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SELF DRIVE TOUR ACROSS THE PELOPONNESE AND EPIRUS

11 Days / 10 Nights
Free Cancellation

Athens, Olympia, Nafplio, Peloponnese, Zagorohoria, Kalambaka and Delphi

Map Itinerary Download PDF
From USD 818.39 USD 736.56

Daily throughout the year.

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What is included in this package

  • 3-night accommodation in Athens.
  • 1-night accommodation in Nafplio.
  • 1-night accommodation in Monemvasia.
  • 1-night accommodation in Pylos.
  • 1-night accommodation in Olympia.
  • 1-night accommodation in Zagorohoria.
  • 1-night accommodation in Kalambaka.
  • 1-night accommodation in Delphi.
  • Guided evening walking tour through Monastiraki, Plaka and Anafiotika.
  • Car rental as per itinerary.
  • CDW insurance, excess amount Eur 900.00.
  • Unlimited kilometres
  • 24-hour Roadside Assistance 
  • All transfers as per description.
  • 24/7 Emergency Phone Assistance
  • Daily breakfast

Not included & Optionals

  • Gratuities (optional) and Personal expenses.
  • Optional (Athens Sightseeing)
  • Fuel and tolls
  • GPS, snow chains, child seat and additional driver upon request.
  • Add extra nights in Athens, Nafplio, Olympia and Delphi by clicking on "Customize your Program" or in step 1 of your reservation. Where applicable, any additional nights will also entail additional days of car rental.
  • Find out the answer to your most frequently asked questions, including hospitality by category here.
  • 10% discount for groups of 10 travelers or more.

What do I need to rent a vehicle?

Find out more about the car rental requirements in Greece by clicking here

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Package Tour Itinerary: Self Drive Tour Across The Peloponnese And Epirus

ATHENS - CRADLE OF CIVILIZATION
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ATHENS - CRADLE OF CIVILIZATION

Upon your arrival in the mythical city of Athens, you will be greeted with a seamless transfer to your hotel in one of our vehicles, where your professional and friendly English-speaking driver will ensure your comfort and convenience throughout the journey.

Later in the afternoon, at an agreed time, our representative will meet you at the hotel to provide all the essential details of your trip. They will also offer a captivating presentation of the city, sharing insights into its everyday way of life. This is an excellent opportunity for you to ask any questions and have any doubts dispelled, ensuring a smooth and enjoyable experience throughout the rest of your trip.

You will have the remainder of the day free to relax and explore Athens at your own pace, taking in the sights, sounds, and flavors of this remarkable city.

Greca Tip: Extend your stay by adding more nights during Step 1 of 3 of your booking!

DAY AT LEISURE  AND ATHENS BY NIGHT
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DAY AT LEISURE AND ATHENS BY NIGHT

This will be a free day in Athens, where, after a delicious breakfast, you will have the chance to visit some of the famous attractions and places of interest in the city. Alternatively, you can enjoy a leisurely stroll in the city center and make your own discoveries as you go along.

In the evening you will join a guided walking tour through the most stunning districts of Athens, such as Anafiotika, Thisio, Monastiraki and Plaka.

Greca Tip: Enjoy a tasty souvlaki in one of the taverns in and around Monasteraki Square.

FROM ATHENS TO CORINTH, MYCENAE AND NAFPLIO
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FROM ATHENS TO CORINTH, MYCENAE AND NAFPLIO

After an nutritious breakfast, you will pick up your rental car and drive to the region of Argolis.

Just outside Athens, at a distance of about 11 kilometres from the city, we suggest a visit to the Daphne Monastery. This monastery is considered the oldest Byzantine monastery of its type in Greece and its frescoes and mosaics are masterpieces of the golden era of Byzantine art. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage in 1990.

On your way to Nafplio you can stop at the Corinth Canal, a great engineering feat first designed in 630 BC by Periander, a tyrant that ruled Corinth and considered one of the seven sages of Ancient Greece. This 6-kilometre-long channel was built to connect the Ionian Sea with the Saronic Gulf, thus saving valuable sailing time for the seafaring vessels. Its construction lasted a long time and was completed by the French in 1893.

About half an hour’s driving later you will reach Mycenae, one of the most important archaeological sites of Ancient Greece. Here you can visit the Lion's Gate and the Treasure of Atreus. This last structure is generally believed to be a royal tomb and more precisely the Tomb of Agamemnon.

You will end a full day of cultural adventure in the comfort of your hotel in Nafplio, a charming Venetian city.

Total distance: 148 km

Greca Tip: Enjoy a leisurely walk around the Old Town and sip your drink at the port taking in the amazing view of Bourtzi – always lit up at night.

