NOSTOS is a thematic, cultural immersion program in Greece for Friends and donors of the Foundation, alumni and students. The 12-day program is organised by the Mycenaean Foundation and led by our faculty and guest specialists. This is a free, award trip for "Athena class" donors and Friends of the Foundation (with donations of $5,000 or more to the Mycenaean Foundation within the current year). 

To join this special program offered by the Mycenaean Foundation or to receive more information, please contact us at [email protected] or [email protected].


The NOSTOS cultural immersion program consists of two parts:

Part 1: two weeks of online preparatory lectures in the history and archaeology of ancient Greece, ancient Greek art, archaeoastronomy, and basic language instruction in Modern Greek. 

Part 2: 12-day trip to Greece which includes faculty-led field trips to famous archaeological sites, museums, art galleries, cultural heritage sites and historical landmarks on mainland Greece and the Greek islands, enriched with guest lectures on the history and archaeology of Greece, workshops in drawing/painting and archaeoastronomy, real field training in our unique outdoor dig simulator, wine tasting, and various outdoor activities in landscapes of unique natural beauty (swimming, water skiing, canoeing, rafting, hiking, mountain hiking), designed for the participants to experience the spirit of Greece and embrace local authenticity. The participants will receive a certificate of participation from the Mycenaean Foundation. Our innovative educational model aims at communicating knowledge, while developing critical and original thinking, through an interdisciplinary, cross-cultural, engaging, experimental, experiential, effective, and praxis-oriented approach. The NOSTOS program is a unique educational and cultural immersion gateway for people of all ages and from all over the world onto the land of myth, history and natural beauty,


NOSTOS Program VIII (2023) (forthcoming)

This is a free, award trip for "Athena class" donors and Friends of the Foundation (with donations of $5,000 or more to the Mycenaean Foundation in 2023). 

To join this special program offered by the Mycenaean Foundation or to receive more information, please contact us at [email protected] or [email protected].

  • Dates: August 1-12, 2023 
  • Registration deadline: May 1, 2023 (admissions will be made on a rolling basis until positions are filled, so apply early!) 
  • Maximum number of participants20 

For the brochure of Nostos VIII, click here


Full list of NOSTOS programs:

Nostos I (winter 2021): Thessaloniki, Mt.Pelion, Delphi, and Athens

Nostos II (July 2022): Athens and the Peloponnese (Mycenae, Tiryns, Nafplio, Epidaurus, Monemvasia, Elafonisos, Mystras, Diros Cave, Pylos, Navarino Bay and Voidokoilia beach, Olympia, Dimitsana, Doxa Lake, Corinth, Vouraikos gorge hike and rack train ride, cruise to Vouliagmeni lake/Heraion)

Nostos III (summer): Athens and Cycladic Islands (Santorini, Melos, Mykonos, Delos, Paros, Naxos/Koufonisia )

Nostos IV (summer): Athens and Crete (Knossos, Archanes, Phaistos, Malia, Spinalonga, Agios Nikolaos and Lasithi plain, Hiraklio, Rethymno, Chania, swimming at Balos and Elafonisi, Samaria gorge hike)

Nostos V (summer): Athens and Ionian Islands (Lefkada, Zakynthos, Kephallonia, Ithaca, Paxoi/Antipaxoi)

Nostos VI (August 2022): Thessaloniki and Epirus (Ioannina, Dodona, Zagoria, Vikos gorge hike and Drakolimni, Acheron river cruise, Syvota, Parga)

Nostos VII (summer): Thessaloniki and Macedonia (Pella, Vergina, Dion, Mt. Olympus hike, Kastoria, Chalkidici, Mt. Athos cruise)

Nostos VIII (August 2023): Thessaloniki (Vergina, Pella), Dion, Meteora, Mt. Pelion, Sporades islands (Skiathos, Skopelos, Alonissos), Athens