2-Day Ancient Messene & Olympia Tour

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From€980

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We originally had booked this company for our ride to and from the airport. Our drive from the airport to our hotel was so nice and told us about their... read more

kddunn24
18/05/2022

Val picked us up at our hotel on time and gave us first hand information on the history of Athens. Very patient and recommend a nice lunch place... read more

DaRods
28/08/2019

I can highly recommend Athens Premier Transfers. We went on a private half-day tour with our excellent guide Yannis. We were picked up at our Airbnb-apartment and met... read more

sanderhauge
11/07/2019

I can highly recommend Athens Premier Transfers. We went on a private half-day tour with our excellent guide Yannis.

We were picked up at our Airbnb-apartment and met... read more

11/07/2019

I can highly recommend Athens Premier Transfers. We went on a private half-day tour with our excellent guide Yannis.

We were picked up at our Airbnb-apartment and met... read more

Sander H
11/07/2019

Valerios picked us up promptly in the morning from our rental house. The car was cool and comfortable and he provided expert information regarding every stop. He answered our questions... read more

kzirkle
02/07/2019

Valerios picked us up promptly in the morning from our rental house. The car was cool and comfortable and he provided expert information regarding every stop. He answered our questions... read more

02/07/2019

We booked Premier Transfers to pick us up from Athens airport and bring us to Piraeus and to collect us on the return journey last month. Our ferry was very... read more

katy m
01/07/2019

We booked Premier Transfers to pick us up from Athens airport and bring us to Piraeus and to collect us on the return journey last month. Our ferry was very... read more

01/07/2019

Seven of us cruised to the Greek Isles last week. We had a port tour with Athens Premier Transfers & Tours. It was as perfect as one could experience. Our... read more

joyeATHENS
09/07/2018

Tour Service
2 Days
Private Tour
Wifi Available

2-Day Ancient Messene & Olympia Tour Overview

Our 2-Day Ancient Messene & Olympia Tour perfectly combines a thorough visit to two fantastic Greek landmarks of ancient times, vast Ancient Messene and world-famous UNESCO sited Ancient Olympia.

Our specialist tour team prepared a tour that offers a wide range of real and memorable experiences of Greek sites and places.

Your Peloponnese private tour includes visits to (Itinerary is open to suggestions and changes):

Corinth Canal, Kapsia Caves, Ancient Messene, Ancient Olympia & Museum, Achaia Clauss Winery, wine tasting, Rio- Antirio Bridge, Ancient Corinth & Museum

As this is an exclusive private tour, our guests enjoy luxury travelling, with photo stops-as-you-go.

To get you more acquainted with the local ways and Greek culinary delights, we offer a 3-lunch option in selected traditional Greek taverns (please enquiry for price).

For your 1-night accommodation: 4-star or Boutique hotels (depending on availability and season).

Pick up

Your Hotel, Athens Airport, Piraeus Port

Departure Time

10 Minutes Before Event Time

Price Includes

Free Airport pick up and return (the same day of the tour)
Winery Visit and Greek Wine tasting with a wine expert
Free residence/hotel/ port pick up and return
Private and Exclusive Luxurious Transfer
Professional English speaking experienced tour driver
Brand new luxury vehicles with WiFi and A/C
Free chilled mineral water for every passenger
Live commentary by your professional driver

Price Excludes

1-night at 4-star or Boutique hotels (depending on availability and season).
Admission fees into archaeological sites, museums
Licensed Guide Service Fee
Meals and drinks
Gratuities
Your tour driver can not escort you into the sites.

Useful Information

Good to have: Sunscreen, T-Shirt, hat, comfortable, non-slippery footwear
Wheelchair accessible. Most travellers can participate, no health restrictions
Baby boosters & child-seats available at no extra cost

Itinerary

DAY 1 - 8:30 am Departure (Pick-up time flexible)

Your driver will be waiting for you to pick you up from your residence at 8:30 am

Day 1Corinth Canal

About an hour from Athens is our first Peloponnese stop, Corinth Canal.

Corinth Canal, an impressive sea passage, was drilled and has been operating since 1893.

It is a narrow sea strip, lengthed about 6 kilometres that connects mainland Greece to Peloponnese.

