Best of Greece: 7-Day Tour to Real Greece of the Peloponnese, Delphi and Meteora, Unique Locations plus Authentic Food & Drink
€6,900
The Peloponesse, Delphi, and Meteora tour is for the experienced traveler who can easily leave behind the feel of the safety and easy solution of the big noisy city (Athens) for the magic of real Greece and an experience not to ever forget.
Privately, you explore the best of Greece the way locals only do. Staying from an ancient castle to a modern gorgeous resort to a mountainside boutique treasure, all with views to die for. This tour is made to exceed your expectations. Here is a quick overview list of places to Google/research before making up your mind.
☼ Corinth Canal, Mycenae, Nafplio town, Epidaurus, and optionally Ancient Corinth.
☼ Monemvasia castle. A medieval castle town located on a small island linked to the mainland by a short causeway.
☼ Mani peninsula; a dramatic coastline of sleepy fishing coves and fortified villages plus Diros Caves (optional) or abandoned Vatheioa village with amazing views.
☼ Mystras Byzantine Castletown & Sparta of King Leonidas and his 300 warriors. The Olive & Olive Oil Museum in Sparta (optional).
☼ The Cave of Lakes and the Odontotos rack railway. Rion’s largest suspended bridge and Galaxidi town.
☼ The Archaeological Site and Museum of Delphi with its famous Oracle.
☼ Meteora Monasteries.
Like all our multiday tours, this real Greek experience has an authentic and very flexible itinerary and is best suited for flexible people too. We can adjust and even add locations depending on your pace and good communication. So, do let us know as much as possible about yourselves (likes/dislikes, etc) and we’ll make this tour a great experience!
Duration: 7 days – 6 nights Language: English Departure: 8:00 a.m. from Athens
You can book this private tour of the Peloponesse, Delphi, and Meteora tour online now. The pricing shown is for 1 or 2 people (not per person).
For more pricing details & options please see the “Pricing” tab below or Contact Us to get a quote for more than two people. And … don’t forget to select the tour “Start Date” before “Adding to the cart”!
Ideal tour for those looking to visit some amazing sites without wasting time driving in & out of Athens, but instead overnight & enjoy beautiful, authentic “Greek” locations like Sparta & Mystras, Monemvasia, Nafplio town, and Dimitsana village. All with great accommodation that you can’t experience in the big cities. For up to 7 (related only) people but we can do bigger groups too as long as you are related.
DAY 1: Corinth Canal – Mycenae – Nafplio – Epidaurus
At your hotel, meet your private driver/tour leader for your 8:00 a.m. departure. On a short trip of no more than 1 hour, you enter the Mythical Peloponnese through the Corinth Canal for this “real Greece” experience.
Nafplio town – Sunset from Palamidi Fortress
The Corinth Canal is the first stop and then on to MYCENAE home to some of Greece’s most famous ancient ruins. Wander around the site & museum before hopping back in the vehicle and exploring the “old town” of NAFPLIO, the famous Venetian fortress of Palamidi with its 999 steps. Then head to EPIDAURUS, home to an ancient, beautifully preserved theater. Overnight at probably the most beautiful Greek town, Nafplio.
You can optionally add Ancient Corinth to the itinerary of Day 1 and/or the walk down the 999 steps enjoying the most amazing views.
Optional extra day: Hydra Island [Our -in advance- apologies for the several suggestions and options but the Peloponnese is simply limitless]
After a quick 1 hour drive from Nafplio town, we arrive at the beautiful peninsula village of Ermioni (or Metochi pier) to catch the boat to Hydra. This is a lovely, easy, and quick 25-minute ride (each way) from the Peloponnese mainland to take you to Hydra Island and back. Note: This area of Ermioni, Hydra & Spetses islands, Portoheli, is a hidden gem that Greeks only explore, and which the rich & famous residents from all over the world try to hide even more to preserve the family holiday style.
Hydra is a very historic and cosmopolitan island but also the most relaxing Greek island. There are no cars and no noise, but it is still extremely popular and “real Greek,” unlike places like Mykonos or Santorini! Explore on foot and enjoy the views, the water, the coastline, and the beautiful narrow cobblestone streets, doors, windows, and houses. [Depending on the time of year and available time, you could consider this boat round trip.]
Adding Hydra to your itinerary means you will spend two nights (instead of one) in beautiful Nafplio town!
DAY 2: Monemvasia Castletown via the Coastline & Parnon’s Mountain Range of East Peloponnese
Starting from Nafplio, our destination is Monemvasia, but -should you agree- taking not the fast/shorter motorway route but exploring the glorious coastline of the East Peloponnese before climbing up the mountain range with several stops and lunch on the way. Late afternoon and the evening are dedicated to the Monemvasia castle, where you will spend the night (if you book early enough to secure one of the great guesthouses) enjoying the magic atmosphere, the views of the castle, and the water, plus food & drink. MONEMVASIA town/castle is on a small island linked to the mainland by a short causeway. The town walls and many Byzantine churches remain from the medieval period. If you don’t make a last-minute booking, you will most likely be accommodated inside the atmospheric Monemvasia castle town.
