Period of operation: Year round – Best season 20/4 to 20/10
Duration: 6 days (5 nights).
Activities: Hiking, Mountain Biking, ATV, Cooking Lessons, Sight Seeing
Skill level: Suitable for all skill levels.
Minimum participants: 2.
Minimum age: 5 y/o
You can take your pick and design your own schedule. Get in touch and get a price!
Day one:
Pick up from: El. Venizelos airport or Athens or the port of Patra or Kalamata Airport and transfer by car to the small but picturesque traditional hotel in Langadia, 200 km distance and over 2 hr and 30 min drive.
Get settled in and enjoy the rest of the day with great views of the surrounding scenery, rest and relaxation. In the evening there will be a welcome dinner consisting of a plethora of local dishes, drinks and more.
Day two:
8:30 Traditional Greek breakfast at the Snack Bar Cafe “Aroma” consisting of: coffee and/or beverages of your choice, trachana soup, traditional homemade bread toasted on charcoal, butter and homemade jams, natural fruit juice, local free-range eggs and honey, pies and local sweets. (Breakfast will be repeated for all days of the program).
9:30 Depart for the traditional village of Dimitsana, visit the Open Air Water-Power Museum, the Monastery of Prodromos and Ancient Gortyn.
The Open Air Water-Power Museum in Dimitsana is a thematic museum that highlights the importance of water- power in a traditional society, presenting the basic pre-industrial techniques that use water as the main source of energy for the production of various products. The area is approximately one square kilometer, in which a large craft complex was operating in the pre-industrial period that used the water of the homonymous source, the famous headland of Saint John as driving power.
The Monastery of Prodromos (Baptist) is built at the root of a cliff on the left side of the gorge Lοusios, near the beautiful villages of Stemnitsa and Dimitsana. The landscape is impressive and reminds Meteora and the Great Cave. The church of St. John the Prodromos is a single aisle, domed, basilica temple and is decorated with remarkable Christian paintings. Frescoes are also featuring the outside of the temple, magnetizing the eyes of every visitor.
The archaeological site of Ancient Gortyn is located on the right bank of the river Lousios, in a charming location at the exit of the gorge. It is drivable from the villages of Greek (6 km) and Atsicholos (4 km) and also the Monastery of Prodromos. Ancient Gortys was an important town of Arcadia in ancient times. Even today the ruins still attract the interest and admiration of visitors, combined with the natural beauty and tranquility of the place.
14:00 Lunch at a nearby village on the way to Lagadia.
Relaxation – Leisure
Day Three:
7:30 Traditional Greek breakfast at the Snack Bar Cafe “Aroma”.
9:00 Day hiking in the 1st Certified Greek trail “Menalon Trail”, route 8 Valtessiniko-Lagadia (duration 4-5 hours, necessary hiking equipment). Mountain guide upon request. Stop for rest and brunch at the spot of “Grias Lithari”.
The Menalon Trail received a certificate of competence as one of the Leading Quality Trails (Leading Quality Trails – Best of Europe) and is now proposed by the ERA to all European hikers as a coherent, interesting and safe mountain adventure. The Menalon Trail is the 8th European path that has received this important quality and safety guarantee.
15:00 Lunch at the Snack Bar Cafe “Aroma”
16:00 Relaxation – Leisure
19:00 Cooking Lessons – Seminar of local dishes preparation
Day four:
8:00 Traditional Greek breakfast at the Snack Bar Cafe “Aroma” including coffee or beverage of your choice, trachana soup, browned hand-made bread, butter and home-made jams, natural fruit juice, local fresh eggs and honey, traditional pies and local desserts.
9:00 Depart to the archaeological site of Olympia (65 km – 1.5 hours)
Visit to the Museum
An amazing route connects the village of Lagadia with Ancient Olympia. The harmonious alternation of landscapes gives the feeling of traveling through time. Deep dense canyons, lush vineyards, pine-covered slopes and riverside areas. The Ladon River meets Alpheus that passes through the valley of Olympia near the archaeological site. Words are just unnecessary…
One visit is just not enough in the place that gave birth to the Olympic Games. The greatness of the ancient Greek culture never ceases to impress. In this corner of Peloponnese you will love the father of Gods, Zeus in his holy place. Just imagine raised in front of you one of the 7 wonders of the ancient world, the imposing gold and ivory statue of Zeus of 13.5 m, sculptured by Phidias. You will also admire with awe the famous Hermes of Praxiteles. You will feel the aura, glory and wisdom of a culture that enchanted the whole world and also that you are in the starting line for a trip back in history, to the glory of ancient Greece.
