Elonas, Greece

Greece off the beaten track 16 days tour from Athens. Explore Peloponnese non-touristy areas.

tour starts in: Athens, Greece

tour finishes in: Igoumenitsa, Greece

tour duration: 16 days (15 nights)

tour countries: Greece

tour destinations: Andromonastero, Areopoli, Argos, Asini, Corinth canal, Dimitsana, Elonas, Filosofou, Gytheio, Kalamata, Kalavryta, Kardamyli, Kosmas, Lefkada, Mani, Mega Spileon, Mesolongi, Messene, Midea, Nafpaktos, Nafplio, Nemea, Oiniadai, Plaka, Porto Kagio, Preveza, Prodromou, Tainaro, Vathia, Vonitsa

We welcome you to come with us to explore Greece off the beaten track with our 16-day tour from Athens to Igoumenitsa. With this tour, we will explore non-touristy sites of the famous Peloponnese. Prepare yourself for breathtaking views, ancient Orthodox monasteries in mountains, narrow-gauge mountain railroad, non-touristy archaeological sites, small mountain villages, cute coastal towns, amazing viewpoints, and local roads.

We recommend this tour for travelers that already know the main touristic attractions of Greece, and would like to explore Greece off the beaten track.

The tour will start with visiting the Corinth Canal, a famous attraction. We will also come to see a part of Diolkos, a paved trackway in Ancient Greece before the canal was built, which enabled boats to be moved overland across the Isthmus of Corinth.

After, we will come to Nemea, an ancient site, in Greek myth, it was the home of the Nemean Lion, which was killed by the hero Heracles. In Nemea we will see the important archaeological site of the Sanctuary of Zeus and an ancient Greek stadium. We will come to Nafplio (UNESCO Tentative List site) for a 3-night stay.

In the vicinity of Nafplio, we will visit Midea, a main Mycenaean center, to see its Acropolis with a 450-meter cyclopean wall. Our next attraction is Asini; the Acropolis of Asini is on a 350-meter-long rock, with remains from various periods, including walls built in the 4th century BC. In the evening, we will take a walk in Nafplio around the fortress rock to see a beautiful sunset.

During the next day we will visit another attraction near Nafplio: the archaeological site of Argos (UNESCO Tentative List site) to see a large theater, the Odeon, Roman baths, and other ruins. Later, we will come to the Argos archaeological museum to see a very well-organized exhibition.

On the next day we will take a road to Gytheio, and on the way will visit the small coastal town of Plaka, the mountain monastery of Elonas, and stop for lunch in the mountain town of Kosmas, famous for its specific cuisine. In Gytheio, we will try to see its ancient theater and come to a small peninsula with a lighthouse. The same day we will enter the area of the famous Mani Peninsula and will stay 2 nights in Areopoli.

In Areopoli, we will walk its historical center, see the beautiful small Mavromichalis castle, and adore the local fortified houses. From Areopoli, we will come to the abandoned town of Vathia, known for its iconic tower houses, built and served as homes and fortresses for the local families, offering protection against invaders and rival clans. Houses were built between the 18th and 19th centuries when the Mani Peninsula resisted Turkish rule.

We will also visit the small village of Porto Kagio before taking an easy hike to the archaeological site of Tainaro at the southern tip of Greece's Mani Peninsula. Tainaro is famous for ancient ruins, especially the Sanctuary of Poseidon, a significant religious site linked to the mythical 'Gates of Hades' and the Underworld, featuring Roman mosaics, cave temples, and a famous 1887 lighthouse.

After the second night in Areopoli, we will move toward Kalamata. On the way, we will visit the small coastal towns of Limeni, Neo Itilo and Stoupa, and near the village of Kardamyli, visit Mourtzinos Tower, built in 1807, nowadays a complex with a museum, a tower-house, and a unique forge.

From Kalamata, we will come to see the large archaeological site of Messene (UNESCO Tentative List site). It was a classical city-state of Ancient Messene and today is one of the best archaeological sites in the Peloponnese. Ancient Messene, established in 369 BC, became a significant stronghold for the Messenians during their historical conflicts, particularly against Sparta in the Messenian Wars. The site is notable for its impressive fortifications, which include well-preserved walls and towers.

