Active & Culture Peloponnese Adventure

Welcome to Athens! Depending on your arrival time, you have the day free to explore Athens, one of Europe’s most important cities.

Your hotel is conveniently located downtown, allowing you to take a leisurely stroll through the picturesque neighborhoods of Plaka, Monastiraki and Thisio. You can visit the UNESCO site of the Acropolis with the Parthenon, explore the Acropolis Museum, pass by the Parliament House and wander through the National Gardens. A walk up the Philopappou Hill offers superb views of the Acropolis and the city.

Early evening (usually around 17:30-18:00pm), you will meet your guide and fellow travel companions. A welcome briefing is scheduled for today as well as a short orientation walk in the city.

*Optional activities can be arranged for today, such as a guided walking tour of the Acropolis, an e-bike tour to explore the city’s major highlights, or even a food tour etc., depending on your preferences.

  Welcome Dinner                                                  3* Hotel in Athens city center

After breakfast, we depart for the Peloponnese peninsula. First stop from Athens will be the Corinth Canal (Isthmus of Corinth, 1 hour drive, short stop of 15min), a narrow sea passage that connects the Ionian Sea with the Aegean Sea and separates mainland Greece from the Peloponnese.

We continue and almost an hour later we will reach the wonderful citadel of Mycenae. You will enjoy a guided tour of the archaeological site, the kingdom of mythical Agamemnon and the most important and richest palatial centre of the Late Bronze Age in Greece. We then head to Nemea village (approx. 35min drive), a synonymous of red wine in Greece! Nemea is famous from Hercules’ labors, but it is also one of the largest and most signature wine making regions all over Greece. You will experience a wine tour & tasting in one of the local wineries of the area (duration 1-1.5 hrs). The tour also includes a light meal in the beautiful cellars of the winery.

The afternoon will find us at one of Greece’s most romantic cities, Nafplio.  After hotel check in, get ready for an easy, yet beautiful seaside walk. Starting right from our hotel, the walk will take us from the center of Nafplio all along the seaside to Arvanitia beach and then onwards to Karathona beach. Nice, easy walk, offering beautiful sea views and the opportunity to enjoy a quick swim (in summer time).

Hike duration: 2,5 hours/ Distance: 8km / Elevation Gain/Loss: +120 / -110m / Difficulty Level: easy

Once the hike is over, we will get transferred back to the town of Nafplio and you can enjoy dinner by the port.

Breakfast, Lunch at the winery                  3* Hotel in Nafplio

Our day starts with a lovely circular coastal hike in Epidauria Land. Nestled between the Saronic and Argolic Gulfs, the region around Old Epidaurus captivates every traveler with its rich history, rocky and pine wooded slopes, scenic beaches and peaceful coves.   Located in Nea Epidavros, on a secluded beach surrounded by pine and olive trees, lies the Polemarcha Monastery, founded around 1.400 by a monk. Our trail starts from the port of Old Epidaurus and hiking through pine wooded forest along the coastline, we will reach the homonymous beach of Polemarcha and the monastery within 4 kilometers distance.  There will be free time to get some rest and enjoy a swim, if you feel like it. Following a slightly different trail, we will return to Old Epidaurus port, having enjoyed a circular hike, where green and blue harmonize in perfect unity.

Hike duration: 3.5 hours incl. stops/ Distance: 8km/ Elevation gain/loss: +190m / -190m / Difficulty Level: easy

You will have free time for lunch, before we move on to the next experience: an olive oil tour! Just a few minutes’ drive away, we’ll visit a family run Olive Oil farm, where you will learn more about the process of olive oil making, taste fine extra virgin olive oil and have the chance to purchase olive oil products of excellent quality.

In the afternoon, you will enjoy a guided visit of the UNESCO Worldwide Heritage Site of Ancient Epidaurus, where peacefully lies the Sanctuary of the god-physician Asclepius, the most famous healing centre of the Greek and Roman world. Besides the sanctuary of Asclepius, we will also visit the Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus, one of the greatest monuments of Ancient Greece, the finest and most renowned of its kind, perfectly combining acoustics with elegance and symmetrical proportions (approx. 1,5 hr visit).

Return to Nafplio (30min drive) around 17:00pm, evening on your own to relax, walk through the picturesque alleys of Nafplio and enjoy dinner.

Breakfast        3* Hotel in Nafplio

Early in the morning, after breakfast, we depart for the charming village of Mystras (2hrs drive) to enjoy a fulfilling hike on the peaceful paths of Mt. Taygetos! Just a few minutes away from Mystras is located the beautiful village of Agios Ioannis, which is well known for the springs and waterfalls that are gushing from Mt. Taygetos (2.407m). Starting our hike (crossing part of the E4 route) from the stone-built path and following the rocky slope, we will reach the cave monastery of Panagia Zagouna. Ascending along the narrow paths among olive groves, we arrive at the Faneromenis Monastery where we will have a stop for a visit and rest. Built in the 19^th century, the monastery was formally called Lacedaimonos (Spartan) and it is located near the village of Anavryti. We continue down the slow dirt road towards the Lagada ravine which leads to a zone with lush flora and lots of water and eventually we reach the abandoned church of the Transfiguration of the Savior. We continue inside the wild gorge of Lagkadiotissa, via an impressive passage and we come across a roaring waterfall, created by the overflow of an aqueduct, as we descend steeply until the gorge’s exit. The last kilometres are on a nice path until the asphalt road which ends in Parori village, another picturesque village with natural fountains.

