Self Drive Tour in the Footsteps of Odysseus 9 days

As you step onto Athenian soil, you're walking into a city where legends were born. A Greca representative will be waiting to take you comfortably to your hotel, where you can settle in and begin soaking up the Hellenic spirit.

Later in the afternoon, one of our team members will meet with you to give a personalized presentation of your upcoming journey and answer any questions you may have.

The rest of the day is yours. Stroll through timeless streets, enjoy local delicacies, and let the pulse of this lively capital introduce itself in its own unique rhythm.

Greca Tip: Enhance your experience by easily extending your stay. Add more nights during the booking process!

This will be a free day in Athens, where, after a delicious breakfast, you will have the chance to visit some of the famous attractions and places of interest in the city. Alternatively, you can enjoy a leisurely stroll in the city center and make your own discoveries as you go along.

In the evening you will join a walking tour through the most stunning districts of Athens, such as Anafiotika, Thisio, Monastiraki, and Plaka.

Greca Tip: Enjoy a tasty souvlaki in one of the taverns in and around Monasteraki Square.

After a nutritious breakfast, you will pick up your rental car and drive to the region of Argolis.

Just outside Athens, at a distance of about 11 kilometers from the city, we suggest a visit to the Daphne Monastery. This monastery is considered the oldest Byzantine monastery of its type in Greece and its frescoes and mosaics are masterpieces of the golden era of Byzantine art. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage in 1990.

On your way to Nafplio, you can stop at the Corinth Canal, a great engineering feat first designed in 630 BC by Periander, a tyrant that ruled Corinth and is considered one of the seven sages of Ancient Greece. This 6-kilometer-long channel was built to connect the Ionian Sea with the Saronic Gulf, thus saving valuable sailing time for seafaring vessels. Its construction lasted a long time and was completed by the French in 1893.

About half an hour’s driving later you will reach Mycenae, one of the most important archaeological sites of Ancient Greece. Here you can visit the Lion's Gate and the Treasure of Atreus. This last structure is generally believed to be a royal tomb and more precisely the Tomb of Agamemnon.

You will end a full day of a cultural adventure in the comfort of your hotel in Nafplio, a charming Venetian city.

Total distance: 148 kilometers

Greca Tip: Enjoy a leisurely walk around the Old Town and sip your drink at the port taking in the amazing view of Bourtzi, always lit up at night.

After a delicious breakfast, you will have time to discover Nafplio in the morning. There you can get in touch with the locals by visiting an olive oil mill and tasting the famous and appetizing Greek olives. After leaving Nafplio, you will drive through the picturesque mountains of Arcadia towards the ancient Olympia.

On the route, you can make a detour to Kalavryta, a city with magnificent views and steep slopes, river springs, and pine forests. At about 17 kilometers from Kalavryta, you will come across the Cave of the Lakes. The cave extends for 2 kilometers underground and has 15 lakes inside. The combination of the colors and waterfalls together makes an impressive spectacle.

Alternatively, you can drive to Diakofto and, from there, catch the train known as "Odontotos" towards Kalavryta. This train rises to a height of 750 meters above sea level and crosses the entire Vouraikos Gorge. The views are splendid, with lush forests, waterfalls, and tunnels carved into the rocks. This is the tour of such striking beauty, that you should not miss out on the chance of taking it. 

After these two compulsory stops, you will arrive at the destination of the day, Olympia. There, you will visit the site of the former Olympic stadium, where the first Games were held (776 BC). The importance of the Olympic games was such that all Greek cities ceased hostilities and participated on a large scale.

Olympia was also the most important sanctuary of the Ancient Greeks, a place to worship Zeus, the king, and father of all gods. Here also stood his gold and ivory statue, a gigantic sculpture made by Fidias himself and one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.

Total distance: 157 kilometers

Greca Tip: Relax and make the most of your hotel's amenities or hike through the beautiful surrounding countryside.

Today, after a delicious breakfast, you will leave the Peloponnese region to discover the islands of the Ionian Sea. These islands differ from those of the Aegean Sea for being covered with forests and fertile valleys, mountainous areas, olive groves, and vineyards. 

You will first drive to the port of Kyllini, where you will board your ferry. Your trip will last about an hour and a half to reach the Port of Poros in Kefalonia (a name which comes from Céfalo, that according to Greek Mythology, was the lord of the island).

On the east coast of the island, the port of Sami has ferry services to the Peloponnese and Ithaca. Near it, there are two caves: The Cave of Drogkaráti and the Melissani cave lake of. This underground cave lake was once a Mycenaean sanctuary in honor of the god Pan.