Leaving behind Monemvasia, there will be a long, great day on the MANI Peninsula, one of Greece’s wildest and most beautiful areas—a dramatic coastline of sleepy fishing coves and fortified villages like the beautiful Oitilo, Gerolimenas & Limeni.
The amazing DIROS caves that you will optionally explore with a guide and a boat. Alternatively, you can skip the caves and opt for more exploring of the Mani landscape as far as Vatheia, a small settlement of stone towers and abandoned houses that became a ghost village. Still, in recent years, it has become one of the must-see destinations in the Mani Peninsula. Next is lunch in one of the stone-built villages where Pirates were a permanent threat.
Next is SPARTA, the ancient rival of Athens known for its fierce warriors! Wandering around the town of MYSTRAS, the town of Byzantine Castle, is probably the highlight of the day. Wandering around the town of MYSTRAS, the town of Byzantine Castle, is perhaps the highlight of the day. Mystras, the best-preserved example of a medieval walled town in the Greek region, is today a standing ghost city that fascinates the visitor with its castle, churches, and the palatial complex of the ruling Byzantine dynasty, bearing witness to its bygone greatness.
Overnight at lively Sparta or Mystras.
DAY 4
Option 1: Ancient Olympia and finish at the mountain villages of Arcadia
Breakfast and a morning visit to Sparta for the statue of King Leonidas and his famous 300 warriors. Then, a 1h.30′ drive to ancient OLYMPIA to walk through the impressive ruins of the area where athletes trained and ran in the old stadium, just as ancient Olympians did after victory 3,000 years ago. See the temple of Hera and some unbelievable sculptures, such as the statue of Zeus and the Hermes of Praxiteles. The city has the rare advantage of not being destroyed or covered by later settlements. Ruins that have withstood the test of time and remain standing for travelers to marvel at.
Next, we carry on towards the Arcadia mountain range past Lagadia, the hometown of the best stone builders in Greece to end up in the mountain air and the view of Lousios gorge from DIMITSANA & STEMNITSA villages at 3,000 ft altitude. We overnight in a great stone-built guesthouse and explore the beautiful village before or after dinner.
This is a location where you can optionally consider spending an extra day and night to relax and also explore the villages and cliff-hanging monasteries locally.
Option 2: Ancient Messene (not Mycenae!) and finish at the mountain villages of Arcadia
In size, form, and preservation, Messene is one of the most important cities of antiquity and one that still has a great deal to offer. It boasts not only religious and public buildings but also imposing fortifications, houses, and funerary monuments.
From the spectacular remains uncovered through excavation – mainly in the last thirty years or so – it has become clear that Messene prospered and thrived until well into the Roman period.
The city has the rare advantage of not having been destroyed or covered by later settlements and of being situated in an untouched Mediterranean natural environment. This landscape combines the mountainous majesty of Delphi and the lowland riverine tranquillity of Olympia.
Yes, we can all agree that the alternative (option 1) is “Ancient Olympia” and a must-visit. However, for some, Ancient Messene is -maybe- only second best to the Acropolis and the Parthenon. But it is still even better for the visitor because of the size and the numerous findings! It is simply not so well-known and visited because of its remote location, which is not an issue for this multi-day tour! The additional cost for the extra travel depends on the number of people, but is typically 120 EUR for two people.
Optional extra/relax day: Arcadia mountain village
The Arcadia mountain villages where you overnight on day 4 (halfway of this tour) are an ideal location if you like to spend an extra night (and day) and still explore locally, since there is a lot to see, plus it is a great location and accommodation. The additional cost depends on the number of people.
DAY 5: Cave of Lakes, Kalavrita Mountain Village for the Odontotos Rack railway, Rion Bridge, and Delphi
Normally, we will start with breakfast in the mountain air and the view of the Lousios Gorge before driving and crossing the mountains to visit the CAVE OF LAKES. We will then lunch at a village on the top of the mountain range before boarding the ODONTOTOS rack railway from the top of the mountain and through the gorge to the coastline. We will then return to the car to cross the Rio-Antirio huge bridge over the Corinthian Gulf and approach Delphi, ready to explore the next day. Lunch in the mountains will be a great experience.
Before riding the train, you will enjoy an amazing lunch at a unique location. No fixed menu! Authentic Greek food, location, and people away from the tourist traps.
When we meet again at the end of the train route (55 min), we will be driving to cross the impressive Rion bridge -leaving the Peloponnese- and approaching Delphi for yet another great overnight location away from the tourist traps of the area around Delphi, ready to explore the next morning. Overnight at a surprise location to avoid the tourist traps of the Delphi area.
