Led by Jim May P ’06, ’08, Professor Emeritus of Classics, and Donna May P ’06, ’08, Retired Teacher
There’s no better time to have an adventure in Greece, often called the cradle of democracy and of Western civilization itself. As always, we’ll begin and end in Athens, experiencing multiple ancient sites around the country in between.
This itinerary is custom-designed and distinctive to St. Olaf, and Greece consistently sells out, so don’t delay!
Join us for this distinctive study tour of Greece. In addition to visiting several important archaeological centers that are typical of most Greece tours (e.g., Athens, Delphi, Corinth, and Olympia), our itinerary will take us also to lesser known but vitally significant sites in western Greece and the Ionian Islands.
We will follow in the footsteps of personages such as Odysseus (on the island of Ithaka, Odysseus’ homeland), Antony, Cleopatra, and Caesar Augustus (at Nikopolis, site of the famous battle of Actium), and Lord Byron (at Ioannina and Missolonghi), who came to Greece and died there, while supporting Greece’s war for independence against the Ottoman Empire, which ended successfully nearly 200 years ago, in 1829. Search far and wide — you will not find another tour to Greece as varied and as interesting as this one.
In addition to our visits to archaeological sites and museums, we will enjoy a winery tour, not to mention plenty of time for sampling Greek food and trying a few Greek dances.
You can always count on a Greek adventure that is far different from typical tours to Greece, the warm hospitality of locals, and of our hosts: Dimitri, Myrto, and Thalia Cocconi of Educational Tours, our steadfast Greek agents and dear friends for nearly 50 years.
We’re finalizing the details … please check back.
As always, the tour will start and end in Athens. You’ll be able to view and print the most up-to-date itinerary here.
Our intention with each tour is to provide an itinerary that introduces you to key elements related to your destination or the educational theme, while also providing some free time for you to pursue your own interests or have some down time. The balance can vary from day to day, and from tour to tour.
You’ll get the most out of study travel if you research what to do during your free time. This allows you to reap the benefits of group travel, while also customizing the tour to your interests and activity level. Read more about How to Be an Independent Group Traveler.
Jim May, Professor of Classics and Kenneth O. Bjork Distinguished Professor Emeritus, retired from St. Olaf College in 2017, after a 40-year career in teaching and service. He is the author of many articles and chapters on Cicero, classical rhetoric, and Latin pedagogy, as well as the author, co-author, or editor of eight books. His latest volume, How to Win an Argument: An Ancient Guide to the Art of Persuasion (Princeton 2016), has been translated into 10 languages.
May received the Award for Excellence in the Teaching of the Classics from the American Philological Association (now the Society for Classical Studies) in 1986, and the Sears-Roebuck Foundation Teaching Excellence and Campus Leadership Award in 1991. Former President of the Classical Association of the Middle West and South and the Classical Association of Minnesota, May has held two NEH Fellowships and directed two NEH Summer Seminars for School Teachers. He was Provost and Dean of St. Olaf College from 2002 to 2011.
In retirement, Jim continues to compete in handball, restore antique trucks, cars, and tractors, and sing in two church choirs. He was a rower on the reconstructed Greek trireme Olympias in 1990 and 1993. He has led nearly 30 study tours to Greece and the Mediterranean.
Expect to marvel, learn, feast, and soak in famous Greek hospitality!
Movement between cities will be by climate-controlled private motor coach. Movement within each city and at cultural/historic sites will be on foot, requiring a lot of walking and standing, often over uneven ground. You should be capable of walking up to five miles per day over possibly uneven terrain, of climbing stairs that may not have handrails, of climbing in and out of various types of transportation, of keeping pace with an active group of travelers on long days of traveling, of dealing with the emotional highs and lows that can occur when experiencing different cultures, and of traveling with a group for several hours each day.
On most transfers, there will be porters available (at your own cost), but there will be occasions when — because of restricted access, narrow streets, or boarding ferry boats — it may be necessary for you to move/carry your own luggage; traveling lightly is highly recommended.
Hotels will be tourist class (four-star or superior rating) with private baths, air conditioning, and English-speaking staff.
The tour price is PENDING.
We try to strike a balance between nickel-and-diming you once on the tour and allowing you some freedom in your price point: including some meals and activities, for example, while making others optional or on your own. Private motor coaches throughout the tour are pricier than public transportation. Highly rated guides are essential and should command higher wages.
Inclusions: discussions led by Jim May; full time guide for the duration of the tour; accommodations; meals, entrance fees, and activities listed in the itinerary; internal program flights; private vehicle transportation unless otherwise noted in itinerary; gratuities for all local guides, drivers, meals, and porters; and some limited medical coverage while overseas.
Exclusions: Airfare between the U.S. and Greece is not included. Participants are solely responsible for all expenses not specifically included in the tour fee. Examples of excluded expenses are: international airfare, airport transfers, any passport and visa fees, any recommended immunizations or vaccinations, alcoholic beverages, laundry, dry cleaning, phone charges, room service or other items of a personal nature, expenses incurred during free time or non-group activities, and any meals not specifically included on tour itinerary.
This schedule is TENTATIVE and will be based on payments St. Olaf College must make to tour vendors to guarantee group rates. We highly recommend that you purchase additional trip cancellation insurance at the time of registration to recover your payments should you need to withdraw from the tour.
Deposit due: $500 upon registration
Refund if you cancel: $475 until June 14, 2026. If the deposit is made after June 14, 2026 there is no refund.
Interim payment due: $3,000 on June 15, 2026
Refund if you cancel: $1,500 if you cancel on or before January 20, 2027
Balance due: January 21, 2027
Refund if you cancel: None, unless the tour is full and your place can be resold
Cancellations must be in writing.
See the Terms and Conditions and Release and Waiver (in draft stage).
Review the latest information on recommended immunizations, visit the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
Check your passport: ensure that it has at least 6 months’ validity past the program return date. Should you need to renew, visit the U.S. Department of State for instructions.
Take time to Prepare for your adventure by checking out a variety of resources, including frequently asked questions, general health information, included travel insurance, safety overview, and more.
Hold the dates of April 12–28, 2027 on your calendar, and do not book non-refundable air until we can confirm the tour is a go. Meanwhile, you can see some tips on Booking Your Flights.
We highly recommend taking a few moments to view some great photos of Greece taken by previous travelers.
This tour needs a minimum of 12 travelers by October 1, 2026 in order to go. But don’t wait until then to register — our Greece tours always fill and waitlist before the deadline.
Registration is not yet open … please check back!
Meanwhile …
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