After collapsing part of its limestone roof, a captivating place of deep blue waters was revealed. A channel leads to the closed section where, according to the legend, the nymph Melisaní drowned when she was rejected by Pan. (In Greek Mythology, a nymph is a minor feminine deity typically associated with particular locations or landforms, such as a spring, a stream, mountain, sea, or grove.)

After exploring the charming attractions of the island, you will have a well-deserved rest.

Optionally, in case you have more days, we suggest adding nights here to go on a barbecue cruise from Argostoli, visiting XI Beach, Vardiani, and more!

Total distance: 137 kilometers

Greca Tip: In the evening we suggest a walk along the pedestrian streets or the coastal road of Argostoli, the capital of the island.

After a tasty breakfast, and becoming more and more familiar with the Greek way of life, you will leave for the port of Sami to continue to your next destination, Ithaka. You will take the ferryboat to the Port of Pisaetos.

The island of Ithaka is known for being the birthplace of Odysseus in Homer's mythical Odyssey. After his almost 20-year adventurous periplus, he returned to it, where his wife, Penelope, and his son, Telemachus, still waited for him.

Ithaka is the least visited, but the most legendary of the Ionian Islands. The island is divided into the northern and southern parts. The southern part is the one that still preserves the essence of the past, while the northern part is the one that attracts more tourists.

Vathi, its capital, is located in a bay with serene waters and has Venetian influences. Two kilometers away from Vathi, you will find Dexa Beach, which according to legend, was the place where Odysseus landed after his long journey.

We suggest visiting the northern part of Ithaka, where the town of Stavros is located, one of the largest on the island. There, from the archaeological finds discovered it is inferred that the ancient city of Ithaka was found here.

At night, we suggest a stroll through the quiet streets of Vathi, where you will find a great variety of taverns, cafes, and bars along the waterfront.

Total distance: 35 kilometers

Greca Tip: The island produces yellow and feta cheeses, olive oil, honey, and local meats. Try the local fish dishes in the local taverns and the typical local syrup sweet called rovani.

After a delicious breakfast, you will leave the Ionian Islands and take the ferryboat from Ithaca to Patras to continue your way to Delphi. 

From Patras, you will cross the Rio-Antirío bridge, which spans the Corinthian Gulf and is one of the great jewels of modern European architecture, and you will reach Nafpaktos.

This site is known because it was the scene of the Naval battle of Lepanto, in which Miguel de Cervantes took part. There, you can visit the Old Port and the Castle of Lepanto with incredible views of the Gulf of Corinth.

Driving on, you will arrive at Galaxidi, a picturesque fishing village with beautiful beaches where surely you can take a short relaxing break.

Finally, you will arrive at Delphi, the center or navel of the ancient world and host to the renowned Oracle of Delphi (consulted by kings and pilgrims alike). The site was declared by UNESCO a World Heritage Site in 1987 and continues to be a great pole of attraction up to the present.

When all your questions to the Oracle of Delphi have been answered, you will enjoy a well-deserved rest at your hotel! 

Total distance: 129 kilometers

Greca Tip: In the evening, we suggest driving to the neighboring and picturesque town of Arachova.

After a delicious Greek breakfast, you will start your journey back to Athens. 

You will drive along the slopes of Mount Parnassos rising to 2457 meters in height and you will make a short stop in Arachova, a popular winter resort full of taverns and handicraft shops. 

Further down the road, you can visit the town of Levadeia, which, in ancient times, flourished and grew in importance as a consequence of its possessing the celebrated oracle of Trophonius, found in a cave.

Back in Athens, you will return your rental car to the station and your adventure through Greece at our own pace will have come full circle. Now it is time to have a well-deserved rest with the memories of all the places you have seen and the people you have met still fresh in your mind.

Total distance: 186 kilometers

Greca Tip: In the village of Arachova you can shop for local products, such as traditional woven carpets, honey, and the local formaela cheese.

At the agreed time, our driver will transfer you to Athens Airport to board your international flight back home or to your next destination. You will check in your luggage and benefit from the tax return resulting from any last-minute tax-free shopping for family and friends.

Undoubtedly, and after spending a few fantastic days with Greca, we hope to see you again soon to create new and extraordinary moments that will be lovingly etched in your memory.

Have a nice trip! Or, as Greeks say: "Kalo taksidi!".

Greca Tip: As a going-away gift, you can choose from a wide range of brightly colored flokati rugs, handmade sandals, embroidered covers, and Greek honey, or olive oil.