DAY 6: Delphi archeological site & museum
The Archaeological Site & Museum of DELPHI, one of the most important in Greece, exhibits the history of the Delphic sanctuary with the most famous ancient Greek oracle. Its rich collections are comprised primarily of architectural sculptures, statues, and minor objects donated to the sanctuary. These reflect its religious, political, and artistic activities from its early years in the eighth century BC to its decline in Late Antiquity.
Again, great lunch on the way to METEORA. If there are no unexpected delays, and although not part of the normal itinerary, we shall make the first visit to the amazing monasteries’ area to get a feeling of the amazing landscape with the sun setting down. Time permitting it may be possible to even visit one of the monasteries. Totally different lighting than the morning visit to follow the next day!
DAY 7: Meteora monasteries & Thermopylae
METEORA (“suspended in the air”) was the hiding spot for the monks from the Romans. We explore two (or 3) amazing monasteries depending on your fitness and timing. We drive around the Meteora maze finding different spots to take photos and enjoy the amazing views. On the way back to Athens we stop for a great lunch & drinks always under the guidance of your tour leader.
☼ Hotel/Airbnb pickup and drop-off [within a 4 Km radius from the center of Athens/Syntagma Square].
☼ Private driver/guide.
☼ Non-smoking vehicle and driver.
☼ Six-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 is also included on all 7 days and at selected locations. You might discover that this is a food tour that is included … within the tour!
☼ Each person is allowed one normal-sized suitcase and a small carry-on bag.
☼ Full and detailed itinerary of the trip.
☼ In-car bottled water & information booklet.
☼ Evenings out transport.
☼ Flexible itinerary.
☼ Free online consultation for all aspects of your planning and staying in Greece from the first moment you book the trip or any other day or multi-day trip of Eudaimonia. We will answer all your questions based on our insider knowledge and experience (best location to stay, eating out, safety, tips, dos & don’ts, etc).
☼ Optional: Vegetarian lunch can be arranged in most cases. Please let us know in advance.
☼ Excess luggage is not allowed.
☼ Airport or port pickup or drop-off is subject to additional costs depending on the number of people.
☼ Entrance to the sites.
☼ Included lunch: Seafood or fish is excluded due to variable pricing. Fresh fish is available to enjoy independently at waterfront locations in the evening.
The pricing shown for this tour is €6,900, which is the total for 2 (two) people and includes the sites mentioned in the itinerary plus accommodation/breakfast and lunch/drinks.
Discounted pricing: We offer alternative payment methods (family rates, solo travelers, small booking payments, pay on the day of the tour, etc.). Please get in touch with us for the best rate based on your payment method, number of people, and age.
PS. Payments made by PayPal are subject to an additional cost of 6% (the approximate fee that PayPal charges on all transactions), and payments by Amex are subject to an additional 2.80%—3%, which the client must pay to Eudaimonia on the day of the booked tour. There is no extra charge if you pay by any other regular credit card with a typical 2.8% fee (but not business, cash back, or rewards cards, etc.).
From your Athens hotel, Airbnb, cruise ship (Piraeus port), Nafplio, or a pre-arranged meeting point very near to your location. For other starting locations please contact us.
Many thanks to Rocher Bros for the great video footage of the amazing Meteora monasteries, and to Around the Rings for the Ancient Olympia ceremony video.
METEORA MONASTERIES
THE ANCIENT THEATER OF EPIDAURUS
NAFPLIO OLD TOWN & PALAMIDI FORTRESS (999 STEPS)
MONEMVASIA CASTLE
THE ORACLE OF DELPHI
ANCIENT OLYMPIA FLAME CEREMONY FOR TOKYO 2020 ... 21!
These are reminders and additions to things you have already read in other sections.
All our tours include lunch and drinks, and all multi-day tours include quality accommodation. Professional guide, dinner (on multi-day tours), and all kinds of tickets (sites, trains, boats, etc) are not included. You can read more about “What is included & excluded in our tours and why!” from our FAQs-not-4-DUMMIES.
☼ To keep our vehicles fresh and comfortable, we ask that guests avoid eating or drinking (except water). Water is always available, and we’ll stop along the way as needed if you need to snack.
☼ Fish and seafood are not included in our budget, as their costs cannot be estimated with sufficient accuracy in advance. Pescatarian guests are invited to enjoy our delicious vegetarian cuisine during the tour. In the evenings, we’ll recommend the best spots for fresh seafood so you can experience it at your leisure. Got allergies, several restrictions, or foods you don’t enjoy? Tell us in advance, and we’ll do our best to please you!
☼ After you book, we will ask for some of the following: any food allergies, a single passport number (required by local authorities), names of all passengers, luggage details, pickup/drop-off locations, and a WhatsApp number, which is very helpful during the tour.
