Your holiday summary
| Holiday type |
Tours Art & archaeology |
|---|---|
| Country |
Greece |
| Travel type |
Fly |
| Price range | From £1195 |
| Travel partner | Travel Editions |
| Duration | 9 nights |
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Need help with your booking? 0330 333 6761 |
Exploring the Historic & Scenic Peloponnese
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You'll love this tour if you like: History Archaeology, Natural beauty, Spectacular scenery, Mediterranean sunshine.
The Peloponnese, the southernmost region of mainland Greece, is a vast area, joined to the mainland by the narrow Isthmus of Corinth and by the Rio-Antirio Bridge, the world’s longest multi-span cable-stayed bridge, which connects the region to northern Greece at Patra.
Inhabited since prehistoric times, the regions modern name derives from ancient Greek mythology and the hero Pelops, who was said to have conquered the entire region.It is a fascinating ancient area steeped in myths! Fascinating, not only in its colourful myths, its ancient history and its classical remains but also in its diverse and spectacular landscape of towering mountains; verdant rolling hills; beautiful coastlines and atmospheric timeless villages that are diverse in themselves varying from modern day farming communities to stone-built mountain retreats and picturesque seaside resorts.It’s long and complex history begins in the Bronze Age with the Mycenaean’s who built the first great civilization of Greece.
During classical antiquity, the region possessed some of the countries most powerful city-states; Sparta, Corinth, Argos; and saw some of its darkest battles. The Persians and the Romans equally had a strong hand in its long history, as did the Byzantines, the Venetians and the Franks. Its more recent history saw the Turks dominate the region from 1460 until 1821 when The Greek War of Independence (1821 – 1829) finally turned the historic tables. The decisive naval Battle of Navarino was fought and won on the west coast of the Peloponnese and the beautiful city of Nafplio, on its east coast, became the first capital of the modern state.During our tour we will gain an insight into this long history and visit some of the grand remnants of these colourful eras whilst, at the same time, enjoy some of the regions natural beauty.
Visits include Ancient Olympia, Sacred Delphi, the citadel of Mycenae, the spectacularly preserved theatre of Epidaurus, Napflio, one of the regions loveliest towns, and Kalavryta, which we shall reach by train on the old ‘rack and pinion’ railway that snakes scenically and dramatically from the sea to the mountains.
The Peloponnese, the southernmost region of mainland Greece, is a vast area, joined to the mainland by the narrow Isthmus of Corinth and by the Rio-Antirio Bridge, the world’s longest multi-span cable-stayed bridge, which connects the region to northern Greece at Patra.
Inhabited since prehistoric times, the regions modern name derives from ancient Greek mythology and the hero Pelops, who was said to have conquered the entire region.It is a fascinating ancient area steeped in myths! Fascinating, not only in its colourful myths, its ancient history and its classical remains but also in its diverse and spectacular landscape of towering mountains; verdant rolling hills; beautiful coastlines and atmospheric timeless villages that are diverse in themselves varying from modern day farming communities to stone-built mountain retreats and picturesque seaside resorts.It’s long and complex history begins in the Bronze Age with the Mycenaean’s who built the first great civilization of Greece.
During classical antiquity, the region possessed some of the countries most powerful city-states; Sparta, Corinth, Argos; and saw some of its darkest battles. The Persians and the Romans equally had a strong hand in its long history, as did the Byzantines, the Venetians and the Franks. Its more recent history saw the Turks dominate the region from 1460 until 1821 when The Greek War of Independence (1821 – 1829) finally turned the historic tables. The decisive naval Battle of Navarino was fought and won on the west coast of the Peloponnese and the beautiful city of Nafplio, on its east coast, became the first capital of the modern state.During our tour we will gain an insight into this long history and visit some of the grand remnants of these colourful eras whilst, at the same time, enjoy some of the regions natural beauty.
Visits include Ancient Olympia, Sacred Delphi, the citadel of Mycenae, the spectacularly preserved theatre of Epidaurus, Napflio, one of the regions loveliest towns, and Kalavryta, which we shall reach by train on the old ‘rack and pinion’ railway that snakes scenically and dramatically from the sea to the mountains.
Included
- Return scheduled flights from London to Athens including all payable taxes.
