Private Archaeology Tour

DAY BY DAY ITINERARY

DAY 1: Arrival – Corinth Canal – Welcome Dinner

We meet you at the Eleftherios Venizelos Airport of Athens. On 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 in the evening the welcome dinner will take place, where you will have the chance to taste some of the most famous Greek traditional foods.Overnight in Tripoli.

DAY 2: Ancient Tegea – Alea – Kapsia Cave – Wine Tasting

This will be a guided tour in ancient Tegea and Alea (optionally you can take this route on a bicycle). The tour will start from the ancient city of Tegea (ancient Tegeatis), one of the most developed and important cities of ancient Greece with the byzantine church built exactly above the ancient Greek theatre of the city. Our tour will continue with the visit in the village of Alea with the ancient temple of Alea Athena, the second biggest temple in Peloponnese after the temple of Zeus in Olympia, and the brand new museum. The tour around Tripoli will continue in a lighter way concerning archaeologyto the Kapsia Cave,a true masterpiece for the eyes of the visitor under the earth, aged over than 3.000.000 years! And finally, visit to the local traditional winery to taste the Greek wine made of local varieties accompanied with local delicacies. The afternoon will be free. You can take a walk around Tripoli to see the centre of the city with the cafes and the shops, the Areos square which is one of the biggest squares not only in Greece but also in the Balkans, and the statue of the local and national hero of the Greek revolution, Theodoros Kolokotronis.You can also visit the Archeological Museum of Tripoli if you want with its important antiquities.In addition, we can arrange for you a half-day trip in the seaside village of Astros to spend some time on the beach and walk around the picturesque dock.Overnight Tripoli.

DAY 3: Dimitsana – Hydromovement museum – Monasteries in Lousios Gorge

This day includes a tour through the magical Lousios gorge with the hidden monasteries built among the rocks. In this place, natural beauty meets history in a combination that only a place like Peloponnese can offer! Taking our minibus we arrive in another traditional village, Dimitsana in mountainous Arcadia. Firstly, we will visit the Hydromovement Open Air Museum, which is unique in the Balkans, to see how the locals were using the energy from the power of the water. The museum complex includes the renovated buildings of a watermill, a tannery and a powder shop, along with their original machinery and equipment. Each of these old, restored buildings houses an exhibition related to its formerindustrial use. Then, we will move on to the byzantine Filosofou monastery and if you are in a mood for a little bit of walking we will visit the ancient Filosofou monastery or “secret school” which is the oldest and most historical monastery in Arcadia and one of the oldest Greek Byzantine sites. Our next stop is the Prodromou monastery, which played a significant role during the Greek revolution in 1821 against the Ottomans, being used as a shelter for the Greek fighters. Finally, the tour ends in the findings of a 2500 year old city, ancient Gortys, from where the Spartans passed on their way to Olympia to participate in the Olympic Games! The best part is left for the end, as the program includes picnic and relaxation next to the river under the trees! OvernightTripoli.

DAY 4: Sparta – Mystras.

Excursion and tour in Sparta and in the byzantine city of Mystras. Sparta is located just 57 km from Tripoli, on the foot of mountain Taygetos, the highest mountain of Peloponnese. There, we will visit the byzantine city of Mystras, with its fortified castle and the many churches. The most important and complete site from the byzantine age, as the whole city still exists, and many of the monasteries are still alive! You must be willing to explore and definitely have a bottle of water with you especially in the summer months if you wish to walk in the whole city as there are lots of steps and there are plenty of things to see.After a small stop for charging our batteries, our tour continues with the visit of the statue of Leonidas (king of Sparta, and the legendary 300 Spartans at the Battle of Thermopylae), and then the acropolis of the city with the theatre, one of the biggest ones among those of all the ancient Greek cities! Our guide will talk to you about the history of the place and make you imagine the Spartan way of living and fighting. Overnight Tripoli.

DAY 5: Mycenae – Epidaurus – Nafplio.

Excursion and guided tour in Mycenae, the center of Mycenaean world, 3500 years ago in the Bronze Age. You will be guided through the remains of the Acropolis of the city, pass through the Gate of Lions going up to the Palace of the king Agamemnon, the greatest king of Mycenae. You will also visit the great vaulted grave of Atreas,also King of Mycenae and father of Agamemnon and the unique museum with all the important findings of the area. Our next stop will beEpidaurus, the medical centre of antiquity that Asclepius had foundedand the famous ancient theatre. You will walk in the orchestra and then you can have a seat in the “kilon”. You will be amazed by the acoustics of the theatre;it is a masterpiece of architecture even today. In the afternoon there will be free time in Nafplio where you can swim and rest on the beach, taste the local cuisine and visit the Venetian castle, Palamidi, with its 999 steps ascent to the top, for the daring. Return back and overnight Tripoli.

DAY 6: Ancient Olympia

Today we pack our luggage in the morning as there is no other overnight in our base, Tripoli. We head to ancient Olympia where we will have a guided tour to the place where the Olympic Games originated. There, you will step in the ancient Olympic Stadium putting yourselves in the position of the athletes of the ancient times. You will be able to feel the grandeur of the games and imagine them competing. You will be browsed in the ancient buildings of the city; the great Temple of Zeus, the Temple of Hera, the ancient gymnasium and the Palaestra and to the workshop of Phidias where the great sculptor crafted the gigantic chryselephantine statue of Zeus, listed as one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world. The sightseeing tour also includes a visit to the Museum of Olympia. The brilliant Hermes of Praxiteles, the Nike of Paionios and the pediments of Zeus temple are just some of the exhibits that everybody should see at least once in his life! In the end of the tour you will have some free time in Olympia where you can have a drink or lunch. Our trip continues north, driving on the Rio- AntirioBridge, to Galaxidi, a beautiful seaside village close to Delphi. Overnight in Galaxidi.

DAY 7: Delphi

After a good breakfast at the hotel head to Delphi for our guided tour.Delphi was the most important oracle of the ancient Greek world and according to mythology the center of the earth and nowadays a monument of Global heritage of Unesco. During your visit you will have the opportunity to admire the temple of Apollo, the ancient theatre, the Stadium and also the spectacular view among the rocks. The tour will end with the archaeological museum of Delphi, one of the best in Greece, with great findings from the oracle and the area. today’s trip continues to Arahova, a mountainous top destination, where we will have a stop. You can have lunch in nice taverns with local-traditional food, enjoy your coffee in the main square or just explore the town wondering through the small streets. Departure to Athens and overnight there.

DAY 8: Acropolis – Acropolis museum – Departure

In the morning we take a good breakfast and get ready for our appointment with the guide. The tour includes of course, both Acropolis, the masterpiece of the ancient Greek engineering, and the New Acropolis Museum with the impressive heritage that our ancestors left to us. When tour is finished, we transport you to the airport.

We the Greeks don’t like to say goodbye. Instead we prefer to say «Εις το επανιδείν» which means that we hope to see you again some time!