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ALL OTHER INFORMATION ~ Special
Interest Holidays ~ |
FLY DRIVE THE PELOPONNESE region is not
only the most scenic and interesting in the whole of Greece,
it is profusely rich in history and the only way to explore
and enjoy its riches is by hiring your own transport and following
a prepared route plan. We have put together an interesting
itinerary, taking in some of the well known sites and some
of the lesser known gems. You may spend a week exploring followed
by, if you so wish, a few days of relaxation at the delightful
seaside resort of Stoupa. |
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PELOPONNESE |
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KALAMATA AIRPORT TO PYLOS:
Journey time 1hr - distance 46 kms. Sunday and Monday night in Pylos in a ‘B’ or a ‘C’ category hotel on bed and breakfast basis. Pylos the starting point of your programme is this small town in western Messinia, an ideal base to begin your exploration of the area. From here you can visit Messini, the fortified capital of the Messinians and highlights of the site include the ‘Arcadian Gate’ and the ‘Askelepieon’. Other places of interest to visit are the ‘Freshwater Lagoon’, ‘King Nestors Palace’, and the castle at Methoni. TUESDAY PYLOS TO OLYMPIA: Journey time 3 hours - distance 155 kms. Tuesday night in Olympia in a ‘C’ category hotel on a bed and breakfast basis. Olympia: Dedicated to the god Zeus, this is one of the most famous and important classical sites in the world. WEDNESDAY OLYMPIA TO LANGADHIA: Journey time 1hr 30 mins - distance 60 kms. Tuesday night in Langadhia in a ‘C’ category hotel on bed and breakfast basis. Langadhia: A charming ancient stone built village where in the main street little shops sell traditional Greek products such as woollen bags and blankets. The surrounding countryside has a number of medieval churches and monasteries. THURSDAY LANGADHIA TO NAFPLION: Journey time 2 hrs 30 mins - distance 125 kms. Thursday and Friday nights in Nafplion in a ‘C’ class hotel on bed and breakfast basis. Nafplion: A perfect place for exploring the archaeological riches of ancient Greece and the crowning glory of the town is the magnificent ‘Palamidhi castle’ built by the Venetians in the year 1711. Two days here will give you enough time to visit the famous Epidavros theatre built in the 4th century BC, the city of Mycenea dating back to 1650 BC and the ancient Greek and Roman city of Corinth. SATURDAY NAFPLION TO SPARTA: Journey time 2 hrs - distance 116 kms Saturday night in Sparta in a ‘C’ class hotel on bed and breakfast basis. Sparta: From here you can visit Mistras, the famous last province of the great Byzantine empire where you can visit the Despot’s palace and view the medieval houses. SUNDAY MORNING: head back to Kalamata airport (1hr 30 mins) for your journey home or head for Stoupa (2hrs 30 mins) for a week of relaxation. ATHENS OPTION: It is feasible to extend the Peloponnese fly drive by two days and include Athens in your itinerary. You will leave Nafplion on Saturday morning and head for Athens. In Athens you will stay in a centrally located ‘C’ class hotel for two nights. You can visit the Acropolis and numerous other places of interest during your stay here. You will leave Athens early Monday morning and drive south to Sparta for one night. You leave Sparta on Tuesday to reach Stoupa in the afternoon. This variation to this route will leave you with five days of relaxation at Lakonia studios in Stoupa. With this alternative, the car is not included in the price for the five days in Stoupa. Clients booking fly drive only for one week must drop the car back at the airport and those staying an extra week in Stoupa will leave the car in Stoupa upon their return from the tour. If you wish to retain the car for the second week in Stoupa, normal rental rates quoted in the brochure will apply. After a weeks stay in Stoupa the transport back to the airport will be provided and the cost is included in the combined two week package cost. |
EPIRUS |
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PREVEZA
AIRPORT TO PARGA: Journey time 2 hrs - distance 116 kms Sunday and Monday night in ‘B’ or ‘C’ class hotel in Parga area. (Possibly Valtos Beach or Lichnos Beach area). This is a perfect base for relaxation and exploration. The town is crowned by a Venetian castle, and tiered houses in narrow lanes run down to the seafront with a couple of beaches. Lots of interesting shops and endless places to dine along the sea front and along the cobbled streets all over the village. From here you can visit the Nekromanteion of Ephyra, the site of an ancient oracle and the location of the mythical river Styx, river to the underworld. Zalongo, with its monument to the Souliot women, who in 1803, commited suicide by jumping over the cliff, rather than be taken by Ali Pasha’s troops. You can also take a daytrip by boat to the island of Paxos. TUESDAY PARGA TO IOANNINA: Journey time 3 hours, 140 kms (the scenic route) Tuesday and Wednesday night in Ioannina, the main town of the Epirus region. The old town remains as one of the most character full in Greece. With its mosques and synagogue, a number of museums all within the old castle, there is no shortage of places to visit. A boat service takes you out to the island on the lake. Visit the Oracle of Zeus at Dodona, said to be the oldest in Greece. THURSDAY IOANNINA TO VITSA IN THE ZAGOROHORIA: Journey time 1 hour, 66 Kms. Thursday and Friday night in Vitsa. The perfect base to explore the 46 traditional villages of the area. A paradise for walkers, painters and photographers the area is covered in miles of forest. The Vikos Gorge plunges to 1000 mtrs in depth and attracts walkers from all over the world. There are signed paths, some cobbled, connecting the villages, passing some of the stone built Packhorse bridges, some single arched, others triple arched erected mainly in the nineteenth century. The houses are made of local stone, some with semi-fortified walls. SATURDAY VITSA TO ARTA: Journey time 2 hrs 15 mins, 120 kms Saturday night in Arta. Built on the banks of the Arakhthos river, Arta is a quiet provincial town. It has a number of Byzantine churches and the foundations of the Temple of Apollo all overlooked by the Frourio, the ancient castle. SUNDAY MORNING head back to the airport at Preveza a journey of one hour (40Kms) or the island of Lefkas 1 hour 30 mins ( 68 Kms) via the bridge that connects Lefkas to the mainland. On the outskirts of Preveza, you arrive at Nikopolis, founded 31 BC by Octavian on the site where he camped prior to the battle with Anthony and Cleopatra at Actium. It has impressive walls, and a theatre, used for performances during the summer festival. Clients taking the Epirus fly drive can leave the car at Lefkas airport but those spending the second week in Lefkas can keep it (second week hire charge payable) or return it to our agents in the town from where you can pick up a taxi (payable locally)to your property. At the end of your holiday, you will be transferred back to the airport for your flight home. |
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COSTS Fly Drive Package cost (Peloponnese or Epirus)
including a group ‘C’ air conditioned car/all hotels en-route
as indicated but excluding entrance fees to various sites and
petrol: |
Departures
for either route: Any Sunday in May, June and September onwards. |
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WALKING HOLIDAYS Escorted walks around Stoupa The programme of walks around Stoupa and the outer Mani area are organised by a local travel agent and groups comprise mainly of Dutch and English tourists. An English guide will escort you and the programme will include four walks per week which can be booked as a package. You will be based in Stoupa and the pick up point for each walk will be a short stroll from your property. The walking programme usually operates during May, early June and late September and it is strictly subject to the agents getting a reasonable size group together. If you are interested in this activity, we will be pleased to find out the dates and the cost at the time of your enquiry |
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