Athens Trip Overview
Are you ready to visit the most historical & Mythological locations of Greece and at the same time be fascinated by 3 scenic train rides that can even be a vacation in itself?
Little train of Pelion, The Cog railway Diakopto-Kalavryta and The Katakolon Train. You will be amazed by the little train’s fascinating atmosphere and the mythical tales of Mt. Pelion, the natural paradise and the summer habitat of the twelve gods of Olympus all combined in a single magical journey!
You will get on the train and travel to Kalavryta through Vouraikos Canyon which is one of the most beautiful natural sights and one of the most spectacular railway rides in Greece. Then you will continue to the mysterious, magnificent and unique “Cave of the Lakes”.
The little train departing from ancient Olympia where the first ever Olympic Games took place in 776 BC to honor the Olympian Zeus takes you to Katakolo a small scenic harbor and a beautiful tourist attraction.
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Additional Info
Duration: 6 days
Starts: Athens, Greece
Trip Category: Cultural & Theme Tours >> Historical & Heritage Tours
Explore Athens Promoted Experiences
What to Expect When Visiting Athens, Attica, Greece
Are you ready to visit the most historical & Mythological locations of Greece and at the same time be fascinated by 3 scenic train rides that can even be a vacation in itself?
Little train of Pelion, The Cog railway Diakopto-Kalavryta and The Katakolon Train. You will be amazed by the little train’s fascinating atmosphere and the mythical tales of Mt. Pelion, the natural paradise and the summer habitat of the twelve gods of Olympus all combined in a single magical journey!
You will get on the train and travel to Kalavryta through Vouraikos Canyon which is one of the most beautiful natural sights and one of the most spectacular railway rides in Greece. Then you will continue to the mysterious, magnificent and unique “Cave of the Lakes”.
The little train departing from ancient Olympia where the first ever Olympic Games took place in 776 BC to honor the Olympian Zeus takes you to Katakolo a small scenic harbor and a beautiful tourist attraction.
Itinerary
Day 1: ATHENS – CORINTH – CAVE OF LAKES KALAVRYTA- JOURNEY WITH COF RAILWAY- NAUPLIO
Stop At: Corinth Canal, Isthmia, Loutraki 201 00 Greece
Our driver will pick you up from your hotel at 09.00 o’clock and driving along the mainland coast to Peloponnese, an hour later, we will make our first stop, at the Canal of Corinth (6 km length and 80m height).
Soon we reach the Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus, one of the best Ancient Theatres worldwide with amazing acoustics.
We will stop for lunch or a coffee break, at one of the most romantic towns of Greece, the seaside town of Nafplio, first capital city of Modern Greece.
We will continue to the archaeological site of Mycenae, an ancient town with great power during the ancient years, with the famous ‘’Gate of Lions’’ and ‘’Atreus King Tomb’’.
Our first day will be finished at the famous town of Sparta for overnight.
