Athens - Acropolis - Athenian Riviera - Cape Sounio - Delphi - Mycenae - Ancient Epidaurus - Nafplio - Ancient Nemea - Kalavrita
Athens - Acropolis - Athenian Riviera - Cape Sounio - Delphi - Mycenae - Ancient Epidaurus - Nafplio - Ancient Nemea - Kalavrita
*The experiences we offer you on this cultural holiday depend on your desires and on the days you will finally choose to combine.
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ITINERARY
Day 1
MORNING TOUR No 1: Today in the morning we get the chance to marvel at all the ancient masterpieces of the Sacred Rock of the Acropolis from up close. We are going to take part in an unforgettable guided tour by our official guide. The greatest and finest sanctuary of ancient Athens, dedicated primarily to its patron, the goddess Athena, dominates the center of the modern city from the rocky crag known as the Acropolis. The most celebrated myths of ancient Athens, its greatest religious festivals, earliest cults and several decisive events in the city's history are all connected to this sacred precinct. The monuments of the Acropolis stand in harmony with their natural setting. These unique masterpieces of ancient architecture combine different orders and styles of Classical art in a most innovative manner and have influenced art and culture for many centuries. The Acropolis of the fifth century BC is the most accurate reflection of the splendour, power and wealth of Athens at its greatest peak, the golden age of Perikles. Reaching the entrance of the majestic archaeological site, we will visit together the Parthenon, the monument that "puts mind in order", as the Greek philosophers have told, the imposing Propylaea, the temple of Athena Nike, the Erechtheion with its porch of Maidens and of course the beautiful Caryatids. Ending the tour, we continue with a visit to the impressive modern Acropolis Museum, where we will be guided through all its exhibits, while we admire the imposing ancient temple of Parthenon just opposite the glass windows of the museum. This experience is unique all over the world! After the museum Plaka, the old Athenian neighborhood, awaits us! Plaka, being the oldest district in Athens, it is also mentioned as "Gods' district" with outstanding scenery. The moment you start walking on its paved narrow lanes you get the feeling that you travel back in time. Walking through the narrow streets of Plaka, you will be mesmerized by the beauty of the houses with neoclassic colors, the architecture, the well preserved gardens, the elegance and the atmosphere of the whole area. It's time for us to leave you. The rest of the day is yours. We believe, that you wish to continue your stroll in Plaka, because even the air here is different: softer, clearer and full of scents, like a gift from gods. If you decide to walk around the area, make sure you have a map, because Plaka is like a labyrinth and you will probably get lost in its lanes. Enjoy a light meal or go shopping. You can find interesting souvenir shops in all the central streets of the district. NOTE: If you wish, you can combine this morning tour with one of our afternoon tours or our evening experiences and create your own day in Athens.
Day 2
MORNING TOUR No 2: Today in the morning we will visit together the important archaeological site of Kerameikos, which being located at the northwest of the Acropolis covers an extensive area, on both sides of the Dipylon Gate and by the banks of the Eridanos River. Kerameikos was the potters' quarter of the ancient city and was also the site of an important cemetery and numerous funerary sculptures erected along the road out of the city towards Eleusis. Starting from the Acropolis Museum we will walk by foot through the noble pedestrian street of Dionysiou Areopagitou down to the Kerameikos area, admiring on our way the Ancient and the Roman Agora. On our way we will marvel at the beautiful Doric temple of Hephaestus. The classical temple, broadly known as Thiseio, stands imposing on top of the Agoraios Kolonos hill. It is one of the best preserved ancient temples in Greece, partly because it was transformed into a Christian church. According to the traveler and geographer Pausanias, two deities were jointly worshipped in the temple: god Hephaestus, protector of all metallurgists, and goddess Athena Ergani, protecting all potters and the cottage industries. We continue to the Kerameikos area. As suggested by its name, the Kerameikos (from the Greek word for pottery) was a settlement of potters and vase painters, and the main production center of the famous Attic vases. Those parts of the Kerameikos that were located near the riverbank suffered continuously from the overflowing river, and so the area was converted into a burial ground, which gradually developed into the most important cemetery of ancient Athens. The most important Athenian vases come from the tombs of the Kerameikos. ?he site's small museum houses the finds from the Kerameikos excavations. Here, we are going to visit the ancient city walls, the Dipylon Gate and the pottery workshops. It's time for us to leave you. The rest of the day is yours. We believe that, continuing, you have many other amazing things to do, because Athens lives strongly at present too. Let us know your interests! We can give you advices, so that your afternoon will be the same memorable, as your morning was. NOTE: If you wish, you can combine this morning tour with one of our afternoon tours or our evening experiences and create your own day in Athens.
