Welcome to a magic trip to Greece and its fascinating texture! We take you by the hand and lead you into the joyful celebration of Greek life through exploring, adventuring, tasting and sharing hidden corners of this magnificent place.
Travelling in Greece does not only include amazing Greek food and wine, it also unwraps unique experiences that make you escape from your comfort zone, create lifetime memories, broaden horizons and transform life.
As we dive into the extremes of our home country, you will be embraced with an endless source of surprise and fascination. There is no doubt that Greece is much more than just the most beautiful country on earth. It is History, Culture, Nature, a brand new way of Life!
As you unwind among its best-kept secrets, this heaven will ignite a sort of awakening and it will inspire and overwhelm you with passion for nature and life.
TOUR CODE NUMBER | PIC-GP |
TOUR ITINERARY |
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MEETING POINT | Check in: Divani Acropolis hotel, 19 Parthenonos str, Athens
Please be at the reception area at 19:00 pm, for tour briefing and welcome dinner. |
TOUR DURATION | 8 days |
DEPARTURE TIME | 09:00 am (Day 2) |
RETURN TIME | Our return time is approximately at 15:00pm (Day 8) |
COMPLIMENTARY PICKUP | A complimentary arrival transfer is provided only from the Athens International airport and from Piraeus port to the Divani Acropolis Hotel.
Please enter the flight number details or ship details in the notes field on the booking form. For more transfer options, please click: Athens Private Transfer Services |
GUIDE | Licensed tour guide |
LANGUAGE | English |
TOUR DISTANCE | 1000 kilometers |
MAX GROUP SIZE | 12 people |
TOUR PRICES | The tour is suited ages 16 plus (no children)
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HOTEL ACCOMMODATION | The accommodation is based on 4-5 star hotels |
TRANSPORTATION SERVICE |
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LUNCH / DINNER | The tour includes premium buffet breakfast, lunch and dinner |
ENTRANCE FEES INCLUDED |
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OPERATION DATES | All year, selected days |
BOOKING ORDER | Please fill in all the requested fields of the tour booking form and press the “Book Now” button to proceed with your Booking Order (Your Reservation).
You will be then redirected to your Cart to verify your order and finally to the Checkout page, to make the payment via your credit or debit card (through the secure environment of Alpha Bank e-Commerce Service or Paypal). Once the payment has been completed the following emails will be sent automatically:
Please print your voucher or keep it handy in your e-mail to show it to the provider on the day of the tour Note: In case you do not receive both automated notification emails, please check your Junk/Spam E-mail folder if there, Unmark them as Spam, click (Not Spam). This will allow future messages to go directly to your inbox. |
BOOKING & CANCELLATION TERMS | Please read our Booking Terms, Disclaimer Note
The cancellation policy for the tour is as following:
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CONTACT US | Should you have any question prior to your booking please:
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Gems of Peloponnese
The Peloponnese peninsula, relatively untouched by mass tourism, has so many secrets to share as we focus deeper into this part of our amazing country.
With its stunning natural landscapes we will explore together this land of incredible hidden gems, history and traditions combined with, authentic local cuisine and fabulous wines.
This is a journey full of magical moments, and is truly an experience of a lifetime!
DAY 1 (SATURDAY): – ATHENS
A welcome premium dinner is served with a spectacular view of the Acropolis.
DAY 2 (SUNDAY): – ATHENS
Our tour starts off with several important attractions in Athens, described perfectly by our English speaking guide, with exceptional knowledge of the Ancient and Modern Greek History certified to offer private tours in all museums and archaeological sites.
I) Our tour begins with a visit to the New Acropolis Museum which was finished in 2009 comprising of three stages, each stage representing different periods in the history of the Sacred Hill. It was constructed to house the priceless exhibits found on the Acropolis, during the many years of excavations. Some of the exhibits here were also found during the excavation for the construction of the museum.
