Ancient Olympia (birth place of Olympic Games) & Corinth Canal, Private Day Tour

5.0
(28 reviews)
Athens, Greece

11 to 12 hours (approximately)
Pickup offered
Offered in: English

A great suggestion for a private day tour so as to visit some of the most interesting and impressive places in Peloponnese. 

Our first stop will be at the Corinth Canal and its “Isthmus” (neck in Ancient Greek).  A 6km marvel of ancient and modernengineering, the Canal connects the Aegean and the Ionian Sea. After our short stop there, we continue to visit Tripoli, where we can stop for coffee, and then reach famous Ancient Olympia.

Birthplace of the Olympic Games, a religious and sports center, Ancient Olympia will take your breath away.  Feel the energy of this historical site and let yourself be transported back in time. See the Temples of Hera, of Zeus, the Ancient Stadium, the Palaestra and the workshop of famed sculptor Pheidias, creator of the chryselephantine statue of Zeus, one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world. In the Museum of Olympia you will see such masterpieces as the Hermes of Praxitelis, Nike of Paionios, a variety of artifacts, the drinking cup of Pheidias!

What's Included

Experienced, knowledgeable, professional English speaking driver.
Skip the line service to purchase the appropriate entrance tickets in advance.
VAT and all state taxes
Service animals allowed
FAMILY FRIENDLY For family groups our tours can be modified to cater to the needs of the children
Private tour. Personalized service adjusted to your needs and wishes.
All vehicles are fully A/C non-smoking, insured & certified for tourist use by the state authorities
Athens & Piraeus Hotels / residence or Piraeus cruise port pickup & return
Flexible pick up time on request
Luxurious transportation vehicle suitable for the size of your group: taxi, sedan, suv, van, minibus
Child seats available upon request
Parking Fees
Chiled bottled water
Entrance fees to the sites
Licensed guide in the site & the museum in Olympia, on request/availability (Additional cost - 200€)
Food and drinks unless specified
to visit the the archaeological Site of Olympia

Meeting and pickup

Pickup points
You can choose a pickup location at checkout (multiple pickup locations are available).
Pickup details:

Traveler pickup is offered

Pick up time can be scheduled according to your preferences. Please make your request at the special requirement’s section & we will contact you after your booking.

Travelers can be picked up from all Athens centre & Piraeus Hotels.

View the hotel list on our checkout page to see if yours is included among the pickup points.

For pickup from Airbnb or any other location/apartment, please provide the exact address.

Please note that in case the requested pickup location is in a pedestrian zone or it is not accessible by cars/vehicles, we will notify you, upon booking, of the best alternative pick up location.

Please be at the meeting point 5-10min before your scheduled pickup time, in case parking or waiting time for your driver is limited.

Piraeus Ferry Port

Piraeus, Athens centre

Drop off is at the same location as pick up

Itinerary

Duration: 11 to 12 hours (approximately)
  • 1
    Corinth Canal

    Aprox. one hour after leaving Athens we will reach our first stop, the Corinth Canal. The Corinth Canal is one of the oldest man-made canals in the world and a very important navigational route in Greece, connecting the Gulf of Corinth with the Saronic Gulf. The canal’s position, thereby also separates the peninsula of Peloponnese – conveniently converting it into an island – with the Greek mainland. And, while the Greece canal is quite narrow, it is a fact that the canal is a vital lifeline for ships wanting to enter the Aegean Sea. Spanning a distance of 6.3 kilometres, the Corinth Canal has a depth of 26 feet and its width alters between a minimum of 69 feet and a maximum of 82 feet at the bottom and at the surface respectively. Surrounded by walls standing at a height of 170 feet, the canal helps a ship to save a journey of 185 nautical miles.

    30 minutes Admission ticket free
  • 2
    Tripoli

    Half an hour later we will be at Tripoli. Tripoli is the largest city in the central part of the Peloponnese. It is the capital of the regional unit of Arcadia. We may have a short stop here for a coffe / snack or just rest for a few minutes.

    30 minutes Admission ticket free
  • 3
    Archaeological Site of Olympia

    Aprox. one and a half hours later we will be in Olympia. The archaeological site of Olympia includes the sanctuary of Zeus and the many buildings erected around it, such as athletic premises used for the preparation and celebration of the Olympic Games, administrative buildings and other lay buildings and monuments. The Altis, the sacred enclosure and core of the sanctuary, with its temples, cult buildings and treasuries, occupies the centre of the site. It is surrounded by a peribolos, or enclosure wall, which in the late fourth century BC had three gates on its west side and two on the south, and is bordered on the east by the Echo Stoa, which separates the sacred precinct from the stadium. The enclosure wall was extended in Roman times and two monumental entrances were created on its west side.

    2 hours Admission ticket not included
  • 4
    Archaeological Museum of Olympia

    The Archaeological Museum of Olympia, one of the most important museums in Greece, presents the long history of the most celebrated sanctuary of antiquity, the sanctuary of Zeus, father of both gods and men, where the Olympic games were born. The museum's permanent exhibition contains finds from the excavations in the sacred precinct of the Altis dating from prehistoric times to the Early Christian period. Among the many precious exhibits the sculpture collection, for which the museum is most famous, the bronze collection, the richest collection of its type in the world, and the large terracottas collection, are especially noteworthy.

    1 hour Admission ticket not included
  • 5
    Olympia

    After concluding your tour to the sites and the museum, you will spend some time at the picturesque small town next, crossing the bridge of river Kladeos. You will find many small cafes and restaurants here to relax and possibly have lunch.

    1 hour Admission ticket free
  • Athens (Pass by)

    After finishing with your lunch and everything in the small town of Olympia, we will start the return trip back to Athens. We will be back after aprox. three hours.

    Admission ticket free

Additional info

  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
  • Service animals allowed
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Specialized infant seats are available
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Our company complies with all the health instructions of the World Health Organization about COVID-19.
Supplied by Private Greece Tours
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Tags

Full-day Tours
Bus Tours
Cultural Tours
Historical Tours
Ports of Call Tours
Archaeology Tours
Car Tours
Luxury Car Tours
Shore Excursions
Small Group
Excellent Quality
Worry-Free Shore Excursion
Additional fees
Port Pickup
Short term availability

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

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Rating

5.0 Based on 28 28 reviews
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