Things to do in Elis

Explore the Archeological Site of Olympia on your own with a roundtrip transfer from the Katakolo Cruise port. Drive through the scenic mainland of western Peloponnese and explore the birthplace of the Olympic Games. Return to the port, just in time for your cruise departure. Meet your guide outside of the cruise terminal and board an air-conditioned bus to Ancient Olympia. Buy your admission ticket upon arrival and enter the archeological site. Learn of the origin of the Olympic Games in classical times, held from 776 BC until 393 AD. Marvel at the Temple of Hera and the Olympic flame that burns outside during the modern-day games. See the Temple of Zeus that once housed one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, the Golden and Ivory statue of Zeus. Witness where competitors once swore an oath to honor the rules at the Stadium and Bouleuterion. Feel free to explore at your own pace and choose to visit the modern Village of Olympia for shopping or a traditional meal. Take a moment to swim at the nearby beach before returning to your awaiting cruise ship.

Day 1: Leave by the coastal road to the Corinth Canal (short stop). Drive on and visit the Theatre of Epidaurus, famous for its remarkable acoustics. Then, proceed to the town of Nafplio (short photo stop), drive on to Mycenae and visit the archaeological site and the Tomb of Agamemnon. Then, depart for Olympia through central Peloponnese and the towns of Tripolis and Megalopolis. Overnight in Olympia, the cradle of the Olympic Games (dinner) Day 2: In the morning, visit the archaeological site with the Sanctuary of Olympian Zeus, the ancient stadium, the spot where the torch of the modern Olympic Games is lit and the Archaeological Museum. Then, drive on through the plains of Ilia and Achaia until the magnificent bridge that crosses the Corinthian Bay from Rion to Antirion. Pass by the picturesque towns of Nafpactos (Lepanto) and Itea. Arrive in Delphi (dinner and overnight) Day 3: In the morning, visit the archaeological site and the Museum of Delphi, the most famous oracle of the ancient world. Depart for Kalambaka, a small town located at the foot of the astonishing complex of Meteora, surrounded by gigantic rocks (dinner and overnight) Day 4: Visit Meteora, a striking scenery perched on top of huge rocks which seem to be suspended in mid-air, stand ageless monasteries, where you can see exquisite specimens of Byzantine art. Return to Athens via Trikala, Lamia, Thermopylae (short stop to see across the road to Leonida's Monument). Arrive in Athens early in the evening.

Day 1: Corinth Canal (short stop). Drive to Epidaurus, and pay a visit to the archaeological site and to the theatre, famous for its remarkable acoustics. Continue on to Nauplia for a short stop. Next, drive to Mycenae where you will visit the fascinating archaeological site. Depart for Olympia, passing through the central Peloponnese area and passing the cities of Megalopolis and Tripolis. Finally, arrive in Olympia for dinner and overnight stay. There is also a possibility of staying in Nauplia instead. (Dinner included). Day 2: In the morning visit the archaeological site and the museum of Olympia. Drive via Patras to Rion, cross the channel to Antirion on the state of the art suspension bridge, known as the longest and most modern in Europe. Arrive in Nafpaktos, then continue to Delphi. Enjoy dinner and overnight stay in Delphi. (Breakfast and dinner included). Day 3: First, visit the archaeological site and the museum of Delphi. Depart for Kalambaka, passing through Amphissa, Lamia and Trikala. Arrive in Kalambaka, and savor a dinner before your overnight stay. (Breakfast and dinner included). Day 4: In the morning, visit the breathtaking Meteora. In the early afternoon, start the drive back to Athens passing via Thermopylae and Kammena Vourla. (Breakfast included). This tour offers the opportunity to visit the most impressive historical Greek sites, giving you an insight into the glorious past of Greece.

Meet your host at the local partner's office in Olympia, who will then explain how the virtual reality (VR) glasses work. After the short introduction, begin your virtual tour at the Archeological Site and step back in time to experience ancient Olympia. Listen to interesting facts about each monument and see many monuments come to life again.  You’ll first visit the Ancient Gymnasium, where athletes used to train for the Olympic Games before making your way to Palestra, the training place of boxers and wrestlers. Next, you’ll stop at the Phidias Workshop, where Phidias created one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. Heading east, you will see the Temple of Zeus and virtually enter the monument to see the magnificent Statue of Zeus. Then, find yourself in the Ancient Stadium. Through your VR glasses, you will get to experience an ancient sporting event. See athletes competing for the Olympics and admire them from the finishing line. Then head over to the ruins of the Nymphaeum of Herodes of Atticus. With the help of your VR glasses, you’ll be able to see the ruins of the Nymphaeum in its full grandeur and see it come to life again. Last, see the lighting of the Olympic Flame in ancient times and discover that some traditions have remained the same until today.