- 1st stage – exhibits found on the slopes of the Acropolis
- 2nd stage – exhibits from the Archaic Period
- 3rd stage – exhibits the frieze of the Parthenon, which is one of the most impressive sections of the museum
The widespread use of glass is the unusual and impressive aspect of the museum, inside and outside the building. The museum excavations are visible under the glass floors giving a distinctive and impressive view of ancient Athens, while from different stages we have a beautiful view of the outside area. There are approximately 4,000 objects on display which will magnetize all visitors arriving at the museum.
II) We ascend up to the Acropolis (called also the Sacred Hill), we have a lovely view of modern Athens arising around the hill.
Our guide will give you all the relevant information about the many monuments existing on and around the Acropolis
- The famous Parthenon, the most important monument of Ancient Greek civilization, dedicated to Athena the patron goddess of Athens
- The Erechtheion located on the most sacred part of the hill
- Propylaia
- The Temple of Nike
- The Agrippa Monument
III) We descend down to the Herodes Atticus Theater, built in 160 AD and used in the Athens Summer Festival to house world famous performers creating a marvelous atmosphere which is unforgettable.
IV) We will visit Plaka, (the old historical area of Athens, on the slopes of the Acropolis Hill) which is like a village within the city of Athens, so different to the rest of Athens – it will amaze you with its labyrinth type of street construction as you walk thru its narrow paths. Once in Plaka (also known as the Neighborhood of the Gods) with its neoclassical architecture, you get the feeling that you have travelled back in time to another era, which has sadly left us forever. The central street of Plaka, Andrianos is a must for all visitors to see and shop from the many souvenir shops existing there.
V) We will visit the Temple of Olympian Zeus, the largest Temple in the Athens area.
VI) Our tour continues on to the Panathenaic Stadium. Located on the site of an ancient stadium, it was the site of the first Olympic Games in 1896, and the place where the Olympic Flame sets up its journey to each Olympic Games city every four years.
VII) We will visit the Benaki Museum (renovated in 2000), the only museum in Greece that takes the visitor thru every age of Greek Culture and History. For lunch we will enjoy a tasty souvlaki along with a cold Greek beer and our first day will be over with an unforgettable dinner – authentic Greek cuisine made with the best local ingredients.
DAY 3 (MONDAY): – NEMEA, MYCENAE & NAFPLIO
From Athens we leave in the morning and arriving at Mycenae (a UNESCO World Heritage).According to mythology and Homer’s writings, this was the town of Agamemnon, leader of the Greeks during the Trojan War. Schliemann was able to find Mycenae based on Homer’s epic work and using it as a guide. Mycenae is a very important archeological site of Greece and was the center of the Mycenaean civilization (from 1600 to 1100 BC), here you can see the Cyclopean Walls, the Lion Gate (possibly the most famous site of Mycenae), the Tomb of Agamemnon, the huge arches and the palace of Mycenae. The most important monuments visible today were erected between 1350 & 1200 BC, when the Mycenaean era was at its peak. Our private guided tour of the archaeological site will allow you to acquire knowledge of the Mycenae Period of Ancient Greece. We will visit Nemea (land of the mythical lion that Hercules killed), given a private guided tour of the archaeological site. The Sanctuary of Zeus began in the start of the 6th century B.C with the initiation of the Panhellenic Nemean Games which took place every 2 years in honour of Opheltes. The original Temple of Zeus was constructed in the Archaic Period, but by the end of the 4th century B.C when renovation of the sanctuary took place, a stadium and a new Zeus Temple were constructed. The stadium could sit 40,000 people and had a length of 178 metres. The games flourished till about 270 B.C, when the games were transferred to Argos and from then on the sanctuary fell in decline. After our archaeological tour we will go to one of the famous vineyards of Nemea and then to a local winery, tasting some of their finest wines. We will then continue on towards Nafplion (the first capital of modern Greece), with its impressive fortress of Palamidi towering above the town. Nafplion is a beautiful and romantic town with its narrow streets, and elegant mansions giving the impression and feeling of walking in the past. At the port entrance there is the small castle of Bourtzi used in the past to protect the town from naval attacks. The beautiful old city with its lovely seafront promenade is a must to sit and have a coffee or simply taking a quiet relaxing walk. After our tranquil walk around the town we will then head-off for a lesson in the amazing Greek cooking cuisine, followed by a gourmet dinner under the shade of the impressive Palamidi fortress.