Day 3
MORNING TOUR No 3: Day dedicated to the National Archaeological Museum of Athens, one of the world's most important museums of ancient art. The National Archaeological Museum, that is housed in an imposing neoclassical building of the end of the nineteenth century, is the largest museum in Greece and one of the world's great museums. Its abundant collections, with more than 20,000 exhibits, provide a panorama of Greek civilization from the beginnings of Prehistory to Late Antiquity. The vast exhibition space - numerous galleries on each floor accounting for a total of 8,000 square metres - house five large permanent collections: - The Prehistoric Collection (works of the great civilizations that developped in the Aegean from the sixth millennium BC to 1050 BC) - The Sculptures Collection (the ancient Greek sculpture from the seventh to the fifth centuries BC with unique masterpieces) - The Vase and Minor Objects Collection (representative works of ancient Greek pottery from the eleventh century BC to the Roman period) - The Metallurgy Collection (fundamental statues, figurines and minor objects) and finally - The only Egyptian and Near Eastern Antiquities Collection in Greece (works dating from the 5000 BC to the Roman conquest). Here, we can marvel at the Antikythera mechanism, an ancient Greek analogue computer and orrery used to predict astronomical positions and eclipses, the Greek Artemision Bronze, an ancient Greek sculpture that was recovered from the sea off Cape Artemision and represents either Zeus or Poseidon, the golden funeral Mask of Agamemnon, the Antikythera Ephebe, the statue of Asclepius (god of medicine) and the chryselephantine sculpture of the Greek goddess Athena made by Phidias and housed in the Parthenon. After the museum, we continue with a panoramic drive tour in the city center. The Syntagma Square, the Parliament and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the National Garden, the Adrian's Arch, the St. Paul's Church, the Schliemann's House, the Catholic Cathedral, the Academy, the University, the National Library and the Panathinaiko Stadium, where the first Olympic Games took place in 1896 are some of the highlights, that we will see today. We will also pass by the Prime Ministers' residence, the ex-Royal Palace, the Zappion Hall and the Roman Temple of Olympian Zeus. After the tour, our driver will drop us off at the Syntagma Square. From now on, we leave you. The rest of the day is yours. You can enjoy a traditional meal or go shopping or explore the historical center. We are always on your disposal, to give you information for things you want to see and to do. NOTE: If you wish, you can combine this morning tour with one of our afternoon tours or our evening experiences and create your own day in Athens.
Day 4
MORNING TOUR No 4: Today we will enjoy the gastronomic paradise of Athens by visiting some of its secret culinary corners very dear to the locals. We start our walk from Syntagma Square, where we will taste the delicious koulouri, the Greek bun flavored with roasted sesame. Immediately after that, we shall visit the Central Market of Athens, a real working market where we can see people selling meat, fish, fruit and vegetables. In this vibrant city market you can smell a special part of the Athenian true life. A friend of ours awaits us in a small shop, where we can buy herbs and spices from all over Greece and not only that. She is also going to explain to us how we can make the most aromatic warm mountain tea, which is the Greek tea proposal. The Greek honey, the elixir for body and soul, comes next. In a small shop in the heart of the Athenian food market we will taste the Greek honey. We learned about Greek herbs, we tasted Greek honey! Now it's time for a small break in a joyful pedestrian street nearby. In one of the oldest and most historic pastry shops in Athens, we will taste “loukoumades" with honey and cinnamon, a delicious simple Greek sweet, or a pure homemade vanilla ice cream, the most famous ice cream in Athens. This is the best time to do some shopping. Many old Athenian shops still exist today in this interesting part of the Greek capital. It's time to leave you. You can continue the day, following your wishes. Let us know your interests! We can give you advices, so that you save time and see as more things as you can. NOTE: If you wish, you can combine this morning tour with one of our afternoon tours or our evening experiences and create your own day in Athens.
