WWII Heroes of Greece Tour
Athens, Corinth Canal, Kalavrita, Loannina, Kastoria, Thessaloniki, Greece; including Chania, Rethymno, and Heraklio, Crete (Greece) . . .
Tour Highlights:
• Overnight in spectacular luxury accommodations including mostly 5-Star Hotels
• Experience the history of ancient Athens, and see the Acropolis Rock and Plaka
• Perfect balance of history and culture, including leisure time in Thessaloniki
• Enjoy Scenery like Loutraki / Corinth Canal and fun on Odontotos rack railway
• World War II Tour of Greece includes 3 amazing nights on the island of Crete
• Discover the history of atrocities in Greece at the Kalavrita Holocaust Memorial
• We include roundtrip domestic flight from Athens to Crete and back to Athens
• Experience counts! We have operated WWII Tours in Europe for over 25 years
Tour Dates:
2025 Tour Dates - TBA
Tour Rates:
USD 4,990 pp in Double Room
USD 5,590 pp in Single Room
Tour Rates do not include Airfare.
WWII Heroes of Greece Tour
Alpventures® WWII Heroes of Greece Tour is our new heroic journey to the ancient world of Greece - in cooperation with EYZHN Greece. Together, we are offering an incredible opportunity to experience the World War II sites of this amazing country.
The defiance and resistance of Greece during the Second World War is remarkable, yet not many people know their story. In 1940 the Italians (under the dictator Benito Mussolini), issued an ultimatum to the Greeks demanding them to allow the Italian Army to cross into and occupy Greece. Greece responded with the famous "OHI" (meaning "NO") which marked the beginning of the country's participation in WWII. This action was one of Greece's finest moments, inspiring the rest of the world. October 28, 1940 was a date marked with the nation's courage and bravery. The Greek Army was able to temporarily halt the invasion and push the Italians back into Albania. The Greek successes forced Nazi Germany to intervene. The Germans invaded Greece and Yugoslavia on 6 April 1941, and overran both countries within a month (despite British aid to Greece in the form of an expeditionary corps). The German conquest of Greece was completed in May with the capture of Crete from the air, although the German paratroopers suffered such extensive casualties in this operation that German High Command abandoned large-scale airborne operations for the remainder of the war. The German diversion of resources in the Balkans is also considered by some historians to have delayed the launch of the invasion of the Soviet Union (June 1941) by a critical month, which proved disastrous when the German Army failed to take Moscow. Inspired by the heroism of Greeks and the events of that period, we start and finish in Athens.
What's Included
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Day-by-Day Tour Itinerary
We encourage you to arrive early in Athens before the tour begins, or extend your stay after the tour concludes in Athens, Greece. Contact us for assistance.
OCT 13: IN FLIGHT - Departure from the USA or your home country today
OCT 14: ARRIVAL AND TOUR ORIENTATION
Our first meeting will be at the lobby of your hotel, late afternoon. This is the first time we will meet up as a group, to meet your fellow travelers and our team (late afternoon). Once you are checked in, tonight we enjoy an authentic Greek dinner together, followed by an introduction of the tour program. Overnight Athens. (D)
OCT 15: ATHENS WAR MUSEUM / ACROPOLIS
Breakfast. Today we will start with an informative historical recall during a walk towards the Athens War Museum, followed by a guided museum tour. (The museum offers a timeline of Greek history through military conflicts. The Greeks' heroic resistance mounted against the Nazis is presented with significant emphasis.) Our VIP Coach will then transfer us to the Acropolis Rock and a light lunch at picturesque Plaka area will follow. The afternoon and evening will be at leisure with the option for a visit at the Acropolis Museum. Overnight Athens. (B)
OCT 16: AVEROFF MUSEUM / PIRAEUS
After breakfast, we start our day with a visit at Kommandant Detention Center, right in heart of Athens. This is a spot virtually unknown and rarely visited. Next, we will visit the Naval Museum located inside the battleship "Averoff" with a local guide. "Georgios Averoff" is a modified Pisa-class armored ship built in Italy for the Royal Hellenic Navy in the first decade of the 20th century. The ship served as the Greek flagship during the first half of the century. Today it serves as a floating Naval Museum. We continue with a visit to Pasalimani and Mikrolimano, two small harbors in Piraeus. Lunch is by the sea today. This afternoon is at leisure with an option to visit the Acropolis Museum. Overnight Athens. (B, L)
OCT 17: KALAVRITA HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL
Breakfast and check out of our Athens hotel. Morning transfer to the town of Ioannina, with a few stops along the way. Our first stop will be at St. Patapios Monastery in Loutraki, where we will have a stunning view of the Corinth Canal and present the strategic location and battles which took place here. Upon departure from Loutraki, a stop over the Canal is a must, for photos and to take in the incredible views, before we continue to Diakopto village. At Diakopto, we will ride the exciting "Odontotos" rack railway up to Kalavrita village. Here we will visit the Holocaust monument. Kalavrita is a very beautiful village and an ideal place for lunch and short walks before we continue our journey. Our last stop of the day will be in Ioannina just in time for dinner. Overnight Ioannina. (B, D)
OCT 18: KALPAKI BATTLEFIELD TOUR
Breakfast and departure to the historic village of Kalpaki with a visit at the local War Museum, where we will analyze the planning and outcome of the first actual battle of WWII in Greece. The outnumbered Greeks pushed back the Italians (invading from Albania) in November 1940, at the Battle of Kalpaki (Elaias), thus providing the Allies with their first major land victory. We continue to the small town of Konitsa and will be briefed on another battle, on the way to Bourazani. We include a visit to "Molyvdoskepasti" (lead roofed) church followed by lunch at Bourazani. After lunch, we'll have a brief stop αt Klisoura before we continue to our hotel in Kastoria and relax before dinner. Overnight Kastoria. (B, D)