Hike duration: 4.5-5 hours incl. stops/ Distance: 10km/ Elevation gain +950 m /- 950m / Level of difficulty: moderate

After a refreshing stop for rest, we will visit the UNESCO Worldwide Heritage Site of Mystras, also known as the “wonder of Morea”. This impressive castle city is built on the slopes of Mt Taygetos and was the center of the Byzantine power in South Greece.

Last stop for today is Gythio town (approx. 1 hr), where we will spend the next two days.

Breakfast              3* Hotel in Gythio

Today we will explore some of the best landmarks of Mani peninsula!

We will start our day by visiting Cape Tenaron, the southernmost point of mainland Greece and the second southernmost point of mainland Europe (1h15min drive from Gythio). Cape Tenaron has a very long history and in ancient times it was considered the entrance to the Underworld, as the location also housed a necromanteion (temple of necromancy) where the ancients communicated with the dead. There is in fact a cave that Greek legends claimed it was the home of Hades. The very end of Cape Tenaron with its impressive lighthouse can be reached via an easy 2km hike. The walk takes you past pretty, little rocky beaches, barren hills, the Temple of Poseidon and a Roman mosaic just at the beginning of the hike. The trail is on uneven (and in places rocky) terrain and offers spectacular panoramic views. We will return from the same path back to the parking lot. In the summer months, you will have the opportunity to refresh yourselves with a swim in the turquoise crystal-clear waters of the nearby beach.

Hike duration: 1.5-2 hours / Distance: 4.2km / Elevation gain +110 m /- 110m / Level of difficulty: easy

On the way back, you will make a stop at the picturesque village of Vathia, which is known for its tower-houses built on a hill dominating the surrounding countryside. You may enjoy lunch at a local tavern at Vateia village or at another nearby village. Next comes the Cave of Diros visit, one of the most significant and spectacular natural sites in Greece. Visiting the caves is like traveling back to the Neolithic period. The tour lasts approx. 1 hour and the caves are explored on foot as well as by boat!

We will continue onwards to the beautiful town of Areopoli with the historical medieval towers and the stone-paved alleys to stroll around and explore! Of course, we wouldn’t forget to take you to Limeni seaside village (10min drive) for a dive into the crystal turquoise waters (during summer).

Back to the hotel in Gythio & evening free for dinner and rest.

Breakfast                3* Hotel in Gytheio

Today you will say goodbye to the historic, rocky, wild Mani region as we will move north, into the heart of the Peloponnese peninsula! Mount Menalon with its picturesque mountainous villages, rich history and lush nature awaits us!

The day starts with a wonderful rafting adventure in one of the best rivers for rafting in Greece! We’ll be transferred to the base of operations, near the village of Karitena (approx. 1h40min drive). There our local instructors will give you all the necessary instructions and equipment before we board our rafting boats!

Total activity duration: approx. 4 hrs, in the water: 2hrs | Level of difficulty: easy (to moderate, depending on the season)

After an exciting morning, we will drive for almost 45min to Dimitsana village. Dimitsana is a beautiful mountainous village located at 1.000m altitude, cradle of the War of Independence against the Turkish in 1821.

We will check in to our hotel and then visit the open-air Waterpower Museum, where you can find out how the power of water was used in the traditional, pre-industrial societies, for the production of various goods. We can also walk around the narrow-paved streets of the village and admire the magnificent views over Lousios gorge. You may enjoy dinner at one of the local restaurants.

Breakfast                                      3* Hotel in Dimitsana

After breakfast, we will depart for an exciting hike through the impressive Lousios gorge! This area is one of the most beautiful in the Peloponnese, as it combines dense nature with great history.

Starting from the new monastery of Philosophou, we will hike to the Old Philosophou monastery, literally hanging from the cliffs. This is where the “Secret School” (krifo scholio) is located, well hidden inside the monastery, which, as indicated by its name, used to serve as a school during the Turkish occupation. A descending trail reaching the riverside will then take us to Prodromou monastery. Once there, we’ll take a break for coffee and a light snack (usually the monks there invite us to local treats). We will then continue towards Ancient Gortys and the Temple of Asclepius, built in the 4^th BC century, where our hike ends.

Hike duration approx. 3 hrs / Distance: 5km / Elevation Gain/Loss: +550/ -500m/ Level of difficulty: easy to moderate

Next stop is the picturesque small village of Stemnitsa, where we will stop for lunch.

In the afternoon, we will depart for Athens (approx. 3hrs drive with stops in between). Arrival in Athens and check in at your hotel in the city centre. Dinner at a local tavern near your hotel.

Breakfast, Farewell dinner   3* Hotel in Athens

Breakfast at your hotel and check out. Departures to catch your scheduled flight or continue your holidays in Greece.

Breakfast                on your own