Military History Tours Australia          Greece and Crete

On 6th April 1941, the German Army launched its attack against the Greeks on the Metaxos Line and the Allied Expeditionary Force located at Florina. The Allied Force, including the 6th Australian Division, were withdrawn from mainland Greece and so began the Battle for Crete. You are invited to join us as we commemorate the 70^th Anniversary of our 2^nd Generation ANZAC’s witnessing Dawn Service in Athens on ANZAC Day then follow the World War 2 campaign from the northern border of Greece where the Germans first entered the country, through Greece and across to Crete. Visit the battle sites, each with an informative briefing, and view the resting places of our fallen.

As we travel Greece, you will also see spectacular scenery and the classic white architecture set against the bluest of seas. We dine in traditional tavernas and enjoy the culture of a warm and friendly people. We cruise at the relaxed pace of the inter island ferry from Pireaus to Crete and by air conditioned coach between locations. The ambience of Greece is legendary, with its food, its music and the simple quality of its lifestyle. With a history dating back thousands of years, it is one of the most fascinating and inspiring travel experiences that you will ever have. Relaxed, friendly and enjoyable is the theme of this tour.  An experienced and knowledgeable Greek guide will also explain the significance of the legends that inhabit every site.

The April 2011 tour is open for booking.  To wet your appetite, CLICK HERE to see what happened on the 2009 tour.

Highlights

	Athens, Olympia, Delphi, Meteora
	Presentations at the Battle sites
	Florina, Larissa, Lamia, Mt Olympus
	Athens to Crete by Ferry
	Defence of Rethymno.
	Heraklion, Maleme
	Souda Bay ... and more

Not included:

Costs: 18 days, 17 nights.  Based on share twin, or share double will be approximately $4,995 per person, single supplement $750.

Itinerary (Dates and Details to be Confirmed)

22 April 2011 – Athens, Good Friday: Arrivals throughout the day and free time until in the evening we move to Syntagna to see the Easter Epitaph processions which gather at the Monument for the Unknown Soldier with an Army Escort for a short Church Service. This does not happen anywhere else in the world.

23 April 2011 – Athens, Easter Saturday: Early morning visit to the Acropolis and the Museum and following lunch we enjoy a tour of Athens. The remainder of the day and evening is free to relax and meet other guests and to enjoy parts of this beautiful city but should you wish to see the Midnight Mass of the Resurrection and the fireworks, the Church it is not far from our hotel. B/L

24 April 2011 – Athens: After breakfast at the hotel, we are planning something special that may have us invited to the Easter Family Lunch at the Presidential Guard Camp. The afternoon is free for further exploration and as this is Easter Sunday there will be an opportunity to be part of Easter in Greece. The evening is at leisure. B

25 April 2011 – Athens: ANZAC Day, this is a very special day on the 70th Anniversary of the battles that were taking place near Athens as the Australians were gathering to evacuate to Crete. This will be, we believe the first actual Dawn Service as many ANZAC Day Services in the past have been at 1100.

An early wake up call before coffee and tea in our hotel lobby then off to the Service. On arrival you will be ushered into the area at the base of the Cross of Remembrance for a traditional Dawn Service. At the completion of the Service there will be time at the Cemetery to inspect the area before our coach arrives to take us into Athens for our special breakfast. The afternoon is at leisure for you to further enjoy this city as tomorrow we leave Athens. B

26 April 2011 – Olympia: After breakfast we say farewell to Athens as we drive out to Olympia via the Corinth Canal, Argos and Kalamata. Corinth was the location of the German para drop that secured the crossing into the Peloponnese and Kalamata was the last evacuation beach. o/n Olympia B/D

27 April 2011 – Delphi: An early start as we head to Delphi, visiting the Castalia Springs and Athena Sanctuary. In Delphi our guide will take us through the history of the Oracle and we will visit the special museum that is on the hill overlooking the location where the Oracle was housed. That evening we enjoy dinner together in those famous hills of Delphi. B/D

28 April 2011 – Meteora: Final viewing of Delphi before we head north to Kalambaka via Brallos Pass and Domokos. In Kalambaka we will visit the famous monasteries on the mountains. Kalambaka was also a blocking position during the withdrawal and due to the successful holding action there our forces in Larissa were able to escape. B/D

29 April 2011 – Meteora: A further day viewing this historic area as well as the location of the blocking point that was to cover the west of the main withdrawal route before returning to our hotel in Kalambaka where we will dine together in our hotel or at a local restaurant. B/D.

30 April 2011 – Florina : We are now moving into the area where the 6th Division deployed prior to the German invasion. We are not far from the Albanian Border and it was out here that the Greek Cavalry Regiments acquitted themselves so well. They were not defeated by the Germans but bypassed and left to their own resources to either try and rejoin the main Greek Army or melt into the countryside. B/D

1 May 2011 – Florina: Today we visit the areas where the 6th Division propped and waited for the German assault. We will discuss those positions and the battles that followed. Ptolemaida will be among our visits today. Not only will we walk the ground of those actions, but we will take time out to enjoy some of the culture of this part of Northern Greece. Tonight we have dinner in our hotel in Florina. B/D

2 May 2011 – Kozani: A special day as we commence our withdrawal to the south. If possible we will take time for a couple of unusual visits. B/L/D.

