2019 Easter Cultural Experience and Adventure Activities

by BOA / Friday, 19 April 2019 / Published in 2019, DESTINATIONS, TAILOR MADE

When: Easter 2019
Date: 27 April – 3 May 2019
Continent: Europe
Country: Greece
Area: Peloponnese
Activities: Coasteering – Canyoning – Rafting – Hiking – Cultural Experience – Wine Tasting – Sea Kayaking
Experience: No previous experience/training is required
Cost: From 60€
Difficulty Level: *****
Meeting point: The spot will be selected by prior arrangement
Ticket: https://forms.gle/fqYgo7M6jq4upbik6

Target Audience

Base Outdoor Activities (aka B.O.A.) offers the ultimate package for you; a quite unique Multi-activity Adventure and Culture road trip in Peloponnese.
Join us on a One-of-a-kind road trip
Whether you’re travelling individually or together with B.O.A.’s staff, as long as you like, B.O.A. through these flexible arrangements makes you member of the group’s journey.

Experience a multi-day road trip to the multifaceted region of Peloponnese where unforgettable moments are waiting for you:

Practice canyoning
Take a tour among the most important and impressive archaeological sites
Stay overnight under the stars or sleep in shelters built of stone or in traditional guesthouses
Ascend the highest peak in the Peloponnese region
Walk around the southernmost shoreline of Europe
Practice coasteering in breathtaking landscapes

An attractive adventure and experience package that will definitely fascinate you!

A few words about the regions we are about to travel ……

Peloponnese in General
Peloponnese, known also as Morea, is the largest peninsula of Greece while it is connected to Central Greece with a narrow strip of land, that of Corinth Isthmus. In 1983, the homonymous Corinth Canal was constructed joining the Saronic Gulf in the Mediterranean Sea to the Gulf of Corinth, transforming thus the Peloponnese into an island separating it from the mainland.

Foloi oak forest
Foloi (Pholoe) is 20 km away from Ancient Olympia. It stretches over an area of 42,000 acres and is one of Europe’s oldest and richest oak forests and the largest native self-planted across the Balkans. Its name ‘Pholoe’ was given, according to mythology, after the Centaur’s king Pholus (or Folos) who resided on Erymanthos mountain. Since Foloi forest is completely flat, it is ideal for spring hikes and bike trips enjoying the countless trails and forest roads crossing forest’s green ‘carpet’.

Αncient Olympia
Olympia is considered to be the most glorious sanctuary of ancient Greece dedicated to Zeus. It was the venue where the first Olympic Games were held. Ιn Olympia the monumental chryselephantine statue of Zeus was situated, made by the master sculptor Phidias famous in antiquity as one of the seven ancient wonders of the ancient world.

Neda Waterfalls
Neda is an idyllic landscape where a natural swimming pool is filled with capturing waterfall which drops loudly into the rocks that tightly framed the waterfall pool. Neda was one of the daughter of Ocean and one of Jupiter’s nymphs in Arcadia. The river’s name was given, according to myth, when goddess Rhea struck the dry land with a stick. Neda is the only female river in Greece.

Pylos
Pylos is situated at the southwestern edge of the Prefecture of Messinia. It is a small picturesque seaside town and one of the most worth-seeing destination. It is the largest natural harbor of the Peloponnese while one of the most interesting tourist visit of Messinia, due to glorious history and rich natural attractions of the region.

Mani
The landscape of Mani is unique and famous for its architectural character and its physical features as well. It is remarkable that 98 of the 118 villages of the entire Peloponnese are located in Mani which have been officially characterized as traditional along with many caves, cobbled paths and stunning gorges for hikers. The villages of Mani retain their traditional architecture and way of life.

Diros Cave
The cave complex of Diros, which is among the largest and most impressive in Europe, is situated on the west coast of the Laconian peninsula, in the Inlet of Diros. A natural breathtaking scenery impressively filled with stalactites and stalagmites offering visitors a spectacular opportunity to explore the hidden attractions of an underground cave. It is not accidentally considered the most beautiful lake cave throughout the world, from the so far known explored caves.

Cape Tainaron
This is the cape wherein ancient people believed the gateway to Hades was located. There, the ancestors kept the gates of Hades, the Lower World, from where Hercules brought Cerberus. It is worth noting that the Cape Tainaron is the southernmost point of mainland Greece.

