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Europe Packages » Greece Tour
Greece Tour Package
GREECE’S CULTURE WALK
This walk is through the central part of the southern Peloponnese, keeping to less developed parts where there are few tourists in midsummer and even fewer when you walk.
Kardamili lies approximately at the centre of Outer or Messinian Mani. Here the architecture is striking, with tall, narrow houses, sturdy structures with thick walls and few windows built of local, pastel-colored stone and tiles or grey slate. The landscape matches the buildings for grandeur: forever dominating the eastern skyline is the massive, rocky ridge of Taygetus (2407 meters), snow-capped until late April. Its higher foothills, deprived of water by underground channels and caves in the porous limestone, are dry and lunar in appearance. But towards the coast, the rivers re-emerge to feed fields of crops and olive groves.
In spring buds offset the brown and white of the higher ground to dramatic effect. Olives and olive oil, packed in Kalamata (the county capital), are the biggest and proudest export of the region, with local honey and figs also boosting the economy. Some unusual cheeses, such as the creamy “sfela,” are the fruit of the huge goat population, while further south farmers gather salt.
The magnificent Byzantine fortress of Mystras lies on a sharp, conical hill. Separated into three parts the Kastro (fortress), upper town and lower town this historic settlement used to be the Byzantine capital of the Peloponnese, and indeed the last Byzantine civilization.
In spring, the southern Peloponnese turns into a carpet of flowers, with wild iris, orchids and anemone opening the show in March/April; daisies, spurge and valarium complete the scene. In autumn graceful cyclamen, snowdrops and several species of crocuses abound. Wild herbs (oregano, basil, and thyme) scent the hillsides throughout the year.
Much of the land you walk through is cultivated, usually with olive and citrus groves, and the odd banana or palm tree. At higher altitudes (starting just above Anavriti), there are pine and fir forests, with stands of majestic black pine.
Hunting has driven many animals and game birds away from Taygetus, as in the rest of Greece, but you may still see many of the birds, buzzards and occasional goshawks, bee-eaters and kingfishers. Rock Nuthatches are common on the ruins of Mystras. Of the region’s huge population of butterflies, the two-tailed pasha is perhaps the most spectacular; and, of the land fauna, various lizards, tortoises and the occasional badger cross your path.
Accommodations are lovely, casual and comfortable with private bathrooms. The food is typically Greek and is incredibly delicious.
Day 1
Meet at the airport with your English speaking Trekking Hellas guide. There is one major transfer from the airport “Eleftherios Venizelos” to the hotel, which is conveniently located in the heart of Athens. Settle in to the hotel. In the evening meet with your guide for a short walking tour of Athens and enjoy dinner in a traditional Greek tavern in the old part of Athens, in Plaka.
Day 2
From Athens travel to Kardamyli. After breakfast, half day sightseeing tour of Athens, the hostess of the next Olympic Games in 2004. Visit the Acropolis, the Parthenon, the Archaeological Museum and Panathinaikon Stadium, the stadium where the first Olympic games were held in 1896. Lunch in a tavern. Early in the afternoon, transfer to Kardamyli (5 hours). Arrive in Kardamyli, settle in to your guesthouse. Optional: If the group arrives early in the afternoon, you may walk up to Petrovouni village, St. Sofia 11th-century church and back (mule path, 2 hours).
Day 3
Viros gorge and villages (5 hours) Transfer to Exohori village (30 minutes). You will then walk down into the dry Viros gorge, with views up to the Taygetus peaks, and up a winding mule path to Tseria village for a coffee break and afterwards another stop for a light picnic lunch. Afterwards you walk via Pedino village to Kalives hamlet before descending back into Viros gorge and along it to Kardamyli (on partly overgrown paths and stony riverbed between high cliffs). Spend the night in a hotel.
Day 4
Castles and churches walk (6 hours) Transfer to Sotirianika village (45 minutes). The group will walk past the deserted monastery of St. George, across a stone bridge over the Koskarakas gorge, and past the nunnery of Evangelistria to reach Kambos village (3 hrs, dirt road and paths). Here you will visit a Mycenaean grave tomb, a 19th-century mansion and (1/2 hr walk) the 15th-century Zarnatas castle and private chapel of Zoodohou Pigis with its unusual and well-preserved frescoes; picnic lunch here. You continue via Malta village, the Koumoundourakis castle and follow the coastal mule path back to Kardamyli (3 hours). Overnight in Kardamyli.
Day 5
Loop walk around Mystras (5 hours) Transfer to Mystras (about 2 hours drive). Walk around the remains of the ruined Byzantine city of Mystras. (3 hours easy walk). Return to Mystras through the ravine (45 minutes walk). Dinner in a tavern. Overnight in Mystras.
Day 6
Transfer to the village of St. George, your departure point for today’s trek. You take the old Kalderimi (mule path) up to the village of Anavrity. You continue on dirt roads and paths and after a picnic stop in the beautiful tranquil village of Soha, you then descend to the plain on a spectacular mule path giving excellent panorami, views. The trek ends at Kalivia Sohas for a transfer back car or taxi at Mystras.
Day 7
After breakfast transfer back to Athens. Duration of transfer approximately 4 hours. If time allow, you may visit ancient Sparta or ahernative the ancient, theatre of Epidaurus.
