The Odyssey of the Peloponnese

The Odyssey – From the Homeric World to Classical Greece and the Cinematic Peloponnese 

8 Days / 7 Nights 

There are few stories that have travelled through time as successfully as Homer’s Odyssey. From the legendary world of Odysseus, Nestor and the heroes of the Trojan War to the extraordinary civilization of Classical Greece, the stories, landscapes and ideas of ancient Greece continue to inspire generations. 

Now, with Christopher Nolan’s highly anticipated cinematic adaptation of The Odyssey, many of these legendary landscapes are being brought to a new global audience. 

Our Odyssey itinerary offers the opportunity to experience this fascinating journey for yourself, combining the Homeric and Mycenaean world, the greatness of 5th-century BC Classical Greece, and the spectacular filming locations of the new movie. 

Travelling through Athens and the Peloponnese, you will discover ancient cities, archaeological treasures, legendary landscapes, medieval fortresses and beautiful beaches, while seeing how these locations have been transformed from historical places into cinematic settings. 

 

Day 1 – Arrival in Athens 

Upon arrival at Athens International Airport, you will be met and transferred to your hotel in Athens. 

The remainder of the day is free to relax and settle into your surroundings. 

In the evening, we will come together for a special welcome dinner, providing the perfect opportunity for all participants to meet and enjoy their first taste of Greek hospitality and cuisine. 

Our journey begins here, in a city that would become the centre of the Classical Greek world. 

Overnight: Athens 

 

Day 2 – Athens: From the Homeric World to Classical Greece 

After breakfast, we begin our exploration of Athens with two of its most important ancient landmarks: the Acropolis and the Ancient Agora. 

The Acropolis provides a spectacular introduction to Classical Greece. Standing before the Parthenon, we enter the world of 5th-century BC Athens, the period associated with extraordinary achievements in architecture, philosophy, democracy, drama and the arts. 

We then continue to the Ancient Agora, the heart of public life in Classical Athens. Here, citizens gathered for political, commercial and social activities, creating a fascinating contrast with the much earlier heroic world described by Homer. 

Although Homer’s Odyssey belongs to a much earlier tradition, the stories survived and continued to shape Greek identity for centuries. Exploring Athens allows us to understand how the legendary age of heroes evolved into the Classical civilization that followed. 

The afternoon is free to explore Athens at your own pace. 

Overnight: Athens 

 

Day 3 – Corinth, Acrocorinth & Nafplio 

After breakfast, we leave Athens and begin our journey into the Peloponnese. 

Our first stop is the spectacular Corinth Canal, where we pause to admire one of Greece’s most impressive engineering achievements. 

We then continue to Acro Corinth, the imposing fortified hill overlooking Ancient Corinth. Its strategic position has made it an important stronghold for thousands of years, and the panoramic views across the surrounding landscape are spectacular. 

Acro Corinth also has a special connection with the new cinematic Odyssey, with the production using the dramatic landscape as part of its Greek filming locations. 

We continue towards Nafplio, one of Greece’s most beautiful historic towns. 

In the afternoon, we visit Palamidi Fortress, dramatically positioned high above Nafplio. From its walls, the views across the town and Argolic Gulf provide one of the great panoramas of the Peloponnese. 

The evening is free to enjoy Nafplio’s atmospheric old town. 

Overnight: Nafplio 

 

Day 4 – Mycenae, Epidaurus & the Age of Heroes 

Today we travel further into the world that inspired the legends of ancient Greece. 

Our first destination is Mycenae, the great citadel of the Mycenaean civilization and one of the places most closely associated with the heroic traditions that later became central to Homeric literature. 

We enter through the monumental Lion Gate and explore the ancient citadel before visiting the magnificent Treasury of Atreus. 

The Mycenaean civilization flourished many centuries before Classical Athens, making this visit particularly important to our story. It allows us to step back towards the Bronze Age world traditionally associated with the heroes of Homer’s epics. 

We then continue to Epidaurus, famous for its remarkably preserved ancient theatre. 

The theatre offers a fascinating connection to the later Classical Greek world, when drama became one of the defining cultural achievements of Greece. 

After our archaeological exploration, we return to Nafplio for a relaxed afternoon. 

Take time to wander through the historic streets, enjoy the waterfront, or discover one of the town’s traditional cafés. 

Overnight: Nafplio 

 

Day 5 – Nestor’s Kingdom, Voidokilia & the World of Polyphemus 

After breakfast, we begin our journey towards Messinia and the southwestern Peloponnese. 

Our first stop is the Palace of Nestor, near Pylos. 

The palace takes us directly back into the Mycenaean world. Nestor is one of the great figures of Homer’s epics, remembered as the wise king of Pylos and a veteran of the Trojan War. 

Here, archaeology and mythology come together in a remarkable way. 

