, they will already be able to tell you that Poseidon was the God of the Sea. Our guide will show you around this site that is dedicated to him, and tell stories which are connected with both the temple and the surrounding area. With the sun finally beginning to set, they will then show you the best place where you can view the sunset and catch the sun’s rays glistening off of the Temple columns. Catching the sunset at the Temple of Poseidon is a memorable experience, and once the sun has finally disappeared beneath the horizon, it will be time to begin the drive back to your hotel.

Stay Overnight In: Athens

On the second day of your family Greek mythology tour, you’ll be visiting the UNESCO World Heritage site of Delphi. Your kids may know that the Oracle features in some of the Percy Jackson books, but they also held an important role in the ancient Greek world. People would come from hundreds of miles away to hear what prophecies the Oracle held for them, and Delphi was an important pilgrimage center.

Our guide will show you around the archaeological site and the accompanying Museum. They will explain some of the myths and legends attached to the area, as well as the importance of the archaeological remains. These include a stadium, several temples, and other ruins. As you will find throughout this family mythology tour of Greece, there will be plenty of interactivity, and role-playing during the day!

After enjoying your time at Delphi, and soaking up some of the most peaceful views in Greece, it will be time to begin the drive back to your hotel in Athens. There will be plenty to talk about on the way though, as you will all have learned so much more about ancient Greece and its customs!

Stay Overnight In:  Athens

You will be collected from Athens by private vehicle, and then start the drive towards the Peloponnese region of Greece. About an hour out of Athens, we will stop off at Corinth canal. This is an incredible feat of architectural skill, and is a good place to take photos. After stretching your legs, you will then carry on to the first destination which is the archaeological site of Epidaurus.

Epidaurus is a large archaeological complex with two main features. The first of these is the theater which has incredible acoustics. The second is the Asklepios healing sanctuary. If your kids are fans of Percy Jackson, they may know that Asklepios was the God of healing from the Rick Riordan book ‘The Blood of Olympus’.

Our final destination of the day is the town of Nafplion. This is often described as one of the most beautiful towns in Greece, and it is easy to see why. Walking through the narrow streets where colourful flowers, outdoor cafes and a laid-back atmosphere prevail, there are plenty of opportunities for some memorable photos. 

Our guide will show you some hidden gems, the main attractions, and also take you to where the best ice cream in town is sold! She will also make suggestions for the best local tavern for a delicious lunch! Get a goodnight's sleep in one of Nafplio's beautiful boutique hotels and get ready for the next adventure!

Finally, before this fabulous day ends, your last stop is at the Komboloi Museum in Nafplion! Unique in the world, this museum offers knowledge along with almost a thousand rare old strings of beads dated from 1700 to 1950. After a short tour, you will watch the fabrication of the strings of beads, and you get to make you own komboloi, selecting beads of pure amber, mastic-amber, faturan-amber, bone, shell, coral, horn, crystal, artificial resin, etc...!

Stay Overnight in: Nafplion 

Ancient Olympia is one of the most impressive of the archaeological sites in Greece. Due to its remote location in the Peloponnese, it is not as well visited as the Acropolis and Delphi. We’ve included it on this mythological tour of Greece, however, so that you will have the opportunity to visit the birthplace of the Olympic Games!

If your kids have read “The Blood of Olympus” they will know that this is where Percy Jackson and his friends battle Nike. In the book, they amusingly suggest that Adidas shoes are better than Nike! In reality, though, Olympia was the place where athletes gathered from all over the Greek world to compete against each other in games of skill and strength.

During your time at the site, our guide will explain how the Greek city-states held truces which prevented them from going to war at the times of the Olympic games. This meant that athletes could travel to Olympia in safety. It must have been quite an occasion in ancient times, with all those athletes coming from near and far away! You too can hold your own mini-Olympic games here if you like, as it is still possible to run on the running track which is several thousand years old. Our guide can take photos of you on the start line, and even judge who has won if the race ends in a draw!

Stay Overnight In: Nafplion

After breakfast you climb aboard the mini-van and drive to Mycenae which was one of the most important Greek city-states of the ancient world. It is mentioned in many myths and legends, with perhaps the most famous character being King Agamemnon who is known for his role in the war against Troy.

Mycenae is a fortified Bronze Age City which is thought to have reached the height of its power at about 1300 BC, and was said to have been founded by Perseus himself. If you have heard of the war of Troy and King Agamemnon, this was the place that King Agamemnon called home.

Our guide will show you around this UNESCO world heritage site, and explain more about the myths and legends associated with it. Your kids will love exploring the ancient ruins of this once powerful city, as well as learning more about Greek mythology through interactive games and other activities throughout the day.

The next stop is the city-state of ancient Corinth was mentioned in the Greek myth of Jason and the Argonauts. It was also one of the most important city-states of the ancient Greek world. As our guide shows you around the site, they will explain some of the mythology and legends attached to the area. This includes the story of the Sorceress Medea. You kids may already know of her from the Percy Jackson book The Lost Hero but now they will hear so much more. They may even be shocked at the true nature of the myth!

With stories of King Agamemnon, Troy, Gods and Heroes still fresh in your minds, you will then begin the drive back to Athens. For some people, this may be the end of their holiday. For others, the beauty of the Greek islands awaits!

Stay Overnight In: Athens OR take flights/ferry to next destination