A nature field trip with stops at some of the finest natural monuments of the Peloponnese, including Diros Caves, Lousios gorge and Polylimnio Voufradon. Also included, is a guided tour of the subtle interventions to the environment such as the Museum of Water Power in Dimitsana, the Museum of the Olive and Greek Olive Oil in Sparta, the Museum of the History of the Mainalon Forest and one of the first Wind Farms in Arcadia.

Day 1

ATHENS-SPARTA-GYTHIO-DIROS-TRIPOLI

Boarding the bus and departure for Sparta. Spring is the ideal season for visiting Laconia when the aroma of the orange groves dominates the valley of Evrotas. Apart from the large production of oranges, the area is also famous for its olive oil.

 

We visit one of the most modern museums in Greece, the Museum of the Olive and Greek Olive Oil in Sparta.

The museum’s second floor is dedicated to the history of oil production from prehistoric times up to the 20^th century. The first floor is dedicated to the evolution of olive oil production technology from ancient to Byzantine time, up to the early industrial era.

We stop for lunch at the picturesque harbor of Gythio followed by a visit to the most beautiful lake cave in the world. The Diros Caves are located in Pyrgos, in the heart of Mani.

 

We take a boat ride that lasts approximately 45', in the Glyfada (or Vlihada) Cave, with a length of 6 km, filled with colourful formations of stalagmites and stalactites.

Then we visit the the Alepotrypa (fox hole) Cave further ahead where we find the Neolithic Museum of Diros to get a complete picture of the life of the Neolithic man who lived in these caves.

At night we arrive in Tripoli, settle in at the hotel and stay overnight.

 

 

Day 2

TRIPOLI-DIMITSANA-PSARI ELLINIKOU-CHRISOVITSI-TRIPOLI

Breakfast at the hotel and departure for mountainous Arcadia.

 

Arrival in Dimitsana and visit at the Museum of Water Power.

Learn the many ways that man used water in the past to meet his daily needs. The museum includes a powder mill, a tannery, a fulling mill for washing textiles as well as a grinding mill.

In the Museum’s courtyard, next to a fountain of clear water, a perennial plane tree dominates, which has been declared a natural monument to be preserved.

Lousios gorge is a magnificent destination, characterised as a landscape of great natural beauty. You can walk by the stone-paved street from the Monasteri of Filosofou to Ancient Gortyna. This way you have the opportunity, apart from the supreme natural beauty of the area, to admire the traditional bridges, the monasteries hanging from cliffs and the Baths of Asklipios in Gortyna.

 

Lunch in Psari Ellinikou, prepared with pure seasonal ingredients produced by the “Arcadian” Association with headquarters in the area.

Next stop is Chrysovitsi, in the heart of Mainalon. There we visit the Museum of the History of the Mainalon Forest in the Falanthos Municipality.

Late night return to our hotel in Tripoli.

    

             

Day 3

TRIPOLI-SKYRITIDA-POLYLIMNIO VOUFRADON-TRIPOLI

 

Breakfast and departure for the region of Skyritida.

Have you ever wondered what a wind turbine looks like up close?

We visit one of the first wind farms in the Peloponnese, in the area of Vlachokerasia Skyritidas.

You will get a chance to see the interventions in the surrounding area and determine for yourselves if a wind farm is indeed a mild form of electricity production.

There, the wind is harnessed via pillars of 65 to 80 metres in height, which support a rotor with blades (with a helix diameter of up to 70 meters).

After our tour in the wind farm we make a stop for lunch.

 

Then we head for the breathtaking region of Polylimnio Voufradon.

A river flows through a gorge that is rich in plant life, creating successive waterfalls and clear blue water ponds.

After walking in the gorge, everyone will want to dip in the cool water, few however will dare to try the icy water under the gurgling waterfalls…

Return to the hotel in Tripoli late in the afternoon.

 

 

 

 

Day 4

TRIPOLI-ATHENS

Free day to walk around Tripoli.  Boarding the bus and departure for Athens.

 

 
Προβολή Peloponnesian Nature σε χάρτη μεγαλύτερου μεγέθους