6-Day Private Tour of Mythical Peloponnese: Corinth, Mycenae, Nafplio, Hydra Island, Monemvasia, Mani, Sparta, Mystras, Olympia, Arcadia

At your hotel,  meet your private driver/tour leader for your 8:00 a.m. departure. On a short trip of no more than 1 hour, you enter the Mythical Peloponnese through the Corinth Canal for this “real Greece” experience.

The Corinth Canal is the first stop and then on to MYCENAE home to some of Greece’s most famous ancient ruins. Wander around the site & museum before hopping back in the vehicle and exploring the “old town” of NAFPLIO, the famous Venetian fortress of Palamidi with its 999 steps. Then head to EPIDAURUS, home to an ancient, beautifully preserved theater.

You can optionally add Ancient Corinth to the itinerary of Day 1.

Overnight at probably the most beautiful Greek town, Nafplio.

After a quick 1 hour drive from Nafplio town, we arrive at the beautiful peninsula village of Ermioni (or Metochi pier) to catch the boat to Hydra. This is a lovely, easy, and quick 25-minute ride (each way) from the Peloponnese mainland to take you to Hydra Island and back. Note: This area of Ermioni, Hydra & Spetses islands, Portoheli is a hidden gem that Greeks only explore, and which the rich & famous residents from all over the world try to hide even more to preserve the family holiday style.

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Hydra is a very historic and cosmopolitan island but also the most relaxing Greek island. No cars, no noise but still extremely popular and “real Greek” unlike places like Mykonos or Santorini! Explore on foot and enjoy the views, the water, the coastline, and the beautiful narrow cobblestone streets, doors, windows, and houses.

OVERNIGHT: Nafplio Town

Starting from Nafplio, our destination is Monemvasia but -should you agree to take not the fast/shorter motorway route but explore the glorious coastline of the East Peloponnese before climbing up the mountain range with several stops and lunch on the way?

Late afternoon and the evening are dedicated to the Monemvasia castle where you will spend the night (if you book early enough to secure one of the great guesthouses) enjoying the magic atmosphere, the views of the castle, and the water, plus food & drink. MONEMVASIA town/castle is located on a small island linked to the mainland by a short causeway. The town walls and many Byzantine churches remain from the medieval period.

Leaving behind Monemvasia, there will be a long great day in the MANI Peninsula, one of the wildest and most beautiful areas of Greece. A dramatic coastline of sleepy fishing coves and fortified villages like the beautiful Oitilo, Gerolimenas & Limeni.

The amazing DIROS caves that you will optionally explore with a guide and a boat. Alternatively, you can skip the caves and opt for more exploring of the Mani landscape as far as Vatheia; a small settlement of stone towers and abandoned houses that became a ghost village, but in recent years, it has become one of the must-see destinations in the Mani Peninsula. Next is lunch in one of the stone-built villages where Pirates were a permanent threat.

Next is SPARTA, the ancient rival of Athens known for its fierce warriors! Wandering around the Byzantine castle town of MYSTRAS is probably the highlight of the day. Wandering around the Byzantine castle town of MYSTRAS is probably the highlight of the day. Mystras, the best-preserved example of a medieval walled town in the Greek region, is today a standing ghost city that fascinates the visitor with its castle, churches, and the palatial complex of the ruling Byzantine dynasty, bearing witness to its bygone greatness.

Breakfast and a morning visit to Sparta for the statue of King Leonidas and his famous 300 warriors. Then a 1h.30′ drive to ancient OLYMPIA to walk through the impressive ruins of the area where athletes trained and ran in the old stadium, just as ancient Olympians did after victory 3,000 years ago. See the temple of Hera and some unbelievable sculptures such as the statue of Zeus and Hermes of Praxiteles. The city has the rare advantage of not having been destroyed or covered by later settlements. Ruins that have withstood the test of time and remain standing for travelers to marvel at.

Next, we carry on towards the Arcadia mountain range past Lagadia, the hometown of the best stone builders in Greece to end up in the mountain air and the view of Lousios gorge from DIMITSANA & STEMNITSA villages at 3,000 ft altitude. We overnight in a great stone-built guesthouse and explore the beautiful village before or after dinner.

We will start with breakfast in the mountain air and the view of the Lousios Gorge before driving and crossing the mountains to visit the Cave of Lakes. The Mythical Cave of Lakes has something exclusively unique that does not exist in other well-known caves. A rare creation of nature with mysterious galleries and strange stalactite formations.

We drive on to climb the mountain range towards the top and the ski center of this area to enjoy one of our best lunches at the mountain village of Kalavrita. After exploring the village you will be boarding the ODONTOTOS rack railway to take you from the top of the mountain, through the Vouraikos Gorge to the coastline and the Corinthian Gulf. This is considered one of the most scenic routes in Greece.

Back in the car for a great ride next to the coastline to arrive back in Athens in less than 2 hours. You also have the option for a small diversion to visit Ancient Corinth. [Eudaimonia Peloponnese Private Tour from Athens Greece]