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As someone who loves solo travel, I set my sights on Greece and joined the Rick Steves' Europe Athens & the Heart of Greece in 14 Days tour. I have always loved exploring through books, photography, food, or journeys abroad and Greece felt like the perfect next chapter. Traveling solo on a Rick Steves tour offers the best of both worlds: the independence of solo travel with the camaraderie and ease of a thoughtfully organized group experience.
It is impossible to choose a favorite moment from this tour. How could I pick between standing beneath the Parthenon at sunset, wandering the ruins of Delphi where myth meets history, embracing Olympics dreams, walking in the footsteps of famous Greek philosophers, seeing locations tied to early Christian history, swimming in the Saronic Gulf, marveling at the majestic Peloponnese Mountains, standing in awe in Byzantine churches, or sharing laughter over plates of souvlaki, meze, and local wine? And how could I not love all of the cats we saw? (Shh! Don't tell my cat back home!). Each day unfolded like a story layered with beauty, warmth, and discovery. Such a pleasure!
Before embarking on solo travel a number of years ago, I had wondered whether being a solo traveler might feel isolating, but that worry vanished almost immediately. The group on each tour has been welcoming and full of good humor. We wove in and out of each other’s experiences—even during our free time—and I would gladly travel with them again.
280,000 Steps
8 Flights on 4 Airlines in 6 Countries
12 Vaporetti, 2 Ubers, 1 Taxi
3 Buses & 1 Speed Train
=
1 Epic Adventure!!!
Adventure Awaits!
Adventure Awaits!
A Little About Me
A Little About Me
Γεια σας (hello)! I am Kristen, a solo traveler who loves the adventure of it all. This was my fourth Rick Steves tour and I am looking foward to the fifth in Portugal next year. In college, I receved a classical education, reading the original texts of many of the Great Books and taught through the Socratic method. This entire trip was full of seeing the things I read those years ago come to life!
Walking through the Acropolis where Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Sophocles, and more walked? Mind boggling. Seeing Mars Hill where Paul preached the gospel to the Athenians? Words are inadequate to how meaningful that was. Going to Delphi to learn about the oracle (a process, not a person) as well as the location of the first Olympics? My freshman year inner-nerd was in alt. I threw myself into each location head first and into the deep end before going, studying up on Greek history, mythology, philosophy, art, and poetry. It was like visiting old friends while rereading Homer, revisiting Aristotle, and enjoying the challenge of learning a new alphabet (though learning more than a few words ahead of time was a bit of a challenge with everything going on in my life this year).
I could not have been more pleased with my trip and continue to bask in the glow of the Grecian culture, history, people, food, and memories of my time in this country where ancient history meets modern technology.
Locations with the number of nights indicated for each site
For this tour, expect to walk 2–8 miles each day on uneven stones, marble steps, and ancient paths, but every step is worth it. This is the most physically demanding tour I have experienced so far (expect hills everywhere...we joked it was the buns of steel tour at several points!). The views were breathtaking and the destinations always worth it, I promise!
What I love most about Rick Steves tours is the balance: no logistics to juggle, no lines to wait in, and the freedom to enjoy both guided experiences and unstructured time to explore. Everything is arranged so you can simply be in Greece—fully and mindfully immersed in its history, hospitality, and timeless beauty!
Join me as I continue my solo travel adventures through the heart of Greece in this digital scrapbook, one unforgettable moment at a time!
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