Stunning Corinth, Cave of Lakes & the Rack Railway 10-h tour

Stunning Corinth, Cave of Lakes & the Rack Railway 10-h tour; This private Corinth canal, ancient Corinth, Cave of Lakes, Kalavrita, Vouraikos River Gorge, and Odontotos Rack Railway Tour is an exciting journey through time and the beauty of the country.

It is a private tour, during which you will have the chance to see some of the most beautiful parts of the Peloponnese peninsula, taste mouthwatering Greek food, and experience unique moments.

Think about how perfect your day would be in Kalavryta, putting the right clothes on. So bring your good mood with, put the label “now on vacation” on and divide the adventure and action by the calm and relaxation enjoying the beauty of nature. You boast, surrounded by the choking environment, the wild landscape of Kalavryta.

The highlights of the Stunning Corinth, Cave of Lakes & the Rack Railway 10-h tour

• Ten-hour private tour with private driver-escort and vehicle
• Visit some of the highlights of the Peloponnese peninsula
• Visit the famous Lakes Cave witch is a rare creation of nature
• Pass by the Corinth Canal and visit the ancient town, alternative the Mega Spilaio Monastery
• Ride the Odontotos Rack Railway
• Experience the Vouraikos River Gorge
• Enjoy a delicious Greek lunch at Kalavryta, one of the most beautiful Greek villages

The tour starts early in the morning from Athens; your private vehicle will be waiting for you at your hotel, and you will drive past the new national road towards Corinth. Passing by the famous Corinth Canal is an experience no one wants to miss. You will have the chance to see the canal and take pictures if you like.

Once you leave the Corinth Canal you will reach the town of Ancient Corinth, one of the most famous and powerful city-states of Greek antiquity. The location is quite accessible, so you will feel its atmosphere by walking around the ruins of the old town.

Mega Spilaio Monastery

For those who wish so, there is also an alternative option to opt for the Mega Spilaio Monastery, which is situated in an impressive landscape at the entrance of a natural cave, and you are left unaware of the miracle of nature and the steep cliffs of Helmos, at an altitude of 940 meters.

You feel like your eyes are burning with the spectacle, as the monastery is nailed to the rock. It was built in 362 by the Thessalonian brothers, Simeon and Theodore, who saw each one separately a vision with the command to go to Achaia and find the sacred icon of the Virgin Mary of mastic and candle, crafted by the Evangelist Luke. The walls of the church in the monastery are covered with frescoes from 1653.

Cave of lakes

The next stop is the Cave of the Lakes. With the labyrinthine corridors, mysterious galleries, and strange stalactites, the famous Lakes Cave is a rare creation of nature, and has something of its own: the 13 consecutive step lakes (spread over three floors), and a constant temperature of 13 -16 degrees Celsius that make it unique in its kind in the world!

On the 500-meter route in the cave, you will admire beautiful lakes (when there is water overflowing creating small waterfalls), stunning shapes of illuminated stalactites and stalagmites with various designs and shapes, as well as the impressive colorings of its walls.

The cave is an old underground riverbed and its existence has been known since ancient times, but in 1964 it was explored and mapped. Fossilized bones of humans and animals have been found among them hippopotamus, which testifies that the cave was inhabited since the 6th millennium BC, and it is also mentioned in many ancient myths.

Gorgeous Kalavryta

After this fascinating visit, you will head to the gorgeous village of Kalavryta with breathtaking natural beauty, which is considered a place in the history of modern Greece.

You will visit the monument and museum of the Holocaust, the clock of the Metropolitan Church in the center of the square, and the Palace of Palaiologina, which is speculated that was built by Thomas Palaiologos.

Leisure time for an authentic Greek lunch in the village and shopping at the local shops in the area.

You have visited the most spectacular places and you want to do now something smart and easy without much energy. The Kalavryta pedestrian street that occupies most of the daily traffic, with dozens of cafes, bars, and taverns, is what you are looking for.

Enjoy your coffee at one of them while reminiscent of earlier’s adrenaline rush. While later, the time has come for good and the appetite is open, you can have lunch choosing between traditional taverns and local-flavored restaurants where you will replenish your calories.

A last stroll through the picturesque alleys and a coffee break after lunch at one of the cafes is all you need and leave with pictures and warm smiles.

