The Peloponnese: ancient heritage and Greek sweetness of life

Flight to Athens. A transfer takes you to your hotel in the city centre, where you meet your guide. The rest of the day is free for a first Athenian stroll: the terraces of the Plaka quarter, the colourful stalls of the central market, or simply the pleasure of feeling the Greek air on your face. The evening is yours.

Morning transfer to Ancient Corinth, gateway to the Peloponnese. From the fortress of Acrocorinth, perched on its promontory, the panorama is striking: the isthmus, the sea on either side, and the whole history of Greece at your feet. The descent along a shaded path brings you back to the old town, its Temple of Apollo and the Pirene fountain. The rest of the afternoon is savoured on a terrace, between a frappe and your first impressions of the journey.

Drive to the Gulf of Messenia, with a possible gourmet stop at Kalamata, capital of the olive. Arrival in Kardamyli, a coastal gem nestled between the Taygetos massif and the blue-green waters of the gulf. A loop walk leads you to the old village and the chapel of Agia Sofia, through scented maquis and olive groves. The panoramas over the bay are the kind you never forget. A swim is possible at the end of the day.

A short transfer drops you at the hamlet of Pedino, surrounded by centuries-old olive groves. The path winds from village to village: Exochori, with its plunging views over the Vyros gorge, then Petrovouni, where time seems to have stood still. Stone houses, small churches, the spontaneous hospitality of the locals: this is deep Greece, the kind that rewards those who travel on foot. The descent to Kardamyli offers one last sweeping panorama over the sea and the Taygetos.

A final morning in Kardamyli: a balcony walk above the sea, crossing pretty villages to the chapel of Petrovouni. The old mule path descending offers fine glimpses of the gulf. After lunch near the little harbour, drive to Mystras. Perched on the flanks of the Taygetos, this former Byzantine capital reveals its first mysteries at dusk: a foretaste of tomorrow's visit.

The morning is devoted to exploring Mystras, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Your English-speaking cultural guide brings these ruins to life: the Acropolis and its vertiginous panoramas, the Basilica of Agia Sofia, the monasteries of Pantanassa (still active) and Peribleptos, tucked into the rock. Every fresco, every stone tells a chapter of the Byzantine Empire. In the afternoon, drive to Nafplio, a coastal town of irresistible charm. A first stroll through its bougainvillea-lined lanes, or a moment of relaxation on the beach.

Nafplio, the first capital of modern Greece, reveals itself this morning. The castle of Akronafplia offers a commanding view over the sea; the fortress of Palamidi, a Venetian masterpiece, dominates the town from its heights. In the afternoon, head for Epidaurus. At this legendary site, your English-speaking cultural guide brings the ancient theatre to life: its perfect acoustics, its harmonious geometry, and the sacred atmosphere of the Sanctuary of Asclepius. A moment suspended in time.

Drive to the citadel of Mycenae, cradle of Mycenaean civilisation. The Lion Gate, the royal tomb circle, the Treasury of Atreus: your English-speaking cultural guide immerses you in the Homeric world. In the afternoon, return to Nafplio to enjoy the beach or a final stroll through this endearing town.

Return to Athens. The visit to the Acropolis with your English-speaking cultural guide is the crowning moment of the journey: the Parthenon, the Erechtheion, the panorama over the white city. After this immersion in classical Greece, the rest of the day is free for a final wander through the lively quarters of Athens, a last Greek meal, a last ouzo on a terrace.