6 h. tour (Semiprivate tour, up to 16 people max. per guide)
Cost per person: 137 euro (125 euro for children up to 5 years)
(skip-the-line entrance tickets included)
(children up to 3 y.o. free)
(Transportation + guidance throughout + olive oil tasting at a local press + guided tour of the ancient site + Greek dining experience at a local taverna)
By choosing to go in this exclusive tour you will have the chance to get away from the crowded groups and be in a small part of maximum 16 people, offering you an augmented experience from your visit in Olympia.
The tour starts as soon as your minibus leaves the pier in Katakolon. Your licensed guide will provoke on board guidance that includes information about Katakolon, Pyrgos and the prefecture of Ilia. Also you will be given a description of what you are about to see in Olympia and all historical elements of the birthplace of the Olympic Games.
Your first stop will be at a local olive oil press, on the way from Katakolon to Olympia. The harvesting of the olives and the production of the fresh extra virgin olive oil, takes place between November and January of each year. If you are lucky to visit the area this time of year, you will see the whole procedure. But even the rest of the year especially for our group the press will open and welcome us in order for you to have a tour through it, see the machinery, "smell" the green color of the fresh olive oil and hear explanations about how everything works as well as the production of olive oil in general.
Following will take place an olive oil tasting experience during which you will get the chance to hear from the local expert information that only someone like him can know about how to distinguish the different varieties and qualities of olive oil. Grabbing some fresh bread to dip in your favorite variety of olive oil along with some other snacks will make your experience even more special.
After this unique experience, you will continue the drive towards Olympia. When you arrive in Olympia you will not have to wait at any lines, as the entrance fees for Ancient Olympia are included in the tour and we will have purchased them in advance, so you will not lose valuable time waiting in a queue.
Let your guide travel you back in time, walking you through the beautiful ruins of the archaeological site of the first Olympic Games that started in 776 B.C. There is the temple of Zeus which in antiquity was housing one of the 7 wonders of the ancient world, the gold and ivory statue of Zeus, which Phedias had created. Then see the temple of Hera, as well as the shrine of Hera which is where since 1936 the Olympic Torch is always being lit from the sun, the shrine of Pelops (one of the oldest in the sanctuary), the Council house where the athletes took the Olympic oath, the Treasury houses, the Gymnasium and the Palaestra where they used to exercise for a month prior to the Games. Finally you will reach the stadium, where the marble starting blocks are still in position.
After the guided tour you will board your vehicle and drive to a nearby village off the beaten track, where you will enjoy a unique Greek dining experience at an off-the-beaten-track family taverna where the locals eat. You will be welcomed by one of the family members, who will be providing you with information during your dining experience about the traditional dishes that will be served to you and the local ingredients used in their preparation. You will be served a variety of famous Greek cuisine starters, like fresh warm bread with local extra virgin olive oil, oregano and fresh tomatoes, olives, zucchini balls, tzatziki, spinach pie with handmade "phyllo" (dough), eggplants cooked with virgin olive oil, tomato sauce and parsley, and of course the original Greek salad. For your main course you will be able to choose between either "yuvetsi” (beef cooked in fresh tomato sauce accompanied with orzo pasta served with a salty traditional cheese called "mizithra"), or oregano lamb with olive salsa accompanied with Greek fries in olive oil. It will be difficult for you to choose. At this taverna you will also have the chance to cool off by having a quick swim at the cozy swimming pool that lies next to it and then chill out at the sunbeds overviewing the curvy foresty hilltops of Elis.
After this unique Greek dining experience you will return back to Katakolon. On the way back you can discuss with your guide your experience in Olympia and ask questions that he/she will be happy to answer.
The Greek dining experience at the local taverna is included, as well as the entrance tickets.