- 4 nights' accommodation in standard room on bed and buffet breakfast basis at 3-star Florida Blue Bay Hotel, Psathopyrgos and 5 nights' accommodation in standard room on bed and buffet breakfast basis at 3-star King Minos Hotel, Tolo.
- Transfers and excursions as detailed
- Entrance fees
- Tour manager and local guide throughout
Not included
- Single room supplement
- Holiday insurance
- Regional flight supplement (subject to availability)
- Meals other than those stated
- Items of a personal nature such as drinks, laundry, telephone calls etc
- Porterage and gratuities
Day 1
Fly to Athens from London. Transfer to Psathopyrgos, on the north coast, for 4 night stay at the Florida Blue Bay Hotel on bed and breakfast basis.(for departure/arrival times please hover your mouse over the departure dates on the left of this page)
Day 2
with a visit to the famous site of ancient Olympia situated in a fertile, peaceful river valley, where the Olympic Games originated and were held for over 1000 years. Visiting the archaeological site, you will walk in one of the most important sanctuaries of ancient Greece. Our visit here includes the archaeological museum, a relatively small museum that houses one of the finest collections in Greece, including the famous ‘Hermes of Praxiteles’ found at Olympia and dated from 343 BC
Day 3
Full day tour to Delphi, the ancient sanctuary of Apollo, situated in a magnificent mountain setting. Our trip today gives us the opportunity to cross the remarkable Rio-Antirio Bridge, a stunning masterpiece of modern day engineering
Day 4
Today is a scenic day as we head to the seaside village of Diakoftos where we join the rack and pinion railway, built by Italian engineers between 1885 and 1895, for the spectacularly scenic ride to the attractive hill village of Kalavryta. Afternoon at leisure.
Day 5
We head south by coach to our 2nd hotel, the King Minos, in Tolo, stopping en-route at the picturesque town of Nafplio, where there will be time for exploring and lunch before continuing to our hotel.
Day 6
Full day tour to Mycenae and Nemea. A dramatic and imposing site Mycenae is perched on a plateau between two mountains and entered via the magnificent 'lion gates' that lead into the interior of the Acropolis and the palace of Agamemnon. There is an eerie silence about the place that fails to speak of the tragedy that unfolded in the heart of the palace when Agamemnon - the mighty leader of the Greeks against the Trojans - was murdered by his wife and her lover. These ancient ruins will take you 'back in time' as you wander amongst these historic remains. In the afternoon we visit the site of Nemea where mythology records Hercules' first labor with the ferocious Nemean Lion
Day 7
Day of leisure
Day 8
Full day ‘Island Tour’. Scenery is the emphasis again today as we head by boat to visit the picturesque island of Hydra situated at the foot of the eastern Peloponnese
Day 9
Visit to the fantastic site of Epidaurus. Built round the 3rd Century BC Epidaurus is adorned with a multitude of buildings, most famous of which is the ancient Theatre, the acoustics of which are legendary! The theatre is one of the best preserved monuments of the ancient world!
Day 10
Transfer back to Athens Airport for return flight home
NB: Exact order of excursions may vary according to local conditions and tour managers discretion
Fly to Athens from London. Transfer to Psathopyrgos, on the north coast, for 4 night stay at the Florida Blue Bay Hotel on bed and breakfast basis.(for departure/arrival times please hover your mouse over the departure dates on the left of this page)
Day 2
with a visit to the famous site of ancient Olympia situated in a fertile, peaceful river valley, where the Olympic Games originated and were held for over 1000 years. Visiting the archaeological site, you will walk in one of the most important sanctuaries of ancient Greece. Our visit here includes the archaeological museum, a relatively small museum that houses one of the finest collections in Greece, including the famous ‘Hermes of Praxiteles’ found at Olympia and dated from 343 BC
Day 3
Full day tour to Delphi, the ancient sanctuary of Apollo, situated in a magnificent mountain setting. Our trip today gives us the opportunity to cross the remarkable Rio-Antirio Bridge, a stunning masterpiece of modern day engineering
Day 4
Today is a scenic day as we head to the seaside village of Diakoftos where we join the rack and pinion railway, built by Italian engineers between 1885 and 1895, for the spectacularly scenic ride to the attractive hill village of Kalavryta. Afternoon at leisure.
