8-Day Athens to Nafpaktos and Delphi

Day 1: ATHENS – CRADLE OF CIVILIZATION

Arriving in Athens, we’ll smoothly transfer you to your hotel in our comfortable vehicles. Our English-speaking assistant will be with you, ensuring your comfort and care throughout the journey.

In the afternoon, at the hotel, our representative will provide you with all the essential trip details. Get ready for an engaging presentation about the city, where you’ll gain insights into its vibrant daily life. Feel free to ask questions and clear any doubts, setting the stage for a pleasant and hassle-free experience throughout your trip.

With the rest of the day at your leisure, embrace Athens at your own pace. Immerse yourself in the captivating sights, sounds, and flavors of this remarkable city.

Day 2: DAY AT LEISURE AND ATHENS BY NIGHT

This will be a free day in Athens, where, after a delicious breakfast, you will have the chance to visit some of the famous attractions and places of interest in the city. Alternatively, you can enjoy a leisurely stroll in the city center and make your own discoveries as you go along.

In the evening you will join a walking tour through the most stunning districts of Athens, such as Anafiotika, Thisio, Monastiraki, and Plaka.

Day 3: FROM ATHENS TO CORINTH, MYCENAE AND NAFPLIO

After a nutritious breakfast, you will pick up your rental car and drive to the region of Argolis.

Just outside Athens, at a distance of about 11 kilometers from the city, we suggest a visit to the Daphne Monastery. This monastery is considered the oldest Byzantine monastery of its type in Greece and its frescoes and mosaics are masterpieces of the golden era of Byzantine art. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage in 1990.

On your way to Nafplio, you can stop at the Corinth Canal, a great engineering feat first designed in 630 BC by Periander, a tyrant that ruled Corinth and is considered one of the seven sages of Ancient Greece. This 6-kilometer-long channel was built to connect the Ionian Sea with the Saronic Gulf, thus saving valuable sailing time for seafaring vessels. Its construction lasted a long time and was completed by the French in 1893.

About half an hour’s driving later you will reach Mycenae, one of the most important archaeological sites of Ancient Greece. Here you can visit the Lion’s Gate and the Treasure of Atreus. This last structure is generally believed to be a royal tomb and more precisely the Tomb of Agamemnon.

You will end a full day of a cultural adventure in the comfort of your hotel in Nafplio, a charming Venetian city.

Total distance: 148 kilometers

Day 4: FROM NAFPLIO TO THE ANCIENT OLYMPIA

After a delicious breakfast, you will have time to discover Nafplio in the morning. There you can get in touch with the locals by visiting an olive oil mill and tasting the famous and appetizing Greek olives. After leaving Nafplio, you will drive through the picturesque mountains of Arcadia towards the ancient Olympia.

On the route, you can make a detour to Kalavryta, a city with magnificent views and steep slopes, river springs, and pine forests. At about 17 kilometers from Kalavryta, you will come across the Cave of the Lakes. The cave extends for 2 kilometers underground and has 15 lakes inside. The combination of the colors and waterfalls together makes an impressive spectacle.

Alternatively, you can drive to Diakofto and, from there, catch the train known as “Odontotos” towards Kalavryta. This train rises to a height of 750 meters above sea level and crosses the entire Vouraikos Gorge. The views are splendid, with lush forests, waterfalls, and tunnels carved into the rocks. This is the tour of such striking beauty, that you should not miss out on the chance of taking it.

After these two compulsory stops, you will arrive at the destination of the day, Olympia. There, you will visit the site of the former Olympic stadium, where the first Games were held (776 BC). The importance of the Olympic games was such that all Greek cities ceased hostilities and participated on a large scale.

Olympia was also the most important sanctuary of the Ancient Greeks, a place to worship Zeus, the king, and father of all gods. Here also stood his gold and ivory statue, a gigantic sculpture made by Fidias himself and one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.

Total distance: 157 kilometers

Day 5: FROM OLYMPIA TO NAFPAKTOS

After enjoying a delightful breakfast, depart from Olympia and cross the magnificent Rio-Antirio Bridge, an architectural gem of modern Europe spanning the Gulf of Corinth. Continue your journey towards Nafpaktos, where the scene of the historic Naval Battle of Nafpaktos awaits.

The Battle of Nafpaktos marked the decisive victory of the Holy Navy League over the Ottoman Turks, effectively ending the Ottoman Empire’s dominance in the eastern Mediterranean.

On one side of the wall, you’ll find the statue of Miguel de Cervantes, the renowned Spanish writer who participated in the battle and lost his left hand. He earned the nickname “El Manco de Lepanto” (the one-handed from Lepanto). The imposing iron statue portrays Cervantes proudly holding up a feather, symbolizing his distinguished literary work.

On the other side of the Venetian port, don’t miss the opportunity to visit the old lighthouse and the Fethive Tzamí mosque, both dating back to the late 15th century and worthy of exploration.

After immersing yourself in the city’s history, you can relax at your hotel in Nafpaktos.

Total distance: 121 kilometers

Day 6: FROM NAFPAKTOS TO THE DELPHI ORACLE

After an exquisite breakfast in Nafpaktos, you will continue your way to the famous Delphi oracle.

Driving on you will arrive at Galaxidi, a picturesque fishing village with an elegant touch of tradition and a long naval history. There, sailors who sailed in the Mediterranean Sea used to find shelter in the two natural harbors, Agora and Girolakas. Galaxidi also has beautiful beaches where you can take a short break.

Finally, you will arrive at Delphi, declared a World Heritage Site and the center or navel of the ancient world where the renowned Delphic Oracle was found (consulted by kings and pilgrims alike). There are also the archaeological remains of the Temple of Apollo, which is essential in your visit to this area.

After you have submitted your petitions to the Oracle of Delphi, you will enjoy a well-deserved rest at the hotel!

Total distance: 98 kilometers

Day 7: FROM DELPHI TO ATTICA, THE RETURN

After a delicious Greek breakfast, you will start your journey back to Athens.

You will drive along the slopes of Mount Parnassos rising to 2457 meters in height and you will make a short stop in Arachova, a popular winter resort full of taverns and handicraft shops.

Further down the road, you can visit the town of Levadeia, which, in ancient times, flourished and grew in importance as a consequence of its possessing the celebrated oracle of Trophonius, found in a cave.

Back in Athens, you will return your rental car to the station and your adventure through Greece at our own pace will have come full circle. Now it is time to have a well-deserved rest with the memories of all the places you have seen and the people you have met still fresh in your mind.

Total distance: 186 kilometers

Day 8: FAREWELL GREECE!

At the agreed time, our driver will transfer you to Athens Airport to board your international flight back home or to your next destination. You will check in your luggage and benefit from the tax return resulting from any last-minute tax-free shopping for family and friends.

Undoubtedly, and after spending a few fantastic days with Greca, we hope to see you again soon to create new and extraordinary moments that will be lovingly etched in your memory.

Have a nice trip! Or, as Greeks say, “Kalo taksidi!“