Landscapes and iconic sites of the Peloponnese

Day 1: Athens, arriving and breathing

You land in Athens and immediately feel that mix of old and new. Check into our beautiful boutique hotel in the center of this lovely city, unload your luggage and stroll through Plaka. Think small taverns, warm lights and fragrant plates at the table. This first evening is for landing, tasting and gently getting into travel mood.

Day 2: Embarkation on Le Champlain

Embarkation: 16:00 to 17:00 | Departure: 18:00 After a leisurely morning, the transfer will take you to the terminal. Le Champlain is waiting elegantly. As the mooring lines cast off, Athens slips away on the horizon. On deck, with a glass or simply the sea breeze, your cruise truly begins. The rhythm of the sea takes over.

Day 3: Corinth Canal and Itea

Corinth Canal: arrival and departure on day 3 The Corinth Canal cuts across the isthmus of Corinth, turning the Peloponnese into an island by separating the peninsula from the Greek mainland. Opened in 1893, the canal is just over six kilometers long and allows commercial and passenger ships to avoid a 400-kilometer detour around the peninsula. The two sides of the canal rise about fifty meters. Sooner or later, you never forget this moment. The ship sails through a narrow stretch of water flanked by cliffs nearly fifty meters high. You look up, you hold your breath and click pictures that don't need a filter.

Itea: arrival noon, departure early evening Soon after, the ship docks in Itea, a small port with cobblestone quays and views of surrounding mountain peaks. Take a leisurely stroll along the old cobblestone quays while overlooking the mountain peaks that surround the Bay of Itea. You will probably be tempted to visit the Sanctuary of Delphi. Located on a plateau on the slopes of Mount Parnassus, this sanctuary is just ten kilometers from Itea. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is a once-in-a-lifetime experience with ancient ruins surrounded by steep mountains. Whether you go or stay, your day ends in a pleasant mix of sea, mountain air and silence.

Day 4: Katakolon and Olympia

Arrival early morning, departure early afternoon. The Ionian Sea sparkles and Katakolon looks charming. The white St. Nicholas Church displays beautiful icons, the harbor overlooks green hills. The big attraction is Olympia, at the foot of Mount Kronos. You walk among stone silences, past traces of ancient competitions. Then back on board, for a quiet afternoon at sea.

Day 5: Gythio, light and staircase streets

Arrival early morning, departure late afternoon. Located in the southern Peloponnese, on the Mani Peninsula, Gytheio was the main port and naval base of ancient Sparta, which was about fifty kilometers inland. In Roman times, the port experienced a period of prosperity thanks to the trade in imperial purple paint, which was extracted from the murex, the rock snails that were abundant in the region. Set against the slope of Mount Koumaros, the city is dominated by a citadel. Take a walk and be enchanted by the tranquility that reigns in the staircase streets, lined by small neoclassical houses whose steps are overgrown with wildflowers. Take a seat for a coffee overlooking the water. The day will automatically roll forward.

Day 6: Monemvasia, the stone ship

Arrival early morning, departure evening The jewel of the southern Peloponnese, Monemvasia is the romantic refuge of the Athenians. This majestic headland, poetically nicknamed the "stone ship," houses an incredibly fortified medieval village at the foot of sheer cliffs - as if raised from the Aegean Sea by the gods themselves. From the ramparts, you can enjoy breathtaking views of the azure sea as you stroll through the arched, narrow streets with their thousand shades of ochre. At the crossroads of Western and Eastern influences and of the sea routes between the mainland, Crete and the Cyclades, Monemvasia preserves in this magical setting the treasures of Venetian and Byzantine architecture.

Day 7: Nafplion, grandeur and sea

The charming city of Nafplion is set against the green slopes of the Argolic Gulf, in the eastern Peloponnese. Don't be surprised by its rich and varied cultural heritage. Highlights include the ancient agora on the plateau of Akronafplia, the Italian arcades in Syntagma Square and the Baroque fortress Palamidi on the hill of the same name. From the top you have breathtaking views of the gulf and the surrounding mountains. Those who prefer to relax by the water can stroll along the Arvanitia promenade, which leads to a beautiful bay shaded by cedars and cypress trees.

Day 8: Hydra, without a car but with character

Arrival early morning, departure late afternoon This special gem of the Saronic Islands lies east of the Peloponnese. No cars are allowed here. The port town of the same name is set against the slopes of a mountainous bay. You will be amazed by the beautiful stone mansions, typical of the island, as well as the colorful kaiks (traditional fishing boats) along the quay. Further along the coast you will discover the Historical Archive Museum. Collections from the National Historical Museum of Athens are displayed here in the elegant villa Koundouriotis. Back on board, Hydra lingers like a summer chorus.

Day 9: Athens and farewell

Arrival day 9 | Disembarkation at 08:00 You once again dock in Athens. Disembark, baggage ready and then choose. Straight to the airport with a smooth transfer, or into the city for an extension at one of our fine boutique hotels. However you finish, the pace remains just right: quietly reminiscing, with the best still fresh in your mind.