Itinerary
- Day 1
Athens to Dimitsana
Pick up from your hotel at 08:00 and head down the mainland coast toward Peloponnese. You'll stop at the Corinth Canal to see where ancient ships crossed, then visit Ancient Corinth and Kechrias Port where Apostle Paul reportedly landed. After that, take the cog railway up through Vouraikos Canyon to Kalavrita, which winds through some really nice scenery. The Cave of the Lakes comes next, where you can see those 13 colorful underground lakes spread throughout the cavern system. By evening, you'll be in the Village of Dimitsana, which has narrow stone streets and several small museums including a folk museum and water-power museum worth checking out.
Included Activities
- Visit Corinth Canal
- Explore Ancient Corinth
- Stop at Kechrias Port
- Ride the Cog Railway (Odontotos) through Vouraikos Canyon
- Tour the Cave of the Lakes with 13 lakes
- Tour Leader guidance at Cave of Lakes
Optional Activities
- Explore the library in Dimitsana Village
- Visit the folk museum in Dimitsana
- Explore the open-air water-power museum in Dimitsana
Landmarks/POIs Corinth Canal Ancient Corinth Kechrias Port Vouraikos Canyon Cave of the Lakes Dimitsana Village - Day 2
Dimitsana to Nafplio
After breakfast, you'll drive about 20 minutes before starting a 20 to 30 minute walk to reach the Monastery of Agios Ioannis Prodromos built in the 1800s. The hike gives you nice views looking down at the Lousios River below. From there, monks will guide you through Lousios Gorge to the Philosophes Monastery, one of Greece's oldest religious sites dating back centuries. Later in the day, you head to Nafplio to explore this castle city and walk through both the upper and lower town sections.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Walk to Monastery of Agios Ioannis Prodromos
- Guided walk through Lousios Gorge with monks
- Visit Philosophes Monastery
Optional Activities
- Explore Upper Town in Nafplio
- Explore Lower Town in Nafplio
Landmarks/POIs Monastery of Agios Ioannis Prodromos Lousios Gorge Philosophes Monastery - Day 3
Nafplio to Monemvasia
Start after breakfast by exploring Nafplio, which was the first capital of modern Greece. Visit Palamidi Castle for views across the area and check out Bourtzi, that small island sitting in the harbor. Then you're off to Ancient Mycenae to see the Gate of Lions and the famous Atreus King Tomb from the Bronze Age. The Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus is next, which could hold around 15,000 people and still has incredible acoustics. Finally, you'll reach Monemvasia, a Byzantine stone settlement from the sixth century with narrow cobbled streets winding through both upper and lower sections filled with restored buildings.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Stroll along the coast of Nafplio
- Visit Town Castle of Palamidi
- View the island of Bourtzi
- Explore Ancient Mycenae
- Visit Gate of Lions
- Visit Atreus King Tomb
- Visit Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus
Optional Activities
- Explore Upper part of Monemvasia
- Explore Lower part of Monemvasia
- Dine at a fine restaurant on the roof of a tower house
Landmarks/POIs Town Castle of Palamidi Bourtzi Island Ancient Mycenae Gate of Lions Atreus King Tomb Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus Monemvasia - Day 4
Monemvasia to Sparta
After breakfast, you leave Monemvasia for the Byzantine town of Mystras. Explore both the upper and lower town to get a sense of how this historic site felt when people lived here. You'll see the Palace of the Despots and several houses like those of the Laskaris and Frangopoulos families, plus churches including the Cathedral of Saint Dimitrios and two important monasteries. Later, head to Sparta to visit the Museum of Olive Oil, which walks you through how olive production developed across Greece over the centuries.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Explore Upper Town of Mystras
- Explore Lower Town of Mystras
- Visit Palace of the Despots
- Visit Houses of Laskaris and Frangopoulos
- Visit Cathedral of Saint Dimitrios
- Visit Monastery of Our Lady Pantanassa
- Visit Monastery of Our Lady Perivleptos
- Visit Museum of Olive Oil
Landmarks/POIs Mystras Palace of the Despots Cathedral of Saint Dimitrios Monastery of Our Lady Pantanassa Monastery of Our Lady Perivleptos - Day 5
Sparta to Pylos
