Visit Corinth Canal, Ancient Corinth, Myceane, Nauplion, Epidaurus and overnight in Nauplion
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Corinth Canal
Depart from Athens and drive along the coast line until we reach the Corinth Canal where we will make a brief stop.
The Corinth Canal connects the Gulf of Corinth with the Saronic Gulf in the Aegean Sea. It cuts through the narrow Isthmus of Corinth and separates the Peloponnese from the Greek mainland, arguably making the peninsula an island.
ls considered one of the great engineering accomplishments of Greece.
The canal was dug through the Isthmus at sea level and has no locks. It is 6.4 kilometres (4 mi) in length and only 21.4 metres (70 ft) wide at its base. The canal was constructed from 1880 to 1893, however, it is something that shipowners and captains had dreamed about for some 2000 years before it became a reality.
Duration: 10 minutes
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Ancient Corinth (Archaia Korinthos)
Ancient Corinth's location was of great strategical and economic importance. It was located between the Saronic and the Corinthian gulf, in the narrow band of land which joins the central Greek land with Peloponnesus. In this way, it had the control of the ships which carried out the trade between eastern Greek and Italy, as well as the control of the entrance to Peloponnesus
Duration: 2 hours
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Archaeological Site Mycenae
Mycenae is a UNESCO World Heritage Site
The Mycenaeans, was a civilization made up of herdsmen and warriors, prevailed in the south of Greece from approximately 1600 - 1100 BCE . Mycenae has been excavated by Heinrich Schliemann, who attempted to locate the legendary city of Troy and his led him to unearth a treasure trove of fortified palace complexes, burial tombs, and a cache of gold and bronze items comparable to the tomb of Tutankhamen
Duration: 2 hours
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The Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus
The ancient Theatre of Epidaurus dates back to 4th century BC and is one of the many UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Greece, but is undeniably unique for a multitude of reasons. It is argued that the Theatre of Epidaurus is the grandest and best preserved in all of Greece,
For several centuries, the theatre of Epidaurus has been home to the theatrical arts, offering audiences ancient drama plays and comedies, as well as performances of opera, dance and classical music.
The Asklepieion of Epidaurus as an important healing center, considered the cradle of medicinal arts and the mother sanctuary of the plethora of other Asklepieia that were built throughout the Hellenic world.
The sanctuary of Epidaurus was named after the god of medicine, Asklepios, and pilgrims came from all over the Mediterranean seeking healing for their ailments through physical and spiritual means
Duration: 2 hours
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Nauplion Promenade
Nauplion is divided into the old city with its neoclassic buildings, picturesque streets, middle age fountains and Constitution Square. Was the capital of the newly formed Greek state from 1828 to 1834, when this role passed to Athens. It is a colourful town with culture, history and natural beauty.
Duration: 2 hours
Visit Sparta/Mystras, overnight in Sparta
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Archaeological Site of Mystra
Mystras is UNESCOs World Heritage site!
Mystras, the ‘wonder of the Morea’, lies in the southeast of the Peloponnese. The town developed down the hillside from the fortress built in 1249 by the prince of Achaia, William II of Villehardouin, at the top of a 620 m high hill overlooking Sparta.
Like a replica in miniature of the majestic form of Mt. Taygetos, Mystras rises above the verdant valley of Eurotas and is the best-preserved example of medieval walled town in the Greek region, is today a standing ghost city that fascinates the modern traveler with its castle, churches and the palatial complex of the ruling Byzantine dynasty, bearing witness to its bygone greatness
Duration: 3 hours
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Museum of the Olive and Greek Olive Oil
The Museum of the Olive and Greek Olive Oil in the Peloponnesian city of Sparta offers fascinating insights into the history of olive cultivation and olive oil production in Greece from prehistoric times to the early 20th century, from their roles in mythology, religion and the economy to art, culture and cuisine.
Duration: 60 minutes
Visit Monemvasia - Water Caves Diros, overnight in Monemvasia
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Monemvasia Fortress
Built on a rock accessible only through a causeway, the castle of Monemvasia was populated around the 6th century A.D. by the Laconians, in order to protect themselves from the Arabic invasions. They constructed the first wooden, moveable bridge that linked the rock to the shore. The castle was named after this bridge, as “Monemvasia” means “single entrance”. The castle experienced a radical growth during the Byzantine Period from the 12th until the 14th century, and it was then when the finest byzantine churches that decorate the island were built.
Duration: 3 hours
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Caves of Diros
The spectacular cave complex of Diros in the Peloponnese offers visitors the opportunity to travel back to the Neolithic era and even further.