FROM NAFPLIO TO MISTRAS AND MONEMVASIA
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FROM NAFPLIO TO MISTRAS AND MONEMVASIA

After a filling breakfast, you will start driving to Monemvasia. On your way there, you can visit the mystical town of Mystras, the most amazing example of Byzantine architecture in southern Greece.

During the two centuries of Mystras's history as the Byzantine capital of the Peloponnese, many churches and monasteries were built here. The city also witnessed the coronation of the last emperor of Byzantium, Constantine XI Palaeologos. We suggest that you visit the Castle of Villahardouin and Agia Sofia church at its feet, the Houses of Laskaris and Frangopoulos, the beautiful Cathedral of Saint Dimitrios and the impressive Monasteries of Our Lady Pantánassa, and of Οur Lady Perivleptos. Today Mystras draws a great number of visitors as the whole city is a veritable open-air museum and offers striking views of the Sparta plain. Over the passage of time, and especially through the construction of the Corinth Canal and the change of the sea route, Mystras lost its former importance.

Upon arrival at the last destination of the day, Monemvasia we suggest taking a walk around the castle and its beautiful surroundings. The city was founded in 583 by residents of the Peloponnese fleeing from invasions by Slavic and Avar peoples. They settled here and called it Monemvasia for it had a single access. In the 10th century the Byzantine Empire fortified the city making it an important center of maritime commerce. It remained in the hands of Romans and later of the Turks until 1821, when it returned to the Greek nation. You will be able to explore its narrow cobblestoned streets, and admire the beautifully restored buildings. You may also try its culinary delights in a good restaurant from the roof of a typical tower.


Total distance 216 km.

Greca Tip: A visit to the Mystras Archaeological Museum will help you get a deep insight into the rich history of the area.

TOWARD SOUTHERN PELOPONESSE: FROM MONEMVASIA TO PYLOS
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TOWARD SOUTHERN PELOPONESSE: FROM MONEMVASIA TO PYLOS

After a delicious breakfast, you will be ready to leave Monemvasia and continue the journey along the Peloponesse coast. Your first stop will be Gythio, a small fishing village that opens the way to the peninsula of Mani. According to the legend the city was founded by Apollo and Heracles as a sign of reconciliation after a dispute they had in Delphi.

The next stop we recommend for the day is Kalamata, considered the largest shopping center in the Peloponnese, besides Patras. It is also famous for the cultivation of table olives, which are used by chefs and cooks around the world.

The last destination of the day is Pylos, a beautiful seaside town in the large bay known as Navarino bay. There you can visit not only the Neocastro castle founded in 1573, but also the highest peak in the city, which is the tower of the Paliocastro castle. The starting point of many tourist tours is The Three Admirals' Square dedicated to the admirals who joined the Battle of Navarino. 

Total distance: 264 km

Greca Tip: At night we suggest strolling along Pylos waterfront, one of the most romantic places in the city, to watch the sunset, while enjoying dinner or a glass of wine in one of the local taverns.

FROM PYLOS TO OLYMPIA, CRADLE OF THE OLYMPIC GAMES
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FROM PYLOS TO OLYMPIA, CRADLE OF THE OLYMPIC GAMES

After a generous breakfast, you will leave the small town of Pylos to continue towards Olympia.

On the way, and shortly after leaving Pylos, you can make a stop at Voidokoilia bay. The place has a lovely golden-sand beach that seems to be an ancient natural theater. Voidokoilia is declared a “landscape and archaeological site of unique beauty” since the excavations revealed significant ruins of numerous monuments like a Mycenaean tomb and the remains of a 13th-century medieval castle. From this castle, known as "Paleokastro", you will enjoy the best views of the beach.

After such an irresistible stop, you will arrive at the destination of the day, Olympia. Here you can visit the remains of the ancient Olympic stadium, where the first Games took place by 776 B.C. The importance of the Olympic games was undisputed due the massive participation and because the Greek cities maintained a truce for their whole duration. Olympia was also the most important ancient Greek sanctuary, a place of worship to Zeus.  It was here where one of the seven wonders of the ancient world once stood - the gigantic sculpture of gold and ivory of Zeus made by Phidias himself.

Total distance: 140 km

Greca Tip: Pamper yourself with the hotel's amenities or take a stroll around the beautiful surrounding countryside.

FROM OLYMPIA TO ZAGOROHORIA
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FROM OLYMPIA TO ZAGOROHORIA

After a delicious breakfast, you will leave Olympia and cross the Antirio Bridge to continue to Nafpaktos. Nafpaktos is known for being the scene of the Lepanto naval battle, where Miguel de Cervantes participated. There, you can visit the Old Port and Lepanto Castle with incredible views of the Corinthian Gulf.

