Sacred Connections September 18 th September 30 th 2019 Lisa and Christine of Mercurial Connections are excited to announce another Sacred Connections tour of the beautiful regions of Greece. Come join us on an adventure through the magnificent sacred sites and unique places that leave us spellbound by the secrets that they hold. We would like to guide you through these ancient sites, cities and castles so that we can experience the magic that leads to our own personal journey of transformation. This is a group tour and we will offer group talks and experiences as part of the journey. We would love to welcome you Day One ATHENS - WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 18 TH Settle into your room at the hotel and join us at 6.30pm to meet the group. There will be welcome drinks and nibbles before we step out for the evening for our first meal together. We will share the Greek food, Greek wine and connect as a group. After this we return to the hotel to settle back into our rooms in preparation for our first outing tomorrow.
Day Two TRAVEL TO PATRAS THURSDAY 19 TH SEPTEMBER Today we will be collected at the hotel and travel to the beautiful City of Patras, which is the third largest city in Greece and regional capital of Western Greece in the Pelponneses. The core settlement has a history spanning for four millennia, in the Roman period it had become a cosmopolitan centre of the eastern Mediterranean. The first traces of settlement in Patras date as early as the third millennium BC in the area of Aroe. In antiquity Patras remained a farming city. It was in Roman times that it became an important port. We will settle in our hotel and have the evening to enjoy the beautiful tavernas and atmosphere Patras has to offer.
Day Three PATRAS DAY TRIP FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 20 th Today we will explore the exciting city of Patras. There is the medieval Patras Castle, Roman Odeon, the Roman amphitheatre, Roman aquaduct, the Turkish baths and the Patras lighthouse. We will enjoy lunch together before heading back to our hotel where you will be free afterwards to visit the old town yourself and discover its hidden treasures. Day Four FULL DAY TRIP, OLYMPIA SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 21ST We will travel together to the beautiful ancient city of Olympia. This town is on the Peloponnese s peninsula, famous for the nearby archaeological site of the same name, which was a major religious sanctuary of ancient Greece, where the Olympic Games
were held. The site was primarily dedicated to Zeus and brought people from all over the Greek world, as one of a group of such Panhellenic centres, which helped to build the identity of the ancient Greeks as a nation. Here we will experience the sacred site of the Olympic games. The archaeological site held over 70 significant buildings and ruins of many of these have survived. We will enjoy the beautiful township and shops of Olympia before heading back to our hotel. Day Five TRAVEL TO THE ISLAND OF KEFALONIA SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 22 ND. Today we will say goodbye to Patras and make our way to the enchanting island of Kefalonia. We will travel to the port and then just under 3 hours on the water by boat. From an archaeological point of view, it is an extremely interesting Island. Without doubt, the most important era for the island was the Mycenaean era from approximately 1500 to 1100 BC. The houses in Sassi are dug into calcarenitic rock which is a rock characteristic to the areas of Basilicata and Apulia. In the 1950 s the government forcefully relocated most of the population to areas of the developing modern city.
Day Six KEFALONIA FULL DAY TRIP MONDAY SEPTEMBER 23RD Today we will explore the emerald island of Kefalonia, including, Drogarati cave, over 100 million years old with stalactite and stalagmite formation, St Erasimos nunnery, Robola winery, Saint Georges castle and more. We will also enjoy lunch together today whilst absorbing all the many and varied experiences the island has to offer.