Day 5
MORNING TOUR No 5: Today is a shopping day! We are going to show you all the secret shopping corners in the city center, that we know. Our day starts in the elegant area of Kolonaki. From Kolonaki we stroll down to Syntagma up to the fringes of Plaka. Our shopping experience covers pretty much everything, so that we keep everyone happy and satisfied and basically so that you can take a little bit of Greece back home with you, no matter what your preferences are. This country offers a lot, and by this shopping experience you will get the chance to come across modern greek designers in clothing, shoes, jewellery, handbags and accessories, eyewear, traditional food products etc. So, our walk will begin at a special cafe-restaurant, where you will be able to taste and buy Greek exclusive traditional food products of excellent quality. Cooking classes and wine tasting are also offered, which you will be able to enjoy upon previous request. We will continue by visiting a concept store where you will encounter Greek modern designers in clothing, handbags, accessories, and jewelry. Private shopping can be offered upon request and special events take place from time to time, perhaps you will be lucky and run into one of them! Next stop: sunglasses! Definitely necessary under the bright Greek sun, so why not be stylish at the same time? A variety of the latest trends but also classics are offered at special prices for our guests. Further down, to artistic items, from jewelry to decorative products, from accessories to children’s books, all made by greek artists, each one of them carrying a story. At the next corner, more traditional food products but this time from a specific island and with a specific ingredient used. What could that be? On to shoes, we offer everything: international brands, Greek designer shoes, heels and flats, and also a special Greek brand that has gone international and is truly a must for exploring the city of Athens or the rest of Greece; comfortable and stylish, an absolute trend. Our next stop offers a second concept store with clothing “with a twist” and perhaps a drink while you’re trying things on. A few meters away we will enter the last shop of our walk, which offers handmade jewelry and decorative products by a sculptor. The shop has been there since 1969, as well as his workshop, and therefore you will have the chance of meeting him in person and have a glance of the making of his elegant products. Our experience ends at a coffee shop for a drink or snack, before we set you free for the rest of your day. NOTE: If you wish, you can combine this morning tour with one of our afternoon tours or our evening experiences and create your own day in Athens.
Day 6
AFTERNOON TOUR No 1: A beautiful stroll by foot in the old town of Athens, is a must on this time of the day, as many of the Athenians are outside for a walk. Due to the sun light, that is not so bright, the historic center with all its hills and ancient monuments, looks more sweet and romantic. We start from Syntagma Square, where we can see the House of the Greek Parliament and the Monument of the Unknown Soldier. We continue through Ermou, the central commercial pedestrian street of Athens, down to Monastiraki and Theseio, the two vibrant Athenian neighborhoods. As the evening falls this part of Athens, which is very dear to young people, becomes more and more joyful and vibrant. We continue our stroll through the noble pedestrian street of Dionysiou Areopagitou, enjoying an idyllic walk between the Hill of the Nymphs, the Hill of Pnyx and the Acropolis Hill. On this walking tour, we are going to pass next to the Temple of Hephaestus, the National Observatory of Athens and the Ancient Agora, that was the heart of Athens during ancient times, the focus of political, commercial, administrative and social activity, the religious and cultural centre, and the seat of justice. Another attraction of contemporary Athens is the Orthodox church of Saint Marina, who is the patron saint associated with childbirth, as well as the Thission Cinema, a small outdoor movie theater, which is open from May to September and has the added attraction of a view of the Acropolis. All this area is a fun neighborhood! We will walk up the scenic pedestrians of Apostolou Pavlou and Dionysiou Areopagitou with the Acropolis on our left. On our way we will meet hippy craftspeople with their tables spread out everywhere, a mix of tourists, young Greeks and others in the cafes, which are open all over the year. Our walk ends at the ancient amphitheater of Herodeion, which is today one of the best places to experience a live classical theatre performance. After we leave you, you can enjoy your dinner at the terrace of a restaurant of the area, from where you have an unforgettable view of the illuminated Parthenon at night. NOTE: If you wish, you can combine this afternoon tour with one of our morning tours or our evening experiences and create your own day in Athens.
