Tour 10-Day Epitome Private Tour: Peloponnese, Hydra Island, Mete

Others

A real private tour. Not a "small group tour" often baptized "private" Hotel or cruise ship or Airbnb pickup and drop-off. Nine-night accommodation (including breakfast), all arranged at awesome stone-built guesthouses and luxurious countryside hotels. Lunch is also included on all 10 days and at selected locations. You will discover that this is a food tour that is included … within the tour! No fixed menus. Brand new (2020-23) non-smoking vehicles & tour leaders. We do not compromise the quality of the tour whatsoever. In-car bottled water & Information booklet with all the tour details. Each person is allowed one normal-size suitcase and a small carry-on bag. Optional: Vegetarian lunch can be arranged. Our tour leaders’ background is in archaeology, history, and hospitality. They also have a very good knowledge of the destinations you visit & overnight and also the local people. This will allow you to blend in with the local communities and feel very relaxed.

Transport

The transportations are operated with large sedans or minivans depending on your group size. Remember this is a 100% real private tour, you will not have any last-minute surprises where you will have to share a car or minivan with people you don’t know.

Meals

Lunch is also included on all ten days and it is not just a place to have Lunch. There are specially selected locations were the locals eat out. Food is a big part of our tours and we don’t make any compromises here either! Optional: Vegetarian lunch can be arranged in most cases. Please let us know in advance.

Guide

A licensed tour guide inside the archeological site is not included and can be optionally added to your experience. Although our tour leaders are not just drivers. Our tour guides are highly educated people with archeology, history, or hospitality backgrounds. This differentiates our private tours a lot because you will be traveling with a very nice and pleasant individual who has deep knowledge of Greek history and ancient/modern Greece. This is a personalised experience and that is visible in our Excellent Agencies reviews.

Accommodation

This private 10-day tour includes (9-night) accommodation with breakfast, all arranged at excellent stone-built guesthouses and luxurious countryside hotels. It is based on double or triple occupancy, depending on your group/family. No compromises have been made to the quality of the accommodation! Please remember that the sooner you book this tour, the better because we will be able to book the best hotels possible. Contact us if in doubt. Remember, this is a 100% private tour.

Not included:

Flights

Flights are excluded.

Others

Excess luggage is not allowed (subject to additional costs). Entrance fees to the archaeological sites. Licensed guide for the archaeological sites (optional). Touristy souvenir/shop stops unless required by yourselves. Pickup and drop-off in areas outside of Athens (subject to an additional cost).

Insurance

Travel Insurance is excluded.

Start planning your experience

Day 1 From Athens To The Corinth Canal – Mycenae – Epidaurus – Nafplio
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

From Athens To The Corinth Canal – Mycenae – Epidaurus – Nafplio

At your hotel, meet your private 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. Overnight at probably the most beautiful Greek town but also first capital of Greece, Nafplio.

OVERNIGHT: Nafplio Town
Day 2 Cosmopolitan Hydra Island
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Cosmopolitan Hydra Island

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.

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
Day 3 From Nafplio To Monemvasia Castle
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

From Nafplio To Monemvasia Castle

Starting from Nafplio, our destination will be Monemvasia but -should you also agree- to taking not the fast/shorter motorway route but exploring 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, where you will spend the night (if you book early enough to secure one of the great guesthouses of your choice) enjoying the atmospheric castle-town, the views of the castle, and the amazing blue water, plus food & drink. If you don’t make a last-minute booking overnight will be inside the atmospheric Monemvasia castle town.

Monemvasia 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.

OVERNIGHT: Monemvasia Castle
Day 4 From Monenvasia To Mani Peninsula – Sparta & Mystras
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

From Monenvasia To Mani Peninsula – Sparta & Mystras

Leaving behind Monemvasia, there will be a long great day in the MANI Peninsula, the most famous peninsula and 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.

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.

OVERNIGHT: Sparta
Day 5 From Mystras To Ancient Olympia & To The Arcadia Mountain Villages
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

From Mystras To Ancient Olympia & To The Arcadia Mountain Villages

Breakfast and an early start for a long day with two UNESCO World Heritage sites to visit. But first, a quick stop at Sparta to photograph the statue of King Leonidas of the famous 300. 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. Olympia hosted the original Olympic Games, founded in the 8th century B.C. Its extensive ruins include athletic training areas, a stadium, and temples dedicated to the gods Hera and Zeus.

You will also visit the world-famous Olympia museum and get the chance to see some unbelievable sculptures such as the sculpted decoration of the marble temple of Zeus, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, and the famous Hermes carved by the ancient Greek sculptor Praxiteles.

Next, we head for the Arcadia mountain range in the center of the Peloponnese to overnight at one of its famous stone-built villages.

OVERNIGHT: Arcadia Mountain Village
Day 6 Cave Of Lakes, Odontotos Rack Railway, Rion Bridge & Delphi
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Cave Of Lakes, Odontotos Rack Railway, Rion Bridge & Delphi

Breakfast at a mountain village of Arcadia and we head to another mountain range to visit the very popular Cave of Lakes which is only the beginning of a long day.

After an amazing lunch and drinks at the top of the mountains (next to a ski center), you will ride the Odontotos Rack Railway train from the top of the mountain down to the coastline through the Vouraikos River/gorge.

