• Corinth Canal - The Full Day Sparta tour begins with a 45-mile journey along the National highway. The tour will arrive at the renowned Corinth Canal, also known as the Isthmus Canal, which links the Saronic Sea and the Corinthian Sea.
  The canal, completed in the late 19th century, was a dream over 2000 years in the making. Prior to its construction, ships in the Aegean Sea wishing to cross to the Adriatic or dock in Corinth, a prosperous shipping city, had to navigate around the Peloponnese, adding an extra 185 nautical miles to their voyage.
  It is believed that Periander, the tyrant of Corinth (602 BC), was the first to envision the Corinth Canal. Due to the complexity of the project and the limited technical capabilities of the time, Periander built the diolkós, a stone road that allowed ships to be transported on wheeled platforms.
  In 67 AD, Emperor Nero attempted to construct the canal with a workforce of 6,000 slaves. However, he was assassinated before the plans could be completed. Ultimately, the canal’s construction was finalized in the last decade of the 19th century.
• Archaeological Museum of Sparta - Following a 2-hour drive through the mountains in central Peloponnese, the tour arrives at Sparta, a significant city-state in Ancient Greece, located on the banks of the Eurotas River in Laconia, southeastern Peloponnese.
  Discoveries at this archaeological site were uncovered by the pioneering excavations of the British School of Archaeology beginning in 1910. Excavations resumed in the early 1990s, focusing primarily on the areas of the ancient theatre and the merchant stalls.

The most notable monuments of this archaeological site include:

The Temple of Athena Chalkioikos, identified by a few surviving relics found at the northwest end of the Acropolis.
The ancient theater of Sparta, located on the south side of the Acropolis, is a product of the early Imperial Period. The orchestra, the retaining wall with engraved inscriptions of the rulers of Sparta during Roman times, and the concave portion of the large theater have been preserved.
The so-called Circular Building of Unknown Destination is a circular structure built of hewn blocks and smaller stones. The preserved section, possibly due to Roman repairs, appears to have been an important building in ancient Spartan life (the Skias).

The remains of merchant stalls adjacent to the ancient theater, discovered in recent excavations by the British School, seem to be products of the Roman Imperial period.
The relics of a grand Basilica from the mid Byzantine Era have been linked to the Basilica of Saint Nikon (10th century AD).

Concluding the visit at the archaeological site of Sparta, travelers will continue with a visit to the archaeological museum of Sparta.
The museum houses thousands of findings from the province of Lacedaemon, along with those from other areas of the Laconian prefecture, which are not included in the archaeological collections of Gytheion and Neapolis Vion. The objects displayed in its halls cover the period from the Neolithic to the Later Roman eras, with findings from the great sanctuaries of Sparta holding the most prominent position. Museum visitors will have the opportunity to admire retrieved material from the greater pre-historical sites of Laconia, sculptures dating from the Archaic to the Roman eras, found at various locations of the prefecture, along with artifacts from rescue excavations, the most significant of which are the remains of Roman mosaic floors from Sparta. Additionally, the museum exhibition includes a few but extremely valuable epigraphs, providing rare information on the history of the area.

• Museum of the Olive and Greek Olive Oil - The Museum of the Olive and Greek Olive Oil, located in Sparta (Peloponnese), immerses visitors in the culture, history, and technology of olive and olive oil production in Greece, from prehistoric times to the early 20th century.
  The Museum of the Olive and Greek Olive Oil offers visitors the chance to see the earliest evidence of the olive tree’s presence and olive oil production in Greece.
  For each historical period, visitors will learn about the olive and olive oil’s contribution to the economy and daily life: nutrition, body care, and now outdated uses, such as lighting. (The museum is closed every Tuesday).
• Mystras - Mystras, the ‘wonder of the Morea’, developed down the hillside from the fortress built in 1249 by the prince of Achaia, William II of Villehardouin, atop a 620 m high hill overlooking Sparta. The Franks surrendered the castle to the Byzantines in 1262, and it became the center of Byzantine power in southern Greece, first as the base of the military governor and from 1348 as the seat of the Despotate of Morea. Captured by the Turks in 1460, it was subsequently occupied by them and the Venetians. After 1834, the inhabitants of Mystras gradually moved to the modern town of Sparta, leaving only the breathtaking medieval ruins, set in a beautiful landscape.
  Many monasteries were founded there, including those of the Brontochion and the monastery of Christos Zoodotes (Christ the Giver of Life). Under the Despots, Mystras reached its peak with the construction of churches, outstanding examples of Late Byzantine church architecture, such as Hagioi Theodoroi (1290-1295), the Hodegetria (c. 1310), the Hagia Sophia (1350-1365), the Peribleptos (3rd quarter of the 14th century), the Evangelistria (late 14th – early 15th century), and the Pantanassa (c. 1430). The city was a major player on the political chessboard of the time and was developed and beautified to reflect its role as a center of power and culture. The city’s complex history is clearly evident in its fortifications, palaces, churches, convents, houses, streets, and public squares.
  Mystras is an exceptional example of late Byzantine culture, which influenced the rest of the Mediterranean world and beyond.

• On-board WiFi
• Bottled water
• In-vehicle air conditioning
• Professional Drivers (Not licensed to accompany you into the sites)
• Private transportation

• Lunch
• Local licensed tour guide (Optional / 240 Euros payable in cash). Subject to availability.
• Airport pickup/drop-off on request (additional fee varies by vehicle type)
• Gratuities
• Entrance fees

Discover the rich history of Sparta, featuring the Mystras fortress, known as the ‘wonder of the Morea,’ and the famed “300” warriors led by King Leonidas, on an all-day excursion departing from Athens.

Why Choose Hellenic Private Tours?

• Customizable Tours and Services: Designed to meet your specific preferences.
• Expert Drivers: Professional and certified, with fluency in English.
• Top-Quality Vehicles: Modern Mercedes sedans, minivans, and minibuses, all well-maintained and officially licensed for tourism.
• Outstanding Client Reviews: Praised by travelers worldwide.
• Responsive Customer Support: A dedicated team ready to assist you promptly.
• Experienced Tour Guides: Access to a wide network of licensed and seasoned guides, available upon request.
• Your English- speaking driver will explain about the ancient monuments that you are about to visit, the ancient history of Greece and interesting facts about historical and modern-day Greece but is not allowed by law to accompany you in the sites. If you wish to have a licensed tour guide to accompany you into the sites, we will help you arrange a licensed tour guide to be with you at an extra cost
• Your tour is totally private. No unknown passengers will participate in your group.
• Infant car seats are available upon request

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