Day 7
AFTERNOON TOUR No 2: This afternoon we are going to enjoy a magnificent half day trip to the imposing Cape Sounio, where we will marvel at the classical Temple of Poseidon, who was the god of the sea. Homer was the first, who refered to Sounio in his Odyssey as "the sacred cape of Athenians". The temple of Poseidon, perched on the craggy rocks of Cape Sounio, dominates the southernmost tip of Attica, where the horizon meets the Aegean Sea and it is one of the major monuments of the Golden Age of Athens. The unknown architect of the classical temple is probably the same one, who built Theseion in the Ancient Agora of Athens. He decorated the temple with sculptures made of Parian marble (from Paros island), which depicted the labours of Theseus as well as battles with Centaurs and Giants. Notice the Doric columns, count their flutes and you will see that they are less in number than those on other temples of the same period (mid 5th century BC). This feature is also found in other seaside ancient temples, for instance in the Temple of Aphaea Athena in Aegina. The temple is enveloped in myth and historic facts dated from antiquity until the present times. Between myth and history, the imposing archaeological site is also famous for the stories about the ship of King Menelaus who stopped briefly at Sounio on his way back from Troy or about the unfortunate King Aegeus who drowned himself on that spot and the Aegean Sea got named after him. The temple remains are perched on Sounio headland, surrounded on three sides by the sea.The sunset here is unforgettable! Banish all bad houghts! Relax in the lovely sunset view, in one of Attica’s best location, having the ancient temple as a backdrop and facing the deep blue sea! On your way back to Athens, if you wish so, you will have the opportunity to enjoy a seafood dinner and a glass of Greek ouzo, while you admire the endless blue of the Saronic Gulf! NOTE: If you wish, you can combine this afternoon tour with one of our morning tours or our evening experiences and create your own day in Athens.
Day 8
AFTERNOON TOUR No 3: This afternoon is dedicated to the authentic life of the Athenians. What better than a walk in a beloved Athenian urban district of the southern suburbs? Glyfada, on the south coast of Attica, is a well known district for the vibrant atmosphere, the lively entertainment, the interesting shopping and of course the beach. The coastal Glyfada, that is one of the Athenian Riviera's main neighborhood, is one of the most important and famous markets of Attica. Crossing the Athenian Riviera, we are going to visit the beautiful area and feel for a while like the Athenians, who are coming here to get some fun. Reaching Glyfada, you can enjoy your shopping in its wonderful shops, making your purchases at the streets around the tram rails, where develops the commercial activity with well-known stores and luxurious items, boutiques, jewelry stores, expensive clothes stores, shows and cosmetics. High end shopping is a specialty in Glyfada, but you can also find some surprisingly affordable stores. After the shopping, it's time for you to relax. You are in Athens and what better than a fantastic meal dedicated to the Greek souvlaki in a restaurant very dear to the locals. Joyful atmosphere, amazing service, great food; vegetarians can find excellent Greek dishes as well. The delicious dishes, the friendly staff and the cold beer will contribute to an unforgettable Greek experience, that you will take with you when you return back home! This afternoon you had everything, amazing shopping, delicious Greek culinary, relaxing walking, but before all you had the chance to feel for a while the real life of the Athenians in a very characteristic urban neighborhood. NOTE: If you wish, you can combine this afternoon tour with one of our morning tours or our evening experiences and create your own day in Athens.