OCT 19: FORT ROUPEL / THESSALONIKI
Breakfast. This morning we will leave Kastoria and visit Vevi and Fort Roupel, where we will discuss the battle that took place here. Built in 1914, Fort Roupel is located at the north border of Central Macedonia, Greece. It became part of the fortifications of the Metaxas Line in the 1930's and was famous for it's defence during the German invasion of Greece in April 1941. Enjoy a tasty picnic lunch at a picturesque location near the Fort. This afternoon, we will depart the area for Thessaloniki, where we will check-in to our hotel and have the remainder of the afternoon and evening at leisure. Overnight Thessaloniki. (B, L)
OCT 20: THESSALONIKI / CHANIA, CRETE
Breakfast at leisure this morning. We will continue our heroic journey across Greece with our short (included) flight to Chania, Crete. Upon arrival, we will transfer to the hotel for check-in and and to freshen up. This afternoon, we head to the historical village of Maleme, where we discuss the battles on Crete before visiting the Allied Forces and German World War II cemeteries. The Allied War cemetery is a true memorial to the many men who lost their lives both in World War I and also the Battle of Crete during WWII. The cemetery has a total of 1,500 war dead, 776 of which are unidentified. Next, we will continue to Souda Bay where NATO's largest naval base in the East Med is located. Tonight we will enjoy dinner at "Thalassino Ageri" restaurant, located by the seashore. Overnight Souda Bay, Crete. (B, D)
OCT 21: PREVELI MONASTERY, CRETE
Breakfast. Today we will drive south along the Libyan Sea to visit Preveli Monastery and hear about the Battle for Crete. The events of the heroic battles in May 1941 are known for when the German forces met fierce resistance from the Allied Forces and the Cretans. The Monastery of Preveli, loyal to its traditions and with no other way to be supportive, was preparing and offering daily meals and provisions to the Allied army and the locals. Although the occupying forces threatened with very harsh reprisals against the local population if they provided assistance to the remaining Allied troops, the Monastery of Preveli and the neighboring villages became for many a place of safe shelter and a place to which they could escape. In the afternoon, we will enjoy a spot on the beach where you can swim in crystal clear water. Late afternoon transfer to our hotel in Rethymno. Overnight Rethymno. (B, L)
OCT 22: ANOGIA / HERAKLION, CRETE
Breakfast. Following a relaxed morning, today we leave Rethymno and continue towards Heraklion, stopping at the village of Anogia. Anogia's history is one of Greece's most glorious from the antiquity to present times. It is claimed that Zeus, the King of Gods, was born on these mountains before taking his throne on Mount Olympus. In 1944, German forces destroyed every building except the church and killed all the men in Anogia (as revenge for the kidnapping of the German General Von Kreipe by the local resistance fighters). Afternoon arrival in Heraklion, where we will have some free time to relax before dinner. Overnight Heraklion. (B, D)
OCT 23: KNOSSOS PALACE, CRETE / ATHENS
Breakfast. Today, on our last day of the tour we will enjoy a guided visit of Knossos, the world's largest Bronze Age archaeological site on Crete. Knossos Palace was the ceremonial and political center of the Minoan Civilization during the Bronze Age. Known as Europe's oldest city; Knossos was once the city-state of Crete, and included the town surrounding the hill the palace is located on. Before heading to the airport for our (included) flight back to Athens, we will of course enjoy a farewell dinner together. Overnight Athens. (B, D)
OCT 24: IN FLIGHT - Return flight departures to the USA or your home country (B)
More Details
How to Book:
It's easy to book and safely pay your refundable $400 Tour deposit with PayPal. You can also book by phone with a credit card, or print the form, send us a check, and book by mail.
What to Know:
Alpventures WWII Heroes of Greece Tour begins and ends at Athens (ATH) International Airport. The Tour rate does not include roundtrip airfare. You can plan to arrive in Athens a few days early, and/or you can also add time at the end of your Tour.
The Fine Print
Reservation Policy:
A completed and signed Tour Reservation Form and a refundable $400 deposit (per person) are required to book our Tours. To book online: scroll to the top of this page and click the "Book Tour" button. You can adjust the quantity of people on our secure payment pages with PayPal. Payments are made to: ALPVENTURES. Payment in full is due 90 days prior to Tour departure.
Cancellation Policy:
Although Tour cancellations are not anticipated, Alpventures® reserves the right to cancel Tours for any reason, prior to Tour departure date, in which case the entire payment will be refunded without further obligation on Alpventures® part. In the case of Tour Participant cancellation, a full refund will be granted up to 30 days prior to Tour departure. A cancellation fee of 20% of the Tour price will be charged for cancellations between 30 and 20 days prior to departure date and 40% between 20 and 10 days prior to departure. No refunds will be honored within 10 days of Tour.
Whether on the battlefield, or inside the impressive museums, you won't miss a thing as we give exciting, detailed accounts and informative historical lectures throughout each Tour. From the D-Day beaches of Normandy, to Hitler's Eagles Nest and beyond, our top priorities are your safety, comfort and enjoyment on Tour. Alpventures® World War II Tours are the result of over 25 years of historical research and first-hand, local guiding experience, making them especially unique. Join our small groups on a World War II Tour and experience a historical adventure to Europe! Read More
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