Athens & Peloponnese round [9days]

After our breakfast you will meet our guide to start a guided tour to Acropolis, the symbol of the Athenian culture and also a masterpiece of the ancient Greek engineering. Then you will visit the New Acropolis Museum, one of the best in the world, in which you can see a great part of the ancient heritage.

We will continue for our way to Tripoli (about 2 hours drive). We will stop to the Corinth Canal of Isthmos. The Corinth Canal is considered a 19th century masterpiece of the world’s engineering history (the first building attempt was in 602 B.C). Arrival at the hotel in Tripoli and welcome dinner made by local Greek food and drinks. Overnight in Tripoli.

Today, our guide will take you for a leisurely 20 Km tour with our bikes in the Tripoli plateau, through the villages. During your ride, you will pass from the ancient city of Tegea, the most important city of Arcadia in antiquity. In Tegea, you will see the byzantine church of the city built exactly over the ancient Greek theatre and the Agora, which is found and saved by the archaeologists. You will also visit the brand new local archaeological museum and the temple of Alea Athena in Alea settlement, the 2nd biggest temple in Peloponnese after the temple of Olympian Zeus in Olympia. The net biking time is about 2,5 hours and the route is very easy for anyone with a moderate level of fitness.

The tour continues in Kapsia Cave which is a masterpiece that ages over than 3.000.000 years old and used by man during the Neolithic, Hellenistic period and the fourth to sixth century AD. Finally, we will visit the local winery “Kalogris” where you will taste local Greek wines as well as family homemade pies.

The afternoon will be free so you can meet Tripoli which has a variety of cafes and bars to visit. You could also visit the Areos square, one of the biggest in the Balkans where you can admire the statue of Theodoros Kolokotronis, the national hero of the Greek Revolution in 1821. You can also visit the archaeological museum.

Half-day trips in the seaside village of Astros can be arranged upon request so you can also enjoy our famous beaches and walk around the picturesque dock.

Overnight in Tripoli.

Today our tour includes hiking in the magical Lousios gorge and visit at the hidden monasteries aged hundreds of years old which are built among the steep slopes of the gorge. This beautiful route combines the natural beauty of Peloponnese as well as history.

In the morning we will take our bus from Tripoli and we will arrive in Dimitsana, one of the most picturesque traditional settlements in Arcadia. There we will visit the Hydromovement Open Air Museum which is one of a kind in the Balkans and presents how the locals were benefited from the energy of water. Next visit is the byzantine Filosofou monastery from were we will begin hiking across the Lousios Gorge. In our route we will also visit the ancient Filosofou monastery (1000 years old known also as “secret school”) the oldest in Arcadia and one of the oldest Greek Byzantine monuments. Next stop is the Prodromou monastery with the breathtaking view. This monastery played a significant role in the Greek Independence War in 1821, being used as a shelter for the Greek fighters against the Ottomans. Our hiking tour ends in ancient Gortys, the place from where the Spartans were passing heading to Olympia in order to participate in the Olympic Games! The highlight of our trip is of course the picnic next to the river and under the trees with plenty of time for relaxation!

Sparta is located just 57 km from Tripoli, on the foot of mountain Taygetos the highest in Peloponnese. Today we will visit the byzantine city Mystras which is notified for its fortified castle and the numerous churches. Mystras is the most important sight of the byzantine times as the whole city still exists and many of the monasteries are still conducting liturgies! If you have appetite for exploration, you can walk around the whole city as there are a lot of things to see. Keep in mind to have plenty of water especially in summer as the city has lots of steps. We will continue our trip by visiting the statue of Leonidas, the king and the leader of the Spartans, famous for the battle in Thermopylae. Then we will visit the acropolis of the city together with one of the biggest theatres of the ancient Greek cities. Our tour guide will explain you all the elements of the magnificent Spartan way of living and fighting! Our afternoon will be free and you will be served dinner at the hotel.

Before dinner a cooking lesson will take place at the hotel where you will cook and taste some Greek specialties. Overnight in Tripoli.

We will start our trip with visiting Mycenae, the center of the Mycenaean civilization 3500 years ago in the Bronze Age. You will visit the remains of the Acropolis of the city and you will be guided through the famous Lions Gate to the Palace of Agamemnon, the famous king of Mycenae who leaded the Greeks in the Troyan War. After that, you will visit the significant vaulted grave of Atreas, father of Agamemnon and finally the museum with all the important antiquities of the area. Our trip continues to Epidaurus which was the medical centre (founded by Asclepius, famous ancient Greek doctor) as well as the famous ancient Theatre. You will be guided in the “orchestra” and have a seat in the “kilon”. You will admire the amazing acoustics of the theatre which continues to be a masterpiece of science. In the afternoon you will have free time in Nafplio where you can rest, eat in local restaurants, walk around or visit the Venetian castle “Palamidi” with its 999 steps to the top for the daring ones! Overnight in Tripoli.

Today we’re leaving our base Tripoli so we pack our luggage. We will visit Ancient Olympia, the place where the Olympic Games were born! You will be guided through the ancient Olympic Stadium and try to feel like an athlete of the ancient times. You will visit all the ancient monuments, the great temple of Zeus, the temple of Hera, the ancient gymnasium and the Palaestra. You will also visit the workshop of Phidias, the famous Greek sculptor, who crafted the magnificent chryselephantine statue of Zeus, one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world. The guided tour continues to the museum of Olympia where you have the opportunity to admire some of the most brilliant exhibits that anyone should see at least once in his life, like the Hermes of Praxiteles, the Nike of Paionios and the pediments of Zeus temple. After that you can have some free time in Olympia for a drink or lunch and then we will head north, we will pass by the Rio-Antirio bridge, and end up to the seaside village Galaxidi, close to Delphi. Overnight in Galaxidi.

After a good breakfast at the hotel we will head to Delphi, the most famous and important oracle of the ancient Greece. It is the center of the earth according to Greek mythology and nowadays a monument of Global heritage of Unesco. You will be guided through all the important buldings of Delphi, like the temple of Apollo, the ancient theatre and the Stadium from where you can admire the spectacular view. You guided tour continues with a visit in the archaeological museum of Delphi, where you can see all the great findings of the area. Next stop for a small break to Arahova, one of the most popular mountainous destinations in Greece. where you can taste the delicious local food or just have a coffee. From there we will depart to Athens. Overnight in Athens.

Breakfast and transfer to the Athens airport for your departure flight.