5 Days Private Tour: Olympia - Mani - Sparta & Argolida

Day 1 Corinth - Olympia

1. 1

   Corinth Canal

   15 min

   We will begin with a drive along the coast. On the way you will view of some Greek seaside villages and the island of Salamis (where the historical naval battle took place between the Athenians and the Persians).
   Our first stop the Corinth Canal. Opened in 1892 separating the Peloponnese peninsula from the rest of Greece and connecting the Saronic Gulf to the Corinthian Sea. You will have time to walk across on a pedestrian bridge to admire the canal closer, (if you’re game) on some days bungee jumping is an option.

2. 2

   Archaeological Site of Olympia

   1 hour Admission ticket not included

   We will visit the archaeological site and the museum of Ancient Olympia. This is one of the largest sites in Greece, the birthplace of the Olympic Games and the Sanctuary of Olympian Zeus. Walking through the site you will pass by the Gymnasium, the Palaestra, the workshop of Phidias, the Temple of Zeus and you will end up at the Stadium where for every four years the Greeks competed for glory and for spiritual elevation honoring their cities.

3. 3

   Archaeological Museum of Olympia

   30 min Admission ticket not included

   The museum is also quite unique as it includes the renowned statue “Hermes of Praxiteles” with its perfect analogies and tools that belonged to Phidias himself. With the tools he created one of the seven wonders of the world “the gold ivory statue of Zeus”.

4. 4

   Museum of the Olympic Games

   30 min Admission ticket not included

   The Museum of the History of the Ancient Olympic Games hosts 463 ancient works, from the Temple of Zeus at Olympia, and other museums in the Greek territory. The exhibits cover a wide chronological range, from the 2nd millennium BC until the 5th century AD. Ancient exposed in thematic units and through them yperchilietis shows the history of the Olympic games, the longest ancient institution.
   Apart from ancient art, the visitor has the possibility of detailed information through the rich visual material.
   After a walking in the footsteps of ancient athletes we will take our lunch at the village.

Day 2 Messini- Kalamata - Areopoli

1. 1

   Ancient Messini

   30 min Admission ticket not included

   The remains of this vast ancient city are as extensive as those of Olympia and Epidavros, yet Ancient Messini receives only a fraction of their visitors. Picturesquely situated on a hillside below the village of Mavromati and still undergoing excavation, the site comprises a large theatre, an agora (marketplace), a sizeable Sanctuary of Asclepius and one of the most impressive Ancient Greek stadiums. Entry includes the small museum at the site turn-off; don't miss the impressive Arcadian Gate 800m beyond, either.

2. 2

   Ancient Messini Stadium

   30 hours Admission ticket not included

   The remains of this tremendous ancient city are complete with a grand ancient stadium, an Ancient Agora, an ancient theatre with a capacity of up to ten thousand spectators, and a fountain house. It is so well-maintained that you can easily envision the city in all of its glory.

3. 3

   Kalamata

   1 hour

   Kalamata is the second most populous city of the Peloponnese peninsula, after Patras, in southern Greece and the largest city of the homonymous administrative region. The capital and chief port of the Messenia regional unit, it lies along the Nedon River at the head of the Messenian Gulf.

4. 4

   Kardamili

   30 min

   Kardamili is a wonderful, picturesque, historic, coastal village of Messiniaki Mani which is situated 35km southeastern to the city of Kalamata. There, the visitor can admire overgrown mountain sides, olive groves, wonderful beaches, well cared stone mansions of traditional architecture of Mani, verdant gardens and the lovely, picturesque small port.

5. 5

   Stoupa

   1 hour

   Stoupa is a newly built little village at the south of Peloponnese. The picturesque sandy beaches, the small rivers, the caves, the beautiful harbors and the hill with the castle are some of the reasons more and more tourists visit every year this magical place.
   The name of the village was originally “Potamos” which means river in Greek and is related with the river of the area. The name finally changed to “Stoupa”, a word coherent with sails, because of the sails the locals put into water in order to make them softer.

6. 6

   Areopoli

   2 hours

   Areopoli is a town on the Mani Peninsula, Laconia, Greece.
   The word Areopoli, which means "city of Ares", the ancient Greek god of war, became the official name in 1912. It was the seat of Oitylo municipality. The Greek War of Independence was started at Areopoli on March 17, 1821 by Petros Pierrakos, also known as Petros Mavromichalis, the last bey of Mani. Now Areopoli has grown into a flourishing town. Its tower houses, constructed with field stones, are distinct from the traditional blue and white buildings that characterize many Greek villages.

Day 3 Mani - Gytheio- Sparta

1. 1

   Mani Peninsula

   2 hours

   In the morning we will depart from Areopoli to drive around the peninsula of Mani, the small villages and the beautiful beaches are unique carrying a proud part of Greek history. Mani played a very important role in the war of independence remaining free it helped the rest of Greece be liberated.

2. 2

   Gytheio

   2 hours

   After driving around Mani we will stop at Gytheio, a small town by the sea very close to Sparta, Gytheio was the ancient port of Sparta.

3. 3

   Sparta

   2 hours

   We will drive to Sparta to overnight.

