Highlights: Corinth Canal – Kalavryta – Tripotama – Foloi – Ancient Olympia – Visit Epicurus Apollo – Sparti – Taygetos mountain – Eurotas river – Ladonas River / Lake activities Dimitsana – Lousios gorge Trekking – Mount Mainalo – Tolo

8 days / 7 nights

Jeep pick up and drive to mountaineer Corinth. On the way short stop at Corinth canal. We pass Stymphalia lake, known from Hercules myths and after a scenic on / off road driving we pass lakes Doxa and Tsivlou. Here we have our picnic in an area surrounded by chestnut and pine trees. Then we continue with an off-road trail and after two hours we arrive to Kalavrita. Overnight in Kalavrita.

Morning driving to the area of Tripotama (meeting point of 3 rivers). Then drive Lampia and the forest of Foloi. The forest, famous for the long truck oak trees covers an area of 21 000 acres. Break for coffee and light snack before we take a challenging route of driving in Foloi forest and upstream a river, if the water level allows us to do so. Then we drive to Olympia for overnight.

This day we start with a guided visit to ancient Olympia, The archaeological site with the Temple of Zeus, the Olympic stadium of 45,000 seating capacity where the first Olympic games took place in 776 B.C, the archaeological museum with the famous Hermes sculpture of Praxitelus. Then drive to Vassai to see the temple of Epicurus Apollo designed by Iktinos, one of Parthenon architect at Athens. Then drive to Sparti, historic town, for overnight.

Morning guided visit to Mystras. Home place of Palaiologos, the last Byzantyne Emperior. Then we take the road north after the bridge of Eurotas. Our destination is “northern municipalities” or villages of Laconia, laying at the foot of Taygetos overlooking the valley of the Eurotas. On our route we’ll meet small picturesque villages full of Byzantine churches, before we reach Eurotas springs at Skortsinou. Then with driving on Taygetos mountain in a fir forest we drive to Karytaina and Dimitsana for our overnight.

Note: In the area there is a trekking path, “Mystriotiki Strata,” that was, the path followed by Palaiologoi (the last Byzantine emperors) from Mystras to Central Greece – Byzantium.

Morning driving to Dafni and afterwards to Ladonas river. Here you can have optional activities rafting, archery, climbing, River flying fox etc. or can walk or drive around to Ladonas lake. Afternoon return Dimitsana for overnight.

We drive to the monastery of Philosopher and hidden school where we start our trekking (2-3 hrs) to Lousios gorge walking next to the river. A dive in the icy water of Lousios is a unique experience. Crossing the river over the bridge leads us to the ancient Gortihs and afterwards we drive to mountain village Vytina for overnight.

Drive to Stamnitsa, Lagadia with a short stop for coffee to picturesque village of Stamnitsa. Then we take an amazing off road driving to NW slopes of mountain Mainalo before we arrive to Levidi and from there to Tolo, a nice sea side town for swimming and overnight.

Note:

• The package is also available on Fly and Drive minivan car mode
• Package can be provided with less days (shorter routes)
• Tailor made packages upon request
• The itinerary can be offered as a full trekking package

This day we’ll see Mycenae, the town of King Agamemnon, leader o Greeks in the war against Trojans and afterwards we’ll visit the ancient theatre of Epidaurus, famous for its acoustic. Then drive to Athens airport for your flight back home.