DAY 4 (TUESDAY): – ANCIENT EPIDAURUS & MONEMVASIA
Arriving at Palaia Epidaurus, we will visit the ancient city theater, a very well preserved theater (the small theatre of Epidaurus) built in the 4th century BC, dedicated to Dionysos the god of wine. The theater originally accommodated about 2000 spectators. We will then go to Asklepieion of Epidaurus (a UNESCO World Heritage Monument) which was an important healing center, considered the cradle of medicinal arts and the mother of all other Asklepieia built throughout the Hellenic world. This was considered to be the birthplace of Apollo’s son Asklepios. The Theater of Epidaurus (built in the 3rd century BC) is the best preserved theater of ancient Greece which is still used today for the Epidaurus Festival because of its incredible acoustics, allowing spectators to hear perfectly unamplified spoken word in all parts of the theater. There are seats for about 12,000 spectators. We then continue on arriving at Monemvasia, a uniquely preserved mediaeval town, taking its name from the word “one entrance” on a rocky islet connecting to the Laconian coast. First settled in the 6th century A.D, by inhabitants of Laconia, it soon developed into a town due to its strategic importance for the area. It was one of the first towns to be liberated by the Greeks in 1821. A walk around the narrow alleys of the medieval castle -town will transport you to another time another place, giving you the feeling of walking alongside knights, pirates, crusaders and kings. Now the alleys are full of cafes, taverns, tourist shops and artistic shops with the sound of locals and tourists rather than knights and pirates being heard. There are also many, from small houses to large mansions existing in the castle, making this castle town one of the most expensive areas to buy a house in Greece. We will be spending our night in this medieval castle, but with all the modern comforts and amenities at our disposal.
DAY 5 (WEDNESDAY): – CAVES OF DIROS & MESSINIAN BAY
In the morning we will enjoy a unique Byzantine type breakfast, on the main square in Monemvasia, prepared with local products. After our breakfast, we will leave and visit the Diros Caves. The Caves of Diros are one of the most spectacular natural sites in Greece comparable only to the Caldera of Sandorini. They are found at a distance of 10 km from Gytheio and approximately 5 km from Pyrgos Dirou. In reality there are actually two caves and not just one, Alepotripa and Vlichada. The experience of travelling in a subterranean river for about 1600 metres is something which will not be forgotten very quickly. The magic developed by the shapes and colours of the stalactites and stalagmites form an exceptional sight for the eyes. The actual length reaches 6,500 metres, (even though the real length is still unknown) but only 1600 metres have been released for public use. During the Neolithic Period, one of the two caves, the Alepotripa Cave was extensively used for various reasons shelter, storage and even as a place of worship. The Cave of Vlichada can be visited by a boat trip including some areas are covered by foot, where all the beauty and magic of the scenery is covered. After our trip at Diros, we will go to our hotel at Messinian Bay, where we will dine and relax while enjoying a live Greek music program.
