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Overview

Self-drive tour of Greece

If you’re looking for a place to relax that’s far away from the hustle and bustle of a big western city, Europe has a hidden treasure waiting for you: the Peloponnese. One of Greece’s most beautiful regions, the Peloponnese offers relaxation peace of mind on top of the fascination and intrigue involved in the unexpected discovery of pure Mediterranean beauty. This customized self-drive tour of Greece gives you the freedom to discover this beautiful area – on your own time. Our itinerary is perfectly designed to let travelers dive into the local culture and be seduced by the charming villages, without missing any of the Peloponnese’s main attractions.

The Peloponnese’s secular history started long before our era. Now a regional capital, Corinth was once a major commercial hub and one of the most important cities in Greek antiquity. Countless small villages typical of the area are scattered all around this prestigious site, a testament the region’s well-maintained authenticity and personality. This is also a very colored region: shades of blue from the sea, natural lush greens, silvery olive groves and citrusy orange all blend together in perfect harmony. And let’s not forget the white herds grazing peacefully in the rugged hillside. In this discovery-filled self-drive tour of Greece, you will find yourself in a land still untouched by mass tourism, where sun, sea, and mountains come together and offer your peace and tranquility.

Contact our Greece specialist today for more information on how to explore the Peloponnese on this self-drive tour of Greece!

Itinerary

Day 1| (preferably a Sunday) International flight

Day 2| Athens
Arrival at Athens airport, private transfer to your hotel. Settle into your downtown hotel. For the rest of the day you are free to explore the area. Overnight in Athens.

Day 3| Athens – Nafplion
Breakfast. Rental car pick-up at your hotel and departure for Peloponnese. Today’s destination is Nafplion bay (180 km, approx. 2 hrs driving). On your way you can stop by Corinth Canal or ancient Corinth, once beloved city of the apostle Paul, where you can visit the Acropolis that towers 1700 feet above the ruins, the market square, whose layout hasn’t changed since the times of the Great Apostle, the Bema, where Paul preached, the Agora, the temple of Apollo and the fountain of Peirene.

Day 4| Monemvasia
Breakfast, and then you’re back on the road for today’s destination: Monemvasia. Leave Nafplion and head south on the coastal road towards Leonidio. Once you reach Vlachiotis, head east for Monemvasia. This medieval fortress town was built on rock and remained intact for centuries. You can stroll around the castle area and discover the unique atmosphere or admire the bizantine churches. There are no large hotels in the Kastro, only small guesthouses. Note that cars are not allowed in town. Dinner and overnight in Monemvasia.

Day 5| Sparti
Enjoy your breakfast and prepare for a day of discovery in the south: delight in the traditional fish taverns facing Elafonissi islet or head north towards Vlahioti-Skala and Sparti to visit the byzantine church in Mystras, once the capital of the Byzantine empire. A guided tour can be arranged upon request. Dinner and overnight in Sparti.

Day 6| Mani
Breakfast. Today, your destination is Mani, a region isolated by Mount Taygetus. Villages with small churches and distinctive stone towers are scattered on the hillside, creating a special atmosphere in this rugged landscape. Discovering this region all the way to cap Matapan is a must. Also, don’t forget to visit Diros caves, ranked among Europe’s largest. Dinner and overnight in the area (in Gythio, Areopoli, Gerolimenas, Itilo, Limeni, or Karavostasi).

Day 7| Pilos
Enjoy your breakfast before getting back on the road for today’s destination: Pilos. Take the coastal road through Messinia and continue on towards Kalamata, the capital. Continue eastbound towards Gialova, a seaside paradise, only 3 km from Pilos. Discover Methoni and Sapientza islands. The whole area is magnificent. Dinner and overnight in Pilos.

Day 8| Olympia
Enjoy your breakfast. Today your destination is Olympia. Take the coastal road through Gargaliani, Kyparissia, and Krestena until you reach Olympia. With incredible sites chosen by the gods themselves, the Peloponnese never ceases to amaze. Don’t miss Olympia’s archeological site and follow in the footsteps of an antique athlete at the birth of the Olympic games in 776 BC. A guided tour can be arranged on demand. Dinner and overnight in Olympia.