After the second night in Kalamata, we will take the road to the mountain town of Dimitsana, and on the way, visit the Holy Monastery of Saint John the Forerunner. The monastery is known as Prodromou Monastery because Prodromos is the Greek title for Saint John the Baptist, meaning 'The Forerunner', as he announced the coming of Jesus Christ. The monastery is dedicated to him and built into the rock of the Lousios Gorge, often called the 'Great Cave' due to its dramatic setting, reflecting its deep connection to this important saint.

We will also see the Open-Air Water Power Museum that highlights water power in traditional society, focusing on pre-industrial techniques and linking them to local history. From Dimitsana we also will come to see Filosofou Monastery, the oldest in Arcadia. The monastery has two complexes: the old one, built in 963 AD, is in a natural cavity, and the new one has a large basilica.

After two nights in Dimitsana, we will continue toward the mountain town of Kalavryta. On the way we will come to see a cute local Zoologikos Kipos zoo, and the ancient Kastria Cave (also called the Cave of the Lakes), which features 13 subterranean lakes and rock formations.

The next day we will spend visiting the Mega Spileon monastery, carved into a sheer cliff face. The Mega Spileon monastery is the oldest solitary in Greece, built in 362 AD, with a fortress-like structure, a 17th-century church, and a museum with relics. The rest of the day we will explore Kalavryta.

The main attraction of the next day is the Odontotos Rack Railway, a mountainous 22-kilometer railway passing through the Vouraikos Gorge, built 120 years ago from the coastal town of Diakopto to Kalavryta. This railway is one of the narrowest railways in the world, with a width of only 75 cm, in order to enable the use of smaller and more flexible wagons.

After an overnight in the coastal town of Nafpaktos, we will visit the calm town of Messolonghi with its beautiful lagoon, and later will come to the archaeological site of Oeniadae (UNESCO Tentative List site) to see its ancient theater and shipyard.

We will stay 2 nights in the coastal town of Vonitsa, where we will explore its Byzantine castle adjusted by the Venetians. In the evening you can enjoy a promenade with a pedestrian pass over the sea to a small islet.

During the last day of our tour, we will come to the coastal town of Lefkada to see Faneromeni Monastery and the Lefkada Archaeological Museum. On the way to Igoumenitsa, we will stop in the coastal town of Preveza to walk its historical center.

By request, we can finish this tour in Ioannina instead of Igoumenitsa.

Travelling Greece: mainland extended tour, part 1/2 Touring Greece UNESCO sites, villages, castles, monasteries, archaeological places.

tour starts in: Athens, Greece

tour finishes in: Athens, Greece

tour duration: 23 days (22 nights)

tour countries: Greece

tour destinations: Acrocorinth, Ancient Corinth, Argos, Bassae, Corinth canal, Diakopto, Elonas, Epidaurus, Foinikounta, Gytheio, Kalamata, Kalavryta, Kardamyli, Koroni, Kosmas, Loutraki, Megalopolis, Messene, Methoni, Monemvasia, Mycenae, Mystras, Nafplio, Nemea, Olympia, Palace of Nestor, Palaia Epidavros, Patras, Plaka, Porto Kagio, Pylos, Rio, Sparta, Tainaro, Tiryns, Tolo, Vathia

This 23 days tour is part 1 of extended touring across Greece mainland, focused on famous Peloponnese peninsula. The tour is intended for people who would like get to know deeply the history and current style of life in Greece. Do you want to walk ancient historical places where are roots of culture of our civilization? Do you want to feel the touch of Greece? Would you like to feel Greek atmosphere in towns and villages, castles and fortresses, museums and tavernas?

The main idea of this tour is visiting together with famous UNESCO attractions also off the beaten patch places of Greece, some of them are hard to reach, some of them are remote, and some are cannot be visited with large bus at all.

