6-DAY PELOPONNESE TREKKING

Highlights

• Castalia caves
• Geology
• Geomorphology
• Microclimate
• Paleontology
• Zoology
• Anthropology

Pick up from Athens and drive to the Corinth canal where we make a short photo stop at the hand cut man-made channel that joins the Aegean and the Ionian seas. From there we travel to the ‘Cave of Lakes’, close to Kalavrita, a rare natural phenomenon. Apart from a labyrinth of corridors, its mysterious galleries, and strange stalactite formations, the cave has a unique string of cascading lakes, forming 3 different levels. There are some brilliant archeological artefacts on show here too.

We overnight at a hotel in the Dimitsana area. Dinner at leisure.

Info & Facilities

• Duration: approx. 9 hours

Included

• Pick up: from customer’s location (Athens hotel or B&B)
• Transportation: Luxury Mercedes Mini-Van or Coach
• Bottle of water
• Lunch in Kalavrita
• English speaking driver with great local and historical knowledge

Entrance fee to the caves

Today we’ll ask you to make a choice of what to do – we have two options, hiking or rafting. Do you want to keep dry? Or risk getting your feet wet!

Option 1 – Hiking the Gorge

Highlights:

• Unique scenery of the spectacular Lousios Gorge
• The monastery of St.John Prodromos clinging to the cliffs
• The archaeological ruins of ancient Gortys
• Picnic and refreshing swim on the riverbank

Lousios Gorge offers the unique opportunity to hike into untouched nature following the path of history. Along with our enthusiastic team of local guides, we walk trails parallel to and through Lousios Gorge, also known as the ‘Mount Athos of the Peloponnese’ on account of the monasteries that literally hang from the cliffs. We call at the most historic monasteries and end the hike at the archaeological site of Ancient Gortyna – the river was named Gortynios in the ancient times. We finish with a delicious homemade picnic made from local ingredients. During summer we also get the chance of a refreshing swim in the crystal-clear river.

Info and facilities

• Duration: 6 hours

Participation requirements

• Reasonable physical condition
• Ages between 8-70 years old

Included

• English speaking Guide
• All necessary equipment for the operation of the activity
• Greek traditional picnic lunch
• Taxes

Option 2 – Rafting the Waters

Highlights

• Raft under the Lousios river’s natural tunnel of trees
• Test your rafting skills at the technical rapids of Alfios
• Have fun whilst swimming in the crystal-clear waters
• Take the ultimate selfie at the impressive waterfall of Vrodos
• Savour a delicious meal made by our super cook Katerina

Rafting the Lousios, the river where Zeus, father of Olympian gods bathed, is an exciting day of fun and action in divine waters. Upon arrival to our base in the village of Maratha, we are given our neoprene suits and safety equipment. We then drive to the starting point where our guides give an introductory lesson on paddling and safety. Then…let the fun begin!

We will paddle in Lousios and Alfios rivers, which are classed as 2nd degree of difficulty. We will make various stops for a swim in the river’s crystal-clear waters and for photos of the densely vegetated gorge. We finish at the spectacular bridge of “Koukos”, from where we will hike to a nearby waterfall. Our day ends with a delicious homemade meal prepared by our one and only cook Katerina!

Info and facilities

• Duration: 4 hours

Participation requirements

• Basic physical condition
• Weight below 130Kg’s / 286 lbs

Minimum age for children varies by season and weather

• April – May: 12 years and above
• June – October: 7 years and above
• November – March: 16 years and above

Included

• All necessary local transfers for the operation of the activity
• English speaking Trekking Hellas Guide
• All necessary equipment for the operation of the activity
• Greek traditional picnic lunch
• Taxes

We overnight in a hotel in the Dimitsana area. Dinner at leisure.

