DAY 1: Athens – Corinth Canal – Epidaurus – Nafplio – Mycenae
Meet your driver/guide at your hotel or Athens Airport and hop on your private vehicle from your location without wasting time picking up unknown people. Begin the drive towards the famous and mythical Peloponnese region.
We drive along the Attica coastline and make a quick stop at the famous Canal of Corinth which connects the Saronic to the Corinthian gulf. Walk on the bridge and enjoy a view from 80m height above sea level and the 6km length of the canal. The next stop is the 4th century BC Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus, famous for its acoustics. We continue to one of the most beautiful towns of Greece, Nafplio. We visit its Palamidi castle and walk the 999 steps to enjoy amazing views of the port and ‘’Bourtzi’’; a small isle that was used as a prison by the Venetians. Following our amazing lunch & drinks (included), we head for the famous ancient town of Mycenae with its Archaeological site, the museum, the Lion Gate, the Cyclopean Walls, the Palace, and finally the tomb of Agamemnon.
After leaving Mycenae behind us we will arrive at our surprise overnight location ready to approach & explore the birthplace of the Olympic Games the next morning.
DAY 2: Ancient Olympia – Nafpaktos – Galaxidi town – Delphi (overnight)
Olympia is a small town on the west side of the Peloponnese peninsula famous for the nearby archaeological site of the same name. Enjoy breakfast in your hotel and then we visit this major religious sanctuary of ancient Greece, where the ancient Olympic Games were held. The site was primarily dedicated to Zeus and drew visitors from all over the Greek world which helped to build the identity of the ancient Greeks as a nation. Despite the name, it is nowhere near Mount Olympus in northern Greece, where the Twelve Olympians, the major deities of Ancient Greek religion, were believed to live.
The archaeological site held over 70 significant buildings, and ruins of many of these survived, although the main Temple of Zeus survives only as stones on the ground. You can walk through the impressive ruins of the area where athletes trained and ran in the ancient stadium; just as the ancient Olympians did after their victory 3,000 years ago. In front of the Temple of Hera burns the Olympic Flame during the modern-day Olympic Games. Tour the monuments of the archaeological site, including the former gymnasium and Palaestra (where athletes practiced before competing), stadium, hotel & crypt. Let your imagination run to the times when Greece’s finest athletes strove to honor the gods through the Olympic ideal.
We depart from Olympia after lunch and will cross over the amazing bridge of Rio – Antirio (and Rio Castle), in order to leave behind the Peloponnese region and reach Nafpaktos town for a coffee break next to the Venetian Port and possibly lunch too depending on our timing. We will depart from Nafpaktos aiming to reach Delphi in the late afternoon giving time to enjoy the area even before the next day’s explorations. Should you book early enough we can arrange a surprise location and accommodation less touristy than the obvious hotels of Delphi!
DAY 3: Delphi – Hosios Loukas Monastery – Athens
After breakfast, we visit and explore the classical treasures, theater, museum, and ancient ruins of Delphi best known for the oracle at the sanctuary that was dedicated to Apollo. You see the Stadium, the Ancient Theatre which can host more than 5,000 spectators, the Stadium, and of course the Museum of Delphi, with the bronze statue of the ‘’Charioteer’’. Delphi is perhaps during the classical period. We will also be visiting the 2nd Delphi site of “Athina Pronaia”.
Our lunch will be at a totally off-the-beaten-path location avoiding touristy Delphi and Arachova.
On the way to the Hosios Loukas monastery, we stop to enjoy the scenic Arachova village which is at the top of a cliff on the side of Mt Parnassus. This beautiful and peaceful monastery is located in a great location with excellent views. A 1,000 years old monument preserved to perfection is still active with its monks and also people using it for normal church services but also baptisms and weddings!
After exploring the Hosios Loukas monastery, we drive back to Athens. You will be dropped off directly at your hotel, Airbnb, or even cruise ship.
☼ Totally private tour. No last-minute cancellations; no endless pickup and drop off of strangers. Stop anytime, anywhere; non-touristy itinerary.
☼ Hotel/Airbnb/cruise ship pickup and drop-off.
☼ Non-smoking vehicle and driver/tour leader.
☼ Two-night accommodation (including breakfast), all arranged at awesome stone-built guesthouses and luxurious countryside hotels. It is based on double or triple occupancy depending on your group/family. Contact us if in doubt.
☼ Lunch & drinks are also included on all 3 days and at selected locations. You might discover that this is a food tour that is included … in the tour!
☼ Each person is allowed one normal-size suitcase and a small carry-on bag.
☼ Full and detailed itinerary of the trip.
☼ In-car bottled water & information booklet.
☼ Evenings out transport if needed.
☼ Flexible itinerary.
☼ Optional: Vegetarian lunch can be arranged in most cases. Please let us know in advance.
☼ Pickup and drop-off in areas outside of Athens or Piraeus port.
☼ Excess luggage is not allowed.
☼ Shopping stops (unless specifically requested).
☼ Entrance fees to the sites are Mycenae and Epidaurus at 12 EUR/each, Olympia 12 EUR, Delphi 12 EUR, Meteora monasteries 3 EUR/each.
☼ Dinners and personal expenses.
☼ PROFESSIONAL/LICENSED GUIDE (available on request).
☼ Gratuities (optional).
From your Athens hotel, airbnb, cruise ship (Piraeus port) or a pre-arranged meeting point very close to your location.
For other starting locations please contact us.