14:30 Return – Visit to a river trout farm and meal
Relaxation – Leisure
Day five:
08:30 A rich traditional breakfast at the Snack Bar Cafe “Aroma”, including coffee or other drink of your preference, trachanas soup, handmade bread, butter, variety of homemade marmalades, fresh fruit juice, local eggs and honey, traditional pies and local sweet treats.
10:30 Transfer to a natural beauty area of the Menalos Mountain for mountain biking
14:00 Lunch in a traditional tavern of the area with local delicacies
16:00 Return to Lagkadia – Rest
18:30 Tour of the traditional village of Lagkadia – acquaintance with the local sightseeing’s, the history and culture of the place.
A short walk around the neighborhoods and streets of the village feels like a travel back in time, when stone was the primary material in the hands of the skillful craftsmen whose chisels resound in the narrow village streets.
In the neighborhood higher up, close to the church of St. John, one can see the old stone mansion of Deligiannis (former Prime Minister of Greece) and feel his presence still strong around. The central road of Lagkadia is particularly impressive. It once was a very commercial one, since Lagkadia are situated in the central road connecting Tripolis with Pyrgos.
The pride of the village is the church of the Archangels, built in 1808 with the monumental steeple-clock (1910) proudly superimposing among the buildings of stone. In the central squares, the huge trees surround its views. Further up, one can see the school, built in 1864, dominating over the stone steps bringing up memories from the historical days when the first practical high school opened its doors after the revolution of 1821.
The afternoon stroll is finishing with a visit at Panagia of Gounaris where, weather permitting, the majestic sunset over the Ionian Sea will steal your heart. End your thirst in the natural spring below the chapel.
Relaxation – Leisure
Day six:
08:00 Traditional Greek breakfast at the Snack Bar Cafe “Aroma” including coffee or beverage of your choice, trachana soup, browned hand-made bread, butter and home-made jams, natural fruit juice, local fresh eggs and honey, traditional pies and local desserts.
09:00 Departure to visit the Kapsia Cave. The Kapsia Cave is around 15km outside Tripolis and 1.5km away from Kapsia village. Experts rank the Kapsia Cave in the top 10 list of the most valuable caves in Greece. The cave is located in the confined geological basin of the Mantinean plateau and is associated with the complex system of natural sinks, a characteristic of the aquifer. Among the findings in the cave, are human bones and pottery of everyday utensils.
10:30 Departure for one of the following : Mykines or Ancient Korintos or the Acropolis Museum, upon communication with the group. Greek fast-food lunch – gyros souvlaki. Return to the airport for departure.
NOTES
Our role starts at the entrance point of the clients/groups in our country (airport, port or other) and finishes again at the point of departure.
We take care of everything required for a pleasant and safe stay of our clients within our country.
These include the below:
- Transportation from the point of entry to the place of accommodation and return to the same point for the departure. The transportation includes the equipment and luggages carried along for the purposes of their activities.
- In the case where special equipment is needed for each activity, this has to be made known in advance so we can arrange for it if possible. Where this is not possible, the clients are required to arrange for it themselves.
- All transportation’s by car/bus within Greece, needed to complete the activities, including additional costs (tolls etc).
- Accommodation and breakfast. Our choices of accommodation include fully-furnished apartments and rooms, with bathrooms and kitchen equipment, terrace with view, free
- Wi-Fi, private parking, maximum capacity of 23 beds
- One lunch or dinner per day, at the Snack Bar Cafe “Aroma”, or other place depending on the schedule.
- Drivers fee, mountain guide, safety escort, trainer or anyone else necessary or as mentioned in the schedule. All aforementioned escorts are chosen upon presenting relevant certifications on the skills needed.
Not Included:
No expenditures are included for transportation on own initiative whether in group or individually which is not included or needed for the purposes of the activities.
Museum tickets or tourist guide’s fees if requested. These often change and may not interest everyone.
Any other activity or need beyond the ones described in the suggested program, unless previously agreed with the organisers.
Travelling costs from an individual’s or group country of residence to Greece and back are not included in the total cost of the excursion, hence must be arranged by the individual or group itself.
The schedule may be modified by the organizers according to the number of participants.