DAY 6 (THURSDAY): – ANCIENT OLYMPIA & KALAVRYTA
With our private guided tour of Ancient Olympia you will be enjoying and learning all about the archaeology of this beautiful area. Olympia, one of the most influential ancient Greek sanctuaries located in the North Western Peloponnese, established in the valley created by the convergence of the Alpheios and Kladeos rivers, in an area of natural beauty and serenity. The famous sanctuary became the centre of worship of Zeus, father of the gods. In 776 BC the kings of Elis, Pisa and Sparta organized the games in honour of Zeus and developed the idea of the sacred ‘truce’ and soon the quadrennial festival acquired a national festival. In this universal place evolved the ‘Olympic Idea’ – symbol of peace and competition, while giving importance to the ideals of physical and metal harmony. Olympia is the birthplace of the most important athletic event of the world today, the Olympic Games. We will visit the Archaeological Site, which includes ruins from the Bronze Age to the Byzantine eras as well as the ancient stadium where the first Olympic Games took place, the Doric Temple of Hera, the Heraion Peristyle, the Palaistra, the ruins of the Temple of Zeus and much more. We will also visit the Museum containing among other articles the sculpted decoration of the Temple of Zeus, the statue of Nike and the Hermes of Praxiteles. On this trip you will have the chance to try your fishing skills and catch your own trout in the river flowing through dense plane trees existing in the area, and we will let Georgia prepare the recipe of your personal taste. We then move on to Kalavrita, with its fir covered slopes, a vertiginous canyon, the old rack and pinion railway (built in 1896, is one of the most famous in the world) and famous monasteries (Mega Spilaion Monastery, founded in the 4th century A.D and Agia Lavra founded in 961 A.D and it is said that the Greek revolution began here in 1821) are some of the things available to see in this lovely area. We then take a relaxing walk thru the lovely town of Kalavrita before heading for a delicious local dinner with a lovely view of the area.
DAY 7 (FRIDAY): – ANCIENT CORINTH & LOUTRAKI
In the morning we will use the old rack and pinion railway (Odontotos), and travel thru a beautiful natural scenery rarely found elsewhere, thru tunnels next to waterfalls, along cliffs and thru dense pine tree forests. We then travel to Corinth to visit the archaeological site, where we will be given a private guided tour of the archaeological site and museum. Ancient Corinth has been settled since 5000 BC (Neolithic Age), while in antiquity Corinth was one of the largest and major cities of Greece and played an important part in the Peloponnesian War. The economic strength of the city reached its peak in the 7th to 6th century BC under Cypselus and also his son Periander, with the construction of impressive buildings like the Temple of Apollo (560 BC) and the Panhellenic Games (584 BC). Corinth’s glory lasted until its destruction by the Roman General Mummius at the battle of Leukopetra in 146 BC. In 44 BC Julius Caesar decided to re-build the city and it was continued after his death by Octavian the future Augustus. The city was again prosperous in the middle of the 1st century AD when Apostle Paul visited the city, and remained so despite the Heruli invasion of 267 AD and the serious earthquake of 375 AD. It later became the Capital of the Helladic Province of the Eastern Roman Empire, and since then changed hands many times, with the Franks, the Venetians and the Ottomans, till the liberation of Greece. For Christians, Corinth is also well known for the preaching of St. Paul as mentioned in the New Testament, First & Second Corinthians and as part of Apostle Paul’s religious travels. Apostle Paul lived and taught in Corinth for a short period of time and is also the town’s patron saint. Our long day closes with a trip to the beautiful seaside city of Loutraki, (the oldest bath city in Greece which dates back to antiquity), well renowned for its healing and natural mineral waters, where we will have a lovely dinner.
DAY8 (SATURDAY): – TEMPLE OF HERA & ATHENS
A short distance from Loutraki (16km) we will arrive at the Lake of Vouligmeni, where we will encounter the calm and crystal clear waters of the lake, enjoy the impressive scene of pine trees that reach down to the banks of the lake. Many visit the lake for the variety of water sports that are performed there but also to visit the many taverns of the area, which have increased due to the increase in tourism. We will soon be enjoying a delicious fresh seafood meal in one of these taverns near the lake. Close by, is the Temple of Hera and the archaeological site of Heraion Perachora, with its fabulous sunset and impressive lighthouse, the largest in the Corinthian Bay. Early Corinthian Civilization relics have been found in the area, signifying its importance during the pre-Roman Era. Our trip ends when we arrive back in Athens.