We open today at 9:15 AM 020 8568 4499 020 8568 4499

Get in touch

WIN A 7 NIGHT HOLIDAY FOR TWO TO CORFU. Click here to ENTER.

The Peloponnese: Greece’s hidden gem

The Peloponnese has long been neglected by the travelling public and yet this mountainous and wild region is Greece’s hidden gem. Sunvil has featured this area, separated from the mainland by the Corinth canal, since 1974 and was one of the first tour operators to schedule a direct flight from Gatwick to Kalamata.

It was therefore very encouraging to see the Telegraph devoting two pages in praise of the region and the highlights to be visited.

Perhaps we can add one or two more!

The new motorway between Athens and Kalamata has made it very easy to span the distance between the two cities. Kalamata, the gateway to the region can be reached in 2 ½ hours from Athens Airport. On the way stop at the Corinth Canal and marvel at the 1881 engineering feat which created this waterway which connects the gulf of Corinth with the Saronic Gulf and so, in theory, makes the Peloponnese an island and not a peninsula. The canal is 4 miles long and 70 ft wide, spectacular to look at but it is too narrow for most modern ships.

Athens, Greece

In Messinia, to the northwest of the Peloponnese there is a quiet seaside resort called Chrani. Chrani not only has a beach in its own right with others within a short drive but is about a 30 minute drive from Koroni, a very attractive town with an impressive Venetian Castle. Further along the coast is Methoni, with an equally impressive Venetian fortress and further still is Nestor’s Palace, the best preserved Mycenaean palace yet to be discovered.

Koroni, Greece

There are two more beach resorts/villages worth noting. About 20 minutes bus ride from Nafplion, the old Greek capital is the resort of Tolon. First featured by us in 1974, with a good beach, shallow sea and an abundance of good tavernas and cafes, Tolon is an excellent base from which to visit Nafplion, Mycenae and the theatre of Epidavros. The excavated ancient Greek stadium of Nemea is about a half hour drive from Tolon, the site of the revived Nemean Games which are open to competitors of all ages. Entrance is free, provided you are prepared to run barefoot and in a toga!

Epidavros, Greece

Further south and a 15 minute drive from the village of Kardamili is Stoupa, probably our most popular beach resort. This friendly village with its picture book sandy beach fringed by tavernas and cafes satisfies all tastes and all ages. A twenty minute drive from Stoupa you will find the Diros caves. Accessible only by punt these are some of the most visited caves in Greece.

And then, of course there is the medieval fortified village of Monemvasia, with the sea on three sides and accessible only by a narrow causeway. Monemvasia, right on the southern tip of the Peloponnese, can be compared with Mont San Michel in Normandy. It is difficult to reach, being a four hour or so drive from Kalamata but is spectacular.

The Peloponnese has still so much more and the best way to see it is by hired car. Go in spring or autumn and you will have the region to yourselves.

By Justin Blaza

2^nd September 2015

Talk to our Greece expert

Justin Blaza

Justin came to us straight from university and has been on reservations ever since. Over this time he has developed an in-depth knowledge of Greece and her islands and uses his first-hand experiences to design complex island hopping itineraries around the Cyclades and the Dodecanese as well as fly drives on the Greek mainland. Justin loves the lesser-known regions and islands of Greece including Folegandros, Thessaly and the Peloponnese.

Call one of our experts to discuss your next holiday with Sunvil on

020 8568 4499

We open today at 9:15 AM

Get in touch

Enquiry
Contact us

Please use this form to request further information about a Sunvil holiday or destination.

We promise that a member of our specialist reservation teams will reply personally to your holiday enquiry before 5.30pm if received before 12.00pm (Monday to Friday). Enquiries received after 12.00pm will be replied to within 24-hours (excluding Sundays).

If your enquiry is of an urgent nature, please telephone our dedicated reservation teams on the numbers listed below.

Our lines are open from 9.00am to 5.30pm Monday-Friday and from 9.30am to 4.30pm Saturday.

Greece: 020 8758 4758
Cyprus: 020 8758 4759
Portugal, the Azores, Spain, Italy, Sicily and Scandinavia: 020 8758 4722
Latin America: 020 8758 4774
Marketing: 020 8758 4731

Required Information

^* Mandatory Information

Title ^*

First name ^*

Surname ^*

Telephone number ^*

Alternative telephone number

Email address ^*

Confirm email address

Preferred method of communication ^*

Other comments:

Email newsletters

Register here to receive regular email newsletters from the Sunvil Family, and be the first to hear about our latest news, holiday inspiration, special offers, events and competitions.

You can opt-out at any time by using the unsubscribe button on our emails, by contacting us on 020 8568 4499 or by emailing data@sunvil.co.uk, and control the volume and content of the emails that you receive in our preference centre.

For full details on how we collect and process your personal data can be viewed in our privacy policy.

If your enquiry is of an urgent nature, please telephone our dedicated reservation teams on the numbers listed below.

Our lines are open from 9.00am to 5.30pm Monday-Friday and from 9.30am to 4.30pm Saturday.

Greece: 020 8758 4758
Cyprus: 020 8758 4759
Portugal, the Azores, Spain, Italy, Sicily and Scandinavia: 020 8758 4722
Latin America: 020 8758 4774
Marketing: 020 8758 4731

Required Information

^* Mandatory Information

Title ^*

First name ^*

Surname ^*

Telephone number ^*

Alternative telephone number

Email address ^*

Confirm email address

Preferred method of communication ^*

Do you have a holiday confirmed with Sunvil?

Is your question answered below?

Alternatively, please enter your query in the box below:

Email newsletters

Register here to receive regular email newsletters from the Sunvil Family, and be the first to hear about our latest news, holiday inspiration, special offers, events and competitions.

For full details on how we collect and process your personal data can be viewed in our privacy policy.

My Suitcase

We understand that so much choice can be overwhelming which is why we have developed 'My Suitcase'. This facility allows you to save and compare your favourite holidays, and even allows you to return to your selection at a later stage.

Why not use 'My Suitcase' to compile a wish list of your future Sunvil holidays?

New to Sunvil?

Chat with usLiveChat

The Peloponnese: Greece’s hidden gem

Share

By Justin Blaza

Other posts from Justin Blaza

View all posts from

Other related posts

View all posts from

Talk to our Greece expert

Justin Blaza

Make an Enquiry

Please use this form to request further information about a Sunvil holiday or destination.

Required Information

Title *

First name *

Surname *

Telephone number *

Alternative telephone number

Email address *

Confirm email address

Preferred method of communication *

If you would like to be called during a specific period, please specify

Details

Preferred departure date *

Duration *

Preferred UK departure airport *

Party size *

Back

Budget range

Other comments:

Email newsletters

Required Information

Title *

First name *

Surname *

Telephone number *

Alternative telephone number

Email address *

Confirm email address

Preferred method of communication *

If you would like to be called during a specific period, please specify

Booking reference number *

Is your question answered below?

Alternatively, please enter your query in the box below:

Email newsletters

Thank you for your enquiry

Your details have been saved

My Suitcase

Sign in

New to Sunvil?

Create Account

Already have an account?

Password reset

Close

Close

Title ^*

First name ^*

Surname ^*

Telephone number ^*

Email address ^*

Preferred method of communication ^*

Preferred departure date ^*

Duration ^*

Preferred UK departure airport ^*

Party size ^*

Title ^*

First name ^*

Surname ^*

Telephone number ^*

Email address ^*

Preferred method of communication ^*

Booking reference number ^*