This tour can be extended for few days to spend a few days in Athens, to visit Athens attractions and get to know this famous city and places around. Ask us for that!

Mediterranian explorer: Montenegro Albania Greece in 25 days tour from Tivat. Southern Balkans all seasons grand tour with UNESCO sites, fortresses, monasteries.

tour starts in: Tivat, Montenegro

tour finishes in: Athens, Greece

tour duration: 25 days (24 nights)

tour countries: Albania, Greece, Montenegro

tour destinations: Apollonia, Argos, Arta, Berat, Budva, Corinth, Dajbabe, Dodoni, Durrës, Elonas, Epidaurus, Gjirokastër, Ioannina, Kalamata, Kosmas, Kotor, Krujë, Loutraki, Mesolongi, Messene, Mycenae, Mystras, Nafpaktos, Nafplio, Oiniadai, Olympia, Parga, Patras, Rio, Sparta, Stari Bar, Tiryns

Come with us to 25 days all seasons tour over Southern Balkans, to explore 3 countries: Montenegro, Albania, Greece.

In Montenegro, we will visit town Kotor (UNESCO World Heritage Site) is surrounded by fortifications built during the Venetian period. In coastal town Budva we will walk its narrow streets of historical center and surrounding walls. We also will visit Old Bar, the settlement known from Byzantine Empire ages. On the way to Albania we will visit cave monastery Dajbabe with unique frescoes.

In Albania, we need to see historical center of town Krije and its museum, admire ancient theater in Durres, wonder on beautiful sea on Divjaka beach, and come to sleep in town Berat (UNESCO World Heritage Site), called as town of thousand windows. After Berat, we will visit archaeological site Apollonia (UNESCO Tentative List site), and come to see historical center of town Gjirokaster (UNESCO World Heritage Site). Here in Gjirokaster we will walk in Ottoman fortress and see local museum.

In Greece, we will stay in mainland, and see fortress of Ioannina, together with historical town and Silversmithing museum. We will admire huge amphitheater at Dodoni archaeological site (UNESCO Tentative List site), and cute small coastal town Parga with small fortress and gorgeous beach. Next day we will visit Nekromanteio Acheron, a Greek temple of necromancy, walk over famous bridge in Arta and see local museum.

Bext, we will visit archaeological site Oeniadae (UNESCO Tentative List site) with amphitheater and old shipyard, see Messolonghi lagoon, and come to coastal town Nafpaktos with beautiful long sandy beach. Here in Nafpaktos we will need to see a fortress and walk historical center. In Patras we need to see local fortress, rich museum (second after Athens museum), huge cathedral, and spend evening in local winery.

Next important location is large archaeological site Olympia (UNESCO World Heritage Site), with several museums on site. Next day, we will walk in archaeological site Messene (UNESCO Tentative List site), and move to coastal town Kalamata, to visit its cathedral and historical center. After Kalamata we will move to Sparta, to see archaeological site, king Leonidas monument, and visit local Olive oil museum.

Our way to Nafplio will be by mountain roads, we will see mountain town Kosmas and visit hidden in mountains Elonis monastery. We will take a lunch in coastal town Plaka, before arrival to Nafplio. In Nafplio (UNESCO Tentative List site), we will see historical center, fortress, and small sea fortress. In the area of Nafplio, we need to see archaeological site Argos, archaeological site Tiryns (UNESCO World Heritage Site), and huge archaeological site Mycenae (UNESCO World Heritage Site) with its museum.

After Nafplio we need to see archaeological site Epidaurus (UNESCO World Heritage Site) and its museum, and take a rest in coastal town Loutraki. On the way to Athens we will walk in Ancient Corinth archaeological site, admire famous Corinth Canal, and finally arrive to Athens.

