Half-Day Private Tour from Katakolon to Olympia & Beach
Description
When your cruise stops at the picturesque port of Katakolon, a visit to Ancient Olympia is a must. With a private driver, travel comfortably from the fishing village to the birthplace of the Olympic Games – the sacred grounds where athletes trained, honored the gods, and competed in events that inspired the world. In this five-hour tour, explore the archaeological site and its iconic monuments, including the Temple of Zeus, the Temple of Hera, and the ancient Olympic Stadium. Continue to the Archaeological Museum of Olympia, where masterpieces such as the Hermes of Praxiteles, the Nike of Paionios, and the temple sculptures await. Afterwards, enjoy free time in the modern town of Olympia to shop, stroll the charming streets, or relax at our own centrally located restaurant and café bar. Before returning, stop at the idyllic beach of Agios Andreas for a refreshing swim or a moment by the sea. A unique blend of history, culture, and relaxation.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Upon arrival at Katakolon Port, you will be picked up from the spot and at the time arranged. We will be there holding a sign with your name clearly written on it, so that it is easier for you to recognize us. Afterwards you will enjoy safe and comfortable transfer in our luxurious Mercedes vehicles. During your transfer you can enjoy a free wi-fi on board but we will also provide you with a local guide book with all the necessary information about the archaeological site & Museum of Ancient Olympia, free of charge. The duration of the transfer is about 30min.
After an approx. 30 min of enjoyable ride you will reach Ancient Olympia. We will drop you off just outside of the world-wide famous Archaeological Site of Ancient Olympia. Enjoy several hours of free time to explore the site and monuments at your own pace(*the professional licensed guide can be arranged for additional charge if requested). See the gymnasium and Palaestra, where athletes practiced leading up to competition, and feel millennia of energy as you enter the ancient stadium, where ancient Greece’s finest athletes strove to honor the gods through the Olympic ideal. Marvel at the Temple of Zeus, where the famous golden statue of the god—one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World—once stood. See the Leonidaion, a hotel built in 330 BC to host distinguished guests of the games, and delve even deeper into the history of the world's greatest athletic competition with displays and original artifacts at the Olympia Museum.
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.
Enjoy almost 1 hrs of free time in modern town of Olympia. Visit market streets called also "agora" where you can find various souvenir shops with leathers and ceramis, fashion clothes shops as well as jewlery shops. Afterwards, enjoy Greek hospitality in local tavern or cafee.
On the way back to Katakolo, you will head for your last refreshing stop to Agios Andreas Beach. We will arrive at Agios Andreas after approx. 30 min of drive. Agios Andreas is a beautiful rocky beach, a place of outstanding natural beauty as it was the ancient harbour of Ileia. You will be given approx. 1hr of free time to spend at the beach where you can have coffee, lunch, take photos or have a swim.
After approx. 5 hrs is time to return back to Katakolon port. Make yourself comfortable at the seats of our luxurious vehicles and get back to your cruise ship full of unforgettable memories
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Upon your arrival at Katakolon Port, you will be picked up from the spot (outside of the main buidling of Hellenic Coast Guard Katakolo Port) and at the time arranged. We will be there holding a sign with your name clearly written on it, so that it is easier for you to recognize us.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- 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
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Reviews(40)
Great way to visit Olympia. Our driver was Giannis and we had a great time!!
We visited Katakolon/Olympia while on a cruise. We had contacted Nassos's tours via WhatsApp and the coordination was excellent prior to the cruise. The cruise line changed our port hours and Nassos was very helpful to start our tour earlier. Our tour included a visit to Olympia, a cooking class (at his restaurant) and a visit to a local oil mill. We were surprised to actually have Nassos himself as our tour guide and driver for the day. While traveling to and from the sites in his Mercedes van we loved the friendly conversations. Our first stop was to his restaurant for the cooking class. We met his sister and cousins and they showed us how to prepare our meals. It was absolutely a great time from start to finish. They treated us like family and we were sad when we had to leave. This class was the best experience of our Mediterranean cruise! Our next stop was to Olympia and it was close enough to the restaurant that we were able to walk to it. Our last stop was to a working olive mill where we sampled and purchased some olive oil to take home. Everywhere we went on the tour Nassos had friends that would come and great him. We could tell he is a very respected businessman in his community. On our way back to the cruise ship my wife mentioned to Nassos that she had hoped to visit a local beach and he took the time to drive us to a local beach for some pictures. If you have a chance to visit Katakolon/Olympia give Nassos a call.
