The superb theatre at Epidaurus, surrounded by (and built into) the green hills of the Peloponnese
This area once again enjoys the fame of its viticultural past
The modest exterior of the citadel at Mycenae belies the importance of this important royal Bronze Age stronghold
Large Mycenaean Crater depicting soldiers departing for battle, 12th century BC, National Museum, Athens

2014 Tour Details

Monday 5th - Sun 11th May 2014
with Sandy MacGillivray

NB - Planning for our 2014 Tours is still at quite an early stage and some details (sites, hotels, dates) may change. You can reserve a place on any 2014 tour with fixed, fully refundable deposit of £300 (no top-ups if you book before 31st May). Should you change your mind when the brochure (with finalised prices) is published in June/ July we will happily refund your deposit, or transfer you to another tour.

Sandy MacGillivray

Maximum Guests

Greece - Walks in the Argolid: Mycenaeans and Greeks

Related Tour

Tour Type

Tour Codes

May 2014: PES14A

Greece - Walks in the Argolid: Mycenaeans and Greeks

A gentle exploration, some of it on foot, through the beautiful
spring countryside to sites of the Eastern Peloponnese, home of
Agamemnon.
Mycenaean citadels, and an introduction to the interplay between
myth, legend and reality as suggested by archaeology in the land of
Herakles and Homer.
A Guide Lecturer who lives and works in Greece to offer personal
insights; based in a lovely hotel in the heart of Nafplion.

A relaxed introduction to the lives and landscapes of the Mycenaeans and early Greek gods, heroes and ordinary mortals, in the place where archaeology meets myth, as we explore the lovely Argolid, enjoying approaching some of the sites on foot.

The trip begins in Athens, the city of Theseus who ruled from the Acropolis and unified Attica with the institutions that gave birth to democracy. A sea voyage takes you to the Peloponnese, where Herakles carried out the first of his legendary labours for his archenemy King Eurystheus of Tiryns. This is where Theseus grew up and fought his first foes on his journey to claim his birthright as King of Athens.

Nemea was the site of Herakles' first labour and has been famed for its wine since Homer's day. Now one of Greece's premium wine producing regions, we can sample the results of a 3,000 year old craft. Our Guide Lecturer has his own boutique vineyard and takes a particular interest in the renaissance of Greek wines. (In addition to the archaeology, there is time for walks and wine-tasting - a perfect holiday!)

From our Blog
A Homeric hike in the Peloponnese - Tour Manager and Administrator Martin Adams recounts the 'ups and downs' of his first Andante Tour.

Itinerary

Day One
Fly to Athens and drive to our excellent hotel in the Plaka just below the Acropolis.

Day Two
Hydrofoil to the Island of Poros. Troezon, birthplace of Theseus, and the Mycenaean road bridge at Ligortino which connected the citadel at Mycenae to the sites on the east coast. Epidavros is home to the sanctuary of Asklepios, the god of healing, but it is best known for the finest theatre in all Greece. A full day walking around the site. Dinner will be booked in a delightful taverna near our hotel.

Day Three
Lerna was famed as one of the entrances to the underworld and the lair of the 7-headed Hydra, whose attribute was that two heads grew back for each severed (no longer a threat to tourists thanks to Herakles...). Walk from Larisa to Argos Museum which houses rich collections of “narrative” painted pottery. On to the Skouras winery for a wine tasting and relaxing lunch before returning to Napflion for a free afternoon (or siesta?).

Day Four
Walk in Agamemnon’s footsteps along the original road to the citadel at Mycenae (6 miles/3 hours). This is the centre of the Mycenaean Bronze Age civilisation of the Peloponnese. While there are strong connections with the Minoan world of Crete, this mainland power took a strikingly different approach to its palatial architecture. Visit the museum and famous shaft and Tholos tombs, (‘Treasury of Atreus’). These are famed for the gold masks, discovered by Heinrich Schliemann and now in the National Museum at Athens.

Day Five
Mycenaean fortress at Midea, one of the largest and best preserved of the Bronze Age and the cemetery and Tholos tomb at Dendra which seems to be an associated site. The Argive Heraion is a most beautiful and evocative sanctuary, and it is easy to imagine the processions described by ancient authors. The sanctuary of Hera was built on three gigantic terraces cut into the hillside. A walk (approx. one hour) included here.

Day Six
Museum at Nafplion then on to ‘High-walled Tiryns’ whose vast cyclopean walls made it one of the most notable fortresses of Mycenaean Greece. This was also reputedly the birthplace of Herakles. The city suffered the same collapse that destroyed Mycenaean civilisation at the end of the Bronze Age but remained a small but dwindling township into classical antiquity. A visit to the ruins of Asine will be a prelude to lunch by the sea and an opportunity to swim. Free time this afternoon in Napflion before supper in a fish restaurant on the seafront.

Day Seven
Nemea where Hercules slew the Nemean lion, as the first of his twelve labours. The Nemean games, one of the four great Panhellenic festivals, were held at the Sanctuary of Zeus. Continue to Athens airport, visiting the National Museum along the way, then flight home to the UK.

Guests unfamiliar with Athens might like to take the opportunity to book their own flights and stay on to see the Acropolis and the splendid new Acropolis Museum.

What's included

Flights - Scheduled flights with British Airways from London to Athens who offer the best available flights. We have to buy tickets from them directly online. This means that costs vary. Your local airport may also offer direct flights to Athens if you prefer to book flights independently
Local Travel - Private a/c coach; hydrofoil Piraeus to Poros
Guide Lecturer - Alexander (Sandy) MacGillivray. Not to be confused with "guest lecturers"! The guide lecturer will be with you from breakfast to supper, and probably even a drink in the bar afterwards. There is the occasional site where they may not be allowed to guide because of local regulations (we normally manage to circumnavigate these) but otherwise the guides are just that. They will have been chosen because of specialist knowledge and their ability to communicate and interest you. After 29 years of making tours worldwide, we are highly appreciative of the attributes of a good guide, and intensely critical of people who do not possess them
Tour Manager - We never know how best to call the very special people whom we choose to accompany you on your tour. They are usually employed in this capacity only by us, and have been trained to do things in the Andante way - unobtrusive, friendly and quietly efficient
Meals - All meals included (dinners with wine & water) except dinner Days 3 & 5. Some wine-tasting included
Entries and Tips - Entry to all sites in programme; tips included
Local Guide

Note

This is not a 'walking tour', but includes the opportunity to really enjoy the glorious countryside and to approach some of these sites on foot. Most walks take around an hour, the longest - the original road to Myceanae (which you could avoid if you wished) - takes about 3 hours

Hotels

1 night in a comfortable hotel in central Athens, conveniently located at the foot of the Acropolis, with views of the Parthenon from its roof top garden;
5 nights in a neoclassical town house in Nafplion which has been elegantly converted into a sophisticated hotel;

Book Now!

Mon 5th - Sun 11th May 2014 with Alexander MacGillivrary

Singles: Available

Twin/Doubles: Available

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