Summary of the Ultimate Peloponnese Tour 

A 15-Day 1,250-Mile Clockwise Journey by Car (also possible by Motorhome) 

Margaret and Barry Williamson
October/November 2015 

Introduction

In early November 2015 we made a 15-day, 1,250-mile (2000 km) clockwise tour of the Greek Peloponnese by car, starting and ending in Nafplio. A full account of our tour with a daily itinerary, distances, costs, photographs is available at:

Full 12,000-word Description of the Ultimate Peloponnese Tour

Despite this time of great austerity in Greece (with more cut-backs looming) and stories of mass migrations through the country's eastern borders, we found nothing but peace and warm welcomes wherever we went in the Peloponnese. The roads, hotels, restaurants, campsites and historic sites were often empty but for us, and the autumnal weather was consistently dry, warm and calm. Great weather for travelling, though the long drought has not been good for the orchardists on the verge of harvesting their olives, oranges, lemons, mandarins and grapefruit.

Because of the limited time we had for this tour, we weren't able to include some of the places we know from 20 years of travelling throughout the Peloponnese by bicycle, motorbike, motorhome and car. The tour could be adapted to suit the reader, shortening or lengthening the route and list of places visited in accordance with their interests and the time available.

Map of the Clockwise Route in the Northern Peloponnese

Map of the Clockwise Route in the Southern Peloponnese

Here is a summary of what for us would be the ultimate tour of the Peloponnese, based on the route that we took:

1. Nafplio: Commercial port and city. Capital of the Argolis Region. 3 castles (Palamidi, Akronafplia and the Bourtzi). The Old Town (capital of Greece from 1821 to 1838). Campsites at nearby Drepano.

2. Epidavros: Sanctuary of Asklepios, Theatre, Stadium, Museum.

3. Leonidio: Traditional town. Fishing harbour and all-year campsite at Plaka. 30 km gorge drive to Kosmas.

4. Elonis Monastery: High in the gorge at 1,750 ft (530 m).

5. Kosmas: Traditional mountain village at 3,960 ft (1200 m). Memorial to 1943 ambush of Italian occupiers.

6. Monemvasia: Harbour. Causeway to Byzantine/Venetian walled town, below a fortress at 300 m/990 ft.

7. Mystras: Extensive remains of 15^th C Byzantine fortified city with fortress. Walking the Apothetes Gorge. Camera Museum. All-year campsite.

8. Sparta:        Capital of Laconia Region, below Mount Taigetos. Scant remains of ancient Sparta. Archaeological Museum. Museum of the Olive.

9. Gythion: Fishing harbour and port for ancient Sparta. Small Roman theatre. All-year campsite. 32-km coast road to Kotronas.

10. Kotronas: Fishing harbour.

11. Areopolis: Traditional stone-built town and capital of the Mani. Early frescoes in 2 small churches. Cathedral.

12. Diros Caves: Exploration underground by boat and on foot.

13. Gerolimenas: Fishing harbour. Kalderimi (old mule track) to cliff top.

14. Vathia: Best collection of Mani tower houses.

15. Cape Tenaro: Sanctuary of Poseidon, walk to the lighthouse (southernmost point of mainland of Greece and the Balkans).

16. Lagia: Church with modern frescoes.

17. Chimera: Mountain village on the Pass to Areopolis.

18. Neo Itilo: Fishing harbour.

19. Kardamyli: Seaside town on the Messinian Gulf Road. Castle. Vyros Gorge.

20. Kalamata: Commercial port and city. Capital of Messinia. Castle and beach. 1300 m/4,290 ft high Langada Pass from Sparta (short cut, omitting the Mani, or side trip from Kalamata to top of pass).

21. Messini: Side trip to extensive walled city of Ancient Messini (aka Ithomi) to the north.

22. Petalidi: Fishing harbour/market town. Mountain road via Iamia to Methoni.

23. Methoni: Fishing harbour and town. Extensive Venetian castle. Seasonal campsite.

24. Finikounda: Fishing harbour and summer resort with 5 campsites (some all-year) along its beaches.

25. Mystraki: Small traditional mountain village, almost uninhabited!

26. Koroni: Fishing harbour and town. Monastery inside Venetian castle (the twin of Methoni castle). All-year campsite.

27. Pylos: Port and town. New (Ottoman) Castle and aqueduct, harbour, site of Battle of Navarino Bay (1827).

28. Gialova: Ruins of Old Castle. Voidokilia Lagoon with bird hides. King Nestor's cave. Seasonal campsite.

29. Nestor's Palace: Minoan site (currently closed, apart from Tholos burial tomb). Museum in Hora village, 3 km away, remains open. (Road past Palace to Filiatra, via Hora and Gargaliani, is alternative to the easier coast road via Marathopoli.)

30. Marathopoli: Fishing harbour. Offshore Proti Island with monastery.

31. Filiatra: Home town of Harry Fournier (aka Aris Fournakis), with his model of Eifel Tower and Globe.

32. Agrili: Seaside village. Harry Fournier's mock castle.

33. Tholo: Beach and seasonal campsite. Start of inland road climbing 29 miles to remote Temple of Epicurean Apollo.

34. Temple of Epicurean Apollo at Vassae: Built around 420 BC. Now stands inside a marquee, at almost 1200 m/4,000 ft.

35. Andritsena: Traditional mountain village.

36. Karitena: Traditional mountain village with castle above.

37. Stemnitsa: Traditional mountain village.

38. Dimitsana: Traditional mountain village with Outdoor Museum of Water Power. Access to walking Lousios Gorge with ancient Gortis and early monasteries.

39. Olympia: Sanctuary of Ancient Olympia and Museum. All-year campsite.

40. Gastouni: Working agricultural and market town.

41. Ionion Beach: Splendid all-year campsite near tiny village and harbour of Glyfa.

42. Arkoudi: Seaside village.

43. Loutra Killinis: Remains of Roman baths at sulphur springs.

44. Kastro: Chlemoutsi Castle.

45. Killinis: Ferry port for islands of Zakynthos, Kefalonia and Ithica.

46. Patras: Capital of Achaia and Greece's third city. Major commercial port at mouth of Gulf of Corinth. Ferries to Italy and some Greek islands.

47. Diakofto: Town on Gulf of Corinth. Rack railway up to Kalavrita.

48. Kalavrita: Mountain village at 2,500 ft (750 m) with memorial and museum to German Atrocities of December 1943.

49. Mega Spileo: Monastery on a cliff at 3,300 ft (1000 m) on road between Kalavrita and Diakofto.

50. Corinth: Major city and port, capital of Corinthia. Ancient Corinth, Acrocorinth on the hilltop. Corinth Canal. Seasonal campsites.

51. Isthmia: Town at east end of Corinth canal, with lowering bridge. Ancient Isthmia and Museum.

52. Mycenae: Major archaeological site of Minoan palace and fortified city, royal tombs. Seasonal campsites.

53. Nemea: Ancient site, stadium, museum.

54. Ancient Tiryns: Mycenaean citadel with massive walls.

55. Argos: Ancient Greco/Roman city, Roman theatre, hilltop castle.

56. Nafplio: Return to starting point.