Upon arrival at Athens airport, pick up your car and drive to Nafplion, the first capital of Modern Greece and by many considered the most beautiful town in Greece.
Time permitting; a visit at the Ancient site of Corinth and Acrocorinth is well worth a stop.

Overnight in Nafplion.
(If preferred, accommodation can be arranged at Tolo, a lovely sea resort, approximately 11 km southeast of Nafplion.)

Nafplion and the surrounding region offer a wide range of possible excursions for this day: Ancient Mycenae with the imposing Lion’s Gate and Tomb of Agamemnon and the theatre of Epidaurus, famous for its acoustics, are certainly the highlights.
If you happen to be in Nafplion on Friday or Saturday evening during the summer festival (usually from the end of June until the end of August), held at the theatre of Epidaurus, you should certainly try to attend a performance.

At the end of the day you may drive to nearby Tolo for a quick dip in the sea.

Overnight in Nafplion

Before leaving Nafplion, you can stroll around the old Venetian center with its well preserved neoclassical houses.

You can take the national road via Tripoli and Sparta to Mystras, but you can also take another route through the Parnon mountain range via Leonidio passing through an impressive gorge, where you may visit the Elona monastery, clinging to the cliffs, approximately 14 km (8,7 miles) southwest of Leonidio.
Upon arrival you can visit Mystras, an old Byzantine city on the slopes of Mount Taÿgetos. It was once the Byzantine capital of the Peloponnesus and of the last Byzantine civilization. While wandering through narrow alleys and winding streets, you will pass by numerous small churches, with excellent restored frescoes.

Overnight in Mystras

Via a beautiful route over the Taÿgetos Mountain drive to Kalamata and on your way to Pylos you can start your day by visiting the picturesque village of Koroni, the beautiful sandy beach of Finikounda and the Venetian Castle at Methoni.

Arrive at Pylos; a lovely little town, situated by a huge natural harbour overlooking the Navarino Bay. With coffee shops on its tree-shaded Central Square and fish restaurants at the quay a perfect place to relax and enjoy your holidays.

Overnight in Pylos

On your way to Olympia it is well worth visiting the palace of King Nestor and its museum located at Chora.

The topic of today is of course visiting the archaeological site of Olympia, where the first Olympic Games took place in 776 BC.
Dedicated to the god Zeus, every four years Pan Hellenic contests were held attracting athletes from all Greek city-states.
The sanctuary spreads around the green wooded feet of the Kronion hill and its valley is full of olive trees, poplars, oaks, pines and plane trees. Here you will find the Stadium and the temples of Zeus and Hera.

Overnight in Olympia

Drive through the plains of Ilia and Achaia up to Patras, crossing the bridge from Rio to Antirrio and continue towards Delphi, driving through Nafpaktos, Galaxidi and Itea, beautiful little picturesque towns by the sea.
It's worthwhile to make a short detour, driving from Itea to Ossios Loucas, a Byzantine monastery built in the 11th century, with exquisite frescoes and mosaics.

Overnight in Delphi.

Start today with visiting one of the most important ancient relics of Greece, the archaeological site of Delphi, home of the sanctuary and oracle of the god of light Apollo and believed to be the “navel of the world” by the ancient Greeks.

After visiting Delphi leave for Kalambaka.

Overnight in Kalambaka

(For those who find the journey from Delphi to Kalambaka too long and therefore too strenuous, accommodation can be arranged in Karditsa instead.)

As we find that you should have ample time to visit Meteora, we are not in favour of having you return to Athens on the same day, unlike in other programs!
After all this is a once-in-a lifetime-experience you should be able to enjoy without having in the back of your mind the 5-6 hours drive back!

Overnight in Kalambaka

Return to Athens passing through Trikala, Lamia and Thermopylae (Leonidas’ statue).
As this is the end of your program, you can choose to drive either straight to the airport or into Athens.
The rental company will collect your car accordingly.