Hana Tour launches mythology-themed travel packages inspired by film 'Odyssey'

A humanities-themed travel package tracing the footsteps of mythological heroes made familiar by the film "Odyssey" has been launched.

Hana Tour announced Monday it has unveiled Mediterranean travel products following the settings of Homer's epic poem the Odyssey. Growing interest in Greek and Roman mythology and classical literature has been fueled by the recent film adaptation, and visiting filming and story locations — a trend known as screen tourism — has become an established travel motivation.

In response to that demand, Hana Tour has built Greece and Italy itineraries around the concept of retracing Odysseus's journey. The schedules connect key Mediterranean sites traditionally associated with the hero's homeward voyage, with an expert guide accompanying each tour.

The nine-day "Footsteps of Odysseus — Greece" itinerary takes in the island of Ithaca, visiting the main villages of Vathy, Exogi and Frikes. Travelers explore museums in Delphi, the city of oracles, and Olympia, birthplace of the ancient Olympic Games, and stay at five-star resorts on Kefalonia island, facing the Ionian Sea, and at Costa Navarino, a premier resort destination on the Peloponnese. Dinner at a restaurant overlooking the Acropolis is also included.

The nine-day "Footsteps of Odysseus — Sicily and Malta" itinerary takes travelers up Europe's largest active volcano, Mount Etna, by cable car and includes a visit to the ancient theater at Taormina. The tour covers a string of UNESCO World Heritage sites — the Duomo of Syracuse, the Valley of the Temples at Agrigento, Monreale Cathedral and St. John's Co-Cathedral in Valletta — alongside excursions to the small towns of Cefalù and Ragusa. Travelers also sample signature Sicilian dishes including authentic pizza and pasta, and visit a restaurant with sea views.

"As interest in classical literature and mythology grows, that attention is extending to the destinations associated with those works," a Hana Tour official said. "We will continue to offer special travel experiences for those who want to walk through and feel the places described in these stories."