Greece: Athens Pre-trip

Parthenon © Samot/Shutterstock

This optional pre-trip to our Circumnavigation of the Peloponnese cruise enhances the Greece experience tremendously. Iconic temple ruins, superb birding, and some cultural experiences are highlights.

An optional pre-trip to Greece’s capital city and outlying areas provides an excellent complement to our Greece: Circumnavigation of the Peloponnese cruise. While Athens is Greece’s largest and most important city, it was also the wealthiest and most influential city state in Classical times (fifth–fourth centuries B.C.E.). Our program combines visits to several archaeological sites and other historical locations with birding field trips to destinations outside of the city.

For first-time visitors, a trip to Athens is highlighted by the pilgrimage to the Acropolis, the most instantly recognizable landmark in Greece. We will certainly spend a full afternoon together atop the ancient citadel, touring the revered Parthenon and other structures for which the site is so justly famous. Our tour will also incorporate visits to the delicate Temple of Artemis in nearby Vravrona, and the battlefield site at Marathon, where in 490 B.C.E. an army of 10,000 Greek soldiers defeated an army of 20,000 Persians in one of history’s most significant military conflicts. Our sightseeing and historical excursions will include a few cultural highlights, with opportunities for wine-tasting, honey-tasting, and even an opportunity or two for shopping.

On the birding and natural history front, we’ll visit a diversity of locations outside the city in pursuit of specialty nesting birds and seasonal migrants. We will head to the slopes of Mount Hymettus, a 3,000 ft. limestone massif offering superb views of the Athens city center, as well as habitat for nesting dry-country birds. Among the many possible species we’ll encounter are birds with limited ranges in southeastern Europe including Rüppell’s Warbler and Eastern Black-eared Wheatear. Around Marathon we’ll search for waterbirds and dry-country landbirds. Ferruginous Duck, Little Egret, Short-toed Snake-Eagle, Great Reed-Warbler, and Black-headed Buntings are prizes of the region. Atop fir-covered Mount Parnitha we’ll seek a range of montane birds including Tawny Owl, Coal Tit, Eastern Subalpine Warbler, and the very special Cretzschmar’s Bunting. For a grand finale we’ll travel further afield on our last day in the rural area of Erythres, seeking White Stork, European Bee-eater, European Roller, and more.

A multi-themed program blends history and culture of the ancient Greeks with birding and natural history observation; excellent accommodations and food; guided walking tours and birding excursions; lots of walking and standing; mild conditions expected.

Ruppell's Warbler © Johannes Dag Mayer/Shutterstock