Two Labours of Hercules: Stymphalian Birds and the Nemean Lion

Archaeological / Cultural, Cuisine and Gastronomy, SMALL-GROUP, Wine and Beer Tasting
1 DAY

The vibrant natural scenery, the myths, the legends, the historical sites and the aroma and flavors of the wine and the traditional greek cuisine of the blessed land of Corinthia...

BOOK OUR TOURS HERE

Be impressed by the natural beauty of Lake Stymphalia and be inspired by Ancient Nemea
Revel at your guide’s presentation of legends of Hercules‘ Labours (Stymphalian Birds and Nemean Lion) and sample the splendid regional wine and food.

This well-researched and meticulously organised tour combines several attractive themes into a single irresistible fusion, so typical of the real, yet not well known, Greece: mythology, natural scenery, archaeology and traditional cuisine. The tour sets off early in the morning from Athens, so as to encompass the chosen evocative sights and sites in the Corinthia region of northern Peloponnese.

Following a short stop at the picturesque coastal town of Loutraki, we drive past the impressive Corinth Canal and through the forested mountains of Corinthia to our first destination, lake Stymphalia. This is the location where legend has it that the ancient hero and demigod Hercules cunningly managed to destroy the predator Stymphalian Birds which plagued the region by performing his Sixth Labour.

Lake Stymphalia and its complex wetland ecosystem is a Natura 2000 natural protection area and is also home to the delightful and rich Environment Museum of Stymphalia, which is one of the tour’s destinations. Following the description of the Labor by the guide and the visit to the museum, the tour continues through fabulous scenery to Ancient Nemea with its magnificent Temple of Zeus and its ancient stadium which is now used again every four years by hosting the revived Nemean Games, as they were performed 2,500 years ago. The guide will reveal the importance of Ancient Nemea through the visit to the extensive site as well as the museum, whilst also unraveling the legend of the First Labour of Hercules, where he overcame the fearsome Nemean Lion bare-handed.

Rich is the Nemean land in history, in magnificent relics of ages past and in legends and rich it also is with the treasures of its land – its wine and its food. How fitting therefore that the explorers of fabled Corinthia would rest and relax at a local Greek gourmet taverna, to sample the acclaimed red Nemean wine, painstakingly created from the Aghiorghitiko grape variety, accompanied by local delicacies.

All good things come to an end and the tour finishes in Athens at the designated drop-off point, however what will remain alive are happy memories of the vibrant nature, the myths, the legends, the historical sites and the aroma and flavors of the wine and the food of this blessed land. Indeed, what more is there to ask for?

Are you more independent-minded?
This programme is also available in a self-drive version!
Find out more on Self-Drive Tours

Corinth Canal | Lake Stymphalia | Environment Museum of Stymphalia | Ancient Nemea

Included

Αir-conditioned, luxury minibus or coach
Licensed archaeologist-guide
Lunch
Two glasses of wine
One bottle of mineral water during the drive
Tickets to museums and archaeological sites

Not Included

Gratuities at the taverna and for the driver (optional)
Extra wine / beverages

Testimonials

An excellent tour of fortresses in the Peloponnese which also took in many of the classical sites.

Our guide Eric organised the tour, hotel airport transfers, and advised on other sights so we really had nothing to do but enjoy the experience.

Already looking forward to another trip with him again.

Related

Peloponnese fortress tour, by Anhourused
Eric Cauchi, representing Eternal Greece Ltd, was one of the main people responsible for organising the tour for about 40 people.

He paid great attention to detail both before and during the trip and on the tour nothing was too much trouble. I would not hesitate to go on future Eternal Greece tours.

Related

Peloponnese fortress tour, by Auxfireman
We travelled through the Peloponnese with the Fortress Study Group on a 10 day tour organized by Eternal Greece Ltd. We visited a mix of sites from classical and pre-history, through Venetian and Ottoman times. This mix gave us a picture of the breadth of Greek history instead of just a single slice of time which we much appreciated. We had an excellent archaeologist guide and an excellent driver.

Eric Cauchi, the proprietor of Eternal Greece, travelled with us as the tour director and trouble-shooter in chief. His own passion for archaeology and for his country added to the trip experience. The hotels he booked for us were excellent, all very clean and comfortable, with friendly staff and most on the sea with beautiful views. The restaurants he selected for our meals served delicious traditional Greek food family style, far superior to what one might expect for a group meal.

Having never been to Greece before, we came into Athens 4 days early. We had many pre-trip questions which Eric always answered very promptly. He assisted us with several aspects of our planning before we set foot in Greece. He booked an Athens hotel in an excellent location for us and arranged airport transports which worked perfectly. When we decided to do a day-trip to Delphi and asked if he could recommend some companies for us to contact, he responded with the name and cost of a group tour company with pros/cons and the offer of arranging a private driver and guide for us with pros/cons. He also offered to, and subsequently did, email the rest of the group participants to see if anyone might be interested in sharing the private tour to bring down the costs. The driver and guide Eric arranged were very professional, tailored the day to our interests, and made the day a wonderful memory for us.

When, as part of our planning, we decided that we might like to use our free time on the last evening of the Peloponnese tour to see an additional site some distance away from our hotel on our own, we emailed Eric to enquire as to whether time-wise this might be feasible and if we would have trouble finding a taxi to take us and wait. Eric advised that renting a car would be better. We expressed concern about finding a car rental place that would be open till 9:00 p.m. on a Sunday evening. Eric responded within hours with contact information for a rental location around the corner from our hotel that would be open till 9 p.m.

Eric’s level of service was superb. We would travel again on a trip arranged by Eternal Greece and we definitely recommend Eternal Greece.

Related

Summerclouds053117
Dear Eric,

Thank you so much for all the work you put in to organise such a wonderful trip. The time has flown and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I hope to come across Eternal Greece again.

Related

Pamela M.
Dear Eric,

Hope I am not disturbing you from your well-deserved slumbers, but just to thank you so much for organising an excellent programme for the FSG and looking after everyone so well.

I hope our paths meet again some time.

Related

Richard A.

Eternal Greece Ltd