Your private journey to the birthplace of the Olympic Games begins with a scenic drive through picturesque villages before you reach Olympia, where you will start your tour by visiting the Sacred Altis. Without a doubt, the elegance of the Temple of Zeus will impress you, as will the fact that one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, the gold-ivory statue of Zeus, was once housed here.

The sculptor Phidias, who made the statue, had his workshop in Olympia. A Byzantine church was erected on top of the workshop, and its remnants can be seen today. The Altis also encompasses the Prytaneion magistrate’s residence, the Philippeion, an offering of Philip of Macedonia after his victory at Chaeronia, and Hera’s Temple, which served as a perfect setting for the famous statue of Praxiteles’ Hermes, perfectly preserved and now housed in the nearby museum.

Around the Altis, see the Twelve Treasuries, small buildings erected as offerings by the city-states of Greece. Walking past the treasuries you will see the world-famous Stadium, the largest of its kind seating 20,000 people. Accessible through a vaulted entrance, the Stadium was used for the hammer throwing event in the 2004 Olympics. Continue to the Gymnasium, the Vouleuterion, and the Leonidaion, which served as a kind of hostel for the visitors of the games.

You will depart Ancient Olympia and spend free time in the village of Olympia. After a short drive, you will reach a family estate for a tour of the vineyards to learn about the different varieties of grapes as well as the cultivation process. The tour continues in the area of production and standardization where you can become acquainted with modern winery production which produces superior quality and reliable products. You will then make your way back to the estate for a delicious wine tasting of a few of the different varieties along with olive oil that is also produced on the premises.

After visiting the winery, you will return to your ship with memories of this very special, intimate day in Greece that will last a lifetime.

Step back in time as you visit ancient Olympia where the first Olympic Games were held from 776 a.c. to 393 d.c. Once on the site. you will visit the training areas of the athletes, including the gymnasium where only male athletes were allowed, as they competed in the nude as a tribute to the gods. Over at the palaestra you will see where small-space events, such as wrestling and boxing, were practiced.

Other notable highlights on the property to see include the famous Temple of Zeus, dedicated to the Olympian Zeus, head of the Olympian gods. This temple fell into disuse and pillaged for building materials but still sports 16 original, gigantic columns. See the remains of the Temple of Hera, dedicated to Hera, the queen of the Greek gods. Though partially destroyed by an earthquake in the 4th century, it continues to host the lighting of the Olympic flame every 4 years.

Your guide will also take you to the original Olympic stadium where you will have a chance to test your athletic strength and imagine what it must have been like for the first Olympians to compete with up to 50,000 visitors cheering them on.

After canvassing the Olympic site, you will board the bus for a short ride to the Archaeological Museum of Olympia (entrance to pay on site) where you can see treasures including statues, shields, and sculptures culled from the excavation of the Olympic site. Admire the marble statues of the Temple of Zeus and get up close and personal with the only statue of Hermes, carved by the Greek sculptor Praxiteles. Conclude your tour with some free time in the area before your return to port. Relive the excitement of the first Olympic games when you sign up for this 4.5 hour tour today.

Begin your approximately 40 minute journey to the birthplace of the Olympic Games with a drive through scenic villages. The Olympic Games, during classical times, were the most famous games in the known world at that time. They were held every four years from the 8th century BC to the 4th century AD.

Before the site of Olympia was built, a hidden Sanctuary of Zeus sat on this spot. The sanctuary was known as an Altis. It is here where you begin your approximately 90 minute Ancient Olympia Tour.

Perhaps the most impressive ruin is the Temple of Zeus, which still reveals some of its elegance and scale. It once housed an oversized gold-ivory statue of Zeus, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. The sculptor Phidias who made the statue had his workshop in Olympia. A Byzantine church was erected on top of the workshop and its remnants can be seen today.

The Altis also encompasses the Prytaneion, magistrates’ residence, the Philippeion, an offering of Philip of Macedonia after his victory at Chaeronia and Hera’s temple which served as a perfect setting for the famous statue of Praxiteles’ Hermes perfectly preserved and now housed in the nearby museum.

Around the Altis, you will see the twelve Treasuries, small buildings erected as offerings by the city-states of Greece.

Just beyond the treasuries is the world famous Stadium, accessible through a vaulted entrance. It was the largest of its kind seating 20,000 people during the ancient games. More recently, it was used as the stadium for the hammer throwing event in the 2004 Olympics.

Continue on to the Gymnasium, the Bouleuterion and the Leonidaion which served as a kind of hostel for the visitors of the games.

After visiting the Site of Ancient Olympia, you will have the chance to reach the beautiful village of Olympia. You will have approximately 50 minutes to stroll around the village and admire the nature of this place.

From here, you will drive back through the Peloponnese countryside to reach the port of Katakolon.