If you are looking into exploring more great sites, mix with less touristy but authentic locations and stay out of Athens as much as possible, take a moment to consider these tours:
☼ The 5-Day Peloponnese: Corinth, Mycenae, Nafplio, Epidavros, Monemvasia, Mani, Sparta, Mystras, Olympia, Arcadia tour
☼ The Ultimate Greek Experience: 7-Day Tour to Real Greece of the Mythical Peloponnese, Unique Locations, Food & Drink, plus Delphi and Meteora
Both are very popular tours that include a great mix for well-traveled visitors.
Please contact us for more details or if you have questions to ask.
☼ All our tours include lunch and drinks and all multiday tours include quality accommodation. Professional guide, dinner (on multiday tours), and tickets to the sites are not included. You can read more about why we have these inclusions and exclusions.
☼ Children must be accompanied by an adult.
☼ Due to uneven surfaces, this tour is not suitable for people with walking disabilities or using a wheelchair.
☼ We are flexible and the duration of the tour is flexible, so there is no rushing during the tour except when there are specific restrictions (like not to miss the closing time of the sites during off-season).
☼ If our agency cancels due to bad weather or any other extreme last-minute situation, you will be given the option of an alternative date or a full refund.
‘Eudaimonia’ is the trading name of Eudaimonia Private Tours of Greece, a tour provider officially registered under the Greek National Tourism Organization with business license number: 1245E70000044101. The ‘client’ or ‘customer’ is the person or persons who have made a confirmed booking with Eudaimonia.
CANCELLATION POLICY FOR TOURS AND SERVICES
(A) Cancellation Policy for the day or half-day tours or transfers:
☼ Cancellations made greater than 40 days prior to the scheduled tour date will be fully refunded minus expenses and/or services fees.
☼ Cancellations made between 30 to 40 days prior to the scheduled tour date will be refunded 80% of the agreed total tour fee.
☼ Cancellations made between 20 to 5 days prior to the scheduled tour date will be refunded 50% of the agreed total tour fee.
☼ Cancellations made 5 days prior to the scheduled tour date will incur a 100% charge.
Additionally to the above but after the 40-day full refund period, all of Eudaimonia’s expenses agreed upon through the email exchange of communication concerning the day or half-day tours or transfers, such as site tickets or train tickets or bookings for the client (train/ boat tickets, wine tasting, restaurants, etc) will be deducted from the amount to be refunded.
Finally, a service fee of 8% (of the total amount agreed) will also be deducted from any refundable amount including the 40-day full refund case. This corresponds to the time spent on the client’s booking.
(B) Cancellation Policy for multi-day tours:
☼ Cancellations made greater than 60 days prior to the scheduled tour date will be fully refunded minus expenses and/or services fees as mentioned below.
☼ Cancellations made between 60 to 30 days prior to the scheduled tour date will be refunded 80% of the agreed total tour fee minus expenses and/or services fees.
☼ Cancellations made between 30 to 20 days prior to the scheduled tour date will be refunded 50% of the agreed total tour fee minus expenses and/or services fees.
☼ Cancellations made 20 days prior to the scheduled tour date will incur a 100% charge.
Additionally to the above but after the 60-day full refund period, all of Eudaimonia’s expenses agreed upon through the email exchange of communication concerning any multiday tour, such as site tickets, train tickets, hotels booked for the client, and other bookings (like wine tasting, restaurants, etc), will be deducted from any amount to be refunded after the initial 60-day full refund period. This will be an amount of 25%-30% of the total tour cost.
Finally, a service fee of 15% of the total amount agreed will also be deducted from any refundable amount including the 60-day full refund case. This corresponds to the time spent on the client’s booking.
(C) Special client-specific arrangements/agreements:
It is possible that there will be client-specific payments & bookings (full or partial) agreed upon through e-mail communication mentioned -for example- as “non-refundable”. Then, these client-specific agreements will precede any other interpretations made from this cancellation policy, and it is only at Eudaimonia’s discretion to refund fully, partly, or not at all, even under certain conditions including “Force Majeure”. Therefore, it is the specific written (email) agreement between each client and Eudaimonia that can only precede this main cancellation policy -if it is different- and determines the agreed cancellation policy for each client.
D) Other issues:
Eudaimonia reserves the right to make subtle changes to tour itineraries. Eudaimonia reserves the right to substitute vehicles and/or drivers should they arise. Eudaimonia reserves the right to change or cancel your booking in accordance with operating requirements or circumstances beyond its control. Should change and/or cancellation prove necessary we will give you reasonable notice thereof, in the circumstances, & where available, offer you a comparable alternative. If an alternative is not available or acceptable you will be entitled to either a full refund or monies paid by you to us or you can transfer to another Eudaimonia tour without payment of any transfer fee.
Eudaimonia encourages all clients to communicate as early as possible concerning cancellation issues which can allow the agency to offer a better refund – partial or full- to a client despite the standard policy described in this document. This is a decision to be made entirely by Eudaimonia in an effort to better serve the client.
Eudaimonia itineraries are flexible, and if possible, the requirements of clients will be facilitated. Eudaimonia reserves the right to vary, modify or cancel any itinerary, either partly or wholly. Itineraries published are sample itineraries only and may be amended without notice. Eudaimonia also reserves the right to use alternative vehicles to those advertised.
Eudaimonia is not responsible for the costs of any other travel arrangements affected due to our cancellations or rescheduling of any tour departure.
Dietary requirements must be requested from clients and forwarded at the time of booking or at least one week before the tour.
Bookings can only be used by the client/s to whom the booking was initially arranged; no other person can use the booking in any circumstances.
The client may also be asked to produce a valid photo or/and passport number identification.
Eudaimonia strongly recommends that the client purchases travel insurance.
VALIDITY & DISPUTES
Any disputes will be resolved by the Greek legal system and its laws without the need for any arbitration.
The Client agrees to all the above when booking any of Eudaimonia’s tours and services.
