4 Days Private Tour: Corinth-Mycenae-Nafplio-Olympia-Delphi&Meteora from Athens

Itinerary

Day 1: Argolida

Stop At: Corinth Canal, Isthmia, Corinth 201 00 Greece
The tour stars with a drive to the Corinth Canal following the coast of the western suburbs of Athens through Olympia Highway. On the way you will have a view of some Greek seaside villages and the island of Salamis (where the historical naval battle was held between the Athenians and Persians 480 BCE). Our first stop is going to be the Corinth Canal. Opened in 1892 and 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.
Duration: 20 minutes

Stop At: Ancient Corinth (Archaia Korinthos), Ancient Korinthos village, Corinth Greece
Back on the road again it will be a short drive to Ancient Corinth. The old city dominated by the hill of Acrocorinth and the old Castle, which happens to be the oldest and largest castle in southern Greece. 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 though the site is also one of the most popular religious destinations in Greece. In this amazing place the Apostle Paul preached Christianity, was judged by the tribunal in the Agora and established the best organized Christian church of that period.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

Stop At: Mycenaean Cemetary, Aidonia Greece
Continuing, after a short drive we will reach Mycenae, the site that changed everything we thought we knew about of Mycenae, dated back to the 2nd Millennium BCE, and representing the era of Achilles, Agamemnon and Helen of Troy. In the site you will see the renowned Lions Gate (the oldest architectural sculpture in Europe), the cyclopean walls, the burial circle A and the remains of Agamemnon’s Palace. Within the site there is a modern museum exhibiting the findings of the “City Of Gold” before leaving the site we will make a small stop at the treasury of Atreus, the best preserved Tholos tomb, one of the finest examples of the Mycenaean architecture.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

Stop At: Nafplio National Gallery, 23 Sidiras Merarchias, Nafplio 211 00 Greece
After that we will travel towards more recent history of Greece to the city of Nafplion, considered the most scenic city and functioned as the capital of Greece until 1834. It offers you a outstanding combination of fortresses and castle (Palamidi), Bourtzi, a huge port opened to the Aegean Sea and the unique architecture of the old city of Nafplion revealing Venetian, neoclassical and oriental elements. After walking in the idyllic old city we will stop for lunch at a traditional tavern by the sea, and drive up to the castle of Acronafplia for a panoramic view of Nafplio.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Archaeological Site of Olympia, Archea Olympia, Olympia 27065 Greece
Our last drive for the day will be towards Ancient Olympia driving by the cities of Tripoli and Megalopoli finally reaching the western coast opened towards the Ionia Sea. At Ancient Olympia we will stop at a hotel and you will have the time to enjoy the small village in the evening.
Duration: 1 hour

No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.

Day 2: Ancient Olympia

Stop At: Archaeological Site of Olympia, Archea Olympia, Olympia 27065 Greece
On this day, we will visit the archaeological site and the museum of Ancient Olympia. One of the largest sites in Greece, the birthplace of the Olympic Games and the Sanctuary of Olympian Zeus.torch Walking in the site you will pass by the Gymnasium, the Palaistra, the workshop of Phidias, the temple of Zeus and you will end up at the Stadium where every four years the Greeks competed for glory and for spiritual elevation, honoring their cities. The museum is also unique as it includes the renowned statue “Hermes of Praxiteles” with its perfect analogies and tools that belonged to Phidias himself. With these tools he managed to create one of the Seven Wonders of the World “the gold ivory statue of Zeus”.
Duration: 3 hours

Stop At: Delphi Greece
After the site we will head towards Delphi, driving by the port of Patra (the western Capital of Greece), we will reach the bridge (Charilaos Trikoupis) of Rio – Antirio that connects the Peloponnese peninsula to the Greek mainland. Considered a miracle of engineering this bridge, one of the world’s longest multi-span cable –stayed bridges and the longest of the fully suspended type. Crossing the bridge we will find Nafpaktos a small town by the sea where we will make a small stop for lunch at a traditional Greek tavern having a view towards the battlefield where the naval battle of Lepanto took place in 1571, between the Ottoman Empire and the united western powers. Following we will drive up the slopes of mountain Parnassus, on our way you will have the opportunity to see the huge valley of olive trees representing the Greek olive sea. Passing through the village of Delphi we will stop at the mountainous village of Arachova to spend the night. Arachova is very close to a ski resort, full of traditional houses and shops selling locally produced products. You can walk through the village with its narrow streets and shops on the central street having a breathtaking view of the mountains full of olive trees literally in front of you.
Duration: 4 hours

No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.

Day 3: Delphi

Stop At: Delphi Greece
Delphi is an ancient Greek sanctuary with a catholic character dedicated to God Apollo. It functioned as an Oracle and was considered ‘the naval’ the center of the world and is today a symbol of Greek cultural unity. The scenic location allows you to have a view of the Greek mountains and two more sites the Gymnasium and the secondary sanctuary of Athena Pronea. In the site you will visit the Temple of Apollo where Pytheia spoke to the METEORA21oracles, the theater and the stadium. While in the museum you will be able to see the famous charioteer and Gold Ivory statues. After the site we will have our lunch at the modern village of Delphi with a view of the mountains of Fokis.
Duration: 3 hours

Stop At: Meteora, Kastraki, Kalambaka 422 00 Greece
Our trip will continue with a drive through the mountains, not taking the national highway, to see the real Greek country side passing by the cities of Lamia, Triakala and Karditsa we will reach Kalabaka, a beautiful small city that is dominated by the Meteora rocks standing upon it. Reaching the small town we will settle at the hotel and then drive up around the hills for an evening photo tour on the rocks under the Greek sunset. Returning into town you will have free time at Kalabaka until the next day.
Duration: 4 hours

No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.

Day 4: Meteora - Back to Athens

Stop At: Meteora, Kastraki, Kalambaka 422 00 Greece
The following day we’ll start in the morning for a visit to the monasteries and a closer look at the holy rocks. On the rocks that are like suspended in the air (that’s what Meteora means) there is one of the largest and most important complexes of Eastern Orthodox Monasteries still in use. Meteora combines natural beauty and cultural heritage a fact that make them a unique destination between the world’s monuments.

Moving on after having our lunch at Kalabaka we will start heading towards Athens and to our last stop.
Duration: 3 hours

Stop At: Battlefield of Thermopylae, Thermopylae Greece
On our way back we will meet the battlefield of Thermopylae’s. In the historical centre of the site you will enjoy a 3D movie, travelling through time you will feel the presence of all who died for their freedom under a foreign conqueror. To complete the visit you will see the statue of Leonidas standing right opposite Kolonos Hill where the persisting Spartans left their last breath and after that we will drive back to Athens.
Duration: 2 hours

No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.