Ancient Olympia Tour (12 hours)

Corinth Canal

The tour begins with a scenic drive along the coast, offering views of charming Greek seaside villages and the historic island of Salamis where the famous naval battle between the Athenians and Persians took place. Your first stop will be the Corinth Canal, which opened in 1892 and separates the Peloponnese peninsula from the rest of Greece, connecting the Saronic to the Corinthian Gulf. You will have the opportunity to walk across the canal on a pedestrian bridge and admire this engineering marvel.

Olympia

Explore one of the greatest religious centers of Ancient Greece and the birthplace of the Olympic Games - the most important sports event in the ancient world that continues to this day. Olympia's archaeological site, located on the western side of the Peloponnese and approximately a 3-hour drive away from Athens, boasts over 70 temples dedicated to Zeus and other Olympian gods. Visitors can walk through the remains of ancient buildings, statues, worship areas, and ancient stadiums. The Ancient Stadium, which could seat 20,000 spectators, the temples of Zeus and Hera, the palestra, and the workshop of Pheidias are among the impressive sights at the site.

The Archaeological Museum of Olympia, adjacent to the site, houses some of Greece’s most valuable historic artifacts found in the Altis or sanctuary to Zeus. The museum is renowned for its sculpture collection, especially the priceless statues of Hermes of Praxiteles and Nike, who was believed to come from the sky and hand a palm leaf to the successful and the victorious after a battle. The museum's large terracotta collection is also famous, and it offers visitors a great way to experience what it was like to participate in the ancient games.

In 1989, the archeological site of Ancient Olympia was recognized as a World Heritage site by UNESCO. According to the UNESCO World Heritage website, there is likely no ancient archaeological site anywhere in the world more relevant in today’s world than Olympia.
During summertime, several festivals take place in Olympia, including the International Festival of Ancient Olympia and the International Film Festival for Children and Youth.
Every four years, a traditional celebration is held there to ignite the fire, also known as the Olympic Flame, that is passed through a torch from the previous city to the next city that hosts the Olympic Games.

Katakolo

After the visit to ancient Olympia and its numerous sites, you can enjoy a stroll in the beautiful town of Katakolo, known for its small and cozy seaside taverns and its majestic sea view, where you can have lunch.