Duration: 15 minutes
Stop At: Ancient Corinth (Archaia Korinthos), Argous 105 Ancient Korinthos village, Corinth 200 07 Greece
We continue to reach at Ancient Corinth which was one of his beloved cities of Saint Paul. We will have the chance to visit the Ancient Market and the Bema of Apostle Paul or Galionas, a large elevated rostrum standing prominently in the center of the Roman Forum of ancient Corinth.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Diakofto, Diakofto, Achaea Region, West Greece
Then we will arrive at “Diakofto” to take the Cog Railway (Odontotos) which links Kalavrita with Diakopto through Vouraikos Canyon; one of the most beautiful natural sights and of the most spectacular railway rides in Greece. It has been mentioned as the most beautiful train trip in Balkans. The little train travels through streams climbing the fantastic narrow gorge up into the mountains, through tunnels, over waterfalls, along cliffs and through forests of pine and oleander. The journey ends at the town of Kalavryta.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Kalavrita, Kalavrita, Achaea Region, West Greece
Our driver will meet you there to continue the tour at the mysterious, magnificent and unique “Cave of the Lakes”, a rare creation of Nature. Consisted of 13 in total Small and large lakes, with different colors each one, depending on the oxides contained in the rocks. You will see the wonderful «hanging bridge» and the «waterfalls» «falling» that will cause you the feeling a floating corridor. Also you will admire strange stalactite formations. In winter when the snow melts, the cave is transformed into a subterranean river with natural waterfalls. We have a stop for lunch at the picturesque village of Kalavrita.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Nafplio, Nafplio, Argolis Region, Peloponnese
Finally we will reach at the romantic town of Nafplio for overnight
Duration: 2 hours
No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Overnight in Nafplio
Day 2: NAUPLIO – MYCENAE – EPIDAURUS – OLYMPIA
Stop At: Nafplio, Nafplio, Argolis Region, Peloponnese
• After your breakfast, you will have time to visit either Palamidi castle, which you can reach by climbing 999 steps (!), or to take a small boat and visit ”Bourtzi’,’ the fortress at the entrance of the harbor.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: The Great Theatre of Epidaurus, Ethniki Odos Isthmou Archaias Epidavrou, Epidavros 210 52 Greece
Then, we will leave for Epidaurus and we will visit the Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus, famous for the breathtaking acoustics that is still functioning today!
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Archaeological Museum of Ancient Mycenae, Mycenae Greece
We will visit the ancient town of Mycenae and the Archaeological site – the Lion Gate, the Cyclopean Walls, the Royal Palace and the tomb of Agamemnon.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Olympia, Olympia, Elis Region, West Greece
Finally we will reach at Ancient Olympia for Overnight.
Duration: 3 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight in Olympia
Day 3: ANCIENT OLYMPIA – LITTLE TRAIN TO KATAKOLON VILLAGE – DELPHI:
Stop At: Archaeological Site of Olympia, Archaia Olympia 270 65, Greece
After our breakfast, we leave Sparta and after a short stop at the picturesque small coastal town of Gythio, we arrive at Areopolis and Diros, famous for its marvelous subterranean caves as a part of an underground river. About 5,000 meters have been exposed and accessible by small boats and through narrow passageways and one is surrounded by formations of stalagmites and stalactites. Caves have served as places of worship in Paleolithic and Neolithic times and their inhabitant believed that the caves were the entrance to the underworld. We can also visit the local museum and then we continue to some of the most beautiful places of Southern Peloponnese, the coastal villages of Stoupa and Kardamili, for swimming or lunch.
We pass by the town of Kalamata and we finally arrive at Ancient Olympia for overnight.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Katakolo, Katakolo, Elis Region, West Greece
You will get the little train for a wonderful journey from Olympia to Katakolon lasts for approximately 45 minutes. It’s a beautiful and extremely popular route, both amongst the international visitors from cruise ships and Greek travelers that prefer the train for their transports.
The small scenic harbor of Katakolo is the main heaven of Pyrgos and a beautiful tourist attraction. The Museum of Ancient Greek Technology holds approximately 150 models of mechanisms and inventions of the ancient world from 2000 BC until 100 AD and is definitely worth a visit. Small forested hills surround the port of Katakolo, which is a popular stop for cruise ships on tours of the Mediterranean and the Ionian Sea. Enjoy the coffee next to the sea!