It is not just the drop in temperature that gives you the chills as you descend underground to start the 40-minute boat tour of Vlychada, the biggest cave of the Diros complex. It is the beautiful and dramatic formations of stalactites and stalagmites, formed millions of years ago, when the sea, located just a few meters away, started to rise and formed the lake we see today. It is the excitement of not knowing what can be hiding in the darkness beyond the illuminated 1.5k route, and the realization of the sheer size of this underground miracle of nature: a series of vast caverns stretching 15k into the rock, with 2,800 waterways – and this is only what we know of so far.
Duration: 60 minutes
Visit Temple of Apollo Epikourios - Olympia, overnight in Olympia
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Temple of Apollo Epikourios
This famous temple to the god of healing and the sun was built towards the middle of the 5th century B.C. in the lonely heights of the Arcadian mountains. The temple, which has the oldest Corinthian capital yet found, combines the Archaic style and the serenity of the Doric style with some daring architectural features.
Is an exceptionally large, well-preserved and mysterious Classical temple.
Duration: 60 minutes
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Archaeological Site of Olympia
Visit the Archaeological Site with Temples of Zeus and Hera and the Ancient Olympic Stadium, where the First Olympic Games in 776 B.C. were held.
Visit the New Archaeological Museum of Olympia and see among others the Sculpture Masterpieces of Hermes by Praxitelis and the Nike (Victory) by Paionios.
Duration: 3 hours
Visit Delphi, overnight in Delphi
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Delphi
Delphi is a UNESCO World Heritage Site!
Welcome to the grandeur of Delphi, where nature and ancient ruins blend in an extraordinary way, enhancing the beauty of one another against a setting of mountains, terraces and trees. Located on the slopes of Mount Parnassos, hundreds of feet above the sea, it is easy to see why Delphi was once believed to be the center of the earth.
Before you reach the archaeological site of Delphi and its Museum, a short stop at the traditional picturesque village of Arachova is a must!
Take your chance to lay back and listen to your driver as he ,on the way to your destination, he tells you the fascinating history of the Sanctuary of Apollo, the paved Sacred Way, and the Doric temple of Apollo. Admire the Theatre and the Stadium, used for the main events of the Pythian Festival, located on terraces above the Temple. To the right of the entrance to the Sanctuary is the Kastalian Fountain, where Pythia washed before speaking her prophecies. Across and below the road from the Spring you will find the Marmaria or Sanctuary of Athena Pronaia, with the conspicuous building of Tholos.
Duration: 3 hours
Visit Meteora , overnight in Meteora
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Meteora
The UNESCO World Heritage Site Meteora consists of a group of monasteries built on rocky spires in northwestern Thessaly. The monasteries are ‘floating in the air’, as its name means, on a series of spectacular outcrops of this region that are as much as 400 meters high. They are formed of eroded conglomerate and riddled with caves that provided shelter for the hermits who first settled there.
Meteora is now the biggest and most important group of monasteries in Greece after those in Mount Athos. While monasteries in Meteora are first attested in the early 14th century, its history can be traced back to the 11th century when monks first settled there.
Its sublime beauty cannot be conveyed in words or pictures. The soaring monoliths of more than four hundred metres in height seem to have been expressly created by God for the bold ascetics who would seek the ideal place in this tranquil setting to devote themselves wholly to prayer.
Duration: 3 hours
Visit the rest monasteries, Thermopylae and return back to Athens
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Meteora
The UNESCO World Heritage Site Meteora consists of a group of monasteries built on rocky spires in northwestern Thessaly. The monasteries are ‘floating in the air’, as its name means, on a series of spectacular outcrops of this region that are as much as 400 meters high. They are formed of eroded conglomerate and riddled with caves that provided shelter for the hermits who first settled there.
Meteora is now the biggest and most important group of monasteries in Greece after those in Mount Athos. While monasteries in Meteora are first attested in the early 14th century, its history can be traced back to the 11th century when monks first settled there.
Its sublime beauty cannot be conveyed in words or pictures. The soaring monoliths of more than four hundred metres in height seem to have been expressly created by God for the bold ascetics who would seek the ideal place in this tranquil setting to devote themselves wholly to prayer.
Duration: 3 hours
2
Battlefield of Thermopylae
Thermopylae is a place in Greece where a narrow coastal passage existed in antiquity. It derives its name from its hot sulphur springs.The Hot Gates is "the place of hot springs"
Thermopylae is world-famous for the battle that took place there between the Greek forces (notably the Spartans) and the invading Persian forces, commemorated by Simonides in the famous epitaph, "Go tell the Spartans, stranger passing by, That here obedient to their laws we lie." Thermopylae is the only land route large enough to bear any significant traffic between Lokris and Thessaly. This passage from north to south along the east coast of the Balkan peninsula requires use of the pass and for this reason Thermopylae has been the site of several battles.
Duration: 60 minutes