Off-season 26 days tour Greece UNESCO sites from Igoumenitsa. Ancient towns, monasteries, castles. Explore main UNESCO sites of Greece mainland and Peloponnese.

tour starts in: Igoumenitsa, Greece

tour finishes in: Igoumenitsa, Greece

tour duration: 26 days (25 nights)

tour countries: Greece

tour destinations: Acrocorinth, Ancient Corinth, Antirrio, Arachova, Areopoli, Argos, Asini, Aspraggeli, Corinth canal, Elonas, Gytheio, Hosios Loukas, Ioannina, Kalamata, Kalampaka, Kardamyli, Kato Pedina, Kosmas, Leonidio, Livadeia, Loutraki, Mani, Mesolongi, Messene, Meteora, Methoni, Midea, Monemvasia, Monodendri, Mycenae, Mystras, Nafpaktos, Nafplio, Nicopolis, Oiniadai, Olympia, Parga, Patras, Preveza, Pylos, Rio, Sparta, Thermopylae, Tiryns, Tolo, Vitsa

We welcome you to explore non-touristic sites of Greece with our extended off-season discovery 26-day circle tour from Igoumenitsa. We will explore several famous mainland regions of Greece: Central Greece, Peloponnese, Epirus, and even Zagori, recently nominated as UNESCO World Heritage site for cultural landscape.

Few of visited sites are on the list of UNESCO World Heritage sites, and few are UNESCO Tentative List sites. We will visit castles and fortresses, coastal and mountain towns, ancient monasteries and cathedrals, archaeological sites and ancient bridges, off the beaten track attractions and beautiful taverns.

We will start the tour with visiting town Parga famous fort castle and beaches. Next attraction where we will walk is ancient city Nicopolis (UNESCO Tentative List site), and come to explore and sleep in coastal town Preveza. Through the only under sea tunnel in Greece we will come to coastal town Nafpaktos, and on the way will visit archaeological site Oeniadae (UNESCO Tentative List site) with shipyard and small ancient theater.

In Nafpaktos we need to see a fortress; in historical center we need to say Hello to Miguel de Cervantes which statue is located in old port. Next day, after exploring two fortresses, Antirrio and Rio, take images of beautiful bridge from ferry, we will come to Patras, to see famous castle, cathedral, and few attractions from Roman time.

Starting from Patras, we are already in the Peloponnese region, where located the most attractions of this our tour. We will come to famous Olympia, explore archaeological site and 3 museums. Next our locations are fortresses Pylos and Methoni, and we will stay in lively town Kalamata with long beautiful coastal line and beach. From here we also will visit archaeological site Messene (UNESCO Tentative List site).

From Kalamata, with short walk in medieval part of town Kardamyli, we will come to explore Mani peninsula famous for specific tower houses and people who claim be descent from the ancient Spartans. We will see the heart of Mani, the historical capital of the Mani Peninsula town Areopoli, its historical center, charming stone tower houses and cobblestone alleyway.

After Mani, we will pass coastal town Gytheio and will come to see amazing medieval fortified town Monemvasia, and will explore both lower and upper towns there.

Next important places we will explore are famous town Sparta and archaeological site Mystras (UNESCO World Heritage site) with still active monastery. From Sparta, passing by mountain road cute mountain town Kosmas and cliff monastery Elonas, we will come to Nafplio, where around are located several important attractions like Argos, Tiryns (UNESCO World Heritage site), Midea, Asini, Tolo.

On the way to Ancient Corinth we will walk over stones of ancient civilization in Mycenae (UNESCO World Heritage site). Around Corinth we will wonder on Corinth canal and explore ancient fortress Acrocorinth.

Next important attraction to visit is Hosios Loukas monastery (UNESCO World Heritage site). We will have overnight in mountain town Arachova, and from there will come to see famous complex of monasteries in Meteora (UNESCO World Heritage site).

From Kalampaka, the town of Meteora monasteries, we will come to Ioannina to see its castle and nice Silversmith museum. The rest of tour we will spend in Zagori (the whole region is UNESCO World Heritage site), learn the stories of this not usual region, see several ancient bridges and mountain towns.

