FAR&WIDE's Tourlite International's New Travel Packages Provide a Modern Glimpse Into Ancient Greece.

Business Editors & Travel Writers

The largest leisure travel provider to Greece and the Greek Islands -- FAR&WIDE's Tourlite International -- is joining in the pre-Olympics excitement offering travel programs throughout 2002.

Tourlite's newly released itinerary, the Olympian Flame, guides travelers along the ancient routes of gods, heroes and olympians -- where mythological figures remain as relevant today as they were 3,000 years ago. On this new, 13-day itinerary guests experience the ancient places and modern pleasures of Greece beginning with three nights in Athens. There travelers explore the ancient city, the Acropolis and Olympic Stadium; then on to a five-day classical sites tour of the Ancient Olympic Games route with overnight stays in Nauplion, Olympia and Delphi; plus a four-day Greek Island and Turkey Cruise visiting Mykonos, Kusadasi, Patmos, Rhodes, Crete and Santorini. The Olympian Flame itinerary is offered on select dates, July through October 2002, with prices starting at $2,499. Tour price includes: round-trip air from New York City, transfers, hotel accommodations, buffet breakfast daily and all meals on cruise.

Other Tourlite International packages to Greece:

-- Honeymooner I from $1,699: For the newlywed couple, Tourlite's 16-day honeymoon itinerary features the most romantic spots on the most beautiful Greek Islands. Guests visit sites from Santoriini, a village perched on the edge of an ancient volcano, to Mykonos, an island known for beautiful beaches, whitewashed buildings, tiny churches, windmills, chic shops and cafes.

-- Mykonos II from $1,659: Mykonos II presents the traveler with a more in-depth Greek visit, touring such sites as Argolis, Olympia and Delphi. The 15-day/13-night program includes a four-day cruise to the Greek Islands and Turkey and a stay on the island of Mykonos.

-- Greek Egyptian from $2,729: Greek and Egyptian culture is highlighted in this 16-day/14-night Greek-Egyptian travel experience. This tour combines highlights of ancient Greece and Egypt, including visits to the Pyramids, Valley of Kings and the Island of Roses. Travelers even have the opportunity to cruise the Nile for four-days of priceless memories.

-- 8-Day Super Saver from $539: Travelers can now spend three-days in Athens and then cruise to the Greek Islands and Turkey for the last three days of their journey. The Athens land stay includes visits to the House of Parliament, Greek Orthodox Cathedral, Acropolis, Parthenon and an optional tour of Cape Sounion's picturesque ruins. Travelers will cruise to Mykonos, Rhodes, Patmos and Kusadasi -- locations rich in the culture and history of the region.

-- 12-Day Greece Highlights from $1,199: Travelers spend three-days in Athens visiting the Acropolis, Parthenon and the House of Parliament, before boarding a seven-day cruise. The cruising element showcases Istanbul, Kusadasi, Patmos, Mykonos, Rhodes, Crete and Santorini's breathtaking views.

-- The Aegean Yacht Cruise from $2,999: Discover the quiet treasures, see the historical sites and sample the lifestyle among the magical islands of the Cyclades aboard the Galileo yacht with this nine-day land and sea experience. Travelers can also walk the cobblestone streets of Ephesus and visit the Acropolis in Athens.

-- 3 Night Island Stays from $179: Tourlite International and Zeus Tours have developed By Design, a new concept focused exclusively on marketing the Greek Islands. Seven of the best and most beautiful island groupings have been selected for inclusion in the program-- the Cyclades, Crete, the Dodecanese, the Iolian, the Saronic, the Northern Sporades and the Eastern Aegean islands.

All packages include round-trip airfare from New York City, transfers, hotel accommodations with American breakfast and sightseeing per itinerary.

Also new to their 2002 offerings is Greek Isles By Design. Through this program, travelers select their islands of choice, hotels, and amount of time spent at each island. Zeus Tours offers cruising to islands by yacht (schooners) and provides the opportunity to experience lesser-known islands.

Tourlite also offers travel programs tailored to mature travelers where every element of the lodging, dining, sightseeing and transportation is arranged, allowing travelers to sit back and make the most of their expertly hosted travel experience. Travelers can relax in the care of FAR&WIDE's professional tour directors, as they take pampering to new levels with priority admission to many museums and the elimination of long, waiting lines at many famous attractions.

Since its founding in 1970, Tourlite has evolved into the premier tour operator in its market, specializing in air-inclusive travel programs for individuals and groups. Zeus Tours and Yacht Cruises, under Tourlite's operation, is known for both casual and deluxe yacht cruises in the Mediterranean to the Greek Islands and Turkey and also offers ground programs tailored to independent, group and incentive travelers.

Tourlite International has led the way in Eastern Mediterranean travel for 32 years and continues to provide travelers with a diverse array of exceptional escorted itineraries. Cruise and Land programs and independent travel options. For more information on Tourlite, call 800-272-7600 or visit them on the web at http://www.tourlite.com.

FAR&WIDE Travel Corporation provides a lifetime of enriching travel experiences to the most diverse and exhilarating array of destinations in over 90 countries. To learn more about FAR&WIDE or to book a FAR&WIDE travel experience, contact your local travel agent or visit http://www.farandwide.com.

FAR&WIDE's roster of leading travel companies includes: Adventure Center, African Travel, Brian Moore International Tours, Central Holidays, FAR&WIDE-London, Grand European Tours, High Country Passage, Intercontinental Travel Company, IST Cultural Tours, Journeys Unlimited, Lion World Travel, Pacific Bestour, Peter Voll Associates, Prism Holidays, Regina Tours, Spanish Heritage Tours, Swain Tours and Downunder Direct, Tourlite and Zeus Tours & Yacht Cruises, as well as several destination management companies in key locales.

NEW GREECE FAST FACTS:

The Olympic games will be held in Greece from Aug. 13 to 29, 2004. They are returning home to the country that gave birth to the Olympic celebration in 776 BC in Olympia, Greece. It is also the city that staged the first modern Olympic Games in 1896.

Greece is one of the smallest countries to undertake the task of organizing and hosting a modern Olympic Summer Games and has undergone drastic changes and improvements in view of this event.

With the vision of delivering unique games on a human scale, the city now boasts a new international airport, which is currently ranked fifth in the world among the most modern and secure airports. Athens has also invested in a new Metro system that is now operational. The ultra modern transportation system is quite unique with key stations displaying ancient monuments found while digging for the Metro, including findings from `Syntagma' or Constitution square, that offer a museum-like mystique and ancient spirit to the modernization.

Additionally, the city of Athens has undergone a major facelift including the traditional areas like the historic district of Placa, which is now a pedestrian mall lined with local cafes, as well as Kolonaki where European boutiques and upscale shops abound.