Welcome to Kardamyli
It’s easy to see why Kardamyli was one of the seven cities offered to Achilles by Agamemnon. This tiny village has one of the prettiest settings in the Peloponnese, nestled between the blue waters of the Messinian Gulf and the Taÿgetos Mountains. The Vyros Gorge, which emerges just north of town, runs to the foot of Mt Profitis Ilias (2407m), the highest peak of the Taÿgetos. Today the gorge and surrounding areas are very popular with hikers.
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Kardamyli activities
Kayaking at the foot of Mount Taygetos
Our trip starts from the old harbor of Kardamyli, the place we meet. At the beginning of the activity we attend a brief but comprehensive introduction to the basics of sea kayaking. We get our kayaks and begin to enjoy an excursion where each little cove hides a special surprise such as hidden caves, cliffs with spectacular formations and unique beaches with sand or pebbles such as the well hidden beach of Foneas with the white pebbles and the sandy beach of Delfinia. Weather and time permitting we head to Stoupa and the beach of Kalogria with its fine golden sand and turquoise waters. The beach of Kalogria is known as the beach of Zorbas, as this was the place where writer Nikos Kazantzakis met his hero of his book Zorba the Greek. Halfway we make a relaxing stop for swimming, snorkeling and a picnic a picnic with freshly baked bread organic, garden-grown fruits and vegetables, homemade olive oil, and cheese.
Hiking the Spartan Trail
Day 1 – Arrive in Sparta Arrival day. Get any flight arriving to Kalamata or Athens airports. Meet your guide at the airport for a drive to your hotel in the town of Mystras a suberb of Sparta. Group meeting and briefing about the next days followed by a dinner together. Accommodation: Hotel in Mystras Meals: Dinner Day 2 – The Byzantine Town of Mystras Morning meeting with your guide at your hotel’s lobby. Our first hiking day starts from the overwhelming castle town of Mystras built during the Byzantine period. Trail distance: 12 kilometers Ascend:800 meters, Time: 6 hours. Rating: Easy to moderate Accommodation: Family owned guesthouse Meals: Breakfast, Lunchbox, Dinner Day 3 – Hiking the E4 Trail After breakfast, we fill our flasks with fresh water from the fountains of Anavriti and start our ascent heading to the mountain refuge that will accommodate us for tonight. Trail distance: 15 kilometers Ascend: 1200 meters Time: 7 hours. Rating: Easy to moderate Accommodation: Mountain Refuge Meals: Breakfast, Lunchbox, Dinner Day 4 - Hiking at the Summit After breakfast we start a difficult and ultimately rewarding hike to the highest peak of the mountain at 2407 meters. Our summit is rewarded with spectacular views of the mountain range,into the Spartan valley of Evrotas and to the Mediterranean Sea. Trail distance: 12 kilometers Ascend: 1100 meters Time: 8 hours. Rating: Moderate Accommodation: Mountain Hut Meals: Breakfast, Lunchbox, Dinner Day 5 – Hiking the Royal Trail A region so remote that conquerors through time left it alone. This part of the trail was frequently used by ancient Spartans as an access route to the sea. It passes through Vasiliki (Royal) forest where an amazing diversity is found with Pinus Negra, the black pine tree dominating this ancient forest. Trail distance: 19 kilometers Descend: 1150 meters Time: 8 hours. Rating: Moderate Accommodation: Family Owned Hotel Meals: Breakfast, Lunchbox, Dinner Day 6 – Departure Awake and energize with a breakfast overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. Our last day is a relaxing day where either we can take time to swim and explore the town of Kardamyli. Your trip ends about noon either catching a transfer to the airport or extend your travels. Meals: Breakfast
Full Day Botanical Tour In Mani, Peloponnese
The route will be a circular one starting from Kardamyli with a two and a half hour trek up the Virou Gorge to see some of the unusual chasmophyte plants. You will be all the time by a profesional biologist that knows the area and the species like the back of his hand. From the gorge you will climb up to the ridge and walk along a track to the church of Agia Sofia for a lunch break. From there the walk becomes easier with a descent into a shady gorge near the village of Petrovouni and then a walk through olive groves on the way to Proastio village. Along this part of the walk you will pass through an area nicknamed ‘Orchid alley’ for its profusion of orchid species. Once you reach Proastio you will descend on a steep kalderimi (a cobblestone-paved road) to the coastal road and walk back the short distance into Kardamyli via Kalamitsi, passing what used to be Patrick Leigh Fermor’s house.Once we are back in Kardamyli you can have a cold beer and relax talking about the activity and learning local tips.