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Mycenae Lions Gate Tour: Explore Epidaurus, Nafplio & the Historic Corinth Canal

5.0

20 Ratings

Athens

Embark on a captivating tour of Mycenae Lions Gate, Epidaurus, Nafplio, and the historic Corinth Canal. Explore ancient civilizations, stunning landscapes, and experience the magic of Greek theatre.

Duration: 8 hours, 30 minutes

Cancellation: 1 day learn more

Highlights

Corinth Canal - The Corinth Canal is a waterway that crosses the narrow isthmus of Corinth to link the Gulf of Corinth to the Saronic Gulf. As such, the canal separates the Greek mainland from the Peloponnese, turning it into an island
The canal, though executed in the late 19th century, has been a 2000-year-old dream. Before its construction, ships in the Aegean Sea that wanted to cross to the Adriatic or anchor in Corinth, a rich shipping city, had to circle the Peloponnese, which would prolong their journey an extra 185 nautical miles.
It is believed that Periander, the tyrant of Corinth (602 BC), was the first to conceive of the idea of digging the Corinth Canal. As the project was too complicated given the limited technical capabilities of the times, Periander constructed the diolkos, a stone road which allowed ships to be transferred on wheeled platforms.
The Corinth Canal connects the Gulf of Corinth in the Ionian Sea with the Saronic Gulf in the Aegean Sea.

What's Included

Bottle of water included
Complimentary hotel pickup and drop-off
Knowledgeable professional drivers
Travel in style with Limo Mercedes or Skoda luxury car
Fluent English-speaking drivers
Free onboard Wi-Fi
All taxes, fees, and handling charges included

What's Not Included

Lunch, other beverages and meals.
Entrance fees for all the attractions
Licensed tour guide (upon request and depending on availability & EXTRA COST
Tips and gratuities
Airport Pick-Up & Drop-Off (additional cost depending on vehicle type)

Additional Information

The Corinth Canal is a passage built across the slim land bridge of Corinth, connecting the Gulf of Corinth with the Saronic Gulf. The canal essentially splits the Greek mainland from the Peloponnese, effectively rendering it an island.

Mycenae
Renowned as ‘Rich in Gold’, and widely recognized as the dominion of the legendary Agamemnon from Homer’s epics, Mycenae stands as arguably the most influential and affluent palace hub of Greece’s Late Bronze Age. It lent its name to the notable Mycenaean civilization, a significant era of Greek prehistory. The myths embedded in Mycenae’s past have enthralled poets and authors for numerous generations.

Nafplio
Regarded as one of the most picturesque locations in Argolis region, eastern Peloponnese, and one of the most romantic destinations across Greece, Nafplio held the honor of being the first capital of the nascent Greek state from 1823 to 1834.

The Epidaurus amphitheatre: Renowned for its quintessential Greek architecture and remarkable acoustics. Come for the culture, stay for the mesmerizing theatrical events.

Location

Athens

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings

5.0

(20 Ratings)

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Julie_e

Dec 5, 2023

Fantastic Tour and Guide - Andreas has a depth of knowledge and the ability to convey history in storyteller mode. The places we visited were fantastic and it was great to be able to see the places about which I have read. Mycenae was fantastic as was the Fort at Nafplio. The scenery is beautiful and the stories about the Greeks and the Persians came alive. Highly recommend!

Review provided by Viator

Shana_d

Oct 17, 2023

Excellent trip, especially Mycenae - We had about 4 days to see the sites of Athens, so chose this road trip on the last day, a beautiful drive in the Peloponnese region! We were four people, picked up at the destination of our cruise, in a comfortable Mercedes van. We added the option of a licensed guide. We had a short stop at the Corinth canal on the way. Next, Mycenae is on a mountain and the agricultural scenery is so wonderful, and the site is spectacular and very interesting, it’s very different from any of the other archaeological sites we saw on our trip!!! Our guide was terrific, Senterous (sorry-spelling?) and Kristos was awesome as well, so kind and a very good driver. Our guide was very knowledgeable and quite detailed with his historical presentation. The tomb that is a couple minutes away was fantastic as well. Then, on to pretty coastal town of Nafplio where we wandered about just a bit and had a nice lunch to restore our energy, and we checked out the medieval castle above the city. Then it was on to Epidaurus and the sanctuary of Asclepius. The theater was the best part. This was a LOT to pack in on one day for sure! We were interested in the history so we dove in a bit deeper, which resulted in our trip being about 11 hours. (When you added in a bit of traffic, and our hotel was downtown, near the Ancient Agora. The guides did let us know we were on track for a longer trip.) If this would be too much for your group, the private tour does let you tailor your options. All in all, a very good outing!

Review provided by Viator

Maude_w

Sep 25, 2023

Delightful and Fascinating Excursion - Our exuberant driver/guide, Theodore, enlivened this wonderful journey to multiple spectacular sites of antiquity. This was a fabulous experience, a major highlight of our trip to Greece. Don't miss this. A top recommendation.

Review provided by Viator

Pamgj324bv

Sep 23, 2023

The tour driver made the trip! - What a wonderful all day trip to see the sites outside of the city. Michael was great, friendly informative and super helpful. The day ended in Nafplio, with a relaxing lunch and some shopping. Restaurant and ice cream recommendations from Michael were spot on. Thank you!