Day 9
AFTERNOON TOUR No 4: Day dedicated to an acquaintance with the contemporary side of the Greek capital. We start with a panoramic drive tour in the city center. The Syntagma Square, the Parliament and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the National Garden, the Adrian's Arch, the St. Paul's Church, the Schliemann's House, the Catholic Cathedral, the Academy, the University, the Roman Temple of Olympian Zeus, the Zappion Hall, the National Library and the Panathinaiko Stadium, where the first Olympic Games took place in 1896 are some of the the high lights that we will see today. But, beyond its center, Athens lives strongly to all its suburbs that lie next to the sea, especially on spring and summer. Our driver will transfer us, through the Syngrou Avenue, to the joyful small harbor of Flisvos Marina, that is located at a distance of only 5 kilometers from the Syntagma Square. On our way to the picturesque harbor, we will pass next to the Onassis Cardiac Surgery Center and the Stage of Arts, that are donated to the Greek government from the institution of Aristotle Onassis, next to the Saint Sostis beautiful church, where the King George the A' had been rescue from a murderous attack and built the church as a thanking gift to God. The Planetarium of Athens and the Stavros Niarchos Foundation, where the National Library and the contemporary Athens Opera House are housed, come next. We will end our drive tour at the Flisvos Marina. Here, our driver will left us. You have the rest of the afternoon on your disposal to enjoy the vibrant area and feel like an Athenian, who comes here to have some fun, to meet his friends, to enjoy a walk by the harbor pier. This scenic part of Athens gives you many choices of amusement, such as numerous dining, shopping and recreational opportunities, all within a natural environment overlooking the blue Mediterranean Sea. The view from here at the hill of Kastela and at Pireaus is spectacular. Relax by walking through the park, enjoy a coffee or drink in a seaside cafe, taste delicious dishes in one of the marina's restaurants, visit the Averof war ship, enjoy a stroll by the sea, marvel at the luxurious yachts and feel for a while like a prince. The marina also accommodates a kid's playground, where for sure they will have good time, an open air cinema by the sea, where you can have an unforgettable Greek experience (on summer days). It's sure that you will spend a pleasant afternoon and maybe a fantastic evening! When you wish to return, outside the marina you will find many taxis that will take you back to the hotel with a fare relatively small, because the center of Athens is very close. NOTE: If you wish, you can combine this afternoon tour with one of our morning tours or our evening experiences and create your own day in Athens.
Day 10
EVENING EXPERIENCE No 1: Today you are going to enjoy a unique experience at the "All Senses Gastronomy" restaurant. "Eat and dream!" is the restaurant's motto, that, serving experiences to your senses, offers a seasonal and continuously sensory tasting dinner from Tuesday to Saturday, at 19:00 or 21:30 in the evening. Allow to yourselves 2 hours of relaxation, while you enjoy a unique psycho-gastronomic experience, a provocative, emotional performance, a groundbreaking recreational happening, where the taste is unexpectedly intertwined with other senses. The unique experience of a dinner at the "All Senses Gastronomy" has no precedent in Greece. It is a sensual performance that, in addition to taste, involves other senses in the process of eating, with the aim of arousing intense emotions and broadening the concept of entertainment and enjoyment. You enter at a lounge. White walls, a long white table and 12 comfortable armchairs (only the floor and ceiling are black) show videos and photos, and various sounds and music can be heard from the speakers. Psychologists say that when, for example, you eat fish with the wave popping up next to you and the feeling of the sea is much more intense. At the "All Senses," a plate of salted marinated shrimp will land in front of you, as transparent pieces of ice will float in the sea around you, while the table will be full of seawater vapor evaporating on dry ice. It's a nice dish, but the delight is magnified by the sea breeze wrapping you up. At first, you are greeted by a warm nostalgia with a delicious tartan chestnut, pork belly and sour cream on a sandwich, an impressive prelude to the sequel. You pass from the volcano, to the snow, to the bathtub, to the submarine, to the butcher. As you understand, it is not possible us to give you a comment on all the episodes of this delicious adventure. It's better for you to know less, so that you can feel more the experience, at the time where flames will surround the walls, lava will flow on the table, and music and enchanting sounds will highlight the intensity of the coming dish..... NOTE: If you wish, you can combine this evening experience with one of our morning tours and create your own day in Athens.