Grand mediterranian 31 days tour across Montenegro Albania Greece from Tivat. Southern Balkans all seasons 3 countries tour with UNESCO sites, fortresses, monasteries.

tour starts in: Tivat, Montenegro

tour finishes in: Athens, Greece

tour duration: 31 days (30 nights)

tour countries: Albania, Greece, Montenegro

tour destinations: Apollonia, Argos, Arta, Berat, Budva, Corinth, Dajbabe, Dodoni, Durrës, Elonas, Epidaurus, Gjirokastër, Ioannina, Kalamata, Kardamyli, Koroni, Kosmas, Kotor, Krujë, Loutraki, Mesolongi, Messene, Methoni, Monemvasia, Mycenae, Mystras, Nafpaktos, Nafplio, Oiniadai, Olympia, Parga, Patras, Porto Kagio, Pylos, Rio, Sparta, Stari Bar, Tiryns

Come with us to 31 days all seasons tour over Southern Balkans, to explore 3 countries: Montenegro, Albania, Greece.

In Montenegro, we will visit town Kotor (UNESCO World Heritage Site) is surrounded by fortifications built during the Venetian period. In coastal town Budva we will walk its narrow streets of historical center and surrounding walls. We also will visit Old Bar, the settlement known from Byzantine Empire ages. On the way to Albania we will visit cave monastery Dajbabe with unique frescoes.

In Albania, we need to see historical center of town Krije and its museum, admire ancient theater in Durres, wonder on beautiful sea on Divjaka beach, and come to sleep in town Berat (UNESCO World Heritage Site), called as town of thousand windows. After Berat, we will visit archaeological site Apollonia (UNESCO Tentative List site), and come to see historical center of town Gjirokaster (UNESCO World Heritage Site). Here in Gjirokaster we will walk in Ottoman fortress and see local museum.

In Greece, we will stay within mainland. The very first Greek place is Ioannina, where we will see historical center, fortress, and Silversmithing museum. We will admire huge amphitheater at Dodoni archaeological site (UNESCO Tentative List site), and cute small coastal town Parga with a fortress and gorgeous beach. Next day we will visit Nekromanteio Acheron, a Greek temple of necromancy, walk over famous bridge in Arta and see local museum.

Bext, we will visit archaeological site Oeniadae (UNESCO Tentative List site) with amphitheater and old shipyard, see Messolonghi lagoon, and come to coastal town Nafpaktos with beautiful long sandy beach. Here in Nafpaktos we will need to see a fortress and walk historical center. In next town, Patras we need to see local fortress, rich museum (second after Athens museum), huge cathedral, and will spend evening in local winery.

Next important location is large archaeological site Olympia (UNESCO World Heritage Site), with several museums on site. Next day, we will come to the most Southern part of this are of Greece, to see fortress Methoni (UNESCO Tentative List site). After we cross a whole peninsula, we will see another fortress, Koroni (UNESCO Tentative List site). Next day, we will walk in archaeological site Messene (UNESCO Tentative List site), and move to coastal town Kalamata, to visit its cathedral and historical center. After Kalamata we will move the middle leg of Peloponnese, the area called Mani, to see this area with very specific architecture.

Next important place to visit is Monemvasia, former island, now connected with by road with mainland. Here, we need to see historical center, and climb on top to visit a local dominant, a church. After, we will move to Sparta, to see archaeological site, king Leonidas monument, and visit local Olive oil museum. Close to Sparta we will visit another quite unique site, Mystras (UNESCO World Heritage Site).

Our way to Nafplio will be by mountain roads, we will see mountain town Kosmas and visit hidden in mountains Elonis monastery. We will take a lunch in coastal town Plaka, before arrival to Nafplio. In Nafplio (UNESCO Tentative List site), we will see historical center, fortress, and small sea fortress. In the area of Nafplio, we need to see archaeological site Argos, archaeological site Tiryns (UNESCO World Heritage Site), and huge archaeological site Mycenae (UNESCO World Heritage Site) with its museum.

After Nafplio we need to see archaeological site Epidaurus (UNESCO World Heritage Site) and its museum, and take a rest in coastal town Loutraki. On the way to Athens we will walk in Ancient Corinth archaeological site, admire famous Corinth Canal, and finally arrive to Athens.