Athens to the birthplace of Olympic games & medieval Monastery
Description
The birthplace of Olympic games, the stadium that happened the games from 776 BC until 393 AD, 12 centuries of glory, 12 centuries for the honour and win. The helmet of general Miltiadis that won the Persians at marathon 490 BC. The byzantine monastery of Saint Jonh from 12 century that still have monks living exactly like 12 century. All around, nature is blooming while the sounds of the Lousios river and the birds that are tweeting inspire an unprecedented calmness to every traveller in a wild and idyllic landscape. Unique experience original experience of Greece.
Tour Options
Itinerary
First stop is the Canal of Corinth. It is a canal that was finally built in 1890, although the idea of its passage already existed from 602 BC. The view from here is breathtaking.
The birthplace of Olympic games, the stadium that happened the games from 776 BC until 393 AD, 12 centuries of glory, 12 centuries for the honour and win. Olympia was established in Greece as the most important religious and sports centre. The archeological site of Olympia, one of the largest in the country, gave us one of the richest sets of monuments and works of art, such as Hermes of Praxiteles. Here we will see, in addition to the stadium (45,000 seats), the temples of Hera and Zeus, the Philippion, the Council house, the laboratory of Feidias and in the museum the HELMET OF GENERAL MILTIADIS that won the Persians at marathon 490 BC.
The tour have 2 options you can choose which you like. first option is to visit the Great Cave of Gortynia, which has been built on a rock of the Lousios Gorge. According to tradition, the monastery was built during the 12th century by monks who lived in nearby hermitages. At the end of the small courtyard of the monastery, with its stone-built fountain (1748), a heavy, imposing door that carries the holes from the Turks’ bullets 1779. The interior, as well as part of the rock that surrounds it, are embellished with frescoes of the 16th century. The welcoming monks offer worshippers coffee, refreshing water, and olives while they enjoy the unique view of the gorge of ascetic paradises. The monastery has a significant library, while the monks practice the art of iconography and sewing of ecclesiastical vestments.
Second option swimming & lunch close to the sea. After a dip in history, we will go for a dip in one of the most beautiful beaches of the Peloponnese, located near ancient Olympia. There we will also have lunch before our return to Athens. (Swimming on the beach, concerns the summer months)
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
*minivan, *a day before the tour i will send you email with directions about time and pick up point.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- The tour have 2 options that guests must choose. Swimming or visit the byzantine monastery.
Reviews(8)
This tour was wonderful, it had a great guide and itinerary. It is a long day to do all the way from Athens, but it is worth it if you are passionate about Greek history. I would highly recommend.
We had a fantastic time on this trip! Anastasios is a great guide and so knowledgable about all the places we visited. It would have been very hard for us to visit these sites by ourselves and it was the most reasonable price we found so it’s good value for money. The swimming was also a nice touch at the end and was refreshing after walking around ancient Olympia. Would highly recommend if you have spare time in Athens!
Long drive but great reward to see the Olympic stadium. Pan was a great guide and took us to a seaside restaurant that was the best meal I had in Greece.
It was a special trip with a great guide and excellent companion. I would recommend visiting with a small party despite the extra cost. It meant better interaction with the guide and a chance to develop a relationship with someone new.
Basically this was just a ride to Olympia and back, not really worth over $200 per person. There were no snacks, you paid for everything you did and from what I could tell, there was no entrance fee to the beach. When we reached olympia we were told to go pay for our tickets and then he would meet us at the exit. Beach towels were not in good condition and were carried in a plastic grocery bag. We could have rented a car and gone on our own for $500 less. Pan was a nice man and answered our questions if we had them but this tour is way overpriced.
I think everything is clear in Viator as you can see in our product says what included and what not included " What's excluded Ticket for the archaeological site of Olympia Lunch " Of course it will be cheaper to rent a car and driving 550 km / 350 miles than have a driver for private tour for 13 hours. The snack was the 4 different kind of Greek koulouri that you get at the begging of the trip. The towels was in a green bag not grocery one and due to covid instructions after washed in 90 degrees with chlorine they stay in green bag closed. For the beach bar on Sundays there is fee for sun chairs but daily there is no fee. I am sorry that you feel that you spend a lot of money but i dont think that this is right . The trip was provided 12 hours you did 13 hours the driver ask you if you want to stay more in the beach and make the trip 14 hours , they was not any rush in time in all trip, you was only two guests and we visit everything that describe in tour plus the seaside way to ancient Olympia, we spoke a lot of history and mythology. Be sure that the price you paid was not expensive (viator fee is 24% and then 24% the tax - vat) .
If you are wondering whether or not to book, go for it! You will have made the right decision. And above all, you will come away understanding the deeper meanings of Greek Antiquity. I couldn't have had this experience on my own and the host was very informative and kind. It was certainly beyond all my expectations during my holiday in Athens.
Our day with Pan was magical. I'm still awestruck that we fit so many things into one day. Pan was extra attentive and aware of our needs and just the perfect, perfect host. His passion for history is infectious and his storytelling really makes a difference to how you view the places you will go on this trip. There is the mythological side and the reality side and everything he discusses has balance between the two. All three of us who spent the day with Pan feel the same - it was the best decision we made for our trip to Athens.