You depart from Sparta heading toward Areopolis and Diros, two towns known for their underground cave systems. About 5,000 meters of caves are open to visitors, and you'll take small boats through narrow passages surrounded by stalagmites and stalactites. These caves were actually used as worship sites way back during the Paleolithic and Neolithic periods. After exploring the caves, continue on to Pylos, where you can visit either the Castle of Methoni or the Castle of Navarino, both sitting prominently along the coast.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Explore Diros subterranean caves
- Small boat tour through underground caves
Optional Activities
- Visit Castle of Methoni
- Visit Castle of Navarino
Landmarks/POIs Areopolis Diros Caves Castle of Methoni Castle of Navarino - Day 6
Pylos to Olympia
Hotel pickup happens at 08:30, then you head to Ancient Messene, a UNESCO site in the Messenian valley that mixes different historical periods together. The city was founded in 363 B.C. by Epaminondas and remains historically significant. From there, travel to Vassae to see the Temple of Apollo Epikurios, built way back in the fifth century B.C. at 1,130 meters elevation and sitting in a remote mountain setting. Later you reach Ancient Olympia, check into your hotel, and have free time to settle in.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Ancient Messene
Optional Activities
- Explore Ancient Messene
- Visit Temple of Apollo Epikurios at Vassae
Landmarks/POIs Ancient Messene Temple of Apollo Epikurios Vassae - Day 7
Olympia to Delphi
After breakfast, you explore the archaeological site of Ancient Olympia where the first Olympic Games happened back in 776 B.C. See the Temple of Zeus, which is one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, plus the Council house, various Treasury buildings, Gymnasium, and Palestra. During lunch, you visit a local flea market to taste local wine and sample different olive oil blends along with Greek olives. Next stop is a local honey farm where they serve coffee or juice with handmade desserts made from their own honey. Before heading to Delphi for the night, you cross the Rion-Antirion bridge, one of Europe's larger bridges spanning the strait.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit archaeological site of Ancient Olympia
- Visit Temple of Zeus
- Visit Council house
- Visit Treasury houses
- Visit Gymnasium
- Visit Palestra
- Wine and olive oil tasting at local market
- Honey, Olive Oil Tasting & wine Tasting in Olympia
- Visit local honey farm
- Coffee/juice and hand-made local desserts at honey farm
Landmarks/POIs Ancient Olympia Temple of Zeus Rion-Antirion Bridge - Day 8
Delphi to Meteora
After breakfast, spend the morning at the archaeological site of Delphi exploring the Ancient Oracle sanctuary, Stadium, and Ancient Theatre that could seat over 5,000 people. The Museum of Delphi holds the Charioteer, considered one of the finest bronze statues created. Delphi was famous during classical times for its oracle dedicated to Apollo. Then drive to Arachova, a busy mountain town sitting at 1,000 meters elevation, and take a break there to try the local cheese called formaela. You'll pass through Central Greece with a quick stop in Trikala before arriving in Kalambaka, built right at the base of those tall grey rock formations topped with Meteora Monasteries.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit archaeological site of Delphi
- Visit Ancient Oracle
- Visit Stadium
- Visit Ancient Theatre
- Visit Museum of Delphi
Optional Activities
- Coffee or lunch break in Arachova
- Try traditional Arachova's formaela cheese
Landmarks/POIs Delphi Ancient Oracle Stadium at Delphi Ancient Theatre of Delphi Museum of Delphi Arachova Kalambaka - Day 9
Meteora to Athens
Hotel pickup at 09:00 to visit the Byzantine Monasteries of Meteora, which are on the UNESCO World Heritage list. First, you stop at the Holy Monastery of Great Meteoro, the largest and oldest monastery sitting on top of a massive rock formation. Next is the Varlaam Monastery from the 1600s, located 380 meters up on another rock. After a traditional Greek lunch in the village of Kalambaka, you make a brief stop at Thermopiles to see the Leonidas statue honoring the 300 Spartans. Then you head back to Athens for hotel drop-off.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Traditional Greek lunch in Kalambaka)
Included Activities
- Visit Holy Monastery of Great Meteoro
- Visit Monastery of Varlaam
- Sunset tour in Meteora around the rocks
- Traditional Greek lunch in Kalambaka
- Visit statue of Leonidas at Thermopiles
Landmarks/POIs Holy Monastery of Great Meteoro Monastery of Varlaam Kalambaka Thermopiles Statue of Leonidas