Day Seven TRAVEL TO ZAKYNTHOS WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 24 TH Today we will travel to the magical island of Zakynthos, the third largest island in the Ionian Sea. Famous landmarks include the Navagio beach and beautiful blue caves cut into cliffs around Cape Kinari, only accessible by small boat. After reaching the island and settling into our hotel you will have a free evening. Day Eight BLUE GROTTO CAVES AND TURTLE SANCTURY THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 25TH After breakfast we will begin to explore the island, beginning by taking a boat trip to the blue grotto caves and famous beach,
Navagio (shipwreck) bay. After lunch we will visit the sea turtle Caretta-Caretta from Zakynthos. The island of Zakynthos, and especially the bay of Laganas, is one of the most important shelters for the endangered species of Caretta-caretta in Greece. This unique kind of sea turtle distinguishes for the red-brown shell and the big head and can reach up to 1,25 m in height and 180 kilos in weight. The water pollution, the extensive fishing activity and the over-development of beach resorts have led these turtles to be extinct. The female turtles lay their eggs in particular seashores with dry sand and after 50-75 days of brooding, little turtles come out of their eggs and return to the water. Twenty to thirty years later, these turtles will come back to that same spot where they were born to lay their own eggs. The National Sea Park of Zakynthos is unique of its kind in the Mediterranean and was founded in 1999 for the protection of the ecosystem and the sea turtle Caretta- caretta. This national park consists of Laganas bay, the beaches where turtles lay their eggs and a stretch of land which connects the lake of Keri and two small islets, Marathonisi and Pelouzo. About 1,300 nests are created every summer by the sea turtles along 6 beaches on the bay of Laganas. A series of measures have been adopted by the Greek legislation in order to protect the Caretta-Caretta and the National Marine Park of Zakynthos (Zante) is now well established. Day Nine ZAKYNTHOS YOUR FREE DAY 26 TH SEPTEMBER
Today is your free day, where you can take time to reflect on all the experiences so far. Take in more sights of this beautiful island. Day Ten JOURNEY TO DELPHI FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 27 TH We travel together today to the sacred town of Delphi, this famous ancient sanctuary that grew rich as the seat of Pythia, the oracle who was consulted about important decisions throughout the ancient classical world. Moreover, the Greeks considered Delphi the navel (or centre) of the world, as represented by the stone monument known as the Omphalos of Delphi. In myths dating to the classical period of ancient Greece (510-323BC) Zeus determined the site of Delphi when he sought to find the centre of his Grandmother Earth (Gaia) He sent two eagles flying from the eastern and western extremities and the path of the eagles crossed over Dephi where the omphalos or navel of Gaia was found. When we arrive we will have the evening to take in the sites of this beautiful township
Day Eleven DELPHI DAY TRIP SUNDAY SEPTEMEBER 28 TH Today we will take in the sacred site of Apollo and Tholos Temple, Sanctuary of Athena Pronaia. Nestled amidst the pine forested slopes and rocky crags of the sacred peak are the beautiful and exceptionally well preserved ruins of Delphi. A city of wondrous artistic achievements and grand athletic spectacles during the flowering of Greek culture in the first millennium BC. Delphi is best known however as the supreme oracle site of the ancient Mediterranean world. This was the sacred place of the earth goddess Gaia and was guarded by her daughter, the serpent Python. Day Twelve - Corinth Canal & Temple of Sonion Monday September 29 th Today we farewell Delphi travelling in our private bus to the sacred city of Athena. We will visit the Corinth Canal on the way, a
breathtaking view of the canal can be seen and its crystal blue waters. When we arrive in Athens settle into your room at the Hotel Astor. In the afternoon we will all meet in the foyer and we will travel to the sacred site of Sounion (the Temple of Poisidon) We will complete our evening after sunset by having dinner below the temple on the beachfront Taverna at Sounion, as we reflect on our time together as a group and dine once more before heading back to Athens. Day Thirteen ATHENS 30 TH SEPTEMBER Today Lisa and Christine will farewell you after breakfast as you continue your journeys either home or onward to new destinations. Twin Share pp inclusive* - paid in full by March 15 th 19 $4500.00
Twin Share pp inclusive* - paid in full by June 15 th 19 $4850.00 Single room paid in full March 15 th 19 $5550.00 Single room paid in full June 15 th $5850.00 A Non refundable deposit required $895.00 at time of booking Travel insurance essential Payment Plans available All hotels will be 3 or 4 star quality All tours are private pickups Breakfast will be included every day as well as a number of lunches and dinners on various days to be confirmed There will be forums and teaching throughout the trip yet to be advised Should you have any questions around your travel arrangements, extra nights or any further information, don t hesitate to contact us This itinerary is subject to change if necessarys www.mercurialconnections.com.au info@mercurialconnections.com.au Lisa +61(0)412 013 744 Christine +30 (0)6906078905 WhatsApp, Messenger and Skype available, email us for details