Taygetus
Taygetos is one of the largest mountains in Greece, with a total length of about 115 km with the highest peak of Peloponnese. The impressive mountainous area has the highest height of all the mountains of the Peloponnese (2,404 m) and is therefore considered to be the “dome of Moria”. Picturesque villages, rough paths, fertile valleys, successive lagoons leading to the sea, steep peaks and large plateaus are the main features composed Mount Taygetos.

Sparta
Sparta, which was built on the banks of Eurotas river in Laconia region, was a prominent and an influential city-state in Ancient Greece while was actually known for its military discipline, strength, and bravery. The legendary military power of Sparta which is considered an exceptional case in Ancient Greece, was due to the establishment of the educational system imposed by the laws of Lycurgus.

Mystras
The establishment of Mystras is inextricably linked with the Conquest of Constantinople by the Fourth Crusade in 1204. In 1262, Mystras came under Byzantine rule taking over its castle in exchange for releasing the Frankish prince, together with the Marines and Myzithras castles. Since then Mystras was the landmark of the Byzantine base and the seat of the governor of the Peloponnese. It is included in World Heritage Monument (UNESCO’s list) already since 1989.

Mycenae
Mycenae ‘Rich in Gold’, the kingdom of mythical Agamemnon, the first sung by Homeric epics, was a mighty kingdom with the most significant and richest palatial center of the Late Bronze Age in Greece. Their name has been given to one of the greatest and most homogenous palatial civilization of Greek prehistory, the Mycenaean civilization. The myths associated with its history have penetrated throughout the centuries inspiring writers and poets from the Homeric epics and the great tragedies of the Classical era to date.

Nafplio
Nafplio, which was the first capital of the newly established Greek state under President John Kapodistrias during the years 1828-33, is considered as a traditional settlement with an impressive historic town. Nafplio is famous for Bourtzi, a fort built on an island in the harbor, the Palamidi, a Venetian fortress that dominates the city in which Kolokotronis‘ jail was situated. Nafplio is a quite popular destination not only for tourists but for residents of Athens and the Peloponnese, being close to both areas.

Brief Outline of the Program

Day 1^st
Depart for Corinth & Visit the Castle of Acrocorinth
Visit the Archaeological Site
Depart to Patra
Stop for wine tasting at the oldest winery in Greece
Departure for Ancient Olympia
Arrival at the accommodation area
Free time
Night out
Information update for the next day’s program
Relaxation

Day 2^ndMorning awakening
Visit the archaeological site of Ancient Olympia
Departure to Neda gorge
Starting hiking activity in the Neda gorge
Waterfalls bath
Departure for Elea & Stemnitsa
Arrival at the accommodation area
Free time
Tour and walk to the traditional alleys and neighborhoods of the picturesque village of Stemnitsa
Information update for the next day’s program
Relaxation

Day 3^rdMorning awakening
Start rafting / Sea Kayaking
Depart for Pylos
Free program
Depart for Mani
Arrival in Mani in a traditional tower
Night tour in Aeropolis
Dinner
Information update for the next day’s program
Relaxation

Day 4^thDeparture for Tainaro
Morning hiking
Departure for Diros Cave
Explore the cave
End of cave touring
Departure for Sagitta
Arrival at the accommodation area
Dinner
Information update for the next day’s program
Relaxation

Day 5^thMorning awakening
Hiking – Mountaineering
Departure for Taygetos summit
Arrive at the top of the mountain
Starting descending
Arrival at the shelter
Visit Mistras
Departure to Lepida gorge
Arrival at the accommodation area
Afternoon BBQ
Overnight stay in tents

Day 6^thMorning awakening
Canyoning / Hiking gorge
End of activity
Departure for Mycenae
Visit the Archaeological Site
Departure to Nafplion
Arrival to Nafplion
Lunch
Tour in the coastal side of the city
Departure to the accommodation area

Tips:

In all packages, 30% of the participation fees must be prepaid upon registration to the program.
All requests for equipment and payment should be submitted before the beginning of each activity
You ought to have with you whatever you may think necessary for your trip

Αvailable places are limited because we want to give participants the opportunity to enjoy themselves with the full attention of our guides while feeling how special people are considered for BOA team.

Μust-have items