Day 4 Sparta- Mystras - Nafplio

1. 1

   Mystras

   2 hours

   After after breakfast will head towards Mystras. Reaching Mystras you will automatically understand why this location stands so unique within the Greek sites. Known as the ghost city, fortified on a citadel, Mystras is one of the two locations in Greece that preserves not only medieval churches but also ordinary houses, mansions and palaces of the Byzantine Empire in combination with Frankish elements.

2. 2

   Archaeological Site of Mystra

   2 hours Admission ticket not included

   Walking in the site on the upper point you will reach the citadel and enjoy a magnificent view of the surrounding areas while walking down hill you will meet palaces and the Royal courtyards. Although known as the ghost city most of the monasteries are still in use and the monks will gladly show you around their small society. Before you exit you will come across the chapel of St. Demetrios, on its floor survives a plaque depicting a two head eagle (the symbol of Byzantium). It was on this very plaque that Konstantine Palaiologos kneeled before he was crowned the last emperor of the Byzantium.

3. 3

   Acropolis and Ancient Theater

   30 min

   Following that we will spend the rest of our time in Sparta known as the eternal rival city of the Athenian Democracy. Sparta revolved around a different Cosmo theory for the ancient Greek standards. Initially known as the birth place of Helen of Troy and the Kingdom of Menelaus (in Mycenaean period), Sparta was organized as a purely military society in the ancient Greek period. It was the city of the two Kings were a few aristocrats ruled and of course the city where Leonidas and his 300 Spartans marched from to face the Persian army Thermopylae in 480 BCE.

4. 4

   Leonidas Monument

   10 min

   Continuing we will pass in front of the stadium where the statue of King Leonidas stands marking the ending point of Spartathlon race (Athens – Sparta 245,3 km).

5. 5

   Museum of the Olive and Greek Olive Oil

   30 min Admission ticket not included

   We will visit the museum of (olive and) olive oil and learn many things about the most famous products of Greece.

6. 6

   Nafplio

   2 hours

   From here we will travel through time towards a more recent history of Greece and to the city of Nafplion. Nafplion is considered the most scenic city which also functioned as the capital of Greece until 1834. It offers you an impressive combination of fortresses and castles (Palamidi, Bourtzi), an enormous port opened to the Aegean Sea and the unique architecture of the old city of Nafplion revealing Venetian, neoclassical and oriental elements.

7. 7

   Akronafplia Fortress

   10 min

   We’ll drive up until the castle of Acronafplia for a panoramic view of Nafplio.

8. 8

   Bourtzi

   10 min

   Bourtzi is a little islet with a fortress in a huge port opened to the Aegean Sea.

Day 5 Epidaurus - Mycenae - Corinth

1. 1

   Sanctuary of Asklepios

   30 min Admission ticket not included

   After a short drive you will be able to visit one of the most important ancient Greek sanctuaries to God Asclepius the God of healing and medicine located in peaceful environment spread on a hilly area and reaching its highest point is the theater of Epidaurus.

2. 2

   The Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus

   30 min Admission ticket not included

   Following will be the site of Epidaurus. Reaching its highest point is the theater of Epidaurus. The best preserved ancient Greek theater dated 4th century BCE a proof of what miracles the ancient Greek minds could create. You can test the acoustics great even today and climb up until the upper seats just to close your eyes and dream you attended an ancient Greek tragedy.

3. 3

   Archaeological Site Mycenae

   1 hour Admission ticket not included

   Dated to the 2nd millennium B.C.E. representing what Homer wrote about, Achilles, Agamemnon and Helen of Troy. The palace of Mycenae gave its name to a whole era.

4. 4

   Lion Gate

   10 min Admission ticket not included

   In the site you will see the famous Lions Gate (the oldest architectural sculpture in Europe), the cyclopean walls, the burial circle A and the remains of Agamemnon’s Palace.

5. 5

   Archaeological Museum of Ancient Mycenae

   30 min Admission ticket not included

   Worth visiting there is also a modern museum exhibiting the findings of the “City Of Gold".

6. 6

   Citadel and Treasury of Atreus

   10 min Admission ticket not included

   Just before leaving the site we will make a small stop at the treasury of Atreus, the best preserved Tholos tomb found and one of the finest examples of the Mycenaean architecture.

7. 7

   Ancient Corinth (Archaia Korinthos)

   1 min Admission ticket not included

   Ancient Corinth, located at the foot of the hill includes the Roman Agora of Corinth, the temple of God Apollo and a small museum. Apart from its archaeological and historical interest, Ancient Corinth is also one of the most popular religious destinations in Greece. It was here that the Apostle Paul preached Christianity, was judged by the tribunal in the Agora and established the best organized Christian church of the time.

8. 8

   Temple of Apollo

   10 min Admission ticket not included

   The temple of Apollo at Corinth is one of the earliest Doric temples in the Peloponnese and the Greek mainland. Built around 560 B.C.E., of local monolithic limestone on top of an imposing, rocky hill to the north of Acrocorinth, the Archaic temple was an emblem for the Greek city of Corinth, reflecting its growth and prosperity.

9. 9

   Akrokorinthos

   20 min

   We will visit the castle of Acrocorinth,the oldest and largest castle in southern Greece, for some amazing photos.

10. 10

    Athens

    20 min

    We will drive back to Athens.