8 days / 7 nights
Fly & Drive
Western & southwestern Peloponnese (in the heart of the Greek tradition)
1st day: Arrival to Athens airport & pick up the car from rent a car company – transfer to Kalamata.
- Where to sleep: “Pharae Palace” in Kalamata (www.pharaepalace.gr) or “Bay Watch” hotel, in Chranoi (10 km from Kalamata) (www.hotelbaywatch.gr).
2nd day: Visit Messini archeological site and then proceed to Messinian Mani in order to visit the little villages on the beach: Almyros, Kardamilli, Stoupa (ideal places for a swim). Back to Kalamata and Pylos (old Navarino).
- Where to eat: In “Kohyli” fish restaurant near Pylos (Tel.27230 23259).
- Where to sleep: “Hotel Karalis Beach”, in Pylos (www.karalisbeach.gr) or “Hotel Philip” (www.hotelpylos.com).
3rd day: Visit the city and the castle of Methoni. Take the glass-boat for a mini-cruise in order to watch an ancient submerged city (a whole city under the water). Also, you can take the boat and go the island of Sapienza for a swim. Back to Pylos.
- Where to eat: In “Panagiotis” tavern, in Mesohori, known for its excellent local cuisine.
4th day: Visit the “Palace of Nestor” (prehistoric Mycenean city-state, mentioned also by Homer, in Heliade) and the local museum – drink a “frappe’” cold coffee at Pylos’s central square and get a golf lesson at the Costa Navarino’s golf course (one of the best in Europe) – alternatively, go to the famous Voidokoilia’s beach and swim to one of the 5 most famous beaches of Greece. Back to Pylos.
- Where to eat: Under the plane tree of the central taverna, in Petrohori village.
5th day: Visit the Venetian castle of Pylos (Niokastro) or rent a bike (Martin’s bikes) for a bird watching tour around the Gialova lagoon.
- Extra tips for the day: Visit the “Kamini”, the only coal manufacturer in Greece – go to the Kalamari falls for a nice hiking tour – visit the Zoodochou Pigis little monastery (where the only monk will tell you the story of the place and will offer you “loukoumakia” and “raki’) – at the end of Gialova bay, you can walk through the shallow waters of the sea and reach the Sfaktiria little island, where the famous Battle of Navarino was held in 1827 (on Sfasktiria you can still see the russian church) – back to Pylos.
- Where to eat: In “Elia” restaurant, in Gialova (Tel.27230 23503).
6th day: Along the coastal road you go through Gargalianoi, Filiatra, Kyparissia and reach Kalo Nero and Elia. From there you can turn right and reach the Apollo temple in Vasses and the Neda waterfalls and overnight in Tripoli town, or go straight towards Pyrgos and then turn right in order to visit the Ancient Olympia archeological site (and its Museum) and overnight in Ancient Olympia little town.
- Where to sleep: “Olympion Asty” a boutique hotel, in Olympia (www.olympionasty.gr) or “Arcadia Design Hotel” (www.hotelarcadia.gr), in Tripolis town.
7th day: (for both alternatives) Visit the Mainalon mountain and its picturesque villages: Vytina, Dimitsana, Stemnitsa, Ellinikon.
- Extra Tips of the day: Taste the famous local sweets (“baklavadakia”) in Stemnitsa village – visit the Water Museum in Dimitsana (along the Lousios river) – trekking or hiking across the Mainalon Mountain – visit the ancient city of Gortys – overnight in Tripolis town.
- Where to eat: In “Kioupi” restaurant, in Dimitsana (Tel 27950-31232), where they serve local game meat and handmade yogurt.
- Where to sleep: “Arhontiko Kaltezioti”(www.kalteziotis.gr) in Levidi, or “Arcadia Design Hotel” (www.hotelarcadia.gr) in Tripolis town.
8th day: Transfer to Athens airport – departure (if you have time, you can visit one of the Mantineia wineries, p.s. the “Tselepos Estate” (www.tselepos.gr), near Tripoli (an area well known for its excellent wine production).