12 DAYS ULTIMATE PELOPONNESE

Arrive in Athens and transfer to your hotel.

Ancient and modern, with equal measures of grunge and grace, bustling Athens is a heavy mix of history and edginess. Iconic monuments mingle with first-rate museums, lively cafes and al fresco dining, and is downright fun. The historic centre is an open-air museum, yet the city’s cultural and social life takes place amid these ancient landmarks, merging past and present. The magnificent Acropolis rises above the sprawling metropolis and has stood witness to the city’s transformation.

In the afternoon, enjoy a private tour in Acropolis hill & Acropolis Museum.

If this is your first time in Athens, we recommend adding an extra night to explore this dynamic metropolis on a local Food Tour to get a sense-provoking insight into Greek gastronomy, or to catch the sunset at the majestic Temple of Poseidon along the impressive Attica coast.

After breakfast, you will drive towards the Arcadia prefecture (approx. 165km, 2hr). The region is a tangle of medieval villages, remote monasteries, precipitous ravines and narrow roads that wind their way through the valleys of the Menalon Mountains. Its name evokes images of grassy meadows, forested mountains, gurgling streams and shady grottoes, some of the most breath-taking scenery in the Peloponnese. Join your private guide along Lousios Gorge, taking monasteries including Prodromou and Philosophou amidst magnificent surroundings.

After breakfast, depart for the site of Olympia (approx. 100km, 1hr 50min), which has been inhabited since prehistoric times – a centre for the worship of Zeus in the 10th century B.C. In addition to temples, there are the remains of all the sports structures erected for the Olympic Games, which were held here since 776. With your guide, visit the must-see archaeological site and the museum housing some of the most important works of classical art.

Following Olympia, you can visit a seafront winery & olive oil estate and experience some Greek Grand Crus.

Today we will drive towards Kalamata (approx. 130km, 1hr 30min), which is located on the coast and presides over the southern end of an immense bay. En route, we will visit ancient Messina with a local guide that will elaborate on the rich history of this impressive site. You will continue towards Kalamata and stay for the evening, where you can enjoy walks in the beautiful promenade and have dinner in the port.

After breakfast we will drive towards Mani region (approx. 105km, 2hr 15min), which is still one of the least visited areas in Greece. To this day the architecture of the area is famed for the tower houses and fortified family dwellings from the period of the Ottoman occupation of Greece, where you will spend a night in to soak in the atmosphere of this remote region. The steep tumbling skirts of the Taygetos Mountains and the tiny coves and ports nestling beside them make for some memorably dramatic scenery. Dotted around the territory, you will find bizarre tower settlements that were built as refuges during clan wars from the 17th century onwards and as well as the towers, there are magnificent churches and caves.

On our way to hotel, we will visit the impressive Diros Caves which are full of stalagmites & stalactites formed millions of years ago, when the sea, located just a few meters away, started to rise and formed the lake we see today.

Today we will do a driving tour in the area and we will hike (2h) the path, which leads to the Cape Tenaron (one of Europe’s most southern points) towards a beautiful lighthouse. Return to Gerolimenas port and enjoy sunset & dinner next to the sea.

Today we will drive towards Monemvasia area (120km, 2hr 15min) to the award-winning Kinsterna hotel, a restored Byzantine mansion with great respect for its long history. Winner of numerous international distinctions and awards, the Kinsterna today is a fertile 25-acre estate with centuries-old olive trees and an orange grove producing the famous Monemvasia oranges, as well as the hotel’s private vineyards featuring native Greek varietals such as Kidonitsa, Assyrtiko, Agiorgitiko and Monemvasia – from which they produce their own vintage wines. Kinsterna’s owners have revived the traditional agricultural practices and occupations of the estate, such as: harvesting grapes, making olive oil, distilling tsipouro (traditional Greek spirits), baking bread and producing soap – creating a working model of sustainability that lies at the heart of their goal to make the estate as autonomous and self-sufficient as possible – as it was centuries ago.

The vast, imposing, spectacular Monemvasia rock is the Greek equivalent to Gibraltar, thus earning the nickname ‘Gibraltar of the East’. This perfect fortress is an iceberg-like slab of rock moored off the coast, with sheer cliffs rising hundreds of meters from the sea. A medieval village is enclosed within the walls of the rock’s castle with narrow, cobbled streets, flanked by winding stairways that weave between a complex network of stone houses with walled gardens and courtyards. Monemvasia is a great place to wander. In the morning we will explore the medieval village and then you can ascent towards the citadel of the town. From there you will enjoy the truly spectacular views down to the red-tile roofs of Monemvasia, out across the sea and deep into the mountains of the Mani peninsula.

After breakfast, we will depart to the Porto Heli region (300km, 4hr 30min). On the way we will stop in the fortress town of Mystras, a World-Heritage listed site, spill from a spur of the Taygetos Mountains. It is among the most important historical sites in the Peloponnese and here is where the Byzantine Empire’s richly artistic and intellectual culture made its last stand. Then we will continue north towards the mighty ruins of World-Heritage listed Ancient Mycenae, which stands at the barren foothills of two mountains. For 400 years this vestige of a kingdom was the most powerful in Greece and is synonymous with the names of Homer and Schliemann. Drive towards Amanzoe resort where you will spend the next 3 nights.

After breakfast, drive towards the spectacular archaeological site of Epidavros ancient theatre (approx. 55km, 50min) where you will have a private tour with your local guide. Admire the ancient theatre, the Sanctuary of Asklepius – considered to be the birthplace of medicine – and the Ancient Stadium of Epidaurus.

Enjoy an afternoon at leisure. You could relax in your gorgeous pavilion, or arrange an excursion to explore the resort’s surroundings, from treks through undulating olive groves, visiting a local beekeeper who still uses traditional techniques that has been passed down for generations, or explore the care-free island of Spetses known for its faring traditions, neoclassical mansions and horse-drawn carriages. Enjoy dinner at one of its excellent seafood restaurants.

The sleek Amanzoe has an enviable hilltop location amid olive groves, vineyards and cypress trees, with spectacular views to the Aegean sea. There is plenty to do, from group sessions in the Yoga Pavilion, water sports at the beach club, a luxuriating holistic healing at the spa or enjoy a cocktail using herbs from the hotel’s garden at the outdoor terrace, perfect for catching jaw-dropping sunsets.

After breakfast, transfer to Athens International Airport (approx. 200km, 2hr 30min) for your departure flight.