☼ Luggage is typically not included on day tours. In other situations (multi-day tours or transfers), we expect a maximum of one checked bag per person [65x40x25 cm or 26x16x10 inches] and a carry-on or backpack. We do not allow luggage on the vehicle’s seats or in your laps to protect both our passengers and our vehicles. If you have additional luggage, please let us know in advance. We can arrange for a larger vehicle or help you store part of it. We may have to cancel if you … surprise us!
☼ If you are too tall or heavy, we need to know in advance! If we have advance notice, we can arrange the appropriate vehicle. Please use 225 lbs (105 Kg) as the maximum weight you need to inform us of. If in doubt, please let us know your weight and height before you book, and we’ll get back to you. It’s not a personal question, but for your own comfort! We can use a larger vehicle if we have advance notice.
☼ An adult must always accompany children (minimum age is 8 years). Please let us know if anyone gets car sick! Greece is not flat!
☼ Due to uneven surfaces, most tours are not suitable for people with mobility impairments or wheelchair users. We apologize for this, but if the sites don’t or can’t accommodate people with mobility issues, we can’t help.
☼ We are flexible on tour duration, so there is no rush during the tour. We also expect you to be reasonable and respect your driver/tour leader’s efforts. Sometimes there are specific restrictions (like not missing the sites’ closing times during the off-season or catching a train, boat, etc.) which will “dictate” our itinerary/timing and require your full cooperation!
‘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, TRANSFERS AND SERVICES
(a) Cancellation Policy for day tours, half-day tours, and transfers:
☼ Cancellations made greater than 60 days before the scheduled tour date will be fully refunded minus service fees, as mentioned below.
☼ Cancellations made between 60 to 30 days before the scheduled tour date will be refunded 75% of the agreed total tour fee minus service fees.
☼ Cancellations made between 30 to 7 days before the scheduled tour date will be refunded 50% of the agreed total tour fee minus service fees.
☼ Cancellations made 7 days or less before the scheduled tour date will incur a 100% charge.
EXPENSES: In addition to the above, but only after the 60-day full refund period, all of Eudaimonia’s expenses agreed upon through the email exchange of communication concerning or are part of the day or half-day tours or transfers, such as site tickets, train/boat tickets, or any other bookings for the client (wine tasting, restaurants, etc.), will be deducted from the amount to be refunded.
SERVICE FEE: Finally, a service fee of 9% (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.
(b) Cancellation Policy for multi-day tours (at least one night stay/overnight or more):
☼ Cancellations made greater than 90 days before the scheduled tour date will be fully refunded minus expenses and services fees, as mentioned below.
☼ Cancellations made between 90 to 60 days before the scheduled tour date will be refunded 75% of the agreed total tour fee minus expenses and services fees.
☼ Cancellations made between 60 to 30 days before the scheduled tour date will be refunded 50% of the agreed total tour fee minus expenses and services fees.
☼ Cancellations made 30 days before the scheduled tour date will incur a 100% charge.
EXPENSES: Additionally to the above, but only after the 90-day full refund period, all of Eudaimonia’s expenses agreed upon through the email exchange of communication concerning or are part of any multiday tour, such as site tickets, train/boat tickets, hotels booked for the client, or any other bookings (wine tasting, restaurants, etc), will be deducted from any amount to be refunded. This will be an amount of approximately 25%-30% of the total tour cost.
SERVICE FEE: Finally, a service fee of 18% of the total amount agreed will also be deducted from any refundable amount including the 90-day full refund case. This corresponds to the time spent on the client’s booking.
(c) Special client-specific arrangements/agreements & cancellation policy:
There may be client-specific payments & bookings (full or partial) agreed upon through e-mail communication mentioned -for example- as “non-refundable” or different from the main cancellation policy “refund dates”. Then, these client-specific agreements will precede any other interpretations made from this main cancellation policy. 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 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 without any penalties beyond offering a full refund. Should change and/or cancellation prove necessary we will give you -if possible- reasonable notice & where available, offer you a comparable alternative. If an alternative is not available or acceptable you will be entitled to a full refund.
Eudaimonia encourages all clients to communicate as early as possible concerning cancellation issues which could allow the agency to offer a better refund – partial or full- to a client despite the standard cancellation policy described in this document. This is a decision not to be discussed with or disputed by the client and will be made entirely by Eudaimonia to better serve the client if it is possible.
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.
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 will be asked to produce a valid photo and/or passport number identification.
(e) Force Majeure
It is only at Eudaimonia’s discretion to refund fully, partly, or not at all if a customer cancels under certain conditions including even “Force Majeure”. Eudaimonia strongly recommends that the client purchase travel insurance.
The Client agrees to all the above when booking any of Eudaimonia’s tours and services.
