This self-drive trip is a journey of discovery towards the origins of Western Civilization. It combines the most important historical sites of Greece with places of unique natural beauty and cultural interest: Argolis, land of Iliad’s heroes, Ancient Olympia, the birthplace of the Olympic Games, Delphi, the center of the Ancient World, Nafplio, the first capital of the Greek State, Meteora, the world-famous monasteries, but also roads off the beaten path, like the Koziakas mountain range, the Forest of the White River and its villages. Each day has a theme, to make your trip more fun and insightful!
You will be staying in carefully selected family-run guesthouses and everything you need to know will be arranged in our mobile app:
- detailed day per day itinerary & navigation
- a great choice of optional stops, local tips & audio storytelling
- suggestions for tours, audio guided tours & activities
- our favorite restaurant suggestions in each area
Our app will give you the freedom to modify and adjust your itinerary according to your interests and pace, while maximizing your time. All content is presented in a clear and simple way to give you a deeper understanding of Greek history and culture. The advice of our favorite guide Danae will escort you at each stop, while you will be able to contact our team of travel designers too!
Day 1: Nafplio, Mycenae - Olympia I The Land of Legends
Pick your car at your arranged location in Athens and start your trip to explore the central part of Peloponnese peninsula. Make a stop at the Corinth Canal to admire a masterpiece of engineering, and continue to Epidaurus, the finest and best-preserved theatre of the ancient world. Then visit the fabled Homeric city of Mycenae, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the capital of one of the oldest civilizations in the world, where you can enjoy the monuments, the legends and heroes who marked this land with their deeds and ideas. You'll then head towards the historic seaside city of Nafplio, a romantic, picturesque town, which was the old capital of modern Greece, crowned by Venetian fortifications and embraced by a beautiful seafront. From Nafplio, your trip will take you through the beautiful Peloponnesian countryside towards ancient Olympia where you can follow our tips and recommendations for a perfect evening. Overnight in Olympia.
Day 2: Olympia - Galaxidi I An “Athlos” for a Good Life
After a traditional breakfast, start your day with a visit to the ancient site and museum of Olympia. This was the most important athletic, religious and political center of the ancient Greek world, birthplace of the Olympic Games and the ideals of world peace. Here you'll also understand the ancient idea of 'athlos', the struggle needed to achieve a good life. Continue with the 'sweetest' activity, at a beautiful honey farm, or take part in a simulation of an ancient excavation! After lunch drive over the Rio-Antirio bridge, the longest fully-suspended bridge in the world and stop for coffee at a medieval harbor. Continue your trip along scenic coastal roads till you reach one of the most beautiful seaside villages of Greece, Galaxidi. Overnight in Galaxidi.
Day 3: Delphi - Meteora I Mountains and waters, a source of divine inspiration
Enjoy a home-made breakfast with local products at your family-run guesthouse and then go for a swim in the refreshing waters of Galaxidi. The highlight of the day will undoubtedly be the visit of the ancient site and the museum of Delphi, where you can opt for a guided tour to get a better understanding of the monuments and the mystical role of Kastalia spring's waters. After Delphi, you can enjoy a traditional Greek lunch under century-old plane trees in a beautiful, abandoned village, followed by a road trip through the mountains and valleys of central Greece. You will pass by villages that will give you a taste of the Greek countryside and you will finish the day with an evening walk, dinner and overnight in Meteora.
Day 4: Meteora I Between Heaven and Earth
After breakfast start your exploration of Meteora, a stunning natural phenomenon, featuring towering sandstone columns, formed millions of years ago, all pointing heavenward. These rocks became dwelling-places for Christian Orthodox monks and today you can visit six monasteries that are still functioning. You’ll be able to walk and drive around Meteora, to make sure you soak in the sights and the awe-inspiring landscape. You can also visit a prehistoric cave and admire how people lived in the area 130,000 years ago. Then, explore the town of Kalambaka and learn about local society and how it has developed under the shade of the Great Rocks. If you want to take a deeper dive into local culture choose between a visit to the Greek Education Museum, a Greek language mini course or a workshop of byzantine art with a local artist. For lunch you can enjoy delicious local food in a nearby village or learn all about local wine by visiting one of the best wineries in the area. Finish the day with a scenic sunset and photo-stop route around Meteora rocks. Overnight in Meteora.
Day 5: Pindos - Athens I In search of the divine in the Greek mountains
This day is dedicated to a road trip in Pindos, the most scenic mountain range of central Greece. You will explore the little-known Forest of the White River, a wild area of small mountain villages hidden in the depths of a massive forest. We'll also show you the secret path to one of the most beautiful -but rarely visited by tourists- monastery with thirteen domes, before visiting the spot where three rivers meet. Here you can take a dive in turquoise waters and continue your drive through the gorge to enjoy one of the most scenic routes along the Pindos Mountain range. Your last stop will be at an impressive stone bridge and lunch at an unexpected, middle-earth fantasy tree-tavern!