Today we walk Arcadian paths on a hiking tour to the Temple of Apollo Epicurius to admire the building that was the ancestor of the Parthenon. Built by the architect Iktinos (who later built the Parthenon) in the middle of the 5th century BCE, the Temple of Apollo is a real masterpiece set amongst the majestic heights of the Arcadian mountains. Although nowadays covered by a canopy, to cope with wind pressure and snow load, this is a magical place of much grandeur and spiritual energy. The marble carvings of the temple, depicting the battles between the Amazons and the Centaurs, is thought to be by the sculptor Peonius, whose work is also on show in the British Museum. We lunch in a typical taverna of the region.

Overnight to Dimitsana. Dinner at leisure

Info and facilities

• Duration: 6 hours

Included

• All necessary local transfers for the operation of the activity
• English speaking Guide
• Lunch in a typical taverna
• All necessary equipment for the operation of the activity
• Taxes

Early in the morning we will drive from Dimitsana towards Monemvasia, stopping first at the Mystras, also known as Myzithras in the Chronicle of the Morea.  It’s a fortified town, situated on Mt. Taygetos near ancient Sparta, and served as the capital of the Byzantine Despotate of the Morea in the 14th and 15th centuries. It attracted artists and architects of the highest quality, including the teacher Gemistus Plethon. The site remained inhabited throughout the Ottoman period but was abandoned in the 1830s when the new town of Sparta was built approximately eight kilometers to the east.

The wider area of Mystras was a prosperous province during the Byzantine and Ottoman periods and remains a place of great interest to the visitor. We’ll see remnants of impressive churches and the castle city, as well as narrow streets. We have the opportunity to walk around the Acropolis of William where princesses and Byzantine emperors once walked. We can also visit museums inside the remnants of the walls, as well as monasteries that operate to this day.

Our next destination, after a stop for lunch at a taverna, is Monemvasia, a small historic town sitting around the ‘Rock of Monemvasia’. A small island connected to the mainland by a causeway, its nickname is ‘Gibraltar of the East’, because it’s more or less identical in size to the rock of Gibraltar.

Situated at the bottom of the Peloponnese in antiquity it was a strategic port and stronghold. Today the population is scarcely more than 100 souls. Many of the roads are narrow and only suitable for pedestrians, but on entering the city, the main Byzantine cobbled path leads to a Central Square and the Church of Christ. The preserved buildings and structures of the castle include the defensive structures of the outer fortifications and several small Byzantine churches.

Overnight in Monemvasia area. Dinner at leisure.

Info and facilities

• Duration: 7 hours

Included

• Transfer
• English speaking guide for Mystras visit
• Entrance fee at Mystras
• Lunch on the way from Mystras to Monemvasia.

Today we visit the spectacular Caves of Diros, located on the west coast of the Laconic Peninsula. The cave began to form hundreds of thousands of years ago. The stalactites and stalagmites that are now under water were formed when the sea surface was much lower than its current level. The water inside is brackish and has a temperature about 14 C, while the air ranges from 16 to 19 C.

The known length of the cave exceeds 15 kilometers and at one point the depth reaches about 100 meters. However, its natural entrance is only half a meter in diameter and located very close to the sea surface. In earlier times the cave had other entrances which were gradually closed. Fossils of panther, hyena, lion, deer, and the largest hippopotamus deposit in Europe have been found inside the cave. Ceramics suggesting human presence have been found near its entrance. We travel through the cave in boats.

Later we visit Gytheio, a town on the eastern shore of the Mani Peninsula. It is the site of ancient Cranae, a tiny island where according to legend Paris of Troy and Helen from Sparta spent their first night together before departing for Troy, thus igniting the Trojan War. It used to be an important port until it was destroyed in 4th century CE, possibly by an earthquake. Even thereafter, its strategic location gave Gytheio a significant role in history.

We stop here for a couple of hours for lunch before returning to Monemvasia for our overnight.

Info and facilities

• Duration: 9 hours

Included

• Transfer
• English speaking driver
• Lunch in a typical taverna
• Entrance fees to Caves of Diros

Return to Athens early morning.