Further on, you can visit Ioannina, the capital of Epirus, located 500 meters high on the shores of Lake Pamvotis. We also recommend visiting one of the most important caves in the world, the Cave of Perama. This cave is a huge opening in the depths of Mount Goritsa.

Following your way, you will reach the Zagori region, where the Pindus mountain range is located. The Pindus is the most important mountain belt in the country, with peaks that exceed 2,000 meters in height. There you can either visit the Pindus National Park or the majestic Vikos–Aoös National Park, where you can go hiking and kayaking in its rivers. In the depths of this region, you can found Zagorohoria (towns of Zagori), a series of towns that are like frozen in time, with great Slavic and Northeast European influence. The town of Kipi has the best examples of the architecture of the area, for instance, the Plakida Bridge. It is suggested, likewise, to visit the town of Konitsa, which was very affected during the Greek civil war.

After a full day travelling through this amazing region, you will have a well-deserved rest in the heart of Zagorohoria.

Total distance: 550 km.

Greca Tip: At Ioannina try eels and trout from the lake as well as frogs legs, a special local delicacy.

FROM EPIRUS TO METEORA (KALAMBAKA)
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FROM EPIRUS TO METEORA (KALAMBAKA)

Leaving Zagorohoria after a hearty breakfast, you will visit Metsovo, a tree-shaded village with its two storey mansions and stone-built drinking fountains perched on the side of Pindos mountain range.

You will then head towards Kalambaka and visit Meteora, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988. Meteora combines the natural charm of the region with the eternal monasteries or hanging 'meteora' on the rocks. The first monastery, "The Great Meteoron", was built by Athanasius after being expelled from Mount Athos, in order to escape his pursuers. Nowadays, only 6 remain in use for the monastic community: five for male monks and one for female nuns.

After visiting the monasteries in this a hectic day, you will have a well-deserved rest.

Dress code in monasteries:

Over-the-knee shorts or skirts are forbidden. Men are not admitted wearing sleeveless shirts. For women sarongs are available at the entrance if needed.

Total distance: 111 km

Greca Tip: In Metsovo you can shop for local handicrafts, the famous Metsovon cheeses, meats and the distinct Averof wines, which mature slowly in one of the most mountainous vineyards of Greece.

FROM KALAMBAKA TO THE ORACLE OF DELPHI
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FROM KALAMBAKA TO THE ORACLE OF DELPHI

After a delicious breakfast, you will depart for Delphi. On your way, you will have the opportunity to stop at Thermopylae, where the statue of the Spartan king Leonidas I is to be seen.  King Leonidas was the intrepid leader who confronted the Persians and died in the homonymous battle.

You will finally arrive at Delphi, the center or navel of the ancient world and host to the notable Delphic Oracle was located (consulted either by kings or pilgrims). Delphi was declared UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987 and attracts thousands of visitors up to the present day.

When all your questions to the Oracle of Delphi have been answered, you will have time for a well-deserved rest.

Total distance: 237 kilometres

Greca Tip: Visit the village of Chrissó in Delphi, wander around its cobblestoned streets and enjoy a coffee break under the century-old plane tree at the village square.

FROM DELPHI TO ATTICA, THE RETURN
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FROM DELPHI TO ATTICA, THE RETURN

After a delicious Greek breakfast, you will start your journey back to Athens

You will drive along the slopes of Mount Parnassos rising to 2457 meters height and you will make a short stop in Arachova, a popular winter resort full of taverns and handicraft shops. 

Further down the road you can visit the town of Levadeia, which, in ancient times, flourished and grew in importance as a consequence of its possessing the celebrated oracle of Trophonius, found in a cave.

Back in Athens, you will return your rental car to the station and your adventure through Greece at our own pace will have come full circle. Now it is time to have a well-deserved rest with the memories of all the places you have seen and the people you have met still fresh in your mind.

Total distance: 186 km

Greca Tip: In the village of Arachova you can shop for local products, such as the traditional woven carpets, honey and the local formaela cheese.

FAREWELL GREECE!
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FAREWELL GREECE!

At the agreed time, our driver will transfer you to Athens Airport to board your international flight back home or to your next destination.  You will check in your luggage and benefit from the tax return resulting from any last minute "tax free" shopping for family and friends.

Undoubtedly, and after spending a few fantastic days with Greca, we hope to see you again soon to create new and extraordinary moments that will be lovingly etched in your memory.

Have a nice trip! Or as Greeks say: "Kalo taksidi!"

Greca Tip: As a going away gift you can choose from a wide range of brightly colored flokati rugs, handmade sandals, embroidered covers and Greek honey or olive oil.

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