Day 5
We head south by coach to our 2nd hotel, the King Minos, in Tolo, stopping en-route at the picturesque town of Nafplio, where there will be time for exploring and lunch before continuing to our hotel.
Day 6
Full day tour to Mycenae and Nemea. A dramatic and imposing site Mycenae is perched on a plateau between two mountains and entered via the magnificent 'lion gates' that lead into the interior of the Acropolis and the palace of Agamemnon. There is an eerie silence about the place that fails to speak of the tragedy that unfolded in the heart of the palace when Agamemnon - the mighty leader of the Greeks against the Trojans - was murdered by his wife and her lover. These ancient ruins will take you 'back in time' as you wander amongst these historic remains. In the afternoon we visit the site of Nemea where mythology records Hercules' first labor with the ferocious Nemean Lion
Day 7
Day of leisure
Day 8
Full day ‘Island Tour’. Scenery is the emphasis again today as we head by boat to visit the picturesque island of Hydra situated at the foot of the eastern Peloponnese
Day 9
Visit to the fantastic site of Epidaurus. Built round the 3rd Century BC Epidaurus is adorned with a multitude of buildings, most famous of which is the ancient Theatre, the acoustics of which are legendary! The theatre is one of the best preserved monuments of the ancient world!
Day 10
Transfer back to Athens Airport for return flight home
NB: Exact order of excursions may vary according to local conditions and tour managers discretion
The tour is designed as a ‘two centre’ tour to ensure we could include some of the most prominent sites in this vast region. We begin our stay in the coastal village of Psathopyrgos, on the north coast of the Peloponnese, staying at the hotel Florida Blue Bay from where we visit Delphi, Olympia and Kalavryta. We then head southeast to the picturesque bay and seaside resort of Tolo and the hotel King Minos, from where we visit Mycenae, Epidaurus and Nafplio and enjoy a scenic boat trip to the beautiful neighbouring island of Hydra.
3 star Florida Blue Bay Hotel, Psathopyrgos
This comfortable 3 star hotel is located between the sea and the mountains tranquilly surrounded by olive groves, 2 minutes walk from the village. The Hotel offers excellent facilities including a restaurant, poolside taverna, indoor bar, health club, swimming pool, tennis court and wireless internet. The spacious air-conditioned rooms have private en-suite facilities, balcony, TV and fridge.
3 star King Minos Hotel, Tolo
The King Minos Hotel has a lovely position overlooking the beautiful bay of Tolo. Facilities here include a restaurant, a large swimming pool and snack bar, both of which enjoy magnificent views of the bay. Its comfortable bedrooms include air-conditioning, hairdryer, TV, fridge, private bath/shower facilities and balcony.
3 star Florida Blue Bay Hotel, Psathopyrgos
This comfortable 3 star hotel is located between the sea and the mountains tranquilly surrounded by olive groves, 2 minutes walk from the village. The Hotel offers excellent facilities including a restaurant, poolside taverna, indoor bar, health club, swimming pool, tennis court and wireless internet. The spacious air-conditioned rooms have private en-suite facilities, balcony, TV and fridge.
3 star King Minos Hotel, Tolo
The King Minos Hotel has a lovely position overlooking the beautiful bay of Tolo. Facilities here include a restaurant, a large swimming pool and snack bar, both of which enjoy magnificent views of the bay. Its comfortable bedrooms include air-conditioning, hairdryer, TV, fridge, private bath/shower facilities and balcony.
2 results
As usual, an excellent holiday with Travel Editions, who always find good hotels, knowledgeable guides and who work very hard to accommodate all clients requests, with a cheerful willingness. The boat trip to Hydra and Spetses, ending in the sun setting and dolphins playing alongside the boat was magical. The trips to Delphi and Epidaurus were especially memorable. We'll be back!
Sep 2011
Mrs I Carter
Mrs I Carter
A brilliant trip with very good guides (especially Joanna and Demetria) to the fascinating sites and a lovely boat trip with dolphins to guide us home! Jane was a very caring and attentive organiser at all times.
Sep 2011
Mr R Murray
Mr R Murray
2 results
