Best Mix of Sites & Culinary Experiences: Two-Day Private Tour with a Unique Overnight Location in the Mythical Peloponnese
€1,250
We have selected some popular sites of the Peloponnese together with some under-the-radar area locations combined with our best food places and have created a unique private food tour.
This is a “different private food tour” combined with a mix of great sites. Skip the touristy version of “food tasting” in Athens and join us to enjoy real Greek cuisine the way locals do!
Where & What? Leave the big city (Athens) behind, and follow us to explore real Greece while experiencing our best dining places. Corinth Canal, Ancient Corinth, wine tasting (optional), Odontotos Cog railway, Cave of Lakes, Arcadia mountain villages, Mycenae, Nafplio Venetian Town, Palamidi Fortress and the 999 steps, Epidaurus Ancient Theater, AND of course the best food places both for your lunch and dinners.
It’s a food tour while exploring UNESCO World Heritage and off-the-radar sites to create a great mix. A different experience that will add up to what you need to do, see, feel, and taste.
Below the radar private tours from Athens Greece [© Photo: Eudaimonia Private Tours Athens Greece]
☼ You visit and stay at amazing locations away from the big city of Athens and the tourist traps.
☼ You will make full use of your evening/s at very relaxed, safe, authentic, and friendly locations.
☼ You will enjoy, like a Greek would, the sites, the food, the real life, and the hospitality that this country is famous for, with the help of your tour leader.
☼ We are like locals to the people we’ll meet at all the places we visit, and we have a personal connection with each area to help you blend in.
☼ Limitless options & flexibility depending on your likes & dislikes! More wine tasting or less wine tasting? less “ruins”? coastline or mountains? villages & people? evening exploring?
☼ Hydra Island is an … option to consider adding to your experience.
Duration: 2days – 1night (optionally 3days – 2nights)
Language: English
Departure: 8:00 a.m. from Athens
You can book this private food & sightseeing 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. And … don’t forget to select the tour “Start Date” before “Adding to the cart”!
For questions or to get a quote for more than 2 people Get In Touch.
This is a “different” food and culture tour away from the usual touristy “stuff.” Ideal tour for those looking to visit some amazing sites without wasting time driving in & out of Athens, but instead overnight at authentic “Greek” locations and adding the evening experience of real Greece. The tour is very flexible so if you don’t like Ouzo you won’t have Ouzo!
Day 1: Corinth Canal – Ancient Corinth – Odontotos Rack Railway – Cave of Lakes – Arcadia Mountain Villages
Starting from Athens we head toward the Mythical Peloponnese region through the Corinth Canal. The canal connects the Gulf of Corinth with the Saronic Gulf in the Aegean Sea. It cuts through the narrow Isthmus of Corinth and separates the Peloponnese from the Greek mainland, arguably making the peninsula an island.
☼ ANCIENT CORINTH
The first main stop will be Ancient Corinth (Korinthos) which was inhabited in the Neolithic period (6500-3250 BC) but the big prosperity begins in the 8th century BC. Corinth was a city-state on the Isthmus (canal) of Corinth, the narrow stretch of land that joins the Peloponnese to the mainland of Greece, roughly halfway between Athens and Sparta.
Bible’s Acts 18 says that Apostle Paul lived and worked in Corinth for 18 months as a tent-maker while preaching and establishing a congregation of believers before the three of them continued on to Ephesus.
☼ OPTIONAL: Wine tasting
☼ ODONTOTOS RACK RAILWAY
About 120 years ago Odontotos rack railway started from the seaside town of Diakopto parallel to the river and climbed to Kalavrita through bridges and tunnels. Since then, the Vouraikos River and Odontotos go together.
The Vouraikos Gorge forms a deep and incredibly beautiful gorge. It starts between Helmos and Panachaikos mountains and it reaches the Diakopto seaside town. Vouraikos River springs from the mountains in Kalavrita and exits at the Corinthian Gulf next to the beach of Diakopto. The gorge is rich in flora and fauna and it is part of the network Natura 2000. The little train incorporated so well into the natural environment that it seemed that it had always been there. The way it was constructed did not put a strain on the ecosystem of the gorge. Using stone and wood from the area the technicians’ work is so perfect that someone may think that nature worked on its own.
Odontotos is not just a train. Vouraikos gorge and Odontotos rack railway from Diakopto to Kalavrita is a unique attraction in Greece. In an area full of towns, villages, hospitable inhabitants, a unique environment, and the scent of Greek life. In order to write the history of this place, we need volumes of books but a trip on the train will give you a real taste. Odontotos is waiting for you.
You will board the train in Kalavrita or Zachlorou village and enjoy a great 55 minutes experience going down the mountain following an amazing route.
Your driver/guide will be waiting for you at the other end of the train route to continue the tour.
☼ KALAVRITA MOUNTAIN VILLAGE
This is a very popular ski center during the winter months.
