Corinth Canal and Ancient Olympia Private Trip from Athens
Description
Olympia is the home of the original Olympic games.Spend the day at ancient Olympia, a UNESCO World Heritage.Visit ancient Olympia and the Corinth Canal without the bustle of a shared-group tour on this private day trip from Athens. Traveling by comfortable air-conditioned vehicle, stop to view the rock-cut Corinth Canal, built in 1893. Then, travel into the Peloponnese to explore the birthplace of the Olympics independently, seeing the athletes’ training areas and crumbled temples and stadium where competitions were held from the 8th century BC. Explore the grounds independently to view the ruined temples. Family-friendly tour with flexible itinerary and personal driver.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Gulf of Corinth in the Ionian Sea are connected by the Corinth Canal. It divides the Peloponnese from the Greek mainland by slicing through the small Corinthian Isthmus, so arguably turning the peninsula into an island. Without locks, the canal was excavated across the isthmus at sea level. Many modern ships cannot cross it since it is barely 21.4 meters (70 feet) broad at its base and 6.4 kilometers (4 km) long. Views of Corinth's isthmus are best seen from a height, where you can also take in the city's sheer limestone walls and watch the boats navigating the canal below.
Olympia was a sacred place that attracted worshipers from around the ancient world. Starting from the 8th century BC, the religious celebrations at Olympia became associated with the Sacred Olympic Truce, honored throughout the Greek world following an agreement between the Spartan Lykourgos and the King of Elis, Iphitos. In the 5th century BC, Olympia became a place where ideas were spread, with dozens of thinkers and influential individuals coming here to exchange and pass on their knowledge and ideas.
The Archaeological Museum of Olympia is one of the principal museums of Greece, located in Olympia. It is overseen by the Ministry of Culture and Sports, and, as of 2009, is directed by Georgia Chatzi. When the original building was completed and opened in 1882, it was the first museum in Greece outside of Athens. The museum houses discoveries from the surrounding area, including the site of the Ancient Olympic Games. The collection includes objects produced and used in the area from prehistory to its time under Roman rule. The principal pieces in the museum are Hermes and the Infant Dionysus (attributed to Praxiteles), some objects from the Temple of Zeus, the Nike of Paionios, as well as an oenochoe that belonged to Phidias. The extent of its bronze collection makes it one of the most important in the world.
The archaeological site held over 70 significant buildings, and ruins of many of these survive. Of special interest to Greeks of all times is the Pelopion, the tomb of the quasi-mythical king, ancestor of the Atreids, the two kings who led their domains to war against Troy. The Peloponnesus is named for Pelops. The tomb suggests that he may not have been entirely mythical.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- 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
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Travel time from Athens to Ancient Olympia is 3 hours and 30 minutes.
Reviews(22)
Yiannis and the trip to Olympia were fantastic! Good stops along the way, Yiannis was full of information to share and a friendly person to enjoy a car ride with. Worth booking!
Thank you so much for your kind words! I'm really glad you enjoyed the trip to Olympia and the stops along the way. It was a pleasure sharing the history and stories with you, and I truly enjoyed the conversation during the drive. Your recommendation means a lot—hope to see you again on another adventure!
Yiannis was an amazing guide/driver, we had a great time and the drive to Olympia so really didn't feel long. Both, Corinth Channel and Olympia are worth seeing. The time I had there also was enough to get a good impression of each of these places without the feeling of being in a hurry. After all I definitely can recommend the trip.
Thank you so much for your kind review! We’re delighted to hear that you had a great time and that Yiannis made the long drive to Olympia feel comfortable and enjoyable. Both the Corinth Canal and Olympia are truly remarkable sites, and we’re glad you had enough time to explore each one without feeling rushed.We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you back for more memorable experiences in the future!
The trip and the tour were amazing. the guide told us about the history of the place. Thank you very very much!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you for taking the time to leave us a 5 star review. We are so happy to hear that you were satisfied with our service. We look forward to serving you again! Best regards, The Greece Athens Transfers and Tours Team!!
Nikos was very pleasant and did nice job. He was on time for the pick up and offered adequate narration. Thank you Charles Albee
Thanks for sharing your rating with us and the community!Your satisfaction is what drives us, and we can’t wait to welcome you back for another outstanding experience! Best regards, Greece Athens Transfers and Tours Team!
everything was fabulous highly recommend driver was great and knowledgeable and super friendly. it is totally worth the experience
Thank you for the positive feedback! It’s always a pleasure to know that our customers have a great experience. Your satisfaction is our top priority, and we look forward to your next visit!" Best regards, Greece Athens Transfers and Tours Team!
This was a great trip. Nikos was the best driver I have ever had. I really enjoyed my conversations with him and learnt alot about Greece
Thank you for your amazing review! We’re so happy to hear that enjoyed the tour and the driver! We truly appreciate your support. We look forward to serving you in the future!
Yiannis went out of his way to give us an amazing tour, including scenic routes and wonderful conversation in the car. It felt like I was on a road trip with a friend.
Thank you so much for leaving us a 5-star rating! We truly appreciate your support!Your feedback helps us continue to improve! Thanks again, and we look forward to welcoming you back soon! Best regards, Greece Athens Transfers and Tours Team!!
Incredible trip to Olympia and Cornith canal! Nikos was very informative and made a lengthy trip fun and enjoyable!!! Definitely recommend the tour and Nikos!!
Thank you for sharing your experience! We're so glad to hear you enjoyed the tour and the driver. Your recommendation means a lot to us, and we hope to see you again on another tour soon! Best regards, Greece Athens Transfers and Tours Team!
The Corinth Canal is a very brief stop but it is worth seeing how deep of a canal was built. Pretty impressive. Ancient Olympia has a very nice museum and ruins of the Olympic village. There was less in the Olympic Village than we expected but it was worth going to as you can still see the outlines of the buildings and the race track.
Thank you for sharing your experience with us! We are so grateful for your kind words and 5-star rating! We look forward to welcoming you back soon! Best regards, Greece Athens Transfers and Tours Team!!!
It was a beautiful 4hr drive each way. Nicos was an excellent driver and very pleasant to talk to. Olympia was a very interesting place to visit.
Thank you very much for your review! We hope you leaved from our country with the best memories!!!! We look forward to welcoming you again to Athens and offer you our services !!! Best regards Greece Athens Transfers and Tours Team