Day 11
EVENING EXPERIENCE No 2: Today you will experience an authentic dinner in the apartment of two great Greek chefs. Don't feel that you are going to a restaurant, but to your friend’s home, who will host you! Dimitris and Savvas will open their home that is located in the city center; they will welcome you and offer to you a warm Greek hospitality. The two chefs will share with you their love for Athens, by telling beautiful stories and by giving useful advice about Greek traditional gastronomy, while you taste delicious high quality dishes of the Greek cuisine, prepared with love just for you and your friends from all over the world. Tonight, you will experience an authentic and memorable evening, tasting the dinner and participating to interesting conversation about everything. We are sure that you will not resist and will taste everything and finally the great dessert. Here, you can also celebrate your birthday or anniversary, enjoying a wonderful night, while you are talking with hosts, tasting great food and amazing wine and at the end a wonderful homemade cake, prepared especially for you from Dimitris and Savvas. And be careful! Don't eat too much at noon. This is the best way for you to enjoy all the dishes that will be served at your table, while you are enjoying the magnificent view to the illuminated Acropolis from the apartment terrace. NOTE: If you wish, you can combine this evening experience with one of our morning tours and create your own day in Athens.
Day 12
EVENING EXPERIENCE No 3: Today, you are going to experience a cultural artistic evening. We start, by visiting the imposing and award-winning building complex of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF), which is one of the world’s leading, international philanthropic organizations. It is a private organization, which was funded by the Niarchos Shipbuilding Foundation; Stavros Niarchos was one of the biggest names in the Hellenic Shipping Industry. The building complex, located in southern of Athens, at a distance of only 5 kilometers from the Syntagma Square, was designed by the architect Renzo Piano and houses today the Greek National Opera and the modern National Library of Greece. Reaching the beautiful area, we will visit the library's premises and stroll around the library's public section and the reading rooms. Then, a relaxing walk around the SNF Park and a cup of coffee, while we enjoy the sea view, is necessary. Afterwards, if you wish so, you can enjoy an artistic music or theatrical performance. You must have informed us related, so that we have already made the reservation for you. Or you maybe wish to watch a performance at the Concert Hall of Athens or at the Onassis Foundation or in one of the many Athenian theatrical stages. This is too easy to be done. Let us know about your wish, so that we have already booked for you. In that case, we undertake to transport you to the theatrical scene you have selected. We leave you at the theater. After the performance, outside each theater in Athens, you can easily find a taxi that will take you back to the hotel with a fare relatively small, because all theaters are very close to the city center. NOTE: If you wish, you can combine this evening experience with one of our morning tours and create your own day in Athens.
Day 13
ONE DAY TOUR TO MYCENAE / EPIDAURUS / NAFPLIO (For those who love ancient Greece) Today, at 8.30 in the morning, we drive to Nafplio, one of the most scenic towns in Greece. After a short stop at the famous Corinth Canal, we continue for the archaeological site of the "rich in gold Mycenae", as Homer referred to the city in his Iliad. Mycenae, the kingdom of Agamemnon, is the most important and the wealthiest center of the Late Bronze Age in Ancient Greece. Here we visit the Lion’s Gate, the Cyclopean Walls, the Royal Tombs and finally the Archaeological Museum. After our tour we continue by taking a gorgeous route to get to Epidaurus, where we marvel at the Ancient Theater, the most elegant and the best preserved ancient theater in Greece, where ancient Greek plays are performed every year during the summer months within the framework of the Athens and Epidaurus Festival. Then we turn our attention to the Asclepeion, where patients used to swarm from all over Ancient Greece to pray and to invoke the pity of the Gods. Returning to modern times, we taste a special meal in a small village on the outskirts of Epidaurus; Our friend Vicky, an experienced cook, has prepared for us delicious dishes of the traditional Peloponnesian cuisine. It's time to visit Nafplio, the capital of the first Hellenic Republic. Reaching the beautiful seaport town, we have enough time for a stroll in its narrow pedestrian streets or for shopping; Nafplio is famous for its beautiful small shops. After treating you to some delicious loukoumades with honey, the famous desert of Nafplio, in the Syntagma Square, we return to Athens full of beautiful impressions. End of day.
