Summary
A superb introduction to the Argolis region - an area rich in scenery and history.
START - / FINISH - Athens
Activity code: Ath08
Duration: 2 Days/1 night
A taster of ancient Greece within easy reach of Athens, great scenery combined with incredible locations brimming with 3500 years of history.
Enjoy a picturesque journey along the Saronic coast road from Athens, with views towards the islands of Salamina and Aegina. Travel over the mighty Corinth Canal onto the Peloponnese, which technically became an island after the construction of the canal. Before this waterway was constructed ships had to take a long, and often hazardous, trip around Greek waters. The idea of linking these two gulfs was first conceived in the 6th century B.C. but it wasn't until many centuries later that this vision became a reality and the Corinth Canal was finally opened after Greece's independence in the late 19th century.
Continue to Mycenae, Agamemnon's legendary palace. Heinrich Schliemann, the German archaeologist, believed that there was a factual basis to the Iliad & the Odyssey - Homer had written of a 'city rich in gold'. Schliemann successfully located Mycenae and began excavations - what he unearthed there in 1874 vindicated his theory. You'll visit the Lion's Gate, Cyclopean Walls & the Royal Tombs.
Nafplion is a delightful town - it is the former capital of Greece and has an air of faded grandeur. Its location is dramatic, between the sea and underneath the impressive Palamidi Fortress. You have ample time to explore the town - if you are feeling energetic you might like to walk up the numerous (around 900!) stone steps to the Palamidi Fortress for far-reaching views across the Gulf of Argolis.
Epidavrus dates from the 4th century BC and is a World Heritage Site - its theatre is renowned for its astonishing acoustics and is the venue for the annual Athens Festival during the summer.
Distances between all these places are not so great so you get to spend quality time at each of the main sites.
Dates of Operation 2024
- April to October: Every Tuesday and Wednesday
- Day 1: depart at 08:45 / Day 2: return at 19:00.
Not included: Overnight Stay Tax per room per night, which is payable locally - the amount varies according to the category of the accommodation (i.e. 5* hotel: 4,00€ per overnight per room, 4* hotel: 3,00 € per overnight per room, 3* hotel: 1,50 € per overnight per room)