10-day tour of the Peloponnese | Mycenae, the Mani, Olympia & Athens

Day 1: Departure for Athens – Nafplio

Your journey begins in Athens and, once you’ve collected your hire car, the adventure can begin. Drive along the impressive Corinth Canal towards the ancient city of Acrocorinth, one of the busiest trading cities of antiquity. From there, continue on to Nafplio, Greece’s first capital. Nafplio is a small port with an old town that exudes charm and an Italian atmosphere. You will stay in this town for two nights in one of our Caractère hotels.

Day 2: The sites of Argolis

Day 2 begins with a visit to Mycenae, where you will find a walled palace. Mycenae symbolises the sombre side of Greek civilisation, marked by wars, plundering and the blood that stains Greek history. It was here that the expedition to Troy was prepared and where Clytemnestra had her royal husband Agamemnon murdered. But Mycenae is also associated with Heinrich Schliemann, the German archaeologist, who believed he was looking into the golden eyes of Agamemnon here – the world-famous golden mask. Via the Temple of Hera in Iréos, you continue to Argos, a city home to one of the largest theatres in the world. You then drive to Tiryns, a castle ruin with walls seven to eight metres thick. Finally, you will visit the famous theatre of Epidaurus with its perfect acoustics, the theatre of all theatres.

Day 3: The towers of the Mani

Your journey continues via Sparta, the most formidable and militaristic city-state in Greek history, and then on to Mystras. This marvellous ghost town, set amidst a landscape of Byzantine houses and churches, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Continue on to the mysterious Mani, the southernmost point of the Greek mainland. To explore this region further, you will stay for three nights in one of our hotels.

Day 4: The stronghold of Monemvasia

On day 4, you’ll visit medieval Monemvassía, a picturesque town situated on a peninsula jutting out into the sea and sheltered behind a colossal rock. It’s the ideal way to spend your afternoon, strolling through the narrow alleyways and charming little squares.

Day 5: Exploring unspoilt Máni

On day 5, a tour of the central peninsula is planned; you will be dazzled by its beauty. You will enjoy a rugged landscape full of flowers, dotted with quaint villages. Their massive square residential towers are symbols of a warlike past, in which clans and families fought each other from the 15th century onwards for the most fertile land. They bear witness to one of the country’s most feudal and violent histories. Via Aréopoli and Pýrgos Diroú, you head for the little harbour of Geroliménas, which is beautifully situated in a bay protected by a stately cliff. Then return via the Blue Creek of Kokkála, a lovely sheltered bay with a church at the water’s edge, and the tower village of Flomohóri.

Day 6: The coast of Olympia

Via Areópoli and Kalamáta, the city of olives, the adventure continues. On the way, you’ll make a stop in the beautiful village of Kardamyli. You’ll then drive along the west coast to ancient Olympia, where the world’s greatest sporting event has its origins. Once there, you can stay for two nights in one of our hotels on the coast of Olympia.

Day 7: Olympia

Start your day off right with a visit to ancient Olympia, where competitions, music and dance were organised 3,000 years ago. The city where the world’s greatest sporting event originated. The stadium of Olympia is a vast complex set in an oasis of olive and plane trees, rivers and pine trees. In the narrow streets of Dimitsána and Stemnitsa, you’ll still find numerous craft workshops. Your journey continues to Andritsena, famous for its beautiful temple in Vassés.

Day 8: To the Athenian Riviera

Today you return to Corinth, heading for the beautiful Athenian Riviera where you will once again spend two nights in one of our Caractère hotels.

Day 9: A day of relaxation and Athens

To round off your trip, you can choose to relax by your hotel’s pool or visit Athens, Greece’s trendy capital, where you can discover the origins of Western civilisation in magnificent ancient monuments and rich museums. Athens is a melting pot of diverse cultures, incorporating elements from the Roman, Byzantine and Neoclassical periods, and certain neighbourhoods exude an appealing oriental atmosphere. In short, Athens is a paradise for history lovers. Plaka is the liveliest neighbourhood in Athens, the upper part of which – especially in the evening – has an extraordinary charm.

Day 10: Return home

Unfortunately, your trip has come to an end and, after returning your hire car, you’ll fly home with a suitcase full of wonderful memories. Don’t feel like heading home just yet? Caractère will be happy to arrange for you to stay a few more nights.

What should you expect in terms of budget?

For this tour, you can expect a guide price starting from 12,000 euros for two people. This price includes international flights, a hire car and accommodation on a bed and breakfast basis, and depends on your travel dates, hotel choices and any extras such as excursions or extensions.

Frequently asked questions about this Peloponnese tour

When is the best time to visit the Peloponnese?

Choose May, June or September. During these months, temperatures are ideal for exploring archaeological sites such as Mycenae and Olympia on foot. Moreover, the peak summer heat has passed by then, but the water along the Mani and the Athenian Riviera remains wonderfully warm.

Is a hire car necessary for this tour?

Yes, a hire car is essential to experience the diversity of the peninsula. The route takes you past remote mountain villages in Arcadia, the rugged coastline of the Mani and historic sites that are difficult to reach by public transport.

What makes this journey through the Peloponnese unique?

This journey offers unrivalled depth: you combine the ‘major’ classics such as the Corinth Canal and the Acropolis with hidden gems such as the Byzantine city of Mystras and the unique tower architecture of the Mani, far removed from mass tourism.