3 May 2011 – Larissa Area: We leave Kozani and head down to the area east of Larissa on the route taken by our troops as part of their fighting withdrawal. We settle into our hotel for our two (2) nights in the coastal town of Platamon. This lovely seaside town was the area where the 21st New Zealand Battalion put up such a wonderful defence. B/D

4 May 2011 – Larissa: This will be a special day visiting Tirnavos, Elasona and Mount Olympus returning to Platamon for dinner. B/D

5 May 2011 – Athens: We return to Athens via Volos, Lamia, Thebes and the evacuation beaches at Megara. That night we take the overnight ferry to Crete from Pireaus. B/D

6 May 2011 – Crete: Early arrival in Chania, early breakfast before we meet our guide for our tour of the Chania/Maleme Area. In the early afternoon we tour Souda Bay War Cemetery prior to settling into our hotel. B/D

7 May 2011 – Crete: Breakfast in our hotel prior to heading across the island where we will visit the evacuation route and beach at Sfakia. We then proceed east along the coast past small villages until we arrive at Preveli Monastry where so many of our men were given shelter prior to evacuation via submarine. We return to our hotel in Rethymon for dinner. B/L/D.

8 May 2011 – Crete: We enjoy breakfast at your hotel before we set out to visit the battlefields at Heraklion and Rethymon following which we can have some free time to explore this old pirate haven. We return to our hotel for a cool drink and dinner. B/D.

9 May 2011 – Athens: AM transfer to Heraklion Airport for departure to Athens. The tour ends as we arrive at Athens Airport. B.

 Use the Button to your left to find out more about Australians in the Loss of Greece and Crete during WW2.

Booking Terms and Conditions

1. GENERAL This tour has been prepared by Military History Tours Pty Ltd (MHT).

2. Military History Tours Australia Pty Ltd (MHT), urges you to read the booking terms and conditions and contact us or your travel agent if you need any clarification. At the time of publishing this on the internet, the arrangements outlined in it, the price and the inclusions were all confirmed. However, MHT reserves the right to make amendments to the program and the price, should conditions beyond the control of MHT change.

3. DEPOSITS A deposit of AUD $500.00 per person is required to secure a booking on the tour.

4. BOOKINGS Bookings can be made direct with MHT, or through your local travel agent. If your travel agent is not aware of this program, have them contact us and we will provide them with the details they require. The registration form enclosed must reach MHT, together with the deposit, to secure a reservation.

5. FINAL PAYMENT & CANCELLATIONS Final payment will be required by 30 November 2010. Any cancellations prior to this date will be entitled to a full refund. After 30 November 2010, cancellation will attract a 50% cancellation fee, and after 28 February, 2011, no refund will be applicable. You should consider insurance if you believe you may have to cancel arrangements close to these dates.

6. TRAVEL DOCUMENTS If you are travelling on an Australian passport, you will not need visas to visit Greece. However, we recommend that your passport has a minimum of 6 months validity at the time of your departure from Australia. If you are travelling on other than an Australian passport you should check with your travel agent or MHT on the requirements.

7. ACCOMMODATION All hotels used in this tour are at least 3 star standard.

8. CHILDREN & INFANTS No deposits are required for children under 12 years of age. However, they should be detailed on the registration form so that appropriate accommodation is provided. The cost for children and infants, under 3, will be provided on request.

9. SPECIAL REQUESTS Should you have special food requirements, a disability that will require special handling, or if you require a smoking or non smoking room, or any other need, please detail it on the registration form. Most accommodation in Turkey has a lot of smoking rooms, but we will allocate rooms with non smokers together when designated non smoking rooms are not available.

10. INSURANCE It is not acceptable for MHT to accept people on its tours who are not holding appropriate travel insurance. You should discuss the best for you with your travel agent or MHT prior to departure.

11. INCLUSIONS & EXCLUSIONS A list of the inclusions and exclusions is detailed above. If you are not certain of anything, clarify with your travel agent or MHT.

12. TOUR CANCELLATION MHT reserves the right to cancel this tour at any time prior to commencement should booking numbers be insufficient to cover costs.  Should the tour be cancelled subject to this clause, all payments made to MHT will be refunded.

13. SUMMARY MHT has run battlefield tours for nearly 20 years. If you join this tour, MHT guarantee that should you have a specific Australian grave site to visit for family or other reasons, providing it is registered with Australian war graves and is near to the tour route, we will make sure you visit the site and have time to lay a wreath or poppy. 

14. LAW OF CONTRACT The contract for the tour is governed in all aspects by the law in the state of NSW and any legal action arising under the contract shall be litigated only in the appropriate court having jurisdiction in that state.

15. TRAVELLING WITH MEDALS

For those who wish to display their own or a relative's medals when showing their respects, the airline security situation must be recognised.  Due to the pin at the rear of all medal displays, it is no longer possible to carry them as hand luggage and they must be deposited in your main luggage (cargo hold bag).  Valuable original medals in your cargo hold bag could be lost.  Insurance can cover the cost to replace your clothing, not your great grandfather's original World War 1 medals.  It is recommended that you purchase a duplicate set, and put it in your cargo hold bag.

Leave your valuable original medals at home.