☼ LUNCH: This will be your first food & drink experience with more to follow.
☼ CAVE OF LAKES
In the rhythm of the music of water small and larger lakes follow one another. The Cave of Lakes, at an altitude of 827 meters, combines in an admirable way, ageless natural beauty, with the remains of habitation and myth. The myth says that Lysippe, Ifinoe, and Ifianassa, the daughters of the king of Tiryns, found refuge in the cave when they were obsessed with madness. The Cave of the Lakes is a rare creation of nature with mysterious galleries and stalactite formations.
In the caves, there are archaeological findings like fossilized human and animal bones, including a hippopotamus. The site is a stone forest full of surprises. It has something exclusively unique that does not exist in other well-known caves.
We will be overnighting in a beautiful guesthouse at one of the stone-built villages of Arcadia.
☼ DINNER/optional: Another great location and a food & drink experience to enjoy on your own but still under our guidance at a pre-arranged restaurant. The evening walk to explore the amazing location/village is a must!
Day 2: Mycenae, Nafplio, Wine Tasting, Palamidi Fortress & 999 Steps, Epidaurus Ancient Theater
☼ MYCENAE
This is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to some of Greece’s most famous ancient ruins. Wander around the archaeological site and accompanying museum.
☼ WINE TASTING OPTION: Wine tasting at one of the many wineries of the Nemea area in Corinth; the Greek Napa Valley!
☼ NAFPLIO’S PALAMIDI FORTRESS & 999 STEPS.
Nafplio, the first capital of Greece, is famous for its Old Town with its narrow streets, beautiful alleyways, neoclassical mansions, and stunning Venetian houses. An all-year-round destination for visiting the famous Venetian fortress of Palamidi in Nafplio and optionally, walking down the 999 steps enjoying the most amazing views.
☼ OUZO (OPTIONAL): The Greeks’ pre-lunch aperitif. Not at any time of the day but at the right time of the day and the right location.
☼ LUNCH: One of our favorite food & drink places on this tour.
☼ ANCIENT THEATER OF EPIDAURUS
Epidaurus, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is home to an ancient, beautifully preserved theater. Discover the landmark at your leisure.
OPTIONAL Day 3: Hydra Island
After breakfast, we head for the Cosmopolitan Hydra Island. Hydra is a very short boat ride (20-30 minutes) from the mainland. There are no cars on Hydra Island but many donkeys which we suggest you do not ride them. They do enough work carrying the goods for the locals and the shops!
Hydra is a trendy and cosmopolitan island that at the same time maintains its magic and peacefulness due to the all-year-round presence of the locals and the absence of any kind of vehicle! We love the island because Hydra is also one of our three bases, so we consider it as “home” to our agency.
After enjoying lunch on Hydra Island you will get the boat to cross back to the mainland. Depending on the available time and before departing for Athens we visit the beautiful Ermioni village for a quick coffee/drink next to the water.
We head back to Athens to be dropped off at your hotel or optionally at the airport or cruise ship. [© Eudaimonia Private Tours Athens Greece]
☼ Private tour with your private driver/tour leader.
☼ Hotel/Airbnb/cruise ship pickup and drop-off.
☼ Non-smoking vehicle and driver.
☼ One-night accommodation (including breakfast), arranged at a great location, and accommodation at a stonebuilt canyon-overlooking guesthouse. It is based on double occupancy. Get In Touch with us if in doubt.
☼ Lunch is included on both days and at selected locations.
☼ Dinners are not included.
☼ 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.
☼ Flexible itinerary.
☼ Excess luggage is not allowed.
☼ Entrance to the sites.
☼ Your dinners are not included but we will “guide” you to the best places.
☼ Professional guide for the archeological sites (optional).
☼ Shopping/touristy stops unless specifically required.
☼ Gratuities (optional).
The pricing shown for this tour is €1,250, 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 have alternative ways of payment (family rates, solo travelers, small booking payments, pay on the day of the tour, etc). Please, contact us to get the best rate depending on your payment method, number of people, and ages.
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 pay to Eudaimonia on the day of the booked tour. There is no extra charge if you pay by any other credit card.
© Eudaimonia Private Food Tours Athens Greece
From your Athens hotel, airbnb, or cruise ship (Piraeus port), Nafplio or a pre-arranged meeting point very near to your location. For other starting locations please contact us.
[1] You can arrange to include a second wine-tasting experience at a different winery.
[2] Also, you can visit Acrocorinth: the “acropolis” of ancient Corinth at the top of the mountain west of the site
[3] Add Hydra Island to the tour with an extra day/night to remember. The most cosmopolitan, upscale, and relaxing island!
Please contact us 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.
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☼ 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 missing the closing time of the sites during the 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, 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: Additionally 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. This will be an amount of approximately 15%-20% of the total tour cost.
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.
