Full Day Private Tour to Monemvasia Medieval Fortress Town and Sparta
Description
Enjoy a full day private tour in some of the most beautiful locations in Greece, on a journey through the olive groves, orchards and blue Aegean views of the famous Peloponnese countryside, as we visit the unique medieval fortress city of Monemvasia and explore the timeless Ancient Sparta. Sit back in the comfort of an executive sedan or van, visit unique places, taste genuine Greek delicacies and relax as you gaze the aegean sea. If you are looking for a unique and quality experience in Greece, take this tour and create unforgettable moments to take back home.
Tour Options
Itinerary
We will pick you up from your accommodation on your private car or van
After leaving Athens, in about 1 hour drive, our first stop will be the Corinth Canal where you can gaze the breathtaking view from the bridge and take great photos. The Corinth Canal connects the Gulf of Corinth in the Ionian Sea with the Saronic Gulf in the Aegean Sea. It cuts through the narrow Isthmus of Corinth and separates the Peloponnese from the Greek mainland, arguably making the peninsula an island. The canal was dug through the isthmus at sea level and has no locks.
After about 2 and a half hour drive we will reach Sparta which is known as the eternal rival city of the Athenian Democracy. Sparta revolved around a different Cosmo theory for the ancient Greek standards. Initially known as the birth place of Helen of Troy and the Kingdom of Menelaus (in Mycenaean period), Sparta was organized as a purely military society in the ancient Greek period. It was the city of the two Kings were a few aristocrats ruled and of course the city where Leonidas and his 300 Spartans marched from to face the Persian army Thermopylae in 480 BCE.
Continuing we will pass in front of the stadium where the statue of King Leonidas stands marking the ending point of Spartathlon race (Athens – Sparta 245,3 km).
The Museum of Olive and Greek Olive Oil, in Sparta, transports you to the culture, history and technology of the olive and olive oil production in the Greek realm, from prehistoric times to the early 20th century. The Museum's objective is to highlight the ineffable relation of the olive with the identity of our country and, more generally, the Mediterranean basin. The olive and olive oil are presented here from different optical angles: the economy, nutrition and the olive's uses, religious worship, art and technology. The Museum of the Olive and Greek Olive Oil offers you the opportunity to see the very first testimonies about the presence of the olive tree and the production of olive oil in Greece: Rare fossilized olive leaves, 50,000-60,000 years old, from the island of Santorini, the oldest findings offering proof of the presence of the olive tree en Greece Linear B Tablets of the 14th century BC (exact replicas), with the first written testimonies about the olive and olive oil.
After about 1 hour and 30 minutes, we will reach mythical Monemvasia. This is a living medieval city, developed on an island that is connected to the Greek mainland. A fortress and a prosperous city of the Byzantine empire Monemvasia (literally means one entrance) still survives, the narrow streets, the mansions, the small houses, the churches , the wall, the gate and the citadel, the city is still inhabited. Here history comes truly alive, you can have lunch by the sea upon the old wall and walk in the city continually discovering new points of interest.
We will return to Athens and drop you off at your accommodation.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
We pickup from all accommodation in Athens. Airport or Airport area pickup/drop off is extra charge.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Attraction duration are about 8H30, and the rest of the time is for transportation
Reviews(27)
It was exactly what I was looking for and I am glad I did this tour. Monemvasia is stunningly beautiful, a true gem. Would recommend seeing. I have been to Athens several times before and had already done the more common day tours. I had always wanted to see Monemvasia but I only had 1 day free and thus this booking was perfect for me. Was picked up on time from my hotel in a clean, comfortable air conditioned Mercedes SUV with charging port for my phone. The drive is long but gorgeous scenery along the way in the Peloponnese with sights of mountains, farms of olive trees and water views. There was enough time for stops including 2 bathroom/ coffee stops. There was a quick stop at Corinth Canal for classic photo stop along with a quick stop at Leonidas statue in Sparta. Ruins at Sparta are sparse, not much there, but it was free and had beautiful vistas. The Olive Oil museum is small but interesting. These stops broke up the drive. But the true highlight was the medieval fortress town of Monemvasia. No cars inside main gate, just a labyrinth of winding streets of shops and restaurants, surrounded by a fortress wall and stunning views of the sea sparkling in the sun, the bluest of colors. Had time for lunch at a restaurant recommend by the driver with one of the most picturesque views overlooking the water that I have ever eaten at, and good Greek food too. Only had 2 hours to enjoy the town so it was short but I am happy I got to see it. The young driver Jason was very friendly, curteous and prompt (and English speaking). He is not a licensed guide so he did not go over history or accompany me on sites, I explored the sites on my own but I was expecting this when I signed up as it was as described as such on tour page. I had just wanted a private driver to get me/to from Monemvasia in a single day and the trip was exactly as promised. Lots of driving for sure, about 10 hours total, but it went by fast and was comfortable drive.
Thank you for taking the time to write this review. Always at your service.
Truly the highlight of our trip. We loved every minute of it. The food, the wine, the conversations, everything was incredible and perfectly timed. Can’t recommend enough!
