Lousios Gorge Hiking, Olympia, Vasses, Delphi & Hosios Loukas Tour

Day 1

Meet your chauffeur at lobby of your accommodation early in the morning to leave for the Lousios Gorge at Peloponnese. We will drive westwards and you will have the chance to enjoy the magnificent Greek coastal scenery along the Athenian coastline. After 50min of an easy ride we will arrive at our first stop the enginnering marvel of Corinth Canal.

From there we will continue straight to Lousios Gorge. Lay back for the next 2 hours and enjoy the marvelous scenic beauty of Greek countryside till we will reach our final destination, Lousios Gorge.

Lousios gorge is located in the area of mountainous Arcadia in the heart of Peloponnese and offers great opportunities for adventures for the nature lovers. The remote picturesque Stone villages Dimitsana, Stemnitsa and Vitina with their cobblestone winding paths staring at the gorge of Lousios are waiting -almost untouched- to be explored.

Ideally visited during spring or summer, the magnificent Gorge provides an opportunity to step your foot in the beauty of Greek nature and explore its local flora and fauna. Follow the meandering rocky paths and you will see how the gorge is a shelter to small mammals and water creatures but also a nest for predatory birds. You can spent about 3 hours to explore the area and start your little hiking adventure.

If time and mood permits the Monasteries that exist in the area worth to be visited. The limestone rock formations have served as a living space for hermit monks in the old times. This natural hideaway became a foundation for the monasteries named The Prodromou and Philoshophou that are lying to this day in the Arcadian gorge of Lousios.

Your chauffeur will be waiting for you at the drop off point. At the end of your hiking adventure we suggest a break for lunch.

We will continue to Vasses for a stop. Next stop Olympia, that we will reach after a 2hrs driving.

Overnight in Olympia.

Day 2

Ancient Olympia is a place whose beauty and value cannot be fathomed by words and descriptions. It is the place that has been admittedly the most glorified and worshiped sanctuary of the ancient world, dedicated to the father of humans and the Gods, Zeus.

The first Olympic Games were held here in honor of God Zeus back in 776B.C. and has become nowadays an international athletic celebration, that exceeds borders and nationalities, begins in this exact place every four years.

You will be able to see the ruins of the Temple of Zeus, of the Temple of Hera, the Stadium with its spectacular capacity of 45000 people. Take your time to explore the ruins of the ancient facilities on site and then continue to the Museum. Archaeological Museum, is filled with remarkable exhibits, including the famous statue of Hermes attributed to the sculptor Praxiteles. We will have 3 hours to explore it.

At this point we suggest a break for a lunch.

Next, we will depart from Olympia to Delphi. On our way to Delphi we will have a stop at the magnificent town of Nafpaktos. After approx. 3,5 hrs and the wonderful scenic ride.

Overnight in Delphi.

Day 3

Early in the morning we will begin with our visit to the navel of the world, the Archaeological Site of Delphi.

Delphi used to be the most important sanctuary dedicated to God Apollo, the place through which the God was believed to be offering his Oracles through Pythia, the Priestess of the Sanctuary, who was always eager to give her advice to everyone from mere citizens to mythical heroes and legendary leaders of cities.

The perpetual inner need of mortals and the endless effort of the human race to foresee and learn about the future but also have the blessing of the Gods gradually converted the Oracle of Delphi into an important information and cultural center and allowed it to collect all the offerings that the cities were sending as donations, which resulted in the creation of a local treasury of immense value.

You will see the Temple of Apollo but also explore the sanctuary of Athena Pronaia with the renowned Tholos, The Castalia Spring, the Temple of Apollo, the Great ancient theater, the stadium, where the so called Pythian Games and the treasuries that the city state erected in order to express the gratitude towards the Gods.

Inside the archaeological museum of Delphi which is our next stop you will have the chance to admire many important ancient Greek artifacts from the excavations at Delphi, including the famous statue of Antinoos and the unique bronze statue of the Charioteer dated from 475 B.C.

You can spend approx. 3hrs on the Site and its Museum.

After our visit to the Site we will depart to Athens. On the way we would never miss to stop at the beautiful traditional and picturesque village of Arachova, where you can enjoy a nice stroll in the village.

Then, we will depart for the Monastery of Hosios Loukas. Hossios Loukas is the largest surviving monastery of the Middle Byzantine period in Greece, famous for its Byzanitne mosaics, founded in the early 10th century by the hermit Hosios Loukas whose relics are kept in the monastery to this day. You can spend about 1,5hr for your visit to the Monastery.

After all we will follow the way back to Athens. Driving time to Athens 2,5 hrs