Dear fellow Rick Steves forum fans:
I am hoping you might have time to give some feedback/advice about our proposed itinerary for a 9 day trip to the Peloponnese in late June/early July. We are semi-experienced travelers to Greece. We have been to Athens and Nafplio, and have had two different trips to Crete. We are a couple in our late 50s, relatively good shape, traveling with two young adult children (early/mid 20s, LGBTQ) from Seattle. What we loved most about Crete was the food!, staying at a villa in a small town (Gavalochori) swimming, walking to the local bakery, eating wonderful food at the tavernas, and occasionally going further to visit the beach and swim. We also loved seeing the Palace at Knossos and Chania. I try to balance sightseeing of different types with time to chill out and just experience the atmosphere of a place. There are so many places I would love to see, but we have only 9 days, and we don’t want to spend all of them in the car. It will be hot – can’t avoid the timing due to work. We are returning the Nafplio because the kids really loved it there and so did we. We already booked our nights in Nafplio so we must start there. Our return flight to Seattle is out of London, so I’m thinking we could possibly fly from Kalamata to London instead of returning to Athens. We don’t have a desire to stay in Athens. I know a lot of folks recommend Olympia but it seems too far for this trip.
Sat 6/27 Arrive Athens (late) via Rome from Seattle - get in around 10 pm. Overnight near Athens airport
Sun 6/28 Rental car, drive to Nafplio. On way, stop in Corinth, Acrocorinth. Night in Nafplio at beloved Pension Marianna.
Mon 6/29 Walk around Nafplio, see castle, recover from jet lag, eat great food. Nafplio.
Tues 6/30 (Is one of our party’s birthday) Day trip to Mycenae, Nemea (we love Greek wine). Sleep Nafplio.
Now I think I need help deciding between two possibly itineraries. Or maybe there’s a third way?
Option 1:
7/1: Drive coast road via Leonidio and maybe Kousmos or Geraki to Monemvasia. Overnight Monemvasia.
7/2: See Monemvasia in morning. Drive to Elafonisios via ferry. Overnight Elafonisios.
7/3: Snorkel around ruins at Pavlopetri. Beach time. Possible sight seeing or relaxing. Night in Elafonisios.
7/4: Check out early. Drive to Areopoli via Caves of Diros and some of the Mani. Night in Areopoli.
7/5: Drive to Kalamata. Try to squeeze in Ancient Messene? Night in Kalamata.
7/6: Pack up. Food market in Kalamata. 5 pm flight to London.
7/7: Day in London. Fly to Seattle in evening.
What I like about this: coast road, snorkeling the ruins, seeing some of rural Peloponnese. Downside: Is Monemvasia worth it? Miss seeing Mystras, which I really want to see. Not much time in Mani.
Option 2:
7/1: Get up early. Drive to Mystras to see in morning (2 hour drive?). Lunch/afternoon in Sparti – see museum. Drive to Areopoli to stay. (I chose it instead of Githeio because Githeio looks similar to Nafplio but I may be totally wrong. And I think Kardamyli too far after the long day at Mystras and Sparti.)
7/2: Caves of Dirou. Drive part of the Rick Steves Mani driving tour, south of Areopoli. Night in Areopoli.
7/3: Beach day – maybe snorkel to see turtles at Lemeni. Night in Aeropoli.
7/4: Drive to Kalamata. Maybe stop in Kastania on way? If time, see museum or do food tour in Kalamata. Night in Kalamata.
7/5: Side trip to Ancient Messene. Night in Kalamata. (I was thinking Kalamata might have some night life for the kids).
7/6: Food market, sight see in Kalamata. Evening flight to London from Kalamata.
7/7: Daytime in London. Fly home in evening.
Pros: Get to see Mystras and this does more justice to the Mani Peninsula. Con: miss Monemvasia, Elafonisios. Lots of driving.
If you have thoughts for me I'd appreciate it! - Susan