If we are lucky, we will see a ship crossing the narrow canal and take many photos of the stunning view. We will have time to grab a coffee or tea from the surrounding shops.

No entrance fees required.

Kapsia Caves

Next, your driver will take you to the Stalactites of Kapsia Caves.

The amazing Caves constitute a complex system of swallow-holes on the lush Mantineia mountain range.

Multicoloured stalagmites and stalactites compose a unique and impressive canvas that is reflected on the surface of the small ponds inside the cave.

Dress warmly for your visit to the Kapsia caves.

Information on entrance fees for Kapsia Caves

Ancient Messene

Ancient Messene (or Messini, Greek Μεσσήνη) is a significant ancient city in terms of its size, form, and astonishing state of preservation.

According to UNESCO about Ancient Messene: “The archaeological site and monuments of Ancient Messene constitute an exceptional testimony to the urban environment and living conditions of an ancient Greek city, preserving all those elements that make up the ancient Greek way of life in an ancient Greek city (secular, religious, political/administrative, residential, funerary).”

Ancient Messene was developed later than other major Grek cities-states like Athens and Corinth, despite it being located in one of the most fertile areas of the country.

The area of Ancient Messene contains the ruins of the large classical city-state founded in 369 BC by Thbian General Epaminondas who died in the neighbouring Mantineia area. After the Battle of Leuctra in 371 BC, which resulted in Spartan defeat, it became the capital of the free Messenian state.

Today the visitor of this extraordinarily well-preserved ancient city will admire up close sanctuaries, public buildings, imposing fortifications, houses and tombs:

Most prominent monuments are:

The Agora (market) – Temples of Zeus Soter and Poseidon
The Asklepieion
Arsinoe Fountain
The sanctuary of Demeter and the Dioskouroi
The great Doric temple
The Ekklesiasterion (assembly hall)
The Fortification Walls
The Laconian & Arcadian Gates

Information on Entrance Fees for Messene

After Ancient Messene your driver will take you to the modern town of Olympia to stay overnight. You can spend your evening strolling in the village and your driver can suggest according to your tastes an appropriate restaurant or a traditional tavern.

For your overnight stay, we have chosen 4-star hotels like Arty Grand Hotel or Europa Hotel

Day 2DAY 2 - Ancient Olympia

After your rich breakfast at the hotel, we will visit the UNESCO site of Ancient Olympia.

Ancient Olympia lies in the fertile valley of the Alpheios river and it was the most celebrated site of Ancient Greece. You will visit both the museum and the famous archaeological site of the ancient Olympic Games.

As you stroll by the ancient paths you will see the Doric Temples of Zeus and Hera, the Bouleuterion, the Prytaneion, the Stadium, the Gymnasium, the Palestra, the Workshop of Pheidias and so many others.

At the museum, you will admire, among other masterpieces, the Nike of Paionios and the breathtaking Hermes and the Infant Dionysus statue.

Information on entrance fees for Ancient Olympia

Achaia Clauss Winery, Rio Antirrio Bridge

After Ancient Olympia, we head northwest to another engineering miracle, the Rio Antirio Bridge.

The Bridge connects Peloponnese with midland Greece and it is a very impressive modern construction.

The next stop is the oldest (1861) Greek winery, the Achaia Clauss Winery for wine tasting and interesting facts on Greek wine varieties and methods.

The winery is at Patras, the third-largest city of Greece, built amphitheatrically by the sea.

Ancient Corinth

Corinth-Canal-Private-Greek-tour — Corinth-Canal

Last stop will be by Ancient Corinth with the stunning Doric Temple of Apollo and the Bema, where Apostle Paul preached and wrote the First Epistle to the Corinthians.

Information on entrance fees for Ancient Corinth and Museum.

Finally, we arrive back in Athens and we drop you at the airport or your residence.

Useful Information

Vehicles and Drivers

All our vehicles are brand new – luxury sedans, minivans, sprinters, and coaches, privately owned by us.

We offer the Highest Quality Premier Transport Service, manned with Professional English Speaking Drivers, specially trained by our team for supreme customer service.

For groups up to 3, we use Mercedes or Audi sedan

For groups up to 7, we use Mercedes Minivans

For groups up to 19, we use Mercedes Minibuses

For large groups, we use luxury new coaches