Day 9| Kalavryta
After breakfast head for Kalavryta, your destination of the day. Leave Olympia and drive towards Patras, then Aigio (Egio), and Kalavryta. Discover the unique beauty of this city and its surroundings, both rich in history. Agia Lavra monastery is well worth the visit: this is where the Greeks started their revolution against the Ottoman Empire in 1821. Head for Diakofto and enjoy the lovely landscape around the famous Odontotos railway line. Visit Mega Spileo, the oldest orthodox monastery, as well as the nearby cave of the lakes. Overnight and dinner in Kalavryta.

Day 10| Athens
After breakfast, it’s time to drive back to Athens. Enjoy the ride and go through the center of the Peloponnese. Continue on route E65 in Corinth and make a stop on the canal. Arrive in Athens late in the afternoon. Dinner and overnight in Athens.

Day 11| Athens
Breakfast and then transfer to the airport for your international departure.

Budget

**Rates published on this website are for information purposes only and are not legally binding (since departure dates are not given). Prices on this website are known to fluctuate frequently in relation to changes in currencies and hotel pricing. In order to obtain a definite quote, please click here.

Other fees

Lodging

The Greek Shores
Greece boasts 16,000 km of coastline evenly split between its thousands of islands and the mainland. The Greek shores offer exceptionally diverse landscapes: long, clean beaches, sheltered bays and small coves, sandy beaches lined with dunes, pebble beaches, rocky peaks towering over underwater caves, black sand beaches typical of volcanic soil, coastal wetlands, etc. The diversity of these shores combined with the crystal clear waters that surround them have made the world-famous Greek islands extremely popular. In 2004, 378 Greek beaches and 7 marinas were awarded the blue flag under the “Blue Flags of Europe” program, placing Greece among Europe’s best.
The Greek shores are easily accessible and you can discover these in complete freedom, usually with few other swimmers around. There are also dozens of beaches offering a number of quality services, including parasols, chairs, changing rooms, cafés, bars, restaurants, etc.
Apart from swimming, many other water sports are available, including water skiing, windsurfing, scuba diving, parasailing (solo or duo), tubing, banana boating, jet skiing, pedal boating, etc. Many developed beaches have lifeguards on duty to ensure the safety of swimmers in the surrounding waters.

4-Star Supplement
Prices for the above program are based on 3-Star accommodation. Please note that for those looking for a little extra comfort, it is possible to follow this itinerary while staying in higher-end 4-Star accommodation. Should you choose this option, you will be staying at the following hotels (subject to availability):

Athens: Hotel Herodion www.herodion.com
Nafplion area: Hotel Ippoliti www.ippoliti.gr
Monemvasia: New Malvasia Hotel
Aeropoli: Ktima Karageorgou Hotel
Olympia: Hotel Europa www.hoteleuropa.gr/fr/index.html

Overview

Greece boasts 16,000 km of coastline evenly split between its thousands of islands and the mainland. The Greek shores offer exceptionally diverse landscapes: long, clean beaches, sheltered bays and small coves, sandy beaches lined with dunes, pebble beaches, rocky peaks towering over underwater caves, black sand beaches typical of volcanic soil, coastal wetlands, etc. The diversity of these shores combined with the crystal clear waters that surround them have made the world-famous Greek islands extremely popular. In 2004, 378 Greek beaches and 7 marinas were awarded the blue flag under the “Blue Flags of Europe” program, placing Greece among Europe’s best.
The Greek shores are easily accessible and you can discover these in complete freedom, usually with few other swimmers around. There are also dozens of beaches offering a number of quality services, including parasols, chairs, changing rooms, cafés, bars, restaurants, etc.
Apart from swimming, many other water sports are available, including water skiing, windsurfing, scuba diving, parasailing (solo or duo), tubing, banana boating, jet skiing, pedal boating, etc.