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Definitely one of the hidden gem tours from Athens! Our tour guide Harry was very accommodating and knowledgeable which makes for good conversation on the commutes.
Thank you for taking the time to write this review. Always at your service.
This trip is well worth the experience. George our driver was very knowledgeable about the history and culture and he made our day more enjoyable. Would recommend.
Thank you for taking the time to write this review. Always at your service.
We had the most amazing time on our trip! Theo was incredible—knowledgeable, friendly, and went above and beyond to make it a special experience. Even though it was a full-day trip, it went by so quickly. He planned the stops perfectly so it never felt long or tiring. The company was also very accommodating and allowed us to customize one part of the itinerary to better fit our interests, which we really appreciated. Highly recommend!
Thank you for taking the time to write this review. Always at your service.
This was a very long day but so totally worth the time. George was our driver and a great ambassador for Greece. When we asked if we could see the sites of ancient Corinth from Biblical times he was glad to add that to our trip. That was a highlight to us! Sparta and the Olive museum were quaint and a nice break on the drive. But the real highlight was the trek to visit Monemvasia. This ancient town was so worth the drive. This is a great tour to see a lot of southern Greece!
Thank you for taking the time to write this review. Always at your service.
Find a tour operator that cares more about their customers. The night before this tour was set to begin, the manager messaged (no call, I didn't see the message until hours later) me and says there could be delays to due farmers strikes. I didn't know what that was at the time so I wasn't too worried. Until I was stuck on another tour, waiting in traffic for hours where people literally had to exit their vehicles to relieve themselves. This obviously is not the fault of the tour operator but I messaged them again asking if we should cancel, they said it should be fine. I then discussed with locals and other tourists who explained the issues they faced and it sounded like a nightmare for a tourist. So the morning of, I said I didn't feel comfortable with proceeding but the driver showed up anyway and the manager refused to cancel and refund or reschedule the trip. The driver was incredibly nice and patient and this doesn't reflect him at all. The company itself should be more flexible with their customers. They're dealing with people in foreign environments and comfort matters. Given what I was told by others (multiple locals, drivers, operators) and my own experiences, I didn't think it was advisable but they disagreed. They are the experts so I'm sure they are right but their information came from local police and the police were the ones blocking the roads so I find that to be unreliable information. If they had given me more notice, perhaps I would have canceled within their refund window but they themselves didn't tell me the tour was going to be delayed until that window closed anyway, that should go both ways and if something unexpected like this happens, there should flexibility on both sides. I could have done the tour another day, accepted a partial refund or anything but they did not work with me at all. We're talking about protests and police road blocks being added to an already full day tour. So again, I would look elsewhere or just rent a car. Viator has requested a refund for the second time so we'll see if they make it right but until then, I feel I must warn other travelers. The company will probably respond saying they showed up and waited and it was outside of the refund window (all true) but again, things changed, new factors were introduced and this is a customer service business. I'm sure this tour would have been great given my messages with the driver but don't expect any support or kindness from the management.
Thank your for taking the time to write this review as it can be used as an example for other guests. We informed you about possible delay the minute that was announced that there will be a detour on your route. We monitor each tour ( route ) carefully and we immediately talked with the police department responsible. They advised a delay of about 5-10 minutes as it was only a 2 mile detour. We explained to you the situation and just to be sure we informed of a maximum 30 minutes delay in total. You confirmed but on the morning of tour date at about 07:20 just 40 minutes before tour you sent us an email saying you are not comfortable and not to proceed. Our driver was on his way as we start about 1 hour before just to be sure we will be there on time no matter what. You advised us that you talked with other tourists and said to you that the delay was going to be way more. Our driver was waiting there for 2 hours trying to make you understand that all was going to work out well and that would be a pity not to take the tour . Please trust our advice as we are doing this every day and we would never put one of our guests in a position like that. Thank you and we wish you a great stay in Athens. Always at your service.
The trip was wonderful! Theo was amazing! He picked us up right from our doorstep on time with a big smile and big heart! We had great conversations on the road on politics, history, cultural and many other topics which was great. On top of his description, he prepared a two-page info sheets to read before each site which we found very helpful. He was very attentive, accommodating and went way and beyond to make us comfortable. We are a family of 4, with two kids 14 and 8. We all enjoyed the trip very much. Highly recommended.
Thank you for taking the time to write this review. Always at your service.
The trip was wonderful! Theo was amazing! He picked us up right from our doorstep on time with a big smile and big heart! We had great conversations on the road on politics, history, cultural and many other topics which was great. On top of his description, he prepared a two-page info sheets to read before each site which we found very helpful. He was very attentive, accommodating and went way and beyond to make us comfortable. We are a family of 4, with two kids 14 and 8. We all enjoyed the trip very much. Highly recommended.
Thank you for taking the time to write this review. Always at your service.
Amazing and beautiful tour of Monemvasia. Our guide Harry was great. We had time to explore the city at our leisure and eat at a very good restaurant. Thank you so much for this tour.
Thank you for taking the time to write this review. Always at your service.