Itinerary
- Day 1
Athens to Nafplio
Your private guide meets you at 8:00 a.m. for an early start driving through the Corinth Canal into the Peloponnese. You'll explore Mycenae's ancient ruins and check out the museum there. After that, head to the Venetian fortress of Palamidi in Nafplio's old town, then continue to Epidaurus to see the ancient theater with its well-preserved structure. You're staying overnight in Nafplio, Greece's first capital.
- Meals
- Lunch
Included Activities
- Visit Corinth Canal
- Explore Mycenae archaeological site and museum
- Visit Palamidi fortress in Nafplio
- Explore Epidaurus ancient theater
Landmarks/POIs Corinth Canal Mycenae Palamidi Fortress Epidaurus Theater - Day 2
Nafplio to Hydra Island
This morning you drive one hour from Nafplio to Ermioni pier, then board a 25-minute boat ride to Hydra Island. The island has no cars, so you'll walk around the cobblestone streets and take in water and coastline views. Later, you head back by boat to the mainland and drive to Nafplio for another night.
Included Activities
- Boat ride to Hydra Island
- Explore Hydra Island on foot
Landmarks/POIs Hydra Island - Day 3
Nafplio to Monemvasia
Leaving Nafplio, you travel to Monemvasia along the scenic East Peloponnese coastline with stops along the way. The route takes you up the mountain range, and by late afternoon you're exploring Monemvasia's atmospheric castle town. You'll see views of the castle and blue water before settling in for the night.
- Meals
- Lunch
Included Activities
- Explore Monemvasia castle town
Landmarks/POIs Monemvasia - Day 4
Monemvasia to Sparta/Mystras
After departing Monemvasia, you spend the full day on the dramatic Mani Peninsula. You'll walk through fortified villages like Oitilo, Gerolimenas, and Limeni. Take a boat through the Diros caves, then grab lunch in a stone-built village. Later, head to Sparta and check out the Byzantine castle town of Mystras before staying overnight there.
- Meals
- Lunch
Included Activities
- Explore Mani Peninsula villages
- Explore Diros caves
Landmarks/POIs Mani Peninsula Oitilo Gerolimenas Limeni Diros Caves Sparta Mystras - Day 5
Sparta/Mystras to Arcadia
Following breakfast and an early start, you stop at Sparta to photograph King Leonidas' statue. Then you pick between two UNESCO options: Ancient Olympia with its ruins and famous museum with Praxiteles' Hermes (Option 1), or Ancient Messene, one of antiquity's most preserved cities (Option 2, both cost extra). You'll head to the Arcadia mountains in central Peloponnese to stay overnight in a stone-built village.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Visit statue of King Leonidas at Sparta
Optional Activities
- Visit Ancient Olympia archaeological site and museum (Option 1)
- Visit Ancient Messene archaeological site (Option 2)
- Visit both Ancient Olympia and Ancient Messene (combined option)
Landmarks/POIs Ancient Olympia Olympia Museum Ancient Messene - Day 6
Arcadia to Delphi
After breakfast in your Arcadia mountain village, you visit the Cave of Lakes. During lunch at a mountain location near a ski center, you have drinks before riding the Odontotos Rack Railway train down through the Vouraikos River gorge to the coast. You cross the Rion Bridge, then explore Delphi's archaeological site and museum with its famous oracle and ancient Greek collections. You're staying overnight at a quieter location away from tourist areas.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch and drinks at mountain location near ski center)
Included Activities
- Visit Cave of Lakes
- Ride Odontotos Rack Railway train
- Cross Rion Bridge
- Explore Delphi Archaeological Site and Museum
Landmarks/POIs Cave of Lakes Odontotos Rack Railway Vouraikos River Gorge Rion Bridge Delphi Archaeological Site Delphi Museum - Day 7
Delphi to Ioannina
Today's a long northwest journey to Ioannina city with multiple coffee breaks and leg-stretching stops. You arrive at this elegant town with multicultural history and Ali Pasha legends, surrounded by a beautiful lake. The narrow streets of the Castle district are worth walking through. You're settling in for two nights at a boutique hotel here.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Explore Ioannina city and Castle district
Landmarks/POIs Ioannina Ioannina Lake Ioannina Castle - Day 8
Zagorochoria Villages
After breakfast, you explore the famous Zagorochoria villages where stone architecture dominates the landscape. You'll visit Aristi, small and large Papigo villages (many consider this Greece's most beautiful mountain village), plus hidden non-touristy spots. You'll see the Vikos gorge viewpoint, Rock Pools, and the blue Voidomatis River waters. Lunch happens at a hidden location with local cuisine. By evening you're back in Ioannina with time to explore the Castle and lakeside with locals.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch at hidden location with local cuisine)
Included Activities
- Explore Zagorochoria villages
- Visit Vikos gorge viewpoint
- Visit Rock Pools
- Explore Voidomatis River area
- Visit Papigo villages
Landmarks/POIs Zagorochoria Villages Aristi Papigo Vikos Gorge Voidomatis River - Day 9
Ioannina to Meteora
Heading from Ioannina toward Meteora, you stop at the lively mountain town of Metsovo for coffee and local interaction. Choose between Option 1 (Vergina royal tombs of Macedonia with museum) or Option 2 activities like a bakery/cooking class with Master Baker Kostas, Perama Cave, or wine tasting (you can't do all three in one day). Later you arrive at Meteora for your final overnight, and hopefully get a quick first look at the monastery area.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Optional Activities
- Visit Vergina royal tombs of Macedonia and museum (Option 1)
- Bakery and cooking experience with Master Baker Kostas - traditional Greek recipes (€55/person minimum 150 EUR) (Option 2a)
- Wine tasting at local winery (Option 2b)
- Visit Perama Cave - three-story palace with stalactites and stalagmites (Option 2c)
- Explore Metsovo town
Landmarks/POIs Metsovo Vergina Vergina Museum Perama Cave Meteora - Day 10
Meteora to Athens
After breakfast at your hotel across from the Meteora monasteries, you drive 10 minutes to start exploring. You'll visit two to three monasteries depending on how you're feeling and your pace. Driving around the Meteora maze offers photo opportunities and good views. Holy Trinity monastery appeared in the 1981 James Bond film 'For Your Eyes Only'. Since each monastery closes one day weekly, your itinerary accounts for that. You head back to Athens with a stop at Thermopylae to see Leonidas' statue and imagine the historic 300 Spartans battle, then return to Athens.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Explore Meteora monasteries (2-3 visits)
- Visit Thermopylae historic site
Landmarks/POIs Holy Trinity Monastery Meteora Monasteries Thermopylae
