11 h. tour (Private tour)
(transportation + stop at the Corinth Canal + local guided tour of the Olympia Archaeological Museum + local guided tour of the Ancient Olympic Games Site + free time)
For those of you that can't leave Athens without visiting the birthplace of the Olympic Games, this is a good chance to experience as much as possible of this ancient sacred land, being prepared for a long but fascinating day.
You will be met at your hotel by your private vehicle and you will start driving west out of Athens and continue your journey through the highway. One of the most impressive parts of the scenery will be the unique and historical location, between mount Aegaleo and the island of Salamis, where the naval battle of Salamis was fought, in 480 BC, with Xerxes watching everything from the top of the mountain upon his golden throne and the Persians experiencing a devastating loss from the Athenian fleet.
You will have a short stop by the Corinth canal, which separates the mainland from the Peloponnese and is where the Ionian Sea "meets" with the Aegean Sea. There you will have the chance to walk over the bridge and enjoy breathtaking views, taking as many photographs as you would like to.
Continuing through the highway and the Peloponnesian mountains you will arrive in the lush valley of Olympia, approximately 4 hours after your departure from Athens.
In Olympia you will meet your officially licensed tour guide and you will board a 2.5 hours private guided tour of the archaeological site and museum, where you will see among other things, the ancient gymnasiums, the workshop of Phedias, the temples of Zeus and Hera, the altar where the Olympic Torch is always being lit for the modern Olympic Games, the original Olympic Games stadium, the pediments of the temple of Zeus, the statues of Nike of Paeonius and Hermes of Praxiteles, as well as the legendary helmet of General Miltiades from the battle of Marathon in 490 BC.
After this fascinating experience you will be able to have a short stop for lunch or a snack, either in the modern town of Olympia.
Your journey back to Athens can be either by following the same route, or a different one. You can either drive the windy but picturesque route through the mountains and traditional villages like Lagadia and Levidi, or via Patras and mostly parallel to the sea, enjoying the view of it as well as seeing one of the largest suspension bridges in the world.
Back in Athens, you will be dropped you off either at your hotel, or another location of your preference.