Join the hop-on hop-off bus tour of Katakolo and Pyrgos. Explore the surrounding nature and learn about the region's ancient history. Visit churches, museums, and wander the city streets as you please. Appreciate a bus every 30 minutes, just steps away from the cruise port. Catch the bus just 2-minutes from the cruise port and experience Katakolo's natural beauty and ancient history. Learn of the city's main export and prominent role in cruise ship tourism of the region. Appreciate the picturesque seaside village, littered with cafes, restaurants, and souvenir shops. Next, stop at Manolopoulou Street in Pyrgos city center where you can visit the Eparcheion, a tower built on the tallest of seven hills that surround the area. Discover the rich economic history of the city and admire the neoclassical houses constructed in the 19th century. Arrive next at the Archaeological Museum of Pyrgos which was once a public marketplace. Wander through the various exhibitions that span the entire spectrum of local history. Discover the building's architectural influences and the role it played in the 1950s. On the way back to the port, make a stop at the Orthodox Church of Saint John. Roam around the streets of Katakolo, shop for souvenirs, or enjoy an ice cream. Swim at a nearby beach if you have time and ride one more stop back to the terminal.

This exciting 3-day tour takes you to the most important archaeological sites of classical Greece. Providing a superb introduction to some of the myths of the ancient world, you will visit the tomb of Agamemnon in Mycenae, the Temple of Apollo and Oracle at Delphi, and the altar of the Olympic flame at Olympia. You will also make short stops in the cities of Tripolis and Megalopolis, drive past the mighty Corinth Canal, and see the charming harbor town of Nafpaktos. Day 1: Epidaurus – Nayplia - Mycenae Following your departure from Athens, visit the Corinth Canal on the Saronic Gulf and admire the miraculous 19th-century feat of engineering. Continue to Epidaurus to tour the ancient theater, world famous for its outstanding acoustics. Proceed to Nafplia, former capital of the First Hellenic Republic, and drive through the plain of Argos. Upon arrival in Mycenae, visit the ruins of the citadel and the Tomb of Agamemnon. Continue to Olympia for your overnight stay, traveling via the cities of Tripolis and Megalopolis, where you can take short stops to stretch your legs or purchase souvenir items. Day 2: Olympia - Delphi Visit the archaeological remains of Olympia, site of the Olympic Games in classical times and sacred ground to the Ancient Greeks. Admire the Doric columns of the Temples of Zeus and Hera, see the remains of the Stadium, and go to the altar of the Olympic flame. Explore the Archaeological Museum of Olympia, located directly opposite the ruins and filled with excavated artifacts. Depart Olympia for Rion, and cross the Corinthian Bay via the new bridge to Antirion. Sit back and enjoy the ride along the coastal road to Delphi, passing the charming small harbor city of Nafpaktos. In the afternoon visit the picturesque mountain village of Arachova on the slopes of the Parnassus Mountains, before your overnight stay in Delphi. Day 3: Delphi - Athens Today you will experience the mysterious atmosphere of Delphi up close, with a tour of the archaeological site perched high on the Parnassus Mountains. Once regarded as the center of the world, Delphi was connected to the worship of Gaia, or Mother Earth, and guarded by a Python dragon that was killed by Apollo. You will visit the temple dedicated to Apollo, and learn about the great Oracle of Delphi. Continue to the theater, where up to 5,000 spectators would watch plays, poetry readings, and festivals. Enjoy superb views of the Parnassus Mountains and valley from the top of the hill, and explore an impressive collection of artifacts and relics associated with ancient Delphi at the Archaeological Museum. In the afternoon, the tour will make its way back to Athens, driving through the vine and olive tree-studded hills of Parnassus and the Valley of Phocis.

The tour starts with transfer from your hotel to the starting point. The tour starts after a short breefing about the Jeeps and the places that we will visit. The convoy starts with a small tour around Pyrgos village to showcase the panoramic view of Kamari, mostly to let the guests get acquainted with driving the car. Then follows the first off road part from Pyrgos all the way down to Megalochori village After that, the first stop is at the windmills in Emporio. Off road drive to Vlychada, small stop to the port of Vlychada (1st toilet stop if requested) followed by a quick tour to Perivolos black beach. From there we head to the main off road part that heads to Theros Beach, where we make the first Drone video and photo session. After Theros we head to Saint Anna church where we follow a small trail to a secret and quiet beach for a 40 minutes beach stop and then we return for the BBQ break at the church of Saint Anna for approximately 40 minutes. Continuing our drive we head for the Akrotiri area, towards Kaminia Beach where we climb the panoramic side and then we drive until the point of Akrotiri for a stop and second drone session to a magnificent point overlooking the caldera. (Lets say above the white beach) Finally we drive until Megalochori to a beautiful and not crowdy sunset point for the last drone session before returning to the starting point.

