• Athens - The driver will collect you from Athens, and the journey to your first destination, Corinth Canal, will take approximately one hour.
• Corinth Canal - The Corinth Canal links the Gulf of Corinth in the Ionian Sea with the Saronic Gulf in the Aegean Sea. It traverses the narrow Isthmus of Corinth, effectively separating the Peloponnese from the Greek mainland, thus arguably turning the peninsula into an island. The canal, dug at sea level, lacks locks and measures 6.4 kilometers (4 miles) in length and 21.4 meters (70 feet) wide at its base, making it inaccessible to many modern ships.

From a high vantage point, you can enjoy a stunning view of Corinth’s isthmus and admire the steep limestone walls while observing the vessels below navigating through the canal.

• Archaeological Site of Olympia - The travel time from Corinth Canal to Ancient Olympia is 2.5 hours. The archaeological site once housed over 70 significant buildings, with many ruins still visible. Of particular interest to Greeks throughout history is the Pelopion, the tomb of the semi-mythical king, ancestor of the Atreids, the two kings who led their realms to war against Troy. The Peloponnesus is named after Pelops, suggesting he may not have been entirely mythical.
• Temple of Zeus - The Temple of Zeus at Olympia was an ancient Greek temple dedicated to the god Zeus. Constructed in the second quarter of the fifth century BC, it epitomized the fully developed classical Greek temple of the Doric order.

The temple housed the famous statue of Zeus, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The Chryselephantine (gold and ivory) statue stood approximately 13 meters (43 feet) high and was crafted by the sculptor Phidias in his workshop at Olympia. The statue’s completion took about 13 years (470–457 BC) and was one of Classical Greece’s most esteemed artistic achievements.

• Stadium at Olympia - The stadium at the archaeological site of Olympia, Greece, is situated to the east of the sanctuary of Zeus. It hosted many of the sporting events during the Ancient Olympic Games.
• Temple of Hera - The Temple of Hera, or Heraion, is an ancient Archaic Greek temple dedicated to Hera, queen of the Greek gods. It was the oldest temple at Olympia and one of the most revered in all of Greece. Initially, it was a joint temple for Hera and Zeus, chief of the gods, until a separate temple was constructed for him. The Olympic flame is lit at the altar of this temple, oriented east-west, and carried worldwide. The torch of the Olympic flame is still lit in its ruins today. The temple was built around 590 BC but was destroyed by an earthquake in the early 4th century CE.
• Archaeological Site of Olympia - The Nymphaeum, “home of the Nymphs” or water goddesses, was the official name of a water-distribution structure built in the mid-2nd century at the site to supply water to the masses attending the Olympic Games in July and August. Nymphaeum was a common name throughout the Mediterranean for an ornate structure that terminated an aqueduct bringing water from distant elevated terrain, such as a stream or abundant springs. This one featured substructures, statues, and ornately patterned stonework; its primary purpose, however, was functional. It received water from the aqueduct into a cistern and released it by stages into a system of open and closed channels around the site. The end user of the water carried a secular patera, or small drinking bowl, around with them, dipping into an open trough for water, as suggested by the fact that at least some of the statues carried such paterae in one hand. Troughs extended throughout the site to accommodate the crowds.
• Archaeological Site of Olympia - The palaestra is the area in ancient Olympia where “pali” (“wrestling”) was taught and practiced for training purposes, i.e., “wrestling-school.” Two other martial arts were taught there: Greek πυγμή (pygme), Latin pugnus, “fist, boxing,” and Greek παγκράτιον, Latin pancration or pancratium, “any method,” which was free-style, or hand-to-hand, including grappling, kicking, punching, or any unarmed method, no holds barred. The latter was sometimes deadly or disfiguring (with permission), indicating that the arts were ephebic, or “soldier” training for prospective citizens of the city-state sponsoring the school, such as Elis, but here combined with prospective candidacy for contention in the games. Nevertheless, none of the games were conducted without rules, umpires, and judges, who did not hesitate to stop contests, fine contenders, sometimes prohibiting future participation, or bar flagrant violators.
• Philippeion - The Philippeion in the Altis of Olympia was an Ionic circular memorial in limestone and marble, a tholos, which contained chryselephantine (ivory and gold) statues of Philip’s family: himself, Alexander the Great, Olympias, Amyntas III, and Eurydice I. It was crafted by the Athenian sculptor Leochares in celebration of Philip’s victory at the Battle of Chaeronea (338 BC). It was the only structure inside the Altis dedicated to a human.

The temple featured an outer colonnade of Ionic order with 18 columns. Inside, it had nine engaged columns of the lavishly designed Corinthian order. It had a diameter of 15 meters. The naos contained two windows, much like Hera II at Paestum. It had a carved marble roof decorated with a bronze poppy head on top.

• Archaeological Museum of Olympia - The Archaeological Museum of Olympia is one of Greece’s principal museums, 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.

• Museum of the Olympic Games - The ancient Olympic Games were a series of athletic competitions among representatives of city-states and one of the Panhellenic Games of Ancient Greece. They were held in honor of Zeus, and the Greeks attributed them a mythological origin. The first Olympic Games are traditionally dated to 776 BC. The games were held every four years, or Olympiad, which became a unit of time in historical chronologies. They continued to be celebrated when Greece came under Roman rule in the 2nd century BC. Their last recorded celebration was in AD 393, under the emperor Theodosius I, but archaeological evidence indicates that some games were still held after this date. The games likely ended under Theodosius II, possibly in connection with a fire that burned down the temple of the Olympian Zeus during his reign.
• Archimedes Museum - This unique museum is dedicated to the ancient Greek mathematician, physicist, engineer, astronomer, and inventor who made invaluable contributions to the world of technology.
• Market of Ancient Olympia - Enjoy free time to explore the village shops, where you can treat yourself and purchase handmade souvenirs for your family and friends, and have lunch at a traditional Greek tavern.
• Athens - The return journey to Athens begins, with a travel time of 3.5 hours.

• Private transportation
• Bottled water
• On-board WiFi
• English speaking professional driver
• In-vehicle air conditioning

• Licensed tour guide (upon request and depending on availability)
• Entry/Admission - Archaeological Site and Museums (12€ per adult)
• Gratuities
• Lunch

Embark on a full-day private tour to Ancient Olympia and the Corinth Canal, offering a glimpse beyond Athens. As the Greeks say, “Greece is not just Athens,” and this tour truly exemplifies that. Explore the birthplace of the modern Olympic Games, a site that hosted both the ancient and contemporary Olympics. This historic location offers more than just landmarks; it is where history was made. The Temple of Zeus stands as a tribute to ancient Greece’s rich heritage. Wander through rows of columns and the iconic stadium where athletes competed for over a millennium, leading to the Temple of Hera, a majestic structure with its own ancient legacy.

• This is a private tour. Only your group will participate.
• Your personal driver will pick you up and return you to the same place or at the point you prefer.
• Our drivers are not official tour guides, but they are knowledgeable and can provide fascinating commentary in fluent English. Although they will not enter the archaeological sites with you, they can answer all of your questions about the places you visit with this tour.
• Comfortable shoes are recommended.
• Hats, sunglasses and suntan lotion are highly recommended during summer months.

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