The islands...
In the Aegean sea, little white houses bask in a bright and warm sun, surrounded by crystal clear waters: welcome to the Cyclades! The Greek islands are probably the country’s most famous asset. They are an integral part of society and have shaped its culture and traditions.
There are 6,000 islands and islets scattered between the Aegean and Ionian seas, only 227 of which are inhabited, a phenomenon unique in all of Europe. The Greek islands boast 7,500 km of shores, for a national total of 16,000 km. These shores display exceptionally diverse landscapes: long, clean beaches, sheltered bays and small coves, sandy beaches lined with dunes, pebble beaches, rocky peaks towering over underwater caves, black sand beaches typical of volcanic soil, coastal wetlands, etc.
Many beaches have received awards from the Blue Flags of Europe program. Apart from swimming, they lend themselves to scuba diving, snorkeling, water skiing, sailing and windsurfing. As they represent the cradle of some of the most ancient and prosperous European civilizations (the Cycladic, Minoan civilizations, etc.), the islands boast unique archaeological sites, an outstanding architectural heritage, and centuries-old, fascinating local traditions of a multifaceted cultural past. It’s not surprising then that 58.5% of the country’s lodging establishments and 62.6% of hotel beds are found on the islands (data for 2003). All the above, combined with the ideal climate, the safety of Greek waters and the short distances between ports and coasts, have made these islands extremely popular among Greek and foreign visitors.

Geography

Greece is a mountainous country, with more than 300 mountains of varying sizes on its territory. The Pindus Mountains, often called the “spine of Greece”, form the country’s main mountain range, extending from the mainland down to the Peloponnese and Crete. Most Greek islands are actually the peaks of the underwater Aegean mountains that long ago connected Greece with continental Asia. The country’s highest mountain is the mythical Mount Olympus in Macedonia, where Mytikas peak culminates at 2917 m. Some 40 mountainous areas spread across the country have peaks rising over 2,000 meters. The Greek mountains are characterized by their diversity, their unique landscape and their exceptional forests, some of which are among Europe’s oldest natural forests. To help protect their unparalleled natural wealth (flora and fauna), many of these forests are classified as natural reserves.

Culture

Greece is filled with prestigious archeological sites and charming monuments rich in history, each a reminder of a specific period in this country’s long and impressive history. Visitors have the opportunity to make a unique journey into Greece’s past and discover its historical and cultural wealth, each of the country’s regions bearing a local reminder of one of this ancient civilization’s many facets.

The following archeological and cultural sites are on UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Sites:

• Mount Athos (monastery complex)
• Athens (Acropolis)
• Bassae (temple of Apollo Epicurus)
• Vergina - Aigai
• Delphi (archeological site)
• Delos (archeological site)
• Epidaurus (archeological site)
• Paleochristian and Byzantine monuments in Thessalonika
• Meteora monasteries
• Mystras (medieval town)
• Monasteries of Dafni (Attica), Hosios Loukas (Phocida) and Nea Moni of Chios
• Archeological sites of Mycenae and Tiryns
• Olympia (archeological site)
• Patmos (Saint-John monastery and cave of the Apocalypse)
• Medieval city of Rhodes
• Samos (Pythagoreion and Heraion)

Climate

The climate in Greece is Mediterranean, which means plenty of sunshine, little rain, and warm temperatures. Thanks to its geographical location, mountainous terrain, and a territory split between the sea and the mainland, Greece’s climate varies considerably as one travels from one place to another. In the summer, the Meltelmi winds bring a breath of fresh air on the warmer days, while the temperatures remain lower in the mountainous areas. In the plains, winters are fair with little snowfall, while the mountains receive their fair share of snow. Temperature variations within the same season are frequent (for example, coastal temperatures are warm while it’s very cold in the mountains).

When to sail?

April/May/mid-June:
Spring in the islands offers lots of sunshine. The flowers are in bloom and the air full of Mediterranean fragrances. Moderate winds and a warm breeze mean the conditions are right for family sailing. The sea is still cold in April, but once May rolls in the water becomes more inviting.




Mid-June/July/August:
Warm and dry summer, more demanding sailing conditions due to Northern winds: the Meltemi. Enjoy fine evenings and refreshing sunsets as you drop anchor in a warm and lively port in the Cyclades.

September/October:
“A lovely autumn that doesn’t fear winter”. After summer, things calm down. Winds become moderate. The days get shorter, but the sunsets are more beautiful. Having been warmed by the sun all summer long, the water temperature is ideal. Smooth sailing and fair weather for those who dread the summer heat.