Day 14
ONE DAY TOUR TO DELPHI (For those who love ancient mysteries) Today, at 8.30 in the morning, we drive to Delphi, one of the most famous UNESCO's world heritage sites. Our route passes through the fertile plain of Beotia, crossing the town of Thebes connected with the tragedy of King Oedipus. We arrive at Delphi, the center of the ancient world - the “Omphalos” (Navel of Earth) - whose prestige extended far beyond the boundaries of the Hellenic World. On the slopes of Mount Parnassus, in a landscape of unparalleled beauty and majesty, lie the ruins of the Sanctuary of Apollo, the most famous oracle of the ancient world; here we visit the Treasury of the Athenians, the Temple of Apollo and the Museum containing masterpieces of the ancient Greek sculpture such as the bronze Charioteer, the famous athlete Aghias and the Sphinx. At the end of our tour, close to Delphi, we have an unforgettable lunch in the mountainous town of Arachova, which is situated at about 970 meters above the valley of the river Pleistos. In the afternoon leaving behind Arachova, we close the day at the idyllic Marathon Dam. After treating you to a cup of Greek coffee and a traditional homemade Greek spoon sweet next to the beautiful lake, we return to Athens. End of day.
Day 15
ONE DAY TOUR TO KALAVRITA (For those who love nature). Today, at 8.30 in the morning, we drive to Kalavrita. After a short stop at the famous Corinth Canal, we head for the mountainous Achaia. We arrive at Diakofto, the beautiful coastal village of the Corinthian bay. We take Odontotos, the famous rack train, which has being going up to Kalavrita, crossing the Vouraikos gorge, for the last 120 years. After a 60' trip through a wild landscape with old stone bridges, tortoise waters and waterfalls, we reach Kalavrita, which are situated under the shadow of Helmos Mountain. Getting out of the station we will treat you to a delicious cheese pie cooked with the famous local feta cheese and butter. It’s time to take a walk in the beautiful pedestrian streets of the mountainous town, to buy honey, herbs and homemade jams or to relax in a traditional coffee shop. After our tour we will enjoy a traditional Greek meal in an excellent restaurant on the outskirts of Kalavrita. The owners have prepared for us delicious Greek dishes from the high quality local products. In the afternoon leaving behind Kalavrira, we will treat you to a cup of Greek coffee and a homemade traditional spoon sweet by the sea on the beautiful coasts of the Corinthian Gulf. We return to Athens. End of day.
Day 16
ONE DAY TOUR TO ANCIENT NEMEA (For those who love wine). Today, at 8.30 in the morning, we head towards Ancient Nemea. After a short stop at the famous Corinth Canal, we continue to the beautiful hills of the Ancient Nemea that, full of vineyards, olive trees and cypresses, wait to reveal us their secrets. Reaching the serene landscape, we are going to visit the archaeological site. Ancient Nemea, a renowned city of Corinthia in ancient times, according to Greek mythology, is linked to the first labor of Hercules, the Nemean Lion. The archaeological site, which is situated in an ideal location, will afford us the opportunity to marvel at the Temple of Zeus, the Stadion and the Museum. After the tour, we are going to participate to a wine tasting in a famous winery of the area. Learning more about the red Agiorgitiko wine, we will be guided through the facilities of the winery, the production area, the bottling section and the wine cellars, where wines are stored away, so that they can reach full maturity. Straight after, the most famous restaurant of Nemea is waiting for us. Here we'll be enjoying a splendid lunch that is dedicated to the Agiorgitiko red wine that is produced only in this area and nowhere else in the whole world. After the meal, we return to Athens full of beautiful impressions. End of day.