Related Informations & Tour Packages
This walk is through the central part of the southern Peloponnese, keeping to less developed parts where there are few tourists in midsummer and even fewer when you walk.
Kardamili lies approximately at the centre of Outer or Messinian Mani. Here the architecture is striking, with tall, narrow houses, sturdy structures with thick walls and few windows built of local, pastel-colored stone and tiles or grey slate. The landscape matches the buildings for grandeur: forever dominating the eastern skyline is the massive, rocky ridge of Taygetus (2407 meters), snow-capped until late April. Its higher foothills, deprived of water by underground channels and caves in the porous limestone, are dry and lunar in appearance. But towards the coast, the rivers re-emerge to feed fields of crops and olive groves.
In spring buds offset the brown and white of the higher ground to dramatic effect. Olives and olive oil, packed in Kalamata (the county capital), are the biggest and proudest export of the region, with local honey and figs also boosting the economy. Some unusual cheeses, such as the creamy “sfela,” are the fruit of the huge goat population, while further south farmers gather salt.
The magnificent Byzantine fortress of Mystras lies on a sharp, conical hill. Separated into three parts the Kastro (fortress), upper town and lower town this historic settlement used to be the Byzantine capital of the Peloponnese, and indeed the last Byzantine civilization.
In spring, the southern Peloponnese turns into a carpet of flowers, with wild iris, orchids and anemone opening the show in March/April; daisies, spurge and valarium complete the scene. In autumn graceful cyclamen, snowdrops and several species of crocuses abound. Wild herbs (oregano, basil, and thyme) scent the hillsides throughout the year.
Much of the land you walk through is cultivated, usually with olive and citrus groves, and the odd banana or palm tree. At higher altitudes (starting just above Anavriti), there are pine and fir forests, with stands of majestic black pine.
Hunting has driven many animals and game birds away from Taygetus, as in the rest of Greece, but you may still see many of the birds, buzzards and occasional goshawks, bee-eaters and kingfishers. Rock Nuthatches are common on the ruins of Mystras. Of the region’s huge population of butterflies, the two-tailed pasha is perhaps the most spectacular; and, of the land fauna, various lizards, tortoises and the occasional badger cross your path.
Accommodations are lovely, casual and comfortable with private bathrooms. The food is typically Greek and is incredibly delicious.
Day 1
Meet at the airport with your English speaking Trekking Hellas guide. There is one major transfer from the airport “Eleftherios Venizelos” to the hotel, which is conveniently located in the heart of Athens. Settle in to the hotel. In the evening meet with your guide for a short walking tour of Athens and enjoy dinner in a traditional Greek tavern in the old part of Athens, in Plaka.
Day 2
From Athens travel to Kardamyli. After breakfast, half day sightseeing tour of Athens, the hostess of the next Olympic Games in 2004. Visit the Acropolis, the Parthenon, the Archaeological Museum and Panathinaikon Stadium, the stadium where the first Olympic games were held in 1896. Lunch in a tavern. Early in the afternoon, transfer to Kardamyli (5 hours). Arrive in Kardamyli, settle in to your guesthouse. Optional: If the group arrives early in the afternoon, you may walk up to Petrovouni village, St. Sofia 11th-century church and back (mule path, 2 hours).
Day 3
Viros gorge and villages (5 hours) Transfer to Exohori village (30 minutes). You will then walk down into the dry Viros gorge, with views up to the Taygetus peaks, and up a winding mule path to Tseria village for a coffee break and afterwards another stop for a light picnic lunch. Afterwards you walk via Pedino village to Kalives hamlet before descending back into Viros gorge and along it to Kardamyli (on partly overgrown paths and stony riverbed between high cliffs). Spend the night in a hotel.
Day 4
Castles and churches walk (6 hours) Transfer to Sotirianika village (45 minutes). The group will walk past the deserted monastery of St. George, across a stone bridge over the Koskarakas gorge, and past the nunnery of Evangelistria to reach Kambos village (3 hrs, dirt road and paths). Here you will visit a Mycenaean grave tomb, a 19th-century mansion and (1/2 hr walk) the 15th-century Zarnatas castle and private chapel of Zoodohou Pigis with its unusual and well-preserved frescoes; picnic lunch here. You continue via Malta village, the Koumoundourakis castle and follow the coastal mule path back to Kardamyli (3 hours). Overnight in Kardamyli.
Day 5
Loop walk around Mystras (5 hours) Transfer to Mystras (about 2 hours drive). Walk around the remains of the ruined Byzantine city of Mystras. (3 hours easy walk). Return to Mystras through the ravine (45 minutes walk). Dinner in a tavern. Overnight in Mystras.
Day 6
Transfer to the village of St. George, your departure point for today’s trek. You take the old Kalderimi (mule path) up to the village of Anavrity. You continue on dirt roads and paths and after a picnic stop in the beautiful tranquil village of Soha, you then descend to the plain on a spectacular mule path giving excellent panorami, views. The trek ends at Kalivia Sohas for a transfer back car or taxi at Mystras.
Day 7
After breakfast transfer back to Athens. Duration of transfer approximately 4 hours. If time allow, you may visit ancient Sparta or ahernative the ancient, theatre of Epidaurus.
Related Informations & Tour Packages
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