Odontotos Rack Railway

An exciting tour with the Odontotos Railway is what comes next! It is a unique construction in Greece!

Beginning from Diakofto, on its characteristic rail rails, you will climb the Odontotos Railway passing through the Vouraikos River Gorge between rocks, plane trees, and running water, a fairytale route that causes the passenger of the train to be stuck on the window and take photos, trying to “suck” all the magic of the route.

Alternative board at Kalavryta or Zachlorou village and enjoy an approx 1 hour from Kalavrita or 0,35h from Zachlorou picturesque ride.

Your driver will be waiting for you at the other end to head back to Athens.

Important notes

Tour Type

• Shore Excursion - Private tour
• Activity level: Moderate

Included in the tour

• Car and Driver
• A professional English-speaking driver or escort with good knowledge of the history and culture of Greece, to guide you till you enter archaeological sites and museums. Tour drivers are not licensed to companion you inside the archaeological sites and museums. If you'd like to have a licensed state tour guide to escort you inside the sites and museums, we can arrange it for you at an additional cost. Licensed by the state tour guides are freelance and it is subject to availability on bookings day!
• Transport by air-conditioned Mercedes-Benz vehicle or similar appropriate for the size of your group
• Accommodation is based according to availability (for multiple-day tours only)
• Pick-up from and return to your hotel
• Pick-up from the Port of Piraeus
• Private tour, Road tolls and local taxes
• Our terminal: Leof. Andrea Siggrou 37, 117 43 Athina, Greece.

Excluded from the tour

• Entrance fees to the archaeological sites and museum
• Wine tasting fee (wine tours)
• Olive oil tasting fee (olive oil tasting tours)
• Gratuities (optional)
• Food and beverage
• Your private chauffeur/guide will discuss a program best suited to your interest and mobile abilities. Option for a professional tour guide with a state license at an extra cost. Read more for the difference between a STATE LICENSED TOUR GUIDE and a TOUR DRIVER GUIDE in Greece!

Additional info

• Dress: religious and marmoreal sites: shoulders and knee must be covered
• Terms & Conditions and Frequent Questions
• Confirmation will be received at the time of booking
• A voucher will be emailed to you with our contact numbers and all necessary information for your tour.
• This is your ticket and proof of purchase. On the day of the tour please present a paper voucher in order to redeem your tour/activity.

Persons with Disabilities

• Due to uneven surfaces, certain sites are not recommended for persons with walking disabilities or using a wheelchair. Such sites are the Acropolis, the Temple of Poseidon at Sounion, Mycenae, Delphi and Meteora
• In all cases, we recommend comfortable flat-solid walking shoes, sunglasses, and sunscreen.

Restrictions:

• Please note that on this tour, your tour driver is not licensed to accompany you on your climb. If you want this service you may book a licensed by-state tour guide for an extra cost.
• In case a group is followed by a licensed tour guide or an English speaking tour-escort the professional driver is not obliged to speak English!

Opening hours & Admission fees

• Opening Hours:Summer April 1st to October 31st from 08:00 AM to 07:30 PM
• Winter: November 1st to March 31st from 08:30 AM to 03:00 PM
• Free admission fees: Children under 18 & Students from E.U.
• Reduced admission fees: Citizens of the E.U. aged over 65 & Students from countries outside the E.U.

Free admission days

• March 6: In memory of deceased Minister of Tourism & visionary Melina Mercouri
• June 5: Environment international day
• April 18 : International monuments day
• May 18: International museums day
• September 27: International tourism day
• The last weekend of September annually (European Heritage Days)
• National Holidays
• Sundays in the period between 1 November and 31 March
• The first Sunday of every month, except for July, August, and September
• NOTE: If the first Sunday is a holiday then the second is the free admission day

Holidays in Greece

• January 1: closed
• January 6: 08:30 AM - 03:00 PM
• Shrove Monday: 08:30AM - 03:00 PM
• March 25: closed
• Good Friday: 12:00 PM - 03:00 PM
• Holy Saturday: 08:30 AM - 03:00 PM
• Easter Sunday: closed
• Easter Monday: 08:30 AM - 03:00 PM
• May 1: closed
• Holy Spirit Day: 08:30 AM - 03:00 PM
• 15 August 15: 08:30 AM - 03:00 PM
• October 28: 08:30 AM- 03:00 PM
• December 25 & 26: closed