For some, this is the most underrated site but also one of the best sites only second to the Acropolis of Athens. This is the trip’s itinerary:
Corinth Canal
The Corinth Canal connects the Gulf of Corinth with the Saronic Gulf in the Aegean Sea. It cuts through the narrow Isthmus (canal) of Corinth and separates the Peloponnese from the Greek mainland, arguably making the peninsula an island.
Ancient Messene
Next, we head for Ancient Messene. The city has the rare advantage of not having been destroyed or covered by later settlements. This landscape combines the mountainous majesty of Delphi and the lowland riverine tranquillity of Olympia, with the looming bare limestone mass of Mt Ithome and its acropolis, and the low, fertile valley around the ancient city.
Ancient Messene was founded in 369 BC by the Theban general Epaminondas (after the Battle of Leuctra in 371 BC, which resulted in Spartan defeat and the establishment of the Theban Hegemony). It became the capital of the free Messenian state following a long period (about four centuries) of occupation of the Messenian territory by the Spartans. The foundation of the city of Messene marked the end of Spartan dominion. The city became the political, economic, social, religious, and artistic center of the free Messenians, who in the previous centuries had been reduced to the status of helots or perioikoi under the Spartan yoke.
Messenia, the southwest region of the Peloponnese was, in Archaic and Classical times, under the control of Sparta. It was where the famous helots lived, the native population who the Spartans had reduced to a slave-like status, and who were forced to farm the land so that the Spartan citizens could devote their lives to full-time military pursuits. In the early 4th century B.C. that situation changed when Sparta experienced a series of catastrophic military defeats by Thebes. The Thebans, under their talented general Epaminondas, liberated Messenia and helped the people of the region find a new city to hold Sparta in check and prevent any resurgence of her power. Elite Messenian refugees, living in exile in other parts of the Greek world, also flocked back to Greece to take part in building this new city.
The city lies at the southern foot of Mount Ithome, a point of key strategic importance, described by some ancient authors together with Acrocorinth as being like the horns of a bull – whoever controlled both controlled the entire Peloponnese.
You will explore at your own pace and when ready your tour leader will treat you to a great lunch & drinks before heading back to your Athens accommodation but with a couple of stops to stretch and have a drink.
☼ Private tour.
☼ Hotel, airport, Airbnb, or cruise ship pickup and drop-off.
☼ Private driver/guide.
☼ Non-smoking vehicle and driver.
☼ Lunch & drinks, of course, are included with no limits or fixed menu.
☼ Vegetarian options are available.
☼ Each person is allowed a small carry-on bag.
☼ Complete and detailed itinerary of the trip.
☼ In-car, bottled water & information booklet.
☼ Flexible itinerary.
☼ Excess luggage not allowed.
☼ Entrance to the sites.
☼ Shopping/touristy stops unless specifically required.
☼ Gratuities (optional).
Total pricing for 2 people is €595 (not per person). If you are a solo traveler, we will provide a small discount.
For larger groups of up to 11 (or even more) related only people (couples, groups of friends, or large families), please get in touch with us to get the best rate depending on the exact number of people and their age group. All our vehicles are brand new. For example and subject to availability, if 1 to 3 or 4 people, a typical large four-door 2022 vehicle will be used, whereas, for 3 or 4 to 8 people, a large 2021 minivan will be used for the trip.
PS. Payments made by Paypal are subject to an additional cost of 5%-6% (the approximate fee that Paypal charges on all transactions), and prices by Amex are subject to an additional 2.80%-3%, which the client must include in the payment or pay to Eudaimonia on the day of the booked tour. There is no extra charge if you pay by any other credit card.
Please note that not all destinations/stops are included in this google map. Its purpose is only to highlight the main route.
From your Athens hotel, Airbnb, airport, cruise ship (Piraeus port), Nafplio, or a pre-arranged meeting point very near to your location. For other starting locations please contact us.
Depending on the time of year, you can arrange to include the following add-on experience to your itinerary:
Andromonasteri (Men’s Monastery)
The Byzantine monastery fortress is only 5 kilometers from the archaeological site of Ancient Messina. It is the most impressive monastic complex in the Messenian countryside and one of the most beautiful in the Peloponnese, the remains of which testify to the prosperity it experienced during its long history. Due to its many years of abandonment, the complex remained unaltered by arbitrary modern interventions, preserving several authentic elements valuable for the study of monastic architecture.
The monastery was founded at the end of the 12th century. Since it was built like a fortress, it contributed significantly to the Revolution of 1821, where it suffered a lot of damage from Ibrahim’s troops.
More sites to visit near Ancient Messene:
The temple of Zoodochos Pigi
Castle of Androusa
Please Get In Touch for details and pricing. Not all add-ons can be included in all tours either because of time limitations (daylight time, closing times of sites) or because of the time of the year, etc. Some add-ons require an earlier starting time than the typical 8:00 a.m. pick-up.
☼ All multiday tours include quality accommodation and all tours include lunch and drinks. 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 canceled due to bad weather or any other extreme 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.