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: The Venetian Castle of Nafpaktos, Montain, Naupactus 303 00 Greece
Leaving Katakolon, we will cross over the amazing bridge of Rion – Antirion, one of the biggest bridges in Europe. Then we will head to Naupactus, a beautiful seaside small town, where you can visit the Venetian Castle, the Venetian Port. etc or to have lunch here.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Delphi, Delphi, Phocis Region, Central Greece
We will reach at Delphi for overnight
Duration: 1 hour
Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight in Delphi
Day 4: DELPHI – ARACHOVA VILLAGE – METEORA
Stop At: Delphi Archaeological Museum, Ethniki Odos Amfissas – Livadias, Delphi 330 54 Greece
After your breakfast, our driver will drive you at the Ancient Oracle, the Stadium, the Ancient Theatre, with a capacity that exceeds 5,000 spectators and of course the Museum of Delphi. Delphi is perhaps best known for the oracle at the sanctuary that was dedicated to Apollo during the classical period.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Arachova, Arachova, Boeotia Region, Central Greece
Continuing we will depart to reach the village of Arachova, the most bustling winter destination in Greece, a mountainous village at 1000 meters altitude. Discover the traditional character of the village by taking a coffee or lunch break. Don’t forget to try the famous, traditional cheese, Arachova’s formaela, in various forms.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Kalambaka, Kalambaka, Trikala Region, Thessaly
Departing from Arachova and driving through Central Greece, and the city of Trikala, where we are going to make a quick stop, we will arrive in Kalambaka, a small traditional town that is built at the foot of the majestic grey rocks of God, at the shadow of the great Meteora Monasteries. Kalambaka (Meteora) for overnight.
Duration: 3 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight in Meteora
Day 5: METEORA – PELION (Portaria)
Stop At: Meteora, Kastraki, Kalambaka 422 00 Greece
Visit Meteora enjoying a unique and imposive scenery of ageless monasteries, containing priceless historical and religious treasures, standing between Earth and Sky atop huge rocks. We are going to visit the first great monastery of Varlaam, founded on the 16th century and located on the top of a rock at 380m height! Our second visit will be at the Monastery of St. Stephan, of the 15th century, also built on the top of the top of another huge rock where you will admire a small treasure of Byzantine and Christian items at the museum inside the monastery!
Duration: 3 hours
Stop At: Pelion, Pelion, Magnesia Region, Thessaly
At the end of your visit at the monasteries, go ahead to “Pelion area”, the summer habitat of the twelve gods of Olympus and visit Portaria village.a complex of traditional villages. Pelion is a place of indescribable beauty, irresistibly attractive. Mt Pelion allures all the visitors. With a breath-taking view over the endless sea, settlements that are architectural gems, and an ancient culture, it welcomes myriads of visitors every year. Lush vegetation and an extensive network of mountain paths enable the visitor to wander through a bewitching land, still echoing to the legendary Centaurs. It is said that the cave of Centaur Chiron can be found in the village of Milies on Mt Pelion
Check in and then have free time to explore the village. You can stroll around and explore the incredibly dense network of cobblestone trails and enjoy the taverns with delicious food. Overnight in Pelion (Portaria).
Duration: 8 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight in Pelion (Portaria Village)
Day 6: PELION – LITTLE TRAIN ANO LECHONIA – MILIES – ATHENS
Stop At: Ano Lechonia, Ano Lechonia, Volos, Magnesia Region, Thessaly
After breakfast at 09:00 we will head to Ano Lechonia in order to take the little train departing at 10:00 to get to Milies after about 90 min and 15km. The train’s only intermediate stop is at the Ano Gatzea station for 15. Up until Milies, the route is filled with natural beauty and features numerous architectural landmarks, especially arched bridges, tunnel entries and retaining walls. Here one can marvel at the church of Taxiarhes, which had been constructed before 1741 and the library which is one of the oldest in Greece or visit the museum of folk art.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Thermopylae 350 09, Greece
Later we return to Athens passing by the small towns of Domokos, Kamena Vourla, at the seaside and Thermopiles where the statue of Leonidas is on display as a memorial of the battle of the 300 Spartans against thousands of Persian soldiers of the Persian Empire
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Athens, Athens, Attica
Late in the afternoon we will reach in Athens. Drop you off at your hotel. Our services ends.
Duration: 2 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
No accommodation included on this day.
Special Offer – Book by March 12 to save 15% off our previously offered price! – Book Now!