Take in the interesting sites of Katakolon before heading to the Olympia archeological site and museum on this 4-hour shore excursion. See the birthplace of the Olympic Games, the Temple of Zeus, the Stadium, the Hermes of Praxiteles statue and artifacts in the museum. Stop at Klio's honey farm and meet the owners, who will introduce you to the process of honey production. Enjoy pancakes with homemade honey in the shade of the garden trees. Head to Saint Andrew’s Beach for a quick swim in the clear waters surrounded by rocks. Enjoy a cup of Greek coffee or a light lunch (not included in the tour price).

Travel back in time to the site of the first Olympic Games, and the Unesco-listed ruins of Ancient Olympia. Go directly to the archaeological site of the ancient Olympia, one of the archaeological highlights of the Peloponnese.Stroll and admire the remains of temples. See the Temple of Zeus, the largest temple in the Peloponnese, considered by many to be the perfect example of Doric architecture.Next, visit The Temple of Hera, one of the oldest monumental temples in Greece. Explore the stadium, hippodrome, wrestling school, and gymnasium where Olympic athletes trained. Continue to the archaeological museum that presents the long history of the most-celebrated sanctuary of antiquity: the sanctuary of Zeus. Take in a vast number of finds from the excavations in the sacred precinct of the Altis.Conclude your visit wit a stop at The Museum of the History of the Olympic Games in Olympia. Learn the important history of the Olympic Games and hosts findings related to the period when the ancient games took place.

Discover the essential sites of classical Greece on an immersive 5-day tour from Athens, and marvel at the ruins of Epidaurus, Mycenae, Nafplion, Olympia, Delphi, and Meteora. Follow in the footsteps of Greek gods in Delphi, and explore the Byzantine monasteries of Meteora. Admire feats of engineering, such as the Corinth Canal and modern Rio–Antirrio Bridge, and much more. Day 1: Depart from Athens for the Corinth Canal, a masterpiece of engineering that connects the Gulf of Corinth with the Saronic Gulf in the Aegean Sea. Continue to Epidaurus to visit the UNESCO World Heritage monument reputed to be the birthplace of Apollo's son Asklepios, and the most celebrated healing center of the classical world. See the well preserved theater, still in use today thanks to its amazing acoustics. Your next stop will be Nafplia, where the afternoon is at leisure to walk in the old town or visit the new Nafplion Gallery to see paintings dedicated to the Greek Revolution of 1821. Overnight at Nafplion. Day 2: Depart Nafplion at around 12:30, traveling through the plain of Argos to Mycenae, where you will see the Tomb of Agamemnon. Then, depart for Olympia, birthplace of the Olympic Games, driving through the cities of Tripolis and Megalopolis along the way. Overnight in Olympia. Day 3: Visit the archaeological site of Olympia to see the Temple of Zeus, Temple of Hera, and altar of the Olympic Flame. Admire the historic Olympic Stadium and learn more about the site at the dedicated museum. Continue to Rion via Patras, crossing the channel to Antirion on the new, state-of-the-art suspension bridge. Pass the city of Nafpaktos, before traveling along the coastal road to Delphi, known in ancient times as the “Navel of the World.” Visit the picturesque mountain village of Arachova in the afternoon, before an overnight stay in Delphi. Day 4: Explore the archaeological ruins of Delphi, where the museum contains the famous bronze Charioteer, Naxian Sphinx, and Statue of Antinoos, providing an insight into ancient Greek culture and history. Get spectacular views of the surrounding mountains from the Temple of Apollo, famed for its oracle. In the afternoon, you will drive through central Greece, passing the cities of Lamia and Kalambaka en route the Byzantine monasteries of Meteora. Overnight in Kalambaka. Day 5: Spend the morning exploring the mountain monasteries of Meteora, including the cliff-top Holy Monastery of Great Meteoron, accessible via rock-cut stairs. On your return to Athens, there is an optional stop at a factory that makes Byzantine style icons. Continue to Athens, via the heroic monument of Leonidas (King of Sparta) at Thermopylae, before an arrival in the Greek capital in the late afternoon.