After our visit, we continue towards one of the most spectacular landscapes of the journey: Voidokilia Beach. 

This perfectly shaped bay is surrounded by dramatic hills and crystal-clear waters, creating an unforgettable setting. 

Voidokilia is also one of the locations that has attracted considerable attention through Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey. Several scenes were filmed in the surrounding landscape, bringing this extraordinary corner of Messinia to the big screen. 

You will have free time to enjoy the beach, swim during the appropriate season, take photographs, or simply absorb the scenery. 

For those looking for an additional adventure, there is an optional, unguided hike towards Nestor’s Cave above the beach. 

The cave and surrounding landscape were used in the production’s depiction of the Cyclops episode, connecting this real Greek landscape with the legendary encounter between Odysseus and Polyphemus. 

The cave is a natural environment rather than an organised tourist attraction, and the interior is not currently open as a standard visitor attraction. The optional hike therefore focuses on reaching the cave area and viewpoint rather than entering the filming location. 

Afterwards, we continue to Kalamata for our overnight stay. 

Overnight: Kalamata 

 

Day 6 – The Castles of Messinia: Methoni & Koroni 

After breakfast, we continue our exploration of the Messinian coast. 

Our first destination is Methoni Castle, one of the most spectacular fortifications in Greece. 

Built on a peninsula projecting into the Ionian Sea, the castle combines massive walls, towers, gates and dramatic coastal scenery. 

Methoni’s extraordinary appearance also made it an ideal cinematic setting for The Odyssey, and the location forms part of the film’s visual interpretation of the ancient world. 

We then continue towards Koroni, another historic fortified settlement overlooking the Messinian Gulf. 

While these castles belong to much later periods than the Homeric and Classical worlds, they demonstrate another important aspect of the Peloponnese: a landscape continuously shaped by different civilizations, empires and cultures. 

Later, we enjoy free time at Finikounda Beach, where you can relax, swim, enjoy a seaside lunch, or simply slow down and take in the Mediterranean atmosphere. 

We return to Kalamata for the evening. 

Overnight: Kalamata 

 

Day 7 – Return to Athens & Your Final Evening 

After breakfast, we begin our journey back towards Athens. 

Our Odyssey has taken us through several distinct chapters of Greek history: from the Mycenaean age of Nestor and the heroic traditions of Homer, through the Classical world of 5th-century BC Greece, and finally into the modern cinematic interpretation of Homer’s epic. 

On arrival in Athens, you will have free time for some last-minute shopping and souvenirs. 

This is your opportunity to take home a final reminder of your journey through Greece, whether traditional Greek products, local delicacies, crafts or simply a few special gifts. 

In the evening, we gather for our final night together and celebrate the experiences we have shared throughout the journey. 

Overnight: Athens 

 

Day 8 – Departure 

After breakfast, your Odyssey comes to an end. 

At the appropriate time, you will be transferred from your Athens hotel to Athens International Airport for your onward flight. 

You leave Greece having travelled through landscapes where history, mythology and cinema meet—from the ancient citadel of Mycenae and the world of Nestor to Classical Athens, the dramatic castles of Messinia and the spectacular locations chosen for The Odyssey. 

The legend may have been written thousands of years ago, but your own Odyssey has only just become a memory. 

End of the Odyssey. 

 

What’s Included 

• Accommodation in 4-star hotels, including daily breakfast  

• Daily lunch during the guided tours  

• Arrival and departure transfers  

• Day 2 to Day 7: Full-day private vehicle service with an English-speaking private driver  

• Guided visits and entrance fees to:  

• Acropolis of Athens  

• Ancient Agora of Athens  

• Acro Corinth  

• Corinth Canal  

• Palamidi Fortress  

• Mycenae  

• Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus  

• Palace of Nestor  

• Voidokilia Beach  

• Methoni Castle  

• Koroni Castle  

• Welcome dinner on arrival day  

Important Notes 

• To provide the best possible service and accommodate different flight arrival and departure times, three scheduled arrival/departure transfer services will be arranged.  

• The itinerary can be extended or individually customised, including the addition of Greek islands before or after the Peloponnese programme.  

• Single supplement available upon request.  

Minimum Participants 10 – Max participants 16

 

Optional Hike to Nestor’s Cave: The hike to Nestor’s Cave is entirely optional and is not an organised or guided excursion. Participants who choose to undertake the hike do so independently and entirely at their own risk. Please note that there is no officially maintained or marked hiking trail to the cave, and the route can be uneven, rocky and potentially difficult to navigate. Appropriate footwear and a suitable level of physical fitness are strongly recommended. Participants are responsible for assessing their own ability and the prevailing weather and trail conditions before proceeding. Our company, its representatives, guides and drivers accept no responsibility or liability for any injury, loss, damage or incident arising from participation in this optional, independent hike. By choosing to undertake the hike, participants acknowledge and accept these conditions.