Peloponnese vacations

Healthy, local, seasonal and slow, that’s the name of the game when it comes to our food and cookery vacations in this sun-splashed idyll. The Mediterranean diet is one of the healthiest, most nourishing in the world, and our Peloponnese tours let you explore its traditions with knowledgeable local chefs. One day might find you out foraging for medicinal herbs that boost the immune system, another might find you enjoying tastings at a family-run winery, or learning how to cook in a wood-burning oven in the chef’s own garden.

What’s on the menu? Think filo pies with seasonal greens, freshly picked salads with homemade houmous, and perhaps a drizzle of your hosts’ own organic, extra-virgin olive oil. And when you’re not cooking for yourselves, you’ll be visiting locally run tavernas carefully chosen for their authentic ambience as well as their commitment to local, seasonal food.

As stuffed with legend as a vine leaf packed tight with rice, the Peloponnese region is perhaps the most interesting part of Greece for archaeologists and history buffs. Our archaeology-themed Peloponnese vacations roam from the vast Messene, home to a stadium and a 10,000-seat theatre and still only partially excavated, to Mycenae, the realm of King Agamemnon. There are the hallowed grounds of Olympia, where you can see the temples of Zeus and Hera, along with the altar for the Olympic flame; Sparta and Mystras, and the Arcadian settlement of Tegea, and Nestor’s Palace, near Pylos.

And while these iconic sites do get busy, the Peloponnese peninsula is also liberally scattered with lesser-known locations where you can pick through the ruins in peace. You can choose from either small group trips or tailor made tours, the latter of which allows you to explore the region’s many ruins on your own schedule. Either way, you’ll have the enlightening company of our expert local guides to fill in the blanks, explain how these sites would have looked before they were blocks of rubble on the ground, and bring the myths and legends to life.

Cycling is a relaxed and low impact way to explore the Peloponnese region’s many archaeological sites, not to mention its beaches, and picturesque inland communities. You’ll have many opportunities to meet local Greek people as you pass through small villages, stop in at cafes and restaurants, and generally get a feel for Aegean life well beyond the tourist resorts. Our cycling trips often financially support a reforestation project in the Peloponnese.

Our Peloponnese tours might take you along the east shoreline, and the islands dotting the Argolic and Saronic gulfs; to Messenia in the southwest, or Laconia in the southeast. Expect quite moderate cycling on predominantly paved roads with the occasional dirt track. You will encounter challenging sections now and again, particularly away from the coast where some long, steep climbs can be expected. Daily distances range from 30km to 80km, and our vacations take care to avoid busy roads as much as possible.

Our self drive vacations give you the freedom to explore the Peloponnese according to your own timetable. From ancient ruins to swimming beaches, mountain hikes to roadside restaurants with their own olive groves, this is a sublime region to tour by car, and with mostly quiet, smooth and well marked roads, a very easy one too.

Trips usually begin at the airport, and you’ll find that driving distances tend to be quite short. That means you can see a great deal… or you can pack the boot with towels and picnic hamper, and find a new beach to enjoy every day. And with lots of space in the car, you can make the most of the many local producers you’ll pass along the way, selling honey, wine and freshly pressed olive oil. Our vacations in the Peloponnese will have your accommodation organised in advance, too, so you can be assured of a warm welcome at locally owned guest houses and hotels throughout. Maps, GPS and detailed route notes are all provided to make your driving a breeze.

The Peloponnese peninsula offers exhilarating activity vacations that are perfect for families looking for well organised fun. We have both small group and tailor made options here that offer everything from mountain biking to rafting, sea kayaking to horse riding along beautiful beaches, and guided tours of fascinating ancient sites. Local instructors ensure that all activities run safely and smoothly, and can pass along some little nuggets of Greek nature and history while doing so.

As far as your accommodation goes, you might stay in luxury apartments in Tripoli, with the option to dine out in nearby local restaurants every evening. Or if your tastes lie more towards rural simplicity, you can base yourselves in a log cabin surrounded by terraces of herbs and olives, with a pool, air conditioning and views out to sea. Ingredients from your meals come courtesy of producers in the surrounding villages, or your cabin’s own garden.