Our guide was friendly and helpful. She provided transportation and some facts about the destination and did make sure we were prepared for the unguided tour of Olympia.
Thank you for your review and for your kind comments about our guide's friendliness and assistance. However, I am surprised by the 4-star rating, as the tour you received was exactly the service that was booked. Before every reservation, we clearly inform our guests that a licensed professional drive can be arranged upon request for an additional cost. This option was offered, but it was not selected. Our drivers and tour escorts speak English and are happy to provide transportation assistance, practical information, and general facts about the destination. However, they are not licensed guides and therefore do not provide the detailed guided tour service that a professional licensed guide would offer. We always deliver the service that our guests choose and book. In this case, the tour was booked as a transfer and self-guided visit to Olympia, and that is exactly what was provided. We appreciate your feedback and hope you enjoyed your visit to Olympia despite your disappointment regarding a service that was not included in your booking.
We were on a cruise with limited time in port. I was specific about pick up and return timings and had them confirmed prior to the trip. On the day we had a “no show” and spent time and effort trying to sort it out. In the end a substitute taxi firm was used and the tour started 2 hours late. So we arrived at Olympia in the midday heat at a time we had expected to be leaving for the beach. The private tour add ons of water, guide book and wifi on board weren’t provided. When we were dropped at Olympia we agreed a pick up point and time. That wasn’t met because the driver had to return to port for another job. We lost a further 45 minutes just hanging around waiting in the heat. We did call in at the beach but time was limited and my stress levels were such I couldn’t enjoy the trip. I was refunded the cost but the day was lost. Very disappointing and the cause was poor organisation and communication by the local operator.
Dear Mr. Lawson, I am genuinely surprised to see this 2-star review posted six days after our conversation, especially considering that I was completely honest with you from the very first moment about what had happened. As I explained, the delay was caused by an internal administrative error. We acknowledged it immediately, apologized personally, and arranged alternative transportation so that your tour could still take place. Allow me to ask a few reasonable questions: Did you miss your cruise ship? No. Did you miss your visit to Olympia? No. Were you safely transported throughout the excursion and back to the port? Yes. Was the vehicle provided comfortable and in excellent condition? Yes. Did our driver make every effort to assist you despite the circumstances? Yes. Were you returned to your ship safely and on time? Yes. The delay was unfortunate and I fully accept responsibility for that. However, your review gives the impression that the entire excursion failed, which is simply not accurate. What disappoints me most is that, despite our honesty, our apologies, and our efforts to salvage the day, none of this seems to have been taken into consideration in your rating. Had we failed to provide any service at all, your criticism would be entirely justified. Instead, we acknowledged the mistake, found a solution, operated the tour, and ensured your safe return to the port. We accept responsibility for the delay. What we do not accept is a description of the experience that ignores everything that was done to resolve the problem. Future readers deserve the full picture, and these are the facts.
Katerina and Nikki were great guides. They are native to the area so had great insider information to share about the locale. They took us to ancient Olympia, to a wonderful lunch spot nearby and then to a local beach. It was a wonderful afternoon exploring the area.
We had such a great time and each request we made was fulfilled beyond our expectations!!
Good but was expecting a private tour rather than just a driver. Boat ride through the caves was great.
We had a whole day with Helen our driver and guide. She was so knowledgeable and told us lots of information about the area. She was very warm and welcoming.. very impressed with her. Nothing was a problem for her. She brought us to Olympia and then to a beautiful little beach afterwards . We were on a cruise and I think our day today was a highlight..
We were picked up on time at the harbor. The driver answered all our questions on the way to the excavation site "Olympia" in perfect English. There, he also helped us so that the accompanying students received free admission. In the neighboring town, he waited for us and then took us to an idyllic swimming cove. Overall, it was a very nice trip.
I would give our tour guide a %100. Giovanni was knowledgable and personable. He also made sure we were comfortable and that we had time to do what we wanted around Katakaloo. The tour company did message the night before to change our tour but I wasn't able to get messages because our ship was at sea. But Giovanni had messaged so I was able to call him directly and he made it work for us. I would recommend using him as a tour guide!
