6 h. tour (Semiprivate tour, up to 25 people max. per guide)
Cost per person: 88 euro (76 euro for children up to 5 years)
(skip-the-line entrance tickets included)
(children up to 3 y.o. free)
(Transportation + guidance all the way + guided tour of ancient Site + guided tour of the archeological museum + free time in Olympia)
Departing from the port with your private vehicle and driver, you will travel through the rich countryside between the Alfios and Kladeos rivers, on your way to Olympia, where you will embark a 2 and a half hour guided tour, that visits the temple of Zeus, the temple of Hera, the spot of the lighting of the Olympic torch and the stadium, among other sites.
Ancient Olympia, the archeological site of the first Olympic Games, in 776 B.C., lies in the lush valley formed by the Alfios river. There is a 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.
You will also visit the Archeological Museum, only a short walk from the Olympia site itself. Here you will find a wonderful collection of Greek sculpture, as well as treasures that have been unearthed over a century of excavations.
See the breathtaking original pediments from the Temple of Zeus, all in white marble from Paros, illustrating the mythical war between the Centaurs and the Lapiths on the one side, the beginning of the chariot race between Prince Pelops and King Oinomaos on the other side. The museum is also home to the famous Hermes of Praxiteles statue, as well as the marble statue of Nike and the bronze helmet of general Miltiades who defeated the Persian army in 490 BC in the battle of Marathon.
This tour is usually being combined with the guests who choose to join the Olympia Project tour that also includes a Greek dining experience in a local restaurant. Therefore, after the guided tour is over, you will have plenty of time to spend on your own at the Olympic Games site or museum and then at the modern town of Olympia. Olympia is a rather small town, therefore it is easy to walk around and navigate yourselves to the different places you would like to explore on your own.
You can stroll around Olympia town and have Greek coffee at one of the town's coffee shops, mingle with the locals and explore the main street with its many shops where you can find everything from jewellery and clothes to arts and crafts. Also you can taste the traditional souvlaki with pita and gyros by making a stop at one of the small souvlaki posts where you can either sit down or have it to go and continue your exploration. Alternatively, you can visit on your own the museum of the History of the Olympic Games(Old Museum), as well as the Museum of Ancient Greek Technology which has a lot of interesting innovations of Archimedes, beautifully presented and most of them recreated for the visitor to see.
Your tour guide will inform you before your free time is given to you of the exact time and designated meeting point in order to gather the whole group, board your bus and return on time back to Katakolon port. On the way back you can discuss your experience in Olympia, ask questions and your guide will be happy to answer.
Food, beverages and gratuities are not included.