Our target for the late afternoon is to reach Delphi by crossing the amazing Rion Bridge which is one of the world’s longest multi-span cable-stayed bridges and the longest of the fully suspended type. It crosses the Gulf of Corinth linking the Peloponnese peninsula to mainland Greece by road.

The Archaeological Site & Museum of DELPHI, one of the most important in Greece, exhibits the history of the Delphic sanctuary with the most famous ancient Greek oracle. Its rich collections are comprised primarily of architectural sculptures, statues, and minor objects donated to the sanctuary. These reflect its religious, political, and artistic activities from its early years, in the eighth century BC to its decline in Late Antiquity.

After exploring DELPHI, we’ll finally overnight at a surprise location away from the many tourist traps of this highly touristy-spoilt area.

OVERNIGHT: Delphi
Day 7 From Delphi To Ioannina Town
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

From Delphi To Ioannina Town

This is a long trip to reach the northwest of Greece and Ioannina city, the Jewel of Western Greece. There will be many locations to enjoy a coffee break and stretch your legs before arriving at Ioannina. This is an elegant town with a long multicultural history. You will immediately be captivated by the legends of Ali Pasha – the one-time Ottoman ruler of the city, by the narrow streets of the Castle district, and by the beauty of the lake.

Although the next day will be dedicated to exploring the famous Zagorochoria villages, Ioannina will be there for you to enjoy on foot for two evenings. You will spend two nights in this town and at a beautiful ideally placed boutique hotel.

Knowing the area like locals or even better, we will experience the Greek landscape, views, people, food, and hospitality that even Greeks would not know how to.

OVERNIGHT: Ioannina Lake City
Day 8 From Ioannina Town To Explore Zagorochoria (Villages)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

From Ioannina Town To Explore Zagorochoria (Villages)

After you enjoy breakfast, we begin our exploration to travel back in time and visit the famous Zagorochoria “where stone gives birth to stone”. These are the most famous villages in Greece and a dream visit for even a Greek. This is a day of exploring and trying to fit in as much as possible depending on your pace and likes or dislikes.

We visit the villages we know are the trademarks of the area but also the non-touristy ones! Some great viewpoints to see are the famous Vikos gorge, the amazing Aristi village, the Rock Pools, the beautiful blue water of Voidomatis River where river rafting begins, and then the small and large Papigo village. Papigo, for many, is considered to be the most beautiful mountain village in Greece. To discover the beauties of this unique place, walking around the stone-paved alleys is necessary! We will stop for lunch and drinks at a hidden location to enjoy local cuisine and hospitality.

On the way back to our base in Ioannina city we shall visit a special location from where you can admire the whole city, the lake, and the island inside the lake.

In the evening you must grab the chance to explore the Castle of the city situated right next to your hotel and maybe enjoy a walk next to the lake as most of the locals do.

OVERNIGHT: Ioannina Lake City
Day 9 From Zagorochoria To Metsovo, Vergina Or Zagorochoria
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

From Zagorochoria To Metsovo, Vergina Or Zagorochoria

We leave behind this unique area of Greece to head towards VERGINA the royal tombs of Macedonia stopping for coffee and mixing with the locals at the popular lively mountain town of METSOVO.

We drive on to reach Vergina (ancient Aigai) near Veria town. At Vergina, you will live the experience of a visit to the unique museum, created in the Great Tumulus covering the royal tombs of Macedonia. Admire the astonishing findings from the tomb of King Phillip II, Alexander’s father, and feel the thrill of the greatest discovery of the 20th century.

OVERNIGHT: Meteora
Day 10 From Meteora To Thermopylae And Back To Athens
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

From Meteora To Thermopylae And Back To Athens

After your breakfast at a hotel exactly opposite the famous Meteora monasteries, we need to drive just 10 minutes and then start exploring.

Meteora (“suspended in the air”) was the hiding spot for the monks from the Romans. We explore two (or 3) amazing monasteries depending on your fitness and speed of exploring. We drive around the Meteora maze finding different spots to take amazing photos and enjoy the amazing views. Holy Trinity monastery was the filming location in the 1981 James Bond movie “For Your Eyes Only” and several other movies were also shot at the Meteora monasteries. Not all monasteries are open every day. Each day one of them is closed. So we will plan accordingly and make sure you don’t miss any favorites.

We leave Meteora behind to start our drive back to Athens with a stop to stretch our legs at Thermopylae; where the battle between the 300 Spartans and the 200,000 soldiers of the Persian Empire took place. Don’t let anyone tell you that Thermopylae is more than a very historic … dot on Google Maps where you can only admire the statue of Leonidas and let your imagination do the rest.

Return to Athens!

10 days tour

10-Day Epitome Private Tour: Peloponnese, Hydra Island, Mete

This tour includes:

Not included:

Start planning your experience

Itinerary of your trip 10-Day Epitome Private Tour: Peloponnese, Hydra Island, Mete

From Athens To The Corinth Canal – Mycenae – Epidaurus – Nafplio

Cosmopolitan Hydra Island

From Nafplio To Monemvasia Castle

From Monenvasia To Mani Peninsula – Sparta & Mystras

From Mystras To Ancient Olympia & To The Arcadia Mountain Villages

Cave Of Lakes, Odontotos Rack Railway, Rion Bridge & Delphi

From Delphi To Ioannina Town

From Ioannina Town To Explore Zagorochoria (Villages)

From Zagorochoria To Metsovo, Vergina Or Zagorochoria

From Meteora To Thermopylae And Back To Athens

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