Corinth Canal, Apostle Paul’s Ancient Corinth, 13 Underground Lakes in kalavrita & Lunch by the Springs of Planitero
Leave Athens behind for a full day in the Peloponnese, combining ancient history, a rare underground landscape and the mountains of Kalavryta. This private tour takes you from the Corinth Canal to Ancient Corinth, where the Apostle Paul lived and preached, before continuing to the extraordinary Cave of the Lakes, part of the Chelmos-Vouraikos UNESCO Global Geopark.
Travel at your own pace with a professional driver, then enjoy a traditional Greek lunch, included in the tour price, beside the springs of the Aroanios River. Since 2010, we have been organizing private tours across Greece, and this is one of our favorite routes for showing guests a quieter side of the Peloponnese.
Pick Up from Your Hotel
- Your professional driver will meet you at your hotel in Athens at 8:00 AM to begin your private day trip to the Peloponnese. Relax in a comfortable, air-conditioned vehicle as you head west along the coast of the Saronic Gulf.
Photo Stop at the Corinth Canal
- Our first stop is the Corinth Canal, which separates the Peloponnese from mainland Greece. About 6.4 km long, it was cut through solid rock, with walls rising up to around 90 meters above the water. Walk onto the bridge for the classic view, take photos and enjoy a short coffee break.
Explore Ancient Corinth
- Continue to Ancient Corinth, a major center of the Greek and Roman world. See the 6th-century BC Temple of Apollo, the Roman Agora and the Fountain of Peirene, and stand at the Bema, where the Apostle Paul, who lived in Corinth for about 18 months, was brought before the proconsul Gallio. Visit the Archaeological Museum, with finds from prehistoric to Byzantine times. A licensed guide can be added if selected at the time of booking.
Cave of the Lakes: A Rare Underground Landscape
- Head into the mountains to Kastria and the Cave of the Lakes, part of the Chelmos-Vouraikos UNESCO Global Geopark. This rare cave holds 13 natural lakes on three underground levels, surrounded by terraced pools, stalactites and stalagmites. Follow the 500-meter visitor route through the cool air of the cave. **The Cave of the Lakes is closed on Tuesdays. On Tuesday tours, the cave visit is replaced with a visit to the Monastery of Mega Spilaio, built into a dramatic cliff above the Vouraikos Gorge
Planitero Springs & Aroanios River
- Continue to Planitero, one of the most beautiful landscapes in the Kalavryta region. Walk beneath centuries-old plane trees beside the Aroanios Springs, where clear water flows straight from the rocks past traditional watermills and trout farms.
Trout Farm Visit & Traditional Lunch at a Riverside Tavern
- Visit a family-run trout farm at the springs of the Aroanios River, where trout are raised in the clear spring waters of Planitero. Then sit down beneath the plane trees at a traditional local tavern for an included set-menu lunch of fresh trout, homemade cheeses, grilled meats, tzatziki, and mountain dishes. Please let us know about any dietary requirements in advance.
Return to Athens
- After lunch, relax on the drive back to Athens. Your driver will drop you off at your hotel in the late afternoon, concluding your private Ancient Corinth